Monday, August 24, 2009

Salmon Burgers

I like salmon, kind of. It's not my favorite fish, I find it a bit strong in taste. But if it has enough marinade or other flavors, I love it. I had a large chunk of salmon in the freezer and didn't feel like another filet so I mashed it up into these burgers and they were great! This recipe isn't exact - it's another attempt to replicate an item from Zola's menu, the restaurant where I worked in Ann Arbor. So if you're craving a burger but you're guilted into a healthy protein, try this!! It's great served with rice and veggies, a cold noodle salad or just on it's own...

1/2 lb fresh salmon (or less - depends on # of people and how big you want your burgers!)
(this should give you 2-3 large burgers)
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 egg beaten
1 green onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp soy sauce
1-2 tsp of chili garlic paste if you've got it
1/2 tsp rice vinegar
3-4 tbsp canola oil
Burger buns
Mayonnaise & more chili garlic paste to spread on the bun
Lettuce

1. Put the salmon in a food processor for a few pulses or chop the salmon finely and then mash a bit with a fork (this is how I do it). You don't want it pastey, be sure to see it a little chunky but mashed enough that it will stick together.

2. Put the salmon in a bowl and mix in the next 6 ingredients. If a little runny, add more breadcrumbs.

3. In a large skillet (cast iron works well but any pan will do), heat the oil on medium high. There should be enough oil in the pan to cover the bottom and a little more.

4. As the oil heats up, with your hands, make your patties and set aside. Be sure to make them like discs, not balls - you want them to cook evenly and all the way through without getting tough on the outside. As far as size - aim for the size of your buns!

5. Place the patties in the hot oil and cook a couple of minutes on each side and then flip. BE CAREFUL flipping - these things are fragile and will fall apart. You need to use your hands & spatula.

6. Dress your bun with mayonnaise and a little chili garlic paste or hot sauce if you've got it. Throw on a little lettuce.

7. Once the outside of the patties are golden brown on each side (flip only once!), remove from heat and place in your buns.

Singapore (Curry) Noodles

Paddy gave me a noodle cookbook for my bday (perhaps more of a present to himself than vice versa?!) so it's been noodles all the time... Be prepared to see oodles more noodles in the next few months as I make my way through the book. This one I love - incredibly easy and very tasty! I prefer to use very thin egg noodles but you're supposed to use rice noodles. It's up to you...

8oz thin egg noodles, rice vermicelli, or angel hair pasta (only if you have to!)
1/2 lb shrimp, or cubed or shredded chicken or pork
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small onion cut into thin wedges or rough chunks
1/2 cup peas
Handful of snow peas if you've got 'em, mushrooms also nice to add
2 tsp curry powder (or more depending on taste)
1 1/2 tsp fish sauce
1/4 cup cilantro
Salt & pepper

1. Boil a pot of water and cook the noodles until tender but firm. Once done, take them out and rinse in cold water.

2. In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil and cook the shrimp, chicken or pork.

3. When done, remove and set aside.

4. In same pan, add onion. Once tender, add the peas and any other vegetable you decide to use.

5. Add the noodles and the curry powder. Toss well until all noodles are yellow (you may decide to add more curry - I like mine fairly potent!). Add the shrimp/chicken/pork and stir with the noodles (tongs are handy for this).

6. Season with salt and pepper and serve once the noodles are nice and hot.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Potato Salad

Not much to say about potato salad other than...summer!

3-4 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 tbsp white vinegar
1 celery rib, chopped fine
2 tbsp minced red onion
3 tbsp sweet pickle relish
1/2 cup mayo
1/4 tsp dry mustard
2 large hard boiled eggs, cut into small pieces
salt and pepper

1. Place potatoes in a large saucepan with water so that potatoes are covered by an inch. Bring to a boil, add salt and cook until potatoes are tender (fork easily inserted).

2. Drain potatoes and transfer to a large bowl. Add vinegar and toss gently to combine. Let the potatoes sit for about 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together celery, onion, relish, mayo, mustard, and salt and pepper. Gently fold in the eggs.

4. Fold the mixture into the bowl with potatoes, cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hr.

Soy Citrus Scallops with Noodles & Veggies

Scallops have become my favorite seafood in the past few years. They are usually a dinner-out-only food for me and if they're on the menu, chances are, they'll be on my plate. But once and a while I make them for myself and I prefer them with asian sauces...this one is similar to the sea scallops served at East Coast Grill in Cambridge - one of my favorite restaurants.

3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce (or regular)
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 rounded tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp minced ginger
1/2 tsp chili garlic sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 lb sea scallops

1 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup snow peas
1 cup button or shitake mushrooms, roughly chopped
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 tsp oyster sauce (optional)

Handful of noodles - egg or udon work well.

1. In a small bowl, mix the first 7 ingredients together until the brown sugar has dissolved.

2. Pour the mixture into a shallow baking dish and add the scallops. Marinate for 4-5 minutes on each side.

3. While scallops are marinating, bring a pot of water to a boil and add salt. Add the noodles and cook until al dente. When done, drain and rinse with cold water. Mix in a little veg oil to keep the noodles from sticking.

4. Heat a large skillet on medium high heat (cast iron works well, on medium) and add a little oil to coat.

5. Place the scallops carefully in the pan and cook about 1 minute on each side or until just done. Reserve the marinade.

