Serves 4 Even my husband ate this vegan salad up. Perhaps because it was a lot like a fresh salsa in an avocado bowl, instead of the “rabbit food” salad he is used to. Serve slightly chilled (cold takes away from the flavors – you won’t be able to taste the buttery avocado as well.) Make the tomato mixture several hours ahead if you want. Ingredients: 2 avocados, halved and pitted minced red onion, to taste 2 small tomatoes 2 sprigs fresh parsley, minced 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 tsp vinegar salt pepper Method: 1. Mince up your onion – I chose this red darling because she’s sweet. White onion is also popular in the salsa-like salad. 2. Tomatoes are in season so get you some! Can’t you hear them? They’re singing “Eat me!” 3. Fresh parsley brings this simple appetizer alive. I used some from my garden. After I took this picture I realized I wanted more but it was over 100 degrees in my garden and I refused to go back outside. I …
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Serves 1 Butter and tea are two of my favorite things! 🙂  This rich and flavorful drink is popular in Bhutan, especially during the cold winter months. The secret is to stir the tea vigorously/froth to blend and eliminate any the “greasiness.” Ingredients: All ingredients are to taste. Hot water Black Tea Butter (preferably Yak butter, if available) Milk or cream Method: 1.  Boil water. Add tea to desired strength. I like 1 teabag per cup. 2. Add butter and milk/cream to taste (about 1/4 tsp). Stir vigorously and drink immediately. I think it is important to use a mug you really like. Here’s the one Keith picked out: I dig it. Here’s mine: Let’s get started. First, the water because it’s just oh, so pretty! Then we’ll add a teabag and watch the goodness leach out, into the water. And then, the magic… a bit o’ butter. Please use the real thing! Milk and cream make everything better… Stir it up… You know what to do next. Smiles all around! See Bhutanese Meal Review …
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Serves 2-4 Red Rice is enjoyed in Bhutan, especially under spicy curries, like Ema Datshi. Ingredients: 1 tsp oil 2 cups water 1 cup cracked red rice salt & pepper Method: 1. Add oil and rice to a small pot over medium heat. Toast rice for a few minutes. Add water and seasonings. Bring to a boil. 2. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 16 minutes. Don’t peek! I want you to promise… 3. Remove from heat and uncover. Let sit for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork. Serve immediately. NOTE: The red in red rice apparently floats around and settles, as you can see in this photo. Don’t worry! It all gets mixed back in. Serve hot with something tasty, like Ema Datshi. Cracked Red Rice Votes: 0 Rating: 0 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe Red Rice is enjoyed in Bhutan, especially under spicy curries, like Ema Datshi. Lifestyle5-ingredients or less, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian Food TypeRice Servings Prep Time 2-4 people 5 minutes Cook Time Passive Time 16 minutes 5 …
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Serves 4 Benin’s Pureed Black-eyed peas are smooth and creamy thanks to peeling the beans. If you do not have the patience for peeling the beans, use a food mill or omit the step all-together. The resulting mash is rich and flavorful, but it looks a lot like mashed potatoes so you might give unsuspecting guests a heads-up. Ingredients: 2 cups dried black-eyed peas salt pepper 1 stick butter Method: 1. Soak beans overnight in cool water. Drain the beans and slip the skins off. For detailed explanation see Technique Thursday: Peeling Beans. 2. Cover beans with about an inch of water and simmer for about 15 minutes, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue simmering until tender. 4. Drain liquid off and puree. I used an immersion blender. You could use a ricer, food processor, blender, or a large mortar and pestle. 5. Throw in a stick of butter and beat it in with a wooden spoon. The mixture will look like thick mashed potatoes. Pureed Black-eyed Peas Votes: 0 Rating: 0 …
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Serves 2 Bananas in orange sauce is a fresh, summery way to use bananas as a dessert topping. When we made the Baked Brown Sugar Bananas for Antigua and Barbuda (made with brown sugar, rum and butter) I didn’t think they could be beat, but these west African bananas are totally different and just as yummy!! Ingredients: 1/2 cup orange juice 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 Tbsp lemon juice (optional) 2 slightly under-ripe bananas NOTE: We used red bananas which are about 4 inches long, you can also use baby bananas or regular bananas. Method: 1. Heat orange juice, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a skillet for about 15 minutes on low (there should be small bubbles breaking the surface, but not quite a simmer). The orange juice will reduce and thicken into a syrup. 2. Peel bananas and add to syrup. Cook for a few minutes per side, making sure to warm through. 3. Serve immediately with ice cream, pound cake, or plain. Baby Bananas in Orange Sauce Votes: 0 Rating: 0 You: …
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One plantain serves 1-2 Fried plantains can be on the table in less than 5 minutes. This easy, delicious side dish goes well with any Caribbean or African food. In particular, the slightly sweet flavor helps contrast with both region’s spicy dishes. Ingredients: 1 plantain vegetable oil salt or brown sugar Method: 1. Heat a thin layer of vegetable oil in a frying pan. Meanwhile, cut plantains into long, oblong slices. NOTE: Choose plantains that are yellow to black in color, not green. The green plantain in the photo was still under ripe and inedible. Green plantains behave like green bananas, after a few days the bland astringency gives way to a mildly sweet flavor. 2. Fry in the oil on both sides until browned. NOTE: How browned you like them is a matter of taste. I like my fried plantains pretty dark 🙂 3. Sprinkle immediately with salt or brown sugar. Serve hot. The first time I made plantains – oops crispy. Although they are a bit charred, they are still uber tasty. When I …
