Sweet & Tangy Marinated Tofu Bowl w. Pickled Strawberries

In my world, there is one rule for cooking: cook smarter not harder…

so when you make this recipe, it’s basically like making lunch WHILE doing meal prep. Convenient, eh? (If you have low spoons, there are tweaks for you too!).

The reality is, so many people I talk to are simply sick of cooking, and it’s a daily chore they handle with varying levels of exasperation. Some are driven by the simple need to get fuel into their body, while others trudge through mealtime, bored & wishing they had more motivation, energy and creativity to cook tastier meals.

My cooking ethos is simple; making meals that pack restaurant quality flavor at home, should be easier. It should be more accessible. And it should be less exhausting. This recipe embodies those principles.

A combination of a few simple ingredients, given a tiny bit of extra TLC, can (and will) blow you away. And if I am ever going to present you with a recipe that involves many ingredients and numerous steps, I promise it’s because it’s going to pay off.

Making a large batch of each of this dishes numerous components means you’ll have delicious food to reach for all week long. From a crunchy quinoa topping you will want to put on everything, to tangy pickled strawberries that will blow your mind, to simple savory lentils that will help keep you fed. And when you sit down to enjoy how this orchestra of flavors and textures comes together in one bowl, you’re going to be SO glad you trusted me on this.

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Sweet and Tangy Marinated Tofu Lentil Bowl with Pickled Strawberries

4-6 servings (store each component individually for ideal use throughout the week)

• 1 cup lentils of choice, or 1 cup pre-cooked lentils

• 1 cup rinsed quinoa, or 1 cup pre-cooked quinoa

• 14 oz block of extra firm or firm tofu

• 1/3 cup coconut aminos or tamari (soy sauce works too)

• 1.5 Tbsp rice vinegar

• 3/4 Tbsp honey, brown sugar or maple syrup

• 1/2-1 medium garlic clove, finely grated

• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated

• 1 tsp Mr. Bing sriracha, or to taste

• 1/2 lb (8 oz) of firm, clean strawberries 

• 1 cup white balsamic or other mild vinegar like rice vinegar

• 1 tsp sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 small bunch scallions

• 1 mild or hot red pepper, Thai chili 

• 1 small ripe avocado 

• Extra virgin oil

Prep Lentils

If not using pre-cooked lentils, which is a great time-saving hack, start by cooking 1 cup of lentils in a pot according to package directions. You can prepare more if you want an extra big batch for a large household or to freeze some.

Prep Quinoa

While lentils cook, prepare quinoa (again, if you have low spoons use a pre-cooked option). Cook at least 1 cup so you have leftovers. Once the quinoa is cooked, drizzle with olive oil.

Pre-heat an air fryer or your oven to 400F. Lay quinoa out in a single even layer (on air fryer insert/basket with a piece of parchment, or on a sheet pan) and toast for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 or so minutes, until crispy and dark golden brown. Toss with sea salt when hot and store in a Tupperware.

Prep Marinated Tofu

Drain liquid from tofu packaging & then to remove additional excess liquid, microwave tofu in a bowl for 2 minutes.

Pour out any released liquid, then press tofu under a heavy object between 2 sheets of paper towels another 15-30 minutes. Then cut tofu into small squares and in a bowl, marinate with below ingredients: 

• 1/3 cup coconut aminos or tamari (soy sauce works too)

• 1.5 Tbsp rice vinegar

• 3/4 Tbsp honey, brown sugar or maple syrup

• 1/2-1 medium garlic clove, finely grated

• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated

• 1 tsp Mr. Bing Sriracha, or to taste

Marinate for at least 10-15 minutes. Then top with 1/2 cup scallions cut on the bias, and 1/4 cup red chili cut on the bias, adjusting the amount of chili for how hot your pepper is. Store in the fridge up to 5 days.

Final Step: Prep Pickled Strawberries

While that marinates, to a 12 oz mason jar, add:

• 1/2 lb (8 oz) of firm, thoroughly cleaned strawberries with tops removed, cut in halves and quarters if large

• 1 cup white balsamic or other mild vinegar like rice vinegar

• 1 tsp sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 

Let strawberries pickle for 15-30 mins and then strain from pickling liquid. Store strawberries in the fridge and use within 2-3 days to avoid mushiness. Pickling liquid can be stored separately in the fridge up to 7 days, and used as a salad dressing, or re-used to pickle more strawberries.  

Build Your Bowl
YOU DID IT! It’s time to build your delicious bowl!

Cut open a ripe avocado and, carefully, using a sharp knife, cut thin strips into the avocado horizontally, then vertically, leaving you with small squares to be spooned into your bowl.

First lay down a bed of lentils. Top with marinated tofu and a spoonful or two of the marinade. Add your avocado and finish with pickled strawberries and plenty of crispy quinoa. Add a drizzle of sriracha if desired & enjoy! 

*This recipe includes links to my Amazon store which earns commission that supports my recipe development. I only recommend products I truly love!

Birria Nachos w. Avocado Crema & Pickled Onions

Nachos are my idea of a good time.

In fact, I’d say they are one of my favorite meals of all time and I’ll explain why…

First, a bit of nacho history: nachos really do originate in Northern Mexico, and these traditional nachos are a simple, exquisite experience. My nachos, however, are closer to the Tex-Mex variety most of us have come to know and love.

Now let’s get back to my love affair with nachos: they are an explosion of messy toppings that embodies everything I love about food. When I tell people I’m a chef or that I write recipes they always ask, “What’s your favorite thing to cook?”. The answer is simple. Anything that has layers of flavor.

And the best nachos are inherently a multi-layered flavor experience, with each chip carrying a world of flavor on it’s crispy surface and each bite a choose your own adventure of toppings. Nachos are an endless pursuit of joyous flavor, which is why this recipe gets easy at the end — once your sauces are done. Then you can kick back, relax & get to exploring your flavor masterpiece.

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Birria Nachos with Avocado Crema and Pickled Onions

• 1 large bag of Vista Hermosa Totopos, or sturdy Tortilla Chip of choice

• Trader Joe’s Birria (or homemade birria or any cooked protein / veg of choice)

• Shredded low-moisture mozzarella or shredded cheddar cheese

For Avocado Crema

• 1-2 Tbsps Sour cream, plain yogurt, crema etc

• 3-4 limes

• 1 tsp salt, to taste 

• 1 Avocado

• 1/2 - 1 cup loosely packed fresh Cilantro, washed

For Pico de Gallo

• 16-20 cherry tomatoes, halved or 1 large tomato, diced 

• 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced

• 1 lime

• Fresh cilantro to taste, finely chopped

For Homemade Queso (from Homer Murray’s recipe)

• 8 ounces cheddar cheese, grated

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

• 1 cup heavy cream

• ¼ cup finely chopped pickled jalapeños

• 2 tablespoons hot sauce

• Kosher salt, to taste

OPTIONAL: Pickled Onions

• 1/2 medium red onion, sliced into thin half rounds

• 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup water (enough to fully submerge onions)

• 2-3 tsps sugar/honey

• 2-3 tsps salt

• 1 mason jar or tupperware

Start by prepping your salsas. They really do come together quickly and will keep in your fridge for leftovers, or for eating with other meals throughout the week!

To a blender or food processor add: 1-2 Tbsps sour cream, plain yogurt or crema, juice of 3-4 limes, 1 tsp salt, 1 avocado and 1/2 - 1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro. Blend until smooth. Adjust salt as desired.

Make your pico. To a medium bowl or tupperware add: 16-20 cherry tomatoes cut in half (or 1 large tomato, diced),  1/2 medium red onion, finely diced, juice of 1 lime, along with chopped fresh cilantro and salt to taste.

If you are opting to make pickled onions which uses some basic pantry staples: cut the remaining half of your red onion into thin half rounds and add to a jar or tupperware with 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup water (or enough to fully submerge onions), 2-3 tsps sugar/honey and 2-3 tsps salt.

The last thing to do is make the homemade queso, which I PROMISE is worth the extra steps!! In a medium saucepan but off the heat, toss 8 ounces of grated cheddar cheese with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. Transfer the saucepan to your stovetop over medium heat and immediately add 1 cup heavy cream, ¼ cup finely chopped pickled jalapeños and 2 tablespoons hot sauce. Stir constantly as the cheese melts. When cheese has fully melted, salt to taste if needed and reduce the heat to low, stirring only occasionally as you warm up your birria.

Follow the package instructions to reheat birria in the microwave, or on the stovetop. Then place a piece of parchment down onto a sheet tray to build your nachos, starting with a layer of chips and then your birria beef, using a slotted spoon to pull out the whole pieces of beef from the liquid (keep the liquid for dipping at the end). Then, drizzle on your warm homemade queso before adding another layer of chips, birria and nacho cheese. Finally, finish with some grated low-moisture mozzarella or cheddar and place in your oven under the broiler on high for 1-3 minutes, keeping an eye so the nachos don’t burn. You just want to get your cheese all melty.

When the nachos come out, top with your pickled onions, pico de gallo and avocado crema. Serve birria liquid and extra queso on the side for dipping.

Green Pasta w. Citrus Panko "Grattato"

Who doesn’t love a 2-for-1 jackpot?

Yes, this pasta sauce is a perfect way to use up the greens you forgot about in the bottom drawer. But, the magic is you get to walk away with dinner done AND a snackable spinach dip — ready to go for your nibbling pleasure — that comes together in about 30 seconds from the remnants of your sauce. You should know, too, that this recipe has a special place in my heart; an ode to the very first recipe I ever wrote back in 2017. This dish is steeped in personal history, and I hope it feels like a warm hug of gratitude when it reaches you.

