Category Archives: Vegetarian

Soup, Vegetarian

Roman Grain and Greens Soup

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Roman Grain and Greens Soup

Every so often I make a recipe with my doctor in mind. She always tells me, “Less meat and more grain and greens.” Roman Grain and Greens soup is just what the doctor ordered. In addition to barley, lentils, split-peas, and chickpeas there are 5 kinds of greens.

Roman Grain and Greens Soup

Roman Grain and Greens Soup

Ingredients:
  • 1⁄2 cup pearled barley
  • 1 cup yellow split peas
  • 1 cup lentils
  • 10 cups water or more
  • 1 14 oz. chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon ground fennel seed
  • 2 Tablespoons coloratura de alici
  • 1 large or 2 smaller leeks, white part and 3 inches of green part, split, rinsed and chopped
  • 3 cups coarsely chopped Savoy cabbage, packed
  • 1⁄4 cup chopped parsley, packed
  • 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh dill, packed
  • 1⁄4 cup chopped fennel leaves, packed
  • 1⁄2 cup olive oil
Place barley, peas and lentils in a heavy pot. Rinse and drain. Add water and bring to a boil. Skim off foam. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are becoming tender. Add water if too thick.
Meanwhile, prepare leeks, cabbage and greens. In a frying pan, cook them gently in olive oil until wilted.Roman Grain and Greens Soup
Add the chickpeas, salt, oregano, oregano, ground fennel and coloratura de alici to the soup. Simmer 5 minutes.Roman Grain and Greens Soup
Stir the greens into soup. Simmer, stirring frequently, just until cabbage is tender, about 10 minutes.
Taste, and add salt as needed.

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Pasta, Vegetarian

Roasted Broccoli Pasta

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Roasted Broccoli Pasta

I know that lots of people don’t like broccoli and this recipe is for them. Roasting it gives it a crisp flavor that makes the difference. This is adapted from Melissa Clark’s recipe in the New York Times.
Roasted Broccoli Pasta
Ingredients:
  • 2 ½ lbs. broccoli cut into bite sized florets
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil plus more for drizzling
  • Salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes
  • 12 oz. small pasta
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp. lemon zest
  • 12 oz. whole milk ricotta
Pre-heat your over to 425o.
Roasted Broccoli Pasta
In a bowl, toss the broccoli, 2 tbsp. oil, salt, black, and red pepper. Place it in a large sheet pan and roast for about 10 minutes, toss and roast for another 10 minutes until edges start to lightly brown. Remove, set aside, and set the over to broil.
Cook the pasta according to package instruction, drain and set aside.
Mix together the Parmesan, breadcrumbs, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
In the large bowl, mix together the broccoli, cooked pasta, and ricotta. Add the Parmesan mix and combine.Roasted Broccoli Pasta
Spread the pasta and broccoli evenly in the sheet pan, drizzle with oil and broil for 2 to 4 minutes until pasta is lightly crisped and serve.Roasted Broccoli Pasta

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Seafood, Vegetarian

Breaded Flounder Filets

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Breaded Flounder Filets

 

I grew up with a kid named Vinny. We’d eat with each other’s families  often. This was as close as I could come to his grandmother’s recipe for breaded flounder filet. I think I did it justice.
Ingredients:
  • 1 lb founder fillets
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups plain breadcrumbs
  • 3 cloves of finely minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp. chopped parsley
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • Olive oil for frying
  • Lemon for serving
Cut the filets into portion sizes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside to come to room temperature.
Prepare three dishes – one with flour, one with the beaten eggs and one with the breadcrumb mixture containing the garlic, parsley, and oregano.
First dredge the filet in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then coat it with the beaten egg letting any excess drip away. Dredge the filet in the breadcrumbs, pressing it so it sticks. Put the filets aside for 20 minutes to let the coating stick.

Add about ¼ inch of oil to a frying pan and heat to medium. Fry each side until golden brown. Don’t crowd the pan. Drain the filets and paper towels and serve with sliced lemons.

If there’s any egg wash and breadcrumbs left over make a breadcrumb polpette.

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Sides, Vegetarian

Marmite Roast Potatoes

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A while back I did a post on umami and at the time, I had never tasted Marmite and didn’t include it. Their advertising slogan is “Love it or hate it,” and I wondered which way I’d go. I tried it in a recipe that I adapted from Karen William’s Marmite Roast Potatoes on Delish – a British cooking site. Maybe I don’t love it yet, but it works for me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

MARMITE ROAST POTATOES“Vegans, Love It or Hate It, You’re Going to Need It”

 

MARMITE ROAST POTATOES“New ways with Marmite: top cooking tips”

 

Marmite Roast Potatoes

MARMITE ROAST POTATOESIngredients:
  • 2 lb white potatoes
  • 2 oz. butter
  • 1 tbsp. Marmite
  • 1 tbsp. bourbon
  • Thyme leaves (optional)
Preheat the oven to 400o.
Bring a pot of water to boil. Place the peeled and cut into 2 inch potatoes and boil for 10 mins. Drain, shake well to rough-up the edges and leave them in the pot, covered, for 10 minutes.
Melt the butter in a small pot and whisk in the marmite and bourbon until blended.MARMITE ROAST POTATOES
Put the potatoes into a baking tray and pour the marmite over them. Turn potatoes to coat. Cook for 20 minutes, turn the potatoes, and cook for another 20 minutes.MARMITE ROAST POTATOES
Sprinkle with black pepper, thyme leaves and serve.MARMITE ROAST POTATOES
MARMITE ROAST POTATOESMARMITE ROAST POTATOESBased on Melissa Clark’s suggestion. I tried Marmite on a scrambled egg sandwich.  Very good but if you try it, don’t add any additional salt.

