Taste With The Eyes

Korean Soy-Braised Black Cod (Eun Daegu Jorim)

Korean Soy-Braised Black Cod
Eun Daegu Jorim

Eun Daegu (black cod) Jorim (a slightly-sweet soy-based braise) is a delicious and visually appealing dish that showcases the intricate balance of flavors and textures inherent in Korean cuisine. Luscious and silky black cod is simmered in the well-seasoned braise with garlic, ginger, red chile powder and red chile paste. The fish cooks along with radish and zucchini as they all absorb those savory-sweet-spicy-umami flavors. The garnishes add fresh, herbaceous, and fiery notes.

Korean Soy-Braised Black Cod (Eun Daegu Jorim)

This dish is easy to prepare, requiring simple techniques, yet it boasts a complexity of flavors that surpasses expectations. And the beauty of this Korean homestyle meal is that it can be prepared in a half hour with frozen black cod. No need to defrost overnight, nor use the quick-defrost method of submerging the fish in cold water for an hour. Nope. Just cook from frozen – the quality and texture of the fish are not compromised.

Korean Soy-Braised Black Cod (Eun Daegu Jorim)

Korean Soy-Braised Black Cod Recipe

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Nobu-Style Dry Miso Octopus Carpaccio

Nobu-Style Octopus Carpaccio
Dry Red Miso, Chives, Lemon Juice, Olive Oil

Dry Miso paired with lemon juice, olive oil, and snipped fresh chives results in an innovative 5-ingredient octopus carpaccio with that unmistakable Nobu touch. The dry miso adds texture, saltiness, and savory umami flavors to the dish.

Red miso paste is a fermented soybean paste with a deep, rich taste that anchors it as a cornerstone in Japanese cuisine. This miso undergoes a longer fermentation process, resulting in a darker hue and a more complex profile than white miso.

Red miso powder represents a creative twist on the traditional Japanese paste. This dehydrated gem captures the bold essence of classic red miso in a powder form, where it can be used in ways that a paste cannot.

Nobu-Style Dry Miso Octopus Carpaccio Recipe

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Lima Bean and Sauerkraut Soup

It isn’t the prettiest soup, but it sure is unique and flavorful and perfect for a cold weather meal. With plenty of sauerkraut left over from my Reuben Latkes, this Sauerkraut Soup was on the menu!

Sauerkraut soup, also known as kapuśniak in Polish, is a traditional Eastern European dish that features fermented cabbage as a key ingredient.

Kapuśniak typically contains a variety of vegetables such as carrots, onions, and potatoes. These vegetables add sweetness and depth to the soup. Instead of potatoes, this version features plump large lima beans. A good source of protein and fiber – large lima beans have a creamy texture, and a slightly sweet, buttery flavor.

Smoked sausage or kielbasa are often added to sauerkraut soup too, but this one is intentionally meatless. It’s a great comfort food, and many variations of the recipe exist, allowing for personal preferences and regional differences.

Dill is popular in Polish cuisine – bright and grassy, herbaceous and aromatic, fresh dill enhances the overall sensory experience of soup. And here, a generous dollop of sour cream balances out the sauerkraut. Homemade artisan bread with butter is the perfect accompaniment for dunking in the savory sour broth.

Lima Bean and Sauerkraut Soup

Lima Bean and Sauerkraut Soup Recipe

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Lavish Latkes

💙 Lavish Latkes 💙

Two Ways:
Caviar, Crème Fraîche, Chives
Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraîche, Grated Radish

My deli-style Reuben Latkes were a big hit earlier in the week, but for the grand finale, we’re serving Lavish Latkes. Crème fraîche has a luxurious, velvety texture that balances the crispy fried savory latkes with a smooth and rich mouthfeel and a mild tangy flavor. Generous individual servings of caviar and smoked salmon add to the extravagance. Chives and grated radish add color, texture, and a tasteful finishing flourish.

Hanukkah Table

The last night of Hanukkah is special because all eight candles on the menorah are lit, creating a beautiful display of light. It is a time for reflection on the significance of the holiday, the importance of religious freedom, and the enduring spirit of hope and resilience. 💙

Lavish Latkes

Note: Caviar harvested from sturgeon is not kosher according to Jewish dietary law, fish must have scales and fins to be considered so. Sturgeon do not have scales. Whitefish, bowfin, and salmon roe, as well as vegan caviar, are excellent kosher alternatives to sturgeon caviar.

Lavish Latkes Recipe

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Reuben Latkes

🥔 🧅 Reuben Latkes 🧅 🥔

Potato Latkes, Corned Beef
Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut with Caraway, Russian Dressing

Happy Hanukkah! 🕎

As far as symbolic foods go, potatoes fried in oil are pretty much everyone’s favorite. A jug of olive oil, which held enough oil to last for one day, burned for eight when the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated. So… we eat foods fried in olive oil to commemorate that ancient miracle. 🌟

This year my latkes are savory and loaded! First, I season them from the inside out, by adding everything-bagel-seasoning, sea salt & fresh ground pepper, and plenty chopped chives to the potato batter. The bagel seasoning contains poppy seeds, black & white sesame seeds, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, and flaked sea salt. No shortage of flavor there.

Then I’m topping those beautiful fried potato latkes with classic Reuben Sandwich ingredients – Swiss Cheese, Corned Beef, Sauerkraut, and Russian Dressing. The caraway seeds in the sauerkraut mimic the distinct flavor in our favorite Jewish rye bread.

Of course, we all love ❤️ plain applesauce and sour cream as traditional accompaniments but for 2023, I’m treating my guests to a flavor extravaganza, and serving Reuben-Style Latkes!