NEW NIÇOISE SALAD WITH SARDINES AND TARRAGON DRESSING
Ingredients
Serves 6
SALAD:
½ lb (250 g) small fingerling potatoes
a drizzle of olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 to 6 red or yellow baby beets
½ lb (250 g) French beans, trimmed and left whole or cut on diagonal
6 quail eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and halved
1 cup (250 ml) assorted heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
½ English cucumber, unpeeled, thinly sliced into rounds
6 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced
½ lb (250 g) smoked sardines, boned and skinned
1 cup (250 ml) Niçoise olives
TARRAGON DRESSING:
1 garlic clove
½ tsp (2 ml) salt, or to taste
⅓ cup (75 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup (60 ml) flat leaf parsley
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh tarragon
2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
liquid honey, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- To prepare quail eggs, place eggs in saucepan and cover with water. Set heat to high and once water begins to simmer, gently roll eggs around in saucepan with a wooden spoon. Rolling will move yolk into centre. Bring water to a boil; boil for 3 minutes; then remove from heat and let stand in water for 2 minutes. Drain and cool eggs under cold running water. Drain. Gently shake saucepan so eggs roll around and shells break. Peel and cut eggs into halves.
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Cut fingerlings into bite-sized pieces and toss with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast in oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender but still firm. Remove and cool to room temperature
- Meanwhile boil beets in saucepan with water until tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, cool and peel. Cut into quarters.
- Blanch beans in boiling water; drain and plunge into cold water to stop cooking. Drain and blot dry. Add with Quail eggs.
- Halve tomatoes; slice cucumbers and radishes. Arrange all ingredients in rows on a platter. Refrigerate while making dressing.
- To make TARRAGON DRESSING: Press garlic on cutting board with flat side of a chopping knife. Sprinkle with salt, mince and scrape salt and garlic together, forming a paste. Transfer paste to blender along with remaining dressing ingredients. Whirl until smooth and creamy. Scrape down sides of bowl a couple of times. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Can be made a few hours ahead.
- Drizzle salad with dressing.
Drink Pairings
LONG LIFE NOODLES
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
3 tbsp (45 ml) dark soy sauce
2 tbsp (30 ml) light soy sauce
2 tbsp (15 ml) oyster sauce
½ tsp (2 ml) sugar
1 lb (500 g) fresh Shanghai wheat noodles or any other long Chinese noodles
2 tbsp (30 ml) canola oil
1 large knob ginger, about 1½-in (3.75 cm) finely minced
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
½ lb (250 g) Chinese barbecued pork, cut into thin juliennes, about 2-in (5 cm) long
3 cups (750 ml) bean sprouts, rinsed and dried well
5 green onions, trimmed and cut into 1-in (2.5 cm) lengths
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together soy sauces, oyster sauce and sugar. Set aside.
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook noodles according to package instructions or until barely tender to the bite. Drain.
- Heat a large non-stick wok over high heat. Add oil. When it starts to simmer, add ginger and garlic and stir until fragrant. Add onion and barbecued pork, stir-fry for a couple minutes or until onions start to soften. Add bean sprouts, green onions and noodles. Mix well and drizzle over soy mixture. Toss well until heated thoroughly. Serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
GARGANELLI WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES, PROSCIUTTO, HERBS AND ROASTED GARLIC
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
ROASTED GARLIC:
2 to 4 large heads garlic
1 to 2 tsp (5 to 10 ml) olive oil
sprigs fresh thyme leaves
GARGANELLI:
1 lb (500 g) dried garganelli pasta
¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
½ tsp (2 ml) dried red pepper flakes
½ cup (125 ml) roasted garlic, coarsely chopped
¼ cup (60 ml) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained well and coarsely chopped
6 oz (180 g) thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into thin juliennes
fresh baby spinach leaves and fresh baby arugula
¼ cup (60 ml) each, chopped fresh basil, coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves from 5 to 6 sprigs thyme
grated Romano or Parmesan
Instructions
- To make ROASTED GARLIC: Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Peel and discard outer layers of the garlic bulb. Cut the top of the heads, exposing the cloves of garlic. Place garlic heads on a sheet of aluminum foil set on a small baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over each one, rubbing over all the exposed garlic cloves. Remove leaves from thyme sprigs and sprinkle all over garlic. Cover and lightly seal with another piece of aluminum foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cloves are lightly browned and soft. Remove top foil and allow to cool. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins.