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Green Pasta with Citrus Panko "Grattato"

Serves 2-3

• ½ 9 oz bag raw spinach, 4-5 oz

• 1 small bunch raw kale, 6-7 leaves

• 2 Tbsps of cottage cheese, or vegan alternative 

• 1 heaping Tbsp goat cheese, or vegan alternative

• ½ anchovy fillet

• 4-5 scallion ends, or 1-2 cloves garlic

• 1 whole lemon

• 10 - 12 oz Pipette

• Grated fresh pecorino, or parmesan  

• Kosher salt, to taste

• Olive oil

Optional, Panko Grattato:

• 2-3 Tbsps olive oil, butter or vegan alternative

• ½ - ¾ cup panko

• 2 garlic cloves, grated

• Pinch of chili flakes

Pan Grattato Instructions

If you plan to make the breadcrumbs (which are optional but SO good & easy), to a pan add 3 Tbsps EVOO & 2 cloves grated garlic. Place over low heat just until garlic is fragrant, 1 minute. Add ½ - ¾ cup panko. Turn up heat and stir constantly, until panko is browned all over. Remove from heat & add salt & chili flakes, to taste.

Sauce Instructions

Start a large pot, 3-4 quarts of water, over a high heat to boil. Wash spinach & kale, if needed. Remove kale leaves from tough stem.

When water boils, add 2 tsps salt. To boiling water, add kale and using tongs or a large spoon, press down to submerge. After 1 minute, add spinach and submerge. After another minute, do not drain pot into the sink — remove spinach from the boiling water using a slotted spoon, tongs or spider strainer, placing blanched greens directly into a blender or food processor.

When all greens are removed from the boiling water, immediately add 10-12 oz pipette, cooking 7-8 minutes until al dente, or follow package instructions for the pasta you’re making.

To the blender with the greens, add 1.5 Tbsps EVOO, 2 Tbsps Cottage Cheese, 1 Tbsp goat cheese, ½ anchovy fillet (more if you like anchovy), 5-6 scallion ends (1-2 garlic cloves if you don’t have). When the pasta is almost done, add 2-3 large spoonfuls of pasta into the blender, along with juice of ½ a lemon and blend until smooth. Salt to taste.

Strain cooked pasta & place back into the empty pot. Place the strainer over the pot & pour about half of the blended sauce into the strainer. Using the back of a large spoon, press down until all the liquid has been strained into the pasta. Set aside what remains of the “pulp” from the cooked greens.

Add the remaining blended sauce to the pasta, top with fresh pecorino, lemon zest, plus panko grattato if you opted to make it.

BONUS DISH: Take what remains of your “pulp” from the cooked greens, add 3-4 Tbsps sour cream, cottage cheese, plain yogurt, labne or vegan alternative. Mix, salt to taste and serve as a take on spinach dip!

Farfalline in Carrot Miso Sauce

This 7-ingredient recipe (okay, 8!), is hygge for your tastebuds.

It's an umami, veg-packed farfelline that is like a cozy middle ground between soup and pasta. And it's a perfect opportunity to use up carrots that spent a few days too many in the bottom drawer. Trust me when I say, you need to make this.

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Farfalline in Carrot Miso Sauce

Serves 2

• 1 small bunch tri-color carrots, like Cal-Organic

• 1/4 cup broth (veg, bone, chicken — any kind works), adding more as needed

• 2 whole garlic cloves

• 2 Tbsps Shiro Miso, or other miso paste

• 1-2 Tbsps Butter or vegan alternative

• Parmigiano-Reggiano or vegan alternative like nutritional yeast

• 1 cup Farfelline

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Kosher salt, to taste

Preheat your oven to 400F and start a pot of water to boil for your pasta.

Rinse + peel your carrots and place on a baking sheet.

Then in the microwave, melt 1 Tbsp of butter or vegan alternative. To your warm butter, mix in 2 Tbsps of Shiro miso, or other miso paste.

Coat your carrots evenly all over with your butter and miso marinade, then top with 1-2 whole crushed garlic cloves. Roast carrots in the oven until carrots are tender all the way through, 10-20 minutes or more, depending on the thickness of your carrots.

Place roasted carrots and whole garlic in a blender or food processor along with 1/4 cup of broth and blend until smooth.

Salt your boiling pasta water, add farfalline and cook until al-dente, 5-6 minutes. In the meantime, add 2-3 spoonfuls of your starchy pasta water to the blended carrot sauce, along with 1/2 cup of loosely packed, freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano or vegan alternative, like nutritional yeast.

Blend to combine, taste and add salt, only if needed.

To your cooked, strained pasta, mix in another Tbsp of butter along with another 1/4-1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano (or vegan alt), lots of freshly ground black pepper and your carrot sauce.

Adjust the thickness of your sauce by adding more bone broth as needed. Finish with cheese and pep, and enjoy!

Olive & Lemon Fazzoletti (Handkerchief Pasta)

Hear me out. Have you ever craved a food that evokes the feeling of a place?

Nothing compares, in my opinion, to pillowy, perfectly cooked fresh tagliatelle… or better yet, fazzoletti.

These squares of fresh pasta turn into blankets of flavor, carrying delicious ingredients into your mouth like a magic carpet.

And perhaps this pasta shape is not for everyone, but for me, in these early days of a so-far rainy summer, I’ve spent my nights laying in bed envisioning myself on the Italian seaside in Luguria - the place where the dish was born.

This dish quells my longing for the feeling of the sun. The bright flavors, warm air & sea-salty wine of the Italian Riviera.

Pre-made, fast cooking fresh lasagna sheets bring this meal together quickly, while still maintaining the feel of restaurant quality. It has BIG flavor (like most of my recipes), and the combination of briney olives & lemon zest bring you straight to the Italian seaside. At least I hope so. Buon’appetito!

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Olive & Lemon Fazzoletti (Handkerchief Pasta)

Serves 2-3

• 6 Rana Lasagne Sheets, 1 package

• 1 pint container Sungold or orange cherry tomatoes

• 3-4 finely minced garlic cloves

• 1/2 cup pitted Italian green olives, preferably Sicilian-style like Castelvetrano

• 1.5 Tbsp butter

• 1 whole lemon, washed well for zesting

• 3 Tbsps fresh ricotta

• 1.5 Tbsps crushed, diced shelled pistachios

• Extra virgin olive oil

• Coarse kosher salt

• OPTIONAL: red chili flakes for heat

Start a large pot with 2.5 Qt of water to boil, adding 2 Tbsp of salt so that water tastes noticeably salty.

Cut all 6 of the lasagna sheets from the package in half and set aside.

Start by prepping all of your ingredients: finely mince 3-4 garlic cloves. Rinse the entire pint of cherry tomatoes & cut into quarters. Loosely mince olives, until you have about 1/2 cup loosely packed. Loosely chop a handful of shelled pistachios.

To a large flat-bottomed sauté pan, add a big glug of olive oil and place over medium heat. After a minute, add the minced garlic, cooking up to two minutes, until garlic is very fragrant.

Next add all of the cherry tomatoes, cooking down 5-8 minutes until jammy, lowering the heat as needed so as not to burn the garlic.

Finally, add the minced olives and red chili flakes if you want them. Stir to combine. Lower the heat while you prepare the pasta.

Carefully add your half lasagna sheets to the boiling water. Occasionally push the sheets down into the water as they cook because they will want to float to the surface. Let boil about 5-8 minutes or until cooked through (you can cut off a small corner of a sheet to taste).

While the pasta cooks, add three pats of butter, about 1.5 Tbsp, to the pan with the olive & tomato mixture. Add two to three small ladles full of pasta water (don’t add too much liquid!). Stir to combine, creating a silky emulsified sauce.

Taste and salt to taste if needed, but the olives should bring most of the salt and brine.

When the pasta sheets are ready, drop them directly into the pan with the sauce, carefully tossing so as not to break them. If they rip a little, that’s totally okay.

Plate the noodles, spooning extra of the tomato & olive sauce on top. Finish each plate of pasta with a heaping scoop of ricotta, the crushed pistachios and plenty of lemon zest.

Roasted Squash Burrata Sandwich w. Pickled Shallots & Calabrian Chilis

This is the kind of sandwich you never forget…

One of those meals that stays with you long after you’ve taken the last bite. As you clean crumbs from the corners of your mouth, the sweet sting of Calabrian chilis reverberates and the umami acid of pickled shallots lingers. This sandwich is a flavor orchestra you’ll want to revisit again & again.

I won’t be shy in laying it out for you — this warm sandwich is the perfect messy meal for a day spent at home on a blustery winter day, alone or in the company of someone who won’t judge you for licking creamy burrata from your fingers with reckless abandon. Turned on yet? You should be.

P.S. Can you tell I’m writing this in the saucy, sexy spirit of Valentine’s Day?

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Roasted Squash Burrata Sandwich with Pickled Shallots and Calabrian Chilis

1 SANDWICH

• 2 slices of good sourdough

• 1 small-medium Robin’s Koginut squash or Butternut squash (squash can be roasted 2-3 days ahead)

• 1 ball of fresh burrata

• 1 small-medium shallot

• 1-2 whole Calabrian chilis, or 1-2 Tbsps Calabrian chili spread

• Fresh or dried oregano

• Garlic powder

• 4 oz white vinegar

• 2 oz Rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, white balsamic or white wine vinegar

• Coarse kosher salt

• 1 Tbsp. Sugar, any kind

• Extra virgin olive oil

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Balsamic vinegar

Note: Both squash and pickled shallots can be made 2-3 days ahead of time, cutting sandwich prep time in half.

Preheat oven to 400F. Cut your squash into 4 quarters and remove seeds. Drizzle inner flesh side of each piece with olive oil and rub to coat evenly. Sprinkle with fresh or dried oregano, freshly ground black pepper, salt and garlic powder. Don’t be afraid to eyeball your seasoning! Place skin side down on a baking sheet and into the oven for 20 mins.

