Food Styling & Photography Workshop w/ Bea Peltre @ Haven’s Kitchen NYC

Food Styling & Photography Workshop w/ Bea Peltre
Food Styling & Photography Workshop w/ Bea Peltre

I recently attended an amazing food styling and photography workshop with Beatrice Peltre, of La Tartine Gourmande at Haven’s Kitchen in NYC. Bea is an amazing Chef, food stylist and photographer and author of the cookbook La Tartine Gourmande: Recipes for an Inspired Life and one of my favorite food bloggers on the planet! If you don’t know Bea, she is very talented and creative – not only in her cooking and recipes but in her unique, fresh, colorful food styling and photography that has given her fame in the food community.

The workshop was at Haven’s Kitchen, a great cooking school and event space in Chelsea, NYC. If you haven’t visited this place you must next time you visit New York! The front area is stocked full of gourmet food items, cooking tools and utensils, kitchenware, and housewares; and they also serve coffee and tea, wine and great gourmet snacks. They offer small group cooking classes in their great location too, which you can check out online. The kitchen was set up with all of the fresh, beautiful food that we cooked and prepared together with Bea before we went upstairs to the private event space to prop, style and shoot the gourmet dishes we prepared.

After the shoot, we all sat down for a healthy gorgeous lunch of smoked salmon, veggie and dill cream tartines, fresh fruit and salads, cheese, gourmet pizzas and more. We laughed and ate, and had great conversation among the group and learned valuable lessons in the art of cooking, food styling and photography with Bea.

Check out my photos from the workshop and event below (there’s a slideshow on Flickr and a mini-gallery below for viewing pleasure). And if you have the opportunity to ever take a class from Bea or Haven’s Kitchen, I highly recommend! Enjoy.

VIEW THE SLIDESHOW


 

A Delish Father’s Day Menu

Summertime is always my favorite time of year – when the sun is always shining, a warm breeze is in the air, and all the flowers, fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables are in full bloom. Everyone is out grilling BBQ, visiting the farmer’s markets, having picnics in the park and enjoying the sunny, lazy days with friends and family. With Summer quickly approaching, I created this great Father’s Day Menu you’ll love: Grilled Rosemary and Garlic Steak with Portabella Mushrooms and Peppers, a Bistro-Style Herbed Potato Salad and a refreshing Watermelon-Strawberry Salad.

Roasted Garlic Rosemary Steak
Roasted Garlic Rosemary Steak

This is an easy and delicious recipe for Grilled Rosemary and Garlic Steak with Portabella Mushrooms and Peppers that has a tangy garlic and red wine flavor. Start with Tavern Direct Roasted Garlic Cabernet (or any red-wine and garlic vinaigrette dressing) to marinate the steak and veggies before grilling to give it a tender robust flavor. After grilling, top it all off with Steak Sauce, fresh rosemary and a bit of Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper for a healthy, tasty Summer BBQ!

Strawberry-Watermelon Salad
Strawberry-Watermelon Salad

This Watermelon and Strawberry Salad is a simple combination of fresh watermelon, strawberries and a few blueberries mixed in with a little bit of lemon juice, sugar and water to make a simple refreshing syrup to macerate the fruit. This is how we traditionally make the fruit salad but you can also toss the fruit in a citrus-infused balsamic vinegar for a tangy contrast with the sweet fruit – I recommend Tavern on the Green Citrus Balsamic– a refreshing blend of orange, tangerine and lime essence.

Bistro-Style Herbed Potato Salad
Bistro-Style Herbed Potato Salad

The French-Bistro Herbed Potato Salad is made with salt potatoes and fresh herbs, a lightened up version from the heavier mayonnaise-laden salads from our family picnics of the past. It calls for salt potatoes (red or yellow), shallots, parsley and thyme tossed in an oil, vinegar and Dijon mustard base making it light and tangy. Fresh parsley adds some green…and the sweet shallots mixed with thyme, dill and onions gives it a nice tangy flavor. I added some dried dill (you could also use fresh) and a few chopped green onions for an extra dash of flavor – enjoy!

Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Steak with Portabella Mushrooms and Peppers

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 23 minutes

Yield: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 steaks (T-bone, NY Strip or Ribeye), about 1 ½ inches thick
  • 3 red, yellow & orange peppers, julienned
  • 3 Portabellos, stems removed, sliced
  • 1 cup Tavern Direct Roasted Garlic Cabernet Marinade (or red-wine vinaigrette dressing)
  • Kosher Salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Steak Sauce, for serving if desired (Tavern Direct or desired brand)
  • A few sprigs of fresh rosemary, snipped

