1 Tbsp. gochugaru (coarse Korean red pepper powder) or 1½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
4 scallions
1 2″ piece ginger, peeled, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
8 dried shiitake mushrooms
1 4×3″ piece dried kombu
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
4 baby bok choy (about 12 oz. total), quartered lengthwise
4 5-oz. packages fresh ramen noodles
Jammy eggs, toasted nori sheets, and/or cilantro (for serving; optional)
Fresh ramen noodles can be found at Asian markets and some grocery stores. We like Sun Noodle brand.
Cook garlic and ¼ cup oil in a medium pot over medium heat, stirring often, until garlic is beginning to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a small bowl and stir in gochugaru; season with salt. Set garlic oil aside. Wipe out pot and set aside.
Trim dark green parts from scallions and thinly slice; set aside for serving. Coarsely chop white and pale green parts. Heat remaining 2 Tbsp oil in reserved pot over medium-high. Cook chopped scallions and ginger, stirring often, until scallions are charred in spots, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to stick to the bottom of pot and darkens slightly, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and kombu, then stir in 5 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let sit until mushrooms soften, about 10 minutes. Remove and discard kombu.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer solids to a blender. Add a ladleful or 2 of broth to blender and purée until smooth. Stir purée back into broth in pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add butter a piece at a time, whisking to combine after each addition before adding more. Stir in soy sauce; season with salt. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add bok choy and cook until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bok choy to a plate. Return water to a boil and cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and divide among bowls.
To serve, ladle broth over noodles, then top with bok choy and reserved garlic oil. Top with eggs, nori, and cilantro if desired.
These crispy oven-fried scallops are a lighter take on classic fried scallops, which involves baking them in a panko bread crumb topping. Don’t be alarmed by the full stick of butter in the ingredients list—you won’t use the entire thing.
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
20 medium sea scallops (20–30 per pound)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 ¼ teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted
1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
Tartar sauce and lemon slices, for serving
Preheat oven to 475° and set a rack to the middle position. Take two rimmed baking sheets and set a wire rack in each. Set aside.
Whisk eggs and lemon juice until thoroughly combined. Pat scallops dry. In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour melted butter and bread crumbs into additional (separate) shallow bowls.
Dip a scallop in the egg mixture, then dredge in the seasoned flour. Now dip it in the melted butter and gently roll in panko bread crumbs. Place on a wire rack. Repeat with remaining scallops. When all scallops are breaded, drizzle with some of the remaining butter and transfer to the oven. Bake until scallops are golden brown and cooked through (cut to check), 10 to 13 minutes. Serve with tartar sauce and lemon slices.
4 large baking potatoes, scrubbed clean and dried thoroughly
1 tbsp sunflower oil
4 tbsp vegan cream cheese
2 tsp English mustard
small bunch of chives, finely chopped
few drops of vegan Worcestershire sauce
generous pinch of sea salt and black pepper
Preheat the oven to 400°F
Pierce the potatoes with a fork a few times, then rub in the sunflower oil. Wrap each potato in foil, then bake in the oven for 1 ½ hours until softened.
Remove from the oven and carefully fold back the foil. Halve each potato and leave until cool enough to handle. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh from each half into a bowl, leaving about 1/4in remaining near the skin.
Mash the potato in the bowl, along with the vegan cream cheese and mustard. Stir in the chives, then load each potato skin with the filling. Place the filled halves in a roasting tin lined with baking parchment and return to the oven to bake for 20 minutes until golden on the top.
Remove from the oven and dash over the Worcestershire sauce. Season with sea salt and black pepper, garnish with a few extra chopped chives, and chive flowers when in season, if you like, and serve hot.
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes, plus more for the ramekin
3 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus more for the ramekin
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Confectioners’ sugar, to serve (optional)
Heat oven to 425 degrees and butter a 10-ounce ramekin. Dust the buttered ramekin with granulated sugar.
Combine the chocolate and 3 tablespoons butter in a heat-safe bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, combine in a bowl and microwave in 30-second blasts, stirring in between, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute.) Remove from the heat and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the 3 tablespoons sugar, egg, egg yolk, vanilla and salt. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is thick, foamy and pale, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour until smooth.
