Chickpeas and Pasta with Herbs and Anchovies

Ingredients Pasta and Base 450g (1 pound) cavatelli, orecchiette, or ditalini pasta Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 60ml (¼ cup) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving Flavor Components 8-10 oil-packed anchovy fillets, roughly chopped (or vegetarian substitute - see notes) 4 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced 30ml (2 tablespoons) chopped fresh sage 30ml (2 tablespoons) minced fresh rosemary Chickpeas Two 440g (15½-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained 120ml (½ cup) reserved chickpea liquid (aquafaba) Finishing 1-2ml (¼ to ½ teaspoon) red pepper flakes 10ml (2 teaspoons) grated lemon zest 30ml (2 tablespoons) fresh lemon juice Equipment Large pot for pasta 12-inch skillet Wooden spoon or pasta fork Fine grater for lemon zest Instructions Stage 1: Cook the Pasta (10 minutes) Bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a large pot Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt Cook, stirring occasionally, until just shy of al dente (about 1 minute less than package directions) Reserve ¾ cup of the pasta cooking water Drain pasta and return to pot; set aside off heat Stage 2: Build the Sauce (5 minutes) Heat ¼ cup olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat Add anchovies (or substitute), garlic, sage, and rosemary Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant and garlic turns golden (1½ to 2 minutes) Add drained chickpeas and red pepper flakes Cook, stirring and swirling the skillet, until chickpeas are sizzling and turn golden (3 to 4 minutes) Stir in reserved chickpea liquid and lemon zest Stage 3: Combine and Finish (5 minutes) Scrape the entire chickpea mixture into the pot with the pasta Set pot over medium heat Add ½ cup reserved pasta water, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper Cook, stirring constantly, until pasta reaches al dente (2 to 3 minutes) Add more pasta water as needed until sauce clings to pasta Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice Taste and adjust seasoning with salt Notes Vegetarian Anchovy Substitutes White or red miso paste (2-3 tablespoons) - provides similar umami depth Capers (2-3 tablespoons, chopped) - adds brininess and tang Kalamata or oil-cured olives (¼ cup, chopped) - brings saltiness and complexity Nutritional yeast (2-3 tablespoons) - offers umami and slight nuttiness Mushroom powder or dried porcini (1-2 tablespoons, rehydrated) - deep earthy umami Soy sauce or tamari (1-2 tablespoons) - liquid umami boost Sun-dried tomatoes in oil (¼ cup, chopped) - concentrated savory flavor Combination approach: 1 tablespoon miso + 1 tablespoon capers + splash of soy sauce Make-Ahead Tips Chickpea mixture can be prepared up to Stage 2 and refrigerated for up to 2 days Reheat gently before combining with freshly cooked pasta Variations Add a handful of baby spinach or arugula at the end for greens Include halved cherry tomatoes for freshness Top with toasted breadcrumbs for texture Use butter beans or cannellini beans instead of chickpeas Storage Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days Reheat gently with a splash of water or olive oil to loosen the sauce Not recommended for freezing as pasta texture will suffer Source Adapted from Milk Street, featuring Chef Vladimiro Gori of Osteria Su Santa Trinita ...

September 11, 2025

Braised Whole Cauliflower alla Diavola

Whole cauliflower gets the pot-roast treatment in this Italian-inspired dish, braising in a spicy tomato sauce enriched with garlic and green olives. The cauliflower emerges fork-tender and infused with flavor, topped with golden-brown pecorino Romano that creates an irresistible crust. Ingredients 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving 6 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced 3/4 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano Kosher salt and ground black pepper 120ml (1/2 cup) dry white wine 1 can (794g/28 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand 120ml (1/2 cup) pitted green olives, roughly chopped 1 head cauliflower (900g-1.1kg/2 to 2 1/2 pounds), trimmed 60g (2 ounces) pecorino Romano cheese, finely grated (about 240ml/1 cup), plus more for serving 60ml (1/4 cup) fresh basil leaves, lightly packed and roughly chopped Optional Accompaniments Creamy polenta Crusty bread for serving Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling Equipment Dutch oven with lid (5-6 quart capacity) Sharp knife for trimming Skewer for testing doneness Wide metal spatula Large spoon or tongs Instructions Preparation Position oven rack: Adjust rack to lower-middle position. Preheat oven: Heat to 425°F (220°C). Trim cauliflower: Remove any leaves and trim the base flat, keeping the head intact. Making the Braising Liquid Bloom aromatics: In a Dutch oven over medium heat, combine oil, garlic, pepper flakes, oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until garlic is lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Add wine: Pour in white wine and simmer until reduced to approximately 2 tablespoons, 5-6 minutes. Build sauce: Stir in crushed tomatoes with their juices, olives, 120ml (1/2 cup) water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then remove from heat. Braising Process Stage 1 - Initial braising (50-55 minutes): Place cauliflower stem-end down in the pot. Spoon some sauce over the top to coat. Cover with lid, transfer to oven, and cook until a skewer inserted straight down into the center meets just slight resistance, 50-55 minutes. ...

