Vegetarian (132)
Asian Cucumber Salad is a great side for any Asian dish. AND you can put this all together and have it ready to eat in about 15 minutes.
This is an easy recipe to use leftover White Rice that will compliment any Asian meat or vegetable dish. While I frequently use black sesame seeds for this recipe, white sesame seeds would work just as well. For best results in forming the Rice Cakes, use a "Slider" sized Hamburger Patty Press. Use pressure to press the rice into tightly-compacted cakes.
Vinegar has been used for centuries to preserve food and provide a zesty flavor. Pickled vegetables are easy to make. They can be a nice addition to Stir Fry, Korean Bibimbap, or even as a Pizza topping.
Autolyse (it rhymes with "auto-cheese") is a relatively new theory that was introduced into bread-making in the 1970's. The purpose of autolyse is to allow the flour to absorb the water and begin to form gluten strands and mature without any foreign components.
Baba Ganoush is a traditional Mid-Eastern made with Roasted Eggplant. This flavorful sauce can provide a a dip for Pita Bread, as a Marinara replacement, or as a topping for Roasted Chicken. This recipe calls for Tahini, a paste made from roasted Sesame Seeds.
Bagels are easy to make. This easy recipe can produce a finished Bagel in less than 1 hour. This recipe makes 1 single bagel.
This savory casserole-like custard dish makes a great side dish. Although the original recipe included only corn, and considerably more sugar (more than double what I listed here), I find this recipe to be amply sweet and provide a nice addition to any meal.
Baked potatoes can be used as a great side dish or as a tasty main dish. This recipe will produce the perfect baked potatoes, every time.
Baked Zucchini Rounds are a tasty snack that is easy to make and relatively healthy.
This is a simpler recipe for Cheese Fondue that is more of a roux based "Cheese Sauce" than an actual Cheese Fondue, but it is still a delicious Cheesy Dipping Sauce that is easier to make, takes less time to make, and there is no risk that your cheese will seize and ruin the mix.
This Fondue recipe contains no alcohol.
This recipe integrates a Persian dish called "Chelow" (pronounced \che-lau\), a soft fluffy Basmati Rice, with another Persian dish called "Tahdeeg" or "Tahdig" (pronounced \ta-deeg\), a crispy crunchy Basmati Rice, to make a soft and crunchy mix. It accentuates the nutty savor that makes Basmati so good. This is the perfect side dish for Shawarma.
Basmati Rice has a fresh, nutty flavor. The spices in this recipe, along with the Pistachios, make a tasty rice pilaf that can accent any meat dish.
Turkish Flatbread is a flavorful pita. It can be filled with hummus, fresh tomatoes and feta cheese, or shawarma.
In most Latin American Countries, a "Limon" can be yellow OR green; they consider it to be the same fruit. This super sweet "Lemonade" is made with (green) limes. This Brazilian drink called Swiss Lemonade, as it uses "Swiss" Sweetened Condensed Milk as an ingredient, is a super-sweet thirst quencher on a hot day. Many recipes incorporate the entire fruit from the Lime into the blender, however, I have found that inclusion of the pith results in a bitter flavor. This is why I include only the zest and the juice from the Lime.
Brown Butter or "Beurre Noisette" (meaning: "Hazelnut Butter") does not actually contain hazelnuts. This single ingredient sauce can add complexity and a "nutty" flavor to any sweet or savory dish that calls for butter. Brown butter is made by heating the butter to brown the milk solids and reduce the water. Brown Butter can replace the butter in any recipe, tablespoon for tablespoon.
This is an easy roux-based sauce with a strong Paprika flavor. Use it over Baked Potatoes or Grilled Chicken.
Butternut Squash (also called Autumn Squash) soup is the perfect fall-time comfort food. Using the pressure-cooking option in your Instant Pot reduces the time-to-table from about 6 hours to less than 2 hours. Using a Coconut Yogurt provides a nice creamy consistency, without adding heavy cream.
Contrary to popular opinion, the Caesar Salad was not named for Julius Caesar. Instead, it is named after the Chef from Mexico City who first concocted this savory lemon-flavored egg yolk emulsion. A Caesar Salad is traditionally made with romaine lettuce, croutons, shredded Parmesan cheese, and occasionally diced tomatoes, all coated with a serving the famous dressing. Caesar Salad is a great companion to any meal.
This reduction was inspired by Cheerwine Soda, a super sweet soft drink that is commonly found in North Carolina. Like Cheerwine, this homemade cherry reduction can be used in a wide range of recipes, such as BBQ sauce, cherry topping for deserts, a replacement for grenadine, or as a flavoring for soda water. In addition to the frozen cherries, this recipe also calls for bottled cherry juice. For best results, ensure that the juice has no additional sugar added and contains 100% cherry juice. Do not settle for a cheaper mix that includes other filler juices, such as pear juice or grape juice. In order to make into Cherry Syrup, dissolve an additional 1.5 Cups of Sugar.
