I don’t post a lot of salads on this site because I think salads are barely a recipe but this one is just specific enough that I think maybe it’s time to post a few of these. This pasta-based salad features no mayo but instead a healthy mix of vegetables, chickpeas, feta, and a very basic mustard-lemon vinaigrette. You can make this within 30 minutes including the dressing while the pasta cooks. Delicious hot or cold this is a great summer food but it’s also really to eat a warm salad in the winter too.
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Recipe: Galician-Style Chicken Empanada
This might not be the usual empanada that I’m used to but it is a delicious and fairly easy to make pie from the Galician region of Spain. Smoked paprika and slow cooked onions give the pie an earthy and soft flavor that makes it easy to eat endlessly. This is a great dish for a party also because it’s easy to make a lot at once and it’s relatively mess free to eat so this could be a great appetizer or standing dinner. It’s apparently traditional to put the letter of whatever is in the pie on top so mine has a ‘P’ for pollo but feel free to try other fillings!
Continue readingRecipe: Lapskaus
This is a very basic Norwegian stew but it also is one of the best stews I’ve made. It uses root vegetables and a low and slow cook time to get the most flavor out of the ingredients. Typically it calls for beef but I’ve made a chicken version with has a significantly reduced cooking time. You can probably use whatever mix of root vegetables you have on hand and also everything can be prepared well ahead of time so this is a fantastic nearly hands off meal that’s sure to be a winner in any household. This is perfect with the traditional flat bread (which is kind of like a giant cracker or a matzo) but probably great with any bread product though it’s thick and hearty enough to be eaten on its own. Also because this recipe is so simple, don’t be shy about the amount of salt especially if you’re using homemade chicken stock.
Continue readingRecipe: Dalamánky
These rye rolls have a delicious rye flavor that is off-set with just enough white flour to make them soft and fluffy. You can top them with more caraway or other seeds for an extra crunch as well. I love them with soups and stews or even as a great breakfast roll that you break in half and add some butter and jam or cold cuts and cheese. They take a fairly short amount of time to come together and they freeze really well both before and after baking.
Continue readingRecipe: Chicken Paprikash with Vegetables
This is a surprisingly simple one pot chicken dish that comes out creamy and super satisfying. Packed with whatever vegetables you have on hand cut into large chunks and then cooked until they just start to fall apart in the sauce. This can be served with anything from the traditional nokedli [the Hungarian version of spätzle] to rice, bread, or even with just a salad or other greens to complete the meal.
Continue readingRecipe: Kołduny (Polish Dumpling)
These dumplings are traditionally filled with just spiced meat but of course you can fill them with anything your heart desires. The dough is made from water, flour, and egg which you probably have in your kitchen right now. If you simply seal them in half moons without any fancy folding these can be made relatively quickly but they can also be made ahead of time in bulk and frozen. They can be eaten plain or in broth or even fried after boiling so they’re very versatile!
Continue readingRecipe: White Chicken Chili
If you have shredded chicken on hand and you don’t have a plan for what to do with it this recipe is great way to use it up. This is a pretty flexible recipe where you can add whatever beans, vegetables, and cheese you have on hand to dress it up anyway you like. Personally I’m a big fan of adding those last bits of crushed chips to the top of the bowl but anything from jalapenos to olives could conceivably be put on top.
Continue readingRecipe: Efro Riro
This is an absolutely delicious Nigerian stew made usually with beef or tripe and a kind of green called ẹ̀fọ́ tẹ̀tẹ̀ (hence the name) but unfortunately we made do with what we have so mine is made in the same spirit but with spinach and kale and some chicken thighs. This is a great week night meal because it comes together very quickly and is delicious and filling. Do not skip the scotch bonnets they give this stew a really distinct and lovely flavor and heat. They are hot but you can adjust how much you use to taste.
Continue readingRecipe: Sour Cream Biscuits
These biscuits are easily the best I’ve ever made and super easy. They come together with very little effort within a half hour. This recipe make 8 very large biscuits so feel free to make them smaller but remember to adjust the cooking time down a few minutes if you do that. These are great with jam, cream, soups, or even plain and they come out tall, soft, and flaky just like any proper biscuit should.
Continue readingRecipe: Chickpea-Potato Curry
I’ve tried a couple of chickpea curries and a few potato curries before but they never really hit the spot and I guess the missing piece was to make them at the same time because this curry is really delicious, super filling, and nicely spiced. I served this with some nice fluffy rice but it would also be great with naan or rotis instead. This is a great meal to throw together on a week night and can easily be doubled for leftovers for the rest of the week.
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