Breakfast

Çılbır: Turkish Poached Eggs

July 27, 2023July 27, 2023 Belinda

A simple savory breakfast, Cilbir (Turkish Eggs), is made of perfectly poached eggs that are served over garlicky yogurt and finished with a spicy olive oil with Aleppo pepper flakes. Enjoy with rustic toast for a complete, flavorful breakfast or brunch.

Serves 2
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (made with whole milk, at room temperature)
1-2 garlic cloves (finely minced)
2 large eggs
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp Aleppo pepper (or red pepper flakes)
1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
Fresh dill and/or mint for sprinkling over the top

In a bowl, mix the yogurt, dill, garlic, black pepper and salt. Divide between two shallow serving bowls and set aside for now.
Bring a medium pot of water to boil. Lower the heat and let the water simmer.
Meanwhile, crack an egg into a small fine mesh sieve over a small bowl. Gently swirl the eggs in the sieve to drain the liquidy part of the egg whites (this gives you a neater-looking poached egg). Transfer the egg to a ramekin.
When the water is ready, using a wooden spoon, stir the water to create a vortex. Quickly add the egg to the middle of vortex and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. When ready, using a slotted spoon, transfer the egg to a plate that’s been lined with parchment paper.
Prepare and cook the second egg exactly as you did the first.
While the second egg is cooking, quickly make the olive oil sauce. In a small skillet, warm the olive oil and Aleppo pepper over medium heat.
Immediately transfer the poached eggs to the prepared yogurt bowls (simply place each egg on top of the yogurt mixture) and drizzle with the heated oil and sprinkle herbs over.

Serve immediately with your favorite rustic bread

Peach, rosemary and lime galette

July 18, 2023July 18, 2023 Belinda

A beautiful, easy recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi

This makes good use of firm, not-so-ripe peaches. By macerating them in sugar and lime juice, you not only soften the fruit, but you also make a beautiful syrup to pour over the dish at the end. Rosemary, which I’ve used both in this dish and in the shrub, is a fantastic match for peach. It’s a combination I discovered only recently, and now I can’t get enough of it.

Serves 4 generously

2 limes – 1 peeled in 7 long strips, the other grated, to get 1 tsp, then both juiced, to get 1½ tbsp
80g caster sugar
2 large firm peaches, stoned and cut into 0.5cm-thick slices (300g net weight)
2 large sprigs rosemary, plus ½ tbsp picked leaves
150g creme fraiche
Plain flour, for dusting
200g all-butter puff pastry
10g unsalted butter, cut into 1cm pieces
1 large egg, beaten
¼ tsp cornstarch (cornflour)

Heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.

Mix the lime juice with 60g sugar in a large bowl, add the peaches, strips of lime skin and rosemary sprigs. Stir and set aside to macerate for at least 40 minutes, and up to a couple of hours. Strain the peaches through a sieve set over a small saucepan, and discard the rosemary and lime peel: you should end up with about 60ml peach syrup.

Mix the grated zest and a teaspoon of sugar into the creme fraiche and refrigerate until ready to serve.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry into a 26cm-wide circle just under 0.5cm thick, then transfer to a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper.

Arrange the strained peaches haphazardly in the middle of the pastry, leaving a clear 6cm border all around the edge, then fold this outer 6cm rim up and over the peaches. Dot the butter over the exposed peaches, then brush the pastry all over with beaten egg. Sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of sugar evenly over the pastry and bake for 20 minutes, until it’s golden and the filling is beginning to bubble.

While the galette is baking, whisk the cornflour into the reserved peach syrup. Simmer over a medium-high heat until it thickens to the consistency of honey (about two minutes), then pour over the peaches. Sprinkle the rosemary leaves on top and return the galette to the oven for 15 minutes, until the pastry is golden-brown and the filling bubbling.

Leave to cool slightly, then serve with a bowl of the lime creme fraiche on the side.

Appetizer Vegetarian

Whipped honey ricotta with saffron tomato confit

July 14, 2023July 14, 2023 Belinda

This whipped honey ricotta appetizer is topped with delicious saffron infused tomato confit. It’s best served with olive oil grilled bread for dipping and is a fun and flavorful way to use up all of your summer tomatoes. (or a great way to make winter tomatoes taste even better!)