This fresh summer salad is a perfect companion for any BBQ. Putting it together the day before and refrigerating overnight will permit the flavors to blend throughout the salad.
It always seems like the best potato side-dish recipes require far more effort than any side dish ever should. Until now. This recipe takes minimal effort and results in perfect potato wedges with a garlic-lemon taste.
Chimichurri is the quintessential Argentine Flavor. Chimichurri can be used as a marinade to flavor roasts and steaks before cooking and it can be used as a finishing sauce for meats at the dining table.
Chimichurri is the quintessential Argentine Flavor. Chimichurri can be used to flavor roasts and steaks before cooking or it can be used as a sauce for meats at the dining table. Red Chimichurri adds roasted pimento for a fuller, smokey flavor.
This recipe will produce the perfect Jasmine Rice. The Ginger, Garlic, and Cilantro flavors will perfectly compliment your favorite Asian dishes.
Roast Lamb can be easy to make. This light and zesty marinade will enhance your Lamb Roast with a sweet orange-lemon flavor. The Vinegar will help the flavor to work into the meat. Marinate for 12 to 24 hours. This recipe will yield enough marinade for a Lamb Roast up to 8 pounds.
The Ratatouille dish served at the end of the Pixar movie Ratatouille, is a Confit Byaldi that requires two different preparations:
1. Pipérade is a thin sauce, with Basque origins, traditionally made with onions and a "mildly-hot" red pepper called Espelette pepper. Since Espelette peppers may not be readily available, this Pipérade recipe uses even milder peppers, the Poblano and the Red Pimento.
2. The Pipérade is spread across the bottom of a casserole pan and then covered with thinly sliced vegetables and slow roasted for several hours.
Refrigerating the dish overnight will allow the flavors to mature. Reheat in the oven before serving.
Traditionally, this dish could be served hot as a side-dish with meat (like Rosemary Chicken), Basil Rice, or with a sliced baguette.
Store the leftovers in an airtight refrigerator dish. The leftovers only get better.
Creamy Avocado Salsa is great with Tortilla Chips, served over Grilled Chicken, over Poached Whitefish, or over Grilled Vegetables.
This creamy cheese sauce is a great addition to a medium rare London Broil or as a filling for stuffed hamburgers patties. Adding the horseradish paste will provide additional flavor and complexity. The amount of Horseradish can be adjusted to provide a stronger or weaker flavor, as desired.
This flavorful dipping sauce is easy to make and is perfect for Honey Balsamic Soy Chicken Wings, Cauliflower Crowns, or Grilled Chicken Breasts.
This flavorful dipping sauce is easy to make and is perfect for a roast turkey, roast pork, mild chicken wings, grilled chicken, or cauliflower crowns.
This is a sweet tasting dipping sauce that is great with chicken (or pork) nuggets, or a finishing sauce for Roast Chicken, Roast Pork, or Honey Ginger Chicken.
This recipe can be prepared using a Slow Cooker (for about 3 hours) or using a Ceramic-Lined Cast Iron Dutch Oven (for about 30 minutes). The benefit of using the Slow Cooker, is that you can mix the recipe and then start the Slow Cooker before Dinner starts.
This Cheesy Sauce can be a versatile addition to any meal. Use it as a sauce on Chicken, on White Fish, Baked Potatoes, or over Steamed Vegetables. Adding a variety of different seasoning options to this basic Cheesy Sauce can produce very different flavor profiles.
This is possibly the easiest bread you will ever make. This flatbread is a nice and easy addition to Shawarma.
This easy to make semi-flat bread recipe is ready to go in only 15 or 20 minutes. It will add a rustic dimension to any meal.
Although eggplant is not an overly nutritious fruit, eggplant can be useful in a variety of cuisines.
Here is basic information for selecting and using eggplant.
"Involtini" (plural for Involtino) are small, bite-sized (usually) appetizers, with an outer layer and some sort of filling. Involtini could include Armadillo Eggs, to mini-Pizza Rolls, to bite-sized Twinkies. Eggplant Involtini makes a nice addition to a Beef Roast, Pork Roast, or Grilled Chicken. This recipe specifies canned whole tomatoes. Canned diced tomatoes usually contain preservatives that prevent the tomatoes from breaking down into a nice sauce. Canned whole tomatoes, on the other hand, will break down better when simmered and provide a smoother, thicker sauce.
