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.

Roasted Veggie Quinoa Medly

Fragrant Mediterranean Salad

Persian Cucumber Salad with Red Onion & Thai Basil

Cauliflower Parmesan

Red Cabbage Slaw with Honey-Lime-Cumin Vinaigrette

Rosemary & Sea Salt Baked Potato Chips

Green Garden Herb Basmati Rice

Persian Stuffed Sweet Peppers (Dolemh)

Pretty Pickled Onions

October 3, 2017 nmalekan@gmail.com Comments 1 comment

While looking for a new condiment for the Ultimate Naz Burger, I developed these pickled onions—they’ve become a family favorite.

We use them on everything. They add a refreshing zing to countless dishes, perfect on tacos, eggs, avocado toast, or for a tangy crunch in salads and sandwiches. They balance rich or sweet flavors, enhancing dishes like roasted butternut squash or creamy soups.

Pickled onions are indispensable in my kitchen. They turn a gorgeous magenta in the brine, and their crunchy, tangy goodness elevates any meal.

They’re quick and easy to make. Just slice onions thinly and submerge them in a mix of vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. This balanced recipe is forgiving—omit the sugar or experiment with different vinegars as you like.

This is a quick pickle recipe. They’ll taste great in about 20 minutes and even better overnight. You can add aromatics like garlic, thyme, or peppercorns, but this simple four-ingredient version is all you need.

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

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

Directions-
1. Combine vinegar, water, salt and sugar in a bowl and mix until dissolved. Set aside.

2. Slice onions as thinly as possible. A mandolin can be helpful but be careful if using. Then place onions in a clean, high-quality airtight glass jar. Add aromatics to the jar, if using.

3. Pour liquid over the onions in the jar and let sit at room temperature for approximately 20 minutes. Cover, refrigerate and enjoy for up to a week.

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