Futsu In Green Curry Sauce

Recipe & Pic from Edible East Bay

This recipe really highlight's Futsu's fudgy texture and sweet nutty flavor! Try serving over some steamed jasmine rice to make a full meal.

1 medium winter squash (approximately 2 pounds)
6 tablespoons butter
Salt
2 stalks lemongrass (Cut away and compost the tough green portions and bruise the more tender lower portion with the back of a knife before slicing thinly.)
½ medium-sized onion, chopped
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, minced
3 green apples, peeled and diced
Zest of 2 limes
2 tablespoons green curry paste
2 cans coconut milk
½ cup cream (optional)
1 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped (Reserve a few whole sprigs for garnish.)

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cut squash into 1-inch-thick half moons. If your squash has tender skin, you may not need to peel it.

Clarify 2 tablespoons butter and use it to coat the squash segments. Lay them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, salt lightly, and roast until the squash is soft and its skin is crisp.

Melt the remaining butter in a saucepan and sauté onion, ginger, lemongrass, and apple until soft. Allow to cool and then pureé in a blender or food processor along with the lime zest, curry paste, coconut milk, cream, and cilantro. Just before serving, gently heat the curry sauce while arranging the roasted squash slices onto plates. Spoon the sauce over top and serve garnished with cilantro sprigs and slices of lime.

Eggplant Tacos With Roasted Poblanos & Caramelized Onions

Recipe & Pic from Cowgirl Chef

Who says summer is over?? We can keep pretending a little bit longer with this recipe that makes the most of the wee bit of hot-season crops in your box this week! Try adding in some cumin-spiced roasted potatoes and/or some lightly scrambled eggs for a more filling result.

2 large onions, cut into half-moons

6 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus a bit more for spinach

salt and pepper to taste

1 eggplant, chopped into 1-inch cubes

1 poblano pepper

Salsa Verde, for serving

lime wedges, for serving

cilantro, for serving

6 to 8 corn tortillas

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Toss the eggplant cubes on a large baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Salt and pepper the eggplant. Bake until browned, for about 40 minutes, turning over once.

While the eggplant’s cooking, caramelize your onions. Put the onions along with 2 tablespoons (you’ll add 2 more as these cook down) of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low to low heat. Cook slowly, for about 45 minutes, allowing the onions to gradually brown. Add oil and salt and pepper as you go. (Save time: Make this in advance and refrigerate until you’re ready to make tacos.)

Roast the poblano pepper. If you have a gas stovetop, simply put the poblano on the grill, and let the flame burn the skin, turning with tongs so you roast all sides. If you don’t have a gas stovetop, this will also work under the broiler. After all sides are equally charred, put the pepper in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap to cool. Then, simply scrape off the charred bits, slice the pepper open, and remove the seeds. Once cool, slice into thin strips.

Toast as many tortillas as you need over the open flame and serve. Layer: eggplant, a few strips of poblano, and some caramelized onions . Top with Salsa Verde and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

Spiced Chickpeas With Roasted Carrots & Wilted Kale

Recipe & Pic from Food 52

This salad would be great for a hearty family-style vegetarian meal, but it could also be paired with a roast chicken as a filling side dish!

1 pound carrots (I use rainbow carrots when available, they add nice color)
olive oil
salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 shallots, peeled and cut into thin half moons
1 bunch cilantro
1 teaspoon sumac
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon aleppo chile (substitute 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes if you must)
2 15 ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 bunch red kale, washed, leaves torn into bite size pieces, stems discarded (substitute any hearty greens)
Juice of 1 lime
3 tablespoons creme fraiche

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Using a chef knife, remove and discard the top of each carrot. Wash the carrots in cold water, but do not peel them (they look beautiful when roasted with the skin on). Cut the carrots into bite size pieces. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the carrots on the rimmed baking sheet in a single even layer. Toss the carrots with olive oil to coat, and season them with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook for 10-12 minutes, until the edges begin to caramelize. When the carrots are just cooked through and beginning to brown, remove them from the oven and set them aside to cool.

