Category: Recipies

Bhindi Masala

Bhindi Masala

Bhindi (okra) is a staple in Indian cuisine. This recipe for Bhindi Masala comes from Slate Magazine. If you were scarred by stewed okra as a child, you might be wary of overcooking your okra here. Don’t be. Counterintuitively, you want to cook it so long it’s just shy of burning. A long frying session will give the okra time to dry out as its liquid evaporates, and that dried out texture is what you want if you’re trying to avoid slime. Your okra’s not done until it looks wilted and deeply browned. (more…)

Eggplant Caponata

Eggplant Caponata

With eggplants still in abundance, I can’t wait to make another batch of this Sicilian deliciousness. The recipe makes about 4-5 cups and keeps well for about a week in the fridge. (more…)

Gazpacho

Gazpacho

At some point this summer, you will look in your crisper and realize you have all the ingredients for the perfect summer meal: Gazpacho. This recipe from the Joy of Cooking is easy to make and can be adapted depending on what vegetables you have available. Serve for lunch or add a side of thick crusty bread to make a light dinner. (more…)

Baingan Bharta

Baingan Bharta – Roasted Eggplant Purée

Found in Rani Sidhu’s Menus and Memories from Punjab cookbook, this is a classic recipe for Baingan Bharta, a roasted eggplant purée.  The word ‘Bharta’ (pronounced BHURR-taah) refers to dishes in which the ingredients are roughly mashed either before or after the dish is prepared.  Bhartas are largely North Indian in origin and made from all sorts of vegetables.  Yields 10 half-cup servings. (more…)

Farro Salad with Eggplant

Farro Salad with Grilled Eggplant

Hailing from Bobby Flay and the Food Network, I made this salad with weekend with those long, skinny eggplant. To die for!! You will notice there is no Southwest “heat” in this one — most unusual for Bobby. As presented, the recipe yielded way more than 4 servings, I’d say at least 8, but it keeps well in the fridge and we have lunch for a few days. (more…)

Chinese Dry-Fried Green Beans

Chinese Dry-Fried Green Beans

This Sichuan-style (also spelled Szechuan) green beans recipe, found on The Modern Proper food blog, is inspired by the deliciously blistered green beans just like you can get from your favorite Chinese takeout restaurant.  The dry-fry is a technique that intentionally dries out the food that’s being cooked—in this case to make our spicy green beans recipe. Stir frying the green beans in hot oil causes them to release moisture and take on a crisp-chewy texture.  Serves 4. (more…)