All posts filed under: Europe

Grilled Whole Trout

Serves 4 When the weather permits, grilled whole trout is a nice treat. Andorrans like whole trout with a little olive oil, lemon juice, and parsley – nice and simple. Serve with Andorran Trinxat – panfried potato, cabbage, and bacon hash. Ingredients: 4 whole trout, head on 3 Tbsp olive oil 3 Tbsp lemon juice 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley salt pepper Method: 1. Preheat grill to medium-high. 2. Rinse fish inside and out. Blot dry. Season insides with olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper. 3. Oil the outside of the fish and place in a grill rack. 4. Cook for about 6 minutes per side. Serve immediately. Grilled Whole Trout Votes: 0 Rating: 0 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe When the weather permits, grilled whole trout is a nice treat. Andorrans like whole trout with a little olive oil, lemon juice, and parsley – nice and simple. Serve with Andorran Trinxat – pan-fried potato, cabbage, and bacon hash. CourseMain Dish Lifestyle5-ingredients or less, Gluten-Free, Grilling Food TypeSeafood Servings Prep Time 4 10 minutes Cook Time 12 minutes …

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Warm Spinach and Mushroom Salad

Serves 4 Wild mushrooms give this spinach salad Andorran appeal. The crunch of slivered almonds and the sweet of the golden raisins add another dimension. Ingredients: 12 oz assorted mushrooms (Iused 4 oz French Horn Mushrooms; 8 oz Oyster Mushrooms) 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 3 Tbsp olive oil, plus 1 Tbsp for the last step 1/4 cup white wine 1/4 cup raisins 1/2 lb baby spinach 1/4 cup slivered almonds salt, pepper Method: 1. In a large skillet over medium high, saute mushrooms in 3 Tbsp olive oil until reduced and golden brown. Add garlic. Saute a few more minutes, until fragrant. Add raisins. Deglaze with white wine. 2. Add spinach and turn off heat. Toss for a few minutes to wilt. Transfer to serving bowl. Toss with slivered almonds, 1 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper. Warm Spinach and Mushroom Salad Votes: 0 Rating: 0 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe Wild mushrooms give this spinach salad Andorran appeal. The crunch of slivered almonds and the sweet of the golden raisins add another dimension. CourseSides & Salads LifestyleGluten-Free, Quick, Vegan, Vegetarian Food …

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Seasonal Cooking in Andorra

If this weekend’s forecast read 80 degrees and sunny, instead of 30 degrees and snowy, I would have plans to cook around a campfire. Campfire cooking is traditional in Andorra during the warm season. I’m a little bitter because I just know Trout grilled over rhododendron branches would be excellent. But here we are, in February, so let’s talk about Andorra’s winter plate. Andorrans follow the seasons with their foods. The winter plate is loaded with cold loving produce such as mushrooms, spinach, and cabbage. Also present are vegetables that can be stored throughout the winter, such as potatoes. During the long winter months Andorran food is straightforward, stick to your ribs, “food of the people” food. With the winter we’ve been having, I’m looking forward to it!

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Andorran Menu

Andorrans have a wonderful tradition of growing and hunting their own foods. Whether vegetables from a small garden, mushrooms found on a mountain path, or fish pulled from a nearby river, there’s nothing better than fresh picked flavor. Pa amb tomaquet [recipe] Toasted country bread rubbed with fresh cut tomato and garlic cloves Trinxat [recipe] Potato, cabbage, and fried bacon hash Grilled Whole Trout [recipe] A whole trout seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice and parsley. Warm Spinach & Mushroom Salad [recipe] Warm spinach tossed with sauteed wild mushrooms, garlic, raisins, and slivered almonds. Brac de Gitano [recipe] Apricot cream roll. Brac de Gitano means “Gypsy Arm.”

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About the Food of Andorra: Andorra, the explorer

Giant evergreen shrubs make the best hideouts. Their tallest branches form umbrellas as they sweep down to the ground. When I was a little girl I used to push my way through the prickly needles until I reached the open area in the middle. I could play for hours without being seen. I loved my secret hideout. Andorra is a lot like the giant evergreen shrubs.  Tucked away in the middle of the mountains between France and Spain, Andorra survived for centuries without being noticed or impacted by her neighbors. In fact, she just got her first university in 1997. Andorra is only 175 square miles (To give you some reference, that’s 30% of Tulsa county… or 37% of New York City). Population: about 84,000. Despite her small size, Andorra is perfect for explorers.  The tiny country boasts more than 60 lakes and 65 mountain peaks. Can you imagine all of that in a place 37% the size than NYC?! Incredible. Understandably, favorite pastimes include hiking and skiing. The country’s foods are a product of the geography. Here are several points regarding Andorran cuisine: For most of the country’s …

