Global Table Adventure

Recipe: Mountain Gnocchi (Maakroun)

December 4, 2011 By Sasha Martin 6 Comments

Gnocchi is always associated with Italy. Gondolas. Striped shirts. Butter and sage. But take a trip southeast, across the Mediterranean, to the old mountain villages of Lebanon and you'll encounter something very similar. It's called Maakroun - a thick homemade pasta that is either fried and served sweet, or boiled and served with an intense garlicky lemon sauce called toum. While Maakroun is not made with potatoes, the shape is nearly the same - a little longer perhaps. I would have never … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, International Recipes, Lebanon, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Pasta, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Lao Rice Noodle Soup (Foe)

November 10, 2011 By Sasha Martin 8 Comments

It's time we take back the expression "Have it your way" from that mega corporate burger joint and put it back where it belongs - into our homes, onto our own homemade-with-love meals. Take this soup from Laos, for example. Traditionally served for breakfast, but great any time of day, Foe is a celebration of individuality, creativity and having it exactly how you want it - without chemicals, junk and gunk. Foe is a rice noodle soup from Laos, typically made with beef, pork or chicken. In … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Laos, Meat, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Pasta, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Soups, Technique Thursday

Recipe: Kyrgyz stuffed & rolled pasta (Oromo)

November 3, 2011 By Sasha Martin 12 Comments

Truth: anything coiled up is infinitely better than the same item not coiled. Think cinnamon rolls... princess Leia's hair... really flexible kitty cats napping... and now, as never seen in my kitchen before Global Table Adventure, Oromo. This Kyrgyz dish of rolled and coiled pasta filled with various stuffings is pure genius. Unlike Italian stuffed pastas, no cheese is used as binder. Instead the filling is commonly meat and veggies (such as sweet potatoes or pumpkin). While it remains a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, International Recipes, Kyrgyzstan, Meat, Pasta, Technique Thursday

Recipe: Lagman (Hand-cut Noodles)

September 18, 2011 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

If you want to make noodles like a kazakh, you just need a bit of pasta dough, a rolling pin, and a cutter or knife. An egg pasta recipe, like the one we made for Italy, will work beautifully in central Asia as well. You can make the noodles as thick or thin as you'd like. In Kazakhstan they generally like them pretty thick, like lo mein or udon. For this style, roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch or just under. Then cut in thin strips. Finally, toss them with plenty of flour to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, International Recipes, Kazakhstan, Pasta, Vegetarian

Recipe: Chak Chak

September 18, 2011 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

Serves 4 Chak Chak is the rice krispie treat of Kazakhstan. Totally irresistible and finger-licking good. Fry up a batch of fresh noodles in an entire stick of butter and coat with sweet honey goodness - you'll see what I mean. How could it not be? Plus, with Halloween around the corner, the time couldn't be better to make chak chak.... after all, there's nothing like putting a little international spin to your spooky dessert table... a spin that looks rather like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, International Recipes, Kazakhstan, Pasta, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sweets, Vegetarian

Recipe: Central Asian Noodle Stew (Lagman Shurpa)

September 15, 2011 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

Serves 4 Are you in need of some revitalization? A breath of fresh air? Are you worn out, tired, or just plain sad? Are you cold? I'm with you. I'm all of the above. When I feel like this I just don't know what I want. I want everything. And nothing. All at once. I want to sleep. I want to watch movie after movie. I want soup. I want lots and lots of noodles. And then I feel guilty and want some veggies. But not the crunchy, raw kind. Nope, the cozy cooked … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, International Recipes, Kazakhstan, Meat, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Pasta, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Soups, Technique Thursday

Recipe: Homemade Pasta Dough

August 20, 2011 By Sasha Martin 10 Comments

Makes 1 large batch. Enough for at least 150 standard ravioli & more noodles than you know what to do with. Slap. Roll, roll, roll, roll. Slap! My great grandmother, Assunta, made pasta dough with the strength of a hundred Italian sailors. Mom, just a kid then, was not allowed to touch. Instead she was told to sit quietly and watch. She remembers how, as Assunta rolled the dough thinner and thinner, it gradually swallowed up the table and heavy oil cloth covering. Eventually, all … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, International Recipes, Italy, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Pasta, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegetarian

Recipe: Alfred’s Pork Ravioli

August 18, 2011 By Sasha Martin 22 Comments

Makes enough filling for at least 150 standard ravioli I have fond memories of curling up on the basement stairs, hanging over the railing, watching my great-great, very distant I'm-not-quite-sure-how-we're-related cousin, Alfred, make ravioli. I'll never forget the way the ravioli rolling pin zipped out dozens of ravioli in a heartbeat. Alfred lived to 103 and I attribute that partly to the fact that he continued making ravioli two-three times a year, well into his nineties. He'd make a … [Read more...]