Category Archives: Type of Food

Buffalo Blue Burgers with Celery Slaw

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The inspiration for these buffalo burgers is somewhat obvious — the combo of hot sauce, blue cheese and celery is a buffalo wings classic — but the tie to sustainability and healthy ecosystems might not be as clear. I was turned into a buffalo (bison) lover by Dan O’Brien, of Wild Idea Buffalo, who talked about bringing back bison in order to save his beloved South Dakota plains. The two, it seems, are healthiest when living together … a perfect illustration of a thriving ecosystem. These flavorful burgers will be a hit at any summer barbecue.

buffalo-blue-burgers

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Trennette Pasta with Tuna, Lemon, Capers and Spinach

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Trennette is a three-sided, quill-shaped pasta that is a fun shape to use with chunky sauces. If you can’t find it, use penne rigate.

trenette-tuna-recipe3 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed and mashed to a paste with a pinch of salt
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon vegetable broth
Zest of 1 whole lemon, plus 1 teaspoon juice
1/2 pound trenette pasta
1/2 pound spinach
1 (8-ounce) can high-quality, sustainably-caught tuna in olive oil, removed from oil and broken into large chunks
2 tablespoons capers, rinsed
Sea salt and red pepper flakes

Whisk together the garlic, olive oil, vegetable broth and lemon juice. Set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add pasta. Three minutes before pasta is done, add the spinach. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before straining.

Toss the pasta gently with the sauce, lemon zest, tuna and capers. Add pasta water tablespoon by tablespoon if needed. Season to taste with salt and red pepper flakes.

Serves 4

Oven-Baked Polenta with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

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Years ago, during a class at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, I made a polenta recipe by Gary Danko that cooked–fuss-free–in the oven. I adopted it and have never looked back (or slaved over another pot of polenta). This one incorporates No Work Slow Roasted Tomatoes (which live in my freezer over the winter). Go for good-quality polenta instead of the instant variety; the texture and taste will be immeasurably better (and there’s no stirring for you anyway!).

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Mama Kourtesi’s Beet and Green Salad

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This salad, which I learned from Mama Kourtesi in Greece, is the essence of “whole eating.” She boils both beets and their greens and tosses it all in a simple dressing of oil and vinegar for a surprisingly tasty, super-versatile salad or side dish.

beet-green-salad-recipe1-1/2 pounds baby beets with greens attached
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Trim the leaves from the beets a half-inch from the base of the stem. Wash, dry and chop the leaves.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add beet roots, lower heat to maintain a vigorous simmer, and cook for 20-35 minutes (depending on size), until the tip of a sharp knife can penetrate to the beet’s center without resistance. Using a slotted spoon, transfer beets to a bowl and let cool until manageable. Peel and cut into 1/2-inch wedges.

Bring water back up to a boil and add beet greens. Boil for 5 minutes, until greens are wilted and stems are tender. Drain well.

Mix together beets and greens in a large salad bowl ,and toss with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Let sit for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 4

Flash-Roasted Carrot Sticks with Cumin-Carrot Yogurt Sauce

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Roasted carrots are a dinnertime staple, but this recipe spins them as more-ish finger-food appetizer or snack. The inherent sweetness of garden-fresh carrots is heightened by honey in this dish, and given a spicy kick from cayenne. Make the dip as spicy as you like with a little or a lot.

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Colcannon Soup with Oven-Roasted Kale

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This soup is inspired by colcannon, a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes and cabbage or kale. Buttery Yukon golds are medium-starch potatoes, which makes them particularly versatile. You could use russets or fingerlings instead. Leeks, too, have a wonderfully complex flavor and are a traditional component in colcannon. If you can’t find them, sub two yellow onions in the recipe. Yellow onions have more intricate flavor than white onions (and they tend to be cheaper). Roasting the kale enhances its flavor and yields a crunchy texture that makes it a pretty garnish for the soup. Use any variety of kale you find, from curly to dinosaur (also known as lacinato).

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Fumiko’s Gyoza

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By Jacqueline Church

Years back, my mother took a Chinese cooking course and learned this gyoza recipe. Our family, including my husband now, has loved these dumplings for years. Napa cabbage is terrific this time of year. A vegetarian version is simple to make by subbing the pork with black mushrooms and slivered carrots. And remember, practice makes perfect, and imperfect still tastes wonderful, so have fun.

fumikos-gyoza-dumplings-recipe1/2 pound Napa cabbage, finely chopped
Sea salt
1 pound ground pork
1/2 cup finely chopped scallion
2 tablespoons  minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sake
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
1 package round (about 2-1/2 inches in diameter) gyoza wrappers
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup hot water

Place the cabbage in a colander and sprinkle generously with salt. Let sit for 10 minutes, so it releases its liquid, then rinse and drain well in the colander. Roll in a clean towel to dry.

Mix the cabbage with the pork, scallion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sake, sesame oil and a pinch of salt.

Mound a rounded teaspoon of the mixture in the middle of a gyoza wrapper. Dab cornstarch and water slurry lightly around the right edge. Fold the left side over to the meet the right (like a half moon). Then, using the thumb of one hand and index finger and thumb of the other feed a pleat toward your thumb and pinch gently. Pleat about five or seven times to create a pleated crescent.

Heat the oil in a large, wide nonstick pan over medium-high heat (let the oil get nice and hot). Working in batches, arrange 6-8 dumplings seam-side up in the pan in the shape of a pinwheel (don’t overcrowd the pan) and fry for 3 minutes, until blistered and crispy on the bottom (but not burnt). Add the water, cover, and steam for 8-10 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Repeat with remaining gyoza.

Serve with dipping sauce. (Find our recipe for All-Purpose Asian Dipping Sauce here.)

Makes 50

Thin and Chewy Oatmeal-Flax Cookies

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These are just about my favorite cookie in the world. They’re feather light, crispy-chewy and seemingly held together with dark chocolate chips.

oat-flax-cookies-recipe3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
4 ounces butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips, or semisweet

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together flour, flax, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

With an electric mixer, beat together butter and brown sugar for one minute, until the mixture is smooth. Add the egg and vanilla; scrape down sides, and continue to blend until incorporated. Add flour mixture a little at a time until  incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips.

Spray three large cookie sheets with cooking spray and mound 12 rounded tablespoonfuls of batter on each sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, swapping sheets half way through, until golden. Let cool slightly, for 5 minutes, and slide cookies onto a cooling rack.

Makes 3 dozen cookies (serving size, 2 cookies)