For my first attempt I didn’t quite get the sauce as smooth as I wanted it but it still came out really delicious. This isn’t authentic at all, and I can’t get many of the leaves, seasonings, chilies, and exact cheeses here in Estonia but I like to think it’s got the spirit of enfrijoladas. In an ideal world you would soak beans from scratch and cook them in a big pot yourself but I often can’t get dried black beans here either, just the cooked one. I might try a different bean or different fillings in the future but it’s always good to get a baseline for your food first I think.
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Recipe: Tom Yum Tofu
This is absolutely the opposite of authentic Thai food but I was able to find some really great tom yum soup base. I would tell you the brand but it’s literally only in Thai on the label and unfortunately I don’t read Thai. However, you can use whatever ready tom yum soup base you’re able to find though they do all taste different. This comes together pretty quickly and would be great with lots of extra vegetables especially corn or bamboo shoots and greens of any type.
Continue readingRecipe: Vegetable Kadai
Technically I did not make these in a kadai which is a rounded bottom pot that is about halfway between a wok and a skillet with high sides but if you have a wok or a kadai it would be even better. This is a really great recipe that makes really delicious, unctuous vegetables in a thick creamy gravy. It’s great over rice or with most types of roti, naan, or other forms of bread. I topped mine with yogurt but feel free to use cream or coconut cream if you’re feeling luscious.
Continue readingRecipe: Ginger-Turmeric Chicken and Rice Soup
If you want a delicious winter soup that is easy and hearty and kind of feels like it heals you upon the first bite then this is the one. In the original recipe the ginger is in chopped chunks but in future versions I started grating it finely because the texture is a little strange to me but you can go either way depending on your personal preference. If you have leftover cooked chicken on hand this is one of those really easy recipes that doesn’t take much time or energy and the rice makes it hearty enough to be a full meal by itself.
Continue readingRecipe: Sformato
This recipe contains celeriac and arugula but a regular sformato is basically half way between a spinach quiche and a spinach souffle so feel free to replace the celeriac with other root vegetables you like and the arugula with spinach or other greens to taste the idea is easy enough. This froze really well and like many egg dishes is very stable in the fridge for a few days and perfect for a make ahead breakfast or dinner if you want to really impress someone.
Continue readingRecipe: Chicken Rendang
I’ve never actually had this dish before but I happened to have some extra tamarind and dried lemongrass on hand and realized I could make something with it and this was the recipe I ended up landing on. I suppose I should be less surprised that this was absolutely delicious. I ended up using much more mild chilies (kashmiri chilies to be precise) because that’s what I had on hand. I’m sure that the dish I made isn’t authentic in any sense but I loved playing with these flavors and it made me excited to try more dishes from Indonesia and Malaysia.
Continue readingRecipe: Chipotle and Bean Chili
This is a super simple but really hearty chili that can be made with very minimal prep. This can also easily be adapted for any diet. It can be made vegan using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock, and it can be gluten-free by substituting potato starch instead of flour. This is a fairly spicy chili so you might want to serve it with cream, cheese, or some bread but it’s not so hot you can’t just eat it as it is. If you want a thicker chili you can mash a portion of the beans before you put them in the pot as well.
Continue readingRecipe: Vada Pav Burger
This burger is basically inspired by vada pav which is a kind of dreamy street food that is carbs (potatoes) on carbs (bread) with spicy chilies. You can use whatever bun you like, traditionally it’s made in something more like a parker house roll. You can also pick and choose your own toppings though I kept it really simple and went for cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a ketchup-mayo mix for a sauce but feel free to experiment!
Continue readingRecipe: Asparagus Risotto
This is basically a standard risotto recipe but I really like this one because it makes the risotto green due to adding some pureed asparagus to the liquid. It’s creamy and satisfying and it feels very spring / summer -like because of the color. I would recommend this if you’re tired of your risotto coming out a sort of blah yellow or brown.
Continue readingRecipe: Mushroom Bourguignon
This is a great and surprisingly quick dish to make. This is one of those things that really impresses people even though it doesn’t take a ton of effort. It’s a really hearty stew but due to the texture of mushrooms I think it’s best over something like noodles or rice but mashed potatoes or even some crusty bread will do in a pinch.
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