cilantro – Basil & Roses

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

June 29, 2018 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 1 comment

“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

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.
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.
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.

Chickpea & Cauliflower Coconut Curry

November 9, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 4 comments

My latest curry craving almost had me ordering take out, but why do that when you can make fabulous vegetable curry in a snap at home? It is a great go-to dish when you want to impress someone, feed a crowd or just craving curry goodness.

Warning, this is a crazy addictive coconut curry! You can substitute vegetables and proteins to your liking, but this combo is literally awesome sauce.

What is the magic ingredient? Store-bought curry paste. Most varieties have ingredients which you can only find at Asian Markets. Since most of us don’t have lemongrass, kaffir lime, and galangal laying around, this is a great way to achieve authentic flavors.

This recipe is healthy with the added indulgence of a creamy coconut sauce. The miracle of this decadence is that it is vegan and dairy free, despite its richness. It is one of my absolute favorite dishes to eat and just one of those perfect recipes that satisfies many a taste buds and preferences.

It keeps well, so make a pot of it and you’ll have fabulous leftovers for a couple of lunches during the week.

Ingredients:
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
3 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
1 1/2 cups frozen peas
1 large or 2 medium red onions, thinly sliced
1 orange or red bell pepper, thinly sliced
3 scallions, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2-3 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons red curry paste
1 14-ounce can whole fat coconut milk
3-4 teaspoons chili power (adjust to taste, but a kick is part of what makes this dish so darn addictive).
1 teaspoon ground corriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon (optional)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime
Salt + Pepper
Basmati or jasmine rice for serving (optional)

Directions:
In a large pot, heat olive oil on medium-high.
Add onions, sauté for one minute.
Add bell pepper, sauté for another 3 minutes until slightly tender.
Add garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 minute, making sure not to burn the garlic.
Add cauliflower and stir.
Now add the red curry paste, chili powder, coriander, cardamom and mix well.
Cook for another couple of minutes.
The kitchen will be smelling amazing at this point!
Add coconut milk and bring the veggies to a medium simmer.
Cover the pot and cook for another 10 minutes, allowing all the flavors to merge.
Once the cauliflower is tender, remove the lid and add chickpeas and peas.
Give the pot a nice squeeze of half the lime.
Taste your curry! It’ll be wonderful, I promise.
At this point add more lime if you like and season with salt and pepper.
If you prefer a “soupier” consistency, add 1/4 cup water or coconut water.
Give it one last stir and you’re ready to serve.

This curry is perfection with basmati or jasmine rice. But can also be perfectly enjoyed all by itself.

I served it over basmati rice (with the golden brown crunchy tahdig of course).
Garnish each serving with chopped cilantro and scallion and voila!

Tequila-Lime Baked Fish Tacos

May 23, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 3 comments

Fish tacos, how we love them so… truly one of my favorite things to eat. I enjoy indulging in crispy fried versions once in a while, but in general prefer a healthier baked or grilled version. With the immense flavor of this tequila-lime recipe nothing will be lost, promise! There is just something so gratifying about a good fish taco. All you need is a nice flaky fish, a zesty salsa with a kick, guacamole, a crunchy slaw and of course a nice amount of citrus and spice and everything nice!

My family loved this recipe and I hope you enjoy it too. With summer just beginning, this is the perfect dish to make for warm afternoons in the backyard served with a refreshing margarita!

¡Buen apetito!

Ingredients:
1 lb. wild-caught Cod fish
1 cup tequila
1/2 cup lime juice
3/4 cup olive oil
1 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 of one jalapeno, chopped (remove veins/seeds for less heat)
salt + pepper
8 small corn or flour tortillas

Directions:
Cut fish into smallish pieces (approx 3-4 inches long).
Make the marinade by combining tequila, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro and jalapeno, S+P in a bowl.
This smells amazing! The alcohol burns off during cooking but the tequila flavor is awesome!
Place fish in the marinade and cover. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
In the mean time, you can make the fun accompaniments for the tacos.
Once marinaded, place in preheated oven of 325 degrees F.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes.

Vibrant and Colorful Mango Salsa

May 23, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 1 comment

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!

Nani’s Guacamole

May 23, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 1 comment

I think avocado is the most magnificent fruits in the world! It is rich, creamy, earthy, nutty, and savory. Avocados also have great health benefits. The list is long but to name a few they are high in potassium, good fats and they are one of the few high protein fruits. I love it’s creamy texture and use it as a substitute for butter or oils often. And of course, nowhere is the beautiful avocado highlighted more than in a classic guacamole! I don’t use garlic or tomato’s in my recipe, but feel free to add them if it makes you happy…

P.S. This recipe also works really well for avocado toast. It’s excellent on toasted sourdough bread with a couple of slices of tomato and a pinch of sea salt. Yum!

