Sally Lunn Bread (Batter Bread)

1/2 cup warm (110-115°F) milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup warm (110-115°F) water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry (or instant) yeast
1/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
softened butter or vegetable spray for greasing the bread pan

In a small pot or microwave safe bowl, heat the milk and butter together on the stove top or in a microwave oven. When the butter melts, set the mixture aside and allow it to cool to 110-115°F. The mixture should feel warm (not hot!) to the touch.

Meanwhile, in a quart-size glass measure, whisk together the water, yeast, and sugar. When the milk mixture has cooled sufficiently, add it and the eggs to the yeast mixture. Whisk briefly to combine.
Tip 3 1/2 cups flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt, and stir to mix. Make a well in the center of the flour, and then add the liquid ingredients. Stir vigorously, with a stout spoon until a thick, smooth batter develops. If the batter seem soupy rather than thick, go ahead and stir in the extra 1/2 cup of flour. Cover the bowl with cling film and let rise at room temperature until doubled in volume — about 2 hours.

Use a spoon or spatula to gently deflate the batter. Then pour the batter into a 9×5 loaf pan or a 13-inch pain de mie (“Pullman”) pan. Cover loosely with lightly-greased cling film. If using a loaf pan, let the batter rise until it forms a crown approximately 1 inch above the rim of the pan (about 45 minutes at room temperature). If using a pullman pan, let rise just until the batter reaches 1/2 below the rim (about 45 minutes), and then slide the lid on. Halfway through rising time, preheat the oven to 375°F.

Bake in the preheated 375°F until the bread is done — usually 45 minutes. Unmold and let cool to room temperature on a wire rack before slicing.

Homemade Rice Noodles

1 1/4cups rice flour
2 tablespoons tapioca starch (or cornstarch)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon vegetable oil (plus more for brushing)

Add the rice flour, tapioca starch (or cornstarch), salt and water to a mixing bowl. Mix and dissolve everything together well. Add 1 teaspoon of oil, and strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into another bowl. Cover the liquid and let rest for 30 minutes.

While the mixture is resting, fill your wok (make sure that your flat-bottomed pan fits comfortably inside first!) with water. If you don’t have a wok, use a large, deep cooking vessel with a wide opening and a lid. Bring the water to a boil. (You might need to add more water throughout the cooking process. The goal is to have the pan float on top of the boiling water.)
Brush a light coating of oil on the bottom of the flat-bottom pan, put the pan on top of the boiling water, and add a 1/4 cup of the rice liquid to the pan. Tilt it a little so the rice liquid covers the bottom of the pan.

Now, cover with the pot/wok lid and cook on high heat for 5 minutes. If the flat bottom pan you use has a thicker bottom, e.g., Pyrex, increase the cooking time to 7 or 8 minutes. While it’s cooking, brush the second pan lightly with oil.

After 5 minutes, remove the lid, take out the 1st pan, and set aside. Put the 2nd pan on top of the water in the wok, add a 1/4 cup of the rice mixture. Tilt it a little so the rice liquid evenly covers the bottom, cover, and let cook.

While it’s cooking, attend to the first pan. We’re going to lift the noodle sheet out and place it onto a cutting board. Brush the cutting board with a thin layer of oil to prevent sticking. Then, use a rubber spatula to loosen all sides of the sheet of noodle, and slowly lift it up and off the pan. Lay it flat on your cutting board. By now, your second pan is probably ready. Remember to brush the first layer with a thin layer of oil before layering the second sheet on top to prevent sticking.
Now brush the bottom of the 1st pan with some oil and get ready to make your 3rd batch. Repeat the above steps until all of the noodle batter is gone. Once all of the noodle sheets are made, I cut the noodle sheets into 1/3-inch wide pieces, but feel free to cut them in whatever sizes and shapes you like. I then toss the noodles, loosening each layer to separate them. Now the rice noodles are ready to be used!

You can store these noodles in the refrigerator for a day or two. They might harden slightly, but they should bounce back nicely once heated. Enjoy your homemade noodles!

