Grab Bag

Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

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Today, I like to share a dish with you that I have prepared in its basic version hundreds of times over the years. It is a “a la minute” dish, so it requires no prolonged cooking and can be prepared on short notice (a la minute) and in just a few minutes of prepping and cooking.
The ingredients for the sauce are always the same – clarified butter, curry powder, turmeric powder, cumin, garlic paste, grated ginger, kosher salt, chicken, beef or vegetable stock, and heavy cream.
On the other hand, besides the sauce, anything goes. You can replace the potatoes, chick peas and shrimp with anything your heart desires and your belly craves – any poultry, any seafood, beef, veggies-only to make the dish vegetarian, even potatoes and tomatoes only (one of my favorites), and so forth…..
The sauce is what makes this dish so delicious and unique and I usually make more than the dish actually needs, so I can use the leftover sauce to flavor some rice or pasta, usually for a simple breakfast or a tasty midnight snack 🙂
The ratio of the ingredients for the sauce is also flexible and depends on the main ingredient you use.
While the basic sauce for two portions requires 1/2 cup stock, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 pinch of cumin, 1 tblsp curry powder, 1/4 tsp garlic paste, 1/4 tsp grated ginger and kosher salt to taste, I like to use more curry powder for beef and chicken dishes, more cumin for lamb, more liquid for starchy dishes, less liquid for vegetable variations, etc.
As usual, please let the recipe I give you here serve as a guideline, which you can/should adjust according to your own preferences 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

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Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

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Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

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Preparation :
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: blanch, peel and slice 1 lb of small potatoes, pat dry, fry in 2 cup 375F peanut oil until lightly browned

: remove from oil with a slotted spoon, reserve

: season 1 1/2 lbs 21/32 shrimp with 1 tblsp lime juice, 1 tblsp corn starch and kosher salt to taste

: fry in 375F peanut oil for 1 minute, remove with a slotted spoon, reserve

: season the chickpeas with a pinch of curry powder, a pinch of cumin and kosher salt to taste

: saute in the remaining 275F peanut oil for one minute, remove with a slotted spoon, reserve

: slice 1 ea large jalapeno into thin slices, dust lightly with corn starch, saute in 275F peanut oil for one minute, remove with a slotted spoon, reserve, discard the peanut oil

: add 1 ea tblsp clarified butter to the pan, saute all spices and aromatics until fragrant (see the ingredients on this page)

: add the stock and heavy cream (see the ingredients on this page), simmer 2 minutes, remove from heat, check/adjust the seasoning, add all the previously sauteed ingredients except the jalapenos, mix well,

: place the curry on a deep serving bowl, top with the fried jalapenos, basil leaves, sliced chives and pickled chilies (optional); serves 4

: Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

: Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

: Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

: Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

: Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

: Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

: Curried Shrimp With Potatoes & Garbanzos

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BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS # 57 – Chicken, Spinach And Potato Frittata

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A bowl of granola for breakfast is a wonderful thing for a lot of folks – but for me, it is NOT.
If I want my day to start on a happy note, I need food that say’s HAPPY to me.
A bowl of granola or such just says BAHH to me and is, in my humble opinion, but a sorry excuse for a satisfying breakfast 😦 .
On the other hand, a delicious frittata – now we are talking ! 🙂
Throw in a couple of gherkins, a few green leaves and grape tomatoes in yogurt/honey dressing and Voilà ! – bring it on, tough day !
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Yogurt/Honey Dressing :
Whisk together 2 tblsp greek yogurt, 1 tsp organic honey, 1 tsp rice vinegar, kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste
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Chicken, Spinach And Potato Frittata

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Preparation :
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: Cook 2 lbs peeled potatoes in lightly salted water until tender but NOT falling apart, drain, let cool enough to handle, cut into fine slices

: slice 2 med-size chicken breasts into slices, season with 1 tsp garlic paste, fresh-cracked black pepper and kosher salt to taste