"Involtini" (plural for Involtino) are small, bite-sized (usually) appetizers, with an outer layer and some sort of filling. Involtini could include Armadillo Eggs, mini-Pizza Rolls, or even bite-sized Twinkies. Eggplant Involtini makes a nice addition to a Beef Roast, Pork Roast, or Grilled Chicken. This recipe specifies canned whole tomatoes. Canned diced tomatoes usually contain preservatives that prevent the tomatoes from breaking down into a nice sauce. Canned whole tomatoes, on the other hand, will break down better when simmered and provide a smoother, thicker sauce. This recipe has been modified for the Slow Cooker.
/Fuwa fuwa/ is Japanese for "light and fluffy". /Pankēki/ of course, is the Japanese word for "Pancakes". Surprisingly, this Japanese breakfast treat originally came from the United States. Fuwa fuwa Pancakes originated from a restaurant in Waikīkī Hawai'i. In order to achieve the tall cakes, you will need Pastry Rings or Ceramic Ramekins. I prefer to use pastry rings that are about 2.5 inches across and at least 2.5 inches tall. In order to cook the center without burning the bottom, Pankēki should be cooked with relatively low heat.
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese is surprisingly easy to make, once you learn a few tricks. In less than an hour, you can go from a Gallon of Whole Milk to Mozzarella. And as an added bonus, Ricotta Cheese is also a natural byproduct of the Mozzarella making process.
Ricotta "Cheese" is not technically a cheese, but actually a cheese byproduct. Fresh Ricotta is surprisingly easy to make, once you learn a few tricks. In less than an hour, you can go from a Gallon of Whole Milk to fresh Ricotta.
Risotto is easy to make, but it requires constant stirring. Cooking Risotto in the Sous Vide removes the need for such focused attention: Just prepare the ingredients, seal them in a heat safe bag, and drop it in the Sous Vide. 45 minutes later, you will have a perfect Risotto. Just watch the time so that you do not overcook it.
Green Harissa Potatoes are a great side dish to accompany shawarma or any mid-eastern dish. The addition of Greek Yogurt will provide a creamy texture and will further reduce the "already mild" heat level of the Green Harissa. Par-boiling the potatoes will cut the overall cooking time in half, while the final bake will ensure a nice golden brown texture.
This simple recipe provides a tangy yogurt that is great for tzatziki or to eat plain. You can use any fat content, from Skim to Whole Milk. I prefer a lower fat yogurt, with Skim Milk. This recipe yields about 4 Cups of Greek Yogurt.
Green Harissa paste is much milder than the traditional Tunisian red cousin. Green Harissa is similar to Chimichurri, but with a little added heat. This versatile flavorful paste can be used to flavor white meat and fish, or as a flavor enhancer for vegetables.
Polenta is a dish from Northern Italy, similar to Grits from the US South. Polenta (and Grits) are made from coarsely ground yellow corn. Polenta can be cooked, poured into a mold and shaped. Refrigerating the polenta for a few hours, or overnight, will set the shape. Then, you can grill or pan sear the Polenta and serve it warm.
Harissa is a traditional Middle-eastern marinade that works well with Beef or Chicken. Cut the meat into thin slices and marinate for a few hours to several days.
Harissa is a traditional pepper paste, originating from North Africa. While the heat level of Harissa can vary, based on the type (and the amount) of chiles that are used. For best results, you can use ancho chiles, or for a little more heat, guajillos chiles. Even more heat can be added by using chipotle peppers. Ancho chiles are dried/smoked poblano peppers. Guajillo peppers are dried/smoked mirasol peppers. Chipotle chiles are dried/smoked jalapeno peppers. Additional smokiness can be added with the inclusion of smoked paprika. Similarly, you can add more complex overtones with the inclusion of orange juice and a small handful of dried cranberries.
A Hasselback Potato is a potato that is opened at the top, through a series of thin slices, then baked. The slices provide greater surface area. When coated with butter/oil and seasoning, the additional surface area provides a crispy, tasty finish for your baked potato.
This Hawaiian Coconut Pineapple Rice is the perfect side dish for Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken. Or you can shred the Huli Huli Chicken and mix it in directly with this rice for a tasty Polynesian meal, without opening a can of Spam. Note that the Instant Pot method requires less liquid, so you will need to adjust the recipe accordingly.
Achiote Paste is a traditional Mexican rub that can be used to flavor meat. Achiote (also called annatto) is a redish-orange powder that is ground from the seeds of the achiote plant. Achiote has a mild, nutty, sweet flavor, with a slight taste of pepper. Achiote paste can be made by mixing achiote powder with other ingredients. Achiote paste can be used to season chicken, pork, beef, or fish.