Nam Prik Ong (Pork, Tomato, and Chile Dip)

For the Paste:
10 to 15 dried spur chiles (15g) (see note)
2 plum tomatoes (about 100g)
1 disc (15g) tua nao (optional, see note)
1 stalk lemongrass, bottom 4 to 5 inches only, outer leaves discarded, tender core thinly sliced into rounds (about 10g sliced lemongrass)
10 small garlic cloves (30g)
5 small shallots (80g)
2 teaspoons (20g) Thai shrimp paste

For the Seasoning Sauce:
1/2 cup (120ml) water
2 tablespoons (30ml) fish sauce
1 tablespoon (15g) Thai fermented soybean paste
2 teaspoons (10ml) Thai thin soy sauce or light soy sauce
Pinch sugar

For the Pork:
1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
1 pound (450g) ground pork
8 ounces (1 1/2 cups; 225g) cherry tomatoes

For Serving:
Assorted raw vegetables such as cucumbers, green cabbage, lettuce, Thai eggplant, long beans, and more, cut for dipping
Assorted steamed or blanched vegetables such as winter squash, okra, and more, cut for dipping (optional)
Hard-boiled eggs, halved (optional)
Unflavored pork rinds (optional)
Cooked jasmine or sticky rice

For the Paste: Place spur chiles in a dry wok or carbon steel or cast iron skillet, and toast over medium-low heat, turning occasionally, until chiles are fragrant and turn a deeper shade of dark red, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer chiles to a plate to cool slightly; wipe out wok or skillet and return to stovetop. Once cool enough to handle, remove stems from chiles and transfer to a granite mortar and pestle; set plate and mortar and pestle aside.

Meanwhile, place plum tomatoes in now-empty wok or skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until charred all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer tomatoes to now-empty plate and set aside to cool.

If using tua nao, use tongs to grab disc and hold about 2 inches above low flame on a gas burner. Flip disc every 5 seconds until tua nao is toasted to a hazelnut brown color, with little leopard spots all over on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer tua nao to plate with tomatoes to cool; set aside.

Pound chiles in mortar and pestle to a coarse powder, 3 to 5 minutes. Add lemongrass and pound fine, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and shallots and pound to a coarse paste with a few large pieces remaining, 3 to 5 minutes. Add shrimp paste and tua nao (if using) and pound until well-incorporated. Add charred plum tomatoes and gently pound until broken down and incorporated into paste, about 2 minutes. Transfer paste to a small bowl and set aside.

For the Seasoning Sauce: In a small bowl, stir together water, fish sauce, soybean paste, soy sauce, and sugar until well-combined and sugar is dissolved. Set aside.

For the Pork: In a wok or 3-quart saucier, heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chile-tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until paste is aromatic and turns dark red, about 3 minutes. Add the pork, stir to combine, and cook, using a wok spatula or wooden spoon to break meat up and scrape up any bits that stick to the bottom of the pan, until cooked through, about 4 minutes.

Add cherry tomatoes, stir to combine, and continue to cook until tomatoes begin to burst, 3 to 5 minutes. You can coax the tomatoes into bursting by pressing down on them with a wok spatula or wooden spoon, and you can decide whether to lightly crush all of them or leave some whole for juicy pops of tomato flavor in the finished dip. Stir in seasoning sauce and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until liquid is reduced to a saucy consistency and oil begins to separate from emulsion, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature, at which point nam prik ong can be served or refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 1 month.

For Serving: Transfer nam prik ong to a serving bowl and serve with assorted raw and steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs (if using), pork rinds (if using), and rice.

Halibut with Fennel and Olives

2 halibut steaks, 16-20 ounces each

For the marinade:

3 tablespoons olive oil
Juice of 2 preserved lemons
6 cloves of garlic, chopped
Handful of basil leaves
A few pinches of salt
Freshly ground black pepper

For the vegetables:

3 leeks, chopped (white and pale green parts only)
2 bulbs fennel, sliced
2 shallots, sliced
1/2 cup unsalted butter

For the chutney:

3/4 cup finely chopped fennel
8 large green olives, chopped
4 preserved lemon segments, sliced thin
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
6 tablespoons olive oil
Juice of 2 lemons
Salt and pepper to taste

Pour the marinade ingredients over the fish, and let it sit in the fridge for 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a medium, oven-safe pot, melt the butter over medium heat and add the leeks and fennel, cooking them until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the shallots and cook for a few more minutes, until they have softened. Place in the oven for 30 minutes.

Prepare the chutney by mixing together the olives, preserved lemon, parsley, olive oils, lemons, salt and pepper in a bowl.

