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Mediterranean Melody Cod with Tangy Tomato-Olive Relish

Mediterranean Melody Cod with Tangy Tomato-Olive Relish

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Delicate fish, umami tomatoes and a briney contrast with capers + olives — a beautiful balancing act of satly, sweet and savory. It is a celebration of bold mediterranean flavors, kissed by excellent olive oil and bright lemon juice. It’s also just beautiful. A feast for the eyes and the palette.

Here I serve it over cod but any flakey mild fish works. The relish can be enjoyed many other ways too: on crusty toast with a fried egg on top, as ingredients for a savory omelette with added feta or as a spread to make an ordinary sandwich burst with flavor.

Note — this is a forgiving recipe so feel free to adjust tomato, garlic, caper and olive quantities to your liking.

I especially like the combination of Kalamata and Castelvetrano olives, but feel free to add your favorite olives to the mix.

You can double and triple the recipe for a dinner party. It’s a show stopper on the table and an all-time favorite of my dinner guests.


Ingredients —

For the Fish:

1 1/2 – 2 pounds cod
1 tablespoon olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt & Pepper to taste

For the Tomato-Olive Relish:

3 tablespoons high quality olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons capers, dried and roughly chopped
Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
3 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 cups kalamata & castelvetrano olives, sliced
Drizzle of balsamic vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation —

For the Cod:

  1. Place cod in a parchment lined baking dish.
  2. Squeeze lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil on the fish and using your hands spread to coat the fish, then season with salt and pepper.
  3. Bake for 12 minutes on the top oven rack under broil until slightly golden on top and cooked through.

For the tomato-olive relish:

  1. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet on medium-high heat.
  2. Saute onions in olive oil until translucent but not browned, 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add garlic, capers and pepper flakes (if using) and saute for another minute until garlic is fragrant. Do not let garlic brown.
  4. Add tomatoes and stir to combine everything in the pan. Cook until tomatoes have softened and some have burst, creating a sauce. About 5-8 minutes.
  5. Season with a pinch of salt and drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
  6. Add olives to the pan and mix to combine and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  7. Remove from heat, then add lemon juice and fresh parsley. Taste and adjust salt and lemon as needed.
  8. Serve the relish on top of the fish with a final drizzle of olive oil and lemon wedges on the side and enjoy!


Happy Hanukkah from Basil & Roses!

Happy Hanukkah from Basil & Roses!

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Ah, ’tis the season for celebrations and merriment. I love this time of year. No matter which holiday you celebrate, which customs and folklore you subscribe to, and regardless of which heritage and ritual is the wellspring of your origin story; the themes of gratitude, gathering, tradition, family and love are universal.

I especially love being invited to friend’s homes with different cultural and religious backgrounds and learning about new customs, legends and wisdom. And of course, I love to share mine with you.

The Hanukkah story is the story of an oppressed people triumphing over the tyrants who sought to take away their freedom. It is the story of light triumphing over darkness, of a people overcoming seemingly impossible odds. That’s beautiful. Later this month we will celebrate the Persian holiday of “Shabeh Yalda” which carries a similar theme of light overcoming darkness. Yalda , the first day of Winter (Winter solstice), marks the longest night of the year. From there, the days start getting longer, so, culturally it represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness.  The symbolism is incredible! And  what better way to celebrate than with a festive meal! Below are some of our favorite recipes to inspire your Hannukkah menu and beyond.

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within,” said Maya Angelou.

Wishing you all light and love today, this holiday season and always!

Homemade Falafel with Herb Tahini Sauce and Shirazi Salad

Beer + Basil Braised Brisket

Green Garden Herb Basmati Rice with Basil, Mint, Chive + Rosemary (and an unexpected virtual trip home)

Skillet Chicken Thighs With Shallot, Lemon & Herbs

Persian Stuffed Peppers (Dolmeh)

Persian Cucumber Salad with Red Onion & Thai Basil

Roasted Cauliflower with Schug & A Quick Trip Around the World

Cauliflower with Cardamom-Kissed Schug & A Trip Around the World

Cauliflower with Cardamom-Kissed Schug & A Trip Around the World

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“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes,” said Mark Twain. Travel has always given me a sense of adventure, but more importantly a new window to the world, a new color palette, a new paradigm, and indeed a new set of eyes.