Before preparing sandwiches, remove burrata from the fridge to come to room temperature while you prepare the other ingredients, and same for the squash if you have pre-roasted it.

In the meantime, pickle your shallots: in a 12 oz jar, add 4 oz of white vinegar and 2 oz of another milder, sweet vinegar like, apple cider, rice, white balsamic or white wine vinegar. Add 1 Tbsp of any kind of sugar and 1 Tbsp of salt. Put a lid on the jar and shake until salt and sugar have disappeared into the vinegar. Using a sharp knife, cut off both the top and bottom of the shallot, then cut in half lengthwise. From there slice the shallot thinly into half rounds, like this. Add half rounds to the jar with vinegar. Press shallots down into the jar, packing tightly. If shallots are not completely covered by the liquid, top with a little extra mild vinegar until covered. Pickled shallots will last stored in the fridge up to a week, or more.

After 20 mins, you will want to check that your squash is cooking evenly, then roast for another 15-20 minutes, until flesh is fork tender. When your squash is finished roasting, place to the side to cool.

If you are using whole Calabrian chiles, cut two chilies into thin rounds. Remove fresh burrata from it’s liquid and gently cut into quarters, being mindful not to let the inner stracciatella and cheese drip out. Finally, remove skin from the cooled squash, either before storing or before making sandwiches.

Prep the bread: drizzle both sides of two slices with olive oil. Then place into a warm pan, and leave 2-5 minutes per side without disturbing, until brown and golden. If you are using a stainless pan, add a splash of olive oil to the warm pan first, then add bread.

When bread is ready, it’s time to build the sandwich:

First, place down Calabrian chili spread, if you’re using that. Then place down your squash, pressing it lightly into the bread. To each side, add a few pickled shallots. Next, your quarters of burrata. Finally, if using whole Calabrian chilis, add those on top. To the inside of the creamy burrata, add a splash of your best quality olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, fresh ground black pepper, and finish with a drizzle of good balsamic vinegar. Enjoy open faced, or close your sandwich and cut in half.

Tacos w. Slow Roasted Cod in Avocado Tomatillo Salsa

This hobby led to my favorite meal of the moment…

At the bookstore I’m that person idling with 10 cookbooks at my feet, slowly flipping through one at a time. I’ll never take any of them home with me, but I like to grab flickers of flavor inspiration & soak up inventive ingredient combinations.

Recently at the McNally Jackson Bookstore in Williamsburg I was flipping through Molly Baz’s Cook This Book when something caught my eye: a crunchy tostada, tender fish, a vibrant green salsa-ish. And I knew I had to make my own. That night these tacos were born and I simply cannot get enough of them. Don’t let the recipe intimidate you: it’s just a bit of easy prep work you can totally handle while sipping your favorite drink & chatting with a friend. The fish cooks in 15 minutes and then you’ll be happily feasting on these bright, spicy & creamy tacos that will (hopefully) blow your mind.

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Tacos with Slow Roasted Cod in Avocado Tomatillo Salsa

Serves 2-3

• 6 Tortillas, I strongly recommend Trader Joe’s Corn and Wheat Tortillas

• Hot sauce, I like it with Trader Joe’s Habanero Hot Sauce

For Fish

• 2-3 filets of fresh cod, 3/4 lb total

• 3 garlic cloves, grated or very finely minced

• 1.5 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil

• Approx. 1 tsp Coarse kosher salt

For Avocado Tomatillo Salsa

• 1 medium - large avocado

• 3-4 limes (sometimes they don’t render much juice so I like to buy extra)

• 3 small-medium tomatillos

• 1 small bunch cilantro (here’s what to do with leftover cilantro)

• 2 large garlic cloves

• A splash of olive oil if needed to loosen the salsa

For Quick Pickled Veg

• 1/2 cup white vinegar

• 1/4-1/2 cup sweet vinegar, like white balsamic or sherry vinegar (rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or ACV also work)

• 1/2 tsp coarse salt

• 1/2 tsp sugar (any kind will work)

• 1-2 small Persian cucumbers, cleaned and cut into thin rounds

• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced into half moons

• 1 red thai chili, with seeds if you want it hotter, or use a __ if you don’t like hot pepper

Chipotle Mayo Drizzle

• 2 Tbsps mayonnaise

• 1 small can chipotle en adobo, usually in the International aisle of your grocery store or hot sauce of choice

Turn your oven on to 300 F. Take 3/4 lb cod out of the fridge to bring to room temp. You can also opt to quickly sear your cod in a hot pan with a bit of oil.

In the meanwhile, let’s make our quick pickle. to a large jar add about 1/2 cup white vinegar and then fill the jar to the 3/4 mark with another sweeter variety of vinegar like white balsamic or sherry vinegar. If you have neither, rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar will do. Pour all of your liquid into a small bowl.

To the vinegar in the bowl add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp sugar. Stir well until dissolved into the vinegar (you can also do this in a small saucepan over low heat if you want to speed up the dissolving process).

In the meantime, to the empty jar add:

• 1-2 Persian or mini hothouse cucumbers, cut into thin rounds

• 1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced into half moons

• 1 red thai chili, with seeds if you want it hotter, or use a __ if you don’t like hot pepper

Finally, pour your vinegar into the jar over the vegetables. If you heated the vinegar, allow it to cool before adding back to your jar.

Now, to make the avocado tomatillo salsa - the magic behind this recipe. Lightly oil a stainless steel pan, cast iron pan or cast iron griddle with a neutral oil (avocado, sunflower, safflower, canola, etc). Place over medium heat. Cut three tomatillos in half and two garlic cloves in half, and lay flat side down in your pan. It should be sizzling. Sear until browned, then flip and sear another few minutes on the other side. We’re looking to get browning on the garlic and a little char on the tomatillos (they may soften and that’s totally okay). When sufficiently charred remove from the pan carefully using tongs, set aside and turn off the pan. 

Get out a blender or food processor. To the bowl of the blender add large handful of cilantro with stems, half your avocado, juice of 1-2 limes (you can always add more later), and finally the charred tomatillos and garlic. Blend until smooth and then add a pinch or two of salt, tasting until it hits the sweet spot. This salsa should be citrusy and bright, so if you only used one lime consider adding another. Add to a jar and set aside.

It’s time to cook your fish: place your fish filets in an oven safe skillet or baking dish. Drizzle with 1.5 Tbsps olive oil, 1 tsp of coarse kosher salt (use less if you have fine salt), and 3 very finely minced or grated garlic cloves. Rub the filets with the salt, garlic and olive oil so they are evenly coated. 

Place in the oven and roast for 12-20 minutes, depending on the size of your fish filets. You want it to be flaky and tender, so try to avoid overcooking. If smaller filets finish first, transfer them to a plate and place on a plate tented with aluminum foil. When all of the fish is done, transfer it onto the plate.

While the fish cooks, your final steps to prepare:

• This is optional but really makes the dish spectacular so I recommend it. In a small ramekin or bowl, add 1 tsp chipotle en adobo or hot sauce with 2 Tbsp mayonnaise and juice of 1/2 a lime. Mix until combined. You could also use a pre-made chipotle mayo but homemade is way better.

• Warm your tortillas: you can do this in the microwave with this trick, but I like to warm mine over the small to medium burner on my stovetop carefully using tongs. Keep the flame low but not so low that it doesn’t reach the tortilla. It may need 30 seconds - 1 minute on each side. Look for a little charring and that it’s warm. Transfer to a plate as you warm the tortillas and cover with a clean kitchen towel or foil.

• Take the other 1/2 of the avocado leftover from making the salsa, peel the skin off the outside, lay flat side down and dice. Add to a bowl to serve with the tacos.

It’s time to serve. Uncover the covered fish and using a fork, gently flake it apart into small pieces. Drizzle with plenty of your avocado tomatillo salsa. Then build your tacos - a little fish, a drizzle of chipotle mayo, some avocado and pickled veggies. Enjoy this flavor train!

Cucumber & Fresh Herb Salad with Tamarind BBQ Chicken

My top tip for women trying to stay nourished? Bring meals together with sauce…

Specifically, high-quality, pre-made sauces. That’s why I am SO excited to be partnering with woman-founded Haven’s Kitchen as a brand ambassador. This means I get to bring you delicious 15, 20 and 30 minute meals using their line of inspired, easy-to-use sauces. These sauces are incredible meal starters and can be used for anything — from marinades to dressings, pasta sauces, dipping sauces & more.

This 30-minute salad is my personal new fav for summer weekday-eats. It’s satisfying, satiating and refreshing, using cool crunchy cucumber & tons of fresh herbs to bring the taste of summer to your plate in no time. Chicken thighs marinated in Haven’s Kitchen Tangy BBQ sauce are seared in a cast iron, turning into a caramelized sweet-and-savory masterpiece.
Click here and grab 10% off this sauce (and others) using code ‘thekitchenbymicole’ at checkout.*

*This is not a paid affiliate link but does help me continue to bring you trusted brands I love!

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Cucumber & Fresh Herb Salad with Tamarind BBQ Chicken

SERVES 1-2

• 1lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs

• 2.5oz pouch Haven’s Kitchen Tangy BBQ Sauce (half the pouch)

• ¼ - ½ cucumber, cut into rounds

• ⅛ - ¼ red onion, cut into half rounds

• ⅛ cup chopped fresh cilantro

• ⅛ cup chopped fresh mint

• ½ cup loosely packed arugula

• Rice vinegar

• Coarse kosher salt

• Chili crisp or Mama Lam’s Malaysian Hot Sauce

• Neutral oil

Marinate 1lb boneless skinless chicken thighs in about half pouch of Haven’s Kitchen Tangy BBQ sauce, or until all chicken is thoroughly coated. Let sit 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour in the fridge. Make sure to bring chicken back to room temperature before cooking.

