Zucchini/Patty pan Bhujias

This tasty snack is a lovely, crispy way to enjoy zucchini. This vegan and gluten-free snack is wonderful with Imli, a sweet and mildly spiced tamarind dip.

Zucchini Bhujias

1 cup shredded, medium sized zucchini (or patty pan squash)

2 thinly sliced onions

1/2 cup Besan (chick pea flour)

1 tbs rice flour (optional, for a crispier bhujia)

1 tsp grated ginger

1-2 finely chopped green chilies

1/2 tsp cumin 

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp chat masala (tangier than garam masala, but can also be used) 

 salt, to tastes

oil, for frying

 

Mix all of the ingredients together and let rest.  If the batter is too moist, add some more besan flour.  

Heat enough oil in a pan to surround the bhujias.  Gently drop bhujias as small patties into the oil, as seen in the photos.  

Cook on both sides until crispy.  Enjoy with Imli!

 

Squash Pancakes, a Korean snack in time for Hanukkah

 Happy Hanukkah!  A miraculous time of frying in oil!  

These light, vegan and gluten-free (if desired) squash pancakes are a Korean snack that work nicely as fried Hanukkah treat.

 

Korean Squash Pancakes

 

1 small squash, peeled, seeded and grated (not spaghetti squash, but most other kinds, including pumpkin.  Small, as in Acorn Squash, or enough to make 4-6 cups grated)

2 tbs sugar

1 tbs salt

Tamarack Farms Yellow Pea flour, to create batter texture. (May use AP flour, wild rice flour, rice flour, etc.  Use what you would for gluten-free cooking, or without regular flour. ) Quantity of flour depends on the amount of liquid in the squash.

 

I tested a few methods.  One recipe suggested not to grate the squash or put it through a food processor grater, as she didn't wish to clean it up, and recommended fine match-stick cutting of the squash.  I found that I had the best results with grating it.  

Grate the squash and mix with the salt and sugar.  Let sit for 10 - 30 minutes.  You will see liquid in the bowl.  You need the liquid.  

Mix in enough yellow pea flour or desired flour to make a batter.  Let the batter rest.

Fry pancakes in oil, until crisp on each side, about 6-8 minutes.  Enjoy immediately, with some soy sauce or hot sauce, or save for later service.

Enjoy!

Bihon Pancit - an easy and versatile Gluten Free noodle dish from the Philippines

This dish from the Philippines is filling, addictive, versatile, and so easy to prepare.  You can make it vegetarian, with seafood, with chicken, etc.  The gluten-free rice noodles soak up the flavour and sauce.

Bihon Pancit
Chicken breast, bite sized pieces, chicken thighs, fish, shrimp, pickerel cheeks are wonderful (all optional)
1-2 tbs oil

1 onion, finely chopped
2-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
chopped vegetables (I used zucchini, carrot, spinach but chopped cabbage, beans or peas are common) (all optional)
1 bunch green onions, chopped into bite sized pieces
2-6 cups chicken stock, vegetable stock, or water
 2-8 tbs dark soy sauce
4 tbs oyster sauce
1 tsp sugar
8-16 oz rice noodles

If using chicken, brown the chicken and set aside.  Add the onion and garlic to the pan and sauté for a few minutes.  Return the chicken meat to the pan or wok and cook together for a few minutes and season with salt and pepper.   Add the chopped vegetables and sauté until starting to become tender.  Add the stock, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar.  Bring to a simmer and add other optional ingredients, such as pickerel cheeks or great New Brunswick Shrimp, both available at Gimli Fish.  Simmer on medium heat and add in the rice noodles.  Stir gently until all or almost all of the liquid has been absorbed.  Add water or more stock, if more liquid is needed.

Serve immediately or warmed later, with a squeeze of lime juice.

Enjoy!

Rice Pilaf - by request

Pilaf, pilau, rice.  There are so many ways to prepare rice.  In Korea, they cook and dry crispy bits at the bottom of the rice pot, to use for a kind of toasted congee for breakfast.  Turkey, has long held a tradition of excellent pilafs, using dried fruit and nuts, tomatoes, saffron, etc.  Iranian rice is exceptional with a crust, to enjoy.  The following, are some basics. 

