Tag Archives: garlic

Mushroom Ragout

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2 tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 shallots minced
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp. fresh sage, minced
6 ounces white mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced
8 ounces porcini mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced
8 ounces shitake mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced
2 tbsp. light soy sauce
1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp. corn starch dissolved in 1/2 cup cold water (try flour instead of corn starch)
2tbsp. parsley

In a large skillet, heat the oil and add the minced garlic. Stir over medium heat until slightly golden. Add the onion, shallots and sage, and stir until the onion is softened and translucent, about 3 minutes.

Add all the mushrooms and the soy sauce. Continue cooking until the liquid from the mushrooms cooks off, about 5-10 minutes.

Add the wine and vinegar and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes. Add the starch mixture and boil for 1 or 2 minutes more, stirring continuously. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken. Add salt and pepper to taste and parsley. Serve over toast points as an appetizer, over rice or pasta as a main course.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Black Bean, Quinoa and Spinach Stew — The Washington Post

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For those who want to love quinoa more than they do, incorporating quinoa into a soup or stew is one way to avoid its stick-in-your-teeth seediness. Here, it bulks up a simple black bean soup, providing the starch (and extra protein) to make a hearty meal.

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion or large shallot, chopped
1 medium clove garlic, chopped (1 teaspoon)
1 carrot, chopped
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (pimenton, sweet or hot)
3 small tomato, hulled and chopped
1/2cup dried quinoa, rinsed and drained
3 cups homemade or no-salt-added vegetable broth (1 tsp veggie conc.)
1 can  black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cup lightly packed baby spinach leaves, chopped

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion or shallot, the garlic and carrot; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the paprika, tomato, quinoa, broth and black beans. Season with the salt and pepper.

Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low so the mixture is barely bubbling around the edges. Cover, and cook until the quinoa has swelled and is tender, 20 minutes. Stir in the spinach leaves and cook just until they are wilted, a few minutes.

Transfer to a bowl and eat.

Quick Pickles Recipe — Kelsey Nixon

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2 cups red wine vinegar
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup kosher salt
1 teaspoon mustard seeds< 3/4 teaspoon coriander seeds 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds 1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorn 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 1 red Fresno , split in half 6 Kirby cucumbers (about 2 pounds)

In a saucepot, combine the vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, celery seeds, peppercorns, garlic, chile and 2 cups water and bring the mixture to a boil to dissolve the sugar and salt.

Using a mandolin (or sharp knife), slice the cucumbers 1/4-inch thick and place in a large heat-safe bowl or container.

Once the mixture boils, pour the liquid over the sliced cucumbers, making sure the cucumbers are submerged. Let the cucumbers sit in the liquid as it comes to room temperature, for about 20 minutes. Drain the pickles and reserve the liquid. Serve as is or fry em’ up! To serve, add a little of the pickling juice right on top of the pickles.

Cook’s Notes: Reserve your pickling liquid to use on the pickles later or as a vinegary addition to sauces. The longer the pickles sit in the liquid the softer they become, so for me 20 minutes is perfect. This pickling liquid is great to pickle a variety of vegetables, try carrots, one of my favorites.

DMV notes:used 1/2 jalaopeno, 2 kirby cukes and reduced the pickling liquid to 3/4. Very Tasty!!

Chipotle Shrimp With Tomato Corn Salsa

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Top Tomato 2012

Barbara Brynelson invented this recipe after coming home from the Rockville farmers market with tomatoes, corn, onions and chili peppers. She also had a bottle of chipotle powder she had been wanting to use. A winner was born.
Because she’s usually pressed for time, Brynelson says, she uses frozen (uncooked) shrimp that has been peeled and deveined; if you prefer, you can buy 24 ounces of shell-on shrimp to peel and clean yourself. She also doesn’t peel or seed the tomatoes but wouldn’t object if you choose to.

If you like your food spicy, go with the jalapeno pepper; if not, you can use a poblano instead. And if you don’t like cilantro, she gives you the option of not adding it.

This can be eaten on its own, served over rice or pasta, or wrapped in a soft tortilla.

  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 medium sweet onion, sliced lengthwise into strips (not rings; 1/2 cup)
  • Kernels from 1 or 2 ears of fresh corn (1 cup)
  • 1/2 jalapeno or poblano pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped (see headnote)
  • 3 large Roma tomatoes, chopped (peeled and seeded if desired)
  • Finely grated zest and freshly squeezed juice from 1 lime (1 teaspoon zest and 2 teaspoons juice)
  • 2 large cloves garlic, minced or crushed
  • 1 1/2 cups peeled and deveined raw shrimp (12 ounces, 31 to 40 count), fresh or frozen, defrosted if frozen
  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder, preferably Penzeys brand
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves (optional)

Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large saute pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the corn, jalapeno or poblano pepper, the tomatoes and lime juice. Once the mixture starts to bubble, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 4 or 5 minutes, until the tomato has softened. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same saute pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds, then add the shrimp, lime zest and chipotle powder (to taste). Cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are just turning pink and opaque. Return the tomato-corn mixture to the pan or skillet and cook for a few minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through.

