Cauliflower and white bean puree

March 23, 2024March 23, 2024 Belinda

This is a delicious, silky, low carb alternative to mashed potatoes. We love it!

2 medium or 1 large head of cauliflower – cut into large-ish florets
1/2 medium onion – chopped
6 cloves garlic – chopped fine
1 can (14.5-oz) chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 can (15-oz) cannellini beans – drained and rinsed
4 oz full fat cream cheese (1/2 package)
2 tablespoons salted butter
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (or more to taste)
Salt and ground white pepper – to taste

Combine the cauliflower, onions, garlic, broth and cannellini beans in a Dutch oven or medium soup pot.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover slightly and cook 15 – 20 minutes or until cauliflower begins to soften.
Uncover and break up the cauliflower as much as you can with a wooden spoon or other utensil.
Continue simmering uncovered over low heat until much of the liquid has evaporated, being careful the liquid doesn’t completely boil out and the cauliflower beings to burn.
Add cream cheese, parmesan cheese and butter.
Puree with an immersion blender until smooth, taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary
Serve immediately.

Sticky sprouts, orange and tarragon

December 2, 2023December 2, 2023 Belinda

Thanksgiving is over, but Christmas is still to come!

Recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi
In this recipe (which I keep in metric) the sprouts are sticky, salty, nutty and delicious, and the whole dish can be cooked up to a day in advance – keep the sprouts and sauce separate, though, and reheat and combine just before serving.

Serves 4-6 as a side

750g Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthways
90ml olive oil
Fine sea salt and black pepper
50g peeled pistachios, lightly crushed in a mortar
2 oranges, zest finely grated, to get 2 tsp, then juiced, to get 250ml
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp maple syrup
5g tarragon leaves

Heat the oven to its highest setting – at least 450F/240C (220C fan)/475F/gas 9. Toss the halved sprouts with the oil, half a teaspoon of salt and a good grind of pepper, then spread out on a large baking tray lined with greaseproof paper and roast for 10 minutes. Stir in the pistachios and roast for another 10 minutes, until the sprouts are nicely browned and the pistachios have toasted.

Meanwhile, put the orange zest and juice, soy sauce and maple syrup in a small saucepan on a medium-high heat, and leave to cook for five to eight minutes, until the sauce has reduced by three-quarters and has turned syrupy.

Once the sprouts are cooked, pour the syrup all over them, scatter over half the tarragon and toss to combine. Transfer to a platter, sprinkle over the remaining tarragon and serve.

Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Vegan · Vegetable sides · Vegetable-related

Roast potatoes with green sauce and tahini

June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 Belinda

Recipe by Yotam Ottolenghi

Serves 4-6
1.5kg Yukon Gold potatoes (or other floury, golden potato), peeled and cut into 5 cm (1.5″) chunks
20g parsley, leaves picked
10g basil, leaves picked
10g mint, leaves picked
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely grated
180ml olive oil
1 tbsp capers
1 tsp dijon mustard
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
55g tahini
1 tsp cumin seeds, toasted, lightly crushed in a pestle and mortar
Fine sea salt

Preheat the oven to 220C (425F)
Bring a medium pot of well salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook for 6 minutes, just until the outsides have softened but are not cooked through the centre.
Meanwhile, place 80 ml of oil in a large 40 x 30cm (11″ by 15″) shallow roasting tray and put in the oven to heat up.
Once the potatoes are ready, strain them through a colander in the sink. Transfer the potatoes into the saucepan and wait 30 seconds for the moisture to evaporate, then shake the saucepan to fluff up the potatoes.

Using a kitchen cloth carefully remove the roasting tray from the oven and place on a flat heat proof surface, then transfer the potatoes onto the tray with the hot oil. Spread the potatoes evenly on the tray, making sure they do not touch, then roast for 30-40 minutes. Using tongs, turn the potatoes every 10 minutes until they turn golden and crispy all over.
Meanwhile, place the herbs and garlic in a food processor and blend until finely chopped, then slowly pour in the remaining 100 ml of oil. Once combined, add the capers, mustard, vinegar and ¼ teaspoon salt and pulse to combine.
Next make the tahini sauce by whisking the tahini, 3 tablespoons of water and ¼ teaspoon of salt. The sauce will seize up at first, keep whisking until it relaxes and becomes light and fluffy. Add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if necessary; you want it smooth and pourable. You can add cumin or garlic to this if you want more flavor.

Once the potatoes are roasted, transfer them to a medium mixing bowl, leaving behind any roasting oil in the tray, and toss with 3 tablespoons of the green sauce.
To serve, transfer the potatoes onto a lipped serving platter. Drizzle the remaining green sauce over the top, and the tahini sauce, then sprinkle the cumin over the top.