Basmati Rice with dried orange and saffron

Basmati Rice with shallots, saffron, pumpkin seeds, and dried lemon

Rice Pilaf

2 cups Basmati Rice
scant 4 cups water
1 onion, thinly sliced, or shallots
pinch saffron
olive oil
salt
1/4 cup each of chopped nuts or pumpkin seeds, dried fruit, (such as barberry, currants, raisins, Afghani Tut, or chopped apricots)
A heavy bottomed pot

Heat the oil on medium high heat and add the saffron, to let it bloom in the oil.  Add the onion or shallots and sauté until brown,  Add the rice and coat with the oil.  Add salt, nuts and fruit. 

Turn the element on high and add the water.  Bring to a boil, stirring.  Cover, and set to medium low for 20 minutes. 

Enjoy!

Matcha Amaretti Cookies

My friend gave me some lovely Matcha tea powder and I thought that I'd try my hand at Matcha Amaretti cookies.  They look beautiful and are surprisingly easy to prepare.

Matcha Amaretti Cookies
2 1/4 cups almond flour
1 cup sugar
1 tbs matcha powdered tea
pinch salt
2 egg whites, soft peak (Nature's Farm eggs are fantastic!)
1/4 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp almond extract, or liqueur
icing sugar, to roll cookies in

Preheat oven to 300ºF.  Take two baking sheets, stacked, and place parchment paper or a Silpat on the top baking sheet.

Whip egg white and lemon juice to a soft peak.

Add to dry ingredients and mix well, until a sticky mess. 

Dust hands with a bit of the icing sugar and portion dough into 1"balls.  Roll cookies in the icing sugar and place on the baking sheet.  They can be placed closely together as the cookies do not spread.

Bake for 25 + minutes, or until set and crackled on top.  Remove from the oven and let cool. Remove from the pan and let cool further on a rack. 

The cookies will firm up further and are good for at least a week and then need refrigeration.

Enjoy!

Tuscan Stew with Roasted Chicken

This is a rich stew, that is simple to prepare, with great flavours.  Perfect winter comfort.

Tuscan Stew with Roasted Chicken

6-10 chicken legs, back on, skinned
4-6 cloves garlic
2 tsp dried sage, or 2 tbs chopped fresh sage
1 tsp dried thyme
salt, to tastes
1 tsp pepper
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil

1-2 onions, sliced
olive oil, for sautéing 
4-8 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
2 tsp dried sage, or 2 tbs chopped fresh sage
2 large tins chopped tomatoes (because Winter tomatoes)
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tbs good tomato paste
2 cups chicken stock or water
1/2 cup white wine or vermouth
4-8 cups cooked white navy beans, (or try heritage beans from Berard Farms from the St. Norberts Farmers Market)
4-8 potatoes, cubed
4-8 carrots, in coins
salt, to tastes (a fair amount, as potatoes and beans need salt)

For the chicken; purée garlic, spices, salt and pepper, oil, and water and cover all of the chicken.  Easiest to do with gloves and a large bowl.  Set aside in the fridge to marinate.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

For the stew; Sauté the onions until translucent, and then add the garlic.  Add tomatoes and herbs and spices.  Let simmer for a while and add remaining ingredients.

Transfer the stew to a large roasting pan.  Place the chicken on top, submerging slightly. Roast, open, for at least 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender.

Enjoy, with toasted Focaccia.  Try crispy fried sage leaves, to garnish.

Holiday treats - Chocolate Pecan Pie Gluten Free!

We spent Thanksgiving at my brother's and brought dessert.  I've attempted chocolate pecan pie once before and I don't know why only the once. Likely, I don't have corn syrup on hand that often.  What makes this Gluten-free is having the wonderful Piccola Cucina tart and pie shells on hand.  They are a wonderful and versatile product, made here in Winnipeg. 

I doubled this recipe. 

Chocolate Pecan Pie
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup butter (I like Notre Dame Butter)
1 tbs cold water
2 tsp corn starch
1/2 cup dark chocolate callets (chips, Fair Trade)
3 eggs (I love Nature's Farm Eggs)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp bourbon
1 1/4 cup pecan halves
Piccola Cucina pie or tart shells

Preheat oven to 350ºF (175ºC).

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter, chocolate, water, and cornstarch. Bring to a full boil, stirring, and remove from heat.  

 In a large bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Gradually beat in cooked syrup mixture. Stir in salt, vanilla, and pecans. Pour into pie shell. 

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until filling is set.  

Enjoy!

Cilantro!

Love it or hate it, it isn't really up to you.  Cilantro reaches the taste buds in such a manner that people who think it tastes of soap, have a physically differently shaped taste bud than those who love the herb.  Now that makes me think what else they may be tasting differently.

