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Baked Feta Pasta

May 16, 2021

This baked feta and tomato pasta dish is one of the easiest and most delicious meals we have been enjoying lately. The recipe went viral on TikTok and for good reason. It’s a hands off recipe that comes together in an hour. The resulting dish is just superb. Serve it with good bread to sop up all of the delicious juices from the tomatoes and olive oil.

It’s not a fancy or complex pasta dish but if I was served this at a restaurant I would be begging the chef for the recipe.

If you can find small tomatoes on the vine it makes for a nice presentation. However, it’s not essential because the tomatoes will be crushed and mixed with the feta and olive oil once it comes out of the oven. A fine quality feta such as Mt. Vikos really makes this dish shine. Mt. Vikos is the best I have found and worth the few extra dollars. It isn’t overly salty, and the flavor is outstanding. This feta is creamier than cow’s milk feta which tends to be saltier and tarter than sheep and goat’s milk feta. Here on Maui, you can find Mt. Vikos feta at Whole Foods and occasionally I see it at Safeway.

Just before you mix everything together, fresh minced garlic gets tossed into the hot dish where it will cook just enough to mellow its sharp raw bite.

Serve the pasta with lightly toasted sourdough bread topped with some of the crushed tomatoes and olive oil.

Baked Feta Pasta

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Adapted from TikTok

Author: Kiyo Miller

Serves: 6

Ingredients

2 pints (20 ounces) ripe grape or cherry tomatoes
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
red pepper flakes (optional)
dried oregano (optional)
7 - 8 ounce block of feta (Mt. Vikos recommended)
10 ounces short pasta (Gemelli, Casarecce, Penne, Fusille)
1 medium garlic clove, finely minced
3 tablespoons julienned basil

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Place tomatoes in an oven safe baking dish (9x11 works great). Drizzle the olive oil over the tomatoes, followed by ½ teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Coat the tomatoes evenly with the olive oil by gently tossing together. Place the feta block in the middle of the baking dish. Sprinkle the top with a few pinches of red pepper flakes and dried oregano. Bake uncovered until the tomatoes have burst and the feta has softened, about 30 minutes. Increase the heat to 450 degrees and continue to cook until the tomatoes and feta are golden brown, about 10 minutes more.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in generously salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water.
As soon as the feta and tomatoes come out of the oven, stir in the minced garlic. Use the back of a wooden spoon to smash the tomatoes and feta into a creamy sauce. Toss in the pasta and half of the basil, mixing until pasta is evenly coated. If the pasta seems dry, add a few tablespoons of pasta water. Serve with remaining basil and freshly ground black pepper.

Beans, Dinner, Japanese, Lactose Free, Pasta, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Ramen with Charred Scallions, Green Beans & Chile Oil

May 5, 2021

Lately I’ve been having fun making all sorts of different ramen dishes. Fresh ramen is best for this dish if you can find it. Luckily here on Maui, a few select markets sell fresh Sun Noodle ramen. The original recipe from The NY Times calls for 3-ounce packages of ramen, however, Sun Noodle ramen comes in 5-ounce packages, so that is what I used here.

Anything that calls for fresh ginger gets my attention immediately. I love the refreshing flavor it brings to various dishes. There’s no shortage of it here. It’s used in the chile oil and also stir-fried with the ramen.

The chile oil is so easy to prepare and it tastes divine. Besides using it for this ramen recipe, you might drizzle it over soft cooked eggs served over rice, on tofu, over steamed bok choy or other greens.

We used flat green beans that we grew in the garden but you can use regular round green beans as well. Just make sure your wok or pan is hot so they get a nice char. The flavor of the charred beans adds so much flavor to this dish.

Ramen with Charred Scallions, Green Beans & Chile Oil

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Adapted from NY Times Cooking

Author: Kiyo Miller

Serves: 2

Ingredients

Chile Oil:
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ cup grapeseed or canola oil
1 piece ginger (1/2-inch), peeled and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon roasted white sesame seeds
½ teaspoon sesame oil
Noodles:
2 (4-5 ounce) packages fresh ramen (I use Sun Noodle brand)
1 bunch scallions (6 pieces), white and green parts separated and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon grapeseed or canola oil
8 ounces green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and julienned
½ tablespoon roasted white sesame seeds
salt and pepper