Serves 4
For the Saffron Tomato Confit
1 pint cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
½ cup garlic cloves peeled
½ cup olive oil
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pinch saffron threads
For the Whipped Honey Ricotta
1 15 oz container full fat ricotta
2-3 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon finishing olive oil
1 lemon zested only

For The Tomatoes
Preheat the oven to 425F degrees.
Add cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, a hefty pinch of salt, pepper flakes and honey to a small baking dish.
Bake for 45 minutes then remove from heat. Immediately add saffron threads and stir. Set aside.
For The Ricotta
While the tomatoes are cooking, whip together ricotta, honey, olive oil, one hefty pinch of salt and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Stir and set aside.
For the finished dish
Once the tomatoes are ready, add the honey whipped ricotta to a large serving bowl and evenly cover the bottom of the bowl.
Add the roasted tomato and garlic confit on top of the ricotta, gently drizzling the remaining olive oil on top.
Serve with olive oil toasted bread and enjoy!

Accompaniments · Dairy-free · Drinks

Frozen margaritas in your ice-cream maker!

July 10, 2023 Belinda

Perfect for entertaining on a hot Summer’s day

2 cups Tequila
1 cup fresh lime
¼ cup Triple Sec or Simple Syrup
1 pinch Kosher sat
1 cup water

Combine all the ingredients in the ice cream maker.
Spin until the mixture is slushy and holds it’s shape.
Scoop into glasses with a ladle and serve.

Rice

Baked mint rice with pomegranate and olive salsa

July 7, 2023July 7, 2023 Belinda

“Cooking rice perfectly is one of those things that shouldn’t be complicated but can be surprisingly difficult, for some, to get right. Baking it in the oven, on the other hand, as I do here, is a completely foolproof method.
This is such a great side to all sorts of dishes: roasted root vegetables, slow-cooked lamb or pork. To get ahead, the salsa can be made a few hours in advance and kept in the fridge.

Another beauty from Yotam Ottolenghi
Serves 6

400g basmati rice
50g unsalted butter, melted
800ml boiling water (I have used either chicken broth or vegetable broth for more flavor)
50g fresh mint (40g left on the sprigs; leaves shredded for the remaining 10g, to use in the salsa)
150g Greek feta, crumbled into 1–2cm pieces
salt and black pepper

Salsa:
40g pitted green olives, thinly sliced
seeds from 1 small pomegranate (90g)
50g walnut halves, lightly roasted and roughly broken
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
1 small garlic clove, crushed

1. Preheat the oven to 450F/230°C fan, or as high as your oven will go.

2. Place the rice in a high-sided ovenproof dish, measuring 8″ x 11″/ 20 x 30cm. Season with ¾ teaspoon of salt and plenty of pepper, then pour over the butter and boiling water.
Top with the sprigs of mint and cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil so that the rice is well sealed. Bake for 25 minutes, until the rice is light and fluffy and all the liquid has been absorbed.

3. Meanwhile, place all the ingredients for the salsa, minus the 10g shredded mint, in a medium bowl with ¼ teaspoon of salt. Mix well and set aside.

4. Take the rice out of the oven, and remove and discard the foil. Pull the leaves off the mint sprigs – the stalks can be discarded – then place these back on the rice and sprinkle with the feta. Just before serving, stir the shredded mint into the salsa and spoon evenly over the rice. Serve hot.

Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Salad · Vegetable-related

Greek Potato salad

July 4, 2023July 4, 2023 Belinda

This Greek potato salad recipe by food blog “Foodiecrush” is a tangy spin on the traditional potato salad, with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, feta cheese and a zesty Greek dressing that brings big, bold flavor.

Serves 10

2lbs petite white or red potatoes
1 cup pitted Kalamata olives
7 oz oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
4 oz capers, drain and reserve brine
1 cup red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup fresh dill, roughly chopped
½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
Greek Salad Dressing
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp dry mustard
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Add the potatoes to a medium pot and fill with enough water to cover the potatoes by 1 inch, then bring to a boil. Add 1-2 teaspoons of kosher salt, reduce to a rolling simmer, and cook until tender or when the potatoes can be pierced with a fork or skewer, about 15 minutes.

