Simple Homemade Hummus

March 7, 2024 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

Homemade is better than store-bought. Period. While convenience is understandable, you’d be surprised how easy it is to whip up with a few ingredients. Not to mention the gratification of making it yourself — without added preservatives.

The key is high quality tahini. That’s the secret sauce, literally. Tahini is a velvety, luscious paste, with a delightfully nutty flavor derived from ground sesame seeds. We love it, here and beyond.

I often serve hummus with olive oil, paprika + za’atar. In this recipe a Persian-ish twist with dried mint, paprika + sesame seeds as a nod to the tahini inside. Feel free to get creative here: Crispy chickpeas. Mushrooms + thyme. Herby Schug. Pine nuts, preserved lemon + parsley. Olives + feta… and so on.

Ultimately hummus is wonderful as is — all you need is warm bread to swipe and grab the creamy goodness in a generous bite.

Ingredients —

1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas, or a 15-ounces can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
Juice from 1 – 2 lemons, adjust to taste
1-2 medium garlic clove, finely chopped and mellowed in lemon juice
3/4 cup excellent quality tahini (i.e. Soom Foods or Seed & Mill)
4 tablespoons ice water, more as needed
½ teaspoon ground cumin
Salt & Pepper to taste

Toppings (optional)
Drizzle of high quality olive oil, a sprinkle or two of paprika, 2-3 pinches of crushed dried mint.

Preparation —

Chop garlic very finely and smash into a paste using the tip of a knife. Then place garlic paste in a small bowl and cover with enough lemon juice to submerge. Let mixture rest so the garlic flavor can mellow — approximately 10 minutes.

In a food processor or high-powered blender, add all of the ingredients and blend until the mixture is thick and creamy – about 1-2 minutes.

Scrape down any tahini stuck to the sides and bottom of the processor as necessary. Then taste, and adjust as desired — I almost always adjust the salt and lemon juice to achieve the most balanced flavor.

Scrape down the sides of the food processor again, and blend until the mixture is ultra smooth and creamy. Add more ice water by the tablespoon if necessary for creamy texture and desired consistency.

Spread the hummus on a plate. Using the back of a spoon create “swoosh” patterns or channels for the toppings to spread across. Top with garnishes of choice, and serve with warm pita, crackers or raw chopped vegetables such as bell peppers, cucumbers and carrots.

Savory Onion Omelette

January 14, 2024 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

Simple yet sophisticated at the intersection of sweet and savory. This onion omelette has a grounding taste, earthy and comforting. A swift recipe for a satisfying meal — be it the main event for breakfast and dinner — or a supporting role at brunch.

The subtle sweetness of the fragrant caramelized onion complements the creamy eggs, created through folds during the quick cooking process. Salty feta adds an additional layer of flavor with briney delight, but the omelette is just as wonderful without cheese.

Omelettes are a kitchen’s miracle. Whether made by a self-though home cook like moi, or a French master chef. It’s magic. A couple of ingredients and a perfect meal in minutes.

Eggs and omelettes are my favorite medium in the art of cooking, a blank canvas for creating flavor and beauty.

There are many reasons I love omelettes. Perhaps i’s because that is how the inspiring Julia Child, my hero entered the American imagination by cooking an Omelette on public television (in the early days of black and white TV’s), and consequently revolutionized how we we cook, how we eat and our relationship to the homemade meal. Maybe it’s because happy childhood memories in Tehran include a savory omelette, sometimes with tomatoes (tokhmemorgh gojeh) swiped up with fresh flatbread (noon sangak) and enjoyed in pure umami delight. Maybe it’s just cooking for old times sake – eggs go way back as humans have consumed eggs, fried or beaten, for thousands of years ever since hens were domesticated…

Regardless it’s just good. A delightful addition to our weekend brunch tables or an expeditious standalone meal. Surprisingly nostalgic and modern at the same time. So make it, enjoy it and as Julia would say, Bon Appetit!

Ingredients-

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 large red onion, thinly sliced
3 eggs, whisked
1-2 inch cube feta cheese, crumble (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley, basil, or chives for garnish (optional)
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation-
*Video demonstration found here.

