Dairy-free · Pasta

Spaghetti with fennel, anchovies, currants, pine nuts & capers

Another light, summer pasta dish, pretty much made from ingredients from your pantry.
From the BBC Good Food website

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2 fennel bulbs
l lb spaghetti
2 fl oz extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, finely sliced
3.5 oz jar anchovy fillets in olive oil, roughly chopped
½ tsp dried chili flakes
3 oz currants, soaked in boiling water for 5 mins and drained
2½ tbsp capers, rinsed
1 small pack flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked and finely chopped
3 oz pine nuts, toasted
A good squeeze of lemon juice

Quarter the fennel bulbs. Remove the coarse outer leaves and trim the tips (cut off and reserve any fronds). Remove and discard the core from each quarter, then chop the rest of the fennel.

Cook the spaghetti in a pan of boiling, lightly salted water.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan. Sauté the fennel until soft, then add the garlic and cook gently until pale gold.
Add the anchovies, press with a wooden spoon, then add the chili flakes.
When the anchovies fall apart, toss in the currants, capers, parsley and most of the pine nuts.

Drain the pasta and immediately add it to the frying pan. Add the lemon juice and season to taste.
Toss together, then serve straight from the pan or transfer to a large warm serving bowl.
Scatter over the remaining pine nuts and any fennel fronds.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Dessert · Gluten Free · Rice · Vegan

Thai-style ginger & coconut sticky rice

One of my all-time favorite desserts by Phoebe Wood.

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7.5oz black glutinous rice (from Asian food shops)
6 Kaffir lime leaves, plus extra finely shredded leaves to serve
2″ piece of fresh ginger, sliced
1/3 cup coconut cream, plus extra to serve
5oz finely grated palm sugar
1/3 cup roughly chopped roasted salted peanuts
Thin strips of fresh coconut, to serve

Soak the rice in cold water overnight.
The next day, drain it and place the rice in a saucepan with 4 cups of cold water.
Add the kaffir lime and ginger, and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for 35-40 minutes or until thickened.
In the final 10 minutes of cooking, add the coconut cream and palm sugar, and stir until sugar is melted.
Add 1 tsp salt flakes and stir to combine.
Strain into a bowl, discarding the ginger and kaffir lime.
Cool slightly, then divide among serving bowls.
Top with the peanuts, extra coconut cream, fresh coconut and extra shredded kaffir lime.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Salad

Crispy Potato Salad with Chiles, Celery, and Peanuts

As the 4th July gets close, I’m thinking about interesting salads, in fact with the warmer weather and the fact that we are about to start a 6 month remodel, I’m definitely thinking salads with a difference!

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2 pounds baby fingerling potatoes, sliced crosswise ¾ inch thick
Kosher salt
3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 red chiles (such as serrano or Holland), thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, finely grated
½ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tsp light brown sugar
1 tsp finely grated peeled ginger
½ cup unsalted, roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
2 celery stalks, sliced in half lengthwise, thinly sliced on a diagonal, plus ½ cup celery leaves
1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
½ cup torn mint leaves

Place the potatoes in a large pot and pour in cold water to cover; season with salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until tender, 10–15 minutes. Drain; let cool.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook potatoes, tossing occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, 8–10 minutes; season with salt.

Meanwhile, bring the chiles, garlic, vinegar, brown sugar, and ginger to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.

Toss the potatoes, warm vinegar mixture, and peanuts in a large bowl; let cool slightly. Add celery, celery leaves, cilantro, and mint and toss again to combine. Taste and season with salt if needed.

Do Ahead: Potatoes can be boiled 1 day ahead; cover and chill.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Fish · Gluten Free

Miso marinated black cod

This is my most favorite dish to have in a Japanese restaurant. The fish is rich, buttery and just falls apart. This recipe from the great chef, Nobu, is all you will ever need. Please note the length of time for the marinade!

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SERVES 4

1/4 cup sake
1/4 cup mirin
4 tablespoons white miso paste
3 tablespoons sugar
4 black cod fillets, about 1/2 pound each

2 to 3 days beforehand, make the miso marinade and marinate the fish.

Bring the sake and mirin to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Boil for 20 seconds to evaporate the alcohol. Turn the heat down to low, add the miso paste, and whisk.
When the miso has dissolved completely, turn the heat up to high again and add the sugar, whisking constantly to ensure that the sugar doesn’t burn on the bottom of the pan.
Remove from heat once the sugar is fully dissolved. Cool to room temperature.
Pat the black cod fillets thoroughly dry with paper towels.
Slather the fish with the miso marinade and place in a non-reactive dish or bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap.
Leave to marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

To cook the fish:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat an oven-proof skillet over high heat on the stovetop. Lightly wipe off any excess miso clinging to the fillets, but don’t rinse it off.
Film the pan with a little oil, then place the fish skin-side-up on the pan and cook until the bottom of the fish browns and blackens in spots, about 3 minutes.
Flip and continue cooking until the other side is browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to the oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until fish is opaque and flakes easily.

Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Vegan

Red quinoa salad with mango, lime & ginger

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1 cup red quinoa
1 cup snap peas, stem removed
1/2 cup cashews, (roasted, unsalted)
5 -6 scallions, rinsed and trimmed
2 mangoes, peeled
1–2 serrano chilies (or Thai bird chilies or jalapenos — whatever hot chilies you like best)
an inch-long (or slightly bigger) knob of ginger, peeled
kosher salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 to 2 limes, juiced

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Meanwhile, place the quinoa in a fine-meshed sieve and rinse under cold water. When the water comes to a boil, add the quinoa and simmer for 9 minutes.
Drain in a fine-meshed sieve and run under cold water until cool. Set aside to dry.
Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients:
Slice the snap peas on a bias and set aside.
Roughly chop the cashews.
Slice the scallions (white and light green portions) thinly.
Slice down around the pit of the mango to remove, then dice the flesh.
Remove the seeds from the chilies, then finely dice.
Grate the ginger on a box grater or finely dice with a knife or purée in a food processor. You need about a tablespoon (or more or less to taste) of minced ginger flesh/juice.
Place the drained and dried quinoa into a large mixing bowl.
Season all over with salt (I used one teaspoon kosher salt to start) and pepper to taste.
Add the snap peas, cashews, scallions, chilies, mangoes (or not if you have time to let the salad marinate in the fridge for a bit), minced ginger, olive oil and about two tablespoons of lime juice to the bowl.
Toss and taste. Adjust seasoning as necessary.
I added two more tablespoons of lime juice and a pinch more salt. Let the salad marinate in the fridge for an hour, if possible.
Fold in the mangoes just before serving.

Baking · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegan · Whole30 compliant

Purely nuts and seeds bread

This is a non-dairy, grain-free Paleo/Whole 30/Keto complaint recipe.

Use a combination of whole nuts and smaller seeds. Use whatever you have lying around, it will work as long as you follow the rest of the directions.
Do not cut the whole nuts, they slice beautifully in the finished product.
Do not omit the flax seed, and if possible use ground flax seeds. These, along with the egg, serve as a binder for the bread.
Cook for the specified length of time.
Be sure to grease the pan well so the beautiful seed bread pops right out.

It’s SO easy to make!

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3 cups mixed nuts and seeds left whole, for example;
1/2 cup pistachios
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup flax seed (try and use ground flax seed, as it’s a great binder)
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup sesame Seeds
1/2 cup cashews

Other ingredients
3 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1/3 tsp salt

Preheat the oven to 325 F
In a large bowl, mix everything together.
Pour into a greased loaf pan.
Bake at 325F for 45 mins and then let the pan cool for 10 minutes.
Turn out the bread and let it finish cooling.

Accompaniments · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegan · Whole30 compliant

Roasted garlic confit

Confit garlic is nothing more than the peeled cloves slow cooked in a bath of seasoned oil. This strips the raw cloves of their acidity, removes their sharp heat, and concentrates their sweetness. Use these soft cloves anytime butter or garlic is called for in a savory recipe, and especially if raw garlic is too harsh for you.
Garlic confit will last forever (okay, a month) as long as you put it in a clean jar, refrigerate it, and refrain from double dipping. If the spoonful of confit touches other food, don’t put that same spoon back into the jar for more. This calls for 4 cups total of oil. If it isn’t enough to cover the garlic cloves completely, add more. To freeze, first puree the cloves and store in 3-tablespoon portions in small resealable plastic bags. Let thaw before using.

Not only is it Paleo/Keto/Whole 30 compliant, the garlic cloves become soft, buttery and very sweet, it’s like eating candy! Peeling the garlic is a bit of a pain, but it’s so worth it.
ALWAYS have some of this in your refrigerator to add to so many dishes, or just to mash onto some toast.

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4 cups olive oil (always have more incase you need it)
4 cups peeled garlic cloves
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, ripped
1.5 tsp black peppercorns
1 tbsp Kosher salt
8-10 good-sized sprigs of rosemary or thyme
2 bay leaves

Preheat the oven to 300°F.

Place the garlic cloves, bay leaf, thyme or rosemary, salt, and peppercorns in a heavy-bottomed, oven-proof pot. Spread out evenly and make sure the garlic cloves are submerged in the oil.