The Holidays just aren't the same without a glass of Egg Nog. It is surprisingly easy to make at home, with ingredients that you probably already have. From-scratch G'Nog tastes better than the stuff you buy in the store, and it doesn't have all the high-fructose corn syrup and added thickening agents. Eating raw, unpasteurized eggs can pose a potential health risk of salmonella contamination, but you can easily pasteurize eggs using your Sous Vide.
Ginger Ale can be easy and fun to make at home. Using Lime Simple Syrup or even a splash of grenadine can personalize your Ginger Ale recipe.
This flavored Simple Syrup is easy to make and can be used to flavor home-made sodas. Additionally, you can add a splash to Ginger Ale, Lemon-Lime soda, or Coke.
Whether you call them Hoagies, Grinders, Po Boys, or Submarine Sandwiches, a good sandwich starts with the bread. This from-scratch bread is easy to make. The bulk of the "Prep" time is spent waiting for the bread to rise. If desired, a cold-ferment, (refrigerating the dough for 1 to 5 days) will produce a final bread with a more mature flavor.
Pesto is a tasty replacement for Marinara sauce when you are want some variation from the standard tomato-based sauce. However, Pesto can be expensive to make. This Pesto recipe is a tasty, cheaper option, that can be made easily in less than half an hour. Leaving out the Parmasan Cheese will significantly lower the cost. Using a small amount of Marmite will replace the Umami falvor that typically came from the Parmasan, and the reduced price makes this Pesto fit better in your budget. The cost can be further reduced by replacing Pine Nuts with raw, chopped Almonds. Pesto can be a great addition to any pasta dish, a tasty relish for an italian sandwhich, or a Pizza sauce. The Olive Oil should be integrated by hand, since using a blender to mix in the Olive Oil can cause the Oil to break down and result in a bitter flavor.
This spicy/sweet nectar is the perfect finishing sauce. Use a silicone basting brush to paint liberally around the edge of your Pizza, across the top of your bread loaf, or on chicken before putting it in the oven. If you are unable to find Aleppo Pepper, any other Ground Hot Peppers or Hot Pepper Flakes can be substituted in a pinch. Optionally, you could also replace the Pepper with 1 Tablespoon Tabasco Sauce or 1 Tablespoon Franks Hot Sauce, and reduce the Vinegar by half.
Naan is an Indian flatbread, traditionally cooked in a Tandoori, a large brick oven, reaching temperatures near 800° to 1000° Fahrenheit. Naan is difficult to make at home, since the heat requirements are typically beyond the capability of the average Conventional Oven. This recipe uses a conventional oven, utilizing a Pizza Stone to provide the perfect finish to your Naan. In order to ensure maximum heat, I typically re-heat the oven between each batch.
When I cook for others, I typically can't add my preferred level of heat. This Instant Heat Hot Sauce is a homemade Tabasco replacement. The heat level on this Sauce can be intensified by adding Serrano Peppers or even an Habanero Pepper in addition to the Jalapeños. Conversely, you can mellow the heat by Oven-Roasting the Jalapeños before adding them to the blender. This recipe will yield about 12 Ounces of "Instant Heat" Homemade Smoked Jalapeño Hot Sauce.
Jalapeño Peach Preserves provide a spicy and sweet/savory meat sauce to add complexity to a wide range of meals. Use this as a finishing sauce for roasted beef or roasted chicken. Use it as a topping for Shawarma, for an Omelet, eat it on Vanilla Ice Cream, use it as a dip for Soft Pretzels, drop some on your waffles, or spread it on a piece of toast.
Jammie Dodgers are a common British desert sandwich using short-bread biscuits (called cookies in the US), with a raspberry jam filling. Based on the size of the cookie cutters used, this recipe yields about 6 to 8 finished Jammie Dodgers, depending on the size of your cookie cutters.
Although this is vegetarian recipe, Bibimbap goes will with Korean Short Ribs, shredded Pork, or even grilled ground beef. Just like any Stir-Fry, there are two distinct phases:
1. Preparation
2. Cooking
The key to successfully implementing this recipe is the timing. Ensure that all your preparation work is complete before you begin the cooking phase.
Kimchi is one type of side dish (or Banchan) that is traditionally served with a Korean meal. This Kimchi is surprisingly easy to make and adds considerable depth to your meal. This dish can be prepared in a few minutes, then refrigerated a few hours to overnight.
Lavash is a traditional Armenian Cracker or Flatbread that has become popular throughout the Mid-East. The earliest Lavash recipes were more cracker then bread, but many regional Lavash variations do include yeast. This Lavash recipe stays true to the original Armenian tradition, providing a tasty cracker that is easy to make. In order to reach the desired consistency, bake for 10 minutes with a pot of boiling water in the oven, then remove the water and bake again to get the ideal browned and crisp texture.
