Cauliflower “Parmesan”

February 13, 2018 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

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.

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.

Persian Stuffed Peppers (Dolmeh)

March 28, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

The term “Dolmeh” can be traced back thousands of years in the form of various stuffed vegetables and was popular all over ranging from the Middle East, to Central Asia, and surrounding areas. The vegetables stuffed could include tomato, pepper, onion, zucchini, and eggplant. Stuffed grape and cabbage leaves were also part of this tradition and can be traced back even further in culinary history. One explanation for etymology of the word dolmeh is from the Turkish verbal noun dolmak, which means “to be stuffed.” Makes sense.

In the Persian Empire, references of dolmeh are traced back to the 17th century and the courts of the Shah (king). According to Wikipedia, Alī-Akbar Khan Āšpaz-bāšī, chef to the court of Nāṣer-al-Dīn Shah, recorded dolmeh as a special category of Persian cuisine and gave recipes for stuffing grape leaves, cabbage leaves, cucumbers, eggplants, apples, and quinces.

My beloved late Grandmother made dolmeh combining green stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbage leaves in a large pot. She used tomato sauce and the end result was delicious! This is a picture of the dolmeh she made for us when my mom and I visited her in 2009. Those beautiful hands made many lovely dishes for us on that trip. And they all had the common ingredient of love incorporated. Many of my cooking inspirations are connected to that trip. Since my family immigrated from Iran when I was a child, this was the only time I cooked with her as an adult and I cherished every moment.

It seems the popularity and timelessness of this dish, is due to it’s simplicity. Stuff any vegetable with other vegetables, herbs and/or meat and you have a rich dish that satiates any palette.

I made my version of dolmeh for Nowruz (the Persian New Year) and they were a hit! The only dish with no leftovers and that says a lot for any meal in an Iranian home where abundance is the key ingredient to any feast.

It is a relatively easy recipe and quite healthy. You can make it meat-less by eliminating the ground turkey or chicken for a vegetarian option, nothing will be lost. The fresh herbs add such great flavor and aroma! Serve it up as a main or side dish and enjoy!

Ingredients:
10 bell peppers (multi color for visual effect)
1 lb. ground turkey or chicken (you can use beef too, I use chicken or turkey for a leaner option)
2 medium onions, chopped
1 1/4 cups basmati rice, rinsed
1/2 cup yellow split peas, rinsed
1 bunch parsley, chopped
2 small leeks, chopped
1 bunch of dill, chopped
3 1/2 tablespoons dried tarragon
2 tablespoons dried mint
2 teaspoons turmeric
2 lemons
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Olive oil
Water
Salt and pepper

Directions:
Gently cut the tops of the peppers and set “lids” aside.
Clean inside of peppers, remove seeds and white flesh
In a frying pan heat oil and saute onions until translucent.
Add ground turkey, turmeric and salt + p while browning the meat. Set aside. (I added a handful of the leeks and parsley while sauteing the meat this is optional but it’s a nice way to build layers of flavor).
Cook rice and split peas in 3 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil for about 15-20 minutes. Drain water.
Chop all the herbs. The kitchen will smell amazing at this point!
Combine the turkey, rice, lentils, dried herbs, chopped fresh herbs, the juice of 1 lemon and salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl and mix all ingredients.
In a separate bowl, combine tomato paste, 1/2 cup of water, the juice of the other lemon, 2 table spoons of olive oil, salt + pepper.
Spoon the rice-herb mixture into the peppers. Don’t fill to the top, leaving a bit of room at the top of the pepper.
Arrange the peppers into a deep baking dish.
Pour approximately 1/2 of the tomato mixture into the peppers. Pour the rest into the pan creating a small shallow pool for the peppers. Cover with pepper “lids.”
Bake for 50-60 minutes in the over at 350-375 degrees until pepper are cooked and tops are slightly browned. While baking, check to see if you need to add water in the pan if it has all evaporated. Don’t add too much water to avoid peppers getting soggy.
Serve and enjoy! As part of a feast like we did for Nowruz or on its own for a healthy week night family dinner.

Tuscan Inspired Lemon-Rosemary Chicken with Cannellini Beans & Roasted Squash-Arugula Salad

February 22, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 1 comment

There is a universal feeling of satisfaction with roasted chicken. The warm aromas that fill the kitchen while it cooks just feel like home. There are endless flavor combinations of vegetables, herbs and spices for roasting chicken – but somehow this Tusccan-inspired lemon and rosemary variation end up on rotation in my kitchen more often than others.

A magical combination married with garlic and olive oil. You can develop deep flavors in this simple recipe. The cannellini beans are creamy and filling, and beautifully absorb the rosemary, garlic + lemon aromas. The kitchen will smell divine too.

Once the salad is made, serve with chicken with a nice glass of white wine. If you’re inspired by the rustic Tuscan flavors, try a nice Vermentino. Tuscany is known mainly for it’s red wines but there are lovely whites as well from the coastal regions known as “La Costa Toscana!” According to the internet, “Vermentino should have an appealing sapidità, a difficult word to translate into English — “sapidity”. Essentially it should leave you wanting another taste, or indeed another glass.”