Instructions

  1. Preheat a charcoal grill or grill pan to medium high. Preheat a separate medium-sized sauté pan over medium heat.
  2. Place steaks in a baking dish or large freezer bag and pour marinade over steaks, coating evenly. Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper and rosemary and let marinate for up to 1 hour at room temperature uncovered.
  3. Slice bell peppers and Portobello mushrooms and marinate in separate mixing bowls. Sprinkle salt and pepper over both and mix through, marinating for approximately 30-45 minutes.
  4. Spray the sauté pan with cooking spray or olive oil. Sauté the sliced peppers until soft and slightly browned about 5-7 minutes. Remove and cover with foil.
  5. Spray the grill or grill pan with cooking spray or olive oil and place Portabella mushrooms on grill. Cook approximately 5-7 minutes per side until soft and grill marks appear. Remove and cover with foil on a separate plate.
  6. Let the charcoal grill or grill pan heat up to high again. Spray with oil and cook steaks approximately 5 minutes per side (for medium rare), 7-8 minutes per side (for medium).
  7. Remove steaks from grill and let sit for 5-10 minutes under foil tent to let juices redistribute. Plate and serve steaks with mushrooms and peppers.?Drizzle the Steak Sauce over steak, if desired.
  8. Sprinkle Kosher salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh rosemary.
  9. Serves 4.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/06/a-perfect-summer-fathers-day-menu/

Bistro-Style Herbed Potato Salad

Serving Size: 6-8

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds salt potatoes, halved (or new potatoes)
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper?
  • 1/4 cup olive oil (light yellow, not extra virgin)
  • 3 tablespoons Dijon or grainy mustard
  • 2 tablespoons Champagne or white wine vinegar
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/2 tablespoons fresh dill
  • ½ teaspoon dried Fines herbes
  • 1/4 small Vidalia onion, chopped fine
  • 1-2 green onions, sliced

Instructions

  1. Place potatoes in a large pot of cold salted water so that potatoes are covered approximately under 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
  2. Cool potatoes under cold water then drain and set aside.
  3. To make the salad dressing: whisk together oil, mustard, vinegar, shallot, and herbs in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add cooked potatoes and chopped onion and 1/2 of the green onions to the dressing and toss to combine.
  4. Let salad cool and marinate at room temperature, then garnish with additional green onions and parsley for serving.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/06/a-perfect-summer-fathers-day-menu/

Strawberry-Watermelon Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Yield: 6

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 watermelon, cubed
  • 3 cups strawberries, halved
  • 1/2 pint fresh blueberries
  • fresh mint or micro greens, for garnish

Instructions

  1. To make the simple syrup, bring sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan, let simmer for about 5 minutes and cool.
  2. Place watermelon, strawberries and blueberries in a large bowl and add the syrup, mixing well. Add a dash of lemon juice and garnish with mint or microgreens.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/06/a-perfect-summer-fathers-day-menu/

*Chef’s Note: The only thing missing is dessert and wine to make it a full meal: I recommend a lovely lemon or pistachio gelato for dessert, and a bold Cabernet or hearty red wine to pair with the Steak and salads. 

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Find Tavern on the Green Products online at www.taverndirect.com – all their products were designed by Lou Bivona, a Rochester native, in conjunction with the legendary NYC restaurant in Central Park, Tavern on the Green. With every sale, a portion of all proceeds goes to the charity National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Fresh, Local Greenmarket Menu at Gotham Bar & Grill NYC

Gotham Bar and Grill, NYC
Gotham Bar and Grill, NYC

I had the opportunity to attend a fantastic event for a menu tasting at Gotham Bar and Grill in NYC with several other influential food bloggers this week. The special lunch event was in celebration of the launch of Greenmarket to Gotham 2012 highlighting the farms they love best and in support of GrowNYC.

For 12 weeks, Gotham will be featuring their “Greenmarket to Gotham” Menu – a Vegetarian, $25 Prix Fixe two-­course Lunch menu crafted by Chefs Alfred Portale and Livio Velardo. The dishes will change weekly, featuring one of Gotham’s favorite regional farms from Union Square Greenmarket. In their commitment to supporting NY farmers and purveyors and the city of New York, $1 of each menu will go to GrowNYC’s program Grow to Learn: The Citywide School Gardens Initiative.

Vino
Vino

Our all-vegetarian lunch featured fresh ingredients from the Union Square Greenmarket purveyor Cherry Lane Farms, and we sampled some great wines from French and NY State wineries to accompany the meal.

Green Garlic Soup
Green Garlic Soup

Green Garlic Soup made with sunchokes, leeks, spring onion and new potato parmesan emulsion

Cherry Lane Farm's Summer Squash
Cherry Lane Farm's Summer Squash

Cherry Lane Farm’s Summer Squash made with goat cheese stuffed zucchini blossom and smoked eggplant panisse and sauce vert

Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake

and a lovely Strawberry Shortcake for dessert made with fresh market strawberries, white chocolate ganache and Thai basil ice cream

Desserts
Desserts

Visit Gotham’s Facebook Page to see the weekly Farmer’s Markets and Menus.

Check out Cherry Lane Farms seasonal products online.

