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Veggies

Dinner, Dressing, Lactose Free, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Vegetarian, Veggies

Champagne Vinegar & Dijon Vinaigrette

November 11, 2020

Champagne Vinegar & Dijon Vinaigrette Dressed Salad

I love tangy vinaigrettes that have nearly equal parts of acid to oil.  Lettuces, arugula, tomatoes, cucumbers and so many other greens really benefit from a vibrant dressing.  If there is too much oil and not enough acid, the salad can taste bland and heavy.  Add a few grinds of black pepper and a sprinkling of kosher salt just before serving for the perfect finishing touch.

Champagne Vinegar & Dijon Vinaigrette Ingredients

Champagne vinegar is at the top of my list when it comes to making salad dressings.  It has a crisp yet light flavor and seems less acidic than other white wine vinegars. It makes a beautiful dressing especially when combined with Dijon mustard and olive oil.  Not all brands of champagne vinegar are alike. I’ve tried a few that were not as smooth and flavorful as the brand I now use exclusively, O Champagne Vinegar found at Whole Foods.  It may be bit more expensive than white wine vinegars, but it is definitely worth the price.  A good dressing brings together a salad by complimenting all of the fresh vegetables in your bowl.  On another note, the little twirl whisk pictured above is my favorite kitchen utensil for mixing up dressings.  It whisks up the ingredients thoroughly and quickly.

Champagne Vinegar & Dijon Vinaigrette

This dressing will keep well in the refrigerator for about 1 week.

Champagne Vinegar & Dijon Vinaigrette Tomato Salad

Champagne Vinegar & Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette Dressed Salad

Champagne Vinegar & Dijon Vinaigrette
 
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Author:
Serves: ¾ cup
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar (O Champagne Vinegar recommended)
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt + more for serving
  • few grinds of freshly ground black pepper + more for serving
  • 1 teaspoon finely minced shallot, optional
Preparation
  1. Whisk Dijon mustard, honey, minced shallot if using, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk in champagne vinegar. Slowly add olive oil and whisk until vinaigrette is fully emulsified. Chill until ready to serve.
  2. Place salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss with some of the vinaigrette. Transfer salad to individual serving bowls or plates, sprinkle a bit of kosher salt and black pepper over each salad (optional). Dressing will keep for 1 week refrigerated.

 

Appetizers, Dinner, French, Fruit, Gardening, Recipes, Side Dishes, Veggies

Tomato Galette

October 11, 2020

Tomato Galette with Thyme

One of the delights of a galette is its free-form crust.  The dough doesn’t require any trimming after being rolled out.  In fact, the ragged edges of the crust are what gives a galette its beautiful, rustic appearance.  Whether you are making a savory or sweet filling, a galette is a gorgeous dish to bring to the table.

Tomatoes & Thyme

This year we grew Katana beefsteak tomatoes (Kitazawa Seed Co.) which turned out to be our new favorite.  They are meaty, juicy, and so flavorful with a gorgeous deep red color.  They are the perfect tomato for this galette and on a side note, they make for an exceptional BLT sandwich.

Katana Beefsteak Tomatoes in the Garden

Sharp Cheddar Sprinkled Over Galette Dough

A sprinkling of sharp cheddar cheese is all you’ll need.  The small amount of cheese is just enough to add a bit of richness allowing the tomatoes to really shine.

Preparing Tomato Galette with Thyme

Choose tomatoes that are meaty and hold up well to slicing.  I prefer to peel the tomatoes (except for the mini ones) because the skin has a different texture than the tomato flesh and it is especially noticeable once tomatoes have been cooked.

Preparing Tomato Galette with Thyme

Fresh thyme and tomatoes are a perfect match.  I included a handful of colorful sweet cherry tomatoes that added a nice contrast with the red beefsteaks.

Tomato Galette with Thyme Ready to Bake

The edges of the dough are folded over the tomatoes to make a rustic crust that will bake up beautifully.