Place 8-10 inch cast iron over medium high heat. Once the pan is warm, add 1-2 Tbsps of neutral oil, just enough so the bottom of the pan is coated.

When the oil is hot add chicken thighs to the pan, letting excess marinade drip off before adding. The chicken should sizzle when it hits the pan. If it doesn’t, remove and let the oil continue to heat. Cook 7-10 mins or until chicken has nice brown color on the first side, then flip.

While chicken is cooking, cut clean cucumber into thick rounds. Then by hand, break into smaller pieces.

Dice 1/8-1/4 of a red onion into thin half moons. First cut your onion in half from the root end through the bottom. Then cut both the top (root) and the bottom of the onion so it’s flat on both ends. Then holding your knife at a slight angle at first, work your way across the onion, cutting into thin half rounds.

Place cut onions in a bit of cold water to remove some of the sharpness.

When the chicken is browned, flip to the second side and continue cooking another 3-5 mins, or until 165F internal temperature is reached on a meat thermometer.

Build your salad: to a plate add arugula, cucumber and red onion. Sprinkle with a little coarse kosher salt and drizzle with rice vinegar. Gently toss and massage. On top place sliced, cooked chicken.

Sprinkle with chopped cilantro & chopped mint. Add a drizzle of Mama Lam’s Malaysian hot sauce or your favorite chili crisp. Toss and enjoy!

Savory Shiitake & Creamy Pinto Bean Burritos

If you could take a peek inside my Seamless order history…

you would discover that I’ve recently become a bit obsessed with mushroom burritos — and so I decided it was time I make my own.

As it turns out the most difficult thing about this recipe is mastering your burrito rolling but once you do, it’s a skill that will not go to waste because you’ll want to make these again and again.

After all, if you, like me, live for dynamic, layered flavor, burritos are literally a dream come true: all of that savory, spicy, crunchy, creamy goodness married underneath a soft, warm blanket of tortilla. Hello! Every bite is like taking a tiny flavor adventure.

For this burrito, tender, umami mushrooms are tossed in a buttery spice blend and layered with savory rice, sharp cheddar and creamy pinto beans - but please do not stop there! Include your add-on’s of choice: I like mine with crunchy radishes, homemade guacamole & sour cream. And don’t forget your favorite salsa or hot sauce. As always, follow your flavor intuition and make this recipe your own.

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Savory Shiitake & Creamy Pinto Bean Burritos

Makes 1 Burrito

• 1 burrito-sized flour tortilla

• 2 medium Shiitake Mushrooms, cleaned & dried (you can also substitute with other mushroom types)

• Kosher salt

• Extra virgin olive oil

• Neutral oil (avocado, sunflower, safflower, canola)

• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter

• 1/4 tsp Adobo Seasoning

• Shy of 1/4 tsp Smoked Paprika

• Shy of 1/4 tsp Ancho Chili Powder or Cayenne Powder

• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

• 1/4 tsp freshly ground Black Pepper

• 2 Tbsps Creamy Pinto Beans

• 3 Tbsps cooked rice, cooked in vegetable broth with a pinch of salt

• 2-4 thin slices Sharp White Cheddar, more if you want it extra cheesy!

• 2-3 Tbsps Sour Cream

• OPTIONAL: thinly sliced radish rounds, homemade guacamole or pico de gallo

First cook up a batch of 1/2 cup uncooked rice and my Creamy Pinto Beans. These will render a few burritos but the following is instructions for making one burrito.

TIP: You’ll want to cook your rice in vegetable broth instead of water (half broth, half water works too), and add a pinch of salt. This imparts it with a lot more flavor.

If you plan to make homemade guacamole or pico de gallo, you will prep those first, too.

Then once your rice, pinto beans and any add-on’s are ready, make your mushrooms: score your clean, dry shiitakes along the top side, making cuts that are about an 1/8 inch deep.  This helps them to lay flat in the pan and cook evenly. Hit both sides with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Heat a sauté pan over medium high heat, and then add the mushrooms to the pan, scored side down: they should sizzle! If they don’t, remove them and let the pan get sufficiently hot first.

When the top side is golden brown, flip and sear until the bottom is golden - a few minutes per side.

Then remove the pan from the heat and place mushrooms on a cutting board until cool enough to handle. Cut into strips that are 1/2 inch wide .

Place your now empty pan back over a medium heat. To the pan add 1 Tbsp of butter and 1/4 tsp each of: Adobo Seasoning, Garlic Powder and freshly ground Black Pepper. Add just shy of 1/4 tsp of Smoked Paprika, and Ancho Chili Powder or Cayenne Powder. Stir everything together so that the spices are evenly distributed throughout the butter. When the butter is starting to get bubbly, add your strips of mushrooms back to the pan and toss in the butter and spice mixture for a minute.

Then remove the mushrooms again and set aside, leaving all of the excess butter and spices in the pan over medium heat. Now, don’t walk away! Stand over the butter just until it starts to smell toasty and turn brown. At that point immediately remove the pan from the heat and add your 3 Tbsps of cooked rice to the brown butter and spice mixture. Toss so that the rice is thoroughly coated. If you burn your butter and spices, don’t worry just skip this step and use plain cooked rice. You can also add fresh cilantro to your rice if you like.

Set the pan off to the side and make sure your burner is turned off. It’s time to build your burrito: to a large burrito sized flour tortilla, lay down your rice, beans and mushrooms a little bit off-center. Then top with your add-ons: sliced cheddar cheese, radish, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo etc. The key here is making sure you don’t overstuff the burrito or make it too liquid-y. If you do, it will be impossible to wrap (that’s why I’ve given you measurements for how much rice & beans to add).

To go about wrapping your burrito, first fold in the two sides. Then lift the side of the burrito that is facing you and fold it over those two sides and all of the ingredients. Use that to tuck in all of your ingredients, pulling them towards you into a little pouch. Finally turn the burrito over to seal that last side. If you’re a visual learner I love this video tutorial from Thrillist.

Now that your burrito is rolled, it’s time to get it warm and crunchy. This is where the magic happens!

That pan you had your spices & butter in? Give it a good rinse and then dry it off completely (seems annoying, I know, but using one pan for all of this really just means fewer dishes later!). Place this pan back over a medium-high heat and add enough of a neutral, high-smoke point cooking oil to just coat the entirety of the bottom of the pan. When the oil is shimmering and hot, add your burrito to the pan FLAP SIDE DOWN. You first want to seal this side off. Allow it to get golden brown and crispy, a few minutes depending on how hot your pan is. Then flip and repeat on the top side, until golden and crispy.

Eat while warm and enjoy with even more of your favorite toppings and hot sauces!

Creamy Rigatoni w. Leeks, Sausage & Oregano

This dish is the perfect fall meal. You’ll have to make it and see what I mean…

The light has already started to slant into my apartment differently come mid day, and I’m reaching for a cozy sweater instead of flip flops for my evening walks. When dinner rolls around I look right past the raw greens for something cozy, like this rich, herbaceous rigatoni.

It comes as no surprise to me that this time last year I was publishing the recipe for my Baked Rigatoni Vodka, because any iteration of rigatoni will do when it comes to cold-weather comfort food. This sauce layers umami from browned pork sausage and tomato paste with the savory aromatics of oregano and leeks. Finished off with smooth heavy cream and starchy pasta water, it creates the perfect luscious jacket for al dente pasta. I served mine with a crisp white wine (because it’s not winter yet, okay?!) but I’ll leave the beverage choice to you.

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Creamy Rigatoni with Leeks, Sausage and Oregano

Serves 2-4

• 6 oz ground pork breakfast sausage, from a roll or removed from link casing

• 1/2 cup thinly sliced leeks, washed, tops removed

• 1 Tbsp loosely packed fresh or dried oregano

• 3.5 heaping Tbsps tomato paste

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 1/4 cup white wine

• 1/4 cup vegetable broth

• 1/4 - 3/4 tsp red pepper flakes

• 1/4 - 1/3 cup starchy pasta water, reserved when straining pasta

• Coarse kosher salt

• Fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

• Freshly grated black pepper

Fill a large pot with 2 Qt of water (8 cups) for your pasta. Place over medium heat while you make the sauce.

Place a 10-12 inch pan with high sides over medium heat (I love doing this in a cast iron). To the pan add a splash of olive oil. Add pork and break it up using a spoon or spatula. Pat down the pieces of pork into a single layer in the bottom of the pan. Let it brown, 3-4 minutes. Add 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes and 1/4 tsp of salt. Stir, loosening the pork from the bottom of the pan. Then pat back down into a single layer and let brown another 3 minutes. At this point the pork should be brown and crispy. Turn the heat down to medium and add the leeks. Stir and sweat for 1-2 minutes until starting to soften.

Meanwhile, when your pot of water for the pasta is nearly boiling add 3 tsps of coarse kosher salt. Let dissolve.

To the pan with the pork and leeks add 3.5 heaping Tbsps of tomato paste, stir and let cook 1-2 minutes allowing the paste to deepen in color. Turn the heat down to medium-low and deglaze the pan with 1/4 cup of white wine, stir and then allow to simmer gently for a minute or two for the alcohol to cook off.

At this point your pasta water should be boiling. Add rigatoni and cook 10-12 minutes until al dente.

To your sauce, add the 1/4 cup of heavy cream and stir to combine. Let simmer a minute or two, then taste. Add more salt as needed and a few cranks of fresh black pepper. For a spicier sauce add another 1/4 - 1/2 tsp of red chili flakes. To the sauce add your oregano and 1/4 cup of vegetable broth. Let simmer over low heat while pasta cooks.