Lavash is a traditional Armenian Cracker or Flatbread that has become popular throughout the Mid-East. The earliest Lavash recipes were more cracker then bread, but many regional Lavash variations do include yeast. This Lavash Flatbread includes yeast, providing a flatbread that is great as a wrap or as a rustic pizza dough.
This is an easy side dish to add some green to your meal. The Lime and Pecorino Cheese will kick your Brussels Sprouts to the next level.
This is a great dip to eat with vegetables or with a pita. Similar to Baba Ghanoush, however, Mama Ghanoush replaces the Eggplant and Tahini with tomatoes and Grilled Zucchini for a fuller and more hearty dip.
Marquis Potatoes are a versatile dish that can be eaten as a finger food or served as a side with a Beef Roast. This French potato recipe is made by piping mashed potatoes into donut-shaped rings, then baking the mashed potato donuts. The open center of the baked potatoes are filled with a savory sauce. This recipe uses a Tomato-based sauce. You can make mashed potatoes from scratch for this recipe, but instant mashed potatoes will reduce the prep time by more than an hour, with no real benefit to the recipe.
This slightly bitter concoction will provide a garlic super-kick for any soup or noddle dish. It can also be added to salads, sauces, dips, glazes, you name it.
Menemen (Turkish Eggs) is a made with tomatoes and scrambled eggs. The pan roasted tomatoes from the bottom of the pan provide a beautiful presentation and the smokey flavor of the Aleppo peppers, paired with the Jalapeño pepper, provides the perfect amount of heat. This quick and easy dish provides a single serving. To make multiple servings, just wipe out the inside of the pan with a paper towel and start again.
Rice is a staple for Mexican food. It can turn nearly any snack into a meal. This is an easy, traditional Mexican Rice that will accompany any Latino dish. You can add chopped, roasted Jalapeños for additional flavor. In order to scale, measure 1/4 dry Rice per serving. Measure out the Rice to Water ratio at 1:2.
When you want the taste of Mexican Street Corn, but Corn on the Cob is not in season, this handy recipe provides a year 'round solution using canned Sweet Corn. The Corn kernels turn a nice golden brown color as the sugars in the corn begin to carnalize. Although the addition of Ranch Dressing makes the recipe "less than authentic", it elevates the flavor profile in a unique way. This Street Corn is a tasty side dish for Tacos, Fajitas, or Mole.
This recipe provides a pretty exact flavor match to the white rice served at a certain fast food burrito chain, but without the salmonella. Rice is a staple for Mexican food. It can turn nearly any snack into a meal. This is an easy, traditional Mexican Rice that will accompany any Latino dish. You can add chopped, roasted Jalapeños for additional flavor. In order to scale, measure 1/4 cup dry Rice per serving. Measure out the Rice to Water ratio at 1:2. This recipe provides a pretty exact flavor match to the white rice served at a certain fast food burrito chain, but without the salmonella.
Although I am not really a fan of desserts, this is a great high-yield recipe with minimal effort. If you have a sweet tooth, this will satisfy it.
Mire Poix - (pronounced /mir pwaw/) is a classic base for soups and stews in French Cuisine. In the traditional form, this is a vegetarian base, however, you can add a few slices of fatback (also called salted pork) for a more complex flavor.
Khobz is a Moroccan White Bread that is best eaten the same day it is baked. In order to ensure that you have "freshly baked bread", the dough can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. This easy bread recipe is great for making sandwiches or eating with Shawarma.
Aleppo Peppers are originally from the Mid-East, named after a city in Syria. Aleppo is also known regionally as the Halaby pepper, pul biber, or Turkish red pepper flakes. Most Aleppo available in the U.S. is imported from Turkey or grown in the United States.The Aleppo Pepper is typically smoked and dried and then ground into flakes. It is similar to Hot Paprika, but with a slightly higher heat level.
Generally, Pizza Dough is best cooked at high temperatures, like 800° to 1500° F. However, most in-home ovens can only reach temperatures of 500° or 550° F. Although a Pizza Stone or a Cast Iron Pan does not increase the heat levels in your oven, it will hold the heat within your oven longer, allowing the dough to cook into a perfect crust. Add sauce to this dough, some meat and vegetable toppings, and a freshly shredded Mozzarella. 10 minutes later, it is Pizza time! Sugar is a commonly used to help yeast growth. Diastatic Malt Powder (NOT malted milk powder) is modified flour that can replace the sugar (3:1) and produce more active yeast with a higher rise and a finer crumb.