Rice · Vegetable sides · Vegetable-related

Crispy green rice pilaf

April 12, 2023April 12, 2023 Belinda

Recipe from Bon Appetite magazine
You need day-old rice to make this vibrant, springy pilaf recipe, but it’s worth planning ahead. The precooked rice gets super crisp before it’s tossed with soft feta, crunchy pistachios and snap peas, and jammy golden raisins. It’s a true study in textures.

Serves 4–6

½ cup raw pistachios
4 cups cilantro, mint, basil, and/or dill
1 (or up to 3) Serrano chili, stems removed, split lengthwise
¼ cup fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp. white miso
½ tsp. kosher salt, plus more
⅓ cup plus 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 cups cooked white rice, chilled overnight
6 oz. sugar snap peas
3 scallions
¾ cup crumbled feta
½ cup golden raisins
1 cup shelled fresh peas (from about 1 lb. pods) or frozen peas, thawed

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°. Toast pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown, 5–8 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop.

Step 2
Meanwhile, blend herbs, one of the chiles, lime juice, miso, ½ tsp. salt, and 2 Tbsp. water in a blender on high speed until well combined. Drizzle in ⅓ cup oil and continue to blend until sauce is very smooth. Taste sauce for heat; if it seems mild, add another chile or two. It should be slightly spicier than you’re comfortable with since it’s going to get mellowed out by everything that it’s tossed with. Season with salt if needed.

Step 3
Heat remaining 3 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high until very hot. Add rice, pressing down with a spatula in a single layer to create as much contact with surface of pan as possible. Reduce heat to medium and cook, undisturbed, until rice is deep golden brown underneath, 6–8 minutes. Season with salt.

Step 4
While rice cooks, thinly slice snap peas and scallions on a long diagonal and transfer to a medium bowl. Add pistachios, feta, and raisins and toss to combine.

Step 5
Add fresh peas to rice and continue to cook over medium heat, tossing often, until peas are just cooked through, about 2 minutes.

Step 6
Transfer rice mixture to bowl with vegetables and toss to combine. Drizzle in herb sauce, tossing again to coat well. Taste and season with salt if needed.

Gluten Free · Salad · Vegetable sides · Vegetable-related

Charred Broccoli Salad With Figs

January 4, 2023January 4, 2023 Belinda

A high-speed blender will give you the smoothest consistency for the broccoli-tahini purée. You can also use a food processor; the finished purée will just have more texture. This recipe makes more purée than you need, but you can use the hummus-like condiment as a dip for warm pita or raw vegetables, or as a sandwich spread.

Serves 4
2lb. broccoli (about 3 medium heads), ends trimmed, stems peeled
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
½ cup labneh or whole-milk plain Greek yogurt
2 small garlic cloves, finely grated, divided
½ cup coarsely chopped dried figs (such as Turkish or Mission)
Zest of ½ lemon
3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, divided
1 cup tahini
Small handful of mixed tender herbs (such as mint, tarragon, and/or parsley), leaves torn if large
Sumac (for serving)

Prepare a grill for high heat. Cut broccoli lengthwise into ¼”-thick planks (try to keep crown and stem attached). Toss broccoli planks with oil in a large bowl to coat; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until charred all over (they’ll look burnt, and that’s a good thing) but stems are still crisp-tender, about 5 minutes; reserve bowl. (Or you can broil broccoli in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, undisturbed, until well-charred on 1 side, 14–16 minutes.) Transfer broccoli back to reserved bowl and cover tightly and let sit 30 minutes to steam.

Meanwhile, whisk labneh, half of the garlic, and 2 tbsp water in a small bowl until smooth and the consistency of ranch dressing (add more water if needed). Season dressing with salt and pepper.

Cut broccoli into bite-size pieces (about 3″), separating florets from stems as you go. Coarsely chop stems and measure out 1 cup; set aside. Return remaining broccoli to bowl; add figs and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Blend tahini, reserved broccoli stems, remaining garlic, remaining 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, and ½ cup water in a high-speed blender until very smooth and the consistency of a loose hummus. Season purée with salt and pepper.

Spread ½ cup purée on a platter. Top with reserved broccoli salad and spoon dressing over (you won’t need all of it). Scatter herbs, sumac, and lemon zest over.

Do ahead: Dressing can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.

Holiday Food · Vegetable sides

Roasted Brussels sprouts with cinnamon-butter yoghurt and chestnuts

December 21, 2022December 21, 2022 Belinda

Recipe from the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen (OTK)
“This festive side would make a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving table, but would equally be great at a Sunday roast, alongside a roast chicken or baked pumpkin. Get ahead by making the chestnut topping and garlic yoghurt the day before, bringing them back up to room temperature. Be sure to leave your browned butter to just before serving though, as it will solidify as it sits.”