It is a workhorse herb, ubiquitous in some cuisines.  I have been embracing it because of the wonderful abundance of cilantro in my CSA.  No complaints. 

For health benefits, Cilantro is considered to be an antioxidant, lower sodium intake, an excellent source of fibre, magnesium, manganese, some protein, and iron. Cilantro has 11 essential oils, and 6 types of acid, including Vitamin C.  Cilantro is used as an anti-inflammatory, to lower cholesterol, help with skin problems, regulates blood pressure, bone health, good for living with diabetes diets, and has antihistamine properties, which also means to stay out of the sun.

The following recipes are very cilantro forward, and are Thai, Moroccan, and others, to illustrate the herb's versatility. 

1. Moroccan
Chermoula

1 head garlic, peeled (or 3-5 large cloves)
¼ tsp cayenne
1 heaping tbs cumin
½ bunch parsley
1 whole bunch cilantro
juice of one lemon
2 tbs vinegar
1 generous tbs olive oil
salt, to taste

Blend all of the ingredients together.  Use as a garnish, to marinate fish or chicken, sauté vegetables such as carrots or eggplant.  Mix with yoghurt for a salad dressing.

2. Thai
Gai Yang
3 cloves garlic
1 bunch cilantro, including stalks (part of my CSA from Heart Acres Farm)
3 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
2 tbs fish sauce
2 tsp dark soy sauce
2 tbs chopped lemongrass (optional)
chicken pieces (I used chicken thighs, available at Wildfire Farms at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
ground chilies (optional)

Blend all ingredients, except for the chicken, and pour over the chicken to marinate for a few hours.  Grill until done.  Enjoy! 

3. Canadian
Lobster Tails with Cilantro Chipotle Cream (easy!)

6 Nova Scotia Medium (5-6 oz.) lobster tails
drizzle olive oil
1/2 cup creme fraiche or sour cream
1/2 cup yoghurt
1 bunch cilantro leaves, finely chopped
juice of one lime
1/4 (+/-) tsp chipotle flakes or ground dried chipotle
pinch sugar
pinch sea salt

Mix cream, yoghurt, cilantro, lime, chipotle, sugar and salt.  Chill.

Cut lobster tails open on the soft side of the shell. Drizzle olive oil over tails. Heat BBQ to a high heat. Grill lobster tails until shell becomes quite red all over. Remove from heat. Now you can either pull lobster meat from shell and serve with Cilantro chipotle cream or serve immediately with cream over or on the side.

Enjoy!

4, Mexican
Green Herb Salsa (served with omlettes)

Paired with Chateau des Charmes Brut - Canada
Ingredients

* 1/4c blanched almonds, toasted
* 1 small garlic clove
* 1c fresh parsley leaves
* 1/2c fresh cilantro leaves
* 1/2c fresh basil leaves
* 2/3c extra -virgin olive oil
* 1/8 tsp red-pepper flakes
* coarse salt and ground black pepper
* 2tsp white-wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar

How to make it

* Using chef's knife(or food processor)finely chop almonds, garlic and herbs. Stir (or blend) in oil and red-pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper.
* To store, refrigerate up to 1 day. Stir in vinegar just before serving.
* Great variations: Feel free to include any type of soft green herb, such a s oregano, chives, mint. You can also substitute pistachios, walnuts or pine nuts for the almonds.

Easy Thai Grilled Chicken - Gai Yang - with lovely fresh herbs

Herbs are coming in fast and fabulous at this time.  This easy to prepare Grilled Thai Chicken recipe uses some wonderful and healthful herbs, such as fresh coriander (stem included), and lemongrass, which can grow beautifully here as well.

I will be presenting cooking with herbs at the next Farmer's Festival at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market on Wednesday, August 14th, between 11AM and 4PM.

I used frozen chopped lemongrass, as that is what I had on hand and it is an easy way to store your own grown lemongrass.

Gai Yang
3 cloves garlic
1 bunch cilantro, including stalks (part of my CSA from Heart Acres Farm)
3 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
2 tbs fish sauce
2 tsp dark soy sauce
2 tbs chopped lemongrass (optional)
chicken pieces (I used chicken thighs, available at Wildfire Farms at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
ground chilies (optional)

Blend all ingredients, except for the chicken, and pour over the chicken to marinate for a few hours.  Grill until done.  Enjoy!