Using a spatula, add the chocolate to the egg mixture and stir gently until combined.
Pour the mixture into the ramekin. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are set and puffed, but the center is still soft when lightly pressed. (You can also cover and refrigerate the batter up to a day in advance. Add an additional minute or 2 to baking time if you are baking the cake directly from the refrigerator.)
Use an offset spatula or small knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the ramekin. Place a plate over the ramekin and carefully invert the warm cake. Use an oven mitt or clean kitchen towel to remove the ramekin, dust the cake with confectioners’ sugar and serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
In a saucepan, stir together sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Place over medium heat, and stir in milk. Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from heat, and stir in butter and vanilla. Let cool briefly, and serve warm, or chill in refrigerator until serving.
²⁄3 cup plus ¼ cup crumbled Gorgonzola dolce cheese (or blue cheese of your choice)
²⁄3 cup sour cream
¹⁄3 cup chopped walnuts
1 egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon water
3 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400° and place a rack in the center. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat and set aside.
Make the Extra-Flaky Pastry and chill for 1 hour. Remove it from the fridge about 15 minutes before using to let it soften slightly.
Meanwhile, set the sweet potatoes directly on the center rack and roast until they are softened but still firm in the center, 35 to 45 minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, peel and slice into ¼-inch-thick disks.
While the potatoes roast, prepare the onions: Set a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Add the onions, turn to coat in the oil, then cover the skillet and reduce the heat to medium low. Let the onions wilt for 10 minutes, stirring once. Remove the cover, add the vinegar, sugar, and salt, and stir. Continue cooking the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are caramelized, 20 to 25 minutes more. Set aside.
In a small bowl, mash ²⁄3 cup Gorgonzola into the sour cream until mostly smooth. Set aside.
Shape the disk of slightly softened dough into a rough rectangle shape. On a well-floured work surface, roll the dough into a larger rectangle about 8 inches wide and 14 inches long. Roll the dough up around the pin and then unfurl it on the lined baking sheet. Spread the Gorgonzola mixture over the bottom of the crust, leaving a 2-inch border on all sides. Top with the onions. Lay the potato slices over the onions in three overlapping vertical rows. Sprinkle the walnuts over all. Fold the sides of the crust up over the filling, preserving the rectangle shape. Brush the edges with the egg white mixture. Strip the leaves from three thyme sprigs and sprinkle over the entire tart. Transfer to the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes, then sprinkle with the remaining Gorgonzola and garnish with some thyme sprigs. Serve warm or at room temperature.
1 ½ pounds mixed mushrooms, such as maitake, oyster, cremini or shiitake, torn into bite-size pieces
1 to 2 fresh red or green chiles, such as Fresno, thinly sliced (or 3/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes)
½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, plus more to taste
¼ cup unseasoned rice wine vinegar, plus more to taste
8 to 10 ounces noodles, such as udon, soba, rice or spaghetti
2 cups herbs (tender leaves and stems), such as cilantro, mint, chives, parsley or a mix, for serving
Sesame seeds, sesame oil or both, for serving (optional)
Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots start to turn a nice golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add mushrooms and half the chile, and season with salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have softened, released much of their water and turned a deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. (A browned mushroom will have infinitely more flavor than an unbrowned mushroom, because the water inside it evaporates and the flavor concentrates. So do not skip this step.)
Add 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup vinegar and 8 cups of water. Bring to a gentle simmer and season with salt and pepper. Continue to simmer until the flavors have melded and the broth tastes good enough to drink (you will be drinking it), 15 to 20 minutes. Season with more soy sauce and vinegar as you like.
Meanwhile, cook the noodles in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente. (The timing will depend on the type and brand of noodles, so consult the package.) Add the noodles to the pot with the broth, and let them hang out in there for a minute or two to finish cooking and soak up all that flavor.
To serve, use tongs to divide the noodles and mushrooms among bowls, then ladle the hot broth over the top. Serve with the remaining chile, the herbs and the sesame seeds and oil (if using) for people to dress their own bowls to their liking.
