Tag Archives: Recipes

Israeli Stewed Tomatoes with Eggs (Shakshuka)

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Shakshuka1 (1 of 1)This is a great way to prepare tomatoes and egg. This flavorful dish, called Shakshuka,  is popular in Israel. When researching this fantastic dish, some sources indicated that its origin is Israel, though others indicated that it may have been brought to Israel by Tunisian immigrants. In any case, it’s delicious! I like to serve it with Israeli couscous and a small green salad with a simple lemon vinaigrette. I hope you’ll try this dish!

1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely grated or minced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
2 14-oz cans diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
6 eggs
1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute 3 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic and continue to saute for another 30 seconds. Add bell pepper to the onion mixture; saute for 7 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne, sugar, salt and pepper. Shakshuka2 (1 of 1)Stir well to combine. Simmer for about 6 minutes, until mixture thickens. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired (I add about 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 ground black pepper) . Crack the eggs evenly over the sauce. Cover skillet and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes, until eggs are cooked to your liking. Remove from heat, garnish with parsley. Serve out of the skillet at the table.

Serves 6.

Braised Pork Loin in a “Black” Tomato Sauce (Brasato di Maiale al Sugo Nero)

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Braised_Pork_in_a_Black_Sauce1 (1 of 1)Now that autumn has arrived in New England, it’s time to get back to the heartier dishes. This is a Southern Italian dish, where you braise a pork loin in a simple but delicious sauce until it just about falls apart (remember, the braising method is “low and slow”). The name of this dish (I’m guessing) comes from the tomato sauce, which cooks down until it is almost “black.” You’ll enjoy the smell of this cooking in your kitchen — I hope you’ll try this dish!

3 – 4 lbs boneless, center-cut pork loin, trimmed and tied with butcher’s twine at 2-inch intervals
2 tsp salt
6 large fresh sage leaves
3 oz pancetta
3 large cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1/3 cup flat parsley leaves
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups red wine
2 cups canned tomato puree

Rub the pork with the salt; slide the sage leaves under the twine evenly around the meat. Let stand for 1/2 hour.

Mince together the pancetta, garlic and parsley into a fine paste. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the pancetta/garlic mixture and cook for 3 minutes. Add the pork and brown on all sides (about 5 minutes). Add 1 cup of the wine; let evaporate. Add the remaining 1 cup wine and the tomato puree. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently for 2 hours.

Remove the pork from the pan;  remove twine and cover with foil. Let stand for 1/2 hour.

In the meantime, increase the heat for the sauce to medium high. Reduce the sauce until rather thick and “black,” about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with pasta or bread.

Serves 6.

Garlic Chicken Simmered with Pearl Onions in a Tamarind Broth (Ayam Bawang)

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Ayam_Bawang1 (1 of 1)This Indonesian chicken dish is quite different from many of my others, in that its flavors are much more subtle, and the sauce, which is typically very thick, is much more of a broth. For this, I really enjoy this recipe for a change. The tamarind broth is simple and delicious! I hope you’ll try this dish!

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 large), cut into bite-size pieces
3 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp canola oil
3 large garlic cloves, peeled and finely grated or minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
1 tsp Laos powder
1 red Thai chili, chopped
2 Tbsp tamarind water
1 Tbsp kecap manis
1 cup water
10 pearl onions, peeled

Combine chicken with salt and black pepper in a bowl.

Heat oil in a wok over high heat. Add chicken and cook for 4 minutes. Add garlic, ginger and Laos powder, and stir fry for an additional minute. Add chili, tamarind water, kecap manis, water and the pearl onions. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Serve with steamed jasmine rice.

Serves 4.

Chicken Simmered in a Sweet Indonesian Soy Sauce (Ayam Kecap)

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Ayam_Kecap2 (1 of 1)Here’s anther Indonesian chicken dish for you to try tonight. There’s no heat in the dish, but I encourage you to serve it with a spicy Indonesian sambal on the side (here I served it with sambal petai, which I purchased at a local Asian food market). What make this dish stand out are the kecap manis (sweet Indonesian soy sauce) and the nutmeg. I think this dish is so interesting — I hope you’ll try it!

