Thanksgiving Osso Bucco

October 15, 2019September 7, 2022 Belinda

Fabulous recipe from “Food 52”
What to make on Thanksgiving when turkey is a bit too much, when you are planning a romantic dinner for two, when your friends do not like white meat, or simply when you are up for something a little bit more adventurous than just a good old roasted bird. This is a dish that preserves the spirit of the Thanksgiving meal, without really having to do the entire thing.

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Serves 4

2lbs turkey drumsticks, cut crosswise into 1.5″ thick pieces, by your butcher.
1 finely chopped yellow onion
2 diced carrots
2 minced garlic cloves
8 diced Turkish apricots
16 dried cranberries, halved
1 cup hard cider
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 325°F.
In a large cast iron casserole or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Season the turkey pieces with salt and pepper and brown them nicely, about two minutes per side.
Remove the turkey from the pan. Add the onion and cook over medium heat, until the onion is very soft and slightly caramelized, for about five minutes. Add the garlic, and cook for another minute. Add the carrots and cook for another five minutes. Stir in the apricots, cranberries, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg and cider. Place the turkey pieces back into the casserole, coat with the sauce, and bring to simmer.
Cover the casserole with a lid and put it in the oven. Cook until the meat is very tender and begins to fall of the bones, for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. (If it becomes dry during cooking, feel free to add a bit more liquid.)
Adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve warm with mashed potatoes and the sauce spooned on top.

Chocolate · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Poultry

Sweet and smoky Mexican chicken

October 13, 2019 Belinda

Chicken meets chocolate in this rich and distinctive dish by Ottolenghi

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Serves 6-8

2 medium red peppers
3 small cinnamon sticks, freshly ground (or, failing that, 1½ tbsp ground cinnamon)
4 chipotle chillies, soaked in boiling water for 30 minutes, drained, seeds and stalks removed
3 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
2.5 tbsp white wine vinegar
2.5 tsp soft brown sugar
2.5 fl oz olive oil
Salt and black pepper
4 lbs (1.75kg) whole chicken legs (ie with both drumsticks and thighs), skin-on
1 oz (20g) dark chocolate, finely grated
1.5 lbs (650g) baby maris peer potatoes (or other roasting potato), peeled and halved
2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 2cm x 6cm wedges
2 medium red onions, peeled and quartered
1.5oz (10g) cilantro leaves, roughly chopped

Heat the oven to 200C/390F/gas mark 6.
Put the peppers on a baking tray and roast for 30 minutes, until the skin has blackened.
Transfer to a small bowl, cover with cling-film and set aside. Once cool enough to handle, peel the peppers, and discard the skins, seeds and stalks.
Put the pepper flesh in the small bowl of a food processor, and add the cinnamon, chili, garlic, vinegar, sugar, three tablespoons of the oil, a teaspoon and half of salt and three tablespoons of water.
Blitz for a minute, until smooth, then transfer to a large bowl. Add the chicken legs and chocolate, and mix to coat.
Put both types of potato in a separate large bowl with the onions, the remaining oil, half a teaspoon of salt and a good grind of pepper.
Mix well, combine with the chicken, then tip everything on to a large 12″ (30cm) x 16″ (40cm) baking tray.
Arrange the chicken skin-side up and roast for about 50 minutes, until the chicken and vegetables are cook

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Holiday Food · Meat

Roast pork belly with apple, soy and ginger

October 13, 2019October 13, 2019 Belinda

This is a wonderful and simple recipe from the one and only Yotam Ottolenghi

The flavors in this dish are inspired by Filipino pork adobo, in which the meat is cooked in a sweet and vinegary, soy-based sauce. Here, I use apple juice, apple vinegar and whole apples to cut through that richness. Don’t be put off by the long cooking time – once everything’s in the oven, it’s mostly just a waiting game. Serve with plain rice.

