Minted Fava-Pea Mash

Minted Fava-Pea Mash

My celebration of spring continues this week with two of my favorite seasonal ingredients: peas and fava beans. Though it’s a bit predictable, I can’t resist the pairing of peas, favas, and mint for it’s fresh, green taste. It just screams spring! Here I’ve simmered the peas and favas until tender (you can use frozen if fresh are not available), then mash them with some garlic confit and mint. There’s no dairy so the  dish is totally vegan and parve, not to mention gluten free. It’s light and healthy, but packed with flavor. I like the texture of the roughly mashed vegetables, but you could blend them thoroughly for a bright springtime puree.

 

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Asparagus with Garlic Two Ways

Asparagus with Garlic Two Ways

It’s the start of springtime and that means a new abundance of fresh and exciting produce. I’m starting to see the first stone fruit in Israel – loquats, peaches and nectarines. Fresh garlic has peaked and I’ve stocked up as usual. And there’s even asparagus on supermarket shelves. I was working on a spring-themed meal for a piece in the Jewish Daily Forward (read it here) and wanted to combine asparagus – something I associate with springtime back home – and fresh garlic, which I will forever associate with springtime in Israel.

 

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Shepherd’s Pie and a Gluten Free Blog Hop

Gluten Free Shepherd's Pie

This time of year the weather can be fickle. Even in Israel, where it tends to be significantly warmer than my native New York, we still have the occasional cool evening and even the days aren’t nearly as hot as they will be. So for some last minute cool-weather comfort food (or for those of you in the Southern hemisphere who are on the cusp of winter), here’s a naturally gluten free shepherd’s pie for your enjoyment. It’s rich and satisfying, and is sure to please the whole family.

 

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Salmon with Jerusalem Artichoke Puree and Herb Sauce

Salmon with Jerusalem Artichoke Puree and Herb Sauce

Jerusalem artichoke season is coming to an end (they’re still at the market in Israel – what about the rest of the world?), so I knew I had to get this recipe up soon. This recipe for salmon with Jerusalem artichoke puree and herb sauce is an elegant, restaurant-quality meal that’s ready in under an hour – I swear! Salmon filets are brushed with a mixture of honey, Dijon mustard and curry powder and seared. Jerusalem artichokes (i.e. sunchokes) are simmered and pureed with butter and warm cream. And, for the finishing choice cilantro and mint are blended with olive oil for a sauce full of fresh flavor. Continue reading “Salmon with Jerusalem Artichoke Puree and Herb Sauce”

Easter Lamb Chops with Mint Gremolata and Lentil Salad

Lamb chops with mint gremolata and lentil salad

I have to admit that Easter isn’t such a big deal in my house any more, but growing up it was the best. Decorating and then finding eggs, baskets of candy – what’s not to like for a child? But if I were to do an Easter dinner, I’d probably serve something traditional like these (gluten free!) lamb chops. I don’t cook or eat lamb often, but I’ve acquired a taste for it in recent years and occasionally splurge at my local butcher. I marinated the lamb in mustard, lemon and rosemary but they’d be just as good just seasoned with some salt and pepper and grilled.

 

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Apple-Date Charoset and a Passover Recipes Blog Hop

Apple-Date Charoset and other Passover Recipes

Although I didn’t grow up celebrating Passover, I’ve been attending seders since I was 14, first with friends’ families then, for the past 12 years or so, with my husband’s family. It was love at first seder. Back at my first Pesach I was still an awkward, picky eater of a teenager, and as the charoset (haroset) passed by I put a dainty spoonful on a piece of matzo. But one taste of the apple-walnut mixture had me scrambling for seconds and it’s been one of my favorite components of the holiday ever since. It’s definitely kid-friendly, and delicious even if you’re not in the market for Passover recipes (check out the last paragraph for some ideas on how to put it to use).

 

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Vegetarian Braised Cabbage and a St. Patrick’s Day Blog Hop

CabbageI don’t believe I have a drop of Irish blood in me, and I don’t feel Irish come St. Patrick’s Day. But I can appreciate having a day to celebrate Irish culture in whatever way you see fit. For me, of course, that’s with food. Lots of Irish recipes, especially by way of America, are quite heavy and meaty so I wanted to do something simple, vegetarian, and budget-friendly. Enter braised cabbage, sans bacon (I know, sacre bleu!). All it takes is a head of cabbage (one of the least expensive vegetables I know), a knob of butter, a bit of broth and salt and pepper.

 

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Chipotle Chicken Burritos, Avocado Crema + an Avocado Blog Hop

Avocado

We don’t always get the best avocados in Israel, but lately I’ve had some great ones. So I’ve been eating them like crazy. For lunch I have slices of avocado and tomato with nothing more than a sprinkle of salt and drizzle of olive oil. And, wanting to highlight them in dinner as well, I made avocado crema to go with chipotle chicken burritos (which also, of course, have avocado slices inside). I know he’s biased, but my husband declared these the best burritos he’s ever eaten. I have to agree.

 

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Black Garlic-Mushroom Dip and a Garlic Blog Hop

Black Garlic

Black garlic is one of those ingredients that inspires you to play around. The sweet, umami-rich flavor bares practically no resemblance to raw garlic, much in the same way that kimchi tastes very different than plain old cabbage. A Korean specialty, black garlic is simply regular garlic that has been fermented through heat. But unlike other fermented foods, the fermentation process mellows garlic instead of making it sharper, and it’s said to have twice as many antioxidants as regular garlic. The texture becomes like a firm jelly, and the flavor has hints of soy sauce, molasses, and honey. It’s so good I like to eat it raw, and it doesn’t leave you with garlic breath (not that I have anything against garlic breath).

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Chubeza (Mallow) Patties and a Vegan Blog Hop

Chubeza (Mallow) Patties

There are lots of pros to volunteering at a community garden. You get to meet wonderful, passionate people who care about the earth and sustainable eating. You get to spend time outdoors in nature, even if you live in a city. You learn about gardening, and are introduced to new types of plants, fruits, and vegetables. And, the best part, sometimes you get to take the fruit of your labor home. I’ve been helping out here and there with an amazing local organization called Earth’s Promise (seriously – they’re awesome, check them out) and this week I came home with quite a haul: potatoes dug fresh from the earth; lettuce I planted months ago and was finally able to pick; and chubeza (חוביזה; aka mallow) a wild edible green that’s popular in Israel and across the Middle East.

 

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