Month: November 2022

French Bread

Created on 11/11/2023

Ingredients:

  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (9 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar (4 grams) (use honey if you prefer)
  • 1 ¼ cups warm water (300 grams)
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons (8 grams) kosher salt
  • 2 ½ to 3 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour (400 grams) plus extra for dusting  (see recipe notes)

Instructions:

Step One: Combine yeast, sugar, and warm water in a large mixing bowl (you can also use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook)

Step Two: Let the yeast proof for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is foamy

Step Three: Add flour to bowl. Mix with a sturdy spatula until the dough starts to come together, then add salt and mix until all ingredients are incorporated. For best results, mix until no dry bits of flour remain. Note: This is a relatively slack (wet) dough, so it may seem a bit shaggy and sticky at this point. Don’t worry – it will become more smooth and elastic as we go!

Step Four: Cover bowl with a clean tea towel and let rise on the counter for about 1 hour, until dough has doubled in size

Step Five: When dough has risen, lightly flour a large cutting board. Tip the dough out of the bowl and onto the cutting board. DO NOT PUNCH THE DOUGH DOWN – you want to keep all those nice air bubbles intact so you have an airy, delicious loaf of bread. (Note: If the dough is sticking to the bowl a little bit, wet your hand with a bit of cold water and gently separate the dough from the bowl to get it all out)

Step Six: Shape the dough into a round loaf: Pull each corner of the dough in towards the center (like you’re folding an envelope) and repeat until the dough feels tight and begins to resist your folds. Flip the dough over and pull it into a round loaf. Watch the video(s) above to see exactly how we do this

Step Seven: Flour a proofing basket or a medium bowl and place your loaf into it seam-side down. Cover with a tea towel and let rise another 30 minutes or so while you preheat the oven. Note: I like to line my proofing basket or mixing bowl with a clean linen napkin to distribute the flour more evenly and help with cleanup

Step Eight: While bread is rising, place an empty dutch oven (with the lid on) in your oven and heat to 460 degrees Fahrenheit

Step Nine: When the oven is hot, you’re ready to go! Use oven mitts to pull the dutch oven out and remove the lid

Step Ten: Lay a piece of parchment paper down on your counter or cutting board (optional – it makes transferring the bread easier!)

Step Eleven: Tip your bread dough gently out of the proofing basket onto the parchment paper. Make sure the seam side is up this time – this is what will create those beautiful cracks on top of the bread

Step Twelve: VERY CAREFULLY (without burning yourself!) use the sides of the parchment to lift the bread up and place it into the hot Dutch oven

Step Thirteen: Put your oven mitts back on, place the dutch oven lid back on the pot, and slide the whole thing back into your hot oven

Step Fourteen: Cook bread for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the lid from your dutch oven. The bread should be taller, crusty, and very lightly browned. Continue cooking the bread, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes more until the bread has deepened in color and you have a beautiful brown crust

Step Fifteen: When bread is done, use oven mitts to pull the pot out of your oven. Use a long spatula or the corners of your parchment paper to lift the bread out of the dutch oven and onto a cooling rack. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into it. Slice, slather with butter, and enjoy!

Notes: Measure the flour by weight instead of cups. You can use instant yeast for this recipe, use 1 1/2 teaspoons instead. The best flour for this recipe is King Arthur All Purpose Flour. You can add garlic , nuts or spices to this recipe.

Turkish Eggs

Created on

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, made with whole milk and at room temperature
  • 1 to 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes
  • Fresh dill

Instructions

Step One:

In a small mixing bowl, combine the room-temp yogurt and garlic, a good pinch of kosher salt and whisk well. Divide the yogurt mixture between two serving bowls and set aside for now.

Step Two:

Bring a medium saucepan full of water to a boil. Stir in the vinegar.

Step Three:

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.

Step Four:

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.

Step Five:

Prepare and cook the second egg exactly as you did the first.

Step Six:

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.

Step Seven:

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.

Step Eight:

Serve immediately with your favorite rustic bread.

Notes: This rustic bread recipe pairs well with these eggs. Any kind of chili crisp oil would be a great topping, like this one.

Yellow Curry with Chicken and Potatoes

Created on

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion
  • 1 lb boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/3 cup yellow curry paste
  • 10 baby golden yukon potatoes, cut into bite-sized potatoes
  • 1 14-ounce can coconut cream
  • 1/2 – 1 cup water
  • 2 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • Cilantro and rice for serving

Instructions:

Step one:

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium low heat. Add the onions and saute for a few minutes until the onions are fragrant and softened. Add the chicken and curry paste; saute for 3-5 minutes. Add the potatoes and stir to coat with the curry paste.

Step two:

Add the coconut cream and 1/2 cup water to the pot – simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the chicken and potatoes are fully cooked, adding more water depending on the consistency you want for the sauce.

Step three:

Stir in the fish sauce and brown sugar to really take it up a notch. Seriously – so good. Serve over rice.

