Simple Tomato Sauce

This is a simple tomato sauce by Samin Nosrat via NY Times. Equipment Medium Dutch oven Large bowl Hand/immersion blender, blender, food processor, or food mill Ingredients 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 5 cups diced yellow onions, red onions or shallots Fine sea salt 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled, diced, crushed or puréed tomatoes 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 4 to 5 basil stems ¼ teaspoon red-pepper flakes Preparation Cook Onions Set a medium Dutch oven or similar pot over medium heat, and add 4 tablespoons olive oil. When the oil shimmers, add onions and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring regularly, until onions are lightly golden and tender, 16 to 18 minutes. While the Onions Cook In the meantime, pour the tomatoes into a large bowl and use hands to crush, if using whole tomatoes. Pour about 1 1/2 cups water into the can and swirl to rinse any remaining purée off the sides. Add the water to the tomatoes in the bowl and set aside. Add Garlic & Tomatoes Once onions are soft and golden, add garlic and cook, stirring until it threatens to turn golden, about 90 seconds. Add tomato paste and cook until color deepens, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and season with salt. Add basil stems and red-pepper flakes. Simmer Stirring regularly, allow sauce to come to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until sauce tastes savory and all raw tomato flavor is gone, about 45 minutes. Finish Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and add remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Use a hand blender to purée, pass through a food mill or let cool, then purée using a blender or food processor. Tomato sauce can be made 1 day in advance and refrigerated or frozen up to 3 months.

March 15, 2021

Chili and Garlic Shrimp

Quick and easy, mildly spicy, deeply flavorful. Guajillo chiles can be easy purchased in most markets or online. Equipment 12-inch nonstick skillet Kitchen shears Blender or food processor Ingredients 30 grams dried guajillo chiles 1/2 cup water 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce 6 cloves garlic; 2 chopped, 4 sliced thin 1 teaspoon salt, divided 907 grams (2 lbs) extra-large shrimp (21 to 25 per pound); peeled, deveined, and tails removed 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in two pieces 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro Preparation Chiles Using kitchen shears, stem guajillos- cut in half lengthwise and discard seeds. Cut guajillos into 1-inch pieces. Place guajillos In 12-once nonstick skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until fragrant; 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer guajillos to a food processor or blender and and process until finely ground; about 2 minutes. Add water, Worcestershire, chopped garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Blend until smooth; set aside. Shrimp Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with cumin, cayenne, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add half the shrimp in an even layer and cook, without stirring, just until shrimp begin to brown on the bottom, but tops are still raw- about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and remaining shrimp. Transfer second batch to bowl with first batch. Combine Reduce heat to low. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and sliced garlic to now-empty skillet. Cook until garlic is fragrant and golden brown; about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved chili sauce. Add shrimp. Cook until shrimp are just cooked through; about 1 minute. Finish Off heat, stir in lime juice and buttter until butter is melted. Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

November 27, 2020

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Using one sugar/pie pumpkin, split in half and remove seeds. Briefly wash seeds in cool water, removing any strings and pulp which may still be attached. If roasting a sugar pumpkin, place the seeds in a bowl, cover with water, and add a tablespoon of salt. Let the seeds sit while the pumpkin is roasting. Once the pumpkin has roasted, use your fingers to remove any additional pulp or strings which may still be present. ...