I travel as often as possible but one need not physically go to a place to experience the magic of other cultures. Inspiration is everywhere. If you live in New York, go to Queens! A short subway ride and you can taste food from all over the world. Queens is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world. And what better way to embark on a voyage of discovery than experiencing cuisine?

We can virtually travel too. Explore a farmer’s market in Kuwait or go to the kitchen of a Mother-Daughter team cooking together. Joyfully visit the sunny kitchen of an effervescent former New Yorker in Tel Aviv celebrating the colorful bounty of Mediterranean produce. The passionate food of a hungry Egyptian living in Australia, or the nostalgia of Pakistani cuisine by way of a culinary teacher in Glasgow. Notice a pattern? Of course here at Basil & Roses: A culmination of the flavors of my Jewish, Iranian-American heritage, with hopes of transforming you to a beautiful place and time.

You can find your own favorites. There are so many. For now, will you travel to North Africa with me?

Schug! (Skug, Zhug, Zhoug). A gorgeous green chili sauce of Yemeni origin. It is fresh, bright, spicy,  and verdant. The herbs are cool, the chilies pack heat, and the playful dance between coriander and cardamom create a unique flavor which is unbeatable. 

You can use many chilies with veins and seeds removed, or use a few and include all the feel-good, dopamine-releasing, capsaicin-filled parts of the euphoric the spice. The adventure is up to you.

Schug works well on roasted cauliflower, but also brightens rich foods. Great on grilled meats, in a soup, on a sandwich or mixes with yogurt or labneh to sass up grilled vegetables. 

Afiyet olsun!
(That’s bon appetit in Turkish! More Turkish inspiration here ).

Ingredients
4-6 Serrano chiles or 6 green jalapeños, stemmed and coarsely chopped
2 cups tightly packed fresh parsley leaves
2 cups fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
3 garlic cloves, smashed
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoons ground cumin
Zest and juice from 1 lemon, about 3 tablespoons
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for storing
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Preparation

  1. In a food processor, combine all of the ingredients, except the oil. Pulse until a coarse paste forms — stopping and scraping the sides of the food processor if necessary.

  2. Transfer the herb mixture to a large bowl and stir in the oil and mix. Season with salt and pepper. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper or lemon to taste.
  3. Transfer the Schug to an airtight container, cover with a bit of olive oil to preserve and refrigerate.

~Note
You can use whole coriander and cumin seeds. Roast them for 1 minute in a dry pan release the oils and aroma of the spices crushing them with a mortar and pestle and adding to the mix

Note:
The Schug was phenomenal over roasted cauliflower.
I smeared Greek Yogurt on the plate (labneh also works well), then topped with cauliflower + Schug.

Just keep in mind you don’t need to season your cauliflower much when you roast it, the green sauce already packs tons of amazing flavor.

Gather

Gather

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Hanukkah, Christmas, Festiuvs, Yaldaa or surviving 2017: No matter what we  just celebrated, we sent off last year with a bang and welcomed 2018.

New beginnings are a good time to press the wellness reset button, but healthy living can be a year-long lifestyle and need not be limited to new year resolutions. As we begin the year, I remind myself to set achievable goals, eat nutritious but delicious food, learn as much as possible, be kind to myself and others, let old wounds heal, practice gratitude, and make life as colorful as possible.

Last year was certainly colorful. 2017 tested me. But as I reflect on the last twelve months, I realize the positives outweighed the challenges and there was much to be grateful for. Mostly, the incredible people I have in my life and the extraordinary experiences we shared. Not surprisingly, many of those occurred around the table as we broke bread together, told our stories, laughed at our fortunes, waxed poetic about the future and perhaps even learned a bit about ourselves along the way. “Without the sense of fellowship with men of like mind,” Einstein wrote, “life would have seemed to me empty.” Indeed.