While the carrots are cooking, set a large skillet over medium heat, and add enough olive oil to barely cover the bottom of the skillet. Add the shallots, and season lightly with salt. Cook the shallots until they become soft and start to turn translucent, stirring occasionally.

While the shallots are cooking, separate the cilantro leaves from the stems. Save the leaves in the refrigerator for later. Organize the stems into a single even pile (like a bunch of chives) and slice the cilantro stems into very thin slivers. By the time you finish dicing the cilantro stems, the shallots should be soft and translucent. Add the diced stems to the skillet, along with the sumac, coriander, cumin, ginger, and aleppo chile. Stir, cooking for 1-2 minutes, until the oil smells fragrant.

Add the chickpeas, and stir to coat them in the flavorful oil. Cook for 2 minutes, to allow the chickpeas to take on some of the flavor of the skillet. Add the kale, and stir to help the kale begin to wilt. Season lightly with salt. When the kale has begun to wilt, remove the skillet from the heat. You do not want to overcook the kale (it will shrink too much). The moment when the kale leaves are no longer raw is the time to remove the skillet from the heat (the kale leaves will soften and darken slightly in color).

Add the lime juice and stir. Add the creme fraiche and stir. The residual heat from the skillet should melt the creme fraiche and create a delicate sauce. Taste a few chickpeas and a small piece of kale. Adjust with more salt and/or lime juice as necessary. Add the roasted carrots, and gently stir to incorporate. Serve immediately, or serve at room temperature. Garnish with a handful of chopped cilantro leaves. Enjoy.

Charred Green Beans With Cilantro Vinaigrette

Recipe & Pic from A Beautiful Plate

The smoky flavor of these beans combined with the zesty herbal dressing will make you feel like summer is here to stay! This dish would be great as a side at a BBQ or the beans could be tossed over your favorite cooked grain to make a full meal.

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette:

2 tablespoons (30 mL) extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons (30 mL) fresh lime juice

¼ cup packed cilantro leaves plus more for garnishing

1 small garlic clove finely grated with a microplane

¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

Charred Green Beans:

1 lb (16 oz) fresh green beans trimmed

extra virgin olive oil

flaky salt such as Maldon, for finishing

Prepare Vinaigrette: Combine the extra olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, grated garlic, salt and pepper in small capacity food processor bowl. Puree or pulse the ingredients together until well emulsified and the cilantro is finely chopped throughout. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice as needed. Set aside while you prepare the green beans. Stir just before using.

Prepare the Green Beans: In a mixing bowl, toss the trimmed green beans lightly with olive oil, roughly 1 tablespoon or so, and season with salt. Preheat an outdoor grill to high heat. Important Note: If your grates are spaced apart by more than ½-inch, I recommend setting a metal rack – without a non-stick coating – over the grates to ensure the beans do not fall through during cooking. Alternatively, you can char the green beans in batches on a piping hot grill pan inside on your stovetop stovetop. If grilling inside, be sure to turn on your kitchen exhaust fan as it will get smoky.

Distribute the green beans over the hot grill, perpendicular to the grates or on top of the metal rack. Depending on the size of your grill, you may need to cook the beans in batches to avoid over-crowding. Cook the beans for roughly 3 to 4 minutes, tossing with tongs every few minutes, until evenly charred and beginning to soften. Transfer to a large platter.

Spoon the cilantro lime vinaigrette over the charred green beans, tossing lightly if desired. Before serving, sprinkle with flaky salt. Serve hot, at room temperature, or cold from the fridge.

Curried Cauliflower & Chickpea Salad With Yogurt

Recipe & Pic from Dishing Up The Dirt

This dish might be called a salad, but it is substantial enough to stand alone as a full meal!

