118 posts tagged “sides”
Pesto Tortellini
Serves 2
1 12 oz package of meat tortellini
6-7 mushrooms
3/4 cup frozen peas
Handful of grape tomatoes
3 tablespoons of pesto
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Cook homemade pesto if desired. Refrigerate. In pot, make meat tortellini as directed. Add salt. Drain over colander. In small saucepan, heat olive oil. Add chopped mushrooms and peas. Add water. Saute mushrooms and peas for approximately 5 minutes. In bowl, toss tortellini. Add in pesto and toss. Add sauteed mushrooms and pease. Add sugar. Toss in tomatoes, and serve warm.
Crab-Stuffed Deviled Eggs
Yields 6-8 servings
12 large eggs
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Juice of half a lemon
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 cup celery leaves, chopped
1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped
1/2 pound lump crabmeat, picked over for shells
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Place the eggs in a large saucepan and cover with water by 1-inch. Bring to a boil. As soon as the water comes to a boil, set a timer and boil the eggs for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and place in the sink. Drain, and run with cold running water until cool enough to handle. Peel the eggs and cut them in half lengthwise.
Remove the yolks from the whites and put them in a medium-size bowl. With the back of a fork, mash the yolks then add the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, celery leaves and parsley leaves, and mix well. Add the crabmeat and gently stir to mix. Season with salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Spoon equal amounts of the mixture into the egg white halves and chill well before serving.
Green Olive Couscous
Yields 6-8 servings
Good to serve with lamb
3 cups chicken stock
3 cups couscous
3/4 cup green olives, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Heat the chicken stock in a medium-size saucepan over medium-high heat with a tight-fitting lid. When the liquid boils, add the couscous and give it a stir. Put the lid back on the pot, remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove the lid, add the olives, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Fluff with a fork.
Shrimp Cocktail Salad Rolls
Yields 4 servings
16 large, store-bought, peeled, de-veined and cooked shrimp, tails removed and chopped into bite-size pieces
5 radishes, thinly sliced, then stacked and julienned into matchsticks
1/4 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
2 scallions, both green and white parts, thinly sliced on an angle
6 stalks celery, 2 finely chopped and 4 cut into sticks
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 to 3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup hot sauce
1/4 cup store-bought cocktail sauce
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons butter, melted
4 hot dog buns, split on the top
4 carrots, peeled and cut into sticks
1 bag rosemary potato chips, or any other healthy chip you like
In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the shrimp, radishes, bell pepper, scallions and the chopped celery. For the dressing: In a separate mixing bowl, combine the vinegar, honey, Worcestershire, hot sauce and cocktail sauce. Whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour the dressing over the shrimp salad, toss to combine and reserve in the fridge until ready to serve.
Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. While the skillet is heating, brush the hot dog buns with the melted butter. Toast in the skillet until golden brown. Fill the buns with the shrimp salad. Serve with carrot and celery sticks and healthy potato chips alongside.
Maryland Crab Cakes
Serves 4
5 saltine crackers, crushed to fine crumbs
1 pound lump crabmeat, picked over for cartilage
1 large egg
2 1/2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Dash hot sauce, such as Tabasco
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons peanut oil
Horseradish Tartar Sauce
In a large bowl, gently mix together cracker crumbs, crabmeat, egg, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. The mixture will be wet. Form about 1/4 of the crab mixture for each cake.
Heat peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Gently slide the cakes off a spatula into the oil. Sauté until the crab cakes are golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove from skillet, and drain on paper towels. Serve hot with tartar sauce.
Maryland Crab Cakes
Serves 8
1 pound small-size fresh crabmeat, such as special or claw
1 pound larger-size fresh crabmeat, such as jumbo lump or backfin
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons), plus wedges, for serving
1 large egg
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cup fine saltine crumbs (from about 30 crackers)
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Tartar Sauce, homemade or store-bought, for serving (recipe follows)
Heat broiler, with rack 4 inches from heat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; set aside. Keeping each pound of crabmeat separate, turn out onto paper towels; pick through to remove any shells or cartilage.
In a large bowl, stir together mayonnaise, parsley, lemon juice, egg, mustard, Old Bay, teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add crumbs and small-size crabmeat to mayonnaise mixture; stir well to combine. Gently fold in larger-size crabmeat just until combined. Dividing evenly, form mixture into 8 cakes. (To make ahead: Arrange cakes in a parchment-lined container so they do not touch; separate layers with additional parchment. Cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.)
Place cakes on prepared baking sheet; drizzle with melted butter. Broil until golden brown and warmed throughout, 12 to 15 minutes (move to lower shelf if tops brown too quickly). Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Tartar Sauce
Makes 1 1/4 cups
1 cup light mayonnaise
4 cornichon pickles, minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 shallot, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
In a small bowl, mix 1 cup light mayonnaise, 4 cornichon pickles, minced, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and 1 shallot, minced. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper.