Heat olive oil to medium-high in a skillet, preferably nonstick.

As olive oil begins to shimmer in the pan, add onions and saute 3-4 minutes until slightly caramelized, stirring often to brown evenly.

While onions sizzle, add eggs to a bowl and whisk until yolks and whites are combined.

Add eggs to onions in the skillet, season with salt and lower heat to medium-low.

Gently push the egg from the outer edges of the skillet towards the center of the pan with a spatula, softly creating large folds as you go along all sides of the pan. Tilt pan if necessary to force liquid egg to the outer edges of pan and repeat creating folds towards the center. Do this for 2-3 minutes until eggs are cooked to desired doneness.

Avoid the urge to turn the heat up at any point to avoid burning the bottom of the eggs.

Turn heat off and top eggs with a black pepper, feta and herbs if using. If not using feta, season with more salt according to taste.

Immediately serve to a plate and enjoy!

Curried Lentils with Kale, Ginger and Spices

August 17, 2022 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

Fall is flirting with us and slightly cooler evenings summon cravings for cozy dinners. There is still time to enjoy heirloom tomatoes and summer bounties ripe with flavor from the local farmer’s markets- but a hearty pot of curried lentils is a delightfully delicious and vegetarian dinner any time of year.

Lentils are a versatile blank canvas to build flavor upon. Here, creamy coconut milk, copious amounts of ginger and a medley of aromatic spices adorn the lentils. A nutritious and fragrant one-pot wonder perfumed by coriander, cumin and turmeric, and dramatized by heat from cayenne pepper and ginger, all of which is somewhat mellowed out by the handfuls of fresh kale added at the end. All of these flavors harmoniously come together in the luscious and slightly sweet coconut milk for a satisfying meal. It’s a forgiving recipe so feel free to play with your favorite spices, adjust the heat levels and substitute kale with spinach.

~Tip:

*This recipe holds up well for 2-3 days in the fridge hence why the big-batch volume. It feeds 6-8 servings so feel free to cut the recipe in half for smaller portions. But the leftovers are even better the next day so we recommend making a full pot and enjoying it for several days.

* The recipe uses 2 different kinds of lentils for added texture. Green lentils have a harder exterior and take longer to cook but hold their shape better. Brown lentils are softer and will become more mashed during cooking. You can use either individually, or combine as the recipe indicates for textural contrast. Just make sure you cook long enough so the green lentils have cooked through.

Ingredients-

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more if needed
1 large yellow onion, chopped
6-8 garlic cloves, minced
4-6 inch ginger knob, finely chopped
1 tablespoon brown mustard seeds
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, adjust to taste
1 cup brown lentils
1 cup green lentils
8 cups water
2-3 bay leaves
1-2 small red chilies, finely chopped (optional)
1, 13.5-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
5-6 full handfuls roughly chopped kale, or spinach
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more if needed
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Fresh Cilantro for garnish (optional)
Kefir or Greek Yogurt for serving (optional)

Preparation-

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
Add the garlic and ginger, season with salt and pepper and saute for another 2-3 minutes until onion has softened and is just beginning to color. Add more oil if needed an lower the heat to ensure garlic doesn’t burn.
Stir in the mustard seeds, turmeric, coriander, cumin and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the lentils, water, chili pepper, bay leaves and 1 teaspoon salt, then bring to a gentle boil.
Reduce to medium-low, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils have cooked through and most of the water has evaporated, about 30-40 minutes.
Once the lentils have cooked add the coconut milk and mix to combine. Follow by adding the kale to the pot. It may seem like a lot but the kale will whilt down quickly.
Season with lemon juice, more salt and pepper, adjusting to taste as desired.
Served with fresh cilantro and a drizzle of kefir and olive oil, if using, and enjoy.

Garlicky Green Beans with Crunchy Almonds

November 17, 2021 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

Perhaps one of the simplest recipes on my Thanksgiving menu, this tasty vegetarian side dish is on rotation when I need something light to complement more decadent dishes. Bright blanched beans, highlighted by garlicky and crunchy golden almonds.