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Gotham Bar and Grill
12 E. 12th St (btw University Plc & 5th Ave)
New York, NY 10003
212.620.4020
http://www.gothambarandgrill.com/ 

Thai Sea Bass in Banana Leaves

Thai Sea Bass in Banana Leaves
Thai Sea Bass in Banana Leaves

This is a lovely Thai dish, not only in taste but in presentation. I made this with some good friends of mine in Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend on their Big Green Egg grill. If you haven’t seen one of these things – its totally cool and easy to use. And it’s BIG. And GREEN. And looks like and EGG. It’s actually a ceramic grill and smoker that reaches temperatures up to 700 degrees F and has the ability to grill, smoke or steam everything on the planet in about 15-20 minutes. Very cool. Anyways, we decided to make this Thai Sea Bass in Banana Leaves recipe from their Big Green Egg Cookbook and took a trip over to the Dekalb Farmer’s Market (which is also totally awesome if you haven’t been there – you must!). We picked up some fresh Sea Bass steaks (you can also use fillets), herbs, red curry paste, and banana leaves (which actually come frozen and need to be defrosted and cut down to size first before using).

Banana leaves are often used in Thai cooking to wrap around fish and add subtle flavor to whatever food they surround. This recipe was surprisingly easy to make and had wonderful tasty Asian flavors from the fresh herbs (basil, mint, cilantro, ginger and garlic and Thai chile) and lime. The red curry sauce is also easy to make by adding some paste to coconut milk and chicken stock and letting it simmer down while you grill/steam the fish in the banana leaves on the Big Green Egg. You just lay down a strip of the herb mixture, top it with some fish and lime slices, drizzle a little bit of oil, salt and pepper and then wrap the fish up in the leaves into cute little packets and throw them on the Big Green Egg (or any covered grill will do). After about 15-20 minutes you just unwrap the little packets, and top the fish with the curry sauce and serve with a side of lemony buttered green beans and fresh corn on the cob to go with it. Fresh, healthy and delicious.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can coconut milk
1 teaspoon red curry paste
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup firmly packed chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup firmly packed chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup firmly packed chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup grated fresh ginger
1/4 cup crushed garlic
1 thinly sliced red jalapeno or serrano pepper
4 banana leaves (cut to 12 inches square)
4 (6 to 7 ounce) sea bass fillets or steaks
1 lime, cut into 8 thin slices
2 tablespoons canola oil or spray
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation

Big Green Egg
Big Green Egg

Preheat the EGG (or grill) to 350 degrees F.

Sea Bass and lime
Sea Bass and lime

Prep fish and lime and set aside to begin making coconut curry.

Red Curry Coconut Sauce
Red Curry Coconut Sauce

To make the sauce, combine the coconut milk, curry paste and chicken stock in a small saucepan. Simmer on the stovetop over medium heat for 10 minutes, then keep warm.

Chopped Herbs
Chopped Herbs

Combine all the herbs (basil, mint, cilantro, ginger, garlic and chile) in a medium bowl and mix well.

Banana Leaves
Banana Leaves

Lay the banana leaves out flat,

Sea Bass & Herbs on Leaves
Sea Bass & Herbs on Leaves

and place 3 to 4 tablespoons of the herb mixture on the center of each leaf and top each mound of herbs with fish.

Fish, Herbs and Lime on Leaves
Fish, Herbs and Lime on Leaves

Top each packet with 2 lime slices and 1/2 teaspoon canola oil (or some oil spray).

Folding Banana Leaf Packets
Folding Banana Leaf Packets

Season with salt and pepper and begin folding packets by folding the sides of the leaf inward, then fold the top and bottom over and tucking the ends under (kinda like making a banana leaf fish burrito!!).

Folded Leaves ready for the grill
Folded Leaves ready for the grill

Secure each packet with butcher’s twine and brush or spray more oil on the outside of the leaves.

Grilled Banana Leaves
Grilled Banana Leaves

Place the leaves directly on the EGG porcelain-coated grid (or regular grill if using) and close the lid. Grill for 7 to 8 minutes per side, until the interior of the fish is opaque (unwrap a package and insert a knife into the fish to test). Transfer the fish to individual plates, remove the twine, open the top, and spoon the curry sauce over the fish. Serve while hot and with a side of buttery lemon green beans and fresh corn on the cob. For wine pairing, serve with a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.

Serves 4.

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Get more great recipes for the Big Green Egg

Check out the Big Green Egg Cookbook

 

 

Herbivoracious: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes & A Cookbook Giveaway!

Herbivoracious-Michael Natkin
Herbivoracious-Michael Natkin

I recently had an opportunity to meet an amazing author/chef/blogger/photographer at a recent book launch party at Candle 79, Michael Natkin. If you haven’t checked out Michael’s award-winning vegetarian blog, Herbivoracious, then you absolutely must. His creative vegetarian dishes are colorful, fresh and vibrant, and he recently published his first cookbook named after his blog. I had the opportunity to meet Michael at the party and get a signed copy of his cookbook which I absolutely adore (even though I am not a vegetarian) and loved the recipes so much that I wanted to share a few with you and offer a chance for you to enter to win a copy of the amazing cookbook yourself, giveaway courtesy of Harvard Common Press.