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Prep 15 min
Cook 2 hr 30 min
Serves 4

1 whole pork belly joint (800-900g), boneless
Flaked sea salt
1½ tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and cut into 6 wedges
12 garlic cloves, peeled
2 oz (40g) fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
4 whole star anise
3 bay leaves
3 fl oz (90ml) soy sauce
8 fl oz (250ml) chicken stock
8 fl oz (250ml) unsweetened apple juice (I use a cloudy variety)
3oz (70ml) apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp caster sugar
1 tsp black peppercorns, crushed
3 medium Pink Lady apples (400g), cored and cut into quarters
2 spring onions, thinly sliced

Heat the oven to 185C (165C fan)/365F/gas 4½. Use a small, sharp knife to score the skin of the pork in a cross-hatch pattern spaced roughly 1½cm apart, then rub a teaspoon of flaked salt into the skin, push it down into the slashes.

Put the oil in a large ovenproof saute pan on a medium-high heat, then fry the onion, stirring, for three minutes, just to soften. Add the garlic, ginger, star anise and bay leaves, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are lightly colored – another three minutes.
Add the soy, stock, apple juice, vinegar, sugar and black peppercorns, and bring to a simmer.

Take off the heat and lay in the pork, skin side up, taking care not to get the skin wet (it should not at any stage be submerged in liquid). Transfer to the oven, roast for 90 minutes, then remove and arrange the apples around the pork, stirring gently to coat them in the sauce and again taking care not to get any liquid on the skin. Return to the oven for 30 minutes, or until the apples have softened but still retain their shape, and the pork is deeply golden.

Gently lift the pork on to a board, leave to rest for 10-15 minutes, then cut into 1½cm-thick slices. To serve, transfer the contents of the saute pan to a serving dish with a lip, lay the pork slices on top and sprinkle with the spring onions.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegan

Roasted carrot dip

September 22, 2019September 7, 2022 Belinda

This recipe is from the “Ochre Bakery” in Detroit
Sweet and smoky roasted carrots are blended with chickpeas, almonds, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs. It’s the perfect companion to seeded crackers or good bread. Make sure the carrots are tender to their core before you pull them from the oven for the smoothest possible texture.

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½ cup skin-on almonds
2 lb. carrots, trimmed, peeled
2 Tbsp. plus ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil; plus more
2½ tsp. kosher salt, divided, plus more
2 garlic cloves
½ cup canned chickpeas
3 Tbsp. (or more) fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
¾ tsp. hot smoked Spanish paprika
½ cup coarsely chopped parsley, plus leaves for serving

Preheat oven to 350°. Toast almonds on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing halfway through, until slightly darkened and fragrant, 8–10 minutes. Let cool; set aside.

Cut any thick carrots in half lengthwise, then slice all carrots crosswise into 4 pieces. Toss on a parchment-lined baking sheet with 2 Tbsp. oil and 1 tsp. salt. Spread carrots out evenly on baking sheet and roast, stirring once or twice, until very tender and starting to shrivel and brown (but not char), about 1 hour.

Transfer carrots to a food processor; add garlic, chickpeas, lemon juice, pepper, paprika, chopped parsley, ½ cup oil, 1½ tsp. salt, and reserved almonds. Process, adding more oil as needed, until mixture is almost completely smooth. Taste dip and add more lemon juice and/or salt if needed.

Transfer dip to a small bowl, drizzle with more oil, and top with parsley leaves.

Do Ahead: Dip can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Vegan · Vegetable sides

Eggplant puree with quick pickled cucumber, tahini and soy

July 29, 2019 Belinda

Yotam Ottolenghi’s light, summery recipe with oodles of flavor.

“Cutting the aubergines in half and roasting them in the oven is a nifty trick if you don’t have a griddle pan or simply want to avoid a smoky kitchen. But by all means cook them on an outdoor barbecue if you’re looking for some serious smoke.”