Notes: For a more vegetable-filled dish, add chunks of carrot with the potatoes. This recipe would go well with naan.

Beef and Broccoli

Created on 12/14/2018

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs flank steak, sliced very thin
  • 4 cups broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 5 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons sesame oil

Instructions

Step one:

In a bowl combine together pressed garlic, hot water, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch and sesame oil. Whisk to combine and set aside.

Step two:

On medium heat, preheat a skillet with 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add sliced broccoli, cook, until it softens. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Step three:

Slice beef into long, thin strips. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to the same skillet where you cooked the broccoli. Add beef until it gets golden brown.

Step four:

Pour sauce over the beef, and bring the sauce to a light simmer.

Step five:

Add broccoli back to the skillet. Stir to combine everything together, and cook it for about 3 minutes.

Step six:

Serve beef & broccoli while it’s still hot. It pairs well with rice.

Notes: This teriyaki sauce can be used for this recipe if you have it in your fridge. Serve with white or fried rice.

Guacamole

Created 3/10/2018

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 2 teaspoons of pepper
  • 1 large garlic clove, smashed with the side of a knife
  • 1/4 jalapeno, seeds removed
  • 3-4 cilantro stems, save the leafs
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 large avocado, cut in half, then cut into cubes
  • 1/4 lime, squeezed into mortar and pestle

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

  • Roma tomato, chopped
  • Feta cheese, crumbled
  • Purple onion, chopped

Instructions

Step one:

Combine olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic clove, jalapeno, cilantro stems and onion powder into the mortar and pestle. Smash everything together still until a paste has developed.

Step two:

Add the avocado and gently mix in with the paste in mortar and pestle with a fork to keep a chunky guacamole. Use the mortar to combine for a smoother guacamole.

Teriyaki Sace

Created on 7/04/2020

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup water
  • 5 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1-2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 large clove of garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup cold water

Instructions

Step one:

Combine the 1 cup water, brown sugar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger in a medium saucepan and set over medium heat.

Step two:

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch with the 1/4 cup water and whisk until dissolved. Add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan.

Step three:

Heat the sauce until it thickens to your desired thickness. If the sauce becomes too thick, add more water to thin it out.

Notes: To make this a spicy teriyaki, add some sriracha or red pepper flakes to the saucepan. This sauce will stay good in your fridge for 3 weeks.

Rice Noodles

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rice flour
  • 1/3 cup tapioca starch
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 1/3 cup water
  • Oil for brushing

Instructions

Step one:

Mix the rice flour, tapioca starch and a pinch of salt in a large bowl.

Step two:

Gradually pour in the water and whisk continuously until the mixture turns into a thin batter.

Step three:

Fill a wok with water. Prepare a steamer basket on top. Turn the heat to medium-high.

Step four:

Using sesame oil, oil the bottom of a small nonstick pan. Pour the batter mixture on top and place in the steamer basket.

Step five:

Allow the mixture to steam for five minutes. Now place cooked noodle onto a cold water bath and brush the top of the noodle sheet with oil.

Step six:

Using a spatula, give the cake pan a swirl to loosen up the noodles. Cut into your desired thickness and lift it up.

Korean Chicken Bao Buns

Created on 2/17/2022

Ingredients:

Bao Buns

  • 12.6 ounces plain all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
  • 1 ounce white sugar
  • 1 ounce olive oil, plus extra for greasing
  • 6.3 ounces of warm water
  • .68 ounces milk

Fried Chicken

  • 4 large chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • Oil for frying
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • thinly sliced cucumber

Sticky Sauce

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon gochujang
  • 2 tablespoon ketchup
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Instructions

Step one:

To make the bao, mix the flour, baking powder, yeast and sugar in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the vegetable oil, water and milk. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the oil mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon and then use your hands to knead until the dough comes together. Empty out onto a work surface and knead for 5 minutes or until smooth, adding extra flour if the dough sticks to the palm of your hand. Return the dough to the mixing bowl, cover and rest in a warm place for 90 minutes or until doubled in size. 

Step two:

Once risen, transfer the dough to a work surface and knead for another 5 minutes. Place a small amount of oil in a small bowl. Flatten the dough and use a rolling pin to roll out the dough a little. Dip you fingers into the oil and rub on both sides of the dough to stop it from sticking to your work surface. Then continue to roll out the dough until it is about 1cm (roughly ½”) thick. Give the top of the dough a final rub of oil. Then use an 8cm (around 3 ¼”) cookie cutter to cut out dough circles. Fold each circle over in half and transfer to a square of baking paper. Use the rolling pin to roll over the top to gently flatten each folded piece. Any extra dough can now be rolled out again and cut and folded in the same way. Cover the bao lightly with a tea towel and allow to rise for 30 minutes. 