: saute the chicken in 1/2 tblsp olive oil until cooked through

: remove chicken from pan, reserve

: saute the potato slices in 1 tblsp olive oil until browned

: return the chicken to the pan

: add 2 oz cleaned fresh spinach, saute for one minute

: add 6 whole whisked eggs

: cook on low heat until eggs have set, flip eggs to other side, cook until lightly browned; serve with gherkins and small salad of greens and tomatoes in honey/yogurt dressing; serves 4

: Chicken, Spinach And Potato Frittata

: Chicken, Spinach And Potato Frittata

: Chicken, Spinach And Potato Frittata

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Spicy Sausage And Spinach Congee

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English – Rice Porridge; Japanese – Okayu; Korean – Jukin; Thai – Jok; Tagalog – Lugao, Burmese – Hsan Pyok.

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In my own experience, there’s no food more simple and more comforting than a bowl of congee, which is basically just rice cooked with a lot of liquid until it forms a soft porridge.
Congee can be enjoyed any time of the day (or night 🙂 and there are as many recipes and methods for making congee as there are restaurants, homes, mothers and grandmothers to prepare them. However, the basics are just water and rice, cooked until thickened to the texture you prefer, anywhere from very liquid to quite thick.
In this basic form, congee has provided a full belly as well as help against minor ailments since ancient times.
Additional ingredients and condiments for congee are limited only to ones fantasy, taste and wallet. (Lobster anyone?)
For some of the more adventurous variations of congee click HERE
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Spicy Sausage And Spinach Congee

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Preparation :
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: cook 2 cup rice of your choice in lightly salted water until it has the texture of thin porridge and the rice is VERY soft

: meanwhile, saute 12 oz spicy sausage cut into thick slices and 1 medium size onion cut into julienne in 1 tblsp peanut oil until sausage and onion start to brown

: just about………

: add the rice porridge to the sausage/onions

: add 2 cup tighly packed fresh spinach, remove from heat

: mix all ingredients; to serve, sprinkle with fried scallions; serve with sesame oil, chili paste and soy sauce; season to your own preference; serves 4

: Spicy Sausage And Spinach Congee

: Spicy Sausage And Spinach Congee

: Spicy Sausage And Spinach Congee

: Spicy Sausage And Spinach Congee

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Ox Tripe Two Way’s

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: Creamy Ox Tripe Stew

: Clear Oxtripe Stew

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Even though ox tripe is not everybody’s cup of tea, I myself am an incurable fan of it.
Originally classified as “Poor Man’s Food”, it has lately become more widely used, especially since the “Head To Tail” movement has become popular and it is now “in” to classify former “Poor Man’s Food” as “Comfort Food 🙂 .
Well, I grew up loving this type of food, so for today’s lunch, I made two versions, one for lunch and one to be re-heated at dinner.
Of course, there are a million recipes for ox tripe from around the world and I love most of them. But these two versions of (almost) the same recipe are without a doubt on the very top of my list. Great looks, super taste and outstanding texture lift them to the level of excellence the humble ox tripe deserves.
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Click here for more Oxtripe recipes on ChefsOpinion ( Mondongo/ Beef Tripe/ Kutteln/ 牛百叶/ 牛百葉/ Goto/ Tripa/ требуха/ أمعاء, شىء تافه )
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Clear Ox Tripe Stew

Creamy Ox Tripe Stew

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Preparation :
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: blanch 2 lbs tripe in lightly salted and vinegared water (one tblsp ea salt and vinegar per qt of water), repeat

: drain, rinse

: cut into thick strips, simmer in lightly salted and vinegared water (one tblsp ea salt and vinegar per qt of water) until soft but not mushy, drain, set aside

: drain one 14 oz can diced tomatoes, one 14 oz can drained northern beans, one 14 oz can red kidney beans, one 14 oz can kernel corn

: saute julienne of 2 med sized onions in 1 tblsp olive oil until translucent, add 1 tblsp garlic paste, saute until fragrant