Heat a pan over medium-high heat until it’s good and hot, but not smoking. Tip in the marinade from the plate of fish, then add the fish flesh-side down. Cook for 6-8 minutes on each side. Serve over the bed of cooked vegetables and top with chutney.

Roasted Cauliflower with Pancetta, Olives, and Parmesan

1 large head cauliflower (about 1 3/4 pounds), trimmed and cut into bite-size florets (about 8 cups)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/3 cup olives, crushed, pitted and chopped
1 fat garlic clove, finely grated or minced
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more as needed
4 ounces pancetta or bacon, cut into 1/8-inch cubes
3/4 teaspoon cumin or caraway seeds
1/2 cup shredded (not ground) Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or mint leaves and tender stems, for serving

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt until well coated. Roast for 15 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together olives, garlic, lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt. Drizzle in the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, whisking well.

After the cauliflower has roasted for 15 minutes, add pancetta and cumin seeds to pan and gently mix to combine. Sprinkle Parmesan on top and roast for another 15 to 20 minutes, until cauliflower is tender, the pancetta rendered, and cheese is golden brown and crunchy.

Spoon olive dressing all over roasted cauliflower while still hot and toss to combine. Taste, and add more salt, red-pepper flakes or lemon juice, if needed. Scatter parsley over the top before serving.

Baked Sriracha-Mango Cauliflower

1 head of cauliflower mine was small-medium-ish size

Batter
1 cup (250 ml) water
3/4 cup (94 g) + 2 Tbsp flour (I used half whole wheat + half white , (use 1/2 cup chickpea flour + 1/4 cup or more rice flour to make gf)
3/4 to 1 tsp salt or to taste
1 tsp each of garlic powder and onion powder
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) each of smoked paprika, chili powder/cayenne
a very generous dash of black pepper
2 tsp oil optional

Mango Sriracha Glaze
1 cup (340 g) mango jam or preserves or use orange marmalade or grape jelly for variations
1/4 cup (60 ml) Sriracha sauce or to taste ?
1 Tbsp or more hot sauce or to taste I used Frank’s red hot
1/4 cup (62 ml) Orange juice or apple juice more juice if you like a thinner glaze
a generous pinch of garlic powder
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) ginger powder

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F / 230ºc. Chop the cauliflower into 1.5-2 inch pieces. Mix everything under batter in a bowl until smooth and thick enough batter that can coat the cauliflower pieces well.(add more flour if needed). Dip cauliflower in the batter and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Line the sheet with parchment or grease very well. Bake for 20 minutes.

Glaze
In a pan, mix all the ingredients under glaze and heat on medium. Taste and adjust spice, sweet and tang if needed(add sugar or vinegar for extra sweet or tang). You can also use fresh or frozen ripe mango puree + maple/sugar instead of preserves(as suggested by some readers who made these already).

Once the glaze is hot, taste and adjust spice + sweet. add the baked cauliflower to it. Toss well to coat carefully and let the glaze come to a boil. 1-2 minutes. You can use a large pan that can fit all the florets or do 2 batches. do not toss/move the florets too much. Remove from pan and Serve hot as is, or with rice/grains or with any creamy cool dips like vegan ranch. Alternatively, bring the sauce ingredients to a boil and pour over the baked cauliflower, mix to coat and serve.

Notes
Variations: Use grape jelly or Orange preserves. Add a 1/4 cup ketchup to the glaze.Use Barbecue sauce or sweet and sour sauce.To make buffalo wings, mix in enough hot sauce with melted vegan butter or oil (2:1 ratio) and toss the baked cauliflower in it, bake for a few minutes and seve.

Spicy Baked Cauliflower (or Potato Wedges)

For the batter:
2 to 3 Tbsp (2 to 3 tbsp) hot sauce
1 Tbsp evoo
1/2 to 3/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 to 1 tsp cayenne/ red chili powder
1.5 tsp garlic powder
1.5 tsp onion powder
1.5 to 2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin powder
3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) salt
3 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot starch
1/3 cup (41.67 g) flour
1/2 cup (113 ml) coconut milk canned, preferably full fat
1/4 cup (62.5 ml) water
3.5 to 4 cups (1160 to 1300 g) cauliflower florets

Breadcrumb coating:
3/4 cup (81 g) bread crumbs
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cayenne
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) onion powder
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garlic
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) paprika
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) salt

In a bowl, mix everything except cauliflower for the batter. if the batter is too thin, add more flour or starch.

