When you need a quick weeknight meal with a little spice (literally) consider a coconut curry in place of your old stir fry or pasta standby. Ideal for a weeknight supper, curries can be made using whatever vegetables and protein you have on hand. Although your pantry might not be stocked with coconut milk and curry paste (mine are, no surprise there) they’re easy enough to purchase and are worth having on hand (I think it’s easier to find coconut milk in Be’er Sheva than in NY!). Continue reading “Free Form Coconut Curry”
Tag: Parve
Couscous Salad with Dates and Almonds
Whether you’re looking for an elegant side or a quick weeknight dish to round out a meal, this couscous salad is your answer. Seriously simple to prepare, the unexpected flavors meld together as sweet and savory intermingle. Don’t let anyone tell you they don’t like dates until they’ve tried them in this salad. They lend a hint of honey-caramel sweetness and just the right touch of chewy texture as they play with the pillowy couscous and herbaceous greens. The dates are what elevate this from a standard couscous salad to one worth writing about. Continue reading “Couscous Salad with Dates and Almonds”
Three Latkes, Three Stories to Tell
Who doesn’t like a holiday that embraces fried food, and whose signature dishes are potato pancakes and jelly donuts? For Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday that celebrates oil, anything fried and greasy goes. Don’t even think about trying some low fat baked option. It goes against the whole spirit of the holiday. Continue reading “Three Latkes, Three Stories to Tell”
Braised Beet Greens
When I saw beet greens at the shuq I knew I had to have them. Even though at first I thought they were chard. Either way, I’ve been craving me some leafy greens. One of my favorite ways to cook hearty leaves like this is to quickly braise them (I know, a bit of an oxymoron) in broth and some balsamic vinegar. With lots of garlic. Decide for yourself where on the scale of raw to creamed greens you like, and stop cooking at that point. This is an easy side dish for any meal. And while other greens like chard can be substituted, beet greens are particularly flavorful. Continue reading “Braised Beet Greens”
Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Avocado
I love tuna, but I don’t cook it often. And being in the desert fresh fish isn’t, well, as fresh as it could be. But one of the local supermarkets has a nice selection of frozen seafood that is about as fresh as we’re going to get in Be’er Sheva (Union Square fish market, how I miss you). I wanted to flavor the tuna without turning it into a ceviche so I quickly marinated it in a mixture of soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic, and parsley. A coating of sesame seeds and a quick sear over high heat finished the dish. Any number of sides would round out the meal but I went for a healthy quinoa salad and slices of avocado. Continue reading “Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Avocado”
Cumin-Scented Eggplant with Pomegranate
Warning: this dish is addictive. The super savory cumin contrasts with the sweet pomegranate syrup and meaty eggplant for a killer vegetable side dish with bold Middle Eastern flavors. Since most of the cooking is done in the oven and the eggplant can be served at room temperature this is an easy side to make ahead for company. I served it with Butternut Squash and Sage Cannelloni, but it would be an equally good accompaniment for braised meat, roast chicken, herbed couscous, or a light salad. A dollop of labneh on top of each eggplant (a la this recipe) is also really good. Continue reading “Cumin-Scented Eggplant with Pomegranate”
Beet, Chickpea, and Almond Dip
Don’t be scared by the fuchsia color of this dip. The sweet-earthiness of the beets, the sharp bite of the garlic, and the nuttiness of the almonds more than makes up for any phobia of brightly colored food. And it’s well worth it. I promise. Continue reading “Beet, Chickpea, and Almond Dip”
Balsamic-Rosemary-Fig Jam
As you may or may not have noticed, I’m a little obsessed with figs right now. I bought a huge box of them at the shuq last week and in addition to the chicken with figs I’ve been eating figs with yogurt and honey for breakfast and grilled fig and cheese sandwiches for lunch. I could eat them morning, noon, and night. But I wouldn’t want to overdo it. Continue reading “Balsamic-Rosemary-Fig Jam”
Meditation on Pomegranates
My favorite thing about pomegranates – a seductive fruit if ever there was one – is that eating them is an activity in and of itself. It’s meditative. Pomegranates force you to take a moment and be mindful; it’s hard to multitask while eating one. You may get impatient and try to rush through, but the pomegranate, messy and playful, will just spit its juice at you. Continue reading “Meditation on Pomegranates”
The Joys of the Shuq
After a week in Be’er Sheva I’ve got the supermarket thing pretty down. But then my friend Beth took me to the real market, the Shuq in the Old City. A large, vibrant open air market of the kind popular throughout Israel and this part of the world, on my first visit I was like a kid in a candy store. Stall after stall had vendors selling produce, eggs, meat, olives, grains, spices, and household goods. Continue reading “The Joys of the Shuq”