You quickly sauté chopped garlic in olive oil, infusing the olive oil with heavenly garlic aroma. Then add the chopped almonds, roast for a few minutes until golden, then pour the entire mixture over the blanched beans. Voila! A few ingredients, awesome flavor and a much lighter way to enjoy green beans for Thanksgiving, or any meal at all.

These beans are also a wonderful compliment to a classic roasted chicken or salmon for easy dinners.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 – 3/4 cup roasted almonds, roughly chopped
1 ½ – 2 pounds green beans, trimmed
Flakey sea salt

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, on the side fill a large bowl with ice water.
Boil beans until for 3-4 minutes until tender but still crisp and bright green, careful to avoid overcooking.
Immediately after plunge beans into ice water to stop cooking further.
Immediately after the beans have cooled, remove from the ice bath and drain in a colander.

While beans drain, heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.
Add garlic and stir quickly to avoid burning, until fragrant for about 30 seconds – infusing the olive oil with the garlic.
Add almonds to garlic-oil mixture and cook for a few minutes until evenly coated.
Plate the beans in serving platter, then pour olive oil-garlic-almond mixture over the beans.
Season with flakey sea salt and serve immediately.

Note~ For a nut free alternative, you can skip the nuts and simply dress the beans with the garlic infused olive oil and a splash of fresh lemon juice.

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

November 9, 2021 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

Thanksgiving — my favorite holiday — is around the corner and I can’t wait to start preparing warming fall flavors to celebrate with friends and family.

I’ve been cooking a thanksgiving meal for my people for 15 years, and it brings me much joy every time. I wrote about the joy and thrill of this holiday here . I look forward to building on that and creating new memories each year. Whether cooking for 25 people or 5 people, I’m simply thankful for the privilege to indulge.

My favorite way to begin the holiday meal is with this decadent and relatively healthy butternut squash soup. The key to the depth of flavor is roasting the vegetables. I often serve this as an appetizer while the mains roast and sizzle away and everyone is gathered in the kitchen enjoying wine, light appetizers, and each other’s company.

In Farsi, butternut squash is called lazy pumpkin (kadoo tanbal), which is hilarious. Butter-nut is the perfect name for this tender, sweet and nutty gourd. I simply roast the squash along with red bell peppers, onion and garlic in the oven, then blend everything together with a bit of broth and a touch of cream for a luscious end result. You can skip the cream for a dairy-free option. I serve it with toasty bread and a garnish of thyme. It’s delicious and warming – A foreshadowing to the rest of an amazing meal to come.

Ingredients:
2-3 medium butternut squash, sliced in half and seeds removed
3 medium white onions, quartered
2 red bell peppers, cut in half and seeds removed
4-6 cloves garlic (adjust to taste)
1/2 cup olive oil, add more if needed
3-4 cups vegetable stock or water, as needed
1 teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Fresh lemon juice to taste
1/4 cup cream (optional)
4-6 spring of Thyme for garnish (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment pape
Slice squash in half, remove seeds, leaving skin on- it will be easier to remove once roasted.
Place squash, skin side down along with onions, bell peppers, and garlic on two baking sheets. Generously coat the vegetables with olive oil, season with salt and pepper.
Bake for about 40 minutes or until squash is golden brown.
Roughly half way through, remove the garlic from the oven to avoid burning.
Let the vegetables cool, then use a spoon to remove flesh of the squash from its skin.
Working in batches, place roasted vegetables and stock in a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Note- Be careful not to fill the blender to the top with hot vegetables as it will erupt. Leave roughly ¼ of the blender empty.
Continue blending in batches, adding all the purred portions to a large pot. Then adjust the thickness of the soup by adding more stock or water until you get the desired consistency. Alternatively you can use an immersion blender in a pot.
Add enough liquid to thin out the soup to your desired consistency.
Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed, and a squeeze of lemon for balance, if desired.
If using, add the cream to the pot and stir until fully incorporated into the soup.

