Tuscan Fish Stew – Just Like I Barely Remember Having in Italy

Learn how to do Tuscan Fish Stew – Just Like I Barely Remember Having in Italy for your friends and family. this revenue from Tuscan Fish Stew – Just Like I Barely Remember Having in Italy it is delicious

Make Tuscan Fish Stew – Just Like I Barely Remember Having in Italy

I spent a few days in Florence about 30 years ago, and while I don’t remember much, I do recall a few things that surprised me, with this Tuscan Fish Stew being the most delicious. I’d had similar stews before that, but what I found so interesting was how herbs like oregano, sage, and rosemary, which I considered “meat only” seasonings were also used with seafood. The other surprises were the partial nudity on TV and in magazines, but that’s another blog post.

Anyway, it was quite the epiphany, since at the time, being fresh out of culinary school, I thought parsley, dill, and maybe tarragon were the only herbs we cooks were allowed to use for fish. Now that seems ridiculous, but at the time it was pretty heady stuff. Speaking of which, you do need to be careful, since these more resinous herbs can easily overpower a delicate dish.

As I said in the video, any tomato product will work in this, but I really like cherry tomatoes here, since they provide a fragrant freshness you just won’t get with a can or jar. You do need to strain them after blending, but the few extra minutes of work will be well worth the effort.

By the way, I hear that for this to qualify as an official Italian fish stew you need use at least five different types of seafood, which is both insane and adorable, but I thought I’d mention it just in case any old-school Tuscans are coming over. Regardless, I really do hope you give this easy and delicious fish stew a try soon. Enjoy! 

Ingredients for 2 large portions:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 sliced green onions

4 cloves sliced garlic

1 anchovy fillet

pinch of red pepper flakes

3 cups cherry tomatoes, blended with 1 cup of clam juice, or chicken broth

12 ounces halibut or other white fish

1 pound peeled, deveined shrimp or other seafood

salt to taste

2 tablespoons freshly chopped Italian herbs (basil, parsley, oregano, and pinch of rosemary)

crusty bread for soaking up the broth

Share this recipe from Tuscan Fish Stew – Just Like I Barely Remember Having in Italy with your friends and groups

Cabbage Patch Halibut – Come On, Use Your Head

Learn how to do Cabbage Patch Halibut – Come On, Use Your Head for your friends and family. this revenue from Cabbage Patch Halibut – Come On, Use Your Head it is delicious

Make Cabbage Patch Halibut – Come On, Use Your Head

Don’t worry; this cabbage-wrapped fish recipe has nothing to do with those creepy dolls. I just thought “cabbage patch halibut” sounded a little more enticing that the other names I was considering. 

Although, anything with the word cabbage in it isn’t going to have people’s mouths watering, which is how we got “coleslaw.” Despite all that, this really is one of easiest, and most delicious ways you can cook fish. 

The leaf not only keeps the halibut moist, but also holds all your assorted garnishes and seasonings tight against the meat, which creates an even more intensely flavored final result. Just be sure to save the rest of the head, since once chilled, and sliced thin, it makes for a very interesting salad. Or simply slice it thickly, and fry it up with a few sausages.  

This technique should work no matter what fish and ingredients are used, but you may have to adjust the cooking time. The type, size and shape of your fish filet are all variables that affect how long this is going to take. Best to check with a thermometer, and I generally go to for something between 130-135 F. for halibut, but other fish have different target temps, so do some research.

One last tip is to make sure you cut your other ingredients nice and thin, so they’re able to cook during the relatively short roasting time. Other than that, you are only constrained by your imagination. So, whether you put your own twist on this or not, I really do hope you give it a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 Portions of Cabbage Patch Halibut:

2 teaspoons butter for the pan

2 boneless, skinless halibut filets (about 7 ounces each)

salt and cayenne to taste

2 large steamed cabbage leaves

1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh ginger

1 Fresno chili pepper, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons sliced green onions

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

fresh cilantro leaves to garnish

2 tablespoons miso butter (2 tablespoons butter mixed with 1 or 2 teaspoons of white miso, or to taste)

Share this recipe from Cabbage Patch Halibut – Come On, Use Your Head with your friends and groups

Lemon Jalapeño Marinated Mussels – Definitely My First or Second Favorite Way to Eat Mussels

Learn how to do Lemon Jalapeño Marinated Mussels – Definitely My First or Second Favorite Way to Eat Mussels for your friends and family. this revenue from Lemon Jalapeño Marinated Mussels – Definitely My First or Second Favorite Way to Eat Mussels it is delicious

Make Lemon Jalapeño Marinated Mussels – Definitely My First or Second Favorite Way to Eat Mussels

I might give you a different answer in the middle of February, when there’s nothing better than a hot bowl of mussels, swimming in some kind of garlicky, winey broth, but this time of year, chilled and marinated are my favorite way to go.

