Category Archives: Sauce, Stock & Condiments

Easy All-Purpose Tomato Sauce

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

I make this when great fresh tomatoes aren’t in season and I need a basic tomato sauce for pizza or pasta. The trick these days, of course, is finding preserved tomatoes in a BPA-free container. While many manufacturers are working to phase out use of BPA in canned goods (Muir Glen is using its first BPA-free cans for this fall’s tomato pack), right now the only way to know your tomatoes are BPA free is to buy them in an aseptic or glass container. Adding a dash or two of Worcestershire deepens the flavor of this tomato sauce recipe.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:177]

Quick-Pickled Red Onions

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

The bright flavor and crunch of these pickled red onions makes them a perfect accompaniment for Carnitas de Lia or on a sandwich with roasted chicken, Spiced Pork Roast or Devilish Egg Salad. I also like to add them to quesadillas. You can alter the flavor profile by using a different type of vinegar and changing the herbs and spices.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:15]

Tiny Cherry Tomato Sauce

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

This is the perfect tomato sauce recipe to make with that extra pint of cherry tomatoes in your CSA box that’s sitting on your counter. Use it to dress a simple pasta or spoon it over a crispy chicken paillard.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:85]

End-of-Summer Pico de Gallo

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

This simple pico de gallo salsa recipe is a tasty way to use up late-season tomatoes, and you can pull it together in no time. Pico de gallo — also known as salsa fresca — is traditional uncooked Mexican salsa. Serve it with our Vegan Tempeh Fajitas, as a condiment with grilled chicken or fish, or simply with chips and a nice, cold beer.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:86]

Roasted Red Pepper Romesco Sauce

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

Romesco sauce is delicious staple of Spanish cuisine. Our version of Catalonian tomato-red pepper romesco sauce boosts the ratio of roasted bell peppers. There are lots of ways to roast peppers and other items. Lia likes to do it on the stovetop in a comal (a flat griddle pan). You can also throw them on a hot grill (especially good and smoky if you add soaked wood chips to the coals or a smoker box), or use a pair of tongs to hold peppers over the open flame of a gas stove. Since this recipe calls for roasting a fairly large volume, we pop ‘em under the broiler. However you do it, the result is a simple, smoky romesco sauce that you can serve with grilled bread as an appetizer; as a condiment with fish, poultry, or meat; tossed with pasta; or even on pizza in place of traditional tomato sauce. It may just end up being your new all-purpose sauce.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:93]

Spicy-Sweet Pickled Cucumbers

Posted on by — 10 Comments ↓

These pickled cucumbers are inspired by the spicy-sweet pickles served at Saffron, a popular Thai takeaway in San Diego. Use thin-skinned Japanese, Persian, English or pickling cucumbers, and slice them as thinly as possible. If you have a mandolin or Japanese slicer, this a good time to use it; otherwise, just use a razor-sharp chef’s knife. Serve these pickled cucumbers as a refreshing summer side dish, or use them as a condiment in sandwiches and tacos. They’d be delicious on a sandwich or tortilla with Grass-Fed Beef Bulgogi and Fiery-Sweet Peach Salsa.

spicy-sweet-pickled-cucumbers-pickles

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:102]

Fiery-Sweet Peach Salsa

Posted on by — 8 Comments ↓

The heat of the jalapeno and bite of the red onion play nicely off the subtle sweetness of the peaches in this summery salsa recipe. Serve this peach salsa with just about anything grilled, from pork and chicken to salmon. Or if you’re like me, pop open a cold beer, rip open a bag of tortilla chips, and dig in! I like my salsa caliente, so I leave the seeds and stems in the chile pepper. To tame the heat, discard the stems and seeds.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:17]

 

 

Asian Pesto

Posted on by — 2 Comments ↓

I first developed this spicy pesto recipe out of desperation with an abundance of end-of-the-season Thai basil (it freezes wonderfully). Now it’s one of our summer staples … especially now that Noemi loves being in on the action. Get creative with this flavorful pesto recipe. Rub it on chicken and fish, mix it into rice noodles, stir-fry some tofu and spicy greens. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle–or don’t want to use yours–just whip it up in a food processor; drizzle in extra lime juice and a bit of water if you need liquid to process.

asian-pesto-recipe3 cloves garlic
3 dried Thai chiles
Sea salt, to taste
1/3 cup peanuts
1 tablespoon sugar
2 packed cups Asian basil leaves
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

In a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic and chiles to a paste with a tiny pinch of salt. Then add peanuts and sugar, and pound to incorporate. Handful by handful, add the basil and pulverize completely in between additions. Stir in fish sauce, peanut oil and lime juice.

Serves 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Fragrant Curry Paste

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

This is a good choice for an all-purpose curry paste recipe. If your fresh chiles are red, it’ll be a red curry paste. If they’re green, you’ll get a green curry paste. The texture will depend on whether you’re pounding the paste in a mortar and pestle or whizzing it in a food processor (note: if using a food processor, still adhere to the order the ingredients are added, just pulse together instead of pounding). This recipe makes enough curry paste to use for several dishes. Store it, tightly sealed, in the refrigerator for up to two months or in the freezer for up to six.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:19]

Roasted Tomatillo and Chile Sauce

Posted on by — 2 Comments ↓

I first encountered this chile verde sauce at a remote resort in the Copper Canyon. It’s simple, but deceptively flavorful. Use it as a rustic salsa or as a sauce spooned over grilled chicken.

roasted-tomatillo-chile-sauce-recipe1 pound tomatillos, husks removed
1/2 pound peppers and chiles, a mix of poblano, jalapeno, etc.
1/2 large onion
3 cloves garlic, peeled
sea salt
juice of 1 lime

Heat a comal or large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Roast tomatillos, peppers, onion and garlic until semi-charred and softened, turning often, about 10 minutes.

Roughly chop vegetables and transfer to a large mortar and pestle. Sprinkle with salt and pound to a rough paste. Stir in lime juice.

Serves 8