Tomato Galette with Thyme

Tomato Tart
 
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Galette dough adapted from Dorie Greenspan's recipe
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • For the dough:
  • 1½ cups (204g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt (1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt if using unsalted butter)
  • 1 Earth Balance Buttery Stick (8 tablespoons, 4 ounces, 113g), frozen for 30 minutes, then cut into small cubes
  • ¼ cup ice water
  • 1 tablespoon milk or cream for brushing the crust (optional)
  • For the tomato galette:
  • 1 cup coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese, not packed
  • 1 pound meaty ripe tomatoes, peeled and sliced into ⅓-inch rounds
  • handful of assorted cherry tomatoes sliced (optional)
  • olive oil for brushing
  • Maldon sea salt or other flaky salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • a few fresh thyme sprigs
  • julienned basil (optional)
Preparation
  1. Place flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Pulse a few times to blend. Add cubes of cold Buttery Sticks and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add some of the ice water and pulse. Continue to add more water, pulsing each time (about 3 additions). Use longer pulses until dough holds together when you pinch it (dough will not be formed into a ball). Transfer dough to a clean work surface and use the heel of your hand to smear small pieces of dough, which will help to incorporate the Buttery Sticks. Gather the dough and form into a flat disk. Place between 2 sheets of parchment paper. Roll out dough into a 12-inch circle. Place dough with parchment papers onto a sheet pan. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Keep refrigerated until you have all other ingredients ready to go.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees ½ hour before you bake the galette. Meanwhile, place sliced tomatoes on paper towels if very juicy. This will help to avoid a soggy crust. Strip thyme leaves from stems and set aside.
  3. Remove galette dough from the refrigerator. Discard top layer of parchment paper. Sprinkle cheese over the dough leaving a 1½-inch border. Place tomatoes over the cheese in a single layer. Brush tomatoes with olive oil. Sprinkle Maldon or other flaky salt over the tomatoes along with a few grinds of black pepper. Sprinkle fresh thyme leaves over the top. Gently fold the pastry over the tomatoes, making pleats as you go. Brush edges with cream or milk (optional). Bake galette for about 35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Let galette cool for a few minutes before cutting into wedges. It is best served just warm or at room temperature. Sprinkle with julienned basil if using. The galette makes for a terrific meal served with a crispy green salad.

 

Beef, Dinner, Eggs, Korean, Lactose Free, Recipes, Rice Dishes, Veggies

Korean Soybean Sprouts Rice Bowl

September 26, 2020

Soybean Sprouts Rice Bowl with Sunny-Side Up Egg

To say that I love rice would be an understatement, so making this umami filled rice bowl was an easy decision.  Once you do a little prep work, everything goes into a rice cooker.  It’s a suitable meal for lunch or dinner.

Soybean Sprouts & Kimchi

Even thought the sprouts are cooked with the rice and other ingredients, they still retain a nice texture.  The kimchi adds such a wonderful flavor to the rice, with just a bit of heat.

Soybean Sprouts

Soybean Sprouts, Kimchi & Filet Mignon over Rice

The original recipe from Korean Bapsang calls for adding a bit of seasoned beef or pork to the rice dish as an option. However, you can omit this for a vegetarian version. I have cooked this dish with and without meat and both are equally delicious.  All ingredients are added on top of the rice (pictured above) then cooked together.

Cooked Soybean Sprouts, Kimchi & Filet Mignon over Rice

Once your rice timer goes off, you are ready to serve your meal.

Rice Bowl Sauce

The sauce is drizzled over the rice bowl.  I couldn’t resist adding a sunny-side up egg to mine.