You can dress these anyway you want, but no matter how you flavor them, you’ll want to follow the same basic technique. By cooking the mussels with a minimum of moisture, and then reducing the liquids for the base of our marinade, we get an even more intense flavor, as well as an extra little kick of salinity.

By the way, I completely forgot to strain the cooking liquids before making the dressing, which can mean some grit, or tiny pieces of shell getting into your final product, so after everything is reduced, press the onion and juices through a mesh strainer before proceeding.

Most mussels sold at the grocery store are fairly well cleaned, but if yours aren’t, be sure to scrub well, and remove any beards. To ensure top quality, depending on proximity to the store, you can cook a couple when you get home, chill them, and then give them a test taste.

Mussels should have a fresh, sweet, mild, tastes-like-the-ocean flavor, and if yours don’t, or are gritty, or odd in any way, simply take them back, and get a refund. Anyway, that’s the worst-case scenario. The best-case scenario is what you see here, and I really do hope you give these a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 pounds of Mussels:

2 pounds black mussels

1 tablespoon olive oil for sautéing onions

1/2 onion, finely diced

pinch of salt

For the marinade:

reserved reduced cooking liquids (about 1-2 tablespoons)

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 lemon juiced

2 tablespoons finely diced jalapeño

2 tablespoons champagne, rice, or white wine vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil, or to taste

extra pinch of salt if needed

red Fresno chili to garnish optional

NOTE: Serve on ice or a cold plate, and not on salt, unless it is very large grain, and won't stick to the shells.Share this recipe from Lemon Jalapeño Marinated Mussels – Definitely My First or Second Favorite Way to Eat Mussels with your friends and groups

Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo) – Top of the Tapas

Learn how to do Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo) – Top of the Tapas for your friends and family. this revenue from Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo) – Top of the Tapas it is delicious

Make Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo) – Top of the Tapas

If you ever find yourself in a Spanish restaurant, and they don’t have some version of this garlic shrimp recipe on the menu, immediately get up from your table, and leave. This would be the equivalent of a French bistro that doesn’t serve steak frites. What about vegetarian Spanish restaurants and French bistros? That’s a trick question, since those aren’t a thing.

Anyway, the point here is that every Spanish restaurant serves this, and for very good reasons. It’s fast to make, gorgeous to look at, and, if you’re into garlic, one of the most delicious things you’ll ever eat. Just be sure to use nice fresh, frozen shrimp. Allow me to explain.

Unless you live in a few choice locations, it’s rare to find true fresh shrimp at the market. All they do is thaw some frozen, and put it in the case, where it sits until you buy it, which is why it really makes a lot more sense to purchase frozen. Of course, not all frozen shrimp is created equal, so I encourage you to research the best sources, but the point is you don’t want something already thawed.

Speaking of which, I thaw mine by running cold water into the bowl of frozen shrimp, let it sit for about 10 minutes, before draining, and repeating once more. After that it should be fully thawed, at which point the shrimp can be drained, and prepped.

The last tip I’ll give, is to make sure you have all your ingredients together before you head to the stove, since start to finish, this only takes minutes to complete. This is another reason it’s so great for a party, since you can prep everything ahead of time, and finish it whenever you’re ready to serve. But, whether you feature this at a party, or not, I really do hope you give this amazing Spanish garlic shrimp recipe a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 Spanish Garlic Shrimp Portions:

1 pound peeled and *deveined shrimp (look for the 21-25 per pound size or larger)

kosher salt to taste

1 teaspoon hot, smoked paprika, optional

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

4 cloves peeled garlic, slice thin

2 tablespoons dry sherry wine (or white wine and a pinch of sugar)

1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley

* This video from Allrecipes shows how to properly devein shrimp. 

Share this recipe from Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo) – Top of the Tapas with your friends and groups

Beet-Cured Salmon Gravlax – Easier and Slower Than You Think

Learn how to do Beet-Cured Salmon Gravlax – Easier and Slower Than You Think for your friends and family. this revenue from Beet-Cured Salmon Gravlax – Easier and Slower Than You Think it is delicious

Make Beet-Cured Salmon Gravlax – Easier and Slower Than You Think

Even though I only do it once every few years or so, making salmon gravlax at home is a fun weekend project, and with very little effort, you can produce some very impressive results. I’ve always done this with the traditional fresh dill sprigs, but after enjoying a beet-stained version at Plaj, I decided to try my hand. And, also stain my hand.

