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Category: Side Dishes

Cauliflower “Parmesan”

Cauliflower “Parmesan”

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Oh glorious cauliflower, how we love you so. A blank canvas which you can do so much with- from roasting, to sauteing, to ricing and beyond. Because of the relatively mild flavor, cauliflower works nicely with vibrant flavors like lemon, caper and herbs, as in our favorite Chimichurri sauce or our golden roasted recipe with a tangy tahini sauce.

On any given week, roasted cauliflower is on the dinner menu as a side dish in our home. But this humble vegetable can be the star, especially all dressed up in spicy tomato sauce and bubbly, melty cheese.

One of my personal favorite recipes, I present to you the Basil & Roses Beautiful Cauliflower Parmesan! It’s our healthy take on an eggplant or chicken Parm. Flavorful and satisfying with a lovely presentation for a feast for your eyes.

The presentation of this dish is simple but stunningly beautiful. Pair with a lovely Italian red wine like a Chianti Classico or Montepulciano and enjoy with someone special- or just make it for your own fabulous self and relish in the simple elegance of perfectly paired ingredients.

Ingredients:
1 whole head cauliflower
1 1/2 cups of your favorite tomato sauce ( I like Dave’s Gourmet Spicy Heirloom)
2-3 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/4  cup grated Parmesan cheese
1-2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried garlic powder
1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Kosher salt + pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°.
Carefully cut cauliflower into 3 thick pieces, holding carefully so florets don’t crumble.
Lay flat on cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano and garlic powder.
Roast for about 30 minutes or until slightly golden.
Remove from oven.
Sprinkle a thin layer of Mozzarella cheese.
Generously cover with Marinara sauce.
Sprinkle with a pinch more dried oregano.
Sprinkle remaining shredded Mozzarella cheese on top of sauce.
Place back in the over until cheese melts and is nice and bubbly.
Remove from oven, serve with grated Parmesan cheese and freshly gated black pepper.

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

Nani’s Decadent But Healthy Butternut Squash Soup

Nani’s Decadent But Healthy Butternut Squash Soup

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Pumpkins are in season now and there is no fall flavor I like more than butternut squash. In Farsi they are called lazy pumpkin (kadoo tanbal), which I think is hilarious. Butternut is the perfect name for this tender, sweet and nutty flavor. I simply roast it in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper. That’s it and it’s divine! With this recipe, I take the indulgence one step further to make a rich and savory soup.

The key to the amazing flavor is roasting the squash with garlic, onion and a red bell pepper, then blending all together for a smooth and creamy texture. The result is a complex, rich and silky soup with substance. I made it for Thanksgiving last year and it was a huge hit. It is naturally back on the menu again this year. Try it for your Thanksgiving celebration or all winter long- I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Note- I serve the soup with homemade crostini and a garnish of fresh thyme.
For the corstini, simply sprinkle the bread of your choice with salt, pepper and dried oregano. Drizzle with olive oil and toast in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

Recipes serves around 6-8 people, double or triple ingredients for a crowd pleaser- I sure will be this upcoming holiday.

Ingredients:
3 large butternut squash, sliced in half and seeds removed.
3 large white onions, quartered
2 red bell peppers, cut in half and seeds removed
4 cloves garlic (adjust to taste)
1/2 cup olive oil, add more if needed.
Salt and pepper
A squeeze of lemon

Directions:
Prep vegetables.
Slice squash in half, remove seeds, but leave skin on- it will be easier to remove once roasted.
Place vegetables on baking sheets- you’ll need 2.
Generously toss and coat with olive oil, season with salt + pepper.
Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 40 minutes or until golden brown.
Roughly half way through, remove the garlic from the oven to avoid burning.
Once golden, let cool and remove flesh of squash separating from skin with a spoon.
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Taste your magical mixture and give it a small squeeze of lemon for balance.
Salt and pepper if needed.
If consistency is too thick, add a small amount of water or olive oil for desired consistency.

The soup is amazing and rich up until this point. If you want to turn the dial on the indulgence factor, add a touch of cream or half and half while blending. But remember, it’s perfectly delicious and decadent if you keep it dairy-free.

The first harvest of butternut squash in Malekan Gardens!
Muffin Tin Egg Frittatas

Muffin Tin Egg Frittatas

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These flavorful muffin tin frittatas are fun, easy to make and a good solution for quick make ahead breakfast. Make your weekdays easier by making a batch over the weekend. It’s also a great way to prepare eggs for a group.