Serves 4-6 as a side

750g brussel sprouts, trimmed and halved
60ml olive oil
200g cavolo nero, stems removed and leaves roughly torn (110g)
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1½ tsp maple syrup
10g parsley, finely chopped
5g sage leaves, picked

Chestnut topping:
1½ tbsp olive oil
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped (180g)
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground allspice
120g chestnuts, ready-peeled and cooked, finely chopped into roughly ½-1cm pieces
1 tbsp maple syrup
3 tbsp pomegranate seeds (from ½ pomegranate)

Cinnamon butter yoghurt:
250g Greek yoghurt, at room temp
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
35g unsalted butter
1/8th tsp ground cinnamon
Fine sea salt and black pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 220C (425F).

2. Start with the topping. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly coloured and softened, about 6 minutes. Add the spices, chestnuts, maple syrup, 1/8th teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring all the while, until fragrant and glossy. Set aside to cool. Once cool, stir in the pomegranate seeds.

3. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and add the brussel sprouts, 2 tablespoons oil, ¾ teaspoon salt and a generous grind of pepper and mix everything together. Spread the sprouts out and roast for 12 minutes. Add the cavolo nero and another ¼ teaspoon salt, stir to combine then return to the oven for another 10-12 minutes, or until everything is nicely browned and cooked through. As soon as they’re out of the oven, while still warm, stir through the vinegar, maple syrup and parsley.

4. Meanwhile, to a small frying pan add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and place over a medium heat. Once hot add the sage leaves and cook for about 4 minutes, stirring often, until deeply green and translucent. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the leaves to a plate lined with absorbent paper. Wipe out the pan, discarding the oil.

5. Add the yoghurt, garlic and ¼ teaspoon salt to a medium bowl and mix to combine. Spread out onto a large serving platter.

6. Once the brussels sprouts are ready, make the browned butter. Add the butter and cinnamon to a medium frying over a medium heat. Once melted, cook for 3-4 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until nutty and nicely browned. Remove from the heat and let cool for a minute then pour this all over the yoghurt. Spoon the brussel sprouts mixture all over the top then follow with the chestnut topping and the fried sage. Serve right away.

Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Holiday Food · Vegetable sides

Ina’s parsnip puree

October 25, 2022October 25, 2022 Belinda

Recipe from Ina Garten.
Would be wonderful for the Holidays and can be done ahead of time. Love that!

“This is about as easy as a side dish gets. Parsnips are really delicious and so under-appreciated. It’s the essence of parsnip-ness with just a little butter. So good with any fish, meat, or poultry. —Ina Garten

4 servings

1½ lb. parsnips, scrubbed, sliced ¾” thick
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, diced

Place 1½ lb. parsnips, scrubbed, sliced ¾” thick, in a medium pot, add 1 Tbsp. kosher salt, and add enough water to cover the parsnips.
Cover the pot, bring to a boil, then uncover, lower the heat, and simmer for 15–20 minutes, until the parsnips are very soft when tested with a small knife.
Don’t drain the pot!

With a slotted spoon or small strainer, transfer the parsnips to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse to chop the parsnips.
Pour the cooking liquid into a glass measuring cup and pour ½ cup down the feed tube. Purée the parsnips, adding more cooking liquid (about 1 cup total) through the feed tube until the parsnips are creamy and almost smooth but still have some texture.
Add 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, diced, and ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper and purée until combined.
Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Rice · Vegan · Vegetable sides · Vegetable-related

Greek-style stuffed tomatoes

May 18, 2022September 7, 2022 Belinda

Serves 4

1/2 cup/ 100g wholegrain rice
1lb 5oz/600g medium-large tomatoes
½ red onion, finely chopped
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 small zucchini (about 100g), finely diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tbsp tomato purée
2 tbsp shredded mint leaves
2 oregano sprigs, leaves chopped

Preheat the oven to 325F/160°C.
Put the rice in a pan, cover with water, bring to the boil over a medium-high heat and simmer for 18 minutes, then drain. Meanwhile, cut the tops off the tomatoes, then use a teaspoon to scoop out the insides into a pitcher, leaving the shells intact. Arrange the shells in a small/medium baking dish in which they sit snugly.

Fry the onion in 2 tbsp oil in a pan over a low-medium heat, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the zucchini, turn the heat up slightly and cook for 5 minutes more. Add the garlic and tomato purée, cook for a minute, then stir in the reserved tomato pulp and the par-cooked rice. Simmer, stirring often, for a few minutes, until the mixture has the consistency of a loose risotto. Remove from the heat, stir in the herbs and season.

Spoon the rice mixture into the tomatoes, filling them generously. Replace the tomato tops, drizzle with the remaining 3 tbsp oil and bake for 1 hour, until very tender and the rice is cooked through.
Serve with a green salad, if liked.