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/3 cup olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons yellow curry powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 small head of cauliflower, broken into florets

one 12-ounce can of chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted dry

1 cup goat milk yogurt (or yogurt of choice, cows milk or vegan yogurt will work fine too)

1/4 cup unsalted pistachios, toasted and roughly chopped

1/4 cup golden raisins

1/4 cup minced cilantro

Preheat the oven to 425F.

In a large bowl, whisk together the garlic, lemon juice, oil, curry powder, cinnamon and salt. Add the cauliflower florets and chickpeas to the bowl and toss well. Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet in a single layer.

Roast in the oven until well browned and tender. About 30 minutes. Toss the cauliflower and chickpeas halfway through cooking.

Spread a thin layer of yogurt onto a platter and top with the roasted veggies. Add the pistachios, raisins, and cilantro. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Breakfast Tacos With Roasted Poblano & Corn Salsa

Recipe & Pic from Alexandra’s Kitchen

I LOVE breakfast tacos and this recipe is a great way to enjoy a lot of those late summer veggies!

~Rae

2 to 3 poblano peppers, halved, cored, and chopped

2 red onions, peeled and chopped

1 ear of corn, shucked, kernels stripped from cob

1 tablespoon olive oil

kosher salt to taste

1 lime, halved

1/2 cup cilantro, roughly chopped, or more to taste

hot sauce or red pepper flakes, optional

1 avocado, diced, optional

FOR THE EGG TACOS (FOR 2 SMALL TACOS):

2 small tortillas

dab of butter

2 eggs, well beaten

queso fresco, crumbled, or other cheese, optional

Preheat the oven to 450ºF. (Use convection roast is you wish.)

Place diced poblanos, red onions, and corn in a large bowl. Drizzle in the tablespoon of olive oil. Season generously with kosher salt. Toss to combine then spread on a large sheet pan, lined with parchment for easy cleaning. (Reserve the bowl.) Roast until vegetables are beginning to char, 15 to 20 minutes. Let the vegetables cool briefly, then transfer to the reserved bowl.

Squeeze a little lime over the vegetables. Add in the cilantro, and toss. Taste. Adjust with more lime, salt, and cilantro to taste. Add the avocado, if using. If you want some heat, add a splash of hot sauce or a pinch of pepper flakes. Mix and taste again: I often adjust with a splash more olive oil, lime, salt, and sometimes a splash of vinegar, too. Set salsa aside.

Warm tortillas as you wish and set on a plate.

Heat an 8-inch nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the dab of butter and immediately pour the eggs into it as it melts. Season with a pinch of salt. Let eggs set for 15 seconds or so, then turn heat to low, and, using a spatula, stir the eggs constantly till they’re done — they will likely be cooked in less than a minute. I often remove the pan from the heat, while continuing to stir with my spatula till they looked cooked to my liking.

Immediately divide the scrambled eggs among the two tortillas. Spoon salsa over top. Top with cheese if desired.

Chicken Pozole Verde

Recipe & Pic from Isabel Eats

2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, skin removed

1 pound tomatillos, husked and washed

1 large onion, chopped

3 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped (or keep the seeds if you like it spicy)

6 cups chicken broth

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

1 large handful fresh cilantro, stems and leaves

1 28-ounce can white hominy, drained and rinsed

In a large pot or dutch oven, add chicken thighs, tomatillos, onion, jalapeños, chicken broth, oregano and sea salt. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cover partially. Cook for 40 minutes, until chicken is fall-apart tender.

Transfer chicken to cutting board and shred with a fork. Set aside.

Using a large slotted spoon, place the cooked tomatillos, onions and jalapenos in a large blender. Add a large handful of fresh cilantro, a cup or so of the cooking liquid and puree until completely smooth.

Add the shredded chicken, pureed veggies and hominy into the large pot. Stir and cook over medium-high heat for 15 minutes uncovered. Taste and season with salt as necessary.

Serve with fresh lime juice, radishes, jalapenos, cilantro and oregano.

