Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Created on 7/8/2024

Ingredients:

  • 3 lb. skinless, boneless pork shoulder (Boston Butt), cut into 2″ pieces
  • 2 jalapeños, cut in half lengthwise, stems removed
  • 4 large garlic cloves
  • 1 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp. ground coriander
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • Corn tortillas, pico de gallo, lime wedges, guacamolepickled onions, chopped cilantro, shredded cabbage, and/or crema (for serving; optional)

Instructions:

Step One: Place pork, jalapeños, garlic, salt, oregano, pepper, coriander, and cumin in Instant Pot. Toss with your hands until well combined. Seal lid and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes

Step Two: Release pressure manually. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pork to a large bowl; fish out jalapeños and garlic and discard. Shred meat with two forks or your hands. Pour cooking liquid over meat and toss to combine

Step Three: Working in batches, transfer shredded pork to a large nonstick skillet set over high heat and cook, undisturbed, until underside is well browned, about 5 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, tossing occasionally, until some of the edges are caramelized and crisp, 5–7 minutes longer. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel–lined baking sheet. Cover with foil to keep warm and moist

Cajun Chicken with Peach Salsa

Created on 7/8/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 6)
  • 2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
  • 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided
  • 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 ripe peaches, peeled, cut into ½” pieces
  • Zest and juice of 1 lime
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves with tender stems

Instructions:

Step One: Toss 1½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 6) with 2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a medium bowl to coat

Step Two: Toss 2 ripe peaches, peeled, cut into ½” pieces, and remaining ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a mesh sieve set inside another medium bowl to combine; set aside

Step Three: Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Cook chicken in a single layer, turning halfway through, until charred in spots and cooked through, 12–16 minutes. Transfer to a platter

Step Four: Discard (or drink; it’s delicious!) any juice in bowl. Transfer peaches to bowl and add zest and juice of 1 lime and 1 cup cilantro leaves with tender stems and toss gently to combine. Taste peach salsa and season with more salt if needed. Spoon over chicken thighs

Brussel Sprouts and Sausage Stir Fry

Created on 7/8/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp. (or more) vegetable oil
  • 1 lb. hot Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced
  • 1 lb. brussels sprouts, halved
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • 2½ tsp. five-spice powder

Instructions

Step One: Heat a dry large nonstick skillet or wok over high. Add 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil, then 1 lb. hot Italian sausage, casings removed. Using a wooden spoon, break up sausage into bite-size pieces and cook, stirring every couple of minutes, until sausage is mostly cooked through with some golden brown edges, 6–8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sausage to a plate. Pour fat in skillet into a small heatproof bowl or measuring glass

Step Two: Add 1 Tbsp. fat back to pan and cook 1 medium onion, thinly sliced, tossing every 30 seconds or so, until softened but not floppy, about 3 minutes. Stir in 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, and 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minute. Transfer to plate with sausage

Step Three: Heat another 3 Tbsp. fat (or vegetable oil if you’ve run out of fat) in same pan. Add 1 lb. brussels sprouts, halved, season with kosher salt, and toss to combine. Arrange brussels sprouts so each piece has as much contact with pan as possible. Let cook, undisturbed, until golden brown around edges underneath, about 3 minutes. Toss and pour in 2 Tbsp. soy sauce and ½ cup water. Reduce heat to medium, cover pan, and cook until brussels sprouts are just tender, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and return sausage and onion mixture back to pan if you have room. Add 1 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar and 2½ tsp. five-spice powder and toss to combine. (If you don’t have enough room in the pan, toss everything together in a large bowl.)

20 – Minute Chicken Pho

Created on 6/21/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 rotisserie roast chicken
  • 1 onion, skin on, halved
  • 4cm (1.5”) piece of ginger, sliced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 whole star anise
  • 3 tbsp fish sauce, or to taste
  • 2 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 2 beef stock cubes
  • 400g (14 oz) dried rice stick noodles

To Serve:

  • ½ onion, finely sliced
  • ¼ cup spring onion (scallions)
  • bean shoots
  • Thai basil leaves
  • lemon wedges
  • sliced red chilli
  • hoisin sauce (optional)
  • sriracha sauce (optional)

Instructions:

Step One: Remove the chicken meat from the rotisserie chicken. Shred and set aside until ready to serve

Step Two: Place the bones of the rotisserie chicken in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add the onion, ginger, cinnamon stick and star anise. Top with 2 litres (2.1 qt) of water. Microwave on high (1000W) for 10 minutes. Crumble in the beef stock cubes and stir to combine. Microwave on high for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the microwave and strain the broth, discarding the solids. Taste and season with the fish sauce and salt to taste

Step Three: In the meantime, soak the noodles in room temperature water for 10-15 minutes or until softened slightly. Cook in boiling water for 2-3 minutes or until the noodles are just tender. Drain and divide among serving bowls

Step Four: To serve, top the noodles with onion slices, chicken meat and spring onion. Ladle over hot broth (reheat in the microwave if you need). Serve with the bean shoots, Thai basil, lemon, chilli, hoisin and sriracha