1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into large chunks
2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp canola oil
1 medium onion, peeled and finely diced
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
3 Tbsp kecap manis
1/2 tsp tamarind concentrate
1 cup water

Rub chicken pieces with the salt.

Heat oil in a heavy skillet or Dutch oven (with tight-fitting lid) over high heat. Add the chicken pieces and brown evenly for 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add the onions and stir-fry for another 3 minutes.

Add the nutmeg, kecap manis and tamarind concentrate to the chicken mixture;  stir well, reduce heat to low, and simmer about 20 minutes, until almost dry (but not burnt!).

Add the water. Increase heat to high, stirring while bringing mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer gently for another 20 minutes. Remove lid. Increase heat to high. Cook an additional 3 minutes, stirring constantly for an additions 3 minutes, until the sauce has thickened substantially. Serve over steamed coconut jasmine rice, with an Indonesian sambal (sauce) on the side.

Serves 4.

Thai Caramelized Pork Stir-Fry (Muu Waan)

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Thai_Caramelized_Pork_Stir-Fry1 (1 of 1)Here’s another simple, quick and delicious stir-fry dish. The garlic, liquids and sugar cook down into a wonderful, sweet and sticky sauce that nicely compliments the pork tenderloin. Those who enjoy Thai cuisine, but don’t like too much spice will like this recipe, as it does not have the usual red peppers in it. I hope you’ll try this dish tonight!

1 Tbsp oyster sauce
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp fish sauce
4 Tbsp palm sugar (or light brown sugar), packed
1 Tbsp canola or other vegetable oil
6 garlic cloves, peeled and finely grated or minced
1 1.25-lb pork tenderloin, sliced lengthwise down the middle, then thinly sliced crosswise
1/4 tsp white ground pepper
3 green onions, diagonally sliced into 1/4-inch pieces
1 additional green onion, diagonally sliced into 1/4-inch pieces for garnish
1 Tbsp fried red onions for garnish (store-bought, found in Asian markets in the Thai condiment section)

Whisk together oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce and palm sugar in a small bowl and set aside.

Heat oil in a wok over high heat. Add the garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the pork and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add the sauce mixture and stir-fry for 5 minutes, or until very thick. Add the 3 sliced green onions and white ground pepper, and stir-fry for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice. Garnish with sliced green onions and fried red onions.

Serves 4.

Grilled Pork Churrasco with Fresh Pineapple Salsa

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Pork_Churrasco1 (1 of 1)Here’s another delicious outdoor recipe (I’m trying to get as many in as I can before our short New England summer comes to an end). Churrasco is basically grilled meat, which is popular in many South American countries, as well as some European countries. The pork tenderloin strips for this dish marinate in an herbed, smoked paprika mixture for a couple of hours, so plan ahead for this one! I’ve got to say that it’s well worth the wait — the flavors of the grilled, marinated pork combine very well with the fresh pineapple salsa. I hope you’ll try this dish!

1 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbsp smoked paprika
4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely grated or minced
2 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 rounded tsp minced fresh rosemary
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 1-lb pork tenderloins, trimmed

3 cups peeled, cored pineapple, cut into 1/4-inch chunks (about 1/2 a large pineapple)
1 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 – 3 chopped, seeded jalapeño peppers
Tabasco sauce

Steamed white rice

Heat oil in a small heavy sauce pan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the paprika and cook 5 minutes (very gently, so as not to burn the paprika) to infuse the oil. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature (I put it in a bowl and then into the fridge to speed up the cooling process).

Pour oil mixture into a blender. Add garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Blend marinade Pork_Churrasco2 (1 of 1)until herbs are finely chopped.

