Soups and Stews

Squash Soup with Ginger Cream

Serves 6 to 8 Use whatever hard-skinned squash that you can find, like butternut, pumpkin, calabaza. For a vegan version, use olive oil instead of butter, omit the milk and whipped cream garnish. Add 1 cup of raw cashews in Step 2, which will make the blended soup creamy. Ingredients […]

Desserts

Sticky Rice with Mangoes (Kao Niaw Ma Muang)

Makes 4 servings Ingredients Sticky Rice 2 cups sticky rice, soaked for at least 4 to 6 hours or overnight 1/3 cup coconut milk 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or as needed 2 pandanus leaves, tied in a knot Coconut Topping 1 cup coconut milk 1 1/2 tablespoons […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks

Stuffed Grapes Leaves

Makes 16 Ingredients 1/2 cup olive oil 1 cup minced onions 1/2 cup minced fennel 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 cup short-grain rice 1 1/2 cups finely diced tomato Salt, to taste Ground black pepper, to taste 1/4 cup minced scallions, white portion only 1/4 cup minced parsley 1/4 cup […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks, Main Dishes

Swordfish Carpaccio

Serves 6 to 8 Fish carpaccio is very common in regions where fresh fish is available. It is often cured with an acid, usually lemon juice, and marinated with extra-virgin olive oil and herbs. Ingredients 1 1/2 lb swordfish Sea salt, as needed Freshly ground black pepper, as needed 2 […]

Main Dishes

Tacos de Carnitas (Succulent and Crispy Pork Tacos)

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 2 lb pork shoulder, cut into 2-in/5-cm cubes 1 lb pork ribs, cut into 2-bone segments 1 white onion, quartered 1 clove garlic 1 bay leaf Kosher salt, to taste 24 white corn tortillas 3 avocados, sliced 1 cup diced white onion, for garnish 3/4 cup […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Tips for Enjoying Beans

You may, for any number of reasons, be thinking that it’s time to introduce more beans into your routine. And we get it! They are vegetarian and vegan sources of protein, they are gluten-free, they are heart-healthy, and inexpensive. What’s not to love? But unless you grew up eating lots […]

Main Dishes

Vegetarian Dirty Rice

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 6 ounces pinto beans, canned 1/2 cup onion, diced 1/2 tablespoon garlic, minced 1 tablespoon peanut oil 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock 3/4 cup long grain rice 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons chipotle peppers, chopped 1 teaspoon cumin seeds Salt, […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Velvety Roasted Eggplant

For some veggies, we use the phrase roasting as a general term for cooking a vegetable whole to get after the tender flesh, like peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant. For eggplant, we scoop the velvety cooked flesh from the skin of the eggplant. This can be done in the oven (actual […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Walnut-Herb Sauce

Makes about 2 cups This flavorful but versatile sauce is perfect alongside grilled or roasted meats, poultry, fish and vegetables. Use it as a sandwich spread, as the base for a quick salad dressing, or even as a dip for raw vegetables. Watch this video to see how easy it […]