6. When the scallops are done, remove from pan and set aside on a plate.

7. Pour the vegetables into the pan and add the rest of the marinade (you can add a little oyster sauce here if you want). Cook on medium for a few minutes until the vegetables are cooked but crunchy and the marinade should reduce a bit as well.

8. When the vegetables are cooked, add the noodles back to the pan with them and mix well with the marinade. (add the scallops back in the pan for a quick few seconds to heat back up if they need it, but don't overcook them - they'll get rubbery fast!).

9. Serve the noodles and veggies on a plate with the scallops on top.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Summer Rolls

This is straight from a restaurant in Malden that we went to last weekend with a couple of friends. I've been planning to put up my recipe for these but just got this in my Daily Candy email and figured theirs is probably better!

1 package of twelve-inch round rice papers
12 large cooked and peeled shrimp, cut in half lengthwise
10 mint leaves
10 basil leaves
½ head of lettuce, shredded
½ package of thin rice noodles

1. Line up two sheets of rice paper, layering them one on top of the other.

2. Quickly dip them into a bowl of warm water.

3. Spread the moist rice paper onto a clean cutting board and flatten.

4. In the middle of the rice paper, layer two pieces of shrimp and top with one basil leaf and one mint leaf.

5. Add 1/6 of the lettuce and 1/6 of the rice noodles.

6. Tuck in top and bottom, then fold left and rights sides over the filling (like a burrito) and seal using a drop of water on your fingertip.


All Seasons’s Dipping Sauce

Ingredients
8 tbsp. hoisin sauce
4 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
4 tbsp. white sugar
1 tsp. sesame oil
2 tbsp. roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)
1 tsp. chili flakes (optional)

1. In a small bowl, mix hoisin sauce, vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil.

2. Top with roasted peanuts and chili flakes (optional).

3. Accept compliments gracefully; that’s just the way you roll.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Cod in Tomato Stew with Chorizo

I've recently started to love cod - I'm not sure why I never used to eat it. I prefer it in stews and other dishes rather than on its own since it holds well to other flavors. I keep a couple of large fillets in the freezer and 1lb of cod is perfect for this stew and feeds 2 people. Although this is hot, it's a good summer stew - fresh tasting with the tomatoes and cod and a little spicy and salty with the chorizo. Substitute the potatoes for a good crusty warm bread for dipping!!

1 medium to large leek, chopped
2 small (or 1 large) chorizo links, cut lengthwise and then into 1/4 inch pieces
4 medium red or yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
Olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 28oz (large) can of diced tomatoes (fire roasted is good!)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup water
1 lb cod fillet, cut into thirds or in half, or large cubes if you prefer

1. Put the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Boil until just soft and drain.

2. In a large pan with high sides or a dutch oven, heat the oil on medium heat.

3. Add the leeks and chorizo and saute until leeks are soft, stir occasionally.

4. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

5. Add the tomatoes and their juice, the wine, water, salt and pepper. Bring to boil on high heat. Add the potatoes then partially cover the pot, reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 10 minutes.

6. Season the cod with salt and pepper and lay on top of the stew. Spoon some of the tomatoes on top of the fish to help it cook. It should take about 5 minutes. Flip gently if you need to.

7. When the fish is done, it's ready to serve!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Summer Pasta

I love pasta, but red sauce is sometimes a little too much in the hot summer. This is a nice and light pasta dish with lots of room for fresh veggies. I prefer to use asparagus and love to add swish chard if I have it - it's a great alternative to spinach - you get the good vitamins and it holds up a little more in the hotness of the food. I like to use penne or rotini or some kind of pasta that can catch the ricotta.

Pasta - whatever kind you like, penne or rotini are good with this
2 tbsp olive oil
2 spicy chicken sausages
Handful of asparagus
2-3 shallots, chopped
4-5 baby bella mushrooms, quartered
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 cups swiss chard or kale, chopped, and if you have it
Salt and pepper

1. Start the pasta.

2. In a large pan (use one with deep sides if you have one), heat the olive oil on medium heat and add the sausage - cook until done.

3. When the sausage is done, remove from the pan and set aside. Add the asparagus to the pan and cook until just tender. When done, remove from heat and set aside with the sausage.

4. Add the shallots and garlic and mushrooms and cook until just soft. Don't burn the garlic.

5. Turn heat to medium high and add the wine and broth, scrape the bottom of the pan to get all the bits up. Simmer until reduced to half.

6. While liquid is simmering, chop the sausage into small pieces and chop the asparagus into bit sized pieces.

7. Add the swiss chard to the pan and stir until soft. Add the sausage and asparagus.

8. When pasta is done, set aside about a cup of pasta water and drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the pan and mix with the sausage and vegetables.There should be enough juice so that everything is well coated but you don't really want juice at the bottom of the pan. If it seems a little dry, add some of the water from the pasta.

8. Add the ricotta and mix until everything has a little ricotta on it. Again, you might want to add a little pasta water to help the ricotta mix in with the rest of the ingredients but be careful not to make it watery. If it is, just simmer until the water evaporates.

9. Add the basil, mix well again and it's ready to eat!

*good with a little grated romano on top.