- To make GARGANELLI: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rapid boil and cook pasta until al dente or according to package directions. Drain.
- Heat a saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil, roasted garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Add prosciutto and sauté until crispy, add sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, arugula, basil, parsley and thyme. Cook until leaves have wilted. Add pasta and toss well to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with grated Romano or Parmesan.
Drink Pairings
GARLIC-CHILI OIL SPAGHETTINI
Ingredients
Serves 4
GARLIC-CHILI OIL:
6 large garlic cloves, peeled (preferably Russian garlic, if available)
2 hot red chili peppers, halved
1½ cups (375 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
SAUCE:
⅓ cup (75 ml) Garlic-Chili Oil
6 garlic cloves, slivered
½ yellow onion, finely diced
2 hot red chili peppers, cored, seeded and minced
1 tsp (5 ml) chicken bouillon concentrate diluted in ½ cup (125 ml) hot water
3 tomatoes, diced
2 tsp (10 ml) tomato paste
½ cup (125 ml) fresh basil, chopped, plus extra for garnish
¼ cup (60 ml) fresh oregano, chopped
¼ cup (60 ml) fresh parsley, chopped
salt, to taste and for salting boiling water
1 lb (500 g) spaghettini pasta
freshly shaved Parmesan, for garnish
fresh sprigs of basil, for garnish
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- To Make GARLIC-CHILI OIL: In a saucepan, combine peeled garlic and whole chili peppers with olive oil. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes or until garlic slowly turns golden.
- Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- When cool enough to handle transfer mixture along with chilies and garlic to a bottle and seal. Refrigerate until ready to use
- When ready to make Sauce, heat ⅓ cup (75 ml) Garlic-Chili Oil in a mediumsized, heavy-bottomed saucepan just until almost warm. Add garlic, onion and hot peppers and simmer with oil bubbles breaking the surface. You want to cook the onion and garlic, not fry it.
- When it has softened, add diluted chicken concentrate and continue to cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes for flavours to blend.
- Add tomatoes, tomato paste and fresh herbs and continue to simmer until flavours have blended and tomatoes are soft. Add salt to taste. Set aside to keep warm while cooking pasta.
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al denté or tender to the bite. Drain thoroughly but do not rinse. Return to saucepan and add sauce. Toss together.
- Using a pair of tongs, twirl a serving of spaghettini onto serving dishes. Sprinkle with fresh Parmesan and a sprig of fresh basil. Add pepper to taste.
Drink Pairings
FRESH SHAVED ARTICHOKE AND PARMESAN SALAD
Ingredients
Serves 4
3 tbsp (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp (45 ml) lemon juice
2 tsp (5 ml) Dijon mustard
1 tsp (5 ml) honey
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup (250 ml) thinly sliced celery
3 large trimmed artichoke hearts, soaked in lemon water, thinly sliced
1 large handful baby arugula leaves, rinsed and dried well
¼ cup (60 ml) torn mint leaves
2 oz (60 g) Parmesan, shaved thin with a peeler
3 tbsp (45 ml) toasted pine nuts
2 tbsp (30 ml) golden raisins
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon and honey until well blended. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Gently toss celery, artichoke shavings, baby arugula and mint leaves with half the vinaigrette and transfer to a chilled serving platter. Garnish with Parmesan shavings, pine nuts and raisins. Drizzle extra vinaigrette if needed.