If you’re just doing a small tail piece like I did, these times and measurements should get you close to what you see here, but if you're feeling adventurous, and want to do something larger, then you may have to do some research for techniques that work better when doing a thicker piece of fish.

Those slightly more complicated methods involve turning, draining, and basting, to account for a longer curing time. So what I’m trying to say is, you can avoid all that by just doing a smaller piece, which, unless you’re hosting a large party, should be plenty. Speaking of large parties, and the litigious people that sometime attend them, please be sure to get your salmon from a reliable source.

I think a brick works great for a press, but anything that weighs a few pounds would be fine, as long as it’s large, and flat enough to distribute the weight evenly. A book with a few cans of soup on it would do the trick. Regardless of how you press yours, once unwrapped, sliced, and served on a toasted bagel, I think you’ll agree it was worth the wait. So, I really do hope you give this gravlax technique a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 6 to 10 ounces of Gravlax:

8 to 12 ounce tail section of fresh salmon with skin on (scaled)

1/4 cup kosher salt

1/4 cup white sugar

cayenne and/or freshly ground black pepper to taste

enough grated beet and/or fresh dill springs to thickly cover fish

- Press with something heavy, and let cure in fridge for 1 1/2 days, or until salmon is firm, and translucent when sliced. You can carefully unwrap, and poke to test, and then rewrap, and let cure longer if need be.

Share this recipe from Beet-Cured Salmon Gravlax – Easier and Slower Than You Think with your friends and groups

Seafood Sausage – Behold, the Rarest of All the Sausages

Learn how to do Seafood Sausage – Behold, the Rarest of All the Sausages for your friends and family. this revenue from Seafood Sausage – Behold, the Rarest of All the Sausages it is delicious

Make Seafood Sausage – Behold, the Rarest of All the Sausages

This seafood sausage recipe is one of those dishes you learn in culinary school, and then never make in a restaurant, the rest of your career. Unlike your more common meat-based sausages, which are made from assorted scraps, and you really don’t want to know, these seafood sausages need pristine product to shine, thereby eliminating the money-saving incentive of making sausage.

However, despite their lack of popularity, these really are a great way to take less than thrilling seafood, like some sleepy sole, and previously frozen salmon, and make something that seems far more special. The flavor is lovely, and the texture is similar to a boudin blanc, or white hot dog, if you prefer.

If you want something with a courser texture, simply make the sausage mixture as shown, but then fold in a few handfuls of chopped shrimp, scallop, or any other seafood. Once cooked, and sliced, you’ll see pieces of whatever you added studding the link. I actually prefer the smooth style, but it’s fun to experiment. Either way, I really do hope you give these a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 Seafood Sausages:

8 ounces boneless, skinless sole or other white fish

4 ounces boneless, skinless salmon

4 ounces peeled, deveined shrimp

2 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs

4 large egg whites

1 large whole egg

2 teaspoons kosher salt (or maybe 1 1/4 teaspoon fine salt)

cayenne to taste

2 tablespoons sautéed shallots

2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

For the sauce:

2 tablespoons water

1 juicy lemon

2 tablespoons cold butter

1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley

salt to taste

Share this recipe from Seafood Sausage – Behold, the Rarest of All the Sausages with your friends and groups

Creole Crab Noodles – Mardi Gras Fusion

Learn how to do Creole Crab Noodles – Mardi Gras Fusion for your friends and family. this revenue from Creole Crab Noodles – Mardi Gras Fusion it is delicious

Make Creole Crab Noodles – Mardi Gras Fusion

I’m calling this Creole crab noodles recipe an “experiment,” but it didn’t really feel like one, since I was sure it was going to come out really well, which it did. Crab, and its old friends, the Holy Trinity, are a classic combo, and so it was no surprise they worked so well in an Asian-style, rice noodle dish.

If you can get fresh crab meat, by all means use that, but if not, pretty much every large grocery chain carries pasteurized crab in 8-ounce plastic tubs, which works perfectly fine for this. And if shellfish isn’t your thing, I’ve got some great news. This exact same dish can be made with literally any other other meat and/or vegetable.