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Pasta, Seafood, Vegetarian

Tinned Fish

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Tinned Fish

It’s been around for a long time but suddenly it’s become a thing – tinned fish. When I was growing up if I wanted a snack, I could always open a can of sardines, squid, or tuna. It’s a very old way of preserving food. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated, and isn’t perishable until it’s opened.

Here’s an informative post from Epicurious –

The Can of Food That Makes Dinner Parties Delicious, Easy, and Insanely Fast

The easiest dinner party you’ll ever throw is the one where all you do is make a few salads, open a few tins of fish and put out a few baguettes. The reason you aren’t throwing this party already is because you think that tinned fish is cheap, acrid, odorous stuff that you’d never serve to company, much less yourself. But that line of thinking stops now. 

Click logo for full article – 

 

Tinned Fish Pasta

Here’s a recipe that works with almost any type of tinned fish. I used sardines. 

Tinned Fish PastaAdapted from Bon Appétit

Tinned Fish PastaIngredients:
  • 1 cup unseasoned toasted breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup. olive oil
  • 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
  • 2 cans sardines packed in olive oil
  • 1 tsp. lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp. chopped capers
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1 lb. spaghetti or linguini
  • Chopped parsley for serving

Tinned Fish Pasta

Lightly sauté the garlic in olive oil in a small pan until it’s fragrant. Don’t let it brown.Tinned Fish Pasta
Put the garlic and oil it cooked in, sardines, lemon zest and juice, capers, salt, and pepper in a heat proof bowl. Place the bowl on top of a pot of boiling water to gently heat the ingredients. Remove the bowl and cook the pasta in the same boiling water.Tinned Fish Pasta
When the pasta is done add it to the bowl with 1 cup of the pasta water and the parsley. Mix and serve with a sprinkling of the toasted breadcrumbs.Tinned Fish Pasta

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Seafood, Vegetarian

Mussels with Red or White Sauce

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Mussels with Red or White Sauce

Wash the mussels in cold running water and pull off any of the beard that might be attached to some of them. Discard any mussels that don’t close when tapped.
Either of these recipes can be served as a sauce for linguine or spaghetti but I prefer them  simply with a loaf of good Italian bread.

Mussels in White SauceMussels with Red or White Sauce

Ingredients:
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 small shallot diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 2 lbs. cleaned mussels
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • ½ cup chopped parsley
Mussels with Red or White SauceHeat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the shallot until it’s translucent. Add the garlic and stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon of salt. Add the white wine and raise the heat. When it boils add the mussels and cover the pot.
Mussels with Red or White SauceShake the pot and check after 5 minutes. The mussels should be starting to open. Cover and wait until they’re all opened and discard any that didn’t.
Remove them with a slotted spoon to a serving dish leaving the sauce in the pot. Discard any mussels that haven’t opened.Mussels with Red or White SauceWhisk the butter and parsley into the sauce. Check for seasoning and pour the sauce over the mussels and serve. If you’re serving with pasta, add one cup of the pasta cooking water to the sauce.
Mussels with Red or White Sauce

 

Mussels in Red SauceMussels with Red or White Sauce

Ingredients:
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 3 cloves of minced garlic
  • Salt and black, and red pepper to taste
  • ½ cup dry red wine
  • 1 – 28 ounce can of chopped tomatoes
  • 2 lbs. cleaned mussels
  • ¼ cup chopped parsley

Mussels with Red or White Sauce

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add salt, black, and red pepper.

 

Mussels with Red or White Sauce

Add the red wine and tomatoes, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the mussels, cover the pot and steam for about 15 minutes, shaking the pot or stirring from time to time. When the mussels have opened, stir in the chopped parsley, and serve. Discard any mussels that haven’t opened.