Soybean Sprouts Rice Bowl with Sunny-Side Up Egg

Soybean Rice Bowl
 
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Adapted from Korean Bapsang blog
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 1 cup (measuring cup for rice cooker) short grain white rice
  • Vegetables & Meat:
  • 8 ounces soy bean sprouts, rinsed and drained well
  • 3 ounces filet mignon, thinly sliced (omit meat and next 4 ingredients for vegetarian version)
  • ½ teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon mirin
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ cup kimchi, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon kimchi juice
  • Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
  • 1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds
  • ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 2 sunny-side up eggs (optional)
Preparation
  1. Rinse rice and drain well. Place in rice cooker. Add water to 1 cup line minus 1 tablespoon.
  2. Marinate meat (if using) with garlic, soy sauce, mirin and sesame oil. Meanwhile, heat a small skillet with a 1½ teaspoons of canola oil over medium high heat. Stir fry kimchi for 2 minutes, adding some juice from the kimchi to intensify the flavor. Remove to a small plate. Add meat (if using) to the same pan and stir fry for a minute or two, just until barely cooked through.
  3. Spread soy bean sprouts over the the rice, followed by the kimchi, and meat. Start the rice cooker (do not use quick cooking option).
  4. While the rice is cooking, mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. When the rice is nearly done, cook your sunny-side up eggs. When the rice timer goes off, gently fluff the rice distributing the bean sprouts, kimchi and meat. Serve in bowls with sauce drizzled over the rice and top with sunny-side up eggs.

 

Dinner, Italian, Lactose Free, Pasta, Recipes, Veggies

Summer Weekend Pasta

August 21, 2020

Summer Weekend Pasta

This is a lovely, summery pasta dish whose ingredients can be adjusted to include whatever fresh veggies you might have on hand.  Now that corn is in season, make sure to include it along with the bacon (yum).  I do love the bright green specks of zucchini tucked in-between the orecchiette, but that’s not to say that you couldn’t switch it out for another green vegetable such as julienned kale or thin strips of asparagus.  Whatever you choose, keep in mind they should be cut, grated, or sliced into petite sizes so they meld nicely with the orecchiette.

Orecchiette

Orecchiette is the perfect pasta for this dish.  The domed shape of this pasta is ideal for catching the little nuggets of corn, bacon, and zucchini.

Zucchini, Corn, Basil, Bacon

Bacon = Happiness.

Grated Zucchini

The zucchini is grated and salted before being squeezed to extract as much liquid as possible.  This will ensure you do not end up with watery pasta.  The final dish is a bowlful of summer flavors.

Summer Weekend Pasta

 

Summer Weekend Pasta
 
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Adapted from Food52
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 4 slices thick bacon, cut crosswise into ¼-inch pieces
  • 1 medium garlic clove, peeled and crushed
  • pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 medium green zucchini, ends trimmed
  • ½ pound orecchiette
  • 2 ears corn, kernels cut from the cobs
  • 1 tablespoon roughly chopped or torn basil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • olive oil for finishing
  • grated parmesan cheese for serving
Preparation
  1. Grate the squash on a box grater or large hole grater. Place grated squash in a bowl and toss with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Let sit for at least 10 minutes, and up to 30 minutes.
  2. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil for the pasta. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large saute pan with crushed garlic clove over medium heat. Cook until the bacon is crisp. Remove bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard the garlic clove.
  3. Once the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook until al dente. While the pasta is cooking, take fistfuls of the salted squash and squeeze firmly to extract liquid. Set aside in a bowl.
  4. Drain the pasta but don't shake it; you want a little pasta water to help create a sauce. Pour it back in the pot. Add the pressed squash, corn kernels and bacon to the pot. Toss everything together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle in a tablespoon or two of olive oil. Add basil and red pepper flakes if using. Toss once before serving and sprinkle with grated parmesan.

 

Dinner, Kimchi, Korean, Recipes, Side Dishes, Veggies

Oi Kimchi (Cucumber Kimchi)

July 3, 2020

Crunchy Oi Kimchi

Here in Hawaii, we have a melting pot of cuisines.  One dish we all enjoy is the Korean specialty: kimchi.  A favorite version of ours is is spicy cucumber kimchi, the perfect accompaniment  to rice and Korean barbecued beef.  If you want to keep your meal vegetarian, skip the beef and serve the kimchi with rice and grilled teriyaki tofu.  And, if you don’t have time to fire up the grill, a bowl of steaming Japanese rice, white or brown will do just fine.  This is a quick and tasty side dish.

Japanese Cucumbers

Japanese cucumbers are best for this recipe as they are extra crisp and have very few seeds.