You can also do this with your favorite pasta, but like I said in the video, there are few foods as addictive, and fun to eat as rice noodles, so I’d advise against it. Besides, you can finally have that gluten-free friend of yours over to make up for all those pizza-night invites. So, whether you make this for Mardi Gras or not, I really do hope you give it a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 large portions:

8 ounces crab meat

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/3 cup finely diced green onions, plus more for garnish

1/3 cup finely diced celery

1/3 cup finely diced hot and/or sweet peppers

8 ounces rice noodles, soaked, drained

For the sauce:

3 cloves crushed garlic

3 tablespoons ketchup

1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Share this recipe from Creole Crab Noodles – Mardi Gras Fusion with your friends and groups

New England Clam Chowder Dip – Because Great Soups Make Even Better Dips

Learn how to do New England Clam Chowder Dip – Because Great Soups Make Even Better Dips for your friends and family. this revenue from New England Clam Chowder Dip – Because Great Soups Make Even Better Dips it is delicious

Make New England Clam Chowder Dip – Because Great Soups Make Even Better Dips

Truth be told, this New England Clam Chowder Dip is actually the first soup I’ve ever turned into a dip, but I still stand by my title. After all, what are soups, if not really thin, hot dips you eat with a spoon? 

The point is, while this may be my first soup-to-dip conversion, it’s probably not going to be my last. I’m looking at you, Mulligatawny.

I thought I was inventing something new here, but of course, like everything else, many people had already given this a go. The funny thing was, every recipe I looked at called for this to be served with sliced bread, which I thought was odd. To me, potatoes are like the second or third best ingredient in a chowder, so why not serve this with chips?

Besides that, my other big improvement was to up the bacon content. Some recipes called for as little as two slices. Two slices of bacon? What am I supposed to do with that? So, I went with three times as much, and it turned out to be a very good decision. While quite “bacon forward,” the clam flavor still came through, and all in all, this really was very chowder-like.

The only semi out-of-the-ordinary ingredient used was a spice blend called, “Old Bay.” This is not very hard to find in the big grocery stores, but just in case, here is a link to make a your own. Besides, even if you have some in the pantry, it may have been there for quite sometime, and while Old Bay works well, old, Old Bay may not, so it might not be a bad idea to make a batch anyway.  Either way, I really do hope you give this a great hot dip a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for one small casserole dish:

6 slices of bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1/3 cup diced celery

1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more if needed

1 pound cream cheese, room temp

4 ounces white cheddar

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

2 cans (6 1/2 ounces) chopped clams, drained

2 tablespoons freshly chopped Italian parsley

pinch of cayenne for the top

potato chips to serve alongside

Share this recipe from New England Clam Chowder Dip – Because Great Soups Make Even Better Dips with your friends and groups

Lobster Thermidor – Not Your Parents’ Thermidor

Learn how to do Lobster Thermidor – Not Your Parents’ Thermidor for your friends and family. this revenue from Lobster Thermidor – Not Your Parents’ Thermidor it is delicious

Make Lobster Thermidor – Not Your Parents’ Thermidor

I don’t remember that much about the lobster thermidor I ate in culinary school in the early eighties, other than not really being able to taste any lobster. Instead of the nice, light sauce I used here, the meat was hidden in a thick, eggy, cheese sludge, which looked great broiled to a bubbly, golden-brown, but wasn’t the best method if you actually wanted to know you were eating lobster.

Lobster is sort of sweet, and rich tasting to begin with, so covering it in a super heavy sauce never made much sense, which is why I like this approach so much more. Our sauce is just heavy enough to coat the chunks of meat, without hiding it, and while we’re not adding handfuls of cheese, or a bunch of egg yolks, we’re still going to enjoy a fairly decadent dish.

Not only is this great for a fancy dinner party because it looks and tastes great, but you can also do all the prep ahead of time, and then just pop them in the oven when you’re ready for service. If you go that route, they’re going to be much colder, so you’ll probably need to give them a few extra minutes in the oven. Remember, everything is already cooked, so just roast until the meat is heated through.