Shown with rice pilaf and Turkish Köpegoglü.

Seasonal soup - Beet Borscht, using the market produce

The produce is coming in fast and fabulously!  Today, I decided that I would actually make beet borscht again.  Back story, because recipe blogs are filled with back stories, I didn't grow up with the beet borscht variety of borscht.  I grew up with Russian Borscht, which is cabbage forward, not beet.  We always had it served hot, whereas many people enjoy the beet borscht cold.  Short back story.

(Early in the cooking process)

Beet Borscht, ala Turque

2 bunches beets, grated roots and finely chopped leaves and stems
1 bunch dark curly kale, stems ripped out, leaves finely chopped
1 yellow onion, medium dice
olive oil, to sauté
2-3 tbs Turkish Baharat (optional)
4-8 cups stock (I used Rabbit and Chicken Stocks.  Beef is traditional, vegetarian is wonderful)
water, as needed
salt and pepper, to taste
1 bunch fresh dill, chopped
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup good tomato paste

(Options:  add crumbled dried porcini or bolets mushrooms)

In a large stock pot, heat oil and add onions.  Cook at medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent.  Add the Turkish Baharat and sauté until spices are softened.  Add vegetables and remaining ingredients.  Add water to desired consistency.  Bring to a boil and let simmer on lower heat until the vegetables are very soft.

Enjoy hot or cold, with sour cream and/or a hard boiled egg.

Beef Cheeks! Wildfire Farms makes it so easy.

Beef cheeks are so wonderful and tender when slowly cooked or done in the Instant Pot.  These, I made slowly in the oven, on a bed of sliced onion, half of an orange, thyme, garlic, bay leaves, good tomato paste, red wine, and a bit of water.  I coated the beef cheeks with grainy mustard, and cooked covered, at 300ºF for 3 hours.  I cooked them with the lid off, for one more hour.  We then pulled the meat apart with forks and combined with the sauce with the orange and bay leaves removed.

If you are preparing these in the Instant Pot, set the meat setting to 30-40 minutes. 

Beef cheeks, and other great cuts of meat, are available at Wildfire Farms at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market.

I served these pulled beef cheeks on top of latkes, with a dollop of sour cream, and a drizzle of hot sauce.

Onion Bhajia with Yellow Pea Flour

I was craving a nice crispy snack and decided to make Bhujia (pakoras) and Imli (tamarind dipping sauce).  These already are gluten-free when I make them with chick pea flour, but I wanted to use our wonderful and versatile local Yellow Pea Flour, by Tamarack Farms. 

Onion Bhajia

2 cups sliced onions (yellow, red, white)
1 1/4 cup yellow pea flour
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp salt
water, to make a batter
1/2 tsp grated ginger
oil, for frying
options:  chopped cilantro, chopped green onion, etc

Mix all ingredients together and adjust flour and water to make a batter that holds together.  In a pan of hot oil, spoon in mixture into portions and fry on each side for a few minutes until brown.  Remove from pan and let drain on paper towel.  Enjoy with some Imli.

Imli (tamarind dipping sauce)
1 1/2 cups water
3 heaping tbs tamarind paste
1/2 cup jaggery, or brown sugar
1/2 tsp fennel seed
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp cumin

In a small saucepan, cook up all ingredients until well incorporated and shiny.  After a short while, the sauce should thicken slightly.  It will thicken a bit more when cooled.  Enjoy with Bhajia, samosas, etc. 

Easy entertaining. Pickerel Cheeks

This is really such a delighfully simple dish to make.  Great local ingredients that shine.  Pickerel cheeks (yes, Walleye, to my non-local language purists) are so sweet and getting a package from Gimli Fish is inexpensive.  You don't have to do the work!

Sautéed Pickerel Cheeks

1 pkg pickerel cheeks
1-2 tbs butter (Notre Dame Butter is lovely)
Favourite herb (I used chopped sorrel, but have made this with basil, thyme, tarragon, etc.)
salt and pepper, to taste
splash of Vermouth or Mirin, to deglaze

Heat pan and melt butter.  You can also have browned butter for this dish.  Add chopped herbs and pickerel cheeks.  Cook, turning once, for a couple of minutes per side at most.  Deglaze pan and serve immediately.

Serve as an appetizer with breads or on crackers (rice crackers for Gluten-Free), or increase amounts for an easy entrée.

Enjoy!

