Here's a great recipe for lentil soup that has a bit of a different flavor than your run of the mill lentil soup. I just made this for the first time. It is a great cool weather soup!
Ingredients:
1 cup mah dal (black lentils)
4 cups water
1 green chili chopped (or substitute with 1/2 tsp cayenne)
3 tbsps vegetable oil
1 inch ginger, peeled and chopped into tiny pieces
1 medium onion, sliced finely
1 medium carrot, diced
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
Directions:
1. Rinse the lentils in water To remove dirt etc.
2. Pour the lentils, the 4 cups of water, the salt and half of the ginger into a pot. 3. Cook on low heat for 2 - 3 hours or pressure cook for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile...
4. Heat the oil and the rest of the spices together on medium low heat until spices are toasted, add the sliced onions and fry until golden brown. Remove the onions and repeat for the carrots until semi cooked.
5. Pour the above mixture into the lentils and simmer for at least another 30 minutes. The longer you simmer, the better it will taste. Add more salt to taste if necessary.
10/23/07
10/4/07
Spicy West Indies Fish
I stole this recipe from the Food Network website one night, trying to entice Jason to come over. It worked and it is a fantastic fish dish (this coming from me, who more usually than not, doesn't like the taste of fish)
Ingredients:
4 pounds snapper fillets
1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon allspice (I left this out, but keep it in for a more West Indian flavor)
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
Vegetable oil
Directions:
Soak the fish in lime juice for 30 minutes in a glass pan or non-corrosive dish. Remove the fish, reserving the juice. Combine the curry powder, cumin, paprika, allspice, ginger, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl and stir until well blended. Place each fish fillet on an individual sheet of aluminum foil. Coat each fillet with the spice mixture. Sprinkle a tablespoon of the lime juice over each piece of fish. Place a mound of onion on the top of each fillet. Wrap each fillet tightly in the foil.
Remove the rack from the grill and lightly oil it with vegetable oil where the fish will be placed. Make a fire in the grill and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the fish packets and cook for another 3 minutes. Open a packet to see if the fish is done. The flesh should be opaque and the skin should pull away from the flesh; flakiness is usually a sign of overcooking.
Ingredients:
4 pounds snapper fillets
1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon allspice (I left this out, but keep it in for a more West Indian flavor)
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
Vegetable oil
Directions:
Soak the fish in lime juice for 30 minutes in a glass pan or non-corrosive dish. Remove the fish, reserving the juice. Combine the curry powder, cumin, paprika, allspice, ginger, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl and stir until well blended. Place each fish fillet on an individual sheet of aluminum foil. Coat each fillet with the spice mixture. Sprinkle a tablespoon of the lime juice over each piece of fish. Place a mound of onion on the top of each fillet. Wrap each fillet tightly in the foil.
Remove the rack from the grill and lightly oil it with vegetable oil where the fish will be placed. Make a fire in the grill and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the fish packets and cook for another 3 minutes. Open a packet to see if the fish is done. The flesh should be opaque and the skin should pull away from the flesh; flakiness is usually a sign of overcooking.
10/2/07
Gougeres (French cheese puffs)
I found this recipe on the Fresh Direct website, I kid you not. I was a little suspicious at first, but they came out really well. Fresh out of the oven, these are absolutely fantastic!
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup water
1 1/4 teaspoons course sea salt
2 pinches cayenne
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted with 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons grated Gruyère (from about 4 ounces cheese)
3 eggs, at room temperature
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Put the butter, 1/4 cup milk, water, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, and the cayenne in a 2-quart saucepot and set over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then add the sifted flour and baking powder. Remove from heat. Stir well with a wooden spoon and return to the heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the dough pulls away from the side of the pot, approximately 4 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat again and transfer the dough to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add 3/4 cup of the cheese and paddle on low, until just warm, about 2 minutes.
2. Add the eggs to the mixer, 1 at a time. Continue to mix the dough until smooth and shiny, about 10 minutes. The mixture should be cool.
3a. I just spoon the mixture onto baking sheets with a teaspoon (1 inch rounds, about 1/2 inch high) instead of steps 3 and 4
3. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the dough into a pastry bag fitted with a #6 tip.
4. Pipe the dough into 1-inch rounds, each about 1/2-inch high. Allow about 1/4-inch of space between each gougère. Each tray should fit about 28 gougères.
5. Brush the top of each gougère with the remaining 2 tablespoons milk and sprinkle with the remaining Gruyère and some sea salt.
6. Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Turn the trays around and continue to bake until the gougères take on a deep, golden-brown color, approximately 7 minutes more. Serve hot from the oven or keep the gougères, loosely covered, at room temperature for up to 2 hours, then reheat at 400°F for 2 1/2 minutes.