Crab Cakes
Recipe courtesy of Robert Duvall
Makes 5 crab cakes
1 pound jumbo lump crab meat, picked through
2 heaping tablespoons prepared mayonnaise
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 heaping teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 small onion, grated
1/2 teaspoon powdered mustard
17 saltine crackers, finely crushed
1/4 cup canola oil
Tartar Sauce (recipe follows)
Lemon wedges, for serving
In a large bowl, mix together crab meat, mayonnaise, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, onion, and mustard. Gently stir in crackers. Using a large ice cream scoop, scoop crab mixture into 8 portions onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Press each scoop into a patty about 3/4 inch thick.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add crab cakes and cook, turning once, until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve immediately with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Tartar Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped cornichons
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 tablespoon capers, drained
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper
In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, cornichons, shallots, capers, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Shiitake Nori Rolls
Serves 6. Makes 1 dozen.
12 medium dried shiitake mushrooms, 1 1/2 ounces
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons low-sodium tamari soy sauce
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 pinch coarse salt
3 scallions, thinly sliced crosswise on the diagonal, plus julienned for sauce
3 1/2 ounces soba noodles
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 large shallots, 3/4 cup, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced, 2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons minced, peeled fresh ginger
5 cups finely shredded savoy cabbage, about half of a medium head
6 sheets nori
Cover mushrooms with 1 1/2 cups hot water in a medium bowl. Set a small bowl on top of mushrooms to keep them submerged. Let stand until mushrooms are soft, about 20 minutes. Remove mushrooms with a slotted spoon, and transfer to a work surface. Cut mushrooms crosswise into 1/4-inch strips; set aside. Strain soaking liquid; set aside.
Make the dipping sauce: Stir together 1/3 cup soaking liquid, the lime juice, 1 teaspoon tamari, 1 teaspoon cilantro, and the salt in a small bowl; top with some julienned scallions. Set aside.
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add noodles; cook according to package instructions. Drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again. Transfer to a medium bowl; toss with sesame oil and remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro. Set aside.
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Stir in shallots, garlic, and ginger. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots begin to brown, about 2 minutes (if the shallots begin to stick, stir in 1 tablespoon reserved soaking liquid). Add cabbage, and toss to combine. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage wilts slightly, 2 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, 1/4 cup reserved soaking liquid, and remaining 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons tamari. Cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in sliced scallions; set aside.
Toast the nori sheets: Using tongs, pass each sheet just over a medium gas flame, turning, until fragrant and crisp, about 3 passes on each side. (If only an electric burner is available, heat to medium; toast sheet directly on the burner, flipping for 30 seconds to 1 minute.)
Working with 1 toasted sheet at a time, put 1/6 of the noodles along 1 edge of the nori, leaving a 1-inch border. Top with 1/6 of the cabbage mixture. Starting at the side with the filling, roll up sheet, enclosing filling. Repeat process with remaining sheets, noodles, and cabbage mixture. Cut each roll on the diagonal into 2 pieces. Serve with dipping sauce.
Shrimp Shau Mai
Makes about 20
1/3 cup chopped canned water chestnuts
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1/2 pound shelled and deveined shrimp, chopped
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 tablespoon sherry wine
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, optional
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 package wonton wrappers
Shau Mai Dipping Sauce (recipe follows)
In a large bowl, mix together water chestnuts, scallions, shrimp, sesame oil, peanut oil, sherry wine, cornstarch, sugar, if desired, salt, and pepper. Using a knife, trim the edges of each wonton wrapper to form a round. Place 1 tablespoon filling in the center of each wrapper; moisten edges with water. Cup your hand around wrapper, gathering folds up and around the filling. Press gathered folds lightly around filling to adhere.
Fill a large skillet or wok with 2 cups water; bring to a boil. Set a bamboo steamer into skillet and line with a damp piece of cheesecloth or a piece of parchment paper. Place shau mai in steamer about 1-inch apart. Cover and cook until filling is cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve immediately with dipping sauce.
Shau Mai Dipping Sauce
Makes enough for 20 shau mai
1/3 cup unseasoned rice-wine vinegar
2 tablespoons freshly grated and peeled ginger
Mix together vinegar and ginger in a small bowl.
Grilled Beef Rolls with Scallion Soy Dipping Sauce
Makes 2 1/2 dozen
1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 pounds beef tenderloin, trimmed
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
4 scallions, green tops, cut into 3-inch lengths and sliced lengthwise; whites sliced into 1/8-inch rings
3 (one each of green, red, and yellow) bell peppers, trimmed, seeded, and cut into long, thin matchsticks
1 teaspoon olive oil
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce and brown sugar until dissolved; set aside. Cut tenderloin crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Trim off any fat or connective tissue.
Place 1 slice between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, evenly pound out the slice, keeping it roughly in a rectangular shape, until it is 1/8 inch thick. Do not overpound slices or they will begin to disintegrate. Remove plastic wrap, and transfer to a large plate. Repeat process with remaining meat.
Dip 1 slice beef in the soy sauce mixture, and place it on a clean surface. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place 2 pieces of scallion green and 1 piece of each pepper across the shorter length of the beef, so that the vegetables extend over both edges by about 3/4-inch. Roll up lengthwise, and skewer near the edges with 2 toothpicks. Set aside. Repeat with remaining beef and vegetables.
Lightly brush a grill pan with olive oil, and heat until hot, or heat the oven broiler. Grill or broil beef rolls, brushing with sauce and turning, until medium rare, 2 to 4 minutes. Cut each roll in half, or cut any longer rolls into 3 pieces. In a small saucepan bring remaining sauce to a boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Pour into a small bowl, and add scallion rings. Transfer beef rolls to a serving platter, and serve with sauce on the side.