By request! Tomato Chutney

There are only a handful of recipes that I treasure that I haven't shared.  I've been selling and serving tomato chutney at the Farmer's Market for a while.  I serve it with the Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and sell it in containers.  It is a yummy product and I did look into larger scale production of the tomato chutney but there are so many permits and hoops to jump through to produce anything with tomatoes. 

Tomato Chutney

1 medium onion, finely diced
olive oil, drizzle or more
1 inch fresh ginger, grated
1 tin unsalted chopped tomatoes
1-2 tbs curry spice blend (garam masala, cumin, coriander, mustard, chilies, star anise, pomegranate, cinnamon, cloves,
etc, ground, with turmeric)
1-2 tbs brown sugar or jaggery
salt, to taste
1-2 tbs vinegar

In a large saucepan, heat up oil to medium heat and add chopped onions.  When translucent, add spices and stir.  Add tomatoes and remaining ingredients.  Cook until fully softened for crisper onions, or long and slow, for a deeper flavour. 

Enjoy as a condiment, a side dish, dipping sauce, etc.  The secret is out!

Sichuan food is comfort food - Easy Sichuan Cabbage

In our last CSA share, we had a couple of cabbages.  I'm always enjoying Sichuan food as comfort food.  Something about the warming chilies.  The small green cabbage and medium yellow onions came from our CSA share from Heart's Acres Farm.  I lived in Chongqing, Sichuan for a time in 1983-84.  The recipe calls for peanut butter and peanuts but that can be substituted with tahini or ground pumpkin seeds, if there are allergies. 

Sichuan Peanut Cabbage

1 small-medium green cabbage, cored and medium-large dice
1 medium yellow onion, medium dice
1 inch fresh ginger, chopped
2 whole star anise
2 whole dried red chilies
small piece cinnamon stick or a good pinch ground
drizzle preferred cooking oil
1/3 cup peanut butter, chunky or smooth
1/4 whole roasted peanuts (optional)
2-3 tbs soy sauce
a dash of Chinese cooking wine or Mirin
1 good tbs Chinese hot sauce with peanuts (adjust to your own tastes)  Pictured here:

1 tbs Sichuan Peppercorns, crushed in a mortar

Heat oil in a wok at medium-high heat.  Add cinnamon and star anise.  Add chopped onion and ginger and cook for a few minutes.  Add cabbage and stir.  Add remaining ingredients and stir well.  You may need to add a bit of water.

Cook until cabbage is soft throughout.  Serve with rice.  Options:  add tofu cubes, or make with broccoli or other varieties of cabbages.  Some people add a bit of brown sugar to balance the flavours more.

Enjoy!

Bi-Coastal Canada Day Celebrations on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

On Saturday, I will be featuring the following dishes for easy and inexpensive Canada Day celebrations, on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Nadia Kidwai.

 

Both the 3 good sized Red Snapper Fillets and the 2 lbs of PEI mussels, from Gimli Fish, cost just over $12.  Just over $5 for the Red Snapper Fillets.  Great deal and great flavours!

 

 

 

PEI Mussels in butter, Miso, and Sake

1 lb PEI mussels, available at Gimli Fish

1-2 tsp butter (I use the local Notre Dame butter)

2 tbs miso ( I use a sweet, light coloured miso, available in most stores, and in all Asian grocery stores)

1/4-1/2 cup sake

1/2 cup chopped green onions, with whites (these are from Heart's Acre Farm and are available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)

chopped chilies or a drizzle of chili oil, to taste

chopped cilantro (also from Heart's Acre Farm), try also their garlic scapes!

Scrub and clean off the mussels.  Only use closed mussels or ones that can close.

In a large enough pot for the mussels with a lid, cook the butter, miso, sake, green onions and chilies until ready to cook the mussels.  Stir in the mussels and cover the lid.  Cook for a couple of minutes, until all of the mussels are open.  Transfer to a large bowl, pouring the sauce over the mussels.  Garnish with cilantro, or other greens, and serve immediately.  Wonderful with Sweet Potato fries.  For simplicity, they are also available at Gimli Fish, but preparing them on the grill with the Cookina is wonderful!

Honey Miso Red Snapper

1 West Coast Red Snapper fillet

1/2 cup honey, soft

1/3 +/- cup miso

1/2 cup chopped green onions (available at Heart's Acre Farm, Fertile Farm, etc.at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)

1 inch fresh ginger, minced
3 tbs Chinese cooking wine or Mirin
a drizzle of chili oil

A drizzle of sesame oil

Mix all of the ingredients, except for the Red Snapper, in a bowl.  Pour over the fish and let marinate, in the fridge for at least one hour.  Grill on a hot grill, easier on the Cookina pad.