Cut each pork tenderloin lengthwise into 4 strips. Pound each strip in between plastic wrap to a 1/3-inch thickness. Place pork strips in a zip lock freezer bag;  pour marinade into the bag and seal. Toss the mixture well, ensuring that pork is completely coated. Place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 2 hours (turning occasionally).

Meanwhile, prepare the salsa by combining the pineapple chunks, yellow bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, jalapeño peppers and several shakes of the tabasco sauce (to taste) in a medium bowl. Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Place salsa in the refrigerator for a couple of hours while the pork marinates.

Prepare the grill. Remove pork strips from the marinade and grill about 2 minutes on each side.

Serve the pork with the pineapple salsa and steamed white rice.

Serves 4.

Thai Chicken Stir-Fry with Cashews

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Cashew_Chicken1 (1 of 1)Here’s another stir-fry dish that’s delicious and quick to prepare. You can substitute the raw cashews with unsalted, ready-roasted cashews, but I prefer the wonderfully sweet and nutty flavors they take on when dry-roasting yourself (you can also deep-fry raw cashews in a bit of canola or peanut oil, which is what they do in Thailand). You can also substitute the dried Thai chilies with fresh ones, but I believe this dish is traditionally prepared with dried chilies. I really like this dish, and I hope you’ll try it too!

1/2 cup raw whole cashews
3 – 5 dried Thai chilies, slit lengthwise on one side with a sharp knife, seeds removed and chilies cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces
1 Tbsp fish sauce
2 Tbsp oyster sauce
3 Tbsp chicken stock
1 1/4 tsp sugar
3 Tbsp canola oil
4 large garlic cloves, peeled and finely grated or minced
1 1/4 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced, then cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
1/2 carrot, peeled and thinly sliced diagonally
1 small onion, peeled and cut into 6 wedges
2 scallions, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch pieces (both pale and dark green parts)
1/4 tsp ground white pepper
1/4 cup cilantro leaves

Heat a small cast-iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cashews and dry-roast until lightly browned, but not burnt. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Whisk together the fish sauce, oyster sauce, stock and sugar in a small bowl, then set aside.Cashew_Chicken2 (1 of 1)

Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. Add the chilies and stir-fry for one minute. Remove chilies with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium-high. Add the garlic and stir-fry for about 30 seconds. Turn heat back up to high and add the chicken, stir-frying for 4 minutes.

Add the red bell pepper, carrot, onion and sauce mixture to the chicken. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the cashews, chilies, scallions and white ground pepper. Season to taste with a bit more fish sauce and sugar, if necessary. Serve with steamed jasmine rice, and garnish with cilantro leaves.

Serves 4.

Malaysian Lamb Curry with Cilantro and Mint

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Malaysian_Lamb_Curry2 (1 of 1)I’m on a bit of a lamb kick at the moment, so I tried this very interesting Malaysian lamb dish last night. Malaysian cuisine is influenced by cuisines from around the world, but it is particularly influenced by its Malay, Chinese and Indian ethnic groups. This dish is a delicious Malaysian spin on Indian Lamb Korma. The unique balance of spices and herbs, and the use of ghee are what make this dish! I hope you’ll try it!

2 inches (1 oz) fresh ginger, peeled and grated
4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 – 3 red Thai chilies, seeded and minced
2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 1/2 lbs boneless lamb leg, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
3 Tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
2 medium onions, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced
1/2 tsp sugar
6 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1 cinnamon stick
1 14-oz can coconut milk
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp roasted peanuts, chopped
Handful fresh cilantro, chopped
Handful fresh mint leaves, chopped

In a small food processor (or mortar and pestle), grind ginger, garlic and chilies to a fine paste. Stir in the garam masala, ground coriander, cumin and turmeric.

In a medium bowl, combine the lamb cubes and the garlic mixture well, ensuring that every Malaysian_Lamb_Curry1 (1 of 1)cube is coated. Cover and let stand in the refrigerator for one hour.

Heat ghee in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sugar, and cook until caramelized, about 20 minutes.

Stir in the cardamom pods, cinnamon stick and lamb with its marinade. Brown the lamb, stirring for 4 minutes.