Drink Pairings
FRIJOLES BORRACHOS
Ingredients
Serves 10
SIMMERING BEANS:
1 x 900 g package dry pinto beans
1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
1 large Vidalia onion, finely diced
3 large garlic cloves, minced
4 cups (1 L) vegetable or chicken stock
1 x 355 ml bottle Mexican beer
3 thick slices uncooked bacon, diced
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded, finely diced
½ lime
3 large dried avocado leaves, crumbled
1 cinnamon stick
2 tbsp (30 ml) brown sugar
1 tbsp (15 ml) dried oregano
1 tbsp (15 ml) chili powder
2 tsp (10 ml) ground cumin
1 tsp (5 ml) smoked paprika
2 tbsp (30 ml) tomato paste
2 tsp (10 ml) sea salt
TOPPINGS:
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
2 fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced
½ cup (125 ml) chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
soft tortilla wraps (optional)
sour cream
Instructions
- Place beans in a large bowl, cover with water with 2-in (5 cm) to spare. Cover and set aside for 12 hours or overnight. Drain, rinse thoroughly under cold running water, drain again.
- Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add onion and sauté until soft and clear. Stir in garlic, stock and beer and bring to a boil. Add beans along with diced bacon, peppers, lime, avocado leaves and cinnamon stick. Add brown sugar, oregano, chili powder, cumin and paprika and stir to blend. Cover and cook over low to medium-low heat for 2 hours or until almost tender. Stir in tomato paste and salt cook for 1 more hour or until beans are tender. Do not add tomato paste and salt until last hour of cooking or beans will be tough.
- Serve with soft tortillas and top with diced avocado, tomatoes, cilantro and a drizzle of sour cream.
Drink Pairings
HAM, LENTIL AND SWISS CHARD STEW
Ingredients
Serves 6
1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil, plus extra
1 medium cooking onion, peeled and chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 lb (1 kg) smoked ham hock
12 cups (3 L) water
1 cup (250 ml) crushed tomatoes
6 sprigs fresh parsley
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 celery stalks, trimmed and chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 large jewel yam, peeled and chopped
1 cup (250 ml) dried French green lentils
1 cup (250 ml) pasta such as Radiatori or corkscrew
8 oz (250 g) red Swiss chard, stems trimmed, leaves chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add ham hock, water, crushed tomatoes, parsley and thyme. Turn heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook soup, with lid slightly ajar, for 1 hour.
- Discard parsley and thyme stems. Remove ham hock to a bowl to cool slightly. Increase heat to medium. Add celery, carrot, yam and lentils and cook, stirring occasionally, at a gentle simmer, for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, remove and shred ham meat, discarding bone and excess fat. Set aside.
- Add pasta to soup and cook until pasta is tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in Swiss chard and shredded ham, cooking until chard has softened, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- To serve, divide soup among warmed bowls and garnish with a drizzle of extra olive oil. Enjoy immediately.
Drink Pairings
GINGERED SUMMER FRUIT COCKTAIL SALAD ROLLS
Ingredients
Serves 8 rolls
½ cantaloupe melon
1 ripe mango
1 apple
½ lemon
8 to 12 lg strawberries
2 kiwi
1 basket raspberries, about 40 to 48 berries
1 bunch mint
⅓ cup (75 ml) finely chopped crystal ginger
8 X 8-inch (20 cm) rice-paper rounds, plus more in case of tearing
Instructions
- Peel melon and mango and cut into slices, then matchstick julienne. Cut and core apple. Slice and cut into matchstick julienne. Squeeze lemon juice over apple and toss well to prevent apple from browning. Hull and slice strawberries into thin slices. Peel kiwi and thinly slice.
- Place a clean tea towel or a double thickness of paper towel on a work surface. Fill a shallow baking pan with warm water. Soak a rice paper round in warm water until pliable, about 5 to 10 seconds. Carefully transfer to tea towel or paper towel lined work surface.