While the potatoes are cooking, make the dressing.
To a jar fitted with a lid, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, dry mustard, oregano, thyme, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Top with lid, shake well, and set aside.

The potatoes are done cooking when they can be easily pierced with a sharp knife or skewer. Drain them. Then when the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in half or into bite-sized chunks, depending on how big they are. While they’re still warm, drizzle with the reserved caper brine, toss, and set aside to cool.

Add the kalamata olives, red onion, capers, sun dried tomatoes, and dill. Gently toss with the dressing. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper to taste, then top with the feta cheese.
Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled. This salad is best served at least an hour after cooking so the potatoes absorb the dressing and flavor. Keeps in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Accompaniments · Baking · Do-ahead

Parmesan, rosemary shortbread

June 25, 2023June 25, 2023 Belinda

Recipe by Rachel Conners

Total time: 30 MINUTES
Yield: 30 ROUNDS 1X
These Parmesan Rosemary Shortbread Rounds are quick and simple slice-n-bake crackers. Tender, buttery, and flavored with Parmesan cheese and fresh rosemary.

1¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (about 2½ ounces)
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 small garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled (cut into ½-inch cubes)

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix flour, ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic, and rosemary in a food processor.
Add butter and pulse until dough begins to come together. Add milk and pulse until it forms a dough.
Remove from food processor and gather the dough into a ball. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 12-inch log, wrap with plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour.
Once chilled, slice each log into thin rounds and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment or a Silpat. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese over the rounds.
Bake shortbread rounds until tops are dry and bottoms are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer shortbread rounds to rack and cool completely.

Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Salad

Creamy cucumber salad

June 23, 2023June 23, 2023 Belinda

Not being American, I have no concept of the old fashioned version of this that was ultra sweet and thick with no fresh dill. I found this served with a piece of grilled sea bass very light and more-ish.
You need to make it about 2-3 hours before serving so the flavors have time to meld and they really do, it tastes completely different after several hours hanging out in the fridge. Check and tweak seasonings if necessary before serving.

3 cups thinly sliced peeled cucumbers
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/2 cup sour cream
1.5 tbsp white vinegar
1.5 tbsp minced fresh dill
1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt or more to taste
1/4 tsp garlic powder or more to taste

In a medium mixing bowl stir together sour cream, vinegar, dill, sugar, salt, and garlic powder.
Add cucumbers and red onion; toss to coat.
Cover and refrigerate 2 or more hours.

Appetizers · Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Fish · Gluten Free · Rice

Killer crack salmon muffins

June 20, 2023June 20, 2023 Belinda

Makes 12

3 sheets nori paper
1½ cups cooked sushi rice, fully cooled

Killer crack salmon:
1 lb salmon, skin removed + cubed small
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs sesame oil
1 tbs low sodium soy sauce
1 tbs unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tbs honey
1 tbs ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbs sesame seeds
2 scallions, diced
Glaze:
1 tbs toasted sesame oil
2 tbs honey
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Sriracha sauce
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp sesame seeds
Optional toppings:
sliced scallions, shredded carrots

Preheat your oven 400℉. Grab scissors and cut your nori sheets into 4 equal squares.
In a large bowl, whisk the olive, oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds and scallions. Add in the cubed salmon and marinate for an hour or up to overnight.
To each nori square, add about 1 heaping tablespoon of rice and spread out slightly. Transfer the square to your muffin slot, pushing down gently to center the rice in the middle with the edges coming up along the sides of the slot. Grab out 4-5 salmon cubes and fill each muffin slot. Transfer the pan to your oven and bake for 15 minutes. Broil, if needed, at the end, to get a little tan on the salmon .. 1-2 minutes.
Whisk together all the ingredients for the glaze. Taste and adjust if needed.

Special Note: I find my Silicone Muffin Tray to keep them from getting soggy the best (as compared to my metal muffin tray).
Make sure your rice is fully cooled prior to adding to the recipe.
And don’t over fill with salmon.