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Sara’s Weeknight Meals: Season 10

Fried Plantains (Tostones)

1 to 2 large green plantains 5 tablespoons canola or other vegetable oil or enough to reach ¼ -inch up the side of a large skillet Kosher salt Peel the plantain and slice it on the diagonal ½ – 1-inch thick. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high…

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Pigeon Peas with Rice (Arroz Con Gandules)

Note: you can make this dish without the meat for a vegetarian version Hands-On Time: 30 minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 hour Serves 4 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 pound pork, cut into ½-inch pieces (optional) 1 ounce of pancetta (optional) 1 tablespoon annatto oil (see note below) Carmen’s Sofrito:…

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Salt Cod with Onions, Eggs Potatoes and Olives

Suggested Accompaniment: shredded collard greens, sauteed with garlic in olive oil Serves 8 to 10 2 lbs salt cod 2½ cups milk 3 medium onions, thinly sliced 2 lbs small young potatoes (or Yukon Gold) 3 eggs, hard-boiled and sliced thinly ¼ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved ¼ cup…

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Chianti Tortelli

(Recipe courtesy of Allesio Bagnoli based on the family recipes of Veronica d’Entreves) Makes: 6 to 8 Servings Hands on time: 45 minutes Total preparation time: 3 ½ hours For the pasta dough: 3 ½ cups semolina flour 3 large eggs 2 to 2 ½ cups of Chianti Wine For…

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Wonton Ravioli Stuffed with Spicy Greens

Servings: 4 Start to finish: 40 minutes Hands on time: 30 minutes 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 9 cups packed spicy or bitter greens, such as arugula, escarole, watercress or, mustard, chopped fine 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons homemade ricotta cheese (see recipe below) or store bought ricotta 3 tablespoons…

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Shrimp Rolls

Start to finish: 40 minutes Servings: 4 4 ounces seedless cucumber, cut into ¼-inch dice (a scant cup) 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning 1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (about 24- 26) ½ cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons…

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Pork Sliders

Makes 8 Sliders, 4 Servings Hands on Time: 30 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 30 Minutes Suggested accompaniment cabbage and pepper slaw 1/8 small green cabbage 1/4 small red bell pepper 1/4 c fresh basil leaves 1 medium scallion One 1-inch piece fresh ginger 1 garlic clove 1/2 pound lean ground…

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Greek Style Turkey Burgers

Start to finish: 45 minutes Hands on time: 20 minutes Servings: 4 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 5 ounces baby spinach Kosher salt and ground black pepper 1/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise 2 tablespoons minced seeded pepperoncini 1 tablespoon…

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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…

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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…

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Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Melon Cucumber Salsa

Start to finish: 40 minutes Hands-on time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled, divided 1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk 1/4 cup mayonnaise (low-fat if you prefer) 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing the pork…

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Dried Plum and Apricot Potstickers

Servings: 12 potstickers serving 4 Time: 45 minutes 6 large dried pitted plums, cut in half (about 2 ounces) 6 large dried apricots cut in half (about 2 ounces) 12 fresh wonton wrappers, well wrapped Cornstarch for dusting the sheet pan ½ tablespoon vegetable oil ½ tablespoon unsalted butter ½…

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Spaghetti Squash with Creamy Goat Cheese Sauce

When spaghetti squash is cooked, the scooped-out flesh emerges in thin strings, like transparent strands of spaghetti.  Its texture is crisp, its taste is mild, and it can indeed replace actual spaghetti in the recipe of your choice.  This is especially good news if you’re searching for an alternative to…

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Korean BBQ Tacos

Serves 4 Gochujang Roasted Tofu Filling 2 T. gochujang (Korean chili paste) 3 T. sesame oil 2 T. maple syrup 1 lb. extra firm tofu Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Line a pan with parchment paper and lightly oil it’s surface. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the gochujang,…

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Sauteed Fish Meuniere with Sauce Grenobloise

Recommended side dish: buttered green beans and roasted potatoes tossed with parsley Makes 4 servings Hands-on time: 15 minutes Total preparation time: 40 minutes Four 6-ounce pieces, skinless, mild-flavored fish fillets, such as trout, tilapia or catfish 2 cups milk 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour Kosher salt and freshly ground…

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Steak with Homemade Steak Butter

STEAK BUTTER Start to finish: 10 minutes Hands-on time: 10 minutes Servings: Makes about 16 tablespoons (1/2 pound) 1/2 pound Homemade Butter (see recipe below) or store-bought unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons and softened to room temperature 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 garlic clove, finely minced…

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Salmon with Crispy Skin and Pepperoncini Lemon Sauce

NOTE: On the show I mentioned that I like East coast salmon because it has a higher fat content than the west coast variety, but I want to clarify that in general wild salmon from the Pacific west coast is a much more sustainable and healthier choice than east coast…

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Alsatian Onion Pie

Start to finish: 1 hour 15 minutes Servings: Makes three 10- x 12-inch pizzas 6 ounces bacon, sliced thin crosswise 4 cups thinly sliced onion salt and black pepper 8 ounces crème fraiche 1 large egg yolk pinch nutmeg 3 ounces coarsely grated gruyere cheese Pizza dough (recipe below) or…

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Mushroom String Cheese Dip

10 sliced mushrooms (Refika used Fairy Ring Mushrooms, which I am not sure are easy to find in this country), your choice 2 big strips string cheese, separated into strings 5 garlic cloves salt and pepper 3 sprigs fresh thyme 3 tablespoons olive oil flat bread as an accompaniment Preheat…

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Pan Con Tomate

Pan Con Tomate 1 loaf of crusty bread Ripe tomatoes (see note) Extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt Slice the bread. Slice the tomatoes in half crosswise. Rub the halves of the tomato directly onto to the bread. Sprinkle with salt. Drizzle with olive oil.   Note: A viewer, Kathy Dobrowolski,…

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Spanish Omelet

Tortilla Espanola (Spanish Omelet)  Makes 4 – 6-Servings Hands on time: 20 minutes Total preparation time: 40 minutes 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 large onion, sliced 3 potatoes Kosher salt 1 cup dry white wine 5 large eggs Place a medium size sauce pan, filled with salted water…

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