7. Bake until golden brown, approximately 7 to 10 minutes.
8. Serve hot from the oven or keep the gougères, loosely covered, at room temperature for up to 2 hours and reheat in a 400°F oven for 2 1/2 minutes.
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup water
1 1/4 teaspoons course sea salt
2 pinches cayenne
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted with 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons grated Gruyère (from about 4 ounces cheese)
3 eggs, at room temperature
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Put the butter, 1/4 cup milk, water, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, and the cayenne in a 2-quart saucepot and set over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then add the sifted flour and baking powder. Remove from heat. Stir well with a wooden spoon and return to the heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the dough pulls away from the side of the pot, approximately 4 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat again and transfer the dough to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add 3/4 cup of the cheese and paddle on low, until just warm, about 2 minutes.
2. Add the eggs to the mixer, 1 at a time. Continue to mix the dough until smooth and shiny, about 10 minutes. The mixture should be cool.
3a. I just spoon the mixture onto baking sheets with a teaspoon (1 inch rounds, about 1/2 inch high) instead of steps 3 and 4
3. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the dough into a pastry bag fitted with a #6 tip.
4. Pipe the dough into 1-inch rounds, each about 1/2-inch high. Allow about 1/4-inch of space between each gougère. Each tray should fit about 28 gougères.
5. Brush the top of each gougère with the remaining 2 tablespoons milk and sprinkle with the remaining Gruyère and some sea salt.
6. Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Turn the trays around and continue to bake until the gougères take on a deep, golden-brown color, approximately 7 minutes more. Serve hot from the oven or keep the gougères, loosely covered, at room temperature for up to 2 hours, then reheat at 400°F for 2 1/2 minutes.
7. Bake until golden brown, approximately 7 to 10 minutes.
8. Serve hot from the oven or keep the gougères, loosely covered, at room temperature for up to 2 hours and reheat in a 400°F oven for 2 1/2 minutes.
9/27/07
No-Cook Sweet Corn Salad
This is a great recipe for right now--fall--when corn is sweet and fresh. This salad is great with all fresh late summer ingredients and is really refreshing.
Ingredients:
4 ears of corn
2 large, ripe tomatoes
2 medium cucumbers
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (from 2-3 limes)
1/2 tsp. sugar
2 TBS oil (I use olive)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper (or more)
1 red onion thinly sliced and diced
6 TBS chopped cilantro
Directions:
1. Cut kernels from corn and place in a medium bowl.
2. Seed and dice tomatoes and cucumbers and add to bowl (I don't seed them, but whatever is your preference)
3. In a smaller bowl, whisk together lime juice, sugar, oil, sald and pepper.
4. Stir red onion into lime mixture
5. Toss corn, tomatoes and cucumbers with dressing. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired.
6. Add chopped cilantro right before serving.
Ingredients:
4 ears of corn
2 large, ripe tomatoes
2 medium cucumbers
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (from 2-3 limes)
1/2 tsp. sugar
2 TBS oil (I use olive)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper (or more)
1 red onion thinly sliced and diced
6 TBS chopped cilantro
Directions:
1. Cut kernels from corn and place in a medium bowl.
2. Seed and dice tomatoes and cucumbers and add to bowl (I don't seed them, but whatever is your preference)
3. In a smaller bowl, whisk together lime juice, sugar, oil, sald and pepper.
4. Stir red onion into lime mixture
5. Toss corn, tomatoes and cucumbers with dressing. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired.
6. Add chopped cilantro right before serving.
9/25/07
Gateau Chocolat & Courgette (Chocolate and Zucchini Cake)
This recipe is from amazing food blogger Clotilde who blogs at http://chocolateandzucchini.com/. She also has a great cookbook- Chocolate and Zucchini- Daily Adventures in a Parisian Kitchen. This cake is super moist and chocolate-y without being too rich.
1 stick unsalted butter at room temp + 1 pat butter for greasing
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
3 large eggs
2 cups unpeeled grated zucchini, from about 1 1/2 medium zucchini (keep the remaining 1/2 zucchini for optional garnish)
1 cup good-quality bittersweet chocolate chips
confectioners' sugar or melted bittersweet chocolate (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 and grease a 10-inch springform pan with butter.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a mixer, blend the sugar and butter until creamy. Add the vanilla, coffee granules, and eggs, mixing well between each addition.
Reserve a cup of the flour mixture, and add the rest to the egg mixture. Mix until just combined, the batter will be thick.
Add the zucchini and chocolate chips to the reserved flour mixture and toss to coat. Fold into the batter and blend with a wooden spoon- don't overmix. Pour into the prepared cake pan and level the surface with a spatula.