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Serves 4

1 medium cucumber, peeled, deseeded and cut into 1½cm cubes
1 green chili, finely sliced into rounds, seeds and all
1 lime – shave off 4 thin strips of peel, then cut into wedges, to serve
2 tbsp rice vinegar
Salt

4 medium eggplants, cut in half lengthways
4½ tbsp olive oil
1 small garlic clove, peeled and crushed
3 tbsp mint leaves, roughly torn
½ tsp nigella seeds

For the tahini soy dressing
2 tbsp tahini
2 tsp soy sauce, plus 1 tbsp extra to serve
2 tsp mirin
2 tsp rice-wine vinegar

Heat the oven to its highest setting – around 230C fan. Mix the cucumber and chili with the lime peel, vinegar and a quarter-teaspoon of salt, and leave to pickle for at least an hour.

Cut deep cross-hatches into the flesh side of each eggplant half, season with three tablespoons of the olive oil and half a teaspoon of salt, and lay cut side up on an oven tray lined with greaseproof paper. Roast for 40 minutes, until soft and well browned, then transfer to a large bowl, cover with clingfilm and leave to soften for 20 minutes.

While the eggplant is roasting, whisk all the dressing ingredients with two teaspoons of water until you have a very smooth sauce (it might seize up a bit at first, but will become smooth as you whisk).

Scoop out the eggplant flesh into a clean bowl – discard the skin and stalks. Add the garlic, the pickling liquid from the cucumbers and an eighth of a teaspoon of salt, and stir everything together. Spread the eggplant mixture on a platter, then drizzle over the dressing, followed by the remaining tablespoon and a half of olive oil and the final tablespoon of soy sauce.

Remove and discard the lime skin from the pickle, then spoon the pickled cucumbers and chilies on top.
Finish with the mint and nigella seeds, and serve with the lime wedges for squeezing over.

Asian flavors · Dessert · Gluten Free

Ottolenghi’s sticky bananas with brown sugar and lime

July 28, 2019 Belinda

Another gem from Yotam Ottolenghi
This punchy dessert has everything – sweetness, acidity, saltiness and umami – which makes the creme fraiche essential for rounding out the flavors and mellowing them a little. The bananas you use should have almost completely yellow skins, with only the faintest bit of brown spotting. If you don’t have a spice grinder, it will be virtually impossible to grind the rice sufficiently, so leave it out or use chopped toasted peanuts instead.

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Serves 4

2 oz unsalted butter
3 oz soft light brown sugar
½ tsp ground star anise
6 oz creme fraiche
1½ tbsp white miso
4 semi-ripe medium bananas, peeled and halved lengthways
1 lime – zest finely grated, to get 1 tsp, then cut into 4 wedges

For the toasted rice topping
1 tbsp uncooked white rice
2 tsp black sesame seeds
½ tsp ground star anise

Set the oven grill to its highest setting. Meanwhile, put the rice in a small frying pan on a medium heat and toast for 12-15 minutes, shaking the pan from time to time, until deeply golden. Transfer to a spice grinder, blitz very finely, then tip into a small bowl. Return the pan to a medium-high heat, add the sesame seeds and toast, shaking the pan regularly, for about a minute, then tip into the rice bowl. Add the ground star anise and mix to combine.

Put the butter, sugar, star anise and a tablespoon of creme fraiche in a large, ovenproof cast-iron pan (or large saute pan) and put on a medium heat. Stir the mixture until the butter has melted and the sugar dissolved, then, off the heat, whisk in the miso until smooth. Add the bananas cut side-up, and use a spoon to coat the tops with some of the caramel. Transfer the pan to the oven and grill for eight minutes (timings will vary depending on your grill), or until the bananas have softened and taken on quite a lot of color.

Sprinkle over the lime zest and a tablespoon of the rice topping, and serve hot straight from the pan, with the lime wedges, remaining creme fraiche and some extra crunchy topping alongside.