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together butter, egg, sugar, vanilla and milk. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder. Spoon dry ingredients into wet and mix until dry ingredients are moistened.
Spray a cheesecake pan (a round pan with removable sides – a 13×9″ cake pan will work as well) lightly with baking spray. Spoon batter into pan and cover the top of the cake evenly with raspberries.
Bake for 35-45 minutes (somewhat dependent on pan), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
While cake is baking, whisk together the glaze ingredients.
When cake is removed from oven, gently brush the warm cake with glaze (I removed the sides of my cheesecake pan to brush the sides of the cake as well). Allow to set for 10 minutes and serve!
dmv note: I baked in 9″ cheese cake pan and it really never got done (oven problem as well) next time use 9 x 13 pan.
6 tablespoons butter or extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
2 pounds mixed mushrooms, such as portobello, cremini, white button, shiitake or oyster, cut into 1-inch chunks (about 10 cups)
8 ounces peeled pearl onions (2 cups), larger ones cut in half
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 large leek or 2 small leeks, white and light green parts, diced (1 1/2 cups)
2 carrots, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves (2 minced, 1 grated to a paste)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups dry red wine
1 ½ cups beef, mushroom or vegetable broth
1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce, plus more to taste
3 large fresh thyme branches or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
3 to 4 ounces chanterelle or oyster mushrooms, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
Smoked paprika, for serving
Polenta, egg noodles or mashed potatoes, for serving
Chopped flat-leaf parsley, for serving
Add 2 tablespoons butter or oil to a large Dutch oven or pot and set it over medium heat. When the fat is hot, stir in half the mushrooms and half the pearl onions. (If it doesn’t all fit in the pot in one layer, you might have to do this in three batches, rather than two.) Without moving them around too much, cook the mushrooms until they are brown on one side, about 3 minutes. Stir and let them brown on the other side, 2 to 3 minutes more. Use a slotted spoon to transfer mushrooms and onions to a large bowl or plate and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Repeat with another 2 tablespoons butter and the remaining mushrooms and pearl onions, seasoning them as you go.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add another 1 tablespoon butter or oil to pan. Add leeks and carrot and sauté until the leeks turn lightly golden and start to soften, 5 minutes. Add the 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute longer. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Stir in flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, then add wine, broth, 1 tablespoon tamari, thyme and bay leaf, scraping up the brown bits at bottom of pot.
Add reserved cooked mushrooms and pearl onions back to the pot and bring to a simmer. Partly cover the pot and simmer on low heat until carrots and onions are tender and sauce is thick, 30 to 40 minutes. Taste and add more salt and tamari if needed. Stir in the grated garlic clove.
Just before serving, heat a small skillet over high heat and add 1/2 tablespoon butter or oil. Add half of the sliced chanterelles or oyster mushrooms and let cook without moving until they are crisp and brown on one side, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side. Transfer to a plate and sprinkle with salt and smoked paprika. Repeat with remaining butter and mushrooms. Serve mushroom Bourguignon over polenta, noodles or mashed potatoes, topped with fried mushrooms and parsley.
1 red chile, such as Fresno or serrano, halved, seeds and ribs removed, then minced
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 cup red lentils, rinsed
4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 (13-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
1 (4- to 5-ounce) bag baby spinach
½ lime, juiced
Fresh cilantro leaves, for serving
Toasted unsweetened coconut flakes, for serving (optional)
In a Dutch oven or pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high. Add the sweet potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the browned sweet potatoes to a plate and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot and set the heat to medium-low. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the curry paste, garlic, ginger, chile and turmeric, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the lentils, stock, salt and browned sweet potatoes to the pot and bring to a boil over high. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are just tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
Add the coconut milk and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced and the lentils are creamy and falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes.
Add the spinach and stir until just wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lime juice and season with salt to taste.
Divide among shallow bowls and top with cilantro and coconut flakes, if using.
dmv notes–I used green lentils, 1/2 jalapeño, no salt, and russian kale. Since it was taking a long time I put the lentils, stock and browned sweet potatoes in the IP for 9 min with quick release. Then added the coconut milk and kale and cooked in IP for another 9 min with quick release.