The cookbook is full of 150 recipes and global dishes that he has created based on inspiration from his travels around the world: Mediterranean, Middle East and Asia are some of the main areas of influence on his cooking, which has led to his unique dishes full of taste, texture, aroma and gorgeous presentation. Appetizers and Small Plates, Soups and Salads, Sandwiches and Tacos, Pasta and Noodle DIshes, Side Veggie Dishes and Desserts are all colorfully presented in this beautiful cookbook.

Whether you are an omnivore, herbivore, vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian (or just love fresh veggies, salads and healthy recipes) – I know you’ll love this cookbook as much as I do! Michael has also graciously given me two recipes from his cookbook to share with you: Over The Top Eggplant Parmesan and a cool and refreshing Watermelon, Radish and Watercress Salad (see recipes following). Enjoy!

***THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER, SHEA ROSS OF ATLANTA GA! STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE COOKBOOK GIVEAWAYS 🙂 

Here’s how to enter to win a copy of the cookbook (open to US/Canadian residents only):

*** VERY IMPORTANT! *** Leave a separate comment for EACH of your entries or only one entry will be counted. For example, leave your first comment about your favorite vegetable or vegetarian dish and why you want to win the cookbook, then add another comment to say “I follow you on Twitter”, another to say “I follow you on Pinterest”, etc. If you already follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and/or Facebook let me know as well, since this counts as an entry.

*NOTE: Please make sure to provide your current email address (which won’t be visible) so I can reach you if you win.

I will randomly draw one lucky winner on Sunday, June 10 at 11 pm EST. Good Luck and enjoy the recipes from Michael’s book below!

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Over-the-Top Eggplant Parmigiana

Eggplant Parmesan
Eggplant Parmesan

SERVES 6
1 HOUR (40 MINUTES ACTIVE)

For this no-holds-barred eggplant parmigiana, the eggplant is breaded with panko and pan-fried, layered with fresh mozzarella and homemade tomato sauce, finished in the oven, and then topped with a dice of fresh heirloom tomatoes. It makes a satisfying entrée, and you need only add a green salad to make a celebratory dinner.

I don’t salt and drain eggplant for most uses, but it is worthwhile in this recipe. Extracting some of the liquid makes the eggplant fry up firm yet fork-tender. You don’t want any mush factor in your parmigiana.

Here’s a great tip for breading. Use one hand to put the eggplant in the flour, egg, and bread crumbs. Use the other hand to toss the eggplant in the bread crumbs and into the skillet. By keeping one hand for the wet stuff and the other for the dry, you avoid getting your hands breaded along with the eggplant!

The finest canned tomatoes for Italian dishes come from the area of San Marzano; look for that name on the can.

Ingredients

  • 3 large or 5 smaller globe eggplants (about 4 pounds total)
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups panko bread crumbs
  • 4 large eggs, beaten
  • Vegetable oil, for pan-frying
  • 12 ounces mozzarella, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 2 handfuls fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped

To Serve

  • 1 1⁄2 cups diced vine-ripened tomatoes (only truly good, ripe tomatoes will do here; don’t use those supermarket ones ripened with ethylene gas)
  • 1 handful fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Peel the eggplants and slice lengthwise into planks a scant 1⁄2 inch thick. Layer in a colander with a heavy sprinkling of kosher salt between each layer, top with a plate, and weight with some cans. Set aside on a plate to drain for at least 30 minutes. Wipe off excess salt with a paper towel.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, while you make the rest of the recipe. Don’t add salt, because the eggplant will still have residual salt from the draining process.
  3. Set up a rack or baking sheet covered with paper towels for draining the fried eggplant. Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and preheat the oven to 400°F.
  4. Set up for dredging, with plates for the flour and bread crumbs and a shallow bowl for the eggs. Heat a good 1⁄4 inch of vegetable oil in your biggest skillet over high heat. Working with two slices of eggplant at a time, pat them in the flour until they have a dry coating, then drag through the egg, and finally press both sides in the bread crumbs, covering thoroughly. Place them in the skillet, where they should start sizzling immediately. Don’t pack them in too tightly in the skillet; leave yourself some room to work. Flip when brown, about 2 minutes, then brown on the other side. They should be fork-tender at this point (the oven time is just to melt the cheese, not cook the eggplant). Transfer the eggplant to the rack to drain. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, adding more vegetable oil as necessary.
  5. To assemble, set down your first layer of eggplant in the prepared baking dish, and top each slice with a couple tablespoons of tomato sauce, a piece of mozzarella, a bit of Parmigiano, and a bit of basil. Build up three layers, finishing with cheese.
  6. Bake until the cheese is thoroughly melted, about 20 minutes.
  7. To serve: Toss the diced tomatoes with the basil and a pinch of salt. Put an eggplant stack on each plate, and top with 1⁄4 cup of the tomato salad and a grind of fresh black pepper.

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Watermelon Radish and Watercress Salad

Watermelon, Radish and Watercress Salad
Watermelon, Radish and Watercress Salad

GLUTEN-FREE
SERVES 4
10 MINUTES

This delicious salad is driven purely by its beautiful ingredients; all you have to do is take a little care to arrange them nicely.