Corn On The Cob With Green Coriander Butter

Recipe & Pic from NYT Cooking

Sweet Corn is starting to show up at the market and this is a fun and pungent twist on a summer favorite! The butter is also excellent with grilled meats, veggies, or seafood!

2 serrano chiles, destemmed and minced

3 tablespoons green coriander seeds

½ cup/115 grams unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature

4 garlic cloves, finely pounded or grated

1 tablespoon finely pounded or grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon fish sauce

½ teaspoon flaky sea salt

1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
Fine sea salt

4 ears corn, shucked and silk removed
Lime wedges, for serving

To grill the corn: Heat gas grill, or prepare a bed of hot coals, then heat and clean grates. To boil the corn: Set a large pot of water over high heat. Cover and bring to a boil.

In the meantime, pound minced chiles into a fine paste in a mortar. Remove half the pounded chiles, and reserve. Add 2 tablespoons green coriander seeds to the mortar, and lightly pound until they break up and release a heavenly aroma, then stir in butter, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, flaky salt and cilantro. Taste and adjust for salt, and add reserved chiles as needed. Butter should be very fragrant, highly seasoned, savory, spicy and pungent.

To grill corn: Cook over high heat or hot coals until just charred on all sides, about 8 minutes. To boil: Season boiling water generously with fine sea salt, and boil corn until just cooked, about 3 minutes.

Slather butter over hot corn, sprinkle with remaining coriander seeds and flowers, if using, and serve with lime wedges.

Refrigerate any remaining butter for up to 5 days.

Fish Tacos With Salsa Verde

Recipe & Pic from Food & Wine

Salsa Verde

4 medium tomatillos—husked, rinsed and quartered

1/2 cup lightly packed cilantro

2 small jalapeños, chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Kosher salt

Tacos

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon minced cilantro

1 small garlic clove, minced

1 pound skinless halibut fillet, about 3/4 inch thick

Kosher salt

Warm corn tortillas, chopped avocado and sliced red onion and cucumber, for serving

In a blender, combine all of the ingredients except the salt and puree until nearly smooth. Season with salt and transfer to a small bowl.

Heat a grill pan. In a large baking dish, whisk the lemon juice with the olive oil, cilantro and garlic. Add the fish and turn to coat. Season the fish all over with salt and grill over moderately high heat, turning once, until white throughout, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the fish to a platter and flake into large pieces with a fork.

Serve in warm corn tortillas with the salsa, avocado, red onion and cucumber.

Falafel Sliders With Spicy Yogurt & Sumac Onions

Recipe & Pic from Molly Yeh

You won't miss the meat with these savory Falafel Sliders- perfect served with a side salad at a BBQ!

Sumac Onions:

1 cup warm water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon sumac
1 large purple onion, thinly sliced

Falafel:

1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked for 10 hours or overnight and drained
2 teaspoons cumin seeds, freshly toasted and coarsely ground in a spice grinder
1 tablespoon coriander seeds, freshly toasted and coarsely ground in a spice grinder
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves with stems, roughly chopped
1/4 cup lightly packed parsley leaves with stems, roughly chopped
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
black pepper
tabasco original red sauce
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

olive oil or flavorless oil, for frying

Spicy Yogurt:

3/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1 1/2 teaspoons tabasco original red sauce
kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

To Assemble:

Pita bread

Mint Leaves or Cilantro

to make the onions:

whisk together all ingredients except for the onion. add the onion, cover, and let sit at room temperature for an hour or in the refrigerator overnight.

to make the falafel:

in a food processor, combine the chickpeas, cumin, coriander, onion, garlic, cilantro, parsley, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, a few turns of pepper, a few shakes of tabasco sauce, flour, and lemon juice and pulse quickly, about 80-100 times, until the mixture is combined, but still slightly grainy.

in a large skillet, heat 1/4” oil over medium high heat until shimmering but not smoking. form 2" patties of the falafel mixture, packing them firmly. fry on both sides until golden brown. transfer to a paper towel.

to make the yogurt:

combine all ingredients.

to assemble:

cut open a pita, spread it with the yogurt, and top with a falafel patty, a mint leaf or two, and a pile of onions. enjoy!