This pasta-free dish is full of flavor without all the carbs or gluten of a traditional lasagna. This dish is somewhat similar to the Middle-Eastern dish Moussaka, but without the béchamel. While this dish has a fairly long time-to-table, the flavor is worth the effort.
This marinade is a great for chicken, whitefish, or grilled vegetables. Marinade before cooking, then Apply more, liberally, for the final cooking phase and even more, as soon as it is removed from the oven.
This sweet and savory sauce is easy to make. This tasty reduction goes well with any white meat. It is a versatile base that can be mixed with a wide range of flavors, including Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Greek Yogurt, Creme Fraiche, and other flavors.
Roasting the tomatoes brings out a sweetness and a maturity of flavor that will build on the flavor of any recipe that calls for tomatoes.
Oven Roasted Cauliflower is a non-traditional cauliflower use that makes a great appetizer or even a main dish.
You can use a variety of seasonings to flavor Roasted Cauliflower
To be clear, this is not a traditional Korean recipe. This Roasted Corn recipe is a great addition to any Asian BBQ.
This recipe calls for either Russet potatoes or Yukon Golds. They each have a unique texture and can provide nice character to this dish: Russets will have a better crunch, while the Yukon Golds have a more creamy inside. In order to save time, the potatoes can be par-boiled up to a day in advance.
This is the way that Feta Cheese was meant to be eaten. This sweet, salty, nutty flavor goes great with Lavash Crackers and matches well with any Mediterranean food as an appetizer.
Pimentos are Bell Peppers that are ripened to a Red color. Pimentos are sweeter than the unripened green bell peppers. Pimentos (especially when roasted) can be used as a base for sauces, flavoring for mashed potatoes, added to rice dishes, stews, or other applications.
Any pepper can be roasted using this same method. Roasting a pepper will mellow the heat (for hot peppers) and caramelize the sugar to sweeten the flavor. Roasting a pepper will also give a slightly "smokey" flavor.
This salsa is made from scratch. The fresh ingredients add a sweet spice and the oven roasted ingredients provide a smokey spice. The heat level of this recipe is non-existent, but this salsa can be "heated" with anything from Poblano peppers, for a very mild heat, to Ghost Chilis that will knock your socks off.
Tomatillos may look like green tomatoes, but they are more closely related to peppers than tomatoes. Tomatillos have a slightly sour but very smooth flavor, Oven roasting them will produce a smoky counterpoint to the sour. A tasty addition to sauces, soups, stews, and chilis.
These fried potatoes are better then any restaurant fries. Using Golden Potatoes, instead of Russets or Red potatoes, will provide a soft, creamy side-dish that serves equally well with Roast Chicken or on the side of Cheeseburger Sliders. These potatoes can be sprinkled with fresh Scallions, Chopped Parsley, Smoked Paprika, or served with Shredded, melted Cheese on top.
This steakhouse favorite is a sweet and tasty side to accompany the finest steak or roast dishes.
Peperonata is a classic Sicilian stew recipe made by stewing together bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. This dish is great as a side dish with grilled chicken, an appetizer with toasted bread, an accompaniment to polenta, a Bruschetta replacement, or as a sauce over pasta.
The traditional Peruvian potato is purple in color. Although purple potatoes provide a beautifully unique presentation for your finished meal, there is not a lot of difference, taste or nutritionally, between purple potatoes and their North American cousins. If Purple potatoes are available, they are great in this recipe. However, then can be easily replaced with Gold or Red potatoes. However, the high starch content found in Russet potatoes make them less than ideal for this recipe. So stick with Purple, Gold, or Red.
This easy relish provides a spicy and flavorful addition to spice up your meal. Use it on sandwiches, burgers, or eggs.
Pickled Onions are a versitile condiment that can go on your Hot Dog or your Tacos. Use them on Burgers, Nachos, you name it.
Pico de Gallo (meaning "rooster beak" or "rooster's peck") is a common vegetable blend that is traditionally added to Latino food.
I initially discovered Pitot at a Jewish Vegetarian restaurant in Lower Manhattan. It is the perfect companion for Shakshouka, Hummus, or as a wrap for a tasty Gyro.. After a bit of trial and error, I have reverse engineered the recipe so that you can create these in your own kitchen.
This quick and easy red sauce can compliment pasta, be served over grilled vegetables, or used as a pizza sauce. Enjoy the convenience of a flavorful marinara sauce that can literally be put together in minutes and requires no cooking, before adding it to the pizza.
This red sauce will provide a nice change when you want something other than the standard marinara sauce.
This tangy sauce works well over tacos, grilled chicken, or steamed fish. This sauce can be made with either Greek Yogurt or with Crème Fraîche. Both of which can be homemade (see the related links) or store bought.