Stir in the coconut milk and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer gently until meat is tender, about 1 hour. Season to taste with additional salt and black pepper. Serve over steamed jasmine rice. Garnish each serving with the chopped peanuts, cilantro and mint.

Serves 4.

Grilled Lamb-Beef Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

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Lamb-Beef_Burgers1 (1 of 1)Who knew I liked lamb! I sure didn’t growing up. I’ve learned to really like it over the years, however, especially in Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisines. This dish is a perfect example of my style of lamb, which with the herbs, spices, garlic and tzatziki, is delicious. I hope you’ll try it!

1/2 lb ground lamb
1/2 lb ground sirloin
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
4 tsp chopped fresh mint
4 tsp chopped fresh oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garamasala
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
3 garlic cloves, peeled and very finely grated or minced

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 oz crumbled feta cheese
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
1/4 cup peeled, seeded and chopped cucumber
1/4 tsp salt

1 loaf ciabatta bread
Sliced red onions
Lettuce

For the burgers, add the first 10 ingredients (lamb through garlic) to a large bowl. Combine well.Lamb-Beef_Burgers2 (1 of 1) Remove meat mixture from bowl and divide equally into 4 portions. Shape each into square, 3 to 4-inch patties. Set aside.

For the tzatziki sauce, combine the next 6 ingredients (yogurt through salt) in a medium bowl, mixing well. Cover and place in refrigerator.

Slice ciabatta loaf horizontally down middle, then slice crosswise into 4 pieces, so that you end up with 4 tops and 4 bottoms.

Prepare grill.

Place burgers on hot grill; cover and cook about 4 minutes on each side (flipping only once). Place ciabatta buns face-side down on grill, cooking until browned (about 1 minute).

Assemble burgers on the buns, topping each with a spoonful tzatziki. Serve with lettuce and red onions.

Serves 4.

Grilled Pork and Pineapple Tacos

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Grilled_Port_and_Pineapple_Tacos1 (1 of 1)There’s nothing better than grilling outdoors when it’s hot, humid and buggy, as it’s been here the past several days. Here’s a great taco recipe for that perfect back yard picnic, featuring marinated, grilled pork and pineapple. For this outdoor recipe, you’ll need to plan a bit ahead, as the pork needs to marinate overnight. It’s well worth it, because the pork turns out very tender and flavorful, and the grilled pineapple adds a nice sweetness. I hope you’ll try it!

1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices
8 dried red chili peppers (such as pasilla), stem and seeds removed
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup white vinegar
4 garlic cloves, very finely shredded or minced
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp ground cloves
2 lbs boneless pork loin, cut into 1/2-inch slices
16 6-inch corn tortillas, wrapped tightly in aluminum foil
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
Sour cream (optional)
Lime wedges
Hot pepper sauce (such as chipotle-flavored Tabasco sauce)

Place chili peppers in a medium bowl;  cover with boiling water and let stand for 30 minutes, until soft. Drain and set aside.

In a food processor, add the chili peppers, one of the pineapple slices, orange juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, cumin and cloves. Process until smooth.

Arrange pork slices in a 3-quart baking dish. Spread chili pepper mixture evenly over the pork, ensuring that every slice is completely covered. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to cook the meat, prepare the grill. Remove the pork from the marinade (discarding marinade).

Place the pork slices on the grill, cover and cook for 7 minutes (turning once in between).Grilled_Pork_and_Pineapple_Tacos2 (1 of 1) Remove pork and place pineapple slices on the grill. Cover and cook 7 minutes (turning once in between). If there’s room, also place the tortilla packet on the grill (the tortillas cook 7 minutes, as well).

Cut the pork and pineapple into small chunks, then combine in a large bowl. Fill the warm tortillas with the pork/pineapple mixture. Garnish with the green onions, cilantro, diced red bell pepper and a dollop of sour cream. Serve with lime wedges and chili pepper sauce.

Serves 8 to 10.