Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to: Make Chowders

Good chowders have a rich flavor, balancing the main flavoring ingredient(s) and supporting aromatic and finishing flavors, a velvety texture, and a lightly thickened consistency, similar to heavy cream. If you are making a shellfish-based chowder (clams, mussels, oysters, etc.), before beginning, steam the main ingredient in stock or water […]

Soups and Stews

Minestrone

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 oz pancetta (5 to 6 thin slices), chopped 1 1/2 cups chopped green cabbage 1 cup chopped yellow onion 1 cup sliced carrot 1/3 cup chopped celery 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 quarts Chicken Broth 1/2 cup peeled, medium-dice potatoes 1 […]

Soups and Stews

New England Clam Chowder

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 3 dozen chowder clams 2 1/2 cups bottled clam juice, or as needed 2 slices bacon, minced 1 1/4 cups diced onion 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 4 cups diced yellow or white potatoes 3 cups heavy cream or half and half 6 tablespoons dry sherry, or […]

Main Dishes

Picadillo Cubano

If you have leftovers, whip up a batch of empanada dough for picadillo empanadas. Ingredients 1 quart beef stock 1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus more as needed 10 oz Russet potato, peeled, small dice 1 lb ground beef 6 oz ham, small dice 10 oz yellow onions, small dice 8 […]

Main Dishes, One-Dish Meals

Piri Piri Chicken with Cauliflower and Potatoes

Makes 4 servings Piri piri sauce is spicy, but if you prefer something milder, substitute another red bell pepper for the Fresno chiles. Cauliflower and potatoes make this an easy one dish meal, but you serve this with French fries (that’s popular at quick-service Piri Piri shops!) or even just […]

Side Dishes

Pommes Frîtes (French Fries)

Makes 6 servings We all know what the “perfect French fry” is, and the beauty of making them at home is you get to decide what shape they will be, if they’ll have skin, and exactly how salty they will be. Use this classic French-style recipe as a guide, but […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Pot-Sticker Veggies

You may be familiar with pot stickers — dumplings cooked in a skillet until the bottom is brown and crisp and the filling is cooked and juicy. The pot sticker cooking method is simple. You sear the bottom of the dumpling in a bit of oil. Then you add a […]

Main Dishes

Potato and Cheddar Pierogi

Makes 6 servings This is a classic filling for these Polish dumplings, but you can jazz it up with your favorite flavors, like drained sauerkraut, roasted garlic, or crumbled crispy bacon. Ingredients Dough 1/2 cup water 1 2/3 cups semolina flour 2 cups all-purpose flour 4 eggs 1 tablespoon kosher […]

Side Dishes

Potato Purée

Makes 6 servings Variations: Fried Garlic and Asiago Cheese Mashed Potatoes: While the potatoes are boiling, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add 6 tablespoons roughly chopped garlic and fry until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the cream and milk and allow the flavors to blend together. Add […]

Main Dishes

Potato Salad with Tuna, Olives, and Red Peppers

Makes 4 to 6 servings Ingredients 1 lb new potatoes Salt to taste 2 large red bell peppers, seeded and diced 1 cup pitted green olives, halved One 8-oz can oil-packed tuna, drained 1/4 cup olive oil 6 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon mild paprika […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Potato, Po-tah-do: Know Your ‘Taters

Potato varieties differ in starch and moisture content, skin and flesh color, and shape. Sweet potatoes and yams, although not botanically related to the potato, share several characteristics with it and can be treated in the same manner. Each cooking technique produces a markedly different texture, flavor, and appearance in […]