No arm twisting required here…

Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken with Cannellini Beans

Ingredients:
8-10 chicken thighs
4 Rosemary sprigs
2 15.5 oz cans of cannellini beans
4 large or 5 small cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
2 lemons
1 cup white wine or water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon red chili flakes (adjust to desired heat)
salt + pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Wash chicken thighs and pat dry, place in roasting pan
Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon on the chicken
Spread cannellini beans around chicken thighs in pan
Add chopped garlic over beans
Add rosemary sprigs spread across pan
Pour white wine into pan (if you don’t have wine, you can use water)
Squeeze the juice of another 1/2 lemon all over beans
Slice remaining lemon and place wedges in between beans + chicken
Rub top of chicken thighs with olive oil (for crispy goodness) and pour the rest over beans
Season with red chili flakes, salt + pepper
Bake at 375 degrees for approximate 45 min – 1 hour depending on size of chicken thighs

Roasted Squash-Arugula Salad

Ingredients:
3-4 cups arugula (or other green of your choice)
1 avocado, cubed
3 medium Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
2-3 tablespoons fresh chive, chopped
juice of 1-2 lemons
3-4 tablespoons good olive oil
3-4 green squash, chopped
2 small or 1 medium white onion, chopped
salt + pepper to taste

Instructions:
Saute white onions in vegetable oil until translucent.
Saute squash until soft.
Season with salt + pepper, set aside.
Assemble salad ingredients in a bowl adding arugula, chopped tomato, chopped red onion, chopped chives (optional).
Cube 1 avocado and add to salad.
Squeeze lemon juice immediately on avocado so it doesn’t oxidize and turn black.
Add good olive oil and a bit more lemon juice directly on top of salad along with salt + pepper and fold gently to mix ingredients.
Add sauteed squash on top of salad.
Serve with the chicken and buon appetito!

Musical Inspiration:

Andrea Bocelli, Melodramma (Vivere Live in Tuscany)

Versatile Salmon, done 3 ways

February 1, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 1 comment

Beyond being nutritious and tasty, salmon is also an incredibly versatile ingredient to work with. I only use wild caught salmon. Stay away from the farmed variety. The diet the fish are fed are is bad for our bodies and pollute the water. They also have 1/10 of the omega-3 fatty acids which is one of the main reasons I like to have this nutritious protein in my diet.

Here I highlight a few simple but elegant ways to prepare this wonderful protein:

Smoked Salmon and Creme Fraiche Canapes with Fresh Dill

Sesame Crusted Salmon Fillet

Cold Salmon Salad

I love to entertain often, but don’t always have time to prepare extravagant menus. The smoked salmon canapes with creme fraiche are easy to make yet quite elegant. Simply place small pieces of smoked salmon on a thin cracker of your choice or pumpernickel cocktail bread. Top with a dollop of creme fraiche and sprig of fresh dill and voila! These are a hit every time.

Smoked Salmon & Creme Fraiche Canapes with Fresh Dill

Sesame Crusted Baked Salmon

This recipe is great for dinner any night of the week or on a large salmon fillet for entertaining.

Ingredients:

1 pound wild salmon (can do a smaller or larger piece depending on size of group you’re serving)

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

1/2 cup sesame seeds

Lemon wedges + fresh herbs for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon on the salmon.

Drizzle with olive oil or sesame oil.

Season with salt + pepper.

Coat entire top of salmon with white or black or mixed sesame seeds.

Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.

Garnish with herbs, lemon wedges and serve with any pasta, rice or grain you like.

Cold Salmon Salad or Sandwich

What’s better than a fabulous dinner? A new fabulous lunch with the leftover.

I love cold salmon sandwiches or salmon topped on a bright and colorful salad.

You can choose any veggies you like in your salad.

Here I mixed arugula and spinach with chopped tomatoes, raw cauliflower, red beats and chopped onion.

Toss with lemon juice + good olive oil, then top with leftover salmon.

An important final step: delight in a healthy, colorful, nutritious and fabulous salad while you reflect on the beautiful food you’ve made and the people you’ve shared them with…

Persian Cucumber Salad with Red Onion & Thai Basil

December 14, 2016 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 0 Comment

This salad is light n’ lovely. It’s aromatic and refreshing. It’s also a great choice when you need lots of flavor but don’t have a lot of time. I use Persian cucumbers because the fresh and fragrant taste is an important part of the success of this dish. The basil’s slightly sweet, lemony and minty aroma delightfully compliments the green and fruity fragrance of the cucumber.

If you don’t have Thai basil, sweet basil works great too.

Ingredients:
Salad
5-6 Persian Cucumbers, chopped
1 medium red onion, cut into into rings
1/2-1/3 cup sweet or Thai basil, chopped

Dressing
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey (adjust to sweetness preference)
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
Salt + Pepper to taste [Expert tip: limit salt when using soy sauce even if using low sodium]

Directions:
Cut onions into thin rings.
Soak raw onion in water. [Expert Tip: Soaking raw onions in water reduces the pungent bite]
Cut cucumbers into rings, then cut into half moon shapes (or whatever shape your heart desires).
Chop basil.

To make dressing:
Combine rice vinegar, soy sauce, salt, pepper, honey.
Slowly add in Sesame oil and whisk. This helps emulsify the dressing so it won’t separate.
Toss Cucumber, onion, basil + dressing together and enjoy!