When the pasta is ready, strain making sure to reserve 1/4 - 1/3 cup of the starchy pasta water. Add cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce. Gently stir, and pour in starchy pasta water until all noodles are thoroughly coated in sauce. You may not need all of the water: add until sauce is loosened to desired consistency.

Serve with fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano on top, a little more oregano and black pepper - and dig in immediately! (Cozy clothes optional but recommended).

Spicy Burst Cherry Tomato Bucatini w. Corn & Burrata

This pasta is like Aglio e Olio got all dressed up for summer vacation…

I’m a sucker for something sensationally simple: perfectly al dente Bucatini generously bathed in spicy, garlicky corn sautéed in butter and cherry tomatoes burst in a little olive oil.

I know … it’s still August and asking you to turn on your ovens, even if to experience the joy of burst cherry tomatoes, may be pushing it, so do the job in a hot sauté pan if need be.

Give the pasta a little time to soak up the delicious flavors of the sauce and serve this room temperature - it’s seriously delightful and perfect for the last of your summer picnics and BBQ’s. Just make sure the pasta is al dente because no one like Soggy-Noodle-Energy. Serve the burrata right on top, on the side, or forego it if you absolutely insist (dairy free friends, I respect your choices).

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Spicy Burst Cherry Tomato Bucatini with Corn and Burrata

Serves 2-3

• 8 oz dry Perciatelli or Bucatini

• 1 heaping cup cherry tomatoes, 212g

• 3 crushed garlic cloves

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 3-4 Tbsp EVOO

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1 corn cob, 1 cup of corn kernels, 120g

• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

• 1 Tbsp butter

• 1/8-1/4 cup of thinly sliced hot red chilis

• 1/4 tsp kosher salt

• OPTIONAL: fresh basil

Preheat your oven to 375F. If you plan to burst your cherry tomatoes in a hot sauté pan, skip this.

Start by crushing three garlic cloves. Rinse your cherry tomatoes and place in a small baking dish (a sheet pan with high sides works, too). To the cherry tomatoes add your crushed garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 3-4 Tbsp EVOO and a few cranks of freshly ground black pepper. Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until cherry tomatoes have burst.

Start a large pot with 2.5 Qt of water to boil, adding 2 Tbsp of salt so that water tastes noticeably salty. Cook Bucatini or Perciatelli until just al dente.

In the meantime, prepare the corn: remove the husk and silk from your ear of corn and cut in half. Stand each half up on it’s flat, cut side, and using a sharp knife, remove the kernels from the ear. Thinly slice 3 garlic cloves and 1/8-1/4 cup of hot red chilis (depending how much heat you like and how hot your pepper is).

In a small sauté pan, place 1 Tbsp butter over med-high heat, occasionally swirling, until butter is very fragrant but not browning - 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and chili, allowing to cook for a minute or two, making sure not to burn the garlic. Add the corn and sauté, 5 or so mins, until corn is tender but maintains some bite. Add 1/4 tsp salt, stir and then remove from the heat.

Combine the cooked corn with the cherry tomatoes and mix. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Strain the cooked pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Let the noodles cool a minute or two before adding the mixture of burst cherry tomatoes and sautéed corn to the pasta. If it needs a little more “sauce”, add the pasta water and stir vigorously to combine. Serve room temperature, with a creamy ball of burrata on top, on the side or forego the burrata if cheese ain’t your thing! Hollow noodles aren’t slurp-able, but they’re so fun to eat.

Seared Cumin Pork Chops w. Mango Salsa

I’ve been working at mastering seared pork chops…

Even though I had a clear idea of the general technique, my chops still seemed to lack something very important: juiciness. I decided it was time to roll up my sleeves and write a recipe for pork chops that won’t disappoint.

The key is to do everything you possibly can to avoid dryness: pork chops are a lean cut of meat so even when just slightly overcooked, they become tough and dry. That said, have no fear: this recipe employs numerous techniques that will protect you from this pork-pitfall.

First, use bone-in chops: the extra fat and connective tissue protects the meat from drying out (and of course, fat adds flavor!). Next, brining: this seasons and moistens the pork from the inside out. And finally, using a meat thermometer so you avoid cooking the pork any longer than is absolutely necessary (if your meat thermometer isn’t your best friend yet, it is now). Once you’ve moved the pan off the heat you baste with butter, cumin seeds and crushed garlic. Finish with a quick summery mango salsa for peak pork chops.

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Seared Cumin Pork Chops with Mango Salsa

• 2 bone-in pork chops, approx. 10-12 ounces each

• 8 small-medium garlic cloves, crushed

• 2 Tbsps grass fed butter

• 1 Tbsp cumin seeds

• 1 Tbsp neutral oil

• 3 cups room temperature water

• 1/2 cup kosher salt

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, or granulated brown sugar

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Kosher salt

• OPTIONAL: 1 ripe mango, 1/8 cup finely diced red onion, cilantro, pinch of kosher salt

First up is our brining process. This seasons and moistens the pork chops from the inside out.

Place your 2 pork chops on a cutting board or baking sheet. Prick pork chops on both sides with a fork, not sinking the fork in very deeply - if you’re being technical, about 1/8 inch deep.

In a gallon Ziploc or Stasher bag, add 3 cups of room temperature water, 1/2 cup kosher salt, and 1/2 cup packed brown sugar. Use a spoon to stir until the salt and sugar has mostly dissolved. Add the 2 pork chops, seal the bag and lay bag down again on the baking sheet or cutting board so that the pork chops sit in a single layer in the bag. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours.

Before you are going to cook the chops, remove them from the brine. Discard brine and pat your chops dry. Bring them to room temperature. Get the butter, cumin seeds and crushed garlic cloves ready for when it’s time to baste. You don’t want to be scrambling to get these later.

If you are serving with quick mango salsa, make that now. Cut off the top of the mango and from this opening, peel off the skin. Remove the cheeks of the mango, cutting around the the hard inner core.

Once room temperature and RIGHT before cooking, season your pork chops all over with just a little kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. These have been seasoned during brining, so you only need a little.

Start to heat a cast iron pan over medium high heat (make sure your pan can comfortably accommodate both chops without crowding — this is important). After about a minute, add 1 Tbsp of neutral oil to the pan, tilting the pan so that the oil evenly coats the bottom. After another minute or so, when the oil is shimmering and you see a little smoke, add your pork chops. They should sizzle when they hit the pan. If they don’t, remove the pork and wait another minute before continuing,

Once the pork chops are in the pan, start a timer for 8 minutes total. Cook the first side of the pork chop for 1 minute, undisturbed. Then, flip and cook the second side undisturbed for 1 minute. Next, using tongs to hold the chop, cook the flat, meaty side of the chop with the fat cap on it (not the bone side) for a minute, gently rocking it so the whole side gets contact with the pan. Repeat the entire process, cooking each of those three sides for 1 minute before flipping. At about 4-5 minutes you should start to see the golden brown sear developing. At 8 minutes, insert your thermometer into the thickest part of the meat: if the thermometer reads 130-135, turn off the heat and move on to basting. If it doesn’t, continue searing and flipping for another minute or two until it reaches this temperature.

Once the meat has reached 130-135 and you’ve turned off the heat, immediately add your butter, cumin seeds and crushed garlic cloves to the pan. Tilting the pan away from you, use a large spoon to baste the pork with the foamy butter, cumin seeds and garlic. Baste on both sides, and then check the internal temperature again: leave the meat in the hot pan until it’s reached 140-145F. Once it has, remove the meat from the pan and set on a clean cutting board. Let rest a few minutes before cutting into thin slices and serving immediately. Drizzle with garlic and drippings from the pan, as well as the quick mango salsa. Enjoy!

Warm Roasted Vegetable Goat Cheese & Romesco Sandwich

Don’t believe anyone who says plants can’t taste frigging amazing.

I’ll avoid using profanity here, but this is a topic I feel strongly about: when you treat vegetables the right way - impart them with lots of flavor and layer textures - they become something else entirely. This sandwich builds on the classic combination of beets and goat cheese, adding crispy fennel, sweet fig balsamic and Shab's Sauce Red Pepper Romesco.

In typical The Kitchen fashion, it's a flavor party: it’s creamy, crunchy, garlicky, savory, earthy, sweet and smokey. Make sure you roast plenty of beets and save the leftovers to use throughout the week - for these sandwiches, in bowls, salads, over labne with za’atar as a snack.

We will also be making the most of our beets and avoiding food waste by including the beet greens in our sandwich once they’ve been sauteed with plenty of garlic first, of course.

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Warm Roasted Vegetable Goat Cheese & Romesco Sandwich

1 SANDWICH

• 2 slices of good bread, like Amy’s Rye Sourdough

• 1 large bunch beets and it’s greens, and for this recipe 2 small roasted beets, cut into thin rounds and large handful beet greens

• 1-2 tbsps of goat cheese

• 3-4 flesh cloves of garlic

• Roughly 1/2 cup thinly sliced fennel bulb and a few leafy fronds

• Shab’s Sauce Roasted Red Pepper Romesco

• Fig Balsamic

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Kosher

• Extra virgin olive oil

If you can find pre-roasted, peeled beets feel free to use those. Otherwise, if you are roasting your beets, start here. Preheat your oven to 400F. In the meantime, cut the beets from their large stalks and greens, setting those aside. Rinse the beets thoroughly of any excess dirt, and then trim both the top and bottom so they are flat on both ends. Peel the beets, as this makes them faster to use up once roasted.

Place peeled beets in a small baking dish and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with a good pinch of kosher salt, some freshly ground black pepper and toss to coat. Add just shy of 1/4 cup water to the baking dish, cover and put in the oven for up to 60 mins, or until completely fork tender but not mushy. I love checking my vegetables using a cake tester.