Preparation

Prepare the chile oil: Add the red pepper flakes and salt to a heatproof bowl. Place the oil, ginger and garlic in a small saucepan, and heat over medium until it bubbles, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully pour the hot oil over the red pepper flakes. Add the sesame seeds and sesame oil, and stir well. Set aside while you make the rest of the dish. (You can make the chile oil a few days in advance, store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator).
Prepare the noodles: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the ramen and cook according to package directions, until just tender. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain well again.
Heat a wok or large deep skillet on high. When smoking hot, add ½ tablespoon oil, toss in the green beans and season with salt. Cook, tossing the beans for 2 - 3 minutes, until charred. Remove beans from the wok and set aside.
Heat the same wok or skillet over high, and when smoking, add 1 tablespoon of oil, along with the scallions, both white and green parts, and the ginger. Allow the scallions and ginger to sizzle for 20 seconds, to release their aromas, then stir-fry for 2 - 3 minutes until the scallions have a nice scorch.
Add the green beans and noodles back to the pan, along with 1 to 1½ tablespoons of chile oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss well to combine, just until the noodles are heated through (you want to keep the noodles chewy and not overcook them). Divide noodles between two bowls, top with roasted sesame seeds and more chile oil.

Dinner, Eggs, Lactose Free, Pasta, Recipes

TikTok Ramen

April 15, 2021

This tasty ramen recipe comes from TikTok, the wildly popular social app that lets users create and share a diverse assortment of short videos. Since the videos are quick, anywhere from 15 seconds to a minute or so, you have to move fast. That’s what is so cool about this recipe. Besides cooking the noodles in a pot, the rest of the dish is made in just one pan which is music to my ears.

Not only is this a fast recipe, it is inexpensive to boot. And adding Everything Bagel seasoning is ingenious!

Instant ramen is one of the most inexpensive items you will find in the Asian section of your grocery store. When on sale, they cost a mere 50¢ or less per package. I always keep a stash of them in my cupboard. They also star in this crunchy cabbage salad.

Butter (lactose free for me) along with garlic and red pepper flakes are stirred together in a pan until the garlic softens a bit. Soy sauce and brown sugar are added to make a sauce full of our “5th taste,” umami.

The cooked ramen gets tossed with the sauce before two eggs are added to the pan.

And as mentioned earlier, this is a one-pan meal. There’s no need to whisk the eggs in a separate bowl, just add to the pan and scramble alongside the ramen.

This ramen dish reminds me of Sam Sato’s dry mein which is similar in that there is no broth, just a very delicious sauce coating the noodles. Leftovers are still tasty and fresh if you want to save some for a snack later.

TikTok Ramen

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Adapted from TikTok Ramen

Author: Kiyo Miller

Serves: 2

Ingredients

2 packages instant ramen (discard seasoning packets)
2 tablespoons vegan butter (or regular butter)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Kikkoman Less Sodium soy sauce
2 large eggs
Everything bagel seasoning (you can make your own version with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced garlic and onion, flaky sea salt)
2 green onions, thinly sliced

Preparation

Cook the ramen 1 minute less than package directions. Drain immediately in a colander and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
In a medium pan, heat the butter over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir until garlic has softened, about 3 minutes, adjusting heat as needed so the garlic does not burn. Stir in the brown sugar and soy sauce. Add drained noodles to the pan and using tongs toss the noodles with the sauce.
Push the noodles to one side of the pan and turn the heat up a bit. Add the eggs to the pan, opposite of the noodles. Gently scramble the eggs until just set. Toss eggs with noodles. Remove from heat and divide noodles between two bowls. Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over the noodles along with the sliced green onions. Serve right away.

Dinner, Italian, Lactose Free, Pasta, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Homemade Busiate Pasta

April 6, 2021

Busiate comes from Trapani, located on the west coast of Sicily. The name is derived from buso, a Mediterranean grass, the stem of which was used to shape this spiraled pasta. Today’s home cooks rely more on modern metal tools such as a ferretto. Not having a ferretto, I used a thin wire cut from a metal hanger. I have even used a thin, long, cake pop stick that worked fine. It produced a thicker spiral but both are acceptable.

Most recipes call for semolina flour, water and salt. I tried this but found I preferred to use 00 flour with semolina. I used a recipe from Thomas McNaughton’s Flour + Water Pasta cookbook. Thomas is the Executive Chef and co-owner of the highly regarded Flour + Water restaurant in San Francisco. The 00 flour and semolina along with warm water and kosher salt proved to be the perfect combination for a toothsome yet tender pasta.