The classic version is made with a whole, split lobster, which admittedly tastes better, but is a hundred times messier, and harder to do, not to mention probably more expensive. Frozen lobster tails can be surprising affordable, and there isn’t any waste. Either way, I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 large or 4 appetizer size portions:

4 lobster tails (about 4 oz each about)

3 tablespoons butter, divided

2 tablespoons minced shallots

salt to taste

1 1/2 cup diced mushrooms

1 tablespoon flour

2 tablespoons cognac or brandy

1/2 cup whole milk

2 tablespoons crème fraiche or heavy cream

1 generous tablespoon minced fresh tarragon

cayenne to taste

2 teaspoon dry breadcrumbs

2 teaspoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

2 teaspoons melted butter for the top

Share this recipe from Lobster Thermidor – Not Your Parents’ Thermidor with your friends and groups

Sea Bass San Sebastian – Haven’t Been There, Done That

Learn how to do Sea Bass San Sebastian – Haven’t Been There, Done That for your friends and family. this revenue from Sea Bass San Sebastian – Haven’t Been There, Done That it is delicious

Make Sea Bass San Sebastian – Haven’t Been There, Done That

You do not have to go to a place, to be inspired by their food. In fact, it’s a lot cheaper, and easier if you don’t. So, as I stated in the into, this Chilean sea bass San Sebastian is the result of a little culinary mind game I play, where I try to invent a recipe that I think could/would be served there, and this is one of those dishes.

I love the technique of spreading a flavored mayo, or aioliover a piece of fish, before roasting it in a very hot oven. Not only does it keep the seafood moist, we don’t have to worry about making a sauce when it’s done. Another advantage is that by simply changing the seasoning of the sauce, we can create countless variations.

This will work with any piece of fish you can cut into a thick chunk, but Chilean sea bass is my favorite choice. By the way, that’s just the name it’s commonly sold by. Its real name is the much less marketable “Patagonian toothfish.” Mmm….toothfish. Due to past overfishing, much of it illegal, Chilean sea bass has landed on lots of “do not eat this” lists, but there are sustainable sources available.

I got mine from Markfoods.com, which is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and the quality was top notch. This is not a sponsored post, but in the spirit of full disclose, the fish seen herein was a complimentary sample sent to me by my friend Kevin, who runs the operation. Regardless, this was one of the best fish dishes I’ve had in a while, and I really hope you give it a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 servings:

1 pound Chilean sea bass filet, cut into two portions

kosher salt to generously season fish

For the sauce/crust:

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 teaspoons sherry vinegar

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 garlic cloves, crushed fine

cayenne to taste

whole roasted Marcona almonds for grating, or any other whole almond
2 teaspoons olive oil

1 hot or sweet red or green pepper, sliced

handful halved sun gold cherry tomatoes

Share this recipe from Sea Bass San Sebastian – Haven’t Been There, Done That with your friends and groups

Seafood & Chorizo Spaghetti

Learn how to do Seafood & Chorizo Spaghetti for your friends and family. this revenue from Seafood & Chorizo Spaghetti it is delicious

Make Seafood & Chorizo Spaghetti

Seafood & Chorizo Spaghetti

A wonderfully delicious pasta dish full of flavour & freshness – my boyfriend’s favourite!

Serves 2

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

250g dried spaghetti

 2tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves, peeled & finely chopped

2 red chillies, finely chopped

150g chorizo, chopped into bite sized pieces

200ml dry white wine

2tbsp tomato puree

1 lemon, juice & zest

250g raw king prawns

400g mussels, cleaned

25g butter

Freshly ground pepper& salt

Small handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped

Method

1.    In a large pan of salted water cook the spaghetti until al dente.

2.    Meanwhile in a large frying pan heat the olive oil and then add the garlic, chillies and chorizo and cook for 2 minutes.

3.    Now add the wine and tomato puree and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce reduces slightly.

4.    Add the prawns and mussels, cover with a lid.  Shake the pan regularly and cook until they are cooked through, approximately 4-5minutes.

5.    Drain the pasta and add to the frying pan with half of the rocket, lemon juice and butter.  Mix through until the pasta is fully coated and the rocket has wilted, season to taste.

6.    To serve, divide between two warmed plates and top with lemon zest and a sprinkling of parsley, enjoy!

Share this recipe from Seafood & Chorizo Spaghetti with your friends and groups

Spanish Octopus – Now 100% Trick Free

Learn how to do Spanish Octopus – Now 100% Trick Free for your friends and family. this revenue from Spanish Octopus – Now 100% Trick Free it is delicious

Make Spanish Octopus – Now 100% Trick Free

I’ve never been to Spain, so to what extent this is actually Spanish octopus, I can’t really say, but after having enjoyed this underrated seafood in more Spanish restaurants than I can remember, it has to be pretty close.

Above and beyond the ingredients, the cooking method, or should I say methods, couldn’t be easier. As long as you braise it gently on low heat, until just tender, and then give it a nice sear before serving, you should be in great shape. Which is why I’ve never understood all the crazy tips and tricks, for achieving the perfect texture.

