17 January 2009

African Sweet Potato-Peanut Stew

-Good Housekeeping

3 clove(s) garlic
2 cup(s) (loosely packed) fresh cilantro leaves and stems
1 can(s) (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
1/2 cup(s) creamy or chunky peanut butter
2 teaspoon(s) ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon(s) ground red pepper (cayenne)
Salt
1 cup(s) water
3 pound(s) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
1 can(s) (15 to 19 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 package(s) (16 ounces) frozen whole or cut green beans
DIRECTIONS

1. In blender or food processor with knife blade attached, blend garlic, cilantro, tomatoes with their juice, peanut butter, cumin, cinnamon, ground red pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt until pureed.
2. Into 4 1/2- to 6-quart slow-cooker bowl, pour peanut-butter mixture; stir in water. Add sweet potatoes and garbanzo beans; stir to combine. Cover slow cooker with lid and cook as manufacturer directs on low setting 8 to 10 hours or on high setting 4 to 5 hours or until potatoes are very tender.
3. About 10 minutes before sweet potato mixture is done, cook green beans as label directs. Gently stir green beans into stew.

12 December 2008

Chickpea Millet burgers

2 cups cooked millet
3 cups cooked chickpeas
1/3 cup shelled roasted peanuts
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
3 T corn meal
1 cup chopped carrot
parsley or cilantro
salt and pepper
olive oil

Combine first 8 ingredients in food processor and chop together. If burger is not sticking together, add warm water 1 tsp at a time till it does. Season to taste, shape into patties, and fry in a little olive oil till browned.

15 November 2008

Potato, Salmon and Spinach Patties With Garlicky Dill Cream

-NYT 15 Nov 2008

Potato, Salmon and Spinach Patties With Garlicky Dill Cream

Time: 45 minutes plus at least 30 minutes’ chilling

FOR THE POTATO SALMON PATTIES:

10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed

2 cups mashed potatoes, chilled

8 ounces cooked salmon fillet, flaked

2 1/2 cups panko or bread crumbs

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

FOR THE GARLICKY DILL CREAM:

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste

1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

1/4 cup chopped fresh dill

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Olive or vegetable oil for frying.

1. Squeeze as much water from spinach as possible. Place in a bowl and add potatoes, salmon, 1 cup panko, 2 eggs, salt and pepper; mix well to combine.

2. Place remaining bread crumbs in a wide, shallow bowl. Place remaining eggs in a second bowl and beat lightly. Place flour in a third bowl.

3. Form spinach mixture into 3-inch patties, about 3/4-inch thick. Dip each patty into flour, tapping off excess, then the egg, letting excess drip into bowl. Coat evenly with panko crumbs. Transfer patties to a large baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.

4. Meanwhile, make dill cream: In a mortar and pestle or with the back of a knife, mash garlic and salt together to make a paste. Stir it into the sour cream or yogurt. Add dill and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Chill until ready to serve.

5. Heat 1/4-inch oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; if using olive oil, you don’t need to use good extra virgin oil. Cook patties in batches, turning once halfway through, until golden and cooked through, about 3 minutes a side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve hot, with a dollop of dill cream.

Yield: 12 patties.

27 September 2008

1975: Challah

This recipe from Sarah Schecht of Brooklyn appeared in an article by Craig Claiborne.

9 cups sifted, unbleached

flour, plus additional flour

for kneading

2 (¼-ounce) packages dry active yeast

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 large eggs

¾ cup corn oil or clarified butter, plus more for greasing

baking sheet

¾ cup plus 1 1/88 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon sesame or

poppy seeds.

1. Place 6 cups of the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center. In a small bowl, stir the yeast into 1 cup of lukewarm water until dissolved. Add this to the well. Using a fork, stir around the well, gradually incorporating ¼ of the flour — no more — into the yeast mixture. Set the bowl in a warm place and let stand 45 to 50 minutes.