The soup will be naturally creamy at this point — the cream adds yet another level of indulgence and more luxurious, velvety texture to the mix

Serve with homemade crostini:
Cut sourdough or baguette of choice into ½ inch thick slices. Drizzle bread with olive oil and season lightly with salt, pepper and dried oregano. Toast in the oven at 325 for 10 -15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Sassy Sofrito Beans with Garliky toast

October 4, 2021 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

One of the silver linings of 2020 was learning to create delicious meals with pantry essentials and creating maximum flavor with minimal effort and ingredients. This recipe was born of the last remaining ingredients before the next bi-monthly food shopping trip. I haven’t stopped making it since, because it’s so darn delicious. It’s a hearty vegetarian dish on it’s own, super satisfying on thick pieces of toast, or as a side with soft boiled eggs for brunch. Make sure to serve it with a generous amount of olive oil for best results.

Ingredients

3 medium yellow onions, chopped

2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 garlic cloves, 3 finely chopped, 1 kept whole

2 teaspoons tomato paste

2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups vegetable broth or water

1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar or juice of 1/4 a lemon

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

1-inch-thick slices of toasted bread of choice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or flat-leaf parsley

Preparation

Pulse onions in a food processor until finely chopped and transfer to a bowl. Repeat with pulsing the red pepper separately in the food processor.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion mixture, stirring often for 2-3 minutes.
Add the peppers to the onion mixture, season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper and continue to sauté for another 15 minutes until vegetables have softened and little liquid remains in the pan.
Add finely grated garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until tomato paste turns to a deep red, about 3 minutes. If the pan is dry, add a bit of oil to help caramelize the tomato paste and prevent garlic from burning.
Add the beans to the vegetables and combine all of the ingredients together.
Add broth to the beans, scraping any brown bits from the bottom.
Drizzle balsamic vinegar or lemon juice to the mixture and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cook for another 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and reduces slightly. You can crush a few of the beans in the pan to make the broth creamier.
While the beans finish cooking, toast thick slices of bread and rub the warm bread with remaining whole garlic clove.
Serve beans with a nice drizzle of olive oil and garnish with fresh chives or parsley along with warm garlic bread.

~Tip
You can char the red peppers by roasting under the broiler prior to mixing with onions to achieve an added depth of flavor.

Holding on to Summer, for just a bit longer…

September 21, 2021 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

The Harvest Moon was magnificent in New York last night- signaling the official arrival of Fall with the Autumnal Equinox arriving in 1 Day, 4 Hours and 42 Minutes from now- marking the end of summer.

But I’m not ready for pumpkin spiced lattes quite yet. Don’t get me wrong, I love Autumn and live for the color and beauty that will soon serenade us. But this year, there’s a desire to hold on to summer, just a bit longer.

After months indoors and away from loved ones earlier in the year, outdoor gatherings were more special this summer. Aside from a fondness for grilling and backyard soirees, I love the simple joys of the summer- including the garden erupting with color. After June’s blooms and July’s long days, the garden’s glory in the month of August was, exactly that, glorious.

The roses perfumed the oasis. The hydrangeas courted the bumble bees, and the marigolds echoed the scent of the earth while murmuring the colors of the sun. And amidst the garden’s complete unawareness of a global pandemic, we were able to come together. In backyards and parks and beaches, slightly less weary of the difficulties brought on by the crisis. Summer is synonymous with joy… this summer we went into it with hopes it would be better than the last and looked forward to reuniting with friends and family. And of course, we shared delectable meals together.

The gatherings were smaller, but the flavors were big none the less. From beautiful salads with fresh herbs, to gorgeous grilled vegetables or citrusy seafood served with chilled wine and casual elegance. There were times we deferred to a classic American burger too, but whatever we ate, we enjoyed it together and felt alive again.

Savory Salmon with Herbs, Sweet Rainbow Grilled Vegetables, Refreshing Watermelon and Feta Salad, and Roasted Zucchini Salad with Parmesan and Balsamic Greens are a few favorite recipes which capture the ethos of summer.

And while Autumn may be 1 Day, 4 Hours and now 32 Minutes away, we can capture the spirit of summer at any time by making these recipes and remembering fondly the smiling faces we shared them with once upon a summer.

