We will call this one unofficially “Shoyu, take 1” since I am sure I will do this again but will refine the process and hopefully have learned form my mistakes. This is the longest of my Koji experiments so far. This is a Japanese style soy sauce, primarily based on the guidelines from Koji Alchemy […]
Koji: Amino Sauces (“Shoyu”, “Soy Sauce”) Read More »
Amino pastes is what Shih and Umansky in Koji Alchemy call these applications of Koji. It’s the category that Japanese miso belongs to. In Noma Guide to Fermentation they frequently use terms like Peaso to refer to amino paste made from split peas. Bottom line these are all the same, a cooked mixture rich in
Koji: Light Amino Pastes (“Misos”) Read More »
Axis deer are overpopulated in Hawaii. They happen to have delicious meat that is also very dense in protein and nutrients while at the same time being mild and lean. So, it makes sense on all levels for a company like Maui Nui to realize the potential of what they have in Hawaii, humanely harvest
Venison Leg Roast, Portuguese Flavors with Chickpeas Read More »
It’s the season for deeply flavored stews, braises, roasts and rich bean dishes. This one is not based on any specific recipe but like most cooking I do is more based on a flavor profile, in this case American Southwestern/Mexican. The starting point was the beef shoulder roast. I wanted it more substantial, enter the
Beans and Beef with Chile and Panela Read More »
Cool name but really this is a delicious classic combination of pork and beans made all the more refined and nuanced because it’s another recipe from Paula Wolfert’s The Cooking of Southwest France. It’s perfect for the cool weather months and simpler to prepare than a Cassoulet or Garbure (It’s been a while since I
Glandoulat: Red Beans and Pork with Carrots from the Southwest of France Read More »
Cod is a bit tricky to cook unless one wants to batter it and deep fry it. We love the mild flavor and large tender flakes of a well cooked piece of cod. Cod has very little connective tissue and large meat “flakes”. So it tends to fall apart if you handle it too much
Oven-Roasted Cod, White Bean Relish and Cabbage Read More »
Having grown up eating chickpeas (hummus in Arabic) mashed with garlic, lemon juice and the all-important sesame paste (Tahini or Tahina) on a regular basis it was really interesting seeing how this dip took off in the last 10 years or so. It’s everywhere now, on every other restaurant/pub/diner/health food restaurant’s menu. This is both
Hummus bil Tahini – Creamy Chickpea, Lemon and Sesame Paste Dip Read More »
Cotechino with lentils is the classic, but in the American south eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is the tradition. So, here the Hoppin’ John stands in for the lentils and a mighty fine stand-in it is too. Making Hoppin’ John is not difficult but it does pay to have a solid recipe to
Lowcountry Hoppin’ John and Cotechino Read More »
Until my mom visited recently and made this dish I had only used mung beans in a couple of simple soups and southeast Asian desserts. I never really thought of the mung beans with their Arabic name, M’ash. The traditional Lebanese way to use it is to cook it with lots of browned onions and cut
Mung Beans with Burghul (Burghul M’ash) Read More »
Every year for New Year’s Day I usually have a Cotechino served with lentils on the table for dinner. I posted about this Italian sausage before here. It incorporates a good proportion of pig skin into the meat mixture and ends up with the most amazing unctuous rich texture. It’s all offset by balanced spicing
Cotechino, Lentils, Polenta and Salsa Verde Read More »