Gluten Free Banana Bread

Created on 5/28/2024

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose baking flour (without xanthan gum)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (4-5 medium)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/3 cup canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

Step One: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt

Step Two: In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, bananas, sugar, applesauce, oil and vanilla

Step Three: Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until moistened

Step Four: Pour the batter into two greased 8×4-inch loaf pans. Sprinkle the tops of each with the walnuts

Step Five: Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool the loaves in their pans for 10 minutes. Remove the loaves from the pans and put them on wire racks. Let them cool completely to room temperature

Crab Fried Rice

Created on 5/13/2024

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Step One: First, prep all of your ingredients, including your aromatics–ginger, garlic, cilantro, and scallion. Prep the beaten eggs as well and set them aside. Only when you have all the ingredients prepared and ready to go should you start cooking

Step Two: Heat the cooking oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add the ginger first, stirring for 30 seconds. Then add the garlic. When the garlic is just cooked (before it starts to turn golden), add the cooked rice to the wok, and turn up the heat to high. Stir fry the rice for 3 minutes or so until it’s thoroughly combined with the ginger/garlic mixture and/or warmed through if you’re using leftover rice

Step Three: Now for the flavorings: add the white pepper, fish sauce, soy sauce, and shaoxing wine to the rice. If it’s not quite salty enough for you or if you know you won’t be eating it with added hot sauce, now is the time to add salt to taste. Stir-fry to combine

Step Four: Using your spatula, spread the rice out into an even layer along the surface of the wok. Pour the beaten egg evenly over the rice. Stir the rice until all of the egg is cooked and incorporated. The egg coats the rice and makes for a most excellent savory experience. Much better than broken up bits/huge chunks of scrambled egg throughout

Step Five: Before adding the crab, use your spatula to once more spread the rice evenly in the wok. Add the crab to the rice and stir fry thoroughly. When the crab is warmed through, add the scallion and cilantro and stir-fry briefly until the herbs are just wilted. Serve and finish with a squeeze of lime and your favorite chili oil

Beef Stew

Created on 12/28/2023

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds boneless beef chuck (well-marbled), cut into 1½-inch pieces
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 7 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups dry red wine
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1½ teaspoons sugar
  • 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks on a diagonal
  • 1 pound small white boiling potatoes (baby yukons), cut in half
  • Fresh chopped parsley, for serving (optional)

Instructions:

Step One: Preheat the oven to 325°F and set a rack in the lower middle position

Step Two: Pat the beef dry and season with the salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven or heavy soup pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering. Brown the meat in 3 batches, turning with tongs, for about 5 minutes per batch; add one tablespoon more oil for each batch. (To sear the meat properly, do not crowd the pan and let the meat develop a nice brown crust before turning with tongs.) Transfer the meat to a large plate and set aside

Step Three: Add the onions, garlic and balsamic vinegar; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon and scraping the brown bits from bottom of the pan, for about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute more. Add the beef with its juices back to the pan and sprinkle with the flour. Stir with wooden spoon until the flour is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine, beef broth, water, bay leaf, thyme, and sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits from the bottom of the pan and bring to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid, transfer to the preheated oven, and braise for 2 hours

Step Four: Remove the pot from the oven and add the carrots and potatoes. Cover and place back in oven for about an hour more, or until the vegetables are cooked, the broth is thickened, and the meat is tender. Fish out the bay leaf and discard, then taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Serve the stew warm — or let it come to room temperature and then store in the refrigerator overnight or until ready to serve. This stew improves in flavor if made at least 1 day ahead. Reheat, covered, over medium heat. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired

Notes: The stew can be frozen for up to 3 months. Before serving, defrost the stew in the refrigerator for 24 hours and then reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot

Lemon Chicken Orzo

Created on 1/10/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium leek, white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced crosswise 1/2-inch thick
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 celery stalk, sliced crosswise 1/2-inch thick
  • 1 lbs skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
  • 1 cup orzo
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
  • 1.5 lemons, squeezed

Instructions:

Step One: Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add leek and celery and cook, stirring often, until vegetables are soft, 5-8 minutes. Add chicken and broth; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, 15-20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Let cool, then shred chicken into bite-size pieces

Step Two: Meanwhile, return broth to a boil. Add orzo and cook until al dente, 8-10 minutes

Step Three: Remove pot from heat. Stir in chicken and dill. Serve with lemon halves for squeezing over

Notes: Use leftover rotisserie chicken instead of chicken thighs, also add Better than Chicken Bouillon Cube. Add lemon zest to make the soup more lemon forward

Beef Pho

Created on 1/10/2023

Ingredients:

  • 3 star anise pods
  • 1 3″ cinnamon stick
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for noodles
  • 2 medium onions, peeled, halved
  • 1 2″ piece ginger, scrubbed, sliced lengthwise ¼” thick
  • 3 lb. 2″–3″ sections mixed soup beef bones (oxtail, marrow, knuckles, and/or neck bone), rinsed under cold running water to remove blood and excess bits
  • 1 lb. beef brisket or chuck, cut into 2″ pieces
  • 2 Tbsp. (or more) fish sauce
  • ½ oz. yellow rock sugar or 3 tsp. granulated sugar
  • 2½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt; plus more (optional)
  • 10 oz. dried thin Banh Pho rice noodles
  • 8 oz. beef eye of round, sirloin steak, London broil, or tri-tip steak
  • Rinsed thinly sliced onion, thinly sliced scallions, chopped cilantro, Thai basil leaves, mint leaves, mung bean sprouts, sliced Thai or serrano chiles, lime wedges, Sriracha, and/or hoisin sauce (for serving; optional)
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

Step One: Set a 6-qt. Instant Pot to high sauté. Toast star anise, cinnamon stick, and cloves, stirring, until fragrant and crackling slightly, about 2 minutes. Add 2 Tbsp. oil and work around to coat bottom of pot. Reduce heat to medium, add onions, cut sides down, and ginger, and cook, undisturbed, until deep brown in spots, 5–7 minutes

Step Two: Pour in 1 cup water, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon, then add beef bones, brisket, fish sauce, sugar, 2½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and another 6 cups water (or just up to your max fill line). Lock lid and turn venting knob to sealing position. Cook on high pressure 1 hour (it will take about 20 minutes to come to pressure before the cook time begins). Naturally release pressure 30 minutes

Step Three: While the broth is cooking, place noodles in a large bowl and pour in cold water to cover. Let soak 30 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse to remove excess starch

Step Four: Freeze beef eye of round until firm, 20–30 minutes. Thinly slice against the grain, then chill in refrigerator until ready to serve

Step Five: Once pressure on pot has released 30 minutes, place a kitchen towel loosely over vent to prevent splattering. Using a wooden spoon, gradually open venting knob. As soon as floating pin drops, carefully open lid. Using tongs, transfer bones to a large bowl

Step Six: Place brisket in another large bowl and pour cool water over to cool down and keep from drying out. Using a fine-mesh sieve, scoop out solids from broth; discard aromatics and reserve any meat and bones for serving if desired. (Leftover meat and bones can also be reserved for another use; add to fried rice or bibimbap or scoop out marrow and slather it over slices of grilled toast.) Skim fat from surface with a ladle and discard. Taste broth and season with more fish sauce or salt if needed. Set to low sauté and simmer gently while you cook the noodles

Step Seven: Fill a large pot one third of the way with water and bring to a rolling boil. Add noodles and cook, using chopsticks or a wooden spoon to stir, until just al dente, about 15 seconds. Drain noodles in a colander and rinse well under cold water to stop cooking. Drizzle a little oil over and toss to coat (this will keep them from sticking together)

Step Eight: Remove brisket from water and thinly against the grain. Divide noodles among deep bowls. (Pro tip: Before adding noodles, swirl hot water inside bowls to warm up, then discard.) Top each bowl with a few slices of brisket, sliced beef eye of round, and any reserved meat and bones (if using) and top with sliced onion, scallions, and cilantro (if using); season with pepper. Ladle hot broth over raw beef to cook

Step Nine: Arrange Thai basil leaves, mint leaves, mung bean sprouts, chiles, and lime wedges on a platter for topping pho as desired and serve with Sriracha and hoisin sauce in small bowls for dipping

Notes:

Broth can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill. The fat will solidify on the surface, making it easier to skim and the flavors will deepen. Strained and skimmed broth can be made 3 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill, or freeze for up to 3 months

Yellow rock sugar can be found in Asian supermarkets. It’s a honey-hued sugar that is mildly sweet and rounds out the flavors in pho broth. Break down into large pieces with a mallet to use. It is used in Asian drinks, desserts, and soups

Hot and Sour Soup

Created on 1/10/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2 1” piece ginger, peeled, finely chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. dark miso
  • 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 4 tsp. unseasoned rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp. toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tsp. Aleppo-style pepper or ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for serving if desired
  • 2 oz. shiitake or crimini mushrooms, trimmed, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup mixed peas (such as baby and/or trimmed snow and/or sugar snap, halved if large)
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten, or 8 oz. silken tofu or 2.5 oz. yuba sheets
  • Kosher salt
  • Optional – squeeze of lime, udon noodles, cilantro, switch out water for chicken broth

Instructions:

Step One: Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium. Cook garlic and ginger, stirring often, until softened and very fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add 3 cups water. Combine miso and 2 Tbsp. water in a small bowl and stir to dissolve miso. Whisk into aromatics, then add soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and ½ tsp. Aleppo-style pepper. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat as needed to maintain a simmer and cook until flavors come together, about 10 minutes

Step Two: Add mushrooms and peas and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Gently stir in the egg (a few turns of a spoon will be enough to set it into ribbons without blasting it apart) and cook until just set, about 30 seconds. Or, if using tofu, drop in by spoonfuls, or if using yuba, thinly slice before adding, and cook just until heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt

Step Three: Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with more Aleppo-style pepper if desired

Notes: For a hardier soup, serve over cooked udon noodles. If the soup is too bland, add a squeeze of lime and chopped cilantro