Watermelon radishes are green on the outside, but when sliced you see that they are intensely red in the middle, looking much like tiny watermelons. If you have a mandoline, use it here: It is excellent for slicing them thinly and evenly.

If you have difficulty finding watercress, check the refrigerated produce section of upscale markets. They often carry hydroponic watercress, making this peppery green, once strictly seasonal, available year-round. Look for bright, fresh leaves with no signs of wilting. The tart cress makes a great foil for the sweet figs and pomegranate seeds (or more technically, arils).

Ingredients

  • 1 large watermelon radish, very thinly sliced
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 handfuls watercress, rinsed and dried
  • 1 lemon
  • 4 ripe fresh figs, halved
  • 1⁄4 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 16 shavings Parmigiano-Reggiano or other hard aged cheese
  • 12 toasted walnut halves
  • Flaky sea salt (such as Maldon)

Directions

  1. Arrange a circle of watermelon radish slices on each of four chilled plates. Drizzle with a little olive oil.
  2. Toss the watercress with a bit of the olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Place a fluffy handful on each plate. This is the critical step to making the salad look nice—aim to make a tall, high mound in the center, and don’t let it spread out.
  3. Add 2 fig halves, 1 tablespoon pomegranate seeds, 4 cheese shavings, and 3 toasted walnut halves to each plate. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and serve immediately.

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Get more great recipes from Herbivoracious

Herbivoracious is also available in an enhanced e-book edition, with 25 videos featuring Natkin touring ethnic markets, introducing ingredients and showing how to choose them, and preparing recipes from the book. The e-book will also offer social media functionality for sharing recipes, photos, and video on Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.

Click here to download a press release.

 

Cool off with some Spicy Fish Tacos & Summer Wine pairings

Yum

Spicy Fish Tacos
Spicy Fish Tacos

There’s an interesting theory that in the Summertime heat, eating spicy foods actually lowers your body temperature as well as a plethora of other health benefits such as raising your metabolism, improving digestion, mood and aids in better sleep. For a recent photoshoot I did for Miditto.com, we decided to pair some of their monthly wine selections with a spicy dish – and what better than some delicious fish tacos made with a kickin’ spice rub and a fresh mango-avocado-jalapeno salsa?

You can always adjust the heat by increasing or decreasing the amount of cayenne red pepper (or omit it all together if you like the spice flavor without the heat), and to be perfectly honest this spice rub and fruity fresh salsa combination would go great with grilled chicken or shrimp too! I used tilapia for this recipe but you can also substitute any other mild flaky white fish such as cod, orange roughy, flounder, halibut or haddock.

Spicy Fish Tacos
Spicy Fish Tacos

Garnish the tacos with some extra cilantro, jalapeñosfresh cracked black pepper. Some sliced red cabbage would also add a little bit of fresh crunch too. Add a splash of fresh lime juice, a dollop of  chipotle cream (recipe follows) — both great toppings to cool the spicy heat!

Rose wine

For wine pairing, Miditto recommends a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, a light dry Rose, a fruity Riesling, a bold red Zinfandel or spicy Shiraz to compliment the spicy flavors of the dish.

Read more about the best Summer Wines on Food & Wine

Read more about the health benefits of eating spicy foods

Cool off with some Spicy Fish Tacos & Summer Wine pairings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Serves 4.

Serving Size: 1 taco

Spicy Fish Tacos with Mango, Avocado & Jalapeño Salsa and Chipotle Crema. Perfectly paired with Summer white wine or rose to cool the heat!

Ingredients

  • Spicy Fish Fillets:
  • 1/2 tbsp cumin
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pound white fish fillets (cod, tilapia,haddock)
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • Avocado-Mango-Jalapeno Salsa:
  • 1 cup sliced peeled avocado
  • 2/3 cup finely chopped peeled ripe mango
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced (optional)
  • 1 cup red cabbage, shredded (optional)
  • 1 lime, fresh juice of for garnish 8 (6-inch) corn or flour tortillas
  • Chipotle Crema:
  • 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream or plain yogurt
  • 1 tbsp low-fat mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons chipotle pepper (finely chopped) in adobo sauce
  • fresh lime juice from 1/2 lime
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare Spicy Fish:
  2. Wash fish fillets and pat dry, set aside.
  3. Prep all fresh ingredients (chop garlic, herbs, fruit, onions, avocado, etc.) and set aside.
  4. Measure out all dry spices (cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, paprika, cayenne, black pepper) and add to a mixing bowl, combine well. Rub spices over fish and let sit covered in plastic wrap for about 10-15 minutes in the refrigerator.
  5. Cook fish in a skillet with oil for about 2 minutes on each side (check to make sure the fish is done by cutting a slit in the thickest part. If still pink, cook another minute or so until done). Keep the fish warm tented with some foil on a side plate while preparing the salsa.
  6. Avocado-Mango-Jalapeno Salsa:
  7. To make the salsa, add together the rest of the salt (1/4 teaspoon), avocado, mango, onions, cilantro, lime juice, red pepper and jalapeño (if using).
  8. Rub a small amount of canola oil on the tortillas on both sides and heat in a skillet over medium-low. (You can also put them in the microwave for about 1 minute or warm them in the oven at 350 for about 5-10 minutes).
  9. Cut the fish into medium size pieces and add them to the tortillas. Top each taco with a couple tablespoons of the mango-jalapeno-avocado salsa.
  10. For garnishes, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice, cilantro, jalapeno slices, cabbage, salt and pepper to taste.
  11. For a little extra flavor, add a drizzle of chipotle cream or top with a dollop of sour cream to cool the spicy heat.
  12. Chipotle Crema:
  13. In a small to medium mixing bowl, add all ingredients and mix together well. If you like a smoother cream texture, throw everything into a blender or food processor until blended well. Add chipotle cream to a squeeze bottle or plastic bag with a hole cut from one of the corners and squeeze over top of the tacos, or add a dollop of sour cream as a cool topping. Makes 1/2 cup.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light, May 2012

