New Korean Salad: Chrysanthemum Greens, Chestnut, Persimmon

korean salad, persimmon salad
Fresh Chrysanthemum Greens, Roasted Chestnut
Semi-Dried Hachiya Persimmon, Fresh Fuyu Persimmon Wedges
Toasted Sesame Vinaigrette
Pomegranate Arils, Toasted Pine Nuts, Roasted Laver

Inspiration from two separate dining experiences sparked the idea for creation of this delightful salad. First, an outstanding meal at Jun Won in LA, a gem of a restaurant that features regional Korean cooking from the province of Chungcheongnam-do. I was captivated by their salad of chrysanthemum greens (sukgat) with chestnut jelly. A week later we attended an event highlighting the “Tastes of the Korean Forest” including sanchae (wild vegetables grown in the mountains), oak mushroom, chestnut, and persimmon.

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Mashed Potato. Chestnut. Nutmeg. Butter.

mashed potato and chestnut

Mashed Potato. Chestnut. Nutmeg. Butter.

Mashed potatoes with a heavenly creamy nuttiness where the chestnut lends a muted sweetness and the nutmeg, a warm spicy perfume. How in the world did such a sublime combination of everyday ingredients elude me for decades? Mashed Potato. Chestnut. Nutmeg. Butter. (Plus a bit of light cream for the mash, salt and pepper). It’s a glorious side dish.

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Braised (sustainable) Halibut Tagine, Global Flavors

 braised alaskan halibut, global flavors

Braised (sustainable) Halibut Tagine
Wild Alaskan Halibut Steak
Served over Couscous
Chestnut, Asian Pear, Dried Jujube, Sweet Potato, Daikon & Carrot Stew
Sesame, Pine Nut & Green Onion Garnish

seafood watch app

Natasha, the 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro of Lazaro Cooks! host the 5 Star Makeover Cooking Group, a fabulous monthly event for “sharing ideas and creating gourmet makeovers of selected classic dishes or flavor combinations.”

March’s assignment is Sustainable Fish: “Sustainability is an important issue for us and what better way to get the word out than by cooking some amazing sustainable fish on all our blogs. You can prepare the whole fish or portions, featuring a makeover of any classical preparation of fish, just find a sustainable fish and make it shine.”

A Best Choice: Halibut, Pacific
Seafood Watch App for Android and iPhone here.

seafood watch app

Halibut, Pacific
Rating: Best Choice
Most Pacific halibut is caught with bottom longlines that cause little habitat damage and have low levels of accidental catch.
The Pacific halibut fisheries of Alaska, Washington, and Oregon are certified as sustainable to the standard of the Marine Stewardship Council.
Market Name: Alaskan Halibut

braised alaskan halibut, global flavor halibut

I have fallen in love with hansik – Korean Food. Here we employ the ingredients of the classic Korean Braised Short Rib Stew,  Galbi Jim, and create a unique dish featuring sustainable Alaskan halibut.

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Autumn Antiquity Soup

Autumn Antiquity Soup…

…is a soup where spelt is the star – along with chestnuts, tomatoes, pancetta, onion, beef broth, parsley and thyme. It is a perfect Autumn soup, a transition soup, with deep earthy flavors and rich colors, yet the broth is not heavy at all, saving those really hearty soups for the colder weather months ahead. The soup is brightened with a dollop of tangy non-fat Greek yogurt and a drizzle of fruity olive oil.

Spelt Berries – Whole Kernels of Grain

Spelt is the grain from antiquity, the non-hybrid primitive relative of our present day wheat dating back more than 9000 years with a nutty flavor and an intriguing chewy texture.

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