Ingredients:
4 avocados
1 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 of one jalapeno, chopped (remove veins/seeds for less heat)
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
3 tablespoons lime juice (adjust to taste)
Salt + Pepper

Directions:
Cut avocado into cubes, slightly mash it in a bowl. I like to leave it a bit chunky.
Add chopped cilantro, jalapeno, onion, lime juice, salt + pepper and mix.
Adjust salt and pepper levels to taste.

Salsa Fresca

May 23, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

Forget store-bought salsa, you can make a much better homemade version with a few simple ingredients.

This uncomplicated recipe is made with chopped tomatoes, onions, chili peppers, cilantro, and lime. A bright and tangy medley which can be enjoyed as a dip with chips, or great on top of tacos, nachos, burritos, grilled chicken or roasted meats.

Note — juicy tomatoes will result in a more watery salsa than plump Roma tomatoes. Adjust tomato type to your preference. You can also modify heat-levels by the amount of chilies used and omit cilantro if not a fan.

Ingredients:
4-5 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 small white onion, chopped
3 tablespoons lime juice, adjust to taste
A handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
1 small jalapeno or serrano chili, seeds removed and finely chopped
Salt to taste

Directions:
Place chopped onions in a bowl and cover with lime juice and season with a pinch of salt. Let it sit allowing the onions to marinate and soften, set aside.
Chop the tomato, jalapeno and cilantro, then mix with the onion and lime juice. Season with salt and additional lime if desired.
Let the salsa stand at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes for flavors to meld and vegetables to soften.

The Evergreen Chimichurri Sauce

May 18, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 3 comments

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!

Green Garden Herb Basmati Rice with Dill, Cilantro, Rosemary & Chive and an unexpected trip home

March 6, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 1 comment

Thanks everyone for the feedback on this recipe! Many of you asked for instructions on how to make our fragrant basmati rice without a rice cooker. We gave it a go and the results were equally wonderful with delicious tahdig (crunchy bottom) to boot!

The recipe utilizes the same ingredients as the rice cooker version. Here, I used a nonstick standard pot. Instructions are below. Feel free to share your results and happy cooking!

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked basmati rice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large white onion, chopped
1 bunch fresh dill, roughly chopped
1 bunch fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
2 cups fresh chives, roughly chopped
Handful fresh mint, roughly chopped
Handful fresh basil, roughly chopped
1-2 tablespoons rosemary, finely chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
2-3 tablespoons kosher salt
1-2 tablespoons coriander seeds (optional)

Directions:

Soak rice in cold water for 20-30 minutes.

Rinse rice with water, gently agitating with fingertips. Do this multiple times (3-4) until water runs clear.

Fill a large pot with water (approximately 15 cups and bring to boil. Add turmeric and salt to boiling water. Don’t worry about adding too much salt, it will be drained later.

Parboil rice for approximately 3-5 minutes until aldente (not fully cooked) and drain in a colander removing all liquid from pot. Liquid will be golden yellow from the turmeric so wear an apron!

Add oil to bottom of the same pot you boiled the rice in. Add coriander seeds if using.

Spread a handful of plain partially cooked white rice in the oil.

Add and layer herbs followed by a layer of rice repeatedly, creating several layers of rice and herbs and forming a tall heap or a cone shape.

Using the back of a wooden spoon, create 3 holes in the rice. This allows the rice to fry on the bottom creating the tahdig, while steaming the rest of the pot for light and fluffy steamed rice.

Cover the lid with a layer of paper towels to capture condensation and steam over medium low heat for approximately one hour, or until the steam rises and the tahdig is golden.

Once ready, serve the fragrant and beautiful rice pilaf with whatever protein you like.

I served it on the side of this delicious Food52 recipe from last week for chicken and Cabbage in a sheet pan– it was fantastic!

The kitchen will smell divine and your pallet will be pleased.

Enjoy!

Fiesta Black Beans

January 11, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

A delightful vegetarian meal that is packed with flavor due to a generous use of spices, lots of garlic and tangy lime juice. Fresh green jalapeno can lend a welcoming heat which can be adjusted to taste.

The warming medley of cumin, turmeric, smoked paprika and oregano is the flavor foundation of this dish, taking cues from my favorite Mexican recipes. Savoury and earthy flavors balanced with the fresh lightness of cilantro and bright citrus. You can play with the spice mix but here cumin and turmeric are a must.

This recipe is versatile. Wonderful on its own, as a vegetarian side dish, coupled with melted monterey jack and cheddar cheese and baked in a flour tortilla for a quesadilla, or as a sassy dip with tortilla chips. Regardless of how you enjoy it, the black beans shine here in the company of bold flavors and smoky spices.