Some say to beat it on rocks before braising, while others insist a few wine corks are the way to go. If you have one of these magical techniques, I’d love to hear about it, especially if it sounds extra nutty, but I have to admit, I am a skeptic.

You should be able to find frozen Spanish octopus at your finer markets, which is the only kind I’ve ever used, so I can’t say how much better it is fresh, but one day I would love to find out, preferably in Spain. Fresh or frozen, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for two portions:

1 pound piece Spanish octopus

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 yellow onion

3 cloves garlic

1 large or 2 small bay leaves

1 1/2 teaspoon Spanish paprika

1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup white wine

- Serve with crusty roasted potatoes

For the sauce:

About 1/3 cup reserve braising liquid (boiled, strained)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon freshly chopped Italian parsley

salt to taste

cayenne to taste

Share this recipe from Spanish Octopus – Now 100% Trick Free with your friends and groups

"Norcal" Nicoise Salad – Layered for Your Pleasure

Learn how to do "Norcal" Nicoise Salad – Layered for Your Pleasure for your friends and family. this revenue from "Norcal" Nicoise Salad – Layered for Your Pleasure it is delicious

Make "Norcal" Nicoise Salad – Layered for Your Pleasure

I know I’ve made fun of salads served in Mason jars before, but when I was asked to contribute a layered Nicoise to an Allrecipes Easter feature, I immediately thought of this tragically hip presentation. Also, I didn’t have a straight-sided, see-through glass bowl to do the layered salad in.

I love a good Nicoise, and it’s perfect for layering, especially if you slice/chop up the ingredients first. Not only will your layers be easier to keep straight, but chopped salads are always a pleasure to toss with dressing. Speaking of which, I really enjoyed this avocado spiked French-style vinaigrette, and it paired perfectly with the rich, fatty, olive oil-packed tuna. 

Look for something from Spain or Italy, and you will be impressed with how much nicer it is than the stuff Charlie and his buddies are pushing. So, whether you composed this on a plate, in the classic fashion, or follow my lead, and create the world’s trendiest Nicoise, I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Nicoise (amounts are up to you)

3-4 ounces per person olive-oil packed tuna

tender green beans

Yukon gold potatoes

cherry tomatoes

hard boiled eggs

Nicoise olives, or other pitted olives

parsley and/or chives

anchovy fillets, optional

Ingredients for the dressing:

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

3 anchovy fillets

2 teaspoons minced shallots

1 teaspoon minced fresh tarragon

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1/4 cup ripe avocado

1/3 cup olive oil, or more to taste

freshly ground black pepper

pinch cayenne

water as needed to adjust texture

salt to taste

Share this recipe from "Norcal" Nicoise Salad – Layered for Your Pleasure with your friends and groups

Prawn Provencale – Eating the 80’s

Learn how to do Prawn Provencale – Eating the 80’s for your friends and family. this revenue from Prawn Provencale – Eating the 80’s it is delicious

Make Prawn Provencale – Eating the 80’s

I’m not sure these are actually prawns, and I’ve never been to Provence, but this great appetizer was called Prawn Provencale when I learned it working for a caterer, back in the 80’s. It was a crazy time, or so I’m told, and this delicious garlic and herb shrimp pop is one of the more vivid memories I have.

It does take some time to butterfly the prawns, but as I mentioned in the video, everything can be done ahead of time, including the crumbing. Just pan them up, and bake them off, once your guests arrive. Preferably in waves, so they can be enjoyed warm.

In case you’re wondering, while biologically different, culinarily speaking, shrimp and prawns are the same thing. I used to know the difference a long time ago, like in the 80’s, but my brain must’ve erased it for more storage space.

One major tip here is to be sure and season your breadcrumb mixture very well. You can season the shrimp also, but I don’t, and instead make sure the mixture has plenty of everything. Once they’re baked, you can serve with any number of dips, or just some fresh lemon. So, whether you’re making these for a party or not, I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 pounds shrimp (about 32 pieces)

2 pounds shrimp (16-20 per pound), butterflied

olive oil for brushing pan

For the breadcrumb mixture:

3-4 cloves garlic, crushed fine with dried herbs and salt)

kosher salt to taste

1/4 teaspoon dry oregano

1/4 teaspoon dry thyme

1/3 cup Italian parsley

1 cup plain dry breadcrumbs

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

cayenne to taste
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup olive oil, or as needed

Share this recipe from Prawn Provencale – Eating the 80’s with your friends and groups