In another shallow bowl, mix everything under breadcrumb coating.

Dip cauliflower in the batter, then coat in breadcrumbs and place on parchment lined sheet.(use gloves or a fork. the batter is spicy)

Drizzle any remaining batter on the cauliflower. Spray oil.

Bake at pre-heated 425 degrees F / 220ºc for 25 minutes or until a toothpick goes through the cauliflower easily. Serve warm with ranch dressing.

Crispy Kung Pao Cauliflower

For the Baked Crispy Cauliflower
5 tbsp corn starch or other starch
6 tbsp bread crumbs use gluten-free crumbs to make gf
5 tbsp or more water
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cayenne use a 1/3 tsp for less heat
2 tsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) salt
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) roasted sesame oil
1 tsp oil
1 medium head of cauliflower chopped into florets

For the Kung Pao sauce:
1 tsp oil
8 to 10 (8 to 10 ) dried red chilies chinese red chilies, or arbol or cayenne, or use california red for less heat
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) coarsely crushed sichuan peppercorns or use a mix of coarsely crushed black pepper and red pepper flakes
2 to 3 tbsp chopped cashews or peanuts
4 to 5 cloves of garlic minced
1 inch ginger minced
2 tbsp scallions chopped

Sauce mix
2.5 tbsp low sodium soy sauce/tamari use certified gluten-free sauce to make gf
1.5 to 2 tbsp (1.5 to 1 tbsp) rice vinegar
1 tsp chinese rice wine optional
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup (63 ml) + 2 tbsp water use 1/2 cup for more sauce
1 tsp cornstarch

Chop up the cauliflower and keep aside. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F / 220ºc. Mix the cornstarch breadcrumbs, and the rest of the ingredients to make a batter. Let the batter sit for 10 seconds to thicken if it isn’t thick. The cornstarch continues to thicken the batter, so as soon as it is a good not too watery consistency, start dipping the cauliflower in the batter, tap to drop excess and place on parchment lined baking sheet. If the batter thickens too much while working, add a tsp or more water and mix in and continue.

Bake for 30 minutes or longer until the florets are cooked through. Check with a toothpick/knife
Meanwhile make the sauce. Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the red chilies and peppercorns and cook until the red chilies are fragrant, but not overly brown, or someone starts sneezing. (For more heat, break some of the chilies into half and add to the skillet.)

Add the nuts and mix for a few seconds. Add the ginger, garlic, reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook until the garlic is golden. 4 to 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add in the scallions, and 2 to 3 tbsp finely chopped green peppers or other veggies if using and mix in. Increase heat to medium. Cook for a minute.

Mix the sauce ingredients in a bowl and add to the skillet. Continue to cook until the sauce comes to a boil and thickens slightly. 2 mins. Carefully taste and adjust salt, sweet and spice. If the sauce is not hot enough, break a few of the chilies open or add in red pepper flakes to taste and mix in.
Arrange the baked cauliflower in a shallow bowl in one layer. When ready to serve, Drizzle the sauce over each floret. Serve.

To store, store the baked cauliflower and sauce separately. Heat the sauce, pour over the florets. To serve with rice/cooked grains, double the sauce mix and bring to a boil to thicken, toss in the cauliflower and serve immediately over rice.

Golden Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

1 medium head of cauliflower, chopped into small florets
3 tsp oil
1 tsp lemon juice or lime juice
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp garam masala or use curry powder of choice
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cayenne or use 1 tsp sweet paprika + pinches of cayenne to taste
a good dash of black pepper
pinches of cinnamon and clove powder, optional
1.5 to 2 tbsp panko breadcrumbs
raita, chutney or lemon to serve

Slice the cauliflower into florets and add to a large bowl. Drizzle oil and lemon juice. Mix and rub the oil and lemon juice into the florets.

Mix the spices and breadcrumbs in a bowl. Sprinkle all over the cauliflower and toss well to coat.
Spread on parchment lined baking sheet or large dish and spray oil on the florets.

Bake at 425 degrees F (220 deg C) for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 400 degrees F. Turn the sheet around or move the cauliflower around a bit and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve with raita.