If you have a friend or family member available to help, it will shorten the time it takes you to shape the pasta. This is especially true if you are making pasta for more than two servings. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I found that rolling and twisting the pasta dough was quite relaxing.

The dough will be very dry. You can spritz it with a bit of water but not too much. Once you knead the dough (about 10 minutes) it will become smoother and easier to handle.

After kneading the dough, it is covered with plastic wrap and set aside to rest for 30 minutes.

I made the ropes about the thickness of a standard birthday candle. The pasta ropes can tighten up a bit so another quick roll before shaping is recommended.

Here I use a metal wire (from a hanger) to shape the pasta into spiral shapes.

The ropes are twisted on the wire to form a spiral shaped pasta. It may seem a bit tricky, but after a few attempts you will master the technique. Because it is handmade, each piece will not be exactly uniform as is commercial dried pasta. It’s rustic and that makes it so charming.

Have a sheet pan sprinkled with semolina ready to hold your shaped pasta. Once I was done shaping the pasta, I covered the pan loosely with plastic wrap for about 3 hours until I was ready to cook it.

My favorite way to serve the busiate is with any type of pesto. The pesto clings to the nooks and crannies of the spiral pasta making this an ultra delicious meal.

Homemade Busiate Pasta

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Author: Kiyo Miller

Serves: 4

Ingredients

180g (1 c) semolina flour
180g (1 c) 00 flour
178g salted warm water (3/4 cup made with 10g (1 tablespoon) kosher salt

Preparation

Special equipment: Metal wire for shaping the pasta
Whisk together the semolina and 00 flour in a medium bowl. Add salted water, stirring with a wooden spoon or stiff spatula to combine ingredients. Place dough onto a clean workspace and knead the dough until smooth, about 10 minutes. You may lightly spritz the dough with water if it seems too dry. Form dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap to rest for 30 minutes.
Divide dough into 4 pieces. Working with one piece at a time (keep rest of dough covered with plastic wrap), divide each piece into 4 more pieces. Roll each piece into a long, thin rope, about 20-inches long. Cut the rope into four even pieces. Give each piece of rope a quick roll if it springs back a bit before shaping to ensure it measures about 5-inches. Using your thumb and index finger, gently pinch one end of the pasta rope around the top of the wire. Use your other hand to roll the wire on your work surface around the dough, to form a corkscrew shape (not too tight). Gently roll the wire back and forth a few times before sliding the pasta off the wire. If you find the dough sticks to the wire, lightly dust the wire with flour before proceeding with the next piece. Place shaped pasta on semolina dusted sheet pan. Continue until you have used up the dough. Cover the pasta loosely with plastic wrap until you are ready to cook it (I left mine out for 3 hours).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add busiate and cook for about 4-5 minutes, until al dente. Drain and serve with your favorite sauce. Pesto is ideal.

Dinner, Fruit, Gardening, Lactose Free, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Avocado Salad with Herbs & Capers

March 26, 2021

Now that it’s avocado season, we have been enjoying avocado sandwiches with cheddar, chunky guacamole, avocado toast, and avocado eggs Benedict. The Green Gold tree in our back yard is a heavy bearer and the avocados are incredibly tasty. So here we have a new addition to our ever expanding recipe file. The tart dressing and herby flavors compliment the rich, velvety avocado slices. This salad is a keeper.

The Green Gold avocado has to be one of the best varieties to grow in Hawaii (a cultivar developed by the University of Hawaii). The trees are heavy bearers and produce beautiful fruit that are rich and creamy and known for their high oil content. If you are thinking of planting an avocado tree I highly recommend seeking out the Green Gold.

The dressing is reminiscent of a chimichurri sauce. A good splash of red wine vinegar gives the right acidic touch to the herbs, jalapeño and garlic.

The addition of a jalapeño makes for a nice pop of heat. Since jalapeños vary in their level of spiciness, test the one you use and add more or less according to your taste. If you don’t have one, sprinkle in some red chili flakes. You could even use pickled jalapeños if you have those in your refrigerator.

My favorite way to serve this salad is with good, crusty grilled sourdough bread. Drizzle some of the dressing onto the grilled bread, or scoop some of the avocado salad onto the bread. Delicious.