Pour the olive oil over to cover. Cover, transfer to the oven, and bake until the garlic cloves are pale gold and tender (you should be able to smash them with the back of a spoon), about 50 minutes.
Cool to room temperature.

Transfer the cloves and oil to a clean, wide-mouthed resealable jar.
Store in the fridge for up to 6 weeks and don’t worry if the oil becomes solid, just remove it from the fridge for 30 mins or so until it becomes liquid again.

** When you use the garlic, sprinkling it with a good quality salt is really nice.

Accompaniments · Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegan · Whole30 compliant

Roasted, spiced pumpkin seeds

We love to live the Whole 30/Paleo lifestyle at home as it makes us feel good, energetic and healthy.
We rarely snack except on fruit, nuts and seeds, and this recipe is a wonderful way of having something a little different available when you’re peckish or to bring out when friends drop by.

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Spice Mix
1 cup raw hulled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
3/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 tsp granulated garlic (NOT garlic salt)

1 tbsp olive oil

Mix together until well combined in a small bowl; the smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, kosher salt and granulated garlic. (You can of course experiment with the amounts after you’ve tried it this way)

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a sturdy frying pan, add the pumpkin seeds. Stir continuously, as they start to brown, for about 6 to 7 minutes. If they start to char, then turn the heat down.

Remove from the heat, add the spice mixture and stir in well. Return to the heat for about 2 minutes, stirring well and then remove from the heat.
Let cool and keep in a container or jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Enjoy!

Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Poultry · Whole30 compliant

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

This is a one-pan, dairy-free, gluten-free (Paleo & Whole 30 compliant) recipe that is really delicious. From the blog, “Real Simple Good”

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Serves 4

1 shallot, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp pepper
4 chicken breasts
2 tbsp ghee
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 tbsp arrowroot starch
1.5 cups full fat coconut milk
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
1/4 cup basil chopped
3 cups spinach
Chopped parsley optional topping

Prepare shallot and garlic as noted. Place Italian seasoning, sea salt and pepper in a small bowl and mix.
Place the chicken breasts between two pieces of parchment paper and pound them down to make them even in thickness. Sprinkle each side of the chicken with the Italian seasoning mix.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add ghee.
Once hot, add the chicken to the pan (you may have to cook the chicken in 2 batches depending on the size of your pan). Cook, without disturbing for 3-4 minutes, until a nice brown crust has formed. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes on the other side, until the chicken is mostly cooked through.
While the chicken is cooking, whisk together chicken broth and arrowroot starch.
Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside. Lower the heat to medium.
Add more ghee if needed and add the garlic and shallot to the pan. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes.
Add coconut milk, chicken broth, sun dried tomatoes and basil to the pan. Stir to mix, scraping up any browned bits remaining in the pan from when you cooked your chicken.

Add the chicken breasts back to the skillet with the sauce. Cover and turn heat down to low. Simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked.
When the chicken is almost finished, add in the spinach. You might have to add it in in batches. Stir the spinach in until wilted.

Serve with vegetables, potatoes, rice or cauli rice.
Spoon some sauce over everything for serving. Sprinkle with chopped parsley

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Pasta

Ginger-scallion ramen noodles

This recipe is by Andy Baraghani from “Bon Appetite” magazine

The noodles are just a vessel for this savory, gingery, simple weeknight sauce. Double the batch, and you’ll always have a way to brighten up simple grilled or pan-roasted chops, roasted veggies, or grain bowls.

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Serves 4
1 5-inch piece ginger, peeled, finely chopped (about ⅓ cup)
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 large bunch of scallions, very thinly sliced (about 2 cups), divided
½ cup grapeseed or other neutral oil
2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
½ tsp sugar
Kosher salt
4 5-ounce packages wavy ramen noodles, preferably fresh
Toasted sesame seeds and chili oil (for serving)

Stir the ginger, garlic, and two-thirds of scallions in a large bowl.
Heat grapeseed oil in a small saucepan over high until oil is shimmery and hot but not smoking, about 2 minutes.
Pour the hot oil over the scallion mixture. The scallions will sizzle, turn bright green, and wilt almost immediately.
Let sit 5 minutes before stirring in remaining scallions.
Stir in the soy sauce, vinegar, pepper, sesame oil, and sugar; season with salt. Let sit to let the flavors meld, 15 minutes.
Taste and adjust seasonings.

Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain and toss with as much or as little scallion sauce as you’d like in bowl.
Divide the noodles among bowls.
Top with sesame seeds and serve with chili oil alongside.