: add the diced tomatoes, northern beans, red kidney beans, kernel corn, 8 oz shredded carrots, 1 bunch chopped cilantro and 1 qt beef stock, season with kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste

: simmer stew for 2 minutes, check/adjust seasoning, divide stew in half, reserve one half for recipe # 2

: add 1 half of the tripe to the stew; to serve, sprinkle with chopped cilantro, finely sliced scallions and grated parmesan cheese (optional)

: Clear Oxtripe Stew

: for second recipe, blend 1/4 of reserved stew with 1 tblsp grated parmesan until smooth

: add 1 cup heavy cream, mix

: return mixture to the remaining 3/4 of the reserved stew, mix well, add reserved tripe, check/adjust seasoning

: to serve, drizzle with chili oil and sprinkle with finely sliced scallions and chopped cilantro

: Creamy Ox Tripe Stew

: Creamy Ox Tripe Stew

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“WhatAPig” – Pork & Peppers On Baguette

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Every so often, a quick sandwich is all I need to satisfy my culinary cravings.
The range of sandwiches I enjoy is wide and spans from a simple ham & cheese sandwich to the most elaborate lobster roll, foie gras on toast and anything in-between.
Today I feasted on such a typical “in-between” sandwich : The “WhatAPig”.
Although quick and easy to prepare, it does not lack in substance, taste and appearance and is a great meal for any occasion when sophistication is not required to impress 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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“WhatAPig” – Pork & Peppers On Baguette

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Preparation :
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: slice 12 oz of pork tenderloin into 1/4 in slices

: season pork with kosher salt, cayenne pepper and granulated garlic to taste

: saute pork in 1 tblsp vegetable oil until browned and cooked through

: add 1/2 medium size red pepper 1/2 med size green pepper and 1/2 med size onion, all cut into fine julienne, season veggies with salt and pepper to taste, saute until heated through

: cut 1/2 fresh french baguette lengthwise in half, leaving it attached in the center by the crust

: spread baguette with 3 tblsp whole grain “Maille Dijon Mustard”

: top baguette with the sauteed pork, onions and peppers

: “WhatAPig” – Pork & Peppers On Baguette

: “WhatAPig” – Pork & Peppers On Baguette

: “WhatAPig” – Pork & Peppers On Baguette

: “WhatAPig” – Pork & Peppers On Baguette

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Stir Fried Flower Mushrooms, Bok Choy And Carrots In Hoi Sin Sauce

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This is my all-time favorite meatless entrée. I used to special-order this in Chinese restaurants which Maria and I frequented, but now I hardly go out anymore, so special orders are not something I want to bother the chefs with in places where I only show up once in a blue moon.
So, I prepare it for myself at home and usually it is at least as good as I could hope for in a restaurant 🙂
I don’t normally plan this in advance, but when I am at my neighborhood Asian market and see fresh Shiitake , also called Chinese mushroom or black mushroom, this dish is on the table the next day. (Especially if the “Flower Mushroom”, xiang-gu or huāgū (花菇) is available).
Today I had vegetable stock at hand from vegetables I prepped, blanched and froze in the morning for the coming week, so I used that instead of the chicken stock I usually use, which actually made it suitable for vegetarians to enjoy.
So, if you are looking for a great meat-less or vegetarian dish, this delicious beauty will serve you well 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Stir Fried Flower Mushroomes, Bok Choi And Carrots In Hoi Sin Sauce

Stir Fried Flower Mushrooms, Bok Choy And Carrots In Hoi Sin Sauce

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Preparation :
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: cut “carrot flowers” from 1 small carrot, simmer in salted water until soft, drain, reserve

: thoroughly wash 1 pck ( 10 oz) fresh flower mushrooms – huāgū (花菇)

: remove stems, discard

: stir fry mushrooms in hot peanut oil until edges start to change color, season with 1 tsp garlic paste, 1 tsp chili paste, 1/2 tsp grated ginger, stir fry another minute