Nashville Cauliflower Wings

1 medium head of cauliflower chopped into florets

Batter:
1/3 cup (78.67 ml) almond or soy milk
1 tsp hot sauce
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garlic powder
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) onion powder
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
1/4 cup (31.25 g) flour (all purpose, or use rice flour for gluten-free)
3 tbsp starch (I use cornstarch, arrowroot or potato starch works too)
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) baking powder
1 tsp oil

Nashville style hot chicken sauce:
1 tbsp oil or melted butter
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cayenne , use 1/4 tsp for less heat
1 tsp black pepper , use 1//2 tsp for less heat
1 tsp sugar or maple syrup
1 tsp sweet paprika , use more if omitting cayenne
2 tbsp hot sauce
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garlic powder
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) poultry seasoning ( or use sage + onion powder)
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp water

Chop the cauliflower and set aside. Line a baking dish with parchment. Preheat the oven to 425 deg F ( 220 C).

Make the batter by whisking all the ingredients under batter. The batter will start to thicken after half a minute, so work quickly.

Add cauliflower florets and toss well to coat. It will take a minute for the thick batter to coat the florets well. Some uncoated cauliflower edges are ok. Drop on parchment lined baking dish. Spray oil on top. (You can also sprinkle 2-3 tbsp breadcrumbs on the florets in the dish for extra crispyness).
Bake at 425 deg F for 25 mins (35 mins if serving the bites with hot sauce on the side) . In the meantime, make the nashville hot sauce mixture in large bowl. You can double this sauce easily for larger cauliflower.

Remove the dish from the oven and cool for 5 mins. Add the baked cauliflower to the sauce bowl and gently toss to coat.

Drop back into the baking dish and bake for 15 mins or longer at 400 deg F. Serve with cooling dips such as vegan ranch and some pickles.

Notes

Cajun Roasted Cauliflower with Chimichurri

Cajun Cauliflower:
1 small head of cauliflower, sliced into 1/2 inch thick slices or chopped into medium size florets
2 tbsp cajun spice blend (2 tsp sweet paprika, 1/3 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp oregano, 1.5 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp onion powder, dash of pepper flakes
1/2 to 3/4 tsp salt (if using store bought cajun blend, it might already be salted, so you will need only 1/4 tsp)
2 tsp oil
1 tsp lemon juice

Chimichurri sauce:
1 cup (60 g) packed parsley or one bunch parsley leaves and tender stems, chopped
1/4 cup (0.25 g) basil packed or use cilantro
6 cloves (6 cloves ) of raw garlic more the merrier
2 tbsp (2 tbsp ) extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp (1 tsp ) vinegar apple cider or balsamic or red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp ) salt
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp ) black pepper
2 tbsp (2 tbsp ) or more avocado for creamyness optional

Slice the cauliflower or chop into florets. Blend the chimichurri sauce with a few tbsp of water and set aside. Line a baking dish with parchment. Preheat the oven to 425 deg F ( 220 C )
Rub oil and lemon juice all over the slices or florets.

Sprinkle the cajun spice + salt on both sides of the slices and rub lightly. Then sprinkle more on the open side. (If using florets, sprinkle spice + salt, then toss well to coat). For Crispyness, mix 2 tbsp breadcrumbs in the spice mix and salt and then sprinkle all over.

Spray oil lightly on the spiced cauliflower to seal the spices in, Bake at 425 deg F for 20 to 25 mins. Broil for a minute to sear if needed.

Cauliflower tends to soften depending on the moisture content after cooking. So serve immediately. Sprinkle some more spice if needed. Cajun can be hot, so add another cooling dressing of choice if needed.

Serve with a side salad of cherry tomatoes/tomatoes, onion, chickpeas/beans, salt, pepper and chimichurri/lemon with these.

Sticky Sesame Cauliflower

Sesame Soy Sauce:
2 tsp. sesame oil
2 tsp fresh grated ginger
2 cloves of garlic , minced
1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
1/3 cup maple syrup
1.5 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sriracha
2 tsp cornstarch or 1.5 tsp tapioca starch
1/4 cup (59.15 ml) cold water

Cauliflower:
1/2 cup rice flour
3 tbsp tapioca or corn starch.
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash of black pepper and cayenne
1/2 cup (118.29 ml) water
2 tsp sesame oil
1 (265 g) small head of cauliflower, chopped into equal size florets

Garnish: sesame seeds and scallions

Sticky Sesame Sauce: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add sesame oil, garlic and ginger. Cook the garlic ginger for a minute. Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple and bring to boil. Mix cornstarch in the water and add this cornstarch slurry and bring to a boil to thicken, Take off heat.