Gochugaru

There are  many varieties of kimchi (hundreds by some accounts) but one of the things they all have in common is gochugaru, Korean chili flakes.  This is the chili that I cook with most often.  Gochugaru has a smoky, sweet flavor, gorgeous deep red color and gentle heat.  It’s widely available on line and in local Asian markets.

Gochugaru, Carrots, Chives, Grated Apple, Ginger, Garlic

Julienned carrots add color and flavor to the cucumber kimchi.  If you don’t have chives you may substitute them with slender green onions.

Kimchi Sauce

Salted Japanese Cucumbers

The cucumbers for this recipe are cut into baton shaped pieces which I find is the perfect size.  This recipe will keep for a good 3-4 days and the cucumbers will retain their crunchy texture.

Crunchy Oi Kimchi with Teriyaki Meat Sticks, Mac Salad & Onigiri

Serve the kimchi with your favorite grilled meat or tofu and steamed Japanese rice.

Crunchy Oi Kimchi

Oi Kimchi (Cucumber Kimchi)
 
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Author:
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 3 Japanese cucumbers (about 1 pound) cut into batons, about 2-inches long
  • 1 scant tablespoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup julienned carrots
  • 5 chives, cut into 1½-inch pieces
  • Sauce:
  • 1 tablespoon gochugaru
  • 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon finely grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated apple, drained
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar (unseasoned)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • dash of fish sauce (optional)
  • roasted sesame seeds
Preparation
  1. Trim the ends of the cucumbers. Cut into 2-inch long pieces. Cut each piece in half lengthwise, then into 4 even batons (sticks). Place the cucumber pieces in a colander and toss with a scant tablespoon of kosher salt (I use Diamond Crystal). Place the colander over a bowl to catch any drips and set a timer for 30 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, combine all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
  3. Gently pat the cucumbers dry without removing all of the salt. Transfer the cucumbers to a wide bowl along with the carrots and chives, and toss with the sauce. I use disposable gloves to mix the cucumbers with the sauce which helps to coat every piece evenly. Transfer to a clean bowl and chill until ready to serve.

 

Appetizers, Dinner, Lactose Free, Recipes, Side Dishes, Vegetarian, Veggies

Mustard & Mayonnaise Glazed Asparagus

June 14, 2020

Mustard & Mayonnaise Glazed Asparagus

Asparagus is one of the most versatile vegetables around.  Endless preparations come to mind: steamed and served with a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper, stir-fried and seasoned with sesame oil and soy sauce, and crispy panko coated tempura.  Now that summer is here, grilling is the obvious choice for many reasons.  The weather is gorgeous, your kitchen stays cool without the stove or oven in use, and you can make this for two people, or for a group.  The marinade for this recipe is truly delicious, and this has become my favorite way to serve asparagus.

Fresh Asparagus Spears

Thick asparagus spears fare better than the pencil thin type when grilling. They hold their shape and texture without becoming droopy and soggy. To peel or not to peel the stems.  It’s up to you.  With thick asparagus I always peel a thin layer off the lower part of the stems.  The spears look beautiful and they are guaranteed to be tender and are never stringy.

Fresh Peeled Asparagus Spears

This recipe comes from Nate Appelman of San Francisco’s popular A16 and SPQR restaurants.  The marinade is a combination of mayonnaise, grainy mustard, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic and salt and pepper.  It coats the asparagus beautifully and any extra marinade can be slathered on the grilled asparagus before serving if you wish.

Asparagus with Marinade

Mustard & Mayonnaise Glazed Asparagus

Mustard & Mayonnaise Glazed Asparagus
 
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Adapted from Nate Appleman's recipe
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 1½ tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1½ tablespoons grainy mustard
  • 1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 medium garlic clove, crushed
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ pound thick asparagus, trimmed
Preparation
  1. Whisk the mayonnaise with the mustard, oil, lemon juice, lemon zest. garlic, salt and pepper. Pour the marinade over the asparagus (use a large plate) and turn to coat. Let stand for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat your grill to medium-high (we use a gas grill which takes 15 minutes to heat up). Grill the asparagus, turning occasionally, until the spears are tender and lightly blistered in spots, about 6 minutes.Serve the asparagus hot or at room temperature.

 

 

 

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