I have written about gathering around the fire. Today, on a cold snowy day in NYC, I sip hot chai and reflect on the warm memories of last year. I smile remembering the gorgeous tables we gathered around, the delightful food we ate, and the marvelous people who’s company I had the pleasure to keep. Michael Polan says “the shared meal is no small thing. It is a foundation of family life, the place where our children learn the art of conversation and acquire the habits of civilization: sharing, listening, taking turns, navigating differences, arguing without offending.” It is also a place where our fondest memories live. Where we receive the gift of love by those who prepared those meals for us. It is where we are reminded of the power of coming together.

My memories of this gift begin in Naz year zero. My parents have always been extraordinary and generous hosts. Bringing people together and creating countless memories is an art form they have mastered a thousand times over. The loving energy created around their tables, is my eternal source of inspiration. I wrote more about that here.

In the meantime, I want to point out the only difference between the first two photos in this post are 37 years and geography. Otherwise, in both photos you see my beautiful Mother at the head of the table of her loving home, and me really excited about what we’re about to eat! Just a bit of role reversal in who’s serving whom.

Happy new year from Basil and Roses! Below are a few of our favorite “gatherings” of 2017 and the recipes they inspired.

Wishing you a colorful and meaningful year!

Naz

“Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” Epicurus

Pretty Pickled Onions

Roasted Cauliflower with The Evergreen Chimichurri Sauce

Beer & Basil Braised Brisket

Nani’s Classic Omelettes

Mama’s Mexican Fiesta (Fish Taco, Guacamole, Mango Salsa, Cabbage Slaw, Pico, Fresh Margaritas)

Tuscan Inspired Lemon-Rosemary Chicken with Cannelini Beans

Persian Stuffed Peppers

Muffin Tin Egg Frittatas 

Shirazi Salad (or Israeli Salad or Mediterranean chopped salad)

Sesame Crusted Baked Salmon

Cindy’s Fabulous Holiday Rib Roast (Recipe coming soon)

Green Goddess Basmati Rice with Basil, Mint, Chive and an Unexpected Trip Home

Smoked Salmon & Creme Fraiche Canapes with Fresh Dill

Chickpea & Cauliflower Coconut Curry

Other Top 2017 Recipes to try:

Nani’s Healthy But Decadent Butternut Squash Soup

Spicy Thai Basil Beef

Citrusy Chicken Skewers with Mint-Basil Sauce

Panko-Crusted Dijon Cod

The Best Steak Of Your Life

Roasted Veggie Quinoa Medly

Mint & Cannelini Bean Tuna Salad

Roasted Cauliflower with Tangy Tahini Sauce

Baklava

Pretty Pickled Onions

Pretty Pickled Onions

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Looking for a new condiment for the Ultimate Naz Burger.  I started experimenting with fun pickling ideas – these pickled onions have become a family favorite since.

We put them on everything. They work with countless dishes by adding a refreshing zing. Perfect on tacos, simple eggs, avocado toast, or to add a tangy crunch to salads and sandwiches. They also offer balanced flavor to anything rich or sweet such as caramelized roasted butternut squash, a creamy soup, or fresh avocados.

Pickled onions have been an indispensable ingredient in my kitchen for years. Not only do they turn into a gorgeous magenta jewel-toned color in the brine mixture, their crunchy tangy goodness adds new levels of delicious to the party.

They take about 10 minutes to make. Full instructions are below, but you basically slice onions and submerge in a bath of vinegar, water, sugar and salt. The ratio in this recipe is seeking the perfect balance but it’s a forgivable recipe which you can make your own by adjusting sweetness and acid levels or playing with different vinegars. Just know basic white vinegar is good enough.

This is a quick pickle recipe so it comes together “quickly.” Within about 20 minutes it will taste great. Even better overnight in the fridge. You can add aromatics like garlic, thyme and peppercorns if you like, but this simple, four-ingredient version will be just as great without the extras.