Happy Canada Day!

Korean Pizza and Moroccan Squash Soup on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

Yesterday on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with Nadia Kidwai, I presented two dishes that are easy to prepare, delicious, seasonal, and can be made quite locally yet originate from Morocco and Korea.  Moroccan Squash soup is warming and spicy and quite comforting.  Korean Pizza, or Bindettok, is so fun to make and eat and is great for party foods, celebrating, or make with leftovers.  Bindettok can be made in so many different ways, from soaking Mung Beans with sweet rice and grinding it for the base, to any flour mixture wanted.  For that reason, I've labelled the recipe Gluten-Free.  You can make it with quinoa flour, pea flour, rice flour, etc and still have great results.

Moroccan Squash Soup

1 yellow onion, chopped
pinch coarse salt
1 1/2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
2 lbs butternut, kabocha, or calabaza squash halved, peeled and seeded and cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks (about 6 cups) Available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market
2 tbs good tomato paste (Millad's Supermarket)
1 tsp La Kama Spice Mixture (1 tsp each of ground ginger, turmeric and white pepper, good pinch of grated nutmeg, 1/2 tsp each of cinnamon and optional cubeb pepper)
1/2 cup heavy cream or creme fraiche
1/2 lb crumbled chevre
1 tsp or more to taste Harissa paste
salt and pepper, to taste

1. Cook onion in heavy bottomed pot or casserole dish (tajine) on medium low heat with the olive oil until the onions are soft, about 10 minutes
2. Add the squash, cover with parchment paper and/lid and cook for 20 minutes.
3. Add tomato paste, spices and 4 cups of hot water and bring to a boil. Then simmer until the squash is tender, about 20+ minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Blend in batches or with an immersion blender until smooth. Add the cream and 3.4 or the cheese and the harissa at the end. Puree until velvety.
5. Bring up to heat and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve into warmed bowls and top each portion with a light sprinkling of the remaining cheese.

Enjoy! 

Bindettok

1 cup flour
1 cup water
pinch salt

Whisk flour and water and salt together until smooth.  Then add your optional fillings as follows:

 Options:
1-2 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 cup chopped kimchi
1/ cup chopped mushrooms
2-4 chopped green onions
shrimp (I used New Brunswick shrimp from Gimli Fish)
1/2 cup red peppers (or any colour that you prefer)
 ETC.

Dipping Sauce:  soy sauce, black vinegar, grated ginger, chopped green onion, white pepper

Add options to the batter and cook in pancake form in a medium hot pan for a few minutes per side, flipping twice.  Enjoy with dipping sauce.  You can also use scissors to cut up the Bindettok for ease of serving.

Enjoy!

Sichuan Whitefish and North Indian Cheela (Gluten Free flatbread!) on CBC!

This morning, on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Nadia Kidwai, I presented a dish from North India and a Sichuan fish dish.  So yummy together as well as quite simple to prepare!

The local whitefish is related to salmon, caught wild in Manitoba, and is higher in omega fatty acids than in salmon.  It is a sustainable fish.  This fish was brought down yesterday from fishers 9 hours North of Winnipeg.  It is available at Gimli Fish.  

The Pea Flour that I used for the Cheela, was from Tamarack Farm.  Traditionally, this lovely flatbread is made with Chick Pea flour, or Besan.  The local pea flour is a wonderful ingredient for this incredibly simple dish!

Sichuan Crispy Whitefish

1 whole whitefish (available at Gimli Fish)*

2 ½ tbs shaoxin rice wine

2 ½ tbs finely chopped ginger

½ tsp salt

Oil to deep fry fish in wok

2 -4 spring onions, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

2 ½ tsp chilli bean paste

1 cup stock or water

2 ½ tbs soy sauce

3 tsp sugar

2 tbs Chinese black vinegar

1 tbs corn flour

Coriander

At 1 inch intervals, cut scores into the fish diagonally through to the bone on both sides.

Mix shaoxin rice wine with 2 tsps ground ginger and salt.  Place the fish into a dish and spread the wine, ginger, salt mixture all over the fish.  Let marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Heat wok filled ¼ of oil, to medium heat.  Holding the fish by the tail, slide in to cook.  Cook for 5-8 minutes, depending on the size of the fish, or until brown on both sides.  For extra crispy, dredge the fish first in corn starch.  After cooking, drain fish on paper towel and set aside. 