Thai Chard Wraps With Peanut Sauce

Recipe & Pic from Fed & Fit

You'll have to boil water to quickly blanche the chard, but that's the only heat involved in these cooling summer wraps! You can replace the shrimp with tofu or any other meat that you prefer.

1 bunch Swiss chard about 8 leaves

1 pound medium-sized cooked shrimp

3 carrots peeled and cut into matchstick pieces

1/2 cucumber cut into matchstick pieces

1/4 red cabbage finely chopped

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems

For the peanut sauce::

1/2 cup smooth peanut or almond butter

1/2 cup coconut aminos

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon fish sauce

1/4 teaspoon black and white sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

Blanche chard for 5 min in boiling water then submerge in an ice bath and dry.

Whisk all ingredients for peanut sauce together until smooth and garnish with sesame seeds.

To assemble, cut the larger chard leaves in half cross-wise and leave the smaller leaves as-is. place an even amount of carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, and cilantro on each leaf. Add three to four shrimp on top and carefully roll each leaf up, securing with a toothpick if needed. Serve with the peanut dipping sauce and enjoy!

Narjissiyeh (Favas with Eggs)

2022 Week 5 Newsletter

Image & Pic from TASTE

When Fava Season comes around we usually share Rand's favorite Favas & Dill recipe (which you can find in the Resource Center) but we figured we'd try something new this time around! This dish can be made with meat or can be kept vegetarian. Garnish with chopped cilantro!

4 tbs olive oil

1 Large onion, finely diced

1 lb (450 g) ground (minced) beef, lamb, or a combination

1 tsp salt

½ tsp ground coriander

¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 cup (125 g) shelled fava (broad) beans, blanched and peeled

6 eggs

Bread, for serving

FOR VEGETARIAN VERSION:

3 tbs olive oil

9 oz (250 g) white cheese (such as halloumi, Akkawi, or Nabulsi), cut into bite-size pieces

1 cup (125 g) shelled fava (broad) beans, blanched and peeled

6 eggs

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bread, for serving

In a medium frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.

Add the onion and cook, stirring, until translucent and starting to brown, 3–5 minutes. Add the meat, salt, coriander, and pepper and cook, breaking up any lumps with a wooden spoon, until the liquid has evaporated and the meat is nicely browned, 6–8 minutes.

Add the fava (broad) beans, tossing to combine, then cook for about 30 seconds.

With the back of a spoon, make 6 wells in the meat mixture and crack an egg into each one. Using the tip of the spoon, spread the whites around slightly, especially the thicker part surrounding the yolk, to ensure they cook evenly. Cover and cook until the yolks are at your desired level of doneness, about 3 minutes for runny or 5 minutes for fully cooked. Remove from the heat and serve immediately with bread.

TO MAKE THE VEGETARIAN VERSION:

In a medium frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the cheese in a single layer and cook for a couple of minutes on one side until starting to brown (time can vary considerably between brands depending on moisture content, so keep an eye on it), then flip over.

Reduce the heat, to avoid burning the cheese, and add the fava (broad) beans. Crack the eggs evenly over the cheese and fava beans. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Depending on how salty the cheese you are using is, you may not need to add any salt. Increase the heat to medium and with the tip of the spoon, spread the whites around slightly to ensure they cook evenly. You can also pierce the yolks and allow them to spread over the whites to give a nice marbled look and even flavor. Cook until at your desired level of doneness.

Remove from the heat and serve immediately with bread.

Recipe: Chermoula Roast Cauliflower

2021 Week 22 Newsletter

Recipe and Pic from Olive Magazine

This recipe calls for roasting a cauliflower whole, which it quite lovely presentation-wise, but if you prefer you can slice yours into thick “steaks” before roasting which will cook much more quickly!