October 10, 2020

Spanish Shrimp and Chickpea Stew

Notes This is a solid recipe, but might do well with a few tweaks. The “sauce” at might be better if developed as a roux. Browned butter with a little flour? Also, the flavor profile could use a little more umami- fish sauce, worcestershire, or soy sauce. Special Equipment Large dutch oven Slotted spoon Ingredients 2 tablespoons smoked paprika 1 tablespoon sweet paprika Kosher salt and ground black pepper 1 pound extra-large (21/25 per pound) shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails left on 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to serve 2 tablespoons salted butter 2 teaspoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon all purpose flour 1 medium leek, white and light green parts halved lengthwise, thinly sliced, rinsed and dried 4 medium garlic cloves, minced 1 15½ ounce can chickpeas, ½ cup liquid reserved, drained 8 ounce bottle clam juice Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, to serve Method Season Shrimp In a medium bowl, stir together both paprikas and ¾ teaspoon pepper. Measure 2 tablespoons of the mixture into a small bowl and set aside. Add the shrimp to the paprika mixture in the medium bowl and toss to coat. Set aside. Brown Shrimp In a large Dutch oven over medium-high, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the shrimp in an even layer; reserve the bowl. Cook without stirring until browned on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, return the shrimp to the bowl. Combine Ingredients In the Dutch oven over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the leek and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and the reserved paprika mixture. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add soy sauce and flour and cook another 2 minutes to develop a roux. Finish Stir in: Chickpeas Reserved chickpea liquid Clam juice Bring to a simmer, then reduce to low, cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice. Meanwhile, remove the tails from the shrimp and cut each in half crosswise. Serve Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the shrimp along with accumulated juices. Cover and let stand until the shrimp are opaque throughout, 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with parsley and drizzled with additional oil.

May 6, 2020

Chole Palak (Chickpeas With Spinach)

Source http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2009/07/07/chole-palak-chickpeas-with-spinach/ Special Equipment Food processor Ingredients 1 15oz can of chickpea 3 cups finely chopped spinach 2 medium tomatoes chopped ½″piece ginger 1 green chili (Serrano pepper) 3 tablespoon olive oil ¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing) 1 teaspoon cumin seed 1 tablespoon coriander powder ½ teaspoon turmeric one to two crushed dried red chili peppers, to taste ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste ½ cup water ½ teaspoon garam masala Preparation Drain chickpeas; rinse well. Purée Purée in food processor: Tomatoes Green chilies/Serrano pepper Ginger Cook tomato purée Heat oil in a saucepan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; when the seed cracks, oil is ready. Add the asafetida and cumin seeds. When the cumin seeds crack, add: Tomato puree Coriander powder Turmeric Red chili peppers Cook three to four minutes on medium heat. The tomato mixture will separate from the oil and reduce to about half in quantity. Add Spinach Add to saucepan: Spinach Salt Water Cook, covered, four to five minutes on medium heat. Add Chickpeas Add chickpeas; mash them lightly with a spatula. Add more water as needed to keep the gravy consistency to your liking. Cook on low heat for seven to eight minutes. Serve Add garam masala Serve with bread and/or rice.

March 28, 2020

Egg Curry

This versatile dish can be used as a base for various proteins. The original recipe called for adding hard-boiled eggs. This version instructs to crack eggs atop the curry and poach for a few minutes. Ingredients ¼ cup neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola 2 medium yellow onions, chopped 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons) 2 small cinnamon sticks 6 green cardamom pods 1 teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon ground turmeric ½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns 6 Roma tomatoes, finely chopped 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup water ½ teaspoon garam masala Preparation Caramelize Onions In a medium, heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until evenly caramelized and light brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Add spices Stir in the garlic and ginger, and fry, stirring occasionally, another 4 minutes. Add the cinnamon and cardamom. When the spices start to toast, after about 2 minutes, stir in the coriander, turmeric, and peppercorns. Final Prep Add the tomatoes, salt and 1 cup water. Cook, stirring occasionally until the mixture thickens and the fat rises to the top, about 15 minutes. Stir in the garam masala and lower the heat. If the sauce isn’t runny, stir in 1/2 cup water. Eggs/Protein These are suggestions: ...

March 27, 2020

Indian Spiced Tomato and Egg Casserole

Equipment 9-inch-square baking dish 10-inch skillet Medium saucepan Preheat Oven Preheat oven to 375°F. Ingredients 1 ½ pounds sweet potatoes, diced ½ cup olive oil 1 yellow onion, diced 1 poblano pepper, seeded if desired, finely chopped 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded if desired, finely chopped tablespoons finely chopped peeled ginger 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground garam masala ½ teaspoon ground coriander 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes ½ cup chopped fresh mint, more for garnish 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or basil, more for garnish 6 eggs Black pepper, as needed Salt to taste Preparation Cook Potatoes Add olive oil and potatoes to a 10" skillet Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until potatoes are softened. Sauce In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until almost tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in peppers and cook 3 minutes. Add to the pot and cook 1 minute: ginger garlic cumin garam masala coriander Stir in tomatoes and ½ teaspoon salt. Simmer over medium-low heat, breaking up tomatoes with a fork, 15 minutes. Stir in mint and cilantro or basil. Taste and adjust seasonings. Bake Place potatoes in a single layer in a 9-inch-square baking dish. Pour the hot tomato sauce over potatoes. Transfer pan to 375°F oven and bake 20 minutes. Eggs Remove dish from oven. Make six wells in the tomato mixture. Crack eggs into wells and season with salt and pepper. Bake until egg whites are set but yolks are still runny, 8 to 13 minutes.