This sauce goes well on roast pork or roast chicken. Drizzle over the Roast just before serving for a sweet/sour fruity finish. For a variation, replace the Pomegranate Molasses with something like Raspberry Jam.
Pomegranate Molasses is a traditional Middle-Eastern cooking and finishing sauce for lamb and other meats. Most recipes add sugar (and then lemon juice, to offset the super sweetness) in order to thicken the molasses more easily. This recipe is the traditional method for Pomegranate Molasses, containing only a single ingredient: Pomegranate Juice. A few drops of Pomegranate Molasses can be added to Ginger Ale to make a sweet-sour Shirley Temple or it can be drizzled over vanilla ice cream for a fruity treat.
Quiche Meringue is a unique breakfast dish that is relatively easy to make. Phyllo Dough is available from most grocery stores, in your refrigerated section. To reduce preparation time, you an replace the Phyllo Dough with Canned Refrigerated Croissant dough.
You can replace the Ham with Chicken cubes or even Steak cubes. Additional vegetables could be added, like grilled tomatoes or chopped peppers.
This Turkish Pita Bread is a simple recipe, with a "time to table" of only about 1 hour. Pita is a great addition to Shawarma, just make sure that you have plenty of Tzatziki.
Flognarde or Flonarde (pronounced /floo-nyard/) is a French fruit dessert, traditionally made with a stiff custard, almost like flan. Flognarde can include wheat flour, or corn starch. While Flognarde is traditionally made with milk and cream, I have found Greek Yogurt to provide the perfect low-fat replacement. For additional flavor variations, you can also replace the raspberries with other fruits or berries, like apples, pear, blackberries, etc. If you use black cherries, the dish is called Clafoutis (pronounced /kla-fu-ti/).
As we all learned from watching the movie of the same name, ratatouille (pronounced /rat-a-too-ee/) is a generally regarded as a "peasant stew". This means that it was typically made with whatever ingredients the cook had on hand. I have seen many different recipes for ratatouille. It seems that the only ingredient that is required to make ratatouille, is eggplant. Here is my ratatouille recipe..
Canned diced tomatoes usually contain preservatives that prevent the tomatoes from breaking down into a nice sauce. Canned whole tomatoes, on the other hand, will break down better when simmered and provide a smother, thicker sauce. The caramelized sugars from the roasted tomatoes make this roasted cauliflower side-dish pair perfectly with Pork or with Chicken. Just make sure that you reserve some of the flavorful tomato sauce to use as a finishing sauce for the accompanying meat. To make this meal Keto compatible, leave out the Brown Sugar and the Raisins.
These Sous Vide Eggplants can be cooked ahead of time and then refrigerated (unopened) up to 1 week, or frozen up to 6 months. For the final preparation, just toss the bag back in the Sous Vide at a lower temperature (while preparing a meat dish) and heat for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
When I was young, Brussels Sprouts had a foul, bitter, sulfurous taste. In the interest of extending the shelf-life of Brussels Sprouts, growers had opted to sacrifice the flavor for a more durable product. However, in the mid 1990's, researchers selectively bred a Brussels Sprout that had a long shelf life, without the horrid flavor. As a result, Brussels Sprouts today are quite flavorful and can provide a tasty addition to any meal.
Okra has a bad reputation as a slimy, strange tasting vegetable. However, this roasted Okra is a crispy side dish that is easy to make and tastes so good that you will want to add it to every meal.
Roasted Spaghetti Squash has a flesh that naturally resembles spaghetti strands. Spaghetti Squash can be served with marinara sauce or with nothing more than a pinch of salt. Additionally, the seeds can be reserved and roasted, much like roast pumpkin seeds.
Confit (pronounced /kon-'fi/) is an ancient food preservation method that involves cooking food at a low temperature, usually in oil or grease. Garlic Confit can be refrigerated for a few weeks and used as a spread on French Bread or as garlic seasoning. The oil carries a delicious roasted garlic/rosemary flavor and can be used as a replacement for any savory dish that calls for Olive Oil. WARNING: Due to the risk of botulism growth, the finished Confit should be stored in the refrigerator and should be kept no more than 3 weeks.
This salsa can be used as a dip with chips at the dining table, while watching the game, or as a sauce for tacos or enchiladas before cooking.
Shakshouka (sometimes called Saksouka) is a staple of Tunisian, Libyan, Algerian, Moroccan, and Egyptian cuisines. It is also a common breakfast and dinner food in Israel and often eaten with bread to soak up the sauces. This recipe is specialized to make in a slow cooker.
This is an easy meal that uses fresh ingredients. Serve as a main dish, or as a side with grilled chicken.