While the beets are in the oven, cut beet greens from the thick, tough stalks. Thoroughly rinse them and then spin dry in a salad spinner or gently dry in a clean kitchen / paper towel. Chop 3-4 fresh garlic cloves and set aside. We will use a large handful of the greens per 1 sandwich. Wrap any remaining greens in a dry, clean towel and place in the fridge.

Take your goat cheese out so it comes to room temperature and becomes easier to spread.

Trim off the bottom end of the white fennel bulb. Then using a mandolin or a sharp knife, cut roughly 1/2 cup of very thin rounds. Remove a few of the fuzzy fronds to add to the sandwich as well. Set aside. (Use the rest of the fennel during the week for this simple salad.)

When the beets are ready, remove from the oven and carefully lift the foil, being careful of the hot steam. Leave the beets in the baking dish uncovered to cool.

In a pan, heat olive oil until shimmering and hot. Add garlic and allow to cook in the oil for 30 seconds. Then add clean beet greens, stir to coat, adding a splash more olive oil if you want. Cook a few minutes until greens are wilted but still bright green. Move all garlic and greens to a small plate. Leave the pan on the heat to crisp your bread. Raise to a medium high heat.

Brush your two pieces of bread with oil or butter on one side. Add to the same pan the greens were in and over a high heat allow to get very crispy and golden. Add butter or oil to the side facing up and then add back to the pan with that side facing down, allowing it to also get golden and crispy.

When the bread is done, remove pan from the heat. Add 1 tbsp of plain goat cheese to both pieces of bread and spread thin. To one piece of bread, add 1 tsp of Shab’s Sauce Roasted Red Pepper Romesco and spread, mixing it into the goat cheese. On top of that, place thinly sliced rounds of roasted beet - roughly 2 small beets or 1 large per sandwich.

Add thinly sliced fennel and fennel fronds. Carefully drizzle with a bit of fig balsamic. Top with the second piece of bread, cut in half using a sharp knife and serve immediately!

Sichuan Peppercorn Skirt Steak Tacos w. Black Garlic Labne, Scallions & Honey

Tangy Sichuan peppercorns, savory black garlic, and fresh habanero…

One of my favorite kitchen tools is the humble mortar and pestle. Sure, I don’t whip this thing out everyday, but on the occasion I do I feel so connected to my food and in control of flavor. While I use it mostly for grinding whole spices, I also love it for making marinades, like this one, or sauces like a mortar-and-pestle Pesto. Start by grinding whole ingredients and finish with fats or liquids. Here I combine Sichuan peppercorns with black garlic, fresh habanero and a mix of other smokey, savory spices to get a crusty layer of flavor on the steak once seared.

My big note with this recipe — don’t be turned away by the ingredient list. If you can’t get access, substitutions can be made: instead of black garlic use whole roasted garlic cloves, and swap labne for a thick, whole fat, tangy greek yogurt. That being said, the Sichuan peppercorns are sort of a must and these are a great opportunity to expand your flavor library. I also encourage you to try and get your hands on my new favorite Red Habanero hot sauce from Queen Majesty, based a whole 11 minutes from my apartment right here in Long Island City, Queens!! Lastly, you can always rely on me to deliver food full of unexpected flavors so there were some creative decisions, like finishing with honey, that I'll just need you to trust.

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Sichuan Peppercorn Skirt Steak Tacos with Black Garlic Labne, Scallions & Honey

• 6 x Corn Tortillas

• 1 lb, or 16 oz, skirt or entrana steak

• Honey

• Queen Majesty Red Habanero & Black Coffee hot sauce (find out where you can buy it here)

• 1/2 bunch scallions, cut on the bias

STEAK MARINADE

• 1/2 Tbsp cumin

• 1/2 Tbsp Sichuan peppercorns

• 1 clove black garlic, steamed to soften, or 1 clove of roasted regular garlic

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp natural turbinado sugar, or any kind of granulated brown sugar

• 1/4 - 1/2 of a small fresh habanero, finely chopped with seeds for more heat (.1 -.2 oz)

• 3/4 tsp salt

• Shy of 1/4 cup neutral oil

• 2 tsp tamari

BLACK GARLIC LABNE

• 1/2 cup labne

• 4 cloves black garlic, steamed to soften, or 4 cloves of roasted regular garlic

• Juice of 1/2 lime

For this recipe, I loved using black garlic: it’s an aged garlic that is less sharp than raw garlic and super savory. You can find it online and in some specialty food stores and while it’s a bit of an investment, it’s great to have on hand in your flavor library. If you can’t get access to it, slow roast garlic and use that throughout instead. Also, if you can’t access labne, use a thick, full fat, tangy greek yogurt instead, like Fage.

Start by making your marinade. If you have a mortar and pestle, use that. Otherwise, blend everything with the oil and tamari in a food processor. You are going to need: 1/2 Tbsp cumin, 1/2 Tbsp Sichuan peppercorns, 1 clove black garlic, steamed to soften (or 1 clove of roasted garlic), 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp natural turbinado sugar, or any kind of granulated brown sugar, 1/4 - 1/2 of a small fresh habanero, finely chopped with seeds for more heat (.1 -.2 oz), 3/4 tsp salt, shy of 1/4 cup neutral oil and 2 tsp tamari.

Add the steak and marinade to a Tupperware or reusable Ziploc bag, making sure the steak is covered all over. Put in the fridge for 1 hour, but ideally up to 24 hours.

Next, prepare the black garlic labne. I find that steaming the black garlic cloves first allows them to fold into the labne more uniformly. Place 4 black garlic cloves in a steamer, or you can do what I did and simply suspend the cloves inside a small pot over about 1/2-1/4 cup of boiling water using a small mesh strainer. Cover with a top and let steam for a few minutes. Skip this step if you are using roasted garlic. Blend garlic, labne and juice of a half a lime until smooth.

When it’s time to sear the steak, be sure to bring the steak to room temperature first. Using a cast iron (or stainless steel pan), heat the pan until very hot with a bit of smoke coming off of it. Then add the marinated steak, searing over high heat 2-4 minutes per side for medium rare, depending how thin your cut of steak is. Go a little longer if you want it more well done. Let the steak rest, 5-7 minutes.

While the steak rests, char your tortillas carefully over a low-medium flame on your stovetop burner, using tongs to flip them every 30 seconds or so. If you don’t have a gas stovetop, crisp them a little under your oven broiler.

When ready to serve, cut the steak into strips or cubes. Spread a spoonful of black garlic labne on each tortilla and top with steak. Top each taco with scallions cut on the bias, a drizzle of honey and this Queen Majesty Red Habanero & Black Coffee hot sauce. I love how it has a balance of heat and flavor. Find out where you can buy it here.

Crispy Skin Bass w. Mandarin Brown Butter & Arugula Salad w. Lemon Castelvetrano Olives & Pickled Grapes

As if you needed more reason to make this than mandarin brown butter…

Brown butter is magical. Full stop. It’s nutty, slightly sweet and oh-so rich. I enjoyed finding different ways to counter that richness in this dish. First by adding citrus to the brown butter, and second by serving with a tart, peppery arugula salad. And I have no doubt you saw ‘pickled grapes’, and went… really? But trust me on this. Slightly tangy and sweet, mixed with creamy castelvetrano olives and brine, a bit of lemon peel. My hope with this dish is to leave you feeling as inspired as I was creating it.

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Crispy Skin Bass with Mandarin Brown Butter & Arugula Salad w. Lemon Castelvetrano Olives & Pickled Grapes

SERVES 2

MANDARIN BROWN BUTTER

• 3/4 stick of grass fed butter (6 Tbsps)

• 4 small mandarins, juiced and strained of solids (4 Tbsps)

SALAD

• 2 fistfuls fresh arugula

• 1/2 cup whole pitted Castelvetrano olives in brine, 3.5 oz (or pits removed)

• 1 tsp extra fine strips of lemon peel

• 20 red seedless grapes, 6.5 oz

• 1 tsp granulated sugar and 1 tsp kosher salt

• 1/2 cup white wine vinegar

• 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns

• Extra virgin olive oil

FISH

• 2 x 8.5 oz striped bass filets with skin, tail ends which tend to be more even thickness all over

• Kosher salt

• Black pepper

• 1.5 Tbsps neutral oil

First, let’s prepare our pickled grapes, lemon castelvetrano olives and mandarin brown butter.

For the pickled grapes, rinse 20 grapes and then cut in half across and place into a clean jar with a tight fitting lid. Add 1 tsp granulated sugar, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 cup white wine vinegar and 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns. Set aside.

Next, roughly chop 1/2 cup castelvetrano olives, removing pits first if need be. Place in a bowl. From a lemon, using a sharp knife or a vegetable peeler, remove a few pieces of lemon peel. If it has any white pith on the back, be sure to remove that, as it will taste bitter. Cut the lemon peel into fine, thin strips and mix in with the olives. Add 1 tsp of the olive brine and 1 tsp of good olive oil, mix and set aside.

Next, let’s make our brown butter. In a medium sized pan, add 3/4 stick of butter cut into a few small pieces (TIP: using a stainless pan or a pan with a light colored bottom will help you to identify when the brown butter is ready). Place over med heat. Allow the butter to completely melt as you start whisking, to keep the butter moving as it cooks so that it will brown more evenly. It will take a few minutes but don’t walk away or stop whisking. You will first see the butter get foamy before the milk solids suddenly turn caramel brown and it smells incredibly nutty. Straight away remove the pan from the heat and pour the butter into a heat proof container. You can make brown butter 2-3 days in advance and store it in the fridge. It will solidify so just warm to melt before using.

Next squeeze your mandarins through a fine mesh sieve, to remove seeds and solids. Mix together 6 Tbsps of the brown butter with 4 Tbsps mandarin juice. Add a small pinch of kosher salt. This will be the sauce for our fish.