Remove oil from wok, leaving 1 ½ tbs of oil.  Heat oil to sauté green onions, ginger, garlic, chili bean paste for about 10-20 seconds.  Add rice wine, water or stock, soy, sugar, and black vinegar and bring to a boil.  Add fish and heat, covered, for another 10 minutes. 

Cook up the remaining sauce in pan with a bit of water and corn starch until thickened.  Serve over the fish with fresh coriander and/or more green onions.

Enjoy!

Cheela with Local Pea Flour

There are many variations of this very simple flatbread.  It can be prepared plain or with many kinds of spices and vegetables.  This one today is made with Tamarack Farms Pea Flour, instead of Besan, or Chick pea flour.  This is also a Gluten-Free flatbread.

2 cups Pea Flour (available today at St. Norbert’s Farmer’s Market from Tamarack Farms)

1 tbs chat masala (or chilies, garam masala, etc.)

1-2 chopped shallots (I used dried shallots today)

Salt, to tastes

Water, to make a smooth batter, like a crepe consistency

Oil, for cooking

Combine pea flour, seasonings, salt, etc in a bowl.  Stir in water to make a crepe batter consistency.  Heat pan and spread like a thin pancake.  Pour 1 tsp oil on the sides and cook on medium heat until each side is golden.

Serve hot with dishes or chutneys.

Enjoy!

Soups on at CBC's Weekend Morning Show

On Saturday, I presented the following 3 soups for CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Nadia Kidwai.  Each are quite simple to prepare with loads of great flavours.  I'm very passionate about soup having a lot of big flavours.

Enjoy!

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

4 red peppers, roasted, seeded and peeled
1 large oven roasted yam or sweet potato
1 head roasted garlic
2 cups chopped tomatoes
2-3 cups broth
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 tbs butter
1 tbs olive oil
Optional: 1 pinch saffron

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add butter and olive oil. Sauté onions until light brown in colour and add remaining ingredients. Cook until well incorporated and purée using an immersion blender or transfer to a blender or food processor.

Garnish with crouton or crème fraiche and/or crispy fried herbs.

Enjoy!

Dhal

2 cups red lentils
1 medium onion, diced
1 inch ginger, grated
3-4 cloves garlic, grated
2 tbs curry spice blend (I make my own in small batches as I roast and grind the spices but try a garam masala with more chilies,
2-3 tbs olive or vegetable oil
2-3 tomatoes, diced
1 cup spinach leaves
~ 4-6 cups water
~ 1 cup yoghurt
salt, to taste

Optional:  chopped sorrel, kale, spinach, zucchini, all are wonderful and available at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market on Saturday

In a larger pot, bring lentils and water to a boil. In a separate pan, heat oil and sauté onion until translucent. Add spice blend and cook until softened. Add ginger and garlic and be careful not to burn. When the water in the lentil pot is boiling, add hot onions and spices to the pot and stir. Simmer and add vegetables. Bring to a gentle boil. Stir in yoghurt and test for salt.

Enjoy!

Moroccan Butternut Squash Soup

1 yellow onion, chopped
pinch coarse salt
1 1/2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
2 lbs butternut, kabocha, or calabaza squash halved, peeled and seeded and cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks (about 6 cups) (available at Fertile Farm, Almost Urban Vegetables, and other producers at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
2 tbs tomato paste
1 tsp La Kama Spice Mixture (1 tsp each of ground ginger, turmeric and white pepper, good pinch of grated nutmeg, 1/2 tsp each of cinnamon and optional cubeb pepper)
1/2 cup heavy cream or creme fraiche
1/2 lb crumbled chevre
1 tsp or more to taste Harissa paste

salt and pepper, to taste

1. Cook onion in heavy bottomed pot or casserole dish (tajine) on medium low heat with the olive oil until the onions are soft, about 10 minutes
2. Add the squash, cover with parchment paper and/lid and cook for 20 minutes.
3. Add tomato paste, spices and 4 cups of hot water and bring to a boil. Then simmer until the squash is tender, about 20+ minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Blend in batches or with an immersion blender until smooth. Add the cream and 3/4 of the cheese and the harissa at the end. Purée until velvety.
5. Bring up to heat and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve into warmed bowls and top each portion with a light sprinkling of the remaining cheese.

Enjoy!