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Serves 6 This soup is popular all over eastern Europe, specifically in the Ukraine. This version hails from Belarus where they add big chunks of potatoes. The longer it cooks, the happier this Borshch tastes. Ingredients: 1 large onion, chopped 1-2 large russet potatoes, as desired 2 Tbsp vegetable oil 2 beets, diced 2 carrots, sliced 2 turnips, diced 1/2 a green cabbage, sliced thinly 6 oz can of tomato paste 1 Tbsp sugar 2 Tbsp vinegar salt and pepper 32 oz beef stock water as needed sour cream, for garnish (optional, leave out for vegan) Method: 1. In a large pot, cook onion in vegetable oil until soft and slightly golden. Add the rest of the ingredients, except sour cream. Add water as needed to “cover” all the veggies. NOTE: I added the beets after the cabbage had some time to cook down, making room in the pot. 3. Bring to a low simmer and cook for at least an hour. I simmered mine for a couple of hours and the flavor was wonderful. Here it …
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Makes 1 drink Although I came up with this name, the drink idea came to me from Jimmy Buffett. He recommends this refreshing blend for the slightly tropical, headache free, sipping pleasure it provides. He probably doesn’t use coconut rum, but I like my drinks sweeter than stout, so I went for the Parrot’s Bay. Go with your instincts when making yours. Ingredients: 1 shot chilled coconut rum or plain, Caribbean rum 2 shots chilled coconut water (available at whole foods) 1/2 a lime, juiced crushed ice lime wedge for garnish Method: 1. Pour all ingredients in a short glass. Add crushed ice to the top. 2. Garnish with lime wedge. Stir and sip! We made two… 🙂 Spiked Coconut Water Votes: 0 Rating: 0 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe Although I came up with this name, the drink idea came to me from Jimmy Buffett. He recommends this refreshing blend for the slightly tropical, headache free, sipping pleasure it provides. He probably doesn’t use coconut rum, but I like my drinks sweeter than …
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Serves 4 The curry sauce is fire-hot (I was sweating while eating), however the potatoes do not absorb the heat so you can easily control how much chili you get in a bite. To make this dish more mild, adjust the amount of chili powder (or remove this spice completely). NOTE: This recipe makes a LOT of curry sauce, so you could freeze half of it and save for another dish if you wanted to – unless you think you’ll sop it all up. Ingredients: 20 baby red potatoes For the curry: 1 small onion, chopped 1 cup chopped tomatoes 1 tsp grated fresh ginger 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp cumin powder 1/8 tsp ground clove 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp red chili powder (Lanka guro) (this is VERY hot, adjust according to your tolerance) 1/2 tsp Garam Masala 1 tsp salt Aromatics: 2 Tbsp mustard oil 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 2 bay leaves 1 cinnamon stick 4 cardamom pods 2 cups water Method: 1. Â Boil potatoes in salted water until almost cooked. Drain. …
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Makes about 8 strips Feel free to play around with this recipe to make flavors and combinations that you like. Be sure to check out the tips in Technique Thursday. Time may vary on when this is done, depending on your oven. Please check multiple times so as not to overcook this! Ingredients: 12 ounces dried apricots, quartered 1 cup water 2 Tbsp honey 4 cardamom pods Method: 1. In a small pot, simmer dried apricots with water, honey, and cardamom pods. Simmer about 20 minutes. 2. Carefully remove cardamom pods. Using an immersion blender, puree mixture. The mixture should be a bit thicker than applesauce. 3. Line a baking sheet with silpat (or microwave safe saran wrap). Pour apricot mixture over silpat about 3/8″ thick. Spread evenly. 4. Place baking sheet in a warm oven for 6-8 hours, or until apricot leather is just tacky to the touch. Store, covered in a cool, dry place, refrigerate or freeze. Apricot Fruit Leather | Quamar-el-Deen Votes: 0 Rating: 0 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe …
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Makes 12 large meatballs In this case, spiced means seasoned, not hot. Serve with rice pilaf … or stick on toothpicks for a finger food at a party (just put the sauce in a little bowl in the center). Ingredients: For the meatballs: 3/4 lb ground beef, 85% lean 3/4 lb ground lamb 1 large onion, grated 1 egg 2 Tbsp ice water 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs 1/2 tsp ground allspice 1/2 tsp hot Hungarian Paprika (for mild, increase for hot) 1 tsp dried mint 1 – 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper For the Sauce: 2 cup chicken stock 1/2 cup pomegranate concentrate (available at natural grocers) 1/2 tsp black pepper 2 Tbsp honey Method: For the meatballs: 1. Combine onion, egg, water, bread crumbs, allspice, paprika, mint, salt and pepper in a small bowl. 2. Pour onion mixture over ground beef and lamb. Using hands, squish everything around until all the seasonings are evenly dispersed. 3. Chill meatball mixture for an hour. 4. Shape meatballs and place on a foil-lined baking …
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Serves 4-8 (makes 20) This is a delicious variation on traditional stuffed grape leaves we see in supermarket salad bars. The Armenians make stuffed grape leaves without an intense vinegar brine. Instead, earthy cinnamon and currants carry the flavor. Just wonderful! Ingredients: 1 16 oz jar grape leaves 6 Tbsp olive oil 1 onion, diced (about a cup) 1/2 cup basmati rice 2 Tbsp tomato paste 3 Tbsp dried currants 1 Tbsp lemon juice 3/4 cup water salt 1/4 cup pine nuts 1/2 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp ground allspice 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 4 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley Method: 1. Saute onion in olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. After they begin to turn golden about 5 minutes), add rice, tomato paste, currants, and lemon juice. Cook for one minute longer. NOTE: Currants are like tiny raisins: 2. Add water and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook until just cooked, about 15 minutes. 3. Turn off heat. Add pine nuts, sugar, allspice, cinnamon, and parsley. 4. Stuff leaves …
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