When you need a quick weeknight meal with a little spice (literally) consider a coconut curry in place of your old stir fry or pasta standby. Ideal for a weeknight supper, curries can be made using whatever vegetables and protein you have on hand. Although your pantry might not be stocked with coconut milk and curry paste (mine are, no surprise there) they’re easy enough to purchase and are worth having on hand (I think it’s easier to find coconut milk in Be’er Sheva than in NY!). Continue reading “Free Form Coconut Curry”
Tag: Recipe
A Burrito Worth its Weight in Guacamole
I’ve already waxed poetic about Mexican food, so I won’t bore you with another soliloquy. I will remind you that there are no Chipotles or Benny’s Burritos in Israel, only sad shawarma wrapped in laffas passing as burritos. It had been well over a month since our last Mexican venture and it was time for some rice, beans, chicken, and cheese rolled up in a tortilla. Continue reading “A Burrito Worth its Weight in Guacamole”
A Little Decadence to Take the Edge Off
For the folks back home it’s bitter cold, maybe even snowing. Around these parts a chill has just come over Be’er Sheva and the harsh wind is blowing sand in everyone’s faces, windows, mouths… I imagine New York in full holiday swing (the Russians here in B7 are getting ready to celebrate as well, and the Old City is decked out in fake Christmas trees). Wherever you are, cozy, creamy dishes like this are just what the chef ordered. Continue reading “A Little Decadence to Take the Edge Off”
Couscous Salad with Dates and Almonds
Whether you’re looking for an elegant side or a quick weeknight dish to round out a meal, this couscous salad is your answer. Seriously simple to prepare, the unexpected flavors meld together as sweet and savory intermingle. Don’t let anyone tell you they don’t like dates until they’ve tried them in this salad. They lend a hint of honey-caramel sweetness and just the right touch of chewy texture as they play with the pillowy couscous and herbaceous greens. The dates are what elevate this from a standard couscous salad to one worth writing about. Continue reading “Couscous Salad with Dates and Almonds”
A Summer Tart, Just in Time for Winter
Though I arrived at the end of summer (yes, September 26 still constitutes summer in Israel) I didn’t see any fresh berries. Not in the shuq, not in the supermarket, not in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. I resigned myself to having to wait until next summer when I can have fresh farmer’s market berries in New York. But suddenly, strawberries are everywhere. And not just any strawberries – some of the sweetest, freshest strawberries I’ve ever had. Continue reading “A Summer Tart, Just in Time for Winter”
The Roast Chicken That Keeps on Giving
You don’t need me to tell you about the simple pleasures of roast chicken, or how economical it is to buy the whole chicken and cut up the parts yourself. But I just made what was perhaps the best roast chicken of my roast chicken-making career, and I need to share. The secret is in the butter. Put strategically placed pats of butter under the skin, then rub the whole chicken in butter. Get some garlic and herbs in there too, and roast alongside potatoes for a one pan meal that takes about an hour to make (depending on the size of the bird and the idiosyncrasies of then oven). Continue reading “The Roast Chicken That Keeps on Giving”
Three Latkes, Three Stories to Tell
Who doesn’t like a holiday that embraces fried food, and whose signature dishes are potato pancakes and jelly donuts? For Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday that celebrates oil, anything fried and greasy goes. Don’t even think about trying some low fat baked option. It goes against the whole spirit of the holiday. Continue reading “Three Latkes, Three Stories to Tell”
Roman Holiday
My senior year of high school my family and I went on our one and only foreign vacation together (seriously, Canada doesn’t count). We went to Rome. I have been back since, but still that first trip stands out in my memory. I remember finding a comfortable, neighborhoody restaurant that we returned to for dinner a few nights in a row. I remember buying what were at the time the coolest pair of shoes I’d ever seen let alone owned. And I remember the day when my mother, father, and sister all ordered Spaghetti Carbonara for lunch. I don’t recall what I had, probably because it wasn’t nearly as exciting. Their bowls came to the table laced with pancetta and topped with a single raw egg. At the time I was too much of a wuss to deal with raw anything, including egg. Continue reading “Roman Holiday”
India, by Way of London
I’ll admit it. Chicken Tikka Masala is one of my favorite dishes to order in Indian restaurants. The truth is, I feel a tad guilty about it. I know it’s not an authentic Indian recipe, and I am aware that it’s the ever-popular choice of the unknowing masses. But I can’t help it. It tastes good. The creamy, savory-sweet sauce (at its best when it has a hint of heat) and the tender medallions of yogurt-marinated chicken tikka make for a divine combination. Continue reading “India, by Way of London”
The Comfort Equation
If they made an equation for comfort food, I’m pretty sure the base would be pasta + cheese. Now, don’t confuse comfort food with downright depression – the equation for that is pasta + cheese + bread and looks something like a Domino’s Pasta Breadbowl. It’s a thin line, I know, and one that Italian-American recipes are constantly on the verge of crossing. The classic pasta + cheese + sauce + (sometimes) meat combo is the perfect example; you can drown your sorrows or winter blues in a big serving of cheesy pasta, but it’s not a cry for help. Continue reading “The Comfort Equation”