: add 1 cup vegetable stock (or chicken stock if you prefer), season with 2 tblsp hoi sin sauce, 2 tblsp soy sauce and kosher salt and chili oil to taste, simmer 3 minutes or until mushrooms have plumbed-up

: prepare a slurry of 1 tblsp cornstarch and 1/3 cup water, add to the mushrooms, bring to a simmer again

: add 1 lb fresh/blanched bok choy and the carrot flowers, simmer another minute, add 1 tsp sesame oil, check/adjust seasoning; serves 2; serve with steamed rice or over rice noodles

: Stir Fried Flower Mushrooms, Bok Choy And Carrots In Hoi Sin Sauce

: Stir Fried Flower Mushrooms, Bok Choy And Carrots In Hoi Sin Sauce

: Stir Fried Flower Mushrooms, Bok Choy And Carrots In Hoi Sin Sauce

: steamed rice (Fan)

: Stir Fried Flower Mushrooms, Bok Choy And Carrots In Hoi Sin Sauce

: Stir Fried Flower Mushrooms, Bok Choy And Carrots In Hoi Sin Sauce

: Stir Fried Flower Mushrooms, Bok Choy And Carrots In Hoi Sin Sauce

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Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetables Soup – Recipe # 3731

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Another chicken soup post you say? – well, why not I say – there can never be enough of that beacon of traditional comfort food 🙂
On a rainy day; on a sunny day; on a sad day; on a happy day: Chicken soup, when prepared with love, will make you feel better, no matter what.
So there you have it . Enjoy !
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Matzo Balls Recipe:

1 cup matzo meal
3 eggs

3 tblsp oil or rendered chicken fat

1/4 cup seltzer (exact amount depends on the size of the eggs and the coarseness of the matzo meal)
3 tblsp finely chopped parsley (optional)
Kosher salt and white pepper to taste

Mix all wet ingredients together, then stir in matzo meal, salt and pepper and place in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Shape into golf ball sized balls, drop into boiling water, cover, turn down to a slow simmer and cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until fully cooked (cut one in half to check if it’s done).
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Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetable Soup – Recipe # 3731

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Preparation :
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: To a pot with 2 qt water, add 5 chicken thighs, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, 1 tsp garlic paste and 1/3 tsp grated ginger; bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer and cook until chicken is tender but not falling apart, about 45 minutes

: meanwhile, blanch 8 oz bok choy, shock in ice water, finely slice 3 stalks of scallions, 1 large carrot and 2 medium tomatoes as pictured

: when the chicken is tender, remove from broth, remove and discard bones, cut meat into bite-size pieces

: add carrots to broth, simmer until carrots are tender, about 4 minutes, remove from heat, check/adjust seasoning

: prepare matzo balls according to recipe (pictured is triple the recipe )

: cook matzo balls according to recipe (pls note that in the picture you see triple the recipe; I prepared triple the recipe because my neighbor requested that I prepare some for her families lunch)

: divide the chicken and vegetables into 4 serving plates, add one matzo ball to each plate

: add the hot chicken soup

: Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetable Soup – Recipe # 3731

: Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetable Soup – Recipe # 3731

: Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetable Soup – Recipe # 3731

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Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

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When you decide to make tostadas, the biggest decision will be if you want to prepare your own tortillas and fry them to a flat crisp or buy packaged tostada shells, which you can buy in any supermarket nowadays’, most of excellent quality. After that, the most sensible thing is to put the tostadas on a platter in the center of the table, arrange all the toppings in bowls around them and let everybody assemble their own favorite. Traditionally, refried beans, cotija cheese, a simple salsa and sometimes seafood are the main ingredients/toppings.
But, as you can imagine, tostadas, like most other dishes with a long culinary history, have evolved and advanced to be more adventurous and varied. Anything you fancy is allowed to grace your tostada, as long as it is delicious and makes you smile 🙂
Refried beans, shredded lettuce, sour cream, any cheese, any seafood, sausage, meat, grilled vegetables, any salsa, guacamole, etc, etc.
I happened to have some fresh Swai fillets at hand as well as white cabbage for a tasty cabbage slaw. Added some guacamole, salsa Mexicana and a bit of sour cream and BINGO ! – exiting lunch served in a snap 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Salsa Mexicana Recipe:
2 medium tomatoes- diced; 1 med white onion- diced, 3 jalapeños- chopped, 1/3 cup cilantro- chopped; lime juice and kosher salt- to taste; combine, check/adjust seasoning.
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Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