1 cauliflower, trimmed

2 tbsp tahini

2 tbsp plain yogurt

1 tbsp, toasted pumpkin seeds

Chermoula

handful, finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

handful, cilantro finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp ground cumin

1 lemon, zested and juiced

olive oil

To make the chermoula, mix the herbs, garlic, spices, lemon zest and juice with 3 tbsp oil and a good pinch of salt.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees Brush the cauli with oil and season then put on a baking tray and roast for 30 -40 minutes or until tender. Take out, spoon over the chermoula and leave to sit for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the tahini and yogurt with enough water to make a drizzleable sauce and season. Lift the cauliflower onto a plate, drizzle with the tahini sauce then finish with a scatter of toasted pumpkin seeds.

Recipe: Broccoli & Za'atar Soup With Tahini Cream

2021 Week 18 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic From Dishing Up The Dirt

This is another one of those recipes that we end up sharing every year because it is just so darn good! If you find broccoli cheese soup a little too heavy, are trying to avoid dairy, or want to convince a picky eater to give this veggie another try, this is the go-to soup for you! The tahini cream is absolutely essential for balancing out the richness of the soup with a spicy and acidic zing so don't skimp on making it!

~Rae

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large yellow onion, finely chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

3 teaspoons za'atar

2 whole heads of broccoli, broken into small florets (about 4 cups worth)

1 medium sized yukon gold potato (about 1/2 pound), peeled and roughly chopped (or any white/yellow flesh potato)

1 litre (4 cups) low sodium vegetable broth + additional to thin if needed

salt and pepper to taste

Lemon Tahini Sauce

1 clove of garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (tiny tiny pinch here)

1/4 cup tahini

3-4 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons water + additional to thin as needed

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Garnishes

1/2 cup cilantro, minced

1/4 cup lightly toasted pine nuts

za'atar for sprinkling

Heat the oil in a heavy bottom pan and cook the onion and garlic over medium-high heat until they begin to soften up, about 5 minutes. Stir in the za'atar, broccoli and potatoes and coat the veggies in the spice mixture. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes.

While the soup simmers prepare the tahini sauce. Combine all the ingredients for the sauce and whisk until completely smooth and creamy. This works best with a small food processor, immersion blender, or regular blender. Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed. If the sauce is too thick add a touch more water.

Once the soup has simmered for 25 minutes and the veggies are tender use an immersion blender to puree the soup until completely smooth and creamy. Alternately (and my preferred method) transfer the soup to a high speed blender (you may have to do this in batches) and puree until smooth. Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste for seasonings and keep on low heat until ready to serve.

Divide the soup between bowls. Drizzle each bowl with a few tablespoons of the tahini sauce and garnish with cilantro and pine nuts.

Recipe: Som Tam Salad With Joi Choi

2021 Week 18 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from Cheap & Cheerful Cooking

Som Tam Salad is traditionally made with Green Papaya but many other veggies can be subbed in with delicious results- the original riff on this recipe included Kohlrabi but here we suggest using the Joi Choi from your box! Consider throwing in some steamed broccoli as well, the dressing works well with just about anything.

~Rae

1 head Joi Choi

1 carrot

3 cloves garlic

1-2 bird's eye chillies (or sub jalepeno to taste!)

1 heaped tbsp peanuts, roasted

½ pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
String Beans (like the yellow beans in your box!)

Dressing (a staple in Alice's house)

3 tbsp lime juice

2 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar

1 pinch salt

Blanch beans in boiling salted water for 2min, then chill and cut into pieces. Slice the carrot into thin strips and Joi Choi into crunch ½-1 inch strips, greens & stems. Place garlic, chilies, salt, and sugar in a mortar and crush finely. Add peanuts and crush roughly. Add lime juice, soy sauce, and tomatoes. Mix everything and squeeze tomatoes lightly. Add dressing and serve with sticky rice.