These oven-baked sheet pan Pancakes are the perfect versatile breakfast treat. If you are using Blueberries, mixing them into the batter will dye your batter a blueish-gray color. This can be prevented by dropping in each Blueberry after all the mixing and pouring is complete. The Flavorings in this recipe can be replaced with any other Pancake add-in: Strawberries, Chocolate and Caramel, Candies, whatever you like.
Potato Cakes are a great side dish, appetizer, or even a tasty snack to use leftover Mashed Potatoes. Potato Cakes can be pan-fried or oven-baked.
This sauce originally comes from Spain with local versions found in nearly every Latin country. There are likely as many variations to Sofrito, as there are people who make it. The core ingredients are Onions, Greeen Bell Peppers, and Garlic. Sofrito can be prepared beforehand in large quantities, then refrigerated or frozen until needed.
Using the Sous Vide to prepare Corn can save time. The Corn can be prepared before-hand, then easily re-heated when it is time to serve.
As with any Stir Fry, there are 2 distinct phases of making this meal: the preparation phase and the cooking phase. In order to ensure the that the various ingredients are not overcooked, all of the ingredients should be prepared and measured during the preparation phase, before you begin cooking. Stir Fry is supposed to be a high heat process; ensure that the wok is well heated so that the oil begins to smoke before you begin cooking. Otherwise, the food will stick to the wok.
Stir Fried Eggplant is a great Side Dish for any Asian dish. AND you can put this all together and have it ready to eat in about half an hour.
Manicotti is a type of pasta, shaped into large tubes and are usually filled with a ricotta or cottage cheese filling and then covered with pasta sauce. Manicotti can provide a nice variation to the typical "Plate of Noodles and Red Sauce".
Stuffed Mushrooms are a largely underrated and versatile meal. This recipe uses only ingredients that are included in Phase 3 of the Keystone Approach diet. Variations to this recipe could include non-Keystone foods, such as tomatoes and peppers.
I have eaten this sauce for years in various Thai Food restaurants. I am not sure what the sauce is actually called, but the various Waiters usually refer to it as "Little Bit Sweet, Little Bit Spicy" Sauce. Start by making a rich simple syrup (with a sugar:water ratio of 2:1). Allow the syrup to cool, then add Apple Cider Vinegar and Chili Garlic Sauce.
Nothing beats a good bowl of soup on a cold day, and the only proper way to eat a grilled cheese sandwich is by dipping it in a bowl of good Tomato Soup. Tomato is perhaps the most basic of soups, but this is the best Tomato Soup I have ever eaten. To make this recipe compatible with the Keto diet, use Chicken Stock instead of Mire Poix, and leave out the Bread Crumbs.
This soft and fluffy "Milk Bread" is a wonderful compliment to Shawarma or with a bowl of Chili. The finished bread has a soft, spongey texture that holds its shape and bounces back when squeezed.
Tzatziki (pronounced /zat-ziki/) is a traditional Greek Yogurt Sauce. Cacik (pronounced /jah-'jik/) is the same sauce, but from Turkey. Tzatziki can be used with meat dishes or as a dip for Crudites.
Udon Noodles is a traditional Japanese dish, but the noodles have a thicker, more silky texture than their more popular Ramen cousin. Traditional Udon Broth calls for Light Soy Sauce (that is different from the low-sodium "Lite" Soy Sauce) and Dark Soy Sauce. The inclusion of both types of Soy will provide a more full savory flavor. If Dark Soy Sauce is not available, replace the Dark Soy Sauce with 2 additional Tablespoons of Light Soy Sauce (frequently labeled "Soy Sauce"). Additionally, Mirin (containing alcohol) is also a traditional ingredient. This recipe replaces the Mirin with Rice Wine Vinegar.
Wassail is a festive holiday fruity drink that is typically consumed warm. This drink has the added benefit of making the whole house smell like Christmas exploded in your kitchen. This Wassail can simmer all day long. Just spoon the servings directly into mugs, while the pot continues to simmer.
This cool refreshing drink is perfect for a hot Summer Day
Feta Cheese is a staple of Mediterranean food. Mixing Feta Cheese with Greek Yogurt results in a tangy, creamy texture for a flavorful dipping sauce, or a tasty topping to any Mediterranean dish. Use this dip as a healthy and fresh Mediterranean replacement for 7 Layer Nacho dip.
Although potatoes cooked in the Sous Vide take about 30 minutes longer than baking in the oven, using the Sous Vide to cook potatoes is an easy option that ensures that the oven is available to prepare other parts of the meal. And if you set the Sous Vide to the correct time and temperature, you will end up with perfect potatoes, every time.