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Preparation :
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: combine 3 cups finely sliced white cabbage, 1/2 cup sliced red onion, 1/4 cup sliced scallion, sliced red chillies to taste with1/2 cup sour cream, 1 tblsp lemon juice, 1 tsp garlic paste, kosher salt to taste

: cabbage slaw

: cut 2 swai filets into 3 or 4 strip’s each (depending on size of fillets), season with kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste

: dredge fillets in A/P flour

: saute fillets in vegetable oil until golden and cooked through

: ahhhh…..

: Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

: ready to assemble…..

: top fried tortilla with slaw

: top with fish fillet, drizzle with lime juice

: top with guacamole

: top with salsa Mexicana

: top with sour cream and chili (chili optional)

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Pork, Cabbage & Chili Noodles

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Ahhh, the refreshing, liberating, exciting, sinus-clearing effect of eating a dish as spicy as one can handle.
The key here is –
“as spicy as one can handle” ! (Hot as hell in my case)
To season something beyond a level of spiciness which is comfortable and enjoyable would not make sense – but to stay just below, on a level that hurts but feels good at the same time can be very addictive. While not all the food I eat at home is spicy, once in a while I need the rush which comes from a healthy dose of chili.
If you plan to re-create this dish, simply and sensibly adjust the amount of chili you use to your personal preference.
Like I said on other occasions concerning spicy food –
“It should kick like a lady, not like a mule” 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Pork, Cabbage & Chili Noodles

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Preparation :
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: prepare a sauce of 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup bean sauce, 1/4 cup hoi sin sauce and 1 tblsp sesame oil

: season 1 lb ground pork with chili paste, kosher salt and granulated garlic to taste, add 2 tblsp peanut oil

: mix well

: stir fry in 2 tblsp peanut oil until pork starts to brown, add 1 medium sliced red onion

: stir fry until onion is translucent

: add 1 lb diced white cabbage

: add the sauce and 1 cup water

: simmer until cabbage starts to wilt, check/adjust seasoning

: meanwhile, cook and drain 1 lb Chinese egg noodles, add 2 tblsp sesame oil and 3 tblsp peanut oil, mix

: plate noodles on serving dish

: top with the pork / cabbage stew, sprinkle with scallions and pickled chilies

: Pork, Cabbage & Chili Noodles

: Pork, Cabbage & Chili Noodles

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Naan “Pizza”

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I love to make pizza from scratch. I used to make it at least once or twice a month, mostly making my own dough, sometimes using fresh dough I bought at my favorite pizzeria.
However, since I now live in a small apartment, with a small kitchen which has the counter space the size of a hand towel, for practical reasons I sometimes use naan instead of pizza dough.
Although the texture is completely different, I like it as an uncomplicated, quick fix 🙂
Since I am already at a distance from a “real” pizza, I also like to use spicy salsa mexicana (picco de gallo) instead of tomato sauce, which add’s a wonderful extra layer of heat and debt of flavor.
“Real” pizza this is not – naan pizza it is, and it is at it’s best as such 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Naan Pizza

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Preparation :
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: brush naan with garlic confit paste on both sides

: dice salami, remove avocado from shell

: spread spicy salsa mexicana on naan

: add avocado and salami

: sprinkle with shredded mozzarella

: bake at 350F until cheese is melted and salami is heated through; naan should be crisp on the outside but still soft on the inside; to serve, sprinkle with fresh basil chiffonade