Summer is casual so big doesn’t mean complicated, rather bold flavors highlighting the flavors of the season prepared along with family favorites.

Savory Salmon with Fresh Herbs

Rainbow Grilled Vegetable Platter

Roasted Zucchini Salad with Parmesan and Balsamic greens

Watermelon Feta Salad

*French Lavender adored by Bumble Bees & Butterflies*

*Golden Marigolds with their heavenly earthy scent*

Musical Inspiration: “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young

Around the Table in 365 Days

December 28, 2018 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

The departure of a year welcomes many new memories. As we near the end of this year, I like to take a moment and reflect on the last twelve months; the challenges faced, the lessons learned, the new friendships built. And of course for the epicurean-hearted, the delicious meals shared with loved ones, breaking bread together, in style.

Seneca, the Roman Stoic philosopher said “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Who knew what to truly expect a year ago today? We all had specific hopes and plans of course, but alas the best laid plans… And though the year may have had it’s challenges, and the Oxford dictionary word of the year is “toxic,” I like to believe there was more good than ugly. More nourishment than toxicity. More magic than madness.

Call me an eternal optimist but the world is filled with wonder. Science advanced, new planets were discovered, more women were elected into government, friendships were fortified, people in love found each other, new skills were learned, music was heard, and flowers bloomed. We made it through life’s ups and downs, and came together around tables in New York, Tehran, Tokyo, and beyond.

Around those tables live my favorite memories of the last 365 days. Arguably, there is nothing more precious than those moments shared with friends and family, old and new. In that spirit, here are some of our favorite recipes… cook them for someone you love.

So Happy New Year, friends! Or as Charles Dickens said, “May the New Year be a happy one to you, happy to many more whose happiness depends on you!”

Naz

Basil & Roses Favorite Recipes

Skillet Chicken Thighs With Shallot, Lemon & Herbs

https://basilandroses.com/2018/02/01/skillet-chicken-thighs-with-shallot-lemon-herbs/?preview_id=2589&preview_nonce=cb6da79281&preview=true&_thumbnail_id=2606

Spicy tomato shakshuka with spinach, feta, jalapeno & za’atar.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Brv40T8DcIQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Healthy & Gorgeous Tuna Salad with Mint

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpezBbzHR5Y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

20 Minute Roasted Butter Salmon

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn-JT5wH0Jl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Taco Tuesday Chicken Tacos with Salsa Fresca

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwDJvtHT0H/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Roasted Cauliflower with Schug

https://basilandroses.com/2018/06/29/roasted-cauliflower-with-schug-a-quick-trip-around-the-world/

Nani’s Decadent But Healthy Butternut Squash Soup

https://basilandroses.com/2017/11/22/nanis-decadent-but-healthy-butternut-squash-soup/

Spicy Thai Basil Beef

https://basilandroses.com/2017/10/26/spicy-thai-basil-beef/

Pretty Pickled Onions

https://basilandroses.com/2017/10/03/pretty-pickled-onions/

Happy Hanukkah from Basil & Roses!

December 4, 2018 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

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

Happy Thanksgiving from Basil & Roses!

November 21, 2018 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 1 comment

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! We’re in full swing here planning our feast at the Basil & Roses kitchen and wanted to take a moment to thank you for coming along this amazing culinary ride with us! The Persian poet Rumi says ” Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.” I’m grateful for you, and for the opportunity to share my art, which is my cooking, with you and the world every single day. I hope the recipes I share with you, feed your spirits, your families, your friends and your hearts.

Our full menu will be up on the blog soon. In the mean time, I wanted to share some our favorite side dishes, which may inspire you as you plan your own celebration.

Happy Holidays!

Your dedicated happiness maker,

Nazanin

Roasted Cauliflower with Schug

Nani’s Decadent But Healthy Butternut Squash Soup

I’ve served this earlier when everyone arrives on Thanksgiving and it’s always a hit! It’s a warming, feel-good dish that nicely captures the flavors of fall. The trick is in roasting the vegetables first.