Cauliflower: Preheat the oven to 425 deg F ( 220 C). Line a baking sheet or dish with parchment. In a large bowl add the dry ingredients for the batter and whisk well. Add the wet ingredients and min until smooth.

Add the cauliflower and mix to coat. This batter keeps thickening as it sits, so mix and toss quickly.

Transfer to the the lined baking sheet. and bake for 30 mins. Make the sticky sauce in the meanwhile if you havent yet.

Once baked, you can do one of the following:

1. Brush the sauce over the cauliflower florets and bake for additional 10 to 15 mins (time depends on how crisp and sticky you want the sauce)

2. Wait for a few mins then transfer the florets to the sauce. Mix gently to coat. Serve immediately or transfer to the baking sheet to bake for 10 to 15 mins.

Sprinkle black and white sesame seeds and chopped scallions and serve as is, or over rice or in lettuce wraps.

Note: you can substitute tofu for some of the cauliflower.

Chicken Mei Fun

FOR THE RICE NOODLES:

7 ounces dried thin rice vermicelli noodles
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce

FOR THE CHICKEN:

7 ounces chicken breast (cut into strips)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
1 1/2 teaspoons oyster sauce
2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 pinch five spice powder (optional)
1 teaspoon vegetable oil

FOR THE REST OF THE DISH:

2 slices ginger (julienned)
4-5 small shallots (thinly sliced)
1 medium carrot (julienned)
5 oz. cabbage (shredded)
3 scallions (cut into 2-inch pieces)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
salt to taste
2 tablespoons water (optional)

Soak the dried rice noodles as per the instructions on the back of the package. To test whether or not they’ve been soaked enough, take a noodle and chew on it to make sure it’s no longer hard/dry. Drain thoroughly, shaking off the noodles to get rid of excess water.

In a large bowl, mix the rice noodles with 1 teaspoon of oil and 1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce until evenly coated. Set aside.

Add the chicken to a medium bowl, along with the cornstarch, water, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, white pepper, five spice, and vegetable oil. Marinate for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the ginger, shallots, carrot, cabbage, and scallions. Have everything ready to go before you turn on the stove.

Heat your wok over high heat. Add 3 tablespoons oil, followed by the ginger and chicken. Stir-fry until the chicken is just cooked through. Add the shallots, and stir-fry for 10 seconds. Add the cabbage and carrots, and stir-fry for another 30 seconds.

Season everything with 1 1/2 tablespoons light soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon white pepper. Mix well.

Finally, add the prepared rice noodles along with the scallions. Turn the heat down to medium and stir-fry everything together to heat the noodles through and distribute the chicken and vegetables. Salt to taste.

If you like more al dente noodles, you can serve immediately. If you like softer noodles, add 2 tablespoons of water to the wok, cover, and cook for a minute over low heat before serving.

Pad Thai

For the Pad Thai sauce:
1.5 ounces tamarind pulp (plus 1/2 cup boiling water)
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons Thai black soy sauce (look for the “Healthy Boy” brand)
1 teaspoon Thai sweet soy sauce (optional)
1/4 teaspoon white pepper (to taste)

For the rest of the dish:
8 ounces dried Pad Thai rice noodles
8 ounces chicken breast (thinly sliced)
1 teaspoon Thai thin soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon water
1/3 cup small dried shrimp (minced or processed into a coarse powder)
3 cloves garlic (sliced)
2 large shallots (thinly sliced; can substitute red onion)
2 tablespoons preserved Thai salted radish (preferred) or Chinese mustard stem (rinsed in warm water and julienned; optional — preserved salted radish is a product of Thailand; if you can’t find it, zha cai, works well)
3 large eggs (beaten, preferably at room temperature)
2 cups mung bean sprouts (washed and drained)
1 cup Chinese garlic chives (cut into 1-inch pieces)
2 tablespoons roasted peanuts (finely chopped)
6 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided)

First, make the sauce. Take the tamarind pulp (a block about 1 x 2 in (2.5 x 5 cm) and mix it with ½ cup boiling water (you can add a little more if needed to dissolve the paste). Break up the pulp in the hot water, and then press the mixture through a fine-meshed strainer. Discard the solids. To the liquid tamarind concentrate you just made, add the sugar, fish sauce, Thai black soy sauce, Thai sweet soy sauce (if using), and white pepper. Set aside.