Take your 2 pieces of fish and pat them very dry. Salt and pepper both sides.

In another stainless steel or cast iron pan, add 1.5 Tbsps neutral oil. In order to get crispy skin on the fish we need to make sure the pan is hot enough: when the oil is shimmering, add fish to the pan skin side down. It should sizzle. If it doesn’t, take it out and let it get sufficiently hot. Allow the skin to completely get crispy, about 8 minutes. It should release from the bottom of the pan with just a little help. At this point you should also see that the fish on top is cooking through all around the edges, except for in the center. Remove from the heat and tilting the pan away from you, flip and cook the fish the rest of the way through in the hot oil, a minute or two. If your fish is a thicker cut and still needs more time, put it back over a low heat until cooked through.

Cut fish into two smaller pieces. Drizzle with mandarin brown butter. Serve next to your fresh arugula topped with the pickled grapes and lemon casteltrevano olives. Drizzle arugula salad with a touch of extra virgin olive oil and a little sprinkle of kosher salt.

A Fancy Roast Chicken

It felt like time to make roast chicken exciting again.

First, allow me to make the argument for a whole bird in case you’re still not convinced. Once seasoned, you put it in the oven and forget about it … for an entire hour and half. Talk about leisurely. Out of the oven comes multiple meals (and a veg, too, if you have the forethought), PLUS bones you can use for broth. It’s a no brainer. Raw chicken fears? I’ll address those below.

This recipe was born of one simple goal: roast chicken, deliciousness dialed way up. Start by building flavor from the inside out, stuffing your chicken with herbs, garlic and citrus. I added coriander seeds to the mix, which are tart and flowery, then coated the whole thing in a vibrant, savory spice blend of smoked paprika, kashmiri chili and garlic powder. Yeah, all you need to do when this chicken is ready is try not to drown an entire bowl of rice in the insanely delicious rendered juices.

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A Fancy Roast Chicken

• 4 lb whole Bell & Evans chicken

• 1 whole lemon

• 1 small head of garlic

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 tsp whole black peppercorns

• 1 tsp whole coriander seeds

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp kashmiri chili

• Olive oil

• OPTIONAL: sturdy root vegetable of choice, like potato, sweet potato, parsnip, carrots, etc

• OPTIONAL: medium grain sushi rice for serving

Preheat your oven to 350F. Get out a cast iron large enough to accommodate the entire chicken (10-12 inches). You could also use a large dutch oven or baking dish with high sides. Before you intend to roast your chicken, take it out and let it start to come to room temperature.

Place the chicken in a large bowl so you easily avoid any fear of getting raw chicken on your surfaces. Take off the packaging and remove any giblets stored inside. Pat the chicken dry all over. Set aside.

Next, remove stickers from the lemon, rinse and cut in half across. Cut your head of garlic across to expose the cloves. In a small bowl, combine 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp whole black peppercorns and 1 tsp whole coriander seeds. Set aside.

In another small bowl, combine 4 Tbsps of olive oil with the remaining spices: 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder and 1 tsp Kashmiri chili. Mix well.

If you plan to roast any root vegetables along with your chicken, clean and cut those now and place in the bottom of the cast iron or baking dish. Keep in mind that the veg will cook underneath the chicken for an hour and a half, so stick with bigger, thicker pieces that will do well with a long cook time (as opposed to small and thin).

Using one hand to hold your chicken, use the other to liberally salt both inside and out (yes, sprinkle salt along the inner cavity of the bird). Next stuff the bird with your 2 lemon halves, garlic halves, bayleaf, peppercorns and coriander seeds.

Once stuffed, place the bird into your cast iron or baking dish, on top of any veggies: using a silicone pastry brush, brush the entire chicken with the mixture of oil and spices. Do this here as opposed to in the bowl your chicken was in previously to allow excess oil and spices to just drip into the bottom of the pan and not go to waste.

Make sure to brush underneath any folds of fat near the front and back end of the bird, as well as underneath the wings, legs, etc. Once you’ve used up all of your spice mixture, place chicken right side up, tuck legs and wings close to the bird and stick in the oven for roughly 1.5 hours or until it reaches 165F internal temperature. I do not make chicken without my handy meat thermometer - you’ll never have to worry about either falling ill or overcooking chicken again. A perfectly timed chicken is insanely juicy.

When the chicken is done, let it rest before serving. I like to eat the thighs and drumsticks fresh from the oven, and found they were especially good over a bit of plump sushi rice with lots of the rendered juices drizzled over top. Throw the roasted veg on the plate and you’ve got a meal. Reserve the wings and breasts, and all the other bits you can pull off, which I like to use for a quick chicken salad. And don’t forget when you’re done with the chicken to place the whole carcass in an airtight bag and stick in the freezer. When you’ve made this twice, you’ll be all set for homemade broth.

Creamy Vegan Coconut Chickpea & Sweet Potato Curry

Silky, creamy, coconut -y, savory greatness.

The best meals tend to be the accidental ones: one night doing my usual pantry and fridge inventory, searching for dinner, I found some coconut milk, a can of chickpeas and some leftover roasted sweet potato. Could it be a curry? Why not. And 30 minutes later I had this luscious creamy meal.

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Creamy Vegan Coconut Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry

SERVES 1

For Sweet Potatoes

• 1 Medium Sweet Potato, 8.5 oz

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1/4 tsp ground allspice

• 3/4 tsp kosher salt

• Heaping 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

• Heaping 1/4 tsp garlic powder

• Freshly ground black pepper

For Curry

• 1/8 small red onion, cut into thin rounds, 1.2oz

• 1/4 tsp ground allspice, or whole - 5-6 berries 

• 1/4 tsp ground turmeric

• 1/2 tsp tandoori powder

• 1/4 tsp vindaloo spice

• 1/8 tsp smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp curry powder

• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• Kosher Salt

• 3 Tbsps neutral oil

• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp tomato paste

• 1 tsp finely minced fresh ginger 

• 1/2 cup coconut cream (full fat)

• 1 standard size can chickpeas, 15.5 oz

For Serving

• 1/2 cup basmati or other rice (uncooked)

• Fresh cilantro

• Indian tamarind chutney (I like SWAD brand, also available for purchase in NYC HERE)

• Your favorite Indian bread

First we will roast the sweet potatoes: preheat your oven to 400F. Scrub the sweet potato clean and cut into rounds, 1/4 in. thick, and then into quarters. In a bowl toss sweet potatoes with 1 Tbsp olive oil. To the bowl add your spices: 1/4 tsp ground allspice, 3/4 tsp salt, heaping 1/4 tsp both smoked paprika and garlic powder, and a few cranks of freshly ground black pepper.

On a baking sheet, drizzle a little olive oil and lay sweet potato quarters out in a single layer. Place in the oven for 12-15 mins until golden on the bottom side and then flip. Place back in the oven another 5-10 mins until crispy all over. When they are done, set aside. You can also make the sweet potato 2-3 days in advance and refrigerate.

While your sweet potatoes are baking, get your rice over the heat with a 1 Tbsp of coconut oil, if you have, or olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. When done cooking, cover until ready to serve.

You can also work on the curry: cut your red onion into rounds and then into quarter rounds, finely dicing a little and setting aside for garnish.

In a ramekin or small bowl, combine all of the spices for the curry: 1/4 tsp ground ground allspice (or 5-6 whole berries crushed), 1/4 tsp ground turmeric, 1/2 tsp tandoori powder, 1/4 tsp vindaloo spice, 1/8 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp curry powder, 1/4 tsp cumin seeds and 1/2 tsp garlic powder.

In a pot, heat neutral oil over medium heat. Add your ground spices and let them “bloom”, or cook, in the oil: doing this releases flavor compounds, and helps to distribute flavor evenly through the cooking process.

After a minute or two, when very fragrant, add onions to the pot, stir to coat and cook over a med low heat until onions are soft. Then add chickpeas and toss to coat evenly. Let them cook over med heat, about 5 mins. 

To the pot add 1 Tbsp and 1 tsp tomato paste, and 1 tsp finely minced ginger. Let cook a few minutes until the tomato paste is caramelized and brown in color.

Add 1/2 cup coconut cream and 1 tsp kosher salt. At the last moment, take your roasted sweet potato quarters and mix into the curry before removing from the heat to serve: having them maintain some of their crispiness adds a great textural difference. Mix and check seasoning, adding salt to taste.  

Serve over warm basmati rice. Finish with fresh cilantro and if you like, drizzle with this amazing tamarind chutney, which brings tartness and heat. Serve with Indian bread like naan.

Vegan Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with My Inner Glow. Founded by Kyle Somersall, My Inner Glow brings people together for inspired meditation based events.  When he initially approached me and asked me to cook for one of his upcoming events, I was excited to team up with him, and to put together a menu for the evening.   We started the night outdoors in a beautiful backyard in Kips Bay, Manhattan.  I served soccas, which are thin crepes made of chickpea flour, on parchment paper and adorned them with varying combinations of delicious toppings.  For the main course (wait for it...) we had tacos, which if you know me even on the most introductory level, will likely not surprise you.

I knew I wanted one of the tacos to be vegan/vegetarian friendly, so I decided to revisit a classic combination: sweet potato and black bean.  I deepened the flavor of the black beans with smoked paprika and lots of lime juice, and made them extra creamy by crushing them in the pot slightly while they were cooking.  I made the sweet potatoes spicy AND sweet with serrano chile powder.  And, because I am undoubtedly a condiment & toppings kinda lady, I topped this all off with homemade cashew cream, avocado, fresh cilantro, aleppo pepper and a squeeze of lime for good measure.  Ideally this taco is finished off with one of my favorite salsas, La Fundidora's Humo Salsa.  What is better in life than eating a warm tortilla jam-packed with deliciousness on a balmy May night in New York City?!? 

