It’s great having a recipe for something easy and requires very little cooking in this hot weather but that is also immensely satisfying in their own. Lots of salads fall in this category and I am partial to a few recipes I have learned from Michael Solomonv’s book “Zahav” that he creates as variations on…… Continue reading Quinoa Salad with Peas, Parsley and Mint
Tag: Vegetarian
Burnt Eggplant Salad
We avoid burning things in most of cooking. It produces acrid, bitter and unpleasant textures. Yet, for some things, under certain circumstances “burnt” is good, very good. Heating sugar to just the point of smoking makes for amazing caramel. Those leopard dark spots on Neapolitan pizza give it a wonderful taste and texture. I do…… Continue reading Burnt Eggplant Salad
Beets with Tahini
I had dinner at Zahav in Philadelphia recently. It’s a very popular Israeli restaurant with tons of acclaim and awards. It was a fantastic meal with lots of small vegetable appetizers, some delicious hummus tahini, and very good lamb shoulder and chicken (the dessert on the other hand was not exactly my cup of tea).…… Continue reading Beets with Tahini
Manresa: Assorted Potatoes, Curds and Whey, Norinade
The Manresa cookbook from the three- star restaurant of the same name in California is a beautiful, inspiring and thoughtfully written book. I read it cover to cover and frequently flip through it to read various parts every so often. Chef David Kinch got my attention when he was featured on a season of The…… Continue reading Manresa: Assorted Potatoes, Curds and Whey, Norinade
Hummus bil Tahini – Creamy Chickpea, Lemon and Sesame Paste Dip
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…… Continue reading Hummus bil Tahini – Creamy Chickpea, Lemon and Sesame Paste Dip
Greens, Pumpkin and Rice Torta
If I had to pick all time favorite vegetarian meals they would have to be Mediterranean. They probably focus on lots of greens and wrapped in thin flatbread or dough (proper Falafel is probably on the top of that list). This Italian gem of a recipe from Paula Wolfert is one of those recipes and…… Continue reading Greens, Pumpkin and Rice Torta
Cod, Green Bouillabaisse and Aïoli
It’s very much a stretch calling this mixture of spring vegetables a Bouillabaisse, but it gives you an idea at least about the flavor profile. In Happy in the Kitchen chef Michel Richard serves this “Bouillabaisse” with nothing more than the Aïoli and croutons (like a real Bouillabaisse). I’ve always loved the idea of this vegetable stew that is…… Continue reading Cod, Green Bouillabaisse and Aïoli
Brassicas: Cauliflower, Aligot, Kohlarbi, Leaves
A couple of months ago all kinds of local cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli were available. The different colors of cauliflower alone was very impressive from white to green to orange and purple. I started thinking about one dish that can combine lots of these varieties in various preparation. This delicious and satisfying vegetarian dish is…… Continue reading Brassicas: Cauliflower, Aligot, Kohlarbi, Leaves