4 servings

Salmon with Brown Sugar and Mustard Glaze Bobby Flay

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Salmon:
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
Vegetable oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 salmon fillets, 6 ounces each

On the side burner, melt the brown sugar, honey and butter in a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and whisk in the mustard, soy sauce, olive oil and ginger. Let cool.

Preheat grill to medium heat. Brush salmon with vegetable oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Place the salmon skin side down on the grill. Coat the flesh of the salmon fillets with the brown sugar mixture. Grill for 6 to 8 minutes to medium doneness, turning once after 5 to 6 minutes

Barley Soup

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6 c. water
4-6 tsp veggie stock base
1/2 c. pearl Barley
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2-4 sm potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 medium sweet onion, minced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2-1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/3 c. parsley, chopped
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dill

Heat the water in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the soup base and stir to dissolve. Add barley, carrots, celery, potatoes, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, bay leaf and dill. Bring all to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes until the barley is cooked. Serves 4-6

Seasoned Eggplant Puree Sherry Golden

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This puree is an excellent way to process and preserve eggplants when they are abundant and beautifully firm.  Freeze the puree in 1 cup portions.  Use in sauces for pasta, as a filling for crepes, and in the superb Eggplant Mushroom Quiche.

2 medium eggplants
salt
1 medium onion
2-3 garlic cloves
3-4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
2-3 tbsp water, use as little as possible

Peel the eggplant and slice into 1/2 inch thick slices.  Salt both side sand lay them on paper towels for 30 min to drain. Pat them dry and cut into cubes

In a large saute pan saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until the onion is softened.  Add the eggplant cube and saute until the eggplant begins to color.  Add the basil and water.  Stir, cover and steam until the eggplant is tender.  Puree in a food processor or blender

-OR-

Peel eggplant and cook on grill under done.

In a large saute pan saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until the onion is softened.  Add Add the basil and water.  Stir and cook for a few minutes.  Puree in a food processor or blender

Malaysian Mussels — LSQ

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Steaming the shellfish in a red curry sauce imparts just a hint of spice.
2 tablespoons oil
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tablespoons)
1/2-inch piece ginger minced (2 tablespoons)
1 tsp or more red curry paste
1 cup coconut milk
2 pounds mussels, beards removed and scrubbed clean
12 cilantro sprigs, chopped
1 lime, cut into wedges

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add garlic and ginger and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Stir curry paste into garlic and ginger and continue to cook 1 minute more. Add coconut milk to skillet and bring to a boil.

Add mussels to skillet, cover, and cook just until mussels open, 2-3 minutes. Transfer mussels to a large serving bowl with a slotted spoon. Pour coconut curry sauce over mussels, garnish with cilantro and lime and serve immediately.

Brown Rice Salad with Chick Peas, Cumin and Vinaigrette

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I started out making making lunch using  Ina’s brown rice salad with tomatoes and basil but while the rice was cooking and after the vinaigrette was made A Pinch of Salt email arrived with Brown rice, cumin and lime vinaigrette. The following is the end result which was very tasty. I was out of cilantro (tsk tsk) but will use it next time.

DSCF1330

    1 cup brown rice
    2 tsp kosher salt, divided
    1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
    2 teaspoons sugar
    2 tablespoon good olive oil
    1 tsp cumin< 1 garlic clove minced grated rind of 1 lime Freshly ground black pepper 2 c. diced tomates 1 can chick peas 1 jalapeno diced ¼ c. diced red onion 2-3 tbsp cilantro I substituted italian parsley juice of one lime Bring 2 1/4 cups water to a boil and add the rice and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Return to a boil, cover, and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until the rice is tender and all the water is absorbed. Transfer the rice to a bowl. Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, olive oil, lime rind, cumin, remaining teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Pour over the rice. Stir gently. Add the tomatoes, chick peas, onion, jalapeno, lime juice and cilantro. Mix well and check the seasonings. Serve at room temperature.

Fromage Fort – Jacques Pepin

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IMG_2278
any leftover cheese bits – I used brie, jarlsburg and havarti.
1/4 cup white wine
2 cloves garlic
black pepper

“Making fromage fort is the ultimate way of using your leftover cheese. When I think about my father, I can still see the old earthenware crock that he used for marinating his fromage fort, or “strong cheese.” Now, my wife usually makes this at the house. I’m sure that our friends are tired of it, because when Gloria makes it she makes a big batch and freezes it in half-cup ramekins. It freezes well, and defrosted under refrigeration can be served on toast with drinks. Alternatively, we slide the ramekin into the lower part of a very hot oven or under the broiler for five or six minutes
for a bubbly, crusty, and fragrant appetizer or salad garnish.”

Put about 1/2 pound of cheese in the bowl of a food processor, add a couple cloves of garlic, about 1/4 cup of dry white wine, and a big grinding of black pepper. Salt is usually not needed, but taste the mixture, and add some if it is needed.

Process for 30 seconds or so, until the mixture is creamy but not too soft, and then pack it into small containers. The fromage fort is ready to use now, either as a generous cold spread for bread, or you can run the coated bread under the broiler for a few minutes to melt
the cheese, brown it, and make it wonderfully fragrant.