Recipe: Charred Green Beans With Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

2021 Week 15 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from A Beautiful Plate

This recipe would make a zingy side dish but you could also transform it into a meal in itself by tossing the beans over long grain rice (and beans) and throwing a fried egg on top! 

2 tablespoons (30 mL) extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons (30 mL) fresh lime juice

¼ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves plus more for garnishing

¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

Charred Green Beans:

1 lb (16 oz) fresh green beans trimmed

extra virgin olive oil

flaky salt such as Maldon

Prepare Vinaigrette: Combine the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper in small food processor bowl. Puree or pulse ingredients together, until mixture just begins to come together, and cilantro is still finely chopped. Set aside in a small container. Shake before using.

Prepare the Charred Green Beans: In a medium bowl, toss the trimmed green beans lightly with olive oil (roughly 1 tablespoon or so) and season lightly with salt. Heat a grill (use a grill pan if your grill slats are spaced apart) over medium-high heat or large grill pan over very high heat. The pan should be piping hot. If you are grilling inside, turn on your kitchen fan, as it will get smoky.

Add about a third of the green beans directly to the hot grill or grill pan, spreading them out evenly. Grill the greens beans for roughly 4 to 5 minutes, tossing them every few minutes, until they are evenly charred and beginning to soften slightly. Transfer the charred green beans to a serving platter or separate mixing bowl. Repeat with the remaining green beans.

Allow the charred green beans to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then toss with the cilantro-lime vinaigrette. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro leaves and finishing salt. The dish can be served hot, at room temperature, or cold straight from the fridge.

Recipe: Easy Salsa Fresca

2021 Week 15 Newsletter

Fresh, comes together in just a few minutes, and tasty on just about anything- this simple salsa screams SUMMER! Serve with tortilla chips, dollop on eggs, or use as a topping for quesadillas, enchiladas, or tacos.  

½ small sweet onion

3 cloves garlic

1 pint cherry tomatoes, or 1-2 heirloom tomatoes cut into chunks

½ cup cilantro leaves packed

1 lime juiced

1 jalapeno, de-seeded (unless you want more heat!)

salt to taste

Place the onion, garlic, and jalapeon in a food processor, and pulse until finely chopped.

Add the tomatoes and cilantro, and pulse until you reach the desired consistency.

If there is a lot of excess liquid, drain some out. Add the lime juice and salt, and stir. 

Recipe: Black Beans & Rice With Roasted Peppers & Garlic

2021 Week 12 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from The First Mess

This is another one of those great cheap and easy flex dishes that can be instantly changed up depending on what toppings/garnishes you are feeling! Try some sliced avocado and a dollop of sour cream and scoop it up with tortilla chips or spoon it into taco shells. Throw a fried egg on top for some extra protein and include a side salad with a creamy dressing- beans and rice don't have to be boring! 

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

1-2 sweet peppers of choice

1 fresh jalapeno

½ medium white onion, sliced

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or 1 cup chopped

3 garlic cloves, peeled

1 tablespoon avocado oil

sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste

1 cup brown basmati rice, rinsed thoroughly

1 15½ oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 tablespoon tomato paste

½ teaspoon soy sauce

2 ¼ cups filtered water

juice of 1 lime

handful chopped cilantro

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small-medium soup pot or medium braiser-style pot, dry toast the cumin and coriander over medium heat until fragrant. Transfer the toasted spices to a spice grinder and grind until spices are powdered. Set aside.

Remove the stems and seeds from the sweet peppers and jalapeno. Cut the peppers into rustic, 2-inch-ish pieces and place them on the baking sheet.

Place the sliced onions, tomatoes, and garlic cloves on the baking sheet as well. Toss the vegetables with the ground cumin and coriander, avocado oil, salt, and pepper. Slide the vegetables into the oven and roast for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned and uniformly soft.