Soak the pad thai noodles in hot water for about 20 minutes, and drain in a colander. If the noodles are in really long strands, you will want to cut them into 10- to 12-inch lengths to make stir-frying easier.

Marinate the sliced chicken by combining it with 1 teaspoon each of Thai thin soy sauce, cornstarch, and water. Set aside.

Next, prepare the dried shrimp, mincing them down into a coarse powder (we used a food processor). Prepare the garlic, shallots/red onion, preserved Chinese mustard stems (zha cai), eggs, mung bean sprouts, garlic chives, and peanuts. You want to have everything ready to go before you turn on the stove.

Now you’re ready to cook! Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in your wok over high heat until just smoking. Add the chicken, and sear until golden and just cooked through. Remove from the wok and set aside.
Add another 3 tablespoons of oil to the wok. Over medium heat, add the shrimp powder. Fry until fragrant and crisp, 2 minutes. Add the garlic, and cook for 30 seconds. Add the shallots and zha cai. Stir-fry for another 30 seconds.

Turn the heat up to high, and add the noodles and sauce. Stir-fry to combine, lifting the noodles with your wok spatula to spread them out and break them up.

Make a space on the side of the wok, pushing the noodles to one side. Drizzle 1 more tablespoon of oil in the open space, and pour in the beaten eggs. Use your spatula to fold them gently, scrambling them without breaking up the egg too much. When the eggs are about 70% done, stir-fry to distribute them into the noodles.

Next, add the bean sprouts and the chives. Stir-fry to combine, letting the chives wilt. Add the chicken back in, and stir-fry to combine until everything is incorporated. Plate, top with the

Baked Aloo Gobi

1 small head of cauliflower , 2 heaping cups
2 medium potatoes (yukon gold or white), about 2 cups cubed

Spicing:
1 tsp turmeric , divided
1 tsp ground cumin (1/2 tsp if you dont like cumin)
1 tsp ground coriander , optional, but nice
1/3 tsp (0.33 tsp) cayenne or paprika
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garam masala or curry powder or berbere(1/2 to 1 tsp to preference), or use more of ground cumin and coriander
3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) salt
1 tbsp minced ginger , (1 inch ginger minced)
1 tbsp minced garlic or 1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp water
1 tsp oil
cilantro and lemon juice for garnish

Other flavor additions:
1/2 tsp amchur(dry mango powder)
1/2 tsp dried fenugreek leaves(kasoori methi)
a good pinch of asafetida (hing)

Chop the cauliflower into small florets and put in a large bowl.

Chop the potatoes into small cubes (less than 1/2 inch) and add to the bowl.

In a small bowl. Mix the 1/2 tsp turmeric and the rest of the ingredients under spicing until well combined. Add the spice mixture to the large bowl and toss to coat.

Alternatively, Add the minced ginger, garlic, oil to the bowl and toss well. Combine the turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala, cayenne, salt in a small bowl, mix well. Sprinkle over the cauliflower, potatoes and toss well.

Let the cauliflower and potatoes sit for a minute.

Sprinkle some more turmeric and mix lightly (optional).

Spread the veggies in a stoneware or ceramic baking dish. Spray oil. See Tips above on how to spread the veggies and pan size to choose.

Bake at 400 deg F (204 C) for 20 mins, then cover with parchment and bake for another 15 mins or until tender to preference. Taste carefully and adjust salt and spice and mix in. garnish with cilantro and some lemon juice.

Variations: Add 1 hot green chili, finely chopped with the ginger and garlic.

Change up the spices, use panch phoron blend instead of garam masala for achari aloo gobi.

Add thawed peas in the last 10 minutes of baking for Aloo Gobi Matar.

Add 1 to 1.5 cups cooked chickpeas to amp up the protein. Increase the spices and salt to preference to accommodate the added chickpea volume.

Add 1/2 tsp toasted cumin seeds instead of ground cumin

Oilfree: Omit the oil. Cover the Veggies half way through(about 5 mins longer).