2. Sprinkle the baking powder, cinnamon and salt over the flour mixture. Add the vanilla, 3 of the eggs, the oil (or butter) and 3/4 cup of the sugar. Add 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water and blend again, first using the fork and then your hands. Add 2 cups of flour, kneading for about 10 minutes. If the mixture is still too sticky, add up to a cup more of flour. The dough is ready when it doesn’t stick to your hands. Shape into a rough ball, cover, let stand 20 minutes and then turn it out onto a lightly floured board. Knead well for about 5 minutes, adding a little flour to the board as needed to prevent sticking. Set the dough in a floured bowl and lightly coat in flour. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.

3. Turn the dough onto a flat surface and knead briefly. Cut off 1/8 of the dough, knead quickly, shape into a ball, flour lightly and let rest briefly. Repeat with remaining 7 pieces. Using your hands, roll each piece into a 12-to-15-inch-long rope. Continue with remaining balls.

4. Align the ropes vertically, side by side. Gather the tops together, one at a time, pinching down to seal. Separate the ropes down the center, 4 to a side. Braid them as follows: bring the outer right rope over toward the center next to the inside rope on the left. Bring the outer left rope over toward the center next to the inside rope on the right. Repeat this process until the loaf is braided. As the last ropes are brought over, pull and stretch them a bit as needed. When braided, gather the bottom ends of the ropes and pinch them together.

5. Generously oil (or butter) the bottom and sides of a large baking sheet. Carefully lift the braided loaf and transfer to the baking sheet. Cover the loaf with a towel and place in a warm spot until the loaf is doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

6. Beat the remaining egg with the remaining 1/8 teaspoon of sugar. Brush the loaf with the egg wash and then sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds. Bake until puffed and golden, about 1 hour. Makes 1 loaf.

23 September 2008

Green and White Salad

1 package cooked pasta (I use penne rigate)
1 cup julienned green bell peppers
2/3 cup green peas
1/3 cup soy mayonnaise
1/2 cup shredded parmesan
juice of 3 key limes
1 T sugar
8-10 basil leaves, chopped
(optional) toasted pine nuts
salt and pepper to taste

16 September 2008

Caramel Sauce

-Bon Appetit, 2006

Makes about 1 1/3 cups.
ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup whipping cream
preparation
Combine sugar, 1/2 cup water, and corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until mixture turns a deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Carefully add cream (you may want to stand back — mixture will bubble vigorously). Stir sauce over low heat until any caramel bits dissolve and sauce is smooth. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium-low heat just until pourable, then let caramel sauce cool to room temperature.)

14 September 2008

Hainanese Chicken With Rice

-Bittman, NYT Sep 2008

Time: 1 1/2 hours, plus resting

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 whole (3- to 4-pound) chicken, trimmed of excess fat

Several cloves smashed garlic, plus 1 teaspoon minced garlic

Several slices fresh ginger, plus 1 tablespoon minced ginger

1/2 cup peanut oil, or neutral oil, like corn or canola

3 shallots, roughly chopped, or a small onion

2 cups long-grain rice

1/2 cup minced scallions

2 cucumbers, peeled and sliced

2 tomatoes, sliced

Chopped fresh cilantro leaves

2 tablespoons sesame oil.

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Add chicken to pot along with smashed garlic and sliced ginger. Bird should be completely submerged, but only just. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and let bird remain in water for 45 minutes to an hour, covered, or until it is cooked through.

2. Remove chicken from pot, reserve stock, and let bird cool to room temperature. Put half the peanut oil in a skillet over medium heat; you may add trimmed chicken fat to this also. When oil is hot, add remaining garlic, along with shallots; cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until glossy. Add 4 cups reserved chicken stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover; cook for about 20 minutes, until rice has absorbed all liquid. Stir in salt and pepper to taste.

3. Make a dipping sauce of remaining oil, ginger, half the scallions and a large pinch of salt.

4. Shred or chop chicken, discarding skin. Put rice on a large platter and mound chicken on top of it; decorate platter with cucumbers, tomatoes, remaining scallions and cilantro. Sprinkle sesame oil over all and serve with dipping sauce.

Yield: 4 to 8 servings.