Category Archives: Appetizers/Snacks
Italian Style Crab Cakes with Salsa Verde
- 1 pound jumbo lump crab meat, picked over
- ½ cup mayonnaise,
- 1 large egg, beaten
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh chives, chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds taken out and chopped (leave seeds in if spice is desired)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, divided into two portions
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Juice of half a lemon
- ¼ cup extra light olive oil
In a medium bowl, add the mayo, egg, basil, chives, jalapeno pepper, ½ cup panko crumbs, Dijon mustard, salt and lemon juice. Mix well and add the crab meat. Gently mix and refrigerate for an hour. Form 8 mounds with the crab mixture and cover with the left over panko crumbs.
Heat a non stick frying pan with the oil until shimmering. Add the crab cakes and cook over moderate high heat until deeply golden brown on both sides. Transfer the crab cakes to plates and serve with aioli or any other sauce.
I served mine with left over salsa verde. I had about ½ a cup left. I mixed it with 2 tablespoons mayonnaise and juice from half a lemon.
Spiced Shrimp
All I can say about this dish is that it is delicious!! I love shrimp and this is a great way to cook them. I made a spice mix of mustard seeds, cumin, coriander and curry leaves. I marinated them and then cooked them up in a delicious combination of aromatics including cilantro and dill.. this could be great for an appetizer or a meal!
Indian Fried Fish
This is my first attempt at fried fish. I tend not to fry very often- usually twice a year when I make a specific meal for which I make pooris, which are fried breads. Other than that, there is no frying. read more …
Fried Potatoes with Spicy Tomato Aioli
This recipe is adapted from Saveur magazine. I love eating these potatoes at Spanish restaurants. Actually I haven’t met a potato I didn’t like. I love fries but don’t usually fry my potatoes at home- I bake them. I decided to go all the way and fry them. They were delicious- especially with the delicious, spicy aioli!
- 4 to 5 yellow skinned potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch squares
Add the potatoes to a medium pan. Fill with water and bring to a boil. Drain and dry.
- 2 cups extra light oil
- Salt
Heat the oil to 220 degrees F. Cook the potatoes in the oil in a few batches till golden brown and cooked through. Take out and drain on some paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and serve with aioli.
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 egg yolk, beaten
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ cup tomato puree
Add the garlic into a small bowl. Mix in the yolk and begin whisking in the oil gradually until emulsified. Add the lemon juice, salt, smoked paprika and tomato puree. Mix well and check for seasonings and serve with potatoes.
Indian Sweet Rice with Brown Sugar
Diwali– Indian New Year is on Tuesday this week. For those who are not familiar with the holiday- there is just one thing you need to know- it a fabulous time to eat good food including something sweet.
Regardless of where you live in India or what tradition you follow, it is a day to eat sweets and spend time with your family and friends.
We usually get together with family and eat lots of delicious food. As I just mentioned, one of the traditions is to eat something sweet.
I had this sweet rice recipe which I thought would be perfect to eat on such an occasion. Actually it is ideal for breakfast with a steaming cup of coffee.
I grew up eating this delicious rice flavored with jaggery, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon and cumin seeds. It has an amazing nutty flavor. In this recipe I have used brown sugar instead- just to make it more accessible. I love eating this rice hot with a dollop of low fat tangy yogurt- it is delicious.
Try this one- it has an amazing flavor…
read more …
Sweet Potato Fries with Cilantro and Garlic
If you love potatoes as much as I do, you will love these! As we all know, sweet potatoes are healthier than white potatoes (although I love white potatoes a lot more!)… so, I made these but with a super delicious topping of garlic and cilantro. The smoked paprika provides a kick and amazing flavor… try these next time you crave amazing potatoes!
- 3 to 4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
Add the wedges and water to a saucepan. Bring to a boil and drain the wedges on a paper towel.
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- Lined cookie sheet
Preheat oven to 450 degree F.
Transfer the wedges to the cookie sheet. Add the oil, salt and smoked paprika. Mix well and roast till the wedges are golden brown and crisp- about 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the topping before serving.
Topping
- 3 garlic cloves, grated
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
Mix the garlic and cilantro in a small bowl and add to hot fries. Mix well and serve.
Watermelon and Cucumber Salad
- 2 cups chopped watermelon
- 1 large European cucumber, chopped
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 to 2 teaspoons honey
Mix the salt, cilantro, lemon juice, olive oil and honey in a small bowl. Transfer the watermelon and cucumber into a medium bowl and pour the dressing over and mix well. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.