August 30, 2025

Miso-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

A simple yet flavorful preparation of Brussels sprouts, enhanced with the savory umami of white miso paste and a touch of sweetness from honey or maple syrup. The hot cast iron skillet helps achieve a beautiful caramelization on the cut surfaces of the sprouts. Source Original recipe transcription Change Log Initial documentation Yield Serves 3-4 as a side dish Special Equipment Large cast iron skillet Preheat Oven Temperature: 400°F (205°C) Position rack in center of oven Place cast iron skillet in oven to preheat Ingredients Brussels sprouts, halved (approximately 450g or 1 pound) White miso paste (30g or 2 tablespoons) Neutral oil like grapeseed or avocado (15ml or 1 tablespoon) Rice vinegar (5ml or 1 teaspoon) Honey or maple syrup (15ml or 1 tablespoon) Garlic, minced (2 cloves) Preparation Wash and trim Brussels sprouts, cutting them in half lengthwise In a large bowl, combine white miso paste, neutral oil, rice vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), and minced garlic Toss halved Brussels sprouts in the miso mixture until evenly coated Bake/Cook Carefully remove the hot cast iron skillet from the oven Place the coated Brussels sprouts cut-side down on the hot skillet Return skillet to oven and roast at 400°F (205°C) for 20-25 minutes until crispy on the outside and tender inside The sugars in the miso and honey will help them caramelize beautifully

March 5, 2025

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

Sauced Shrimp with Lemon, Garlic, and Parsley

This recipe has been modified slightly to include the addition of dry white wine and reduction of butter from 3 to 1 tablespoons. Source http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/sauteed-shrimp-with-lemon-garlic-and-parsley-51262060 Ingredients 1 pound fresh, medium-sized shrimp 1 bunch flat leaf parsley 4 cloves garlic 1 lemon ½ cup dry white wine 1 tablespoons butter Sea salt Freshly cracked pepper Preparation Clean and devein shrimp In cold water, clean and devein shrimp. Set aside on a paper towel to absorb any excess water. Saute In a large saute pan on medium-low heat, add enough olive oil to coat. Add 4 cloves of minced garlic. Add your shrimp so they are all even on the bottom of the pan. Add the zest of one lemon Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes and flip. Deglaze with wine Add wine and deglaze pan. Simmer until most of the wine has evaporated. Finish Finish with: Handful of fresh chopped parsley The juice of the lemon One tablespoon of butter. Serve Serve hot with a baguette for dipping and/or with pasta. ...

March 1, 2015

Ratatouille

Source This reciepe is loosely transcribed from Recette de MA RATATOUILLE aux LÉGUMES du JARDIN by POPOTE et POTAGER. Equipment Large skillet, I prefer a 12" to 15" cast iron Large Dutch oven Ingredients Olive oil Onions (two to three, I use one red and one yellow medium-sized onions) 1 shallot 7 to 8 Garlic cloves 3 bell peppers, cut into bite-sized pieces 3 zucchini, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 yellow squash, cut into bite-sized pieces 2 eggplants, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 kilo tomatos, cut into bite-sized pieces Several springs of Thyme 1 to 2 sprigs of Rosemary Prep Cut all vegetables into bite-sized pieces, keeping each vegetable in its own bowl. Peel the garlic cloves and slice if desired. Method Onions, Shallots and Garlic Heat the skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil to the skillet. Add the onions and shallots to the skillet and cook until browned and slightly caramelized. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Remove the onions and shallots from the skillet and put in the Dutch oven. Bell Peppers Add olive oil to the skillet. Cook the bell peppers until soft and slightly browned. Remove the bell peppers from the skillet and put in the Dutch oven. Zuichini and Yellow Squash Add olive oil to the skillet. Cook the zuichini and yellow squash until soft and slightly browned. Remove the zuichini and yellow squash from the skillet and put in the Dutch oven. Eggplant Add olive oil to the skillet. Cook the eggplant until soft and slightly browned. Remove the eggplant from the skillet and put in the Dutch oven. Tomatos and Herbs Add the tomatos to the Dutch oven. Stir the contents of the Dutch oven to combine. Add the thyme and rosemary to the Dutch oven. Simmer Simmer the contents of the Dutch oven for at least 40 minutes. Notes I like to serve this with a crusty bread and a nice red wine. Ratatouille can be served hot or cold. The dish can also be served with gnocchi or pasta. The flavors of the dish can be enhanced with a little soy sauce to add depth and umami. Paprika can be added to the dish to add a little heat.