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Monday Meal Review: Albania

Exercising Restraint in the Albanian Kitchen I’ll be honest with you. I spent most of Saturday feeling a bit put out.  As I cooked my way through Albania, I rummaged through my spice drawer for nothing in particular. I picked up and put down a head of garlic at least 5 times. Cooking with just one herb or spice per dish – a trait I found in all the recipes we tried this week – felt, well, foreign to me.  None of these dishes even had garlic in them.  Exercising restraint was not easy but, as we all know, this is what I am here for! Turns out paring down the aromatics in a recipe amplifies the main ingredient, resulting in big dose of bright, clean flavor. As with a theater performance, when a bare stage allows for the star to shine, each of these Albanian dishes left room for the main ingredients to steal the show. The Albanian Recipes Tava Elbasani | Lamb in Yogurt [Recipe] What did I like most about this dish? The tangy yogurt laced with Hungarian paprika makes …

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Lamb Baked in Yogurt | Tava Elbasani

    Serves 4-6 Although this dish is simple, the tender lamb and tangy yogurt are very satisfying on a cold winter’s day.  Use Hungarian Paprika to give the dish mild heat. Ingredients: 3 lbs lamb, cut into 10 pieces 2 cups cooking water from lamb 2 Tbsp butter 2 Tbsp flour 4 eggs 3 cups greek yogurt 1 tbsp white rice 1 tsp red pepper (paprika) salt Method: 1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, sear the lamb on all sides. Do not crowd. You may have to sear just a few pieces at a time. 2. Add all pieces back into the pot and cover with water. Add a generous amount of salt and simmer for 1 hour. 3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add flour and stir until they blend and cook together. When the mixture thickens and begins to turn the color of light peanut butter, begin adding the water. Heat until thick, stirring constantly. You are essentially making gravy.  Let cool. 4. Preheat the oven to 350F. NOTE: I …

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Turkish Delight | Llokume

Llokume was popularized in Eastern Europe and North Africa during the Ottoman empire. This recipe makes enough Turkish Delight to share. Bring the confection to a special friend or a party, and you will learn why Albanians are just one of many cultures that find this dessert delightful. (Makes approximately 50 pieces) Ingredients: For the candy: 4 cups granulated sugar 1 Tbsp real lemon juice 1 1/2 cup water, plus an additional 2 3/4 cups 1 cup cornstarch 1 tsp cream of tartar 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 tsp rose water 1 tsp orange extract yellow food coloring red food coloring For the coating: 2-3 lbs confectioners sugar 1- 1 1/2 cups cornstarch Method: SPECIAL NOTE: Be careful when cooking with boiling hot sugars. Only use glass or metal bowls/containers. No plastic. Day One: 1. In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan combine sugar, lemon juice, and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer until the mixture reaches 240F, or soft ball, on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat. NOTE: …

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Albanian Vegetables | Turli Perimesh

Serves 4-6 Turli Perimesh is a light and refreshing accompaniment to meat. The influence of Italian cusine on Albania is apparent both in the use of squashes and fresh parsley. Ingredients: 2 medium onions 2 zucchini 1 yellow squash 1 white potato 1 can diced tomatoes (in the summer use 2 fresh tomatoes) 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 cup water olive oil Method: 1. Dice all vegetables in 1 inch cubes. 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high. Add onion and saute until translucent. 3. Add zucchini and squash, browning lightly. 4. Add potato, tomatoes, parsley, and water. 5. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until all vegetables are tender and water has absorbed. Serve immediately. Turli Perimesh (Albanian Vegetables) Votes: 1 Rating: 5 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe Turli Perimesh is a light and refreshing accompaniment to meat. The influence of Italian cuisine on Albania is apparent both in the use of squashes and fresh parsley. CourseSides & Salads LifestyleGluten-Free, Quick, Vegan, Vegetarian Food TypePotatoes, Vegetables Servings Prep Time 4-6 people 15 minutes Cook Time 20 minutes Servings …

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Albanian Cornbread

Serves 6-8 The cheese and green onion make this cornbread unique. Dense and flavorful, the cornbread makes a great accompaniment to stews. Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups cornmeal 16 ounces cottage cheese 4 eggs 1 cup chopped scallions, plus 1 Tbsp for garnish 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted 1/4 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp thyme 4 ounces feta cheese, chunked 1/4 tsp salt Method: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease an 8″ square casserole. 2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (cornmeal, cottage cheese, eggs, scallions, melted butter, paprika, thyme, feta, and salt. 3. Pour into prepared casserole and spread evenly. 4. Bake at 400F until lightly browned and an inserted toothpick comes out clean, about 35 minutes. 5. Garnish with remaining scallions. Serve warm. NOTE: This dish was excellent warm, but dries out quickly. On 3/27/12 I adjusted the recipe for more moisture. The first time we gave the little we had leftover to the birds. After the adjustments, even leftovers were moist and yummy. Adapted from Home Cooking Around the World, by David Ricketts and Mark Thomas Albanian Cornbread Votes: 1 Rating: …

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