Aloo Gobi

2 medium russet potatoes, cut into 2″-long sticks
1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into small florets
5 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tsp. cumin seeds
½ tsp. ground turmeric
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. thinly sliced ginger
Pinch of asafetida (optional, but really great)
Pinch of red chili powder
1 tsp. (or more) kosher salt
1 Tbsp. (or more) fresh lime juice
1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves with tender stems

Preheat oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Toss potatoes and cauliflower with 3 Tbsp. oil on prepared sheet. Spread in an even layer and roast, tossing once halfway through, until cauliflower and potatoes are browned and slightly crisped, about 30 minutes. Let cool.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high until it begins to shimmer. Add cumin and cook, stirring frequently, until they turn a medium shade of brown, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium and swirl in turmeric. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, 4–6 minutes. Add ginger, asafetida (if using), and chili powder and cook, stirring, until heated through and well combined, about 1 minute longer.

Stir in roasted potatoes and cauliflower, including any charred bits from the foil, and gently mix (don’t overmix, or the cauliflower will fall apart). Add salt and cook, tossing occasionally, until potatoes and cauliflower are tender (but not soggy!), 5–6 minutes. Remove from heat and add lime juice. Taste and add more lime juice or salt, if needed.

Transfer potatoes and cauliflower to a platter. Top with cilantro.

Chapli Burgers

FOR BURGERS:
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
Sea salt
2 tablespoons fresh or dried pomegranate seeds
1 pound ground beef
1/2 small yellow onion, minced
1/2 medium tomato, finely chopped and drained of juice
1 clove garlic, finely grated or pounded
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
1/2 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
1 egg
Neutral oil for cooking

TO SERVE:
Burger buns
Iceberg lettuce
Tamarind ketchup (see recipe)
Herbed yogurt (see recipe)
Sliced Persian cucumbers, red onions and tomatoes

Place coriander seeds in a small saucepan, and set over medium heat. Swirling pan, lightly toast seeds for 2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat, and finely pound in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt (alternatively, use a spice grinder or small food processor). Add pomegranate seeds, and coarsely pound (it’s fine if the inner seed does not break down). Scrape paste into a large mixing bowl.

Add beef, onion, tomato, garlic, ginger, 1/2 jalapeño, pepper flakes, garam masala, cumin, 1/4 cup cilantro, egg and 2 teaspoons salt. Use hands to knead mixture until combined.

Fry a quarter-size piece of the mixture, and taste. Adjust seasoning with salt and spices.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide meat mixture onto parchment into 6 balls, and flatten into thin, 4-inch-round patties.

Set a large cast-iron pan over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When it shimmers, lay three patties into the pan, and cook for 2 minutes on each side until browned, then set aside on a plate. Drain grease from pan, and wipe with a paper towel, then cook remaining patties. (Alternatively, grill burgers over high heat for 2 minutes per side until browned.)

Serve immediately on toasted buns with tamarind ketchup, herbed yogurt and other garnishes.

Sheet Pan Patatas Bravas with Chorizo and Kale

1 (28-ounce) bag small, multicolored potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 (12-ounce) package chorizo links, or 4 sausages of any kind
2 bunches lacinato kale, washed
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sriracha, plus more to taste
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 425°F. Cut potatoes into quarters, place in a large bowl; toss in olive oil, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and pepper. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Cut sausages into ½-inch rounds, and place rounds on baking sheet. Transfer to oven and roast for 15-20 minutes until sausages are golden brown. Remove sausage, set aside, and use a spatula to flip potatoes. Return to oven and continue roasting until potatoes are crispy and golden, about 15 more minutes.

While the potatoes roast, prepare the kale: Remove the thick, center rib from kale leaves, and cut the leaves into ¼-inch strips. The easiest way to do this is to stack your de-ribbed kale leaves, then roll the stacked leaves and slice, creating ribbons. Set kale aside.

Prepare your sauce: In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and sriracha, and taste. Add more sriracha to your own spice preference and thin with a little water, if necessary, to make it easier to drizzle.

When potatoes are done, remove them from the oven, then transfer potatoes to a bowl. Place the kale on the baking sheet and use a pair of tongs to coat the kale ribbons in the oil leftover on the pan from the sausages and potatoes. Once coated, add remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the apple cider vinegar and continue mixing, using hands to squeeze and massage kale, until fully coated. Spread into an even layer, top with potatoes and sausage pieces, then drizzle with the mayonnaise mixture. Serve.