Step three:

Fill a wok one-third full with water and place over high heat. Place a bamboo steamer over the wok. When the water is boiling, steam the buns in batches in the steamer for 12 minutes or until fluffy and cooked through. Then turn off the heat (don’t lift the lid) and allow the buns to rest over the hot water for 5 minutes before transferring to a plate or tray. Note: Buns can be made up to a day in advance and steamed to re-heat before serving. They can also be frozen at this point and reheated from frozen in the steamer before serving. 

Step four:


To make the fried chicken, season the chicken with the salt and pepper, then set aside.  

Step five:

For the sticky sauce, place the ingredients in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes or until just thickened. Set aside until ready to serve. 

Step six:

Dust each piece of chicken in the corn flour, tapping off any excess.

Step seven:

Fill a wok or saucepan to about 1/3 capacity with the vegetable oil and place over high heat. The oil is hot enough when a wooden spoon dipped into the oil forms little bubbles. Cook the chicken (do this in batches if your wok is small) for about 5 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Drain on a wire baking rack. 

Step eight:

Brush the warm chicken with the sticky sauce (reserve about a quarter of the sauce for serving). Sprinkle the chicken with sesame seeds. 

Step nine:

To serve, open up each bao and spoon a little sauce into the center. Stuff with cucumber slices and pieces of fried chicken. Serve immediately. 

Vietnamese Noodles with Lemongrass Chicken

Created on 10/19/2019

Ingredients:

Chicken marinade

  • 1.5 lbs chicken thighs
  • 1 stalk lemongrass
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Nuoc Cham Sauce

  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 4 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons whit esufar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 red birds eye chili, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice

Noodle Bowl

  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 7 ounces vermicelli noodles
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 cucumbers
  • 5 cups iceberg lettuce
  • 3 cups bean sprouts
  • Mint leafs
  • Cilantro leafs
  • Sliced red chili
  • Lime wedges

Instructions

Step one:

Combine Chicken and Marinade ingredients and set aside for at least 1 hour, up to 24 hours.

Step two:

Heat 1/2 tbsp oil in a fry pan over medium heat (or heat the BBQ). Remove chicken from marinade, shaking off large bits of lemongrass (small bits should fall off during cooking).

Step three:

Place chicken in the pan and cook each side until dark golden brown and chicken is just cooked through – about 6 to 8 minutes in total.

Step four:

Remove from pan, shaking off any remaining bits of visible lemongrass and set aside to rest for 5 minutes. Then slice into thin pieces.

Step five:

Combine the Nuoc Cham ingredients and mix well to dissolve the sugar. Adjust to your taste (spiciness, lime, sweetness) and set aside for at least 20 minutes.

Step six:

Soak the vermicelli noodles in hot water for 3 minutes (or according to packet instructions), then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the noodles from sticking together.

Step seven:

Place noodles in bowl. Top with vegetables and herbs, and sliced chicken pieces. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of Nuoc Cham Sauce (be generous, ~ 4 tbsp per serving) and serve with lime wedges.

Chicken and Rice Soup with Garlicky Chile Oil

Created on 2/17/2019

Ingredients:

  • 1 small white onion
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 2/3 cup white rice, preferably short grain
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 2 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1 large bunch of Tuscan kale
    • 1 lemon
    • 3 sprigs dill
    • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Step one:

Peel and finely chop 1 small onion. Peel and thinly slice 6 garlic cloves. Rinse ⅔ cup white rice in a fine-mesh sieve until water runs clear.

Step two:

Consider doubling this chili oil for other recipes. Heat ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add garlic and cook, swirling pan often, until golden brown, 3–5 minutes; the garlic will continue to cook and darken slightly after it’s off the heat, so be conservative here. Transfer to a small heatproof bowl, leaving 1 Tbsp. garlic oil in pot. Stir 2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes into garlic oil in bowl; set aside.

Step three:

Add the onion to the 1 Tbsp. of garlic oil that remains in the in saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent and beginning to take on some color, about 5 minutes.

Step four:

Pour in 8 cups water and stir to combine. Stir in rice, 1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs, and 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmer, uncovered, until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.

Step five:

Using tongs, transfer chicken to a plate and let sit until cool enough to handle. Shred meat with two forks. Continue to simmer soup while you’re prepping the rest of your ingredients (this will concentrate the flavor of the broth).

Step six:

Strip kale leaves off of thick center ribs from 1 bunch Tuscan kale, discarding ribs. Rinse kale thoroughly in cold water, shake off excess water, then thinly slice leaves crosswise.

Step seven:

Add kale and shredded chicken to pot. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until kale is bright green and chicken is warmed through, about 4 minutes.

Step eight:

Remove pot from heat. Squeeze in lemon juice (being careful not to let any seeds fall in), season with 2 tsp. salt (or more to taste), and stir to combine.

Step nine:

Divide soup among bowls. Drizzle with reserved garlic-chile oil. Tear 3 sprigs dill over, then top with a few grinds of black pepper.

Notes: To keep this recipe low carb, skip cooking the rice, or cook the rice on the side and add the soup on top.