Bake for 40-50 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a rack to cool for 10 minutes, run a knife around the pan to loosen the cake, and unclasp the sides of the pan. Let cool to room temp before serving. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, glaze with melted chocolate, or decorate with a few slices of raw zucchini (you don't have to eat them though!)
1 stick unsalted butter at room temp + 1 pat butter for greasing
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
3 large eggs
2 cups unpeeled grated zucchini, from about 1 1/2 medium zucchini (keep the remaining 1/2 zucchini for optional garnish)
1 cup good-quality bittersweet chocolate chips
confectioners' sugar or melted bittersweet chocolate (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 and grease a 10-inch springform pan with butter.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a mixer, blend the sugar and butter until creamy. Add the vanilla, coffee granules, and eggs, mixing well between each addition.
Reserve a cup of the flour mixture, and add the rest to the egg mixture. Mix until just combined, the batter will be thick.
Add the zucchini and chocolate chips to the reserved flour mixture and toss to coat. Fold into the batter and blend with a wooden spoon- don't overmix. Pour into the prepared cake pan and level the surface with a spatula.
Bake for 40-50 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a rack to cool for 10 minutes, run a knife around the pan to loosen the cake, and unclasp the sides of the pan. Let cool to room temp before serving. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, glaze with melted chocolate, or decorate with a few slices of raw zucchini (you don't have to eat them though!)
9/24/07
Tarte Tatin
Apple season!! A great recipe from the New Gourmet cookbook...
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a 17 1/4 oz package), thawed
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a 17 1/4 oz package), thawed
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
7-9 gala apples (you don't want to be short, i always get 10) peeled, quartered lengthwise and cored
special equipment: a well seasoned 10" cast-iron skillet
Put racks in middle and lower third of oven and preheat to 425.
Roll out pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 10 1/2" square. Brush off excess flour. Using a plate as a guide, cut out a 10" round with a sharp knife. Transfer to baking sheet and refrigerate.
Spread butter thickly on bottom and sides of skillet and pour sugar evenly over bottom. Arrange as many apples as will fit in tight concentric circles in pan, standing them on end (i usually trim the edge off of one end of the slice so it will stand more easily). Apples will stick up above the rim of the skillet (see pic above).
Cook apples over moderately high heat, without stirring, until juices are deep golden and bubbling, 18-25 minutes. (Don't worry if the juices color unevenly).
Lay a sheet of foil on lower oven rack, to catch any drips, and put skillet on middle rack. Bake for 20 minutes (apples will settle slightly).
Remove skillet from oven and lay pastry round over apples. Bake until pastry is browned, 20-25 minutes. Transfer skillet to a rack to cool for at least 10 minutes.
Just before serving, invert a platter with a lip over skillet and, using potholders to hold skillet and platter tightly together, invert tart onto platter. Replace any apples that stick to skillet. (Don't worry if there are caramelized black spots in apples). Brush any caramel remaining in skillet over apples. Serve immediately.
9/20/07
Taco Salad with Ground Turkey and White Beans
My friend Jessica just asked for this recipe, so I thought I'd post! I love this for a healthy dinner. I don't mix the turkey together with the other ingredients until I put them on my plate, that way the leftovers stay good (no wilty lettuce) and I can take them for lunch the next day!
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey (or chicken)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
1 mango, peeled, seeded and diced
1 avocado, peeled pitted and diced
1 tomato diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup peeled and shredded carrots
1 15 oz can white beans (or black), rinsed and drained
1/2 c. scallions, diced
grated zest and juice of 1 lime
1/4 c. store-bought salsa
1/4 c. fat free sour cream (i use Fage fat free greek yogurt)
4 pickled jalapenos (optional- i never have these!)
baked tortilla chips (also optional- i never have these either)
In a large non-stick skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, cumin, and chili powder and cook for 5 to 7 minutes (until done). In a bowl, toss together lettuce, mango, avocado, tomato, onion, carrots, beans, scallions, and lime zest and juice. Serve salad with turkey and garnish with salsa, sour cream, jalapenos and tortilla chips.
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey (or chicken)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
1 mango, peeled, seeded and diced
1 avocado, peeled pitted and diced
1 tomato diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup peeled and shredded carrots
1 15 oz can white beans (or black), rinsed and drained
1/2 c. scallions, diced
grated zest and juice of 1 lime
1/4 c. store-bought salsa
1/4 c. fat free sour cream (i use Fage fat free greek yogurt)
4 pickled jalapenos (optional- i never have these!)
baked tortilla chips (also optional- i never have these either)
In a large non-stick skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, cumin, and chili powder and cook for 5 to 7 minutes (until done). In a bowl, toss together lettuce, mango, avocado, tomato, onion, carrots, beans, scallions, and lime zest and juice. Serve salad with turkey and garnish with salsa, sour cream, jalapenos and tortilla chips.
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