Your Cooking Coach
Show MenuHide Menu

Archives

April 2017
M T W T F S S
« Mar   May »
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930

Spinach and Ricotta Dumplings

   

I think I will call these vegetarian meatballs! They were really delicious and no one missed the meat! Make sure to buy a good quality ricotta- preferably fresh and drain in for a couple of hours so the extra liquid comes out before forming your dumplings. I always have fresh tomato sauce on hand – which is quite handy with a number of dishes.

  • 1 pound fresh ricotta cheese placed in a strainer above a bowl for 3 to 4 hours
  • ½ box 9 ounces frozen spinach, defrosted and water squeezed out and chopped
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup all purpose flour (plus more)
  • Semolina for holding dumplings

Ricotta and Spinach Dumplings

Take the ricotta out of the strainer and transfer to a large bowl. Add the spinach, parsley, eggs, cheese, nutmeg, salt. Mix well. Add ¼ cup flour, mix, if the mixture is still wet, add in the remaining ¼ cup. I added the entire ½ cup.  Using a spoon take about a tablespoon of the mixture and place them on a platter with some flour. Form into a ball and transfer them to a tray lined with semolina. Form all the dumplings and keep aside.

 

 

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • 2 cups fresh tomato sauce or a 28 ounces can of San Marzano crushed tomatoes
  • Salt

Heat a wide frying pan with the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and some salt and simmer on low for 15 to 20 minutes. Taste for seasonings.

In the meantime, bring a large pot full of salted water to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and gently add the dumplings to the simmering water. Cook until the dumplings float and swell, about 3 to 4 minutes. You may need to cook them in badges in order not to over crowd. Using a slotted spoon remove the dumplings from the water and add to the sauce. Serve warm.

 

Pesto Crusted Cod with Roasted Cauliflower

   

Healthy and delicious… what more does one want??? Try this one…

  • 4 filets of cod or any other white fish
  • ½ cup homemade or store bought pesto
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • Salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix the pesto with the breadcrumbs, add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil if necessary. Season the filets with salt and divide the pesto mixture into 4 parts. Top each filet with the pesto mixture and set aside.

Place on a lined baking sheet and bake in oven for about 10 minutes or till the pesto mixture is golden brown and the fish is cooked through. Baking time will vary according to the filet thickness. Take out and serve with roasted cauliflower and couscous.

Roasted Cauliflower with Tomatoes

  • 1 cauliflower head, cut into florets
  • 1 cup cherry tomaotes
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degree F.

Place the florets and tomatoes onto a lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix well and roast for about half an hour or till the cauliflower is golden brown. Serve with the fish.

Chicken Paprikash

   

I saw Michael Symon make this recipe on some show and was reminded of a dish my Mom used to make for us… so I kind of blended the two and came up with my own version.. it is a great weekday, healthy meal to serve your family…

  • 5 to 6 chicken drumsticks, with skin
  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
  • 4 garlic cloves, grated
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Mix the paprika, garlic, oil and salt in a small bowl. Rub all over the chicken and marinate for 2 to 3 hours.

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 small green pepper, chopped
  • 1 small red pepper, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
  • 14 ounces crushed tomato
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • Salt
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • ½ cup dill, chopped

Heat a heavy saucepan with the butter and olive oil. Brown the chicken pieces on medium high heat on all sides. Take out of the pan and keep the chicken pieces aside. Add the thyme, onion, peppers and paprika. Saute on medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the crushed tomato and sauté for another 4 to 5 minutes on medium heat. Add the chicken back to the pan with the chicken broth. Bring to a boil and simmer on lower heat, covered for 15 to 20 minutes. Take the lid off the take the chicken pieces out to take off the bone (you can leave on the bone if desired). In the meantime, add the flour to the sour cream, mix well and add to the pan. Mix well and add salt if needed. Add the parsley and dill. Mix well and serve with egg noodles.

 

Greek Style Crispy Chicken Thighs

   
  • 4 to 6 bone-in chicken thighs with skin on
  • Salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Marinade/Sauce

  • Juice of 4 lemons
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, grated
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and keep aside.

Marinate the chicken thighs in ¼ cup of the marinade and another teaspoon of salt for 2 to 3 hours in the fridge. Take out of fridge half an hour before cooking.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Heat a heavy frying pan or a cast iron pan with the 2 tablespoons olive oil till very hot. Place the chicken thighs skin side down and cook on medium high heat for about 12 minutes while moving around the chicken thighs a bit. Transfer to the oven and bake for another 12 minutes with the skin side down. Take out of oven and flip over the thighs and bake for another 5 minutes until the skin is super crispy and the chicken is cooked through.

Serve right away with a teaspoon of sauce over the thighs.

Turkish Style Kebabs

   
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 2 tablespoons harissa
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground sumac
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 small yellow onion, grated
  • 2 inch piece of ginger, grated
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup mint, chopped

Transfer all the ingredients to a mixing bowl, mix well and let sit for 2 to 3 hours. Form about 12 sausage shaped kebabs and then insert a skewer through each and grill till done. Serve in warm pita with some greens like arugula topped with the harissa sauce.

Harissa Sauce

  • 1 cup full fat yogurt
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup mint, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons sumac
  • 2 tablespoons harissa
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Mix everything in a small bowl, taste for seasonings and serve over the kebabs.

Roasted Eggplant with Peas

   
  • 1 medium sized eggplant

Place the eggplant on to a grill or under a broiler. Char the skin from all sides, making sure the eggplant is nice is tender once done- about 10 to 15 minutes. Keep aside and let cool, take skin off and mash with a fork.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons stems of fresh dill
  • 2 tablespoons stems of fresh cilantro
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup peas
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped

Heat a heavy saucepan with the oil. Add the dill, cilantro, onion and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the coriander powder, turmeric, salt and cayenne pepper. Saute for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and sauté for an addition 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggplant and cook on medium heat, stirring constantly for about 10 minutes. Add the peas, cilantro and dill. Mix well and let cook for 5 to 6 minutes or till the peas are heated through. Check for seasonings and serve warm.