 

Ingredients-
1/2 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar or both
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced

Optional Aromatics-
Small pinch of mustard seeds
Sliced garlic
Peppercorns
Fresh Thyme

Directions-
Slice onions as thinly as possible. A mandolin can be helpful but be careful if using.
Place onions in a clean, high-quality airtight glass jar.
If adding optional aromatics, add them to jar now. 

In a separate bowl combine vinegar, water, salt and sugar. Mix until dissolved.
Pour liquid over the onions in the jar and let sit at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes. Cover and chill.

Serve with your favorite dishes and enjoy!

Like the recipe? Feel free to share with us your rendition on our Basil and Roses Facebook page or @basilandroses on Instagram using the hashtag #PrettyPickledOnions 

 

Herb & Citrus Chicken Skewers with Mint-Basil Sauce

Herb & Citrus Chicken Skewers with Mint-Basil Sauce

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Legend has it Kabab was invented by medieval soldiers who used their swords to grill meat over open-field fires. But mostly likely cooking pieces of meat over a flame has been around since humans began cooking with fire.

There are cultural variations to skewered food around the world: En Brochette as in the French technique, Satay of Malaysian or Indonesian origin , Souvlaki of Greece, Yakitori of Japan (which literally means “burnt chicken”),  Espetada of Portugal and my personal favorite Shish Kabab from Iran and surrounding Middle East countries- just to name a few.

It is a simple and practical way to cook and I want to share one of my favorite recipes with you. You can either grill these over fire or bake in the oven. Either way you end up with a tasty and juicy chicken. Drizzle it with my mint-basil sauce and you have a flavor explosion to boot!

The Ingredients:

For Chicken Skewers:
1 lb boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 – 1 1/2 inch cubes
1 red, green and yellow bell pepper each, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 large red onion, cut into 1 inch cubes
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 tablespoons lemon zest
Juice of 1-2 lemons
1/2 – 1 teaspoon red chili flakes (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons chopped rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped lemon thyme (use 1/2 tbls regular thyme as an alternative)

For Basil Mint Sauce:
2 1/2  cups fresh mint leaves
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup cooked green peas
2 cloves garlic
2-3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 – 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
6 tablespoons olive oil (plus more if needed)
Salt + Pepper

Directions:
Prepare marinade.
Combine olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, garlic, rosemary, thyme and red chili flakes in a bowl.
Add chicken, add salt + pepper and mix so marinade coats chicken evenly.
Marinade over night if possible, if not 2-3 hours prior to cooking is fine too.
Cut peppers and onions into approximately 1 inch pieces.
Thread chicken and veggies on skewers and alternate for beautiful color pattern.
Make sure skewers are not too tightly packed so everything cooks evenly.
If using wooden skewers, soak them in water prior to cooking so they don’t catch on fire.
Once you have everything on the skewers bake in a 375 degree over for approximately 25 minutes, turning skewers over every 10 minutes or so.
If grilling, keep on the flame until golden brown and cooked through, turning skewers occasionally (approximately 10 minutes total).

For the sauce- combine mint, basil, peas, red wine vinegar, red chili flakes, S+P in a food processor.
Pulse a couple of times for a rough chop.
Pulse a few more times while simultaneously pouring in olive oil.
You can add water for a thinner consistency depending on preference.

Serve drizzled with green sauce and a splash of lemon juice and enjoy on top of salad or rice.

 

Panko-Crusted Dijon Cod & Fragrant Mediterranean Salad

Panko-Crusted Dijon Cod & Fragrant Mediterranean Salad

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Over the years I’ve enjoyed many delightful meals with my friend, Anjali. We both like beautiful and healthy food but never compromise flavor! So we teamed up for our next video to cook a delicious menu of panko crusted Dijon Cod fish and a fragrant Mediterranean salad with fresh herbs.