Breakfast · Egg based · Gluten Free

Easy green Shakshuka with cheese

July 28, 2019July 28, 2019 Belinda

From “Recipes from the Molcho Family” from the food blog “FOOD 52”

In Haya Molcho’s family, shakshuka is always served at Sunday brunch. A large pan of it is placed in the middle of the table and everyone dips crisp bread into the sauce.

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PREP TIME 15 minutes
COOK TIME 35 minutes
SERVES 4 to 6

4 oz leeks
1 oz butter
9 oz spinach
1 oz flat-leaf parsley
3/4 fl oz cream
Sea salt
1 small fennel bulb
2 scallions (spring onions)
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
2 oz Kashhaval, or another kind of mild, full-fat cheese
1 oz Parmesan, plus extra to garnish
6 eggs
Sourdough bread, to serve

Halve the leek lengthways, trim and cut into strips 1/2 inch wide.Wash any soil from it and drain of excess water.
Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the leek and cook over medium heat until soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

 Wash the spinach and remove the thick stems. Set aside about 1 3/4 oz of the leaves. Blanch the remaining spinach along with the parsley (with stems) for 10 seconds in boiling, salted water.  Strain and immediately submerge in ice water. Firmly press to remove all liquid.

 Purée the leek, spinach-parsley mixture, cream and 2 1/2 fl oz of water with a stick blender or in a blender until creamy. Season to taste with salt.

 Halve the fennel, remove the stalk and cut the bulb into thin slices.
Trim the spring onions and cut in half width-ways. 
Warm the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, add the scallions and fennel and sauté very lightly for 3 minutes.
Season with salt, transfer to a plate and set aside.
 Add the remaining spinach and 1-2 tablespoons of water to the same pan.
Sprinkle with salt and distribute first the spinach-parsley mixture and then the fennel and spring onions evenly over the spinach.
Coarsely grate the Kashkaval cheese and 3/4 oz Parmesan and scatter over the vegetables.

Using a spoon, make 6 small wells and break 1 egg into each. Salt well, especially the egg yolk, cover and cook for 4-5 minutes. The egg whites should be firm but the yolks still runny (like a poached egg).

Grate extra parmesan over the eggs.
Drizzle with olive oil and serve with fresh sourdough bread.

Dessert · Fruit · Gluten Free

Honey-Sweetened Mascarpone with Berries and Pistachios

July 28, 2019 Belinda

Dahlia Narvaez adored the deliciously rich mascarpone cheese she ate in Umbria. “It’s such a great backdrop for all the different honeys made in Italy,” she says.
She made this dish with delicate Umbrian wildflower honey but says stronger honeys like chestnut would also be terrific.

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1 cup mascarpone
1 teaspoon orange flower water (optional)
1/4 cup wildflower honey, warmed
4 cups mixed berries, such as raspberries, blackberries and halved strawberries 1/2 cup shelled pistachios, lightly toasted

In a small bowl, blend the mascarpone with the orange flower water and 2 tablespoons of the honey.

Spoon the mascarpone into large shallow bowls. Scatter the berries and pistachios on top and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of honey.

Dairy-free · Dessert · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Icecream

Gin and tonic ice lollies

July 23, 2019September 7, 2022 Belinda

What could be more fun and refreshing to serve on these hot summer days?

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4oz superfine (caster) sugar
3 fl oz Gin
7 fl oz tonic water
Juice of 3-4 limes
6-12 slices of fresh lime
12-18 fresh mint leaves

Place the sugar and 3 fl oz water in a saucepan over a low/medium heat until the sugar has dissolved – be careful not to let it boil. Leave to cool completely.

When cool, pour the syrup into a pitcher and add the lime juice, gin and tonic water and stir well.

Take six 2.5 oz lolly moulds and add a slice or two of lime and 2-3 mint leaves to each, then top up with the lolly mixture.
Add the sticks and freeze until solid – overnight is best.