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https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/06/cool-off-with-some-spicy-fish-tacos-summer-wine-pairings/

Refreshingly Light Get-In-My-Bikini Crab Salad

Crab Salad

OK folks – listen up. It’s that time of year again where Summer is coming, the sun is shining and we need to fit into that teeny bikini again… With Memorial Day approaching and sunny days on the boat, beach and lake ahead, I whipped up this recipe for a refreshingly light crab salad to get myself ready for the weekend. Chock full of fresh crab, lemon, veggies and tasty herbs and seasonings, you’ll love this healthy salad made with a low-fat dressing of grapeseed oil, white wine vinegar, lemon and a hint of low-fat/low-calorie mayonnaise. It’s full of flavor, vitamins, and protein, and so light it won’t touch your waistline.

If you aren’t into crab meat then switch it up and make this with tuna, shrimp or shredded chicken. Serve the salad over large lettuce leaves with some slices of fresh avocado and lemon wedges on salad greens and hit the beach while rockin’ that bikini! If you want to make a sandwich try it on a whole wheat pita or low carb tortilla wrap to keep light! Enjoy!

Refreshingly Light Get-In-My-Bikini Crab Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Ingredients

  • 1 pound cooked lump crab meat (can also sub tuna, shrimp or chicken)
  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • lemon juice from 1/2 fresh lemon
  • 1/2 cup celery, diced
  • 1/2 orange or red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, diced fine
  • 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped fine
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Jane's Krazy Salt (or any seasoned salt you have)
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
  • 1 small red or green chile, diced fine (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons light/low cal mayonnaise
  • Garnish: salad greens, sliced avocado, lemon wedges, cilantro

Instructions

  1. Mix cooked crab meat with oil and vinegar and lemon juice, stir well and break up crab meat into flaky pieces.
  2. Add diced celery, orange or red pepper, onion, cucumber, cilantro, salt, pepper, crazy salt, chile flakes, green chiles and mayonnaise.
  3. Cover well and place salad in the refrigerator for an hour to chill and let the flavors meld.
  4. Serve over mixed greens with slices of avocado, additional cilantro and fresh lemon wedges.

Notes

You can also substitute cooked chicken or shrimp or tuna for this recipe.

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/05/refreshingly-light-get-in-my-bikini-crab-salad/

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Other Crab Salad Recipes you may enjoy:

Giada’s Crab Salad

Epicurious Crab Salad Sandwiches

AllRecipes.com Crab Salad

Beyond the Plate Crab Salad with Spicy Citrus Dressing

Food and Wine Thai Mango Crab Salad

 

Grill like a Pro w/ Essentials from Chef Tom Colicchio

Grilling Essentials
Chef Tom Colicchio
Chef Tom Colicchio

Memorial Day is just a week away and marks the unofficial start of the grilling season. If you’re looking to host the ultimate barbecue, making sure you have all the right grilling ingredients is essential.

Tom ColicchioJames Beard Award Winner, Top Chef Judge and restaurateur, is known for his top-quality food served in his restaurants across the country. After 30 years in the business, and cooking at prominent New York restaurants including The Quilted Giraffe, Gotham Bar & Grill, Rakel, and Mondrian, Tom is an expert when it comes to grilling.

From the most flavorful meats to the sharpest knives, Tom’s been able to get his hands on the best ingredients and products from around the country. Some of his favorites include using the Konro Charcoal BBQ Grill, the perfect tool for cooking skewered foods, and grilling with D’Artagnan Wagyu Striploin, the best and most flavorful cut of meat when cooked at just the right temperature.

On Wednesday, May 16 Tom brought together all of his grilling essentials, including ingredients you’ll see on the menus in his restaurants, to OpenSky.  With warmer weather on the way, now you have the chance to grill like a pro this Memorial Day.

