Entrees
Smoked Salmon, Hearts of Palm and Watercress Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
This recipe works because the richness of the salmon is beautifully offset by the pepperiness of the watercress, the heat of the chiles, and the acidity of the lemon and buttermilk. Makes 4 servings Hands-on time: 30 minutes Total preparation time: 30 minutes 2 large hard boiled eggs 6 small…
Spaetzle Primavera
Start to finish: 1 hour (30 active) Servings: 4-6 ½ teaspoon kosher salt plus extra for salting the water 1 pound asparagus 1 pound shelled fresh or defrosted frozen peas 8 ounces assorted whole mushrooms, halved or quartered, if large 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 cups chicken or vegetable…
Seared Cuban-Style Steak
This recipe was inspired by Cuba’s (and Miami’s) ubiquitous mojo-marinated steak. Mojo is a combination of citrus (in Cuba, sour orange) and garlic. Given the relative scarcity of sour orange in America, I’ve substituted a mixture of lime and orange. Makes 4 servings Hands-on time: 25 minutes Total preparation time:…
Shrimp Saganaki
Servings: 4 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 20 medium raw shrimp peeled and deveined 1 small glass Raki or Ouzo 1 medium red onion finely chopped 1 medium green pepper chopped 3 tablespoons tomato paste 3 garlic cloves finely chopped 4 large ripe tomatoes crushed Pinch hot red pepper flakes…
Cheese Sandwich Soufflé
Start to finish: 2 hours (15 minutes active) Servings: 4 Butter for buttering the baking pan 8 slices homemade-style white or whole wheat bread, crusts removed ¼ pound thinly sliced cheese (Gruyere, cheddar, provolone, mozzarella, etc) 2 ounces thinly sliced boiled ham, prosciutto or smoked turkey 3 large eggs ¼…
Rustic Potato and Greens Pie – The Perfect Vegetarian Entree for a Cold Night
This is a forgiving and rustic pie. You start by making my very simple food-processor pie dough. Roll it out into a rough circle between sheets of plastic wrap and drop it into a pie plate. Spoon the filling into the middle of the pie, then fold in the edges,…
Red Beans and Rice Soup with Ham
Red beans and rice, served throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, is one of the signature dishes of New Orleans, a city rich with the influences of Latin America and the Caribbean. Indeed, that’s why Louis Armstrong, New Orleans’s pioneering cultural ambassador to the world, used to sign off his…
Sautéed Tilapia with Spicy Mint Sauce
This recipe contains everything you need to bestow some serious charisma on a bland fish fillet: lime juice for acidity, fish sauce for saltiness, mint for herb-ish brightening, and jalapeno for heat. I’ve cast tilapia in the lead role here, but almost any fish — catfish, arctic char, black cod,…
Baked Chicken Thighs with Quick Lemon Pickles and Artichoke Hearts
Preserved lemons, a/k/a lemon pickles, are a delicious and unique treat that have long delivered a ton of salty and acidic crunch to the cuisines of North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia…and to America, too, in recent years. Typically, there are two ways for us to opt in: …
Chinese Barbecued Pork
Adapted from Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge If you don’t want to make it yourself and you live near a Chinatown you’ll see it hanging in the windows of some Cantonese restaurants. The homemade is of course far superior to store bought which often has red food coloring. For the hoisin…
Yangchow Fried Rice
Serves 3 as a main course or 4 as part of a multi-course meal 2 tablespoons peanut or grapeseed oil 4 ounces small shrimp, peeled and deveined, and cut into ½-inch pieces 4 cups cold cooked Classic Rice (recipe below) 1 cup frozen peas 12 ounces Chinese Barbecue Pork, cut…
Delta Spicy Catfish
Serves 6 ¼ cup canola oil 4 teaspoons garlic salt 4 teaspoons dried thyme 4 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce Black pepper to taste 6 catfish filets 2 lemons In a small bowl whisk together the canola oil, garlic salt, thyme, paprika,…
The Perfect Easy Dish for a Romantic Dinner for Two!
Sauteed Duck Breasts with Creamy Mustard Sauce Start to finish: 40 minutes (15 hands on) Servings: 2 2 Pekin duck breast halves (about 8 ounces each) kosher salt 2 tablespoons minced shallot 1/3 cup dry white wine ½ cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon drained green peppercorns…
Sauteed Duck Breasts with Creamy Mustard Sauce
Start to finish: 40 minutes (15 hands on) Servings: 2 2 Pekin duck breast halves (about 8 ounces each) kosher salt 2 tablespoons minced shallot 1/3 cup dry white wine ½ cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon drained green peppercorns in brine Using a very sharp knife,…
Baked Chicken Thighs with Lemon Pickles
Preserved lemons, a/k/a lemon pickles, are a delicious and unique treat that have long delivered a ton of salty and acidic crunch to the cuisines of North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia…and to America, too, in recent years. Typically, there are two ways for us to opt…
Egg Ham and Cheese Galette
Makes 12 Galettes 2 cups buckwheat flour 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt 13 large eggs 1 cup whole milk 1 cup water clarified butter for brushing the pan 6 thin slices ham, cut into julienne strips 6 thin slices Emmenthaler, cut into julienne strips In a medium…
Chicken Paillard with Date Butter
Note: I have called for regular boneless skinless chicken breasts but if you can find thin sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts you will not need to halve them horizontally; you will just need to pound them. Also, this makes more butter than you will need for the recipe, but keep…
Shrimp Fideo
Start to finish: 1 hour 20 minutes Hands on time: 1 hour Servings: 4 1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic, divided Kosher salt 8 ounces fideos, spaghettini or thin spaghetti, broken into 1 to 2-inch lengths 6 ounces Spanish chorizo*,…
Gambas Al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)
Servings: 4 Note: we made a half batch on the show 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 4 to 6 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced Pinch red pepper flakes 1 pound medium raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup cava or other sparkling white wine Chopped flat…
Arroz Brut (Dirty Rice)
½ cup extra virgin olive oil 3 ½ pounds of boneless chicken thighs and pork ribs, cut into small portions (Note: don’t use the breast meat) 2 chicken livers 1 tablespoon salt plus extra for seasoning ½ teaspoon pepper 2 medium onions, chopped 1 garlic clove A hefty pinch each…
Seafood Gazpacho
Makes 6 1/2 cups, 4 servings Hands-On Time: 20 minutes Total Preparation Time: 30 minutes 1/4 cup Garlic Croutons (recipe follows, add preparation time) or store-bought garlic-flavored croutons 6-inch piece seedless (English) cucumber 1 large green bell pepper 1 garlic clove 3 cups canned tomato-clam juice, chilled 3 tablespoons fresh…
Sardine Fish Tacos
Serves 4 1/3 cup sour cream 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon finely minced chipotle in adobo 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime zest 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice 2 cups finely shredded cabbage (white or red) 1/2 cup coarsely grated carrot Kosher salt 8 corn tortillas Three 124-gram cans of sardines 1…
Pan Seared Branzino (Lavraki Sto Tigani)
Serves 2 2 eight-ounce branzino filets Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed The juice of 2 lemons plus 1 lemon, sliced thin Salt and pepper, to taste Dry wild Greek oregano, to taste Chopped parsley Gently pat the branzino filets dry using paper towels; season with salt and pepper. In a…
Catalan Fish Stew (Suquet de Peix)
Servings: 6 For the stew: 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 6 pieces monkfish about 3/4 to 1 inch thick, or any firm fleshed thick white fish Salt and pepper All-purpose flour for coating the fish 1 medium red onion, finely chopped 3 medium tomatoes, grated on the coarse side of…