December 9, 2019

Cranberry Sauce

This is a tart rendition of a classic cranberry sauce. Some recipes indicate using a minimum of 6 tablespoons of sugar per 4 cups of cranberries, others indicate as much as a cup of sugar. Sweeten as desired to accomidate invididual tastes. Just remember: you can always add sugar, but you can’t take it out. Ingredients 4 cups whole cranberries 1 cups water 4 tablespoons sugar Pinch of salt ¼ cup orange juice or Grand Marnier (optional) Preparation In a medium saucepan, combine: cranberries water sugar salt Let the sauce boil until it thickens; the water will evaporate and the pectin in the cranberries will be activated as it cooks. Let it boil for at least 10 minutes, and up to 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in juice or liqueur, if using. Serve or then cover sauce and chill.

November 28, 2019

Banana Pudding

Source https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015130-banana-pudding Equipment Stand Mixer 13x9" baking dish Preheat Oven Preheat oven to 350°F Ingredients 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar, divided: ¾ cup + ½ cup ⅓ cup cornstarch 4 cups whole milk 4 large eggs, separated and divided 1 teaspoon vanilla ¼ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 11-ounce box nilla wafers 3 to 4 bananas, depending on size Preparation Custard Whisk together in a pot set over medium heat: ¾ cup of sugar Cornstarch Milk Egg yolks Cook, stirring constantly, until it just begins to bubble, 10 to 15 minutes. Turn heat down slightly, and allow the mixture to simmer, still stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove the mixture from heat. Whisk in vanilla, salt, and butter. Meringue Into a heatproof stand mixer bowl, whisk together: Egg whites Cream of tartar ½ cup of sugar Set bowl over a medium saucepan of simmering water. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is hot to touch, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the stand mixer fitted with a whisk, and beat until stiff, about 5 to 7 minutes. Bake Line a 13-by-9-inch oven-safe casserole pan with one layer of Nilla wafers and one layer of banana slices. Pour the custard over the bananas and cookies. Use a spatula to spread the meringue over the custard. Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the peaks are the color of a toasted marshmallow. Allow to rest until ready to serve.

June 6, 2019

Lebanese Lentils and Rice with Crisped Onions

Source Milk Street, May 2019 Special Equipment Large dutch oven 12" skillet A paper-towel-lined plate Kitchen towel Ingredients 5 cups water 4 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled 4 bay leaves 2 ½ teaspoons ground cumin ½ teaspoons ground allspice 1 tablespoon salt ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black Pepper 1 cup brown lentils, rinsed and drained 1 cup basmati rice, rinsed and drained 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced Preparation Water and Spices In a large Dutch oven over medium-high, combine: 5 cups water garlic bay leaves cumin allspice salt pepper Add Lentils Bring to a boil, then add lentils. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat to maintain a simmer until lentils are softened but still quite firm at the center- about 10 minutes. Add Rice Stir in rice, return to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the lentils and rice are tender- about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, cook onions In a 12" skillet, heat oil until shimmering. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally at first and then more frequently once browning begins, until the onions are deeply caramelized and crisped- about 10 to 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the onions to a paper-towel-lined plate, spread thin and evenly. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt and set aside. Finish Once the lentils and rice are tender, remove from heat, uncover, lay a kitchen towel over the pot, and place the cover over the towel for 10 minutes. Remove cover and towel, fluff with a fork. Discard bay leaves. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Stir in half the scallions. Transfer to a serving bowl. Top with the onions and remaining scallions. Serve.

March 3, 2019