~Tip:
For a spicier rendition, add a pinch of cayenne or douse of your favorite hot sauce at the end of cooking.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large while or yellow onion, chopped
5-6 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 small jalapeno, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 (14-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup water
A handful fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
Juice of 1-2 limes, adjust to taste
Salt + Pepper to taste

Instructions:
Heat the olive oil over medium-high in a skillet.
Saute onions until translucent, about 3 minutes.
Add garlic and jalapeno to the onions and saute for 1 more minute until garlic is fragrant, taking care to avoid garlic from burning.
Add cumin, turmeric, smoked paprika, oregano and mix thoroughly until spices are fragrant, approximate 1 minute.
Add the black beans, tomato and water to the pan, stir and bring to a slow simmer allowing the liquid to reduce slightly. Approximately 3-4 minutes.
Lower the heat, mix in cilantro and season with as much lime juice as desired.
Douse with hot sauce, if using and enjoy!

Green Garden Herb Basmati Rice with Dill, Cilantro, Rosemary & Chive (and an unexpected trip home)

October 31, 2016 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 2 comments

Rice is the ultimate comfort food. It has been farmed by people for over 10,000 years.

In the Hindi language “Bas” means “aroma” and “Mati” means “full of.” Growing up in a Persian family, that beautifully fragrant and earthy aroma is part of the essential scents of home. The cue of happiness and an eternal symbol of family dinners, celebrations and tradition.

Cooking traditional Persian rice (with crunchy tahdig of course) is truly an art form. For how to create a saffron scented masterpiece check out Persian Mama’s recipe here. For a simpler approach, I use a rice cooker. Not all rice cookers can deliver the crunchy golden goodness, however. Generally the Pars Brand rice cookers do the trick.

In this rendition, I highlight garden herbs using dill, mint, chive and rosemary for an aromatic rice dish guaranteed to feed the soul (nousheh jan...). But really you can use any herbs that you like.

On a recent trip to Philadelphia, we ate at one of the best restaurants on the scene in recent years: Zahav. Here Chef Michael Solomonov beautifully highlights modern Israeli cuisine. I was inspired by his vision, the story behind his culinary ventures and the flavors of the wonderful meal we had that October eve in the city of brotherly love. The menu excited my senses and my palate was dancing, curiously processing the familiar and the new. A colorful melody of flavors, humble, deeply flavorful food that was simply delicious.

What resonated the most were the familiar flavors of my childhood home found in smoky eggplant, coriander, warm bread, the grilled meats and tangy pomegranate. But most notably- in the herbed basmati rice. The Al’Haesh dishes (grilled over coals) are served with a side of basmati rice that was not only delicious, but momentarily took me home. This humble side dish became the center of what all the other plates harmoniously danced around. This beautiful little pot of rice had the power to transform me to another place and time. To the familiar places where we feel safe, comforted and loved. To where I remember being happy. To the quiet corners of memory, to our mother’s cooking and the taste of my grandmother’s love in an old kitchen in Isfahan. Maya Angelou says “I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” I found myself at home in this beautiful experience, and I hope you do too by trying my basmati rice recipe.

Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked basmati rice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large white onion, chopped
1 bunch fresh dill, roughly chopped
1 bunch fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
2 cups fresh chives, roughly chopped
Handful fresh mint, roughly chopped
Handful fresh basil, roughly chopped
1-2 tablespoons rosemary, finely chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 tablespoon kosher salt (or 2 teaspoons finely ground sea salt)

Directions:
Soak rice in cold water for 20-30 minutes.

Rinse rice with water, gently agitating with fingertips. Do this multiple times (3-4) until water runs clear.

Place rice in rice cooker.

Add enough water to cover 1″ above rice (about 2.5 cups).

Add olive oil, onion, all herbs, salt + pepper.

Mix ingredients and turn on rice cooker. Continue to mix ingredients couple of more times in the first 3-4 minutes if cooking so all ingredients are evenly spread throughout.

Let rice cooker do its magic!

Cook rice for approximately 1 – 1 1/2 hours, or until the indicator lets you know the cooking is completed. Timing can vary depending on the size and model.

That’s it! In about an hour you’ll have golden curst!

Once cooking is finished, unplug rice cooker.

Wearing oven mitts, place a platter larger than the rice cooker bowl over the bowl insert.

Lift bowl out and quickly and confidently flip the bowl and platter together.

Lift off the bowl slowly to reveal the Tahdig on top.
(Valiantly demonstrated by my cousin Payam, here).

Serve immediately: Tahdig loses crunch if it sits too long.

If you don’t have a rice cooker, see here for instructions on how to cook in a regular pot.