In the past year, the lowly sweet potato has managed to land itself right up there on my list of top 10 favorite foods.  Why?  Because sweet potatoes are incredibly versatile, satiating and tasty.  In this case, their sweetness perfectly offset the citrusy, savory black beans, and of course, I added some heat to them with chili powder, because to me there's nothing like the combination of sweet, savory & spicy. 

I am someone who loves to layer flavors and ingredients with contrasting mouth feel, so, of course, I added in yet another element: creamy.  Which brings me to another of my new favorite foods: cashew cream.  Insanely easy to make, delicious and dairy free, cashew cream has actually changed my life.  As a life long cheese and sour cream addict, Kite Hill's spreads were the first of the nut-based vegan cheese replacements to pull me away from my dairy addictions, and while this stuff is SO good, it's not cheap.  And while the cost of nuts can also add up, a bag of cashew pieces from Trader Joe's will cost you the same as 1 container of Kite Hill ($6.50), and will render you much more.  All you need is 1 cup of soaked cashews + water (which is free) to make more than 8 ounces of delicious, nutty cashew cream.  As I mentioned before with my Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Pesto recipe, it really is an amazing tool to be able to make your own pantry staples at home for a fraction of the cost.  It will only take you a little forethought + 5 minutes or so to blend your way to cashew cream happiness!  And it's worth it - I promise.  

Tacos are best when they have lots of delicious toppings, in my opinion, so don't forget your garnishes, and feel free to add others!!  Grilled corn?  Pickled red onions?  The options are endless.  And of course, don't forget your salsa!!  My suggested salsa pairing is La Fundidora's smokey, delicious Humo Salsa, which I purchase at the Whole Foods here in Chelsea, New York.  If you can't find it, don't worry, Cholula works too!!  I like the Original flavor best, but salsa is a very personal choice, so do what feels right to you.  And most importantly, don't be afraid to eat 2 (or maybe 3) of these tacos in one sitting.

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Vegan Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

6 x Corn Tortillas

For Sweet Potatoes

• 1 Large Sweet Potato, diced

• ½ TBSP olive oil

• ¼ TSP serrano chile powder

• ¼ TSP cumin

• Heaping ¼ TSP salt

For Beans

• 1 lime - juice of 1/2 or whole, if half doesn’t bring out the lime flavor enough

• 1 can black beans

• ¼ TSP garlic powder

• ¼ TSP smoked paprika

• ¼ TSP salt 

For Cashew Cream ** PREP NOTE - You will need to soak your cashews overnight

• 1 cup raw cashews or cashew pieces - soaked overnight

• 1/2 cup water

• Pinch of sea salt

Garnishes

• 1 Avocado

• Aleppo Pepper

• Fresh Cilantro

• 1 Lime (for lime wedges)

• Suggested Salsa Pairing: La Fundidora Humo Salsa OR Cholula Original

Let's start by making our cashew cream.  Take your soaked cashews and put into the bowl of a food processor with a 1/2 cup of water and a nice pinch of sea salt (a high speed blender is ideal here if you own one, but a food processor works great too).  Allow the food processor to run for up to 4 minutes, or until the cashew cream is silky (it will take about the half time in a high speed blender).  If using a food processor, stop intermittently to scrape down the sides.  When the cashew cream is finished, pour into a jar and put in the fridge.

Next, you'll want to roast your sweet potatoes.  Preheat your oven to 400 degrees while you get to dicing the sweet potato.  I like to roast it on a high temperature so that the sweet potato bits get nice and crispy.  Here is my tactic for dicing the sweet potato: cut into rounds, then pile up 4-5 rounds at a time and dice down into squares/rectangles.  Throw the diced pieces into a mixing bowl as you go.  Once the entire sweet potato is diced, add the olive oil and spices, and toss to coat thoroughly.  Next, you'll want to spread the coated sweet potato bits onto a flat baking sheet (parchment paper optional).  The key here is that the sweet potato is laid out in a single layer, without overlapping any of the pieces. This allows the sweet potato to cook thoroughly all over and get nice and crispy!  Put the sweet potato in the oven and set a timer for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes check the sweet potato, and add more time if necessary.  The sweet potato bits should be golden and crispy around the edges.  It's OK if a few of the smaller pieces get burnt.  You can always separate those pieces after to avoid the bitter flavor.  When the sweet potato is done, put it to the side and turn off the oven.

While the sweet potato is in the oven, you can get the beans ready.  Empty the can of beans into a strainer and rinse off the liquid from the can.  Put the cleaned beans into the sauce pan add the spices and juice of your lime.  You can start with half a lime here, mix and then taste.  The lime should come through distinctively, so if half the lime is not enough, add the other half.  While they start to heat up, use the back of a big spoon (or a potato masher if you have) to slightly mash the beans.  You don't want a total pulp here, but mash until the texture starts to become slightly more broken down and creamy.  When the beans are ready, you can turn the heat down to low so that they stay warm.  If they start to dry out, just add a little vegetable broth or even a splash of water to loosen them.

It's almost time to build our tacos!!  Depending on how small or large your sweet potato is, and how generously you fill, the amount of tacos this renders will vary.  Grab 6-8 corn tortillas, and get ready to char them over an open flame.  Turn on one of the burners on your stove on very low, and grab a pair of tongs.  Put your first tortilla directly on the burner, hovering above the flame.  Heat and slightly char on both sides, about 45 seconds each, using your tongs to flip the tortillas.  Put the warmed tortillas onto a plate as you go.  If you don't have a gas stove, you can char your tortillas in a hot pan.

Once they're all heated, start by spreading beans onto each taco.  Next, top with sweet potato bits.  Add a dollop of cashew cream to each as well as 2 slices of avocado, a few leaves of fresh cilantro, a shake of aleppo paper, a squeeze of fresh lime juice and one of the two suggested salsas.  My favorite is the Humo Salsa, which is sold here in New York at Whole Foods, but if you can't find it, good old Cholula Original works too.

Kale Brussels Sprout Salad w. Pecorino & Toasted Nuts

Kale ain’t boring when you coat it with homemade lemon oil and pecorino cheese.

Don’t forget a sprinkling of warm, crunchy toasted pistachios and walnuts. I’ve never written a “Copycat” recipe before, but this salad stuck with me long after I ate it in the backyard of Aurora Bk, paired with a beautiful glass of Italian red wine and surrounded by twinkling lights. We tend to think of salad as a meal suited for summer, but this combination is so comforting and perfectly suited for when you need a dose of greens during chilly winter months.

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Kale Brussels Sprout Salad with Pecorino and Toasted Nuts

Serves 2

Lemon oil 

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

• ½ large lemon, scrubbed clean and peel removed in strips without any bitter white pith

Salad

• 5 med Lacinato or Tuscan kale leaves, cleaned and cut into fine strips

• 5 med Brussels sprouts, rinsed and shaved on a mandolin or finely cut using a sharp knife

• ¾ cup mix of roasted salted pistachios and raw walnuts

• ⅔ cup finely grated Pecorino

Dressing

• 2.5 Tbsps lemon oil

• 1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

• Pinch salt

To make your lemon oil, add olive oil and lemon peel to a small saucepan (make sure the lemon peel has no bitter white pith on it as it can make the oil taste bitter as well). Warm over a low-medium heat for about 20 minutes, watching and turning the heat down if necessary to avoid any bubbles from forming in the oil. Then remove from the heat and let steep 10 minutes, or until oil has reached room temperature. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard lemon peel. If you make extra oil than you need, store in a dark jar in a cool place.

Next, clean and finely cut your kale, removing the thick middle stem. Roll the leaves together and chiffonade, or cut into fine strips. Similarly, rinse your brussel sprouts and using a mandolin, shave into thin strips or cut using a sharp knife. Add to a bowl and toss with lemon oil, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Massage the greens and then place in the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes.

Over a medium heat, toast pistachios and walnuts in a dry pan, making sure not to burn, just 3 to 5 minutes, until fragrant. In the meantime, finely grate ⅔ cup pecorino cheese.

Remove greens from the fridge and add toasted nuts and most of the grated cheese. Toss gently with your fingers to mix, and serve with a little extra cheese on top. Serve immediately.

Smoked Salmon Toast

Equal parts crisp, crunch & smoke.

Smoked salmon sandwiches have quickly become a part of my daily rotation. Loaded with fresh ingredients that need little prep, it’s quick to come together and offers a refreshing change from the daily rotation of other more expected sandwiches. The key, as always, is using the best ingredients you can find: a great bread and high quality smoked salmon are key. And it’s totally worth the extra few minutes it requires to make your own scallion cream cheese. Of all the things you could put on toast for breakfast, lunch or brunch, I promise this one won’t disappoint.

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Smoked Salmon Toast

• Scallion cream cheese, store bought or homemade

• Good bread, like sourdough

• Tomato, thinly sliced rounds

• Cucumber, thinly sliced rounds

• Red onion, thinly sliced

• Sprouts

• Baby greens

• Lemon

• Sea Salt

• OPTIONAL: Capers

You can use store bought scallion cream cheese but homemade is easy, and really delicious: mix a pound of softened plain cream cheese with about ½ cup sour cream (or heavy cream). Mix and fold in freshly cut scallion.

Take out all ingredients. Slice cucumber, red onion and tomato into very thin rounds. Set aside. Put bread in the toaster. When done, spread both pieces of bread with cream cheese. Add desired amount of smoked salmon to one piece of bread. Top salmon with thinly sliced cucumber, tomato, red onion and sprouts. To the other piece of bread, add greens on top of cream cheese, lightly pressing down. Sprinkle sprouts with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of fresh lemon juice. Add capers without liquid, if you like. Close sandwich, cut and eat immediately.