The fish is light and flaky with a tang of Dijon and cooks in a snap. The cucumber-tomato-feta salad is savory, fragrant and colorful.  Pair that with a chilled  Rose and fantastic company and you got yourself a fabulous meal!

Ingredients:

For the Cod:
1 lb. wild caught cod fish
2-3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 cup panko crumbs
2-3 teaspoon olive oil
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Salt + Pepper to taste

For the Salad:
1 lb tomatoes (either cherry, beefsteak or heirloom), chopped
1/2 large red onion, chopped
4-5 cucumbers (Persian cucumbers are more delicate and flavorful), chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 – 3/4 cup pitted + sliced Kalamata olives

For the dressing:
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
3-4 tablespoons dried mint or 1/2 cup fresh mint
Fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine panko, 1 teaspoon olive oil, zest of  lemon and a pinch of salt + pepper in a bowl. Mix.
Squeeze juice of lemon on the cod.
Drizzle cod with remaining  2 teaspoons of olive oil and spread evenly on the fish.
Slather cod with Dijon mustard.
Cover all of the mustard with panko mixture.
Bake in oven for approximately 15-20 minutes until panko is slightly golden.

Prepare the salad while the fish bakes.
Chop onion and place in a bowl of water to reduce sharpness.
Combine chopped tomato, cucumber, red pepper, olives, feta cheese and mint.
In a separate bowl prepare dressing.
Finely chop the garlic and combine with red wine vinegar.
Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking quickly.
Add onion to salad mixture.
Pour dressing over the salad and fold gently to mix.

Serve with a chilled rose or white wine of your choice and enjoy!

 

Azi’s Red Cabbage Slaw with Honey-Lime-Cumin Vinaigrette

Azi’s Red Cabbage Slaw with Honey-Lime-Cumin Vinaigrette

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This was the first time I made this and it ended up being great. I love using red cabbage for it’s beautiful color, slightly bitter and peppery flavor and many health benefit- Vitamin C, A, K and dietary fiber to name a few. It adds a nice crunch to the otherwise soft textured fish taco and marinated in a honey-lime-cumin vinaigrette it became a great addition to our fiesta!

In case you’re wondering, it’s called “Azi’s Slaw” because my beautiful sister Azadeh was a big help in the recipe testing of this dish. She has always been a dream sous chef, putting up with my colorful antics in the kitchen… Thanks, Sis!

 

Ingredients:
1 whole red cabbage, cut into quarters and sliced into ribbons
For the vinaigrette-
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon honey (adjust to taste and add more honey if you prefer the dressing sweeter)
1/3 cup lime juice
2 garlic cloves, mashed with the side of a knife
2 teaspoons cumin (plus a pinch just because I LOVE cumin!)
1 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika is even better if you have it)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
Combine lime juice, garlic, cumin, paprika in a mixing bowl.
Slowly add olive oil as you whisk dressing together.
Adding oil slowly while whisking helps emulsify the dressing so it won’t separate (science, baby!).
Add salt + pepper to taste as  you go along, adjust as needed.
Add dressing to cabbage and mix well.
Let sit for 20-30 minutes. It gets better after it sits for a while.
*It was even better the next day when we had the leftovers with chicken.

 

The Evergreen Chimichurri Sauce

The Evergreen Chimichurri Sauce

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I experienced my first real chimichuri sauce when visiting Argentina and Uruguay in 2009 and it was love at first taste! This fresh, clean, garlicy, slightly spicy green goodness that elevated the incredible steaks we ate in Buenos Aires and beyond.

Over the years, I’ve perfected my recipe and use in on more than just steaks. It’s excellent on chicken, fish and my personal favorite- cauliflower steaks! (recipe coming soon).

A fantastic condiment that is pretty easy to whip up. I usually make a batch and use it throughout the week.

Ingredients:
1 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup chopped parsley
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 shallot, chopped
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1-3 teaspoons red chili flakes (I like it hot!)
1/3 cup olive oil
salt + pepper to taste

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together and serve.

It’s that easy!