Avocado Salad with Herbs & Capers

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Adapted from NYT Cooking

Author: Kiyo Miller

Serves: 2

Ingredients

1 medium bunch cilantro
1 medium bunch Italian parsley
2 scallions, very finely chopped
1 medium garlic clove, finely grated or minced
1 small or ½ medium jalapeño, seeded and very finely chopped
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 medium avocados, peeled, pitted and sliced
2 teaspoons capers, drained
Maldon sea salt or other flaky salt
freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Reserve ½ cup of both whole cilantro leaves and parsley leaves. Finely chop the rest of the leaves and transfer to a medium bowl. Add scallions, garlic, jalapeños, salt and vinegar. Stir in oil. Taste and add more salt, vinegar or both if needed.
Scatter the reserved whole cilantro and parsley leaves over two serving plates. Fan the avocado slices over the top, and sprinkle lightly with salt to taste. Spoon herb dressing over the avocado slices, making sure to include the oil in the bowl (you may not use all of the dressing), and top with the capers. Sprinkle with Maldon sea salt and pepper. Serve with crusty grilled sourdough bread brushed with olive oil.

Dinner, Lactose Free, Recipes, Sauces, Tofu, Vegan, Vegetarian

Crispy Tofu with Homemade Barbecue Sauce

March 19, 2021

This is a very tasty tofu dish that can be made in an hour. The delicious sauce is quite versatile and can be used in multiple ways. It’s excellent with the crispy tofu but I’m sure it would be just as good with grilled chicken or pork chops if tofu is not your thing. However, it’s a must with this tofu. You will be pleasantly surprised at how yummy it is.

Serve the tofu over white or brown rice along with your favorite greens, and extra sauce on the side.

Use extra firm tofu so it holds its shape once the water is pressed out. Wildwood is my favorite brand. You can find it at Down to Earth here on Maui.

If you are looking for the very best way to press out the water from a tofu block, consider buying the TofuXpress. You will never regret it, especially if you bake tofu often. Pressing tofu with paper towels or a kitchen towel doesn’t hold a candle to this little gadget. I’ve had mine for over 10 years.

The tofu block is cut into 1/2-inch slices, then cut into short sticks.

A little bit of panko added to the cornstarch makes all the difference in giving the tofu a crispy exterior.

The barbecue sauce uses ingredients that are not difficult to find. Better yet, the sauce does not require any cooking.

Glorious homemade barbecue sauce with a twist. The sauce has Asian ingredients such as soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil, but it also has the more typical maple syrup, chili powder and tomato paste that you might find in an American style barbecue sauce. The combination turns out a sauce that’s seriously addicting.

Crispy Tofu with Homemade Barbecue Sauce

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Sauce adapted from MOB Kitchen recipe

Author: Kiyo Miller

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

14 ounce extra firm tofu, water pressed out
½ cup corn starch
¼ cup fine panko
1½ teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
1 small garlic clove, grated or finely minced (about ¼ teaspoon or up to ½ teaspoon for garlic lovers)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
2 tablespoons soy sauce (Kikkoman recommended)
2 tablespoons lite soy sauce (Kikkoman recommended)
2 teaspoons sesame oil
roasted sesame seeds for serving

Preparation

Press water from tofu, preferably with tofu press if available.
Cut tofu into ½ -inch slices. Cut each slice crosswise to make two pieces, then lengthwise to make 4 pieces (about 28 pieces). Combine corn starch with panko in a pie plate or wide bowl and set aside.
For the sauce, in a medium bowl, combine ginger, garlic, tomato paste, maple syrup, chili powder, soy sauces and sesame oil. Whisk to combine, set aside.
Toss tofu pieces in cornstarch panko mixture pressing gently so the coating adheres to the tofu
Heat canola oil (enough to go up the sides of a pan about ¼-inch) in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Fry tofu until crispy, turning now and then, about 4 minutes or so. Adjust heat as needed so the tofu doesn't burn and is just golden brown. Remove tofu to a paper towel-lined plate.
To serve, place tofu over rice and spoon barbecue sauce over tofu. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the top. Serve with your favorite greens (broccoli, bok choy, green beans) and extra barbecue sauce on the side.

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Baked Feta Pasta

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Ramen with Charred Scallions, Green Beans & Chile Oil

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TikTok Ramen

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Homemade Busiate Pasta

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Avocado Salad with Herbs & Capers

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Crispy Tofu with Homemade Barbecue Sauce

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