Let the vegetables cool slightly before transferring to a blender or food processor. Pulse the mixture a few times until you have a chunky paste. You’re just trying to avoid large pieces of garlic and chili. Scrape this mixture into the soup pot from earlier.

Add the rice, beans, tomato paste, soy sauce, and water to the pot. Set the pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cover. Cook the rice and beans for 40 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Check the pot and stir every 10-15 minutes or so. Add more water if necessary.

Take the pot off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes with the lid on. Then, remove the lid and stir in the lime juice, cilantro, and a good pinch of salt. Serve the black beans and rice hot.

Recipe: Roasted Aloo Gobi

Image from Bon Appetit

2021 Week 6 Newsletter

Recipe from Priya Krishna's “Indian-ish”

Priya Krishna's method for this recipe means you can cook the veggies ahead of time and then throw them in a pan with the spices and onions whenever you are ready to get dinner on the table- especially helpful on summer days when you want to get most of your cooking out of the way in the cool hours of the morning. I really enjoy this served with a quick sauce of yogurt mixed with minced garlic, a bit of hot pepper, salt, and a squeeze of lime juice. 

~Rae

2 medium russet potatoes, cut into 2"-long sticks

1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into small florets

5 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 tsp. cumin seeds

½ tsp. ground turmeric

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 Tbsp. thinly sliced ginger

Pinch of asafetida (optional, but really great)

Pinch of red chili powder

1 tsp. (or more) kosher salt

1 Tbsp. (or more) fresh lime juice

½ cup chopped cilantro leaves with tender stems

Preheat oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Toss potatoes and cauliflower with 3 Tbsp. oil on prepared sheet. Spread in an even layer and roast, tossing once halfway through, until cauliflower and potatoes are browned and slightly crisped, about 30 minutes. Let cool.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high until it begins to shimmer. Add cumin and cook, stirring frequently, until they turn a medium shade of brown, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium and swirl in turmeric. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, 4–6 minutes. Add ginger, asafetida (if using), and chili powder and cook, stirring, until heated through and well combined, about 1 minute longer.

Stir in roasted potatoes and cauliflower, including any charred bits from the foil, and gently mix (don’t overmix, or the cauliflower will fall apart). Add salt and cook, tossing occasionally, until potatoes and cauliflower are tender (but not soggy!), 5–6 minutes. Remove from heat and add lime juice. Taste and add more lime juice or salt, if needed.

Transfer potatoes and cauliflower to a platter. Top with cilantro.

Recipe: Whipped Hummus With Roasted Carrots

Pic From The Guardian

2021 Week 5 Newsletter

Recipe Adapted From The Guardian

Adding in the liquid (aguafaba) from the can of chickpeas as well as a bit of extra water results in a hummus that is very delicate and light in texture. It is the perfect pairing for these spiced roasted carrots (a bit fave in my household)

~Rae

1 bunch carrots, trimmed, peeled, and left whole or cut in half
handful toasted pistachios, roughly chopped
handful cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
sea salt and black pepper

Whipped hummus
1 can (150g) chickpeas, with liquid
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup  tahini
¼ – ½ cup water
sea salt and black pepper

Za’atar oil
1 tbsp za’atar
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
sea salt
1/8 tsp red chilli flakes

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Place the carrots on a baking tray, drizzle them with oil and season with sea salt and black pepper. Roast for 20 minutes or until soft and golden. Remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly.

Meanwhile add the chickpeas, chickpea liquid, garlic, lemon and tahini to a blender or food processor. Whizz on high speed for two minutes or so, until emulsified and smooth. Add water, a tablespoon at a time, until the hummus is super smooth and light. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Taste and add more lemon juice, if needed.

Whisk together all the ingredients for the za’atar oil.

Spread some of the hummus on a serving plate. Top with the roasted carrots, and drizzle over the za’atar oil. Season everything with sea salt and black pepper and scatter with pistachios and cilantro.