A long time ago, when I first started using fresh tomatoes in recipes, I dutifully followed instructions to rid the tomato halves of their juice and seeds. Then I realized that most of that addictive savory flavor (or umami, if you will) of tomatoes resides in the juicy pulp that surrounds the seeds. So much [...]
One of my favorite “sneak” ingredients is pomegranate molasses*. I say “sneak” because it isn’t very well-known outside of Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean cookery, yet its tangy flavor is reminiscent of another sour/tart fruit (tamarind) that’s in one of our most beloved sauces: Worcestershire. That same sour/tart dimension can be found in Indian chutneys, island curries, [...]
Traditional tapenade includes the holy trinity of salty garnishing ingredients: olives, anchovies, and capers. It’s an intense blend of flavors and a perfect example of the “a little goes a long way” school of thought. For this batch, though, I’ve decided to go alter the main ingredients and go with the holy trinity of umami, [...]
From ras-el-hanout to harissa to preserved lemons, Moroccan cuisine features some of the most stunning flavors on the planet. Sadly, there’s no Moroccan restaurant in my neck of the woods, but it’s easy to include some signature North African inspiration when you’re in your own kitchen. To make this batch of salsa, I blended sautéed [...]
Continue reading about Blending the Familiar with the Exotic: A Taste of North Africa
This is a tale of two culinary possibilities: turning a classic pasta dish into a pizza of sorts and how to save your summer tomato surplus without having to resort to canning. I’m all for canning, mind you, but it’s a lot easier to throw something into a bag than can it. The fact that [...]
Raw bell peppers are delicious, but roasted bell peppers are even better. They’re also ridiculously easy to roast yourself: just put the pepper(s) on the center oven rack and roast for 20 minutes at 425F. Immediately drop the pepper(s) into a plastic zip-loc bag, seal, and let sit until cool enough to handle. (The cooling-off [...]
They call it raita in India, tzatziki in the Middle East, and tarator in Bulgaria. We call it tartar sauce, and we make it with pickles instead of cucumbers and mayonnaise instead of yogurt. Frankly, though, it’s time to revisit the original versions for some inspiration, because rich, creamy Greek yogurt kicks commercial mayonnaise to [...]
Continue reading about Adventures in Sauce (or How to Make the Dip Your Own)
When it comes to vegetables, you can’t beat the roasted ones. The slow-cooking process (as opposed to a quick pan fry) both accentuates and moderates the flavor of everything from beets to zucchini. The prize for Most Amazing Transformation probably goes to garlic, which turns into a creamy, smooth paste that’s almost sweet. It occurred [...]
This African-influenced stew hovers somewhere between being a thick, Italian pomodoro sauce and American chili. You can spoon it over rice or couscous, serve it with crispy flatbread (in this case, a toasted pita with Parmesan cheese), or eat it all on its own. Be sure, though, to buy good-quality tomato sauce–it will be the [...]
What other fruit is made into sauce, juice, chutney, relish…and is equally delicious served alongside chicken or in a chocolate cake? Not only are cranberries one of the few fruits native to the U.S., they’re also amongst our most-consumed. I like to slip them into baked goods: pumpkin bread, blueberry muffins, and brownies become even [...]