There are countless filling options. I used tomato, basil, spinach & cheddar but you can incorporate your favorites. Note- this also a good way to utilize leftover salads and veggies. Get inspired by your favorite omelettes. Either way, the end result is simple & delicious!

Other combo ideas:
-Mushrooms, peppers, onions, cheddar
-Spinach, tomato, feta
-Asparagus and cheese
-Goat cheese, spinach and tomatoes
-Spinach and ricotta
-Chive, tomato and goat cheese
-Smoked mozzarella, sun-dried tomato, basil pesto
-Onion and mushroom
-Mushroom and sausage



Ingredients:
6 eggs
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
A handful of fresh basil, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup spinach, chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (adjust to taste)
2 tablespoons milk or half and half (optional)
Cooking spray
Salt + Pepper to tastte

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Spray the muffin tin with cooking oil.
Divide veggies between greased muffin cups.
Crack eggs in a separate bowl and whisk until fluffy.
Add milk or cream and whisk until incorporated.
Season with salt + pepper.
Pour eggs over each cup and fill 3/4 of the way up.
Now add your cheese to individual cups if using.
Place muffin tin in the oven and bake until eggs are set, about 15-20 minutes.

 

Of course, you can never have enough egg recipes. For further inspiration check out our Scallion & Turmeric Mushroom Omelette , Elegant Egg Salad or Exquisite Hard Boiled Eggs

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 

 

Roasted Cauliflower with Tangy Tahini Sauce

Roasted Cauliflower with Tangy Tahini Sauce

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Cauliflower is a wonderful ingredient to cook with. This cruciferous vegetable has a mildly earthy and nutty flavor. It’s easy to cook, a nice source of vitamin C and quiet filling as vegetables go.

I try to incorporate vegetables in most meals, but once a week I like to highlight them in my Meatless Mondays. It is a simple way to not only diversify the week’s meals, but also experiment with whatever seasonal vegetables tickle your fancy at the moment.

The are many ways to cook with cauliflower. Simply roasting with olive oil, salt + pepper will result in a nice gold brown texture which enhances the nutty flavors. Combined with the sweetness from the caramelized onions and the tangy tahini sauce- you have yourself a flavor explosion made from a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower, broken into small florets
1 medium red onion, roughly chopped
2-3 teaspoons red chili flakes (adjust to preference for spice level)
1-2 tablespoon of mint, lemon thyme or dried oregano (mint nicely compliments the tahini dressing)
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
salt + pepper

Directions:
Place cauliflower florets + onion in a baking sheet.
Add herbs, sprinkle with salt, pepper and red chili flakes, then drizzle with olive oil.
Using your hands, mix ingredients well until everything is evenly covered with oil.
Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25-35 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve over yellow lentils or your favorite greens- drizzle with tahini sauce and enjoy!

 

Check out this page  for the Tangy Tahini Sauce Recipe.

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!

 

Make The Best Steak Of Your Life!

Make The Best Steak Of Your Life!

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Hi Friends,

I’m excited to introduce the first video of our Basil and Roses YouTube Channel!

I team up with my cousin Kam to make the best steak of your life. Impressive doesn’t have to mean fancy. All you need is great ingredients and technique, fabulous company and wine doesn’t hurt either.

The recipe is below. Check us out and feel free to comment, share, try the recipe and give us feedback.
Happy cooking!

 

The Menu
Pan Seared Ribeye Steak
Smashed Potatoes
Dijon Asparagus Salad

Ingredients:

For Steak
2 ribeye steaks (approx 1 lb each)
Sea salt + black pepper
2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary and thyme each
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil

For Asparagus
2 bunches asparagus (about 25 spears)
2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoons rice vinegar
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
Salt + pepper to taste

For Potatoes
10-12 small red or yellow potatoes
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 – 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (adjust to taste)
olive oil for drizzling

Directions:
Generously salt your ribeye steak on both sides.
Pepper is not required, but I use fresh ground pepper as well.
Put aside.

Prepare potatoes.
Add baking soda and salt to water in a pot, bring to boil.
Add potatoes to boiling water and cook for approximately 20 minutes (until soft enough that a fork goes through easily).

While the potatoes boil, prepare the asparagus.
Cut thicker fibrous bottoms of asparagus spears (approximately 1 inch).
Using a peeler, shave each stalk into “ribbons” (this looks really pretty!)
Place in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt + pepper for the dressing.
Drizzle in olive oil while you whisk into dressing, until creamy.
Pour dressing over asparagus and fold gently to spread evenly across.
Let sit and put aside.

