Meatless Archives - Page 60 of 64

heirloom tomato with truffle carpaccio

heirloom tomato

truffle carpaccio

parmigiano-reggiano

toasted buttered baguette

Truffle Carpaccio

la BOUTIQUE de la truffe

It would be dream-come-true to always have fresh truffles in my kitchen. Preserved truffles are the next best thing. Truffle Carpaccio is a preserved truffle product from Italy. It is made with summer truffles (tuber aestivum vitt), olive oil, and salt. It can be served on toast, tossed with olive oil and pasta, or for an intense flavor combination try a teaspoonful on top of a grilled rib-eye steak.

This makes a delightful first course: Slice heirloom tomatoes (blot excess moisture), place on a baking sheet, top with a little sea salt and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Place until the broiler until the cheese bubbles. Top each tomato with a teaspoon of truffle carpaccio. Serve with toasted buttered baguette, garnish with chives.

tomato & truffle carpaccio bruschetta

Toasted baguette rubbed with garlic, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with Parmigiano-Reggiano, and topped with chopped heirloom tomatoes tossed with truffle carpaccio and a little salt.

The truffle aroma is heavenly.

Gourmet Attitude in Manhattan is an importer of fresh truffles. They recently launched this line of truffle delicacies called “la BOUTIQUE de la truffe” which includes the Truffle Carpaccio, Truffle Honey, and White Truffle Cream. We paired the Truffle Honey with panko-crusted chicken breast and paired the White Truffle Cream with angel hair pasta. Truffle heaven!

Kristy’s Chèvre Chaud Salad

Chèvre Chaud

Mixed Baby Lettuces, Teardrop Tomatoes

Chopped Hard Boiled Egg, Toasted Pinenuts

Dijon Vinaigrette

Kristy’s Table Setting

Last May we traveled to Paris to celebrate my sister-in-law’s 40th birthday. And recently I went to visit my family in Chicago. Of course we had to get together and have a dinner party with “the gang who went to Paris for Kristy’s birthday weekend.” And I was more than happy to be the chef.

PARIS REUNION

Le Menu

Pommery Brut Champagne

Starter

couer de boeuf heirloom tomato

truffle carpaccio

parmigiano-reggiano

toasted buttered baguette

Salade

“Kristy’s Salad”

chevre chaud, mixed lettuces, toasted pinenuts,

hard cooked egg, teardrop tomatoes

dijon vinaigrette

Puligny Montrachet 2006 Domaine Carillon

Plat Principal

grilled portobello muchroom

sautéed veal medallion

wild mushroom agnolotti

pinor nior veal stock reduction

fried sage

Domaine Serene “Evenstad Reserve” 2006 Pinot Noir

Le Dessert

fresh peaches

puff pastry filled with peach jam and brie

a drizzle of honey

whipped crème fraîche

Kristy’s Chèvre Chaud Salad

Form goat cheese into medallions and refrigerate. Dip chilled goat cheese medallion in a beaten egg, then in panko breadcrumbs. Fry in hot peanut oil turning once. When the breadcrumbs are golden, transfer to paper towel. Season with sea salt.

My favored Dijon Vinaigrette comes from Jacques Pepin:

2 tsp chopped garlic
3 Tbs Dijon-style mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/4 c red or white wine vinegar
1 c extra virgin olive oil

I also a 2 tsp minced shallot.
Put all ingredients in a jar, screw on the lid, and shake very well.

This salad is named for my sister-in-law Kristy. Several years ago I made this salad for her and it became one of her favorites. Now, like enjoying a Chicago-style hot dog or having lunch at Joe’s Stone Crab, this salad is also one of our culinary traditions. I make it every time I come to town.

Haricots Verts with Goat Butter, Sublime!

Steamed Haricots Verts

Melting Goat Butter

Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper

Toss and serve.

This ain’t your ordinary “green beans with butter.”

A couple years ago we had a magnificent dinner at Alinea, the amazing cutting-edge restaurant of Chef Grant Achatz in Chicago. In addition to all the mind-blowing courses, one small but totally memorable attention to detail stood out, the butter. Goat Butter. And I have been searching for it ever since. Pure white. Softer than cow’s butter at room temperature. Very subtle yet intriguing chèvre flavors. Recently I was ecstatic to find Cabrima Goat Butter at Whole Foods Market!

From the Netherlands,

Cabrima goat butter is made from fresh Dutch goat milk.

Produced by churning the fresh, pasteurized goat cream. The composition of goat butter has a lower melting point than regular butter, making it easy spreadable. Goat butter does not contain carotene, so the product possesses a clear, white color. (from Cabrima website here)

Goat cheese lovers, you will be in heaven!

Carrot Salad with Red Beans, Miso Dressing

Shredded Carrots, Napa Cabbage, Red Beans,

Snap Peas, Scallions, Sunflower Seeds, Cilantro

Miso Dressing

These beans are Salvadorian Red Beans, quite similar to kidney beans, but smaller. I cook them in water over medium-low heat with a bay leaf, salt, and a smashed clove of garlic. These beans do not need to soak, so they can be ready in about an hour.

Perhaps you’ve participated in The Well-Seasoned Cook’s My Legume Love Affair event? Now in its 14th edition! I am sending my Carrot Salad with Red Beans over to Susan along with hearty congratulations for her on-going super successful event. If you are looking for bean inspiration, My Legume Love Affair is the place to go! It was my pleasure to host the event last May, so many unique and tasty legume dishes were shared here.

Dressing:

2 t. Miso (I use Akamiso, red soybean paste)
1/2 c. Toasted Sesame Oil
2 T. Seasoned Rice Wine Vinegar
2 t. Soy Sauce (low-sodium)
2 t. Fresh Yuzu (or lemon) Juice
2 t. Minced Ginger

Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Taste, and adjust ingredients to your liking as some miso is more salty than others, you might even want to add a little sugar. Toss with shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, red beans, snap peas, sliced scallions, sunflower seeds, and cilantro.

I brought this salad to my friend

Sal The Real Estate Gal’s

Orange House Party

A nice but unfortunately-painted house went on the market. And although the house has many fine features, including a porch with an ocean view, it is, alas, bright orange. My friend Sally McDonald is a fabulous realtor (I bought and sold a house with her) and she is terrific at marketing and entertaining. Here, instead of ignoring the fact that the house was orange, she held an Orange Party, where everyone brought orange food and wore the color orange. She served mimosas and apricot beer. We had a blast, and I especially enjoyed meeting lots of new people from our neighborhood.

A sale is now pending on the orange house!

Could it be as a result of the Orange Party?

Thanks for the great time, Sal!

And hello to all my new San Pedro friends!

Broccolini

Broccolini, Torn Ciabatta Croutons, Garlic, Red Pepper Flakes

Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale. It is also known as asparation (a name derived from its mild asparagus flavor) and baby broccoli (although it is not an immature version of broccoli).

Cook trimmed broccolini in boiling salted water for 4 minutes.

Meanwhile heat olive oil in a large pan and cook minced garlic and red pepper flakes for about one minute.

To make the croutons: Tear day old ciabatta into pieces, toss with olive oil and dried herbs of your choice. I used Herbes de Provence. Bake in a 250° oven until crisp. Break up larger pieces with a mallet.