Fuego Portable Gas Grill
Fuego Portable Gas Grill

Fuego Portable Gas Grill ($149) – it’s a high-quality tool and only 15 pounds – very portable. It’s equipped with a stainless steel burner that heats up to 650 degrees and it offers 159 square inches of grill space — enough to fit four burgers and as many hot dogs on the grill all at once.  The steel frame construction means super durability, and an enameled cast iron grill grate allows your cooking surface to get and stay hot enough to guarantee a good sear. If you need some great precise engineering to build one of your own, then this Grinding service can help you out with that, but when you need to put them together, make sure you use supplies from TIG Welders. Dealing with metal pieces can be very difficult when they are too heavy, so that´s why this Forklift Hire is great when you need to move big and heavy objects. When you are doing construction at home, you should always have the Light weight deflectometer at hand because you never know when you may need it.

Rufus Teague BBQ Sauce
Rufus Teague BBQ Sauce

Rufus Teague BBQ Sauce & Rub Bundle ($27) These sauces and rubs are the real-deal – with rich, spot-on flavors that complement meat rather trying to outshine it – and will get your summer grilling off on the right foot.  Here’s what’s included: (1) 16 oz flask of Touch O’ Heat BBQ Sauce 
- (1) 16 oz flask of Honey Sweet BBQ Sauce 
- (1) 7 oz flask of Meat Sauce
– (1) 6.8 oz jar of Fish Rub
- (1) 6.8 oz jar of Meat Rub

Baxter's Premium Smoker Wood
Baxter's Premium Smoker Wood

Baxter’s Original Premium Smoker Wood ($20) — Essential tools for basic grilling include: a limitless supply of charcoal, a good set of tongs, and a big pile of wood chunks. Since the quality of the wood you grill with really does affect the flavor of your food, Tom is particular about what he uses. Baxter’s Original sources all their wood in Georgia, where they’re based, and they’re careful to make sure that it’s free of bark and debris.

Tip from Tom: If you’ve never used smoker wood on your grill, it’s easy.  Soak the chunks in water and then add them to smoldering briquettes in a charcoal grill, or into the smoke tray of a gas grill, and they’ll flavor whatever you’re cooking with a nice, wood fired taste. A couple of chunks on a hot grill will mean a steak with just a hint of smoke, whereas a few cups of the stuff over low heat allows you to transform your grill into a smoker, capable even of turning out amazing, authentic barbecue ribs.

Konro Charcoal BBQ Grill
Konro Charcoal BBQ Grill

Konro Charcoal BBQ Grill with Bag of Charcoal ($77-$151) Konros are small Japanese tabletop grills – a cousin to the hibachi. The compact ceramic units use as their heat source binchotan charcoal, a slow-burning hardwood charcoal that’s traditional to Japan. They’re the perfect tool for cooking skewered foods like yakitori, or any other small items that you could otherwise cook on a big, free-standing grill.  They’re fun to use – especially in a dinner party setting where everyone can participate in the cooking – easy to set up and clean up, and totally portable for picnicking and tailgating.

Sweet Deliverance Chutney Duo
Sweet Deliverance Chutney Duo

Sweet Deliverance Chutney Duo ($24) – Try Kelly’s Spicy Green Tomato Chutney and Raisin Haters Apple Chili Chutney as spreads to accompany a cheese and charcuterie platter, or better yet, as a condiment to serve alongside a rich meat like lamb. It transforms a hunk of cheddar, a slice of pate, or a simple ham sandwich.

Wagyu, Boneless Ribeyes & Pork Chops from DeBragga
Wagyu, Boneless Ribeyes & Pork Chops from DeBragga

Wagyu, Boneless Ribeyes & Pork Chops From DeBragga ($61-$250) These meats are supplied in his restaurants and work perfectly on the grill:

-Two 12-ounce American Wagyu (a.k.a. “Kobe beef”) strip steaks, the richest and most decadent steak on the market, sourced from Imperial Wagyu cattle raised in Nebraska. A little of this stuff goes a long way.

-Four 12-ounce boneless ribeye steaks, sourced from naturally raised Angus cattle. These cattle are never fed any antibiotics, hormones, or animal-based protein supplements, and the meat is amazingly well marbled and tender.

-Four 14-ounce pork chops from naturally raised Duroc and Berkshires hogs, free-ranging in Iowa. The meat is nothing like the pork chops you’re used to from your local supermarket. It’s beautifully marbled, succulent, and sweet.

Check out more cool food items, cooking and grilling essentials on OpenSky.com (sponsor of this post) and have an amazing Memorial Day weekend grilling your hearts out!

Tamarind Shrimp Soba Noodles

Tamarind Shrimp Soba Noodles
Tamarind Shrimp Soba Noodles

This is a typical Asian dish with warm, smooth and bright flavors. Soba noodles are typical Japanese noodles made of buckwheat and wheat flours (you can find soba and most of the ingredients in this recipe in any Asian store, Kaluystan’s in NYC, Whole Foods or online).

The velvety flavorful sauce is semi-sweet and made with tamarind concentrate and coconut milk, infused with bright tangy Asian flavors – lime, red Thai chili, crispy shallots, mint and fennel seed. The shrimp are grilled to perfection (you can also sauté them if desired), then tossed with the Soba noodles and sauce to make a light, refreshing dish for Springtime. Garnish with cilantro, red pepper flakes, cashews or diced mango for some extra layers of flavor.