It works with pasta too.Mussels with Red or White Sauce

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Seafood, Sides, Vegetarian

Shrimp Fried Rice

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Shrimp Fried Rice

This is a fast-cooking recipe so have all the ingredients prepared and ready to add to the pan. In place of, or in addition to the peas and carrots use what ever vegetables you like – broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus. Instead of shrimp try this with a boneless pork chop cut into small pieces. Someday I think I’ll make it with pancetta for a Chinese-Italian fusion.
Shrimp Fried Rice
Ingredients:
  • 6 oz shrimp (small shrimp or large cut small)
  • Salt & black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. peanut or vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp. toasted sesame oil divided
  • ½ chopped onion
  • ¾ cup peas & carrots
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups cooked rice (cold)
  • 1 tbsp. each soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, oyster sauce
  • 3 tbsp. chopped green onion
Preheat a large fry pan or wok to medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Sauté the shrimp with salt and pepper. Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes until they start to color. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.Shrimp Fried Rice
Add the onion, peas and carrots and cook until the onion starts to turn translucent. Slide the onion, peas, and carrots to the side (if you pan isn’t big enough, temporally remove the vegetables) and pour the beaten egg onto the other side. Cook the egg, break it up mix it with the vegetables.Shrimp Fried Rice

 

Shrimp Fried Rice
Add the rice and mix thoroughly with the egg and vegetables. Then add the shrimp. Pour in one tablespoon each of the soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and oyster sauce. Stir and fry until everything is combined.  Add chopped green onions and serve.Shrimp Fried Rice

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Seafood, Vegetarian

Shrimp with Chard and Ginger

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Shrimp with Chard and Ginger

Here’s another one adapted from Melissa Clark (my favorite chef) in the New York Times.

 

Shrimp with Chard and GingerIngredients:
  • 1 lb. large shrimp
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt for seasoning shrimp
  • 1 bunch chard, washed (about ½ lb.)
  • Olive oil for frying
  • 3 minced garlic cloves
  • 1 thinly sliced hot chili (optional)
  • 1 medium shallot chopped
  • 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger root
  • 2 tsps. Brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • 2 tsps. white wine or sherry vinegar
Blot the shrimp dry and season with salt. Cut the stems off of the chard up to where the leaves begin. Roll a hand full of chard leaves like a cigar and cut it into ¼ inch strips.
Shrimp with Chard and Ginger
Shrimp with Chard and Ginger
Add some olive oil to a large skillet and on medium hear lightly brown the shrimp on each side. Remove the shrimp to a dish, add some more oil and add the garlic, chili (if you’re using), shallot and ginger. Sauté for about 3 minutes and then add the sugar and season with salt and black pepper.
Put the greens in the skillet with ¼ cup of water. Mix to coat them with the liquid in the pan. Cover and steam for a few minutes so the greens wilt. Return the shrimp to heat them, drizzle with the vinegar and serve.
Shrimp with Chard and Ginger

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Pasta, Vegetarian

Pasta with Fried Lemons

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PASTA WITH FRIED LEMONSPasta with Fried Lemons

This is adapted from a Melissa Clark recipe in the New York Times. No garlic or onion – the lemon acts as an aromatic for this simple sauce.
PASTA WITH FRIED LEMONS
Ingredients:
  • 1 lb. linguini
  • 3 lemons
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper
  • A pinch of sugar
  • 3 tbsp. butter
  • Red pepper flakes to taste
  • ½ cup chopped parsley
  • 2/3 cup of grated Parmigiano cheese
Start a large pot of salted water for the pasta.
Finely zest one of the lemons and set aside. Cut the tops and bottoms off the remaining two lemons and stand on end. Cut them into four quarters and thinly slice each quarter into triangles. Blanch the lemon slices for two minutes in a small pot of boiling water. Set them aside on paper towels and blot dry.PASTA WITH FRIED LEMONS
Heat the oil in a large pan and add the dry lemon slices. Add salt, black pepper and a pinch of sugar. Cook for a few minutes until the edges brown and remove them.PASTA WITH FRIED LEMONS
Add the butter, lemon zest, red pepper and a half cup of pasta water to the pan. Mix in the drained pasta and coat with the sauce. Turn off the heat and stir in the parsley, lemon wedges and cheese. Serve with additional cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
PASTA WITH FRIED LEMONS

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Sides, Vegetarian

Grilled Broccoli

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Grilled Broccoli

 

I got this grilled broccoli recipe from Julia and Bridget on America’s Test Kitchen. They came up with it for an outdoor grill, but it works just as well indoors. We live in an apartment building in Manhattan so no outdoor grill for us but a grill pan over two burners on a gas stove does the job.
Grilled Broccoli
Ingredients:
  • 2 heads broccoli
  • Salt & black pepper to taste
  • ¾ cup olive oil
  • 2 cloves finely minced garlic
  • 1  lemon cut in half
Pre-heat the over to 375o.
Wash the broccoli and trim its stems. Put it in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with minced garlic, juice of ½ lemon and olive oil. Toss the broccoli until it’s thoroughly coated. Grilled Broccoli
Place the broccoli on a large sheet of aluminum foil, fold the sides up and add a ½ cup of water. Completely wrap the broccoli in the foil and tightly seal the edges. Reseal it in another piece of foil. Grilled Broccoli
Place it in the oven  for 30 minutes.
Place the ½ lemon cut side down on the grill alongside the broccoli on a grill and cook until the broccoli begins to sear. Grilled Broccoli
Place it in a serving dish and squeeze the grilled lemon half over it and serve. Grilled Broccoli

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