Take cooked potatoes out of boiling water and place on baking sheet.
Pat dry.
Using a potato masher (or bottom of a bottle), SMASH each potato down, flattening out the little bud.
Drizzle potatoes with olive oil.
Sprinkle with a small pinch of salt and pepper.
Grate Parmesan cheese over each potato. Use as much as you like, about 1-2 table spoons per potato.
Place potatoes in a 350 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown.
You can turn on the broiler for a couple of minutes at the end to brown the top for extra crispiness.

While potatoes bake and asparagus marinates, we go back to our steak.
Heat your cast iron pan in the oven or stove top until it is super hot!
This is the trick to getting that nice sear on the outer part of your meat.
Place steak in super hot skillet and don’t mess with it for at least 30 seconds.
Cook on first side for approximately 3-4 minutes.
Flip your steak and sear the other side for another 3-4 minutes.
Add butter (or a couple of tablespoons of olive oil) to the pan along with fresh rosemary, thyme and garlic.
Note- using olive oil does mean a bit of smoke in in the kitchen when dealing with high heat.
Using pot holders, lift pan and tilt to one side so melted brown butter or oil gather.
Slowly spoon the brown butter over the steak multiple times.
The gorgeous flavors of the herbs and garlic marry with the steak for an awesome flavor.
Remove steak from the pan and LET IT REST for about 10 minutes. This is super important!
You want the meat to rest for juices to redistribute throughout the steak. Otherwise, you’ll lose all the juicy goodness when you cut into the steak prematurely.
Once rested, slice your steak cutting against the grain.

Serve with crispy smashed potatoes and asparagus and enjoy!

 

 

Exquisite Hard-boiled Eggs

Exquisite Hard-boiled Eggs

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I love eggs. It is one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen and I enjoy different ways of cooking it. From a humble omelette to a sumptuous souffle, the options of what you can make with eggs are infinite. Eggs are an excellent wellspring of nutrition in a single source: they provide proteins, antioxidants, fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins and minerals.

Omelettes are great on weekends, like this savory Scallion and Mushroom Turmeric Omelette.                  On weekdays the classic hard boiled egg end up on salads for lunch, an express breakfast on busier days or perfect mid-afternoon snack with a pinch of flakey sea salt.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “There is always a best way of doing everything, if it be to boil an egg.” I 100% agree with that statement. Here I share with you what I consider the best way to make hard-boiled eggs. It will be one the simplest and most satisfying dishes you make.

And since here at Basil and Roses we love flowers so much, we present our eggs shaped like one! It’s just beautiful and we think it will put a smile on your face.

The key to perfect hard-boiled eggs is to NOT boil them. You read correctly.

Directions:
Place eggs in water in a pot and cover with lid.
Make sure eggs are covered with at least 1 inch of water.
Bring water to boil.
As soon as water starts boiling, turn off the stove.
For a softer yolk, let sit for approximately 5 minutes.
Then run under cold water, peel and enjoy.
For the perfectly firm yolk, let sit for 10 minutes before running under cold water and peeling.
Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh black pepper.

To present like the beautiful flower above-
Cut 2 eggs in half, then cut the half into a quarter and arrange like a flower on the plate.

Plato said “Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” This presentation and the incredible miracle that is the egg are two great examples of that notion.


Something salty compliments eggs well. Feta cheese is a great choice.
Here I served the eggs with a typical Persian breakfast of Feta, Tomato, herbs and pita (noon o  paneer o sabzi!)

Vibrant and Colorful Mango Salsa

Vibrant and Colorful Mango Salsa

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This colorful salsa is fun to make, fun to eat and a feast on the eyes! The gorgeous colors make the table festive and the sweet and sour flavors are explosive! Great on fish tacos or as a dip.

 

Ingredients:
4 large and ripe mango, chopped
1/2 of one jalapeno, chopped (remove veins/seeds for less heat)
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 red onion, finely chopped
2/3 cup cilantro, chopped
3 tablespoons lime (adjust to taste)
3 tablespoons olive oil
Tortilla chips to scoop up all this flavor (I used these Tostitos Multigrain Scoops), they handle the chunky salsa well.
Salt + Pepper

Directions:
Combine cubed/chopped mango, red pepper, red onion and jalapeno.
Add cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, salt + pepper. Adjust to taste based on preference.
Fold gently to combine ingredients together.
Enjoy this savory, sweet and sour delight!