Ingredients

2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon sesame oil
36 shrimp, cleaned and deveined
½ cup tamarind concentrate (or use paste dissolved in coconut milk, strained)
1 cup coconut milk
4 Keffir lime leaves (or 1 tablespoon lime zest)
1 red Thai chile, diced
¼ cup mint leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/8 teaspoon fennel seed, ground
½ cup rice vinegar

½ pound buckwheat soba noodles
3 tablespoons sesame oil

Garnishes: chopped cilantro, red pepper flakes, cashews, diced mango

Preparation

Heat a 6-inch sauté pan over a medium heat and add the oil and shallots. Cook the shallots until golden brown and slightly crisp. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

Shrimp Tamarind Mixture
Shrimp Tamarind Mixture

In a small bowl, mix the tamarind concentrate and coconut milk. Add the shrimp, lime leaves or zest, chili, mint, garlic, fennel seed, rice vinegar and crispy shallots together and let marinate for at least 1 hour up to 6 hours in the refrigerator.

Tamarind Coconut Sauce
Tamarind Coconut Sauce

Remove the shrimp from the marinade and reserve the marinade.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, and add the soba noodles. Immediately add a cup of cold water to the pot. When it comes back to a boil, drain the noodles. (You can also sauté the noodles in some sesame oil after boiling and draining them, over high heat to crisp them on the bottom before serving).

Shrimp on Grill
Shrimp on Grill

Heat a 10-inch sauté pan or a grill over high heat, cook shrimp for 6 minutes.

Grilled Shrimp
Grilled Shrimp

Pour the marinade into a 2-cup sauce pan and bring to a boil, and reduce until thickened. Return the reduced marinade to the shrimp and divide the noodles among plates (or a large serving platter for the table), and serve the shrimp with sauce over the warm noodles.

Garnish with desired toppings: cilantro, red pepper flakes, cashews, cubed mango.

Serves 6.

Adapted from recipe by Richard Ruben, Techniques of Healthy Cooking, Institute of Culinary Education.

 
Soba

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Similar recipes you may enjoy:

Epicurious Coconut Shrimp with Tamarind Ginger Sauce

Chipotle and Tamarind-Glazed Shrimp

Soba Noodles in Sesame Ginger Sauce with Grilled Veggies

Camille Cooks Sauteed Shrimp with Tamarind and Soba Noodles

Shrimp Scampi Pasta with Lemon Butter Sauce

Shrimp Scampi Pasta

Shrimp Scampi Pasta

The temperatures are rising and the sun is shining which means one thing – Spring is finally here. For me, that means lighter flavors, fresh herbs, fruits and veggies from the farmers market, and seafood, seafood, seafood.

Ingredients

I decided to make a lovely Shrimp Scampi Pasta in Lemon Butter Sauce that is fresh, light and fairly simple to make (not to mention absolutely scrumptious!)

Sauteed Shrimp in Lemon Butter Sauce

I found some fresh, succulent jumbo shrimp and sautéed them in butter and olive oil with garlic, making a bright, velvety lemon butter sauce by adding lemon juice, lemon zest, and some white wine. I added a little extra butter into the sauce, threw in a few scallions and fresh garlic, and topped it off with some fresh parsley and a pinch of cayenne and red pepper flakes to give it some extra flavor and kick. If you want to make the sauteed shrimp and skip the pasta for a lighter dish, go for it – it’s totally amazing on it’s own or with a salad and some crusty bread (and a glass of white wine to accompany, of course!) Enjoy.

Shrimp Scampi Pasta in Lemon Butter Sauce

Yield: 4

This is a perfect dish for Summer, featuring sauteed shrimp in a lemon butter sauce, served over fettucine with fresh parsley and garlic.

Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus 1 1/2 teaspoons for sauce
  • 3/4 pound fettucine (or linguine, angel hair, spaghetti)
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound jumbo shrimp (about 12 jumbo or 16 large shrimp), peeled and deveined, tails intact
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • 2 large scallions, sliced
  • 1/2 lemon, zest grated for sauce plus extra for garnish
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
  • pinch of cayenne
  • Garnish: parsley, lemon zest, red pepper, salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Drizzle the vegetable oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.
  2. Prep all ingredients (chop garlic, parsley, green onions, zest and halve the lemons and squeeze juice, measure out oil, lemon juice, wine, salt and pepper and red pepper flakes).
  3. Melt butter and olive oil in another large pan over medium-low heat and add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Add the shrimp, salt, and pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 3 minutes, stirring often. Add parsley, lemon zest, wine, lemon juice, lemon slices, scallions and red pepper flakes; cook for 1-2 additional minutes. Stir and remove from heat.
  5. When the pasta is done, drain the cooked pasta and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve with additional chopped fresh parsley, lemon zest, salt and pepper to taste, cayenne and red pepper flakes, if desired. Serve with a glass of white wine (Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc) and a green salad or crusty bread.
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https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/05/shrimp-scampi-pasta/

Shrimp Scampi Pasta