- Place a few kiwi slices and strawberries (cut side up) on the middle bottom third of the round. Top with a few cantaloupe, mango and apple slices. Add 5 to 6 raspberries in a horizontal line, then top with a few mint leaves and some chopped crystalized ginger. Fold bottom of rice paper over filling and begin rolling up tightly, stopping at halfway point. Arrange a few more mint leaves, then fold in ends and continue rolling.
- Transfer roll, seam side down, to a plate and cover with dampened paper towels. Repeat making 7 more rolls in the same manner.
Drink Pairings
JAPANESE NOODLE BOWL
Ingredients
Serves 4
4 x 200 g packages ramen noodles, seasonings discarded
1 carrot, peeled and julienned
1 zucchini, julienned
½ daikon radish, julienned
2 baby bok choy, steamed and halved
4 red radishes, thinly sliced
4 green onions, cut diagonally
2 cups (500 ml) dashi, heated
6 shiso leaves or fresh mint, chiffonade
shichimi or togarishi spice
toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
chives, for garnish
GINGER MISO TAHINI SAUCE:
¼ cup (60 ml) seasoned rice vinegar
2 tbsp (30 ml) white miso paste
2 tbsp (30 ml) tahini sauce
1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice
2 tsp (10 ml) sesame oil
1-in (2.5 cm) piece, peeled and grated fresh ginger root
¼ tsp (1 ml) shichimi or togarishi spice
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add ramen noodles and gently cook for 2 minutes. Thoroughly drain. Divide among serving bowls.
- Evenly divide julienned carrots, zucchini and daikon, bok choy, radishes and green onions over top of ramen noodles. Pour ½ cup (125 ml) hot dashi over each serving. Sprinkle with shiso leaves or fresh mint and drizzle with Ginger Miso Tahini Sauce. Sprinkle each bowl with a pinch of spice, sesame seeds and chives.
- To make GINGER MISO TAHINI SAUCE: Combine all ingredients except spice in a food processor. Whirl until blended. Add a little water if a thinner sauce is desired. Whirl in spice, adding more to taste if desired. Transfer to a squeeze tube and refrigerate up to 3 days. Makes ¾ cup (175 ml)
Drink Pairings
HONEY SHORTBREAD WITH FALL SALSA
Ingredients
Serves about 24
HONEY SHORTBREAD:
1½ cups (375 ml) all-purpose flour
½ cup (125 ml) finely ground yellow cornmeal
¼ cup (60 ml) granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
¾ cup (175 ml) cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-in (1 cm) pieces
¼ cup (60 ml) liquid clover honey
SMOKY CHEESE SPREAD:
8 oz (250 g) plain cream cheese
2 tbsp (30 ml) whipping cream
1 tsp (5 ml) sweet smoked paprika
½ tsp (2 ml) dry mustard
½ tsp (2 ml) garlic powder
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt
FALL VEGETABLE SALSA:
2 tsp (10 ml) olive oil
1 cup (250 ml) diced, pumpkin
½ cup (125 ml) corn kernels
15 cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 tbsp (15 ml) finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp (15 ml) finely chopped fresh chives
salt and pepper, to taste
Parmesan shards, for garnish
Instructions
- To make HONEY SHORTBREAD: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar and salt. Using fingers, incorporate butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in honey until mixture begins to come together. Knead dough in bowl by gently folding 4 to 5 times, until dough holds together. Divide dough in half, form each into a slightly flattened disk and wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 325 F (170 C). Lightly flour a large work surface. Working with a disk of dough at a time, roll out to 1⁄4-in (0.5 cm) thickness. Cut out circles using a 21⁄4-in (5.5 cm) round cookie cutter before placing on an ungreased baking sheet about 1-in (2.5 cm) apart. Gather up extra dough and reroll, cut and bake until lightly golden brown, 12 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Repeat rolling and baking with remaining dough.
- While shortbread cools, make SMOKY CHEESE SPREAD: In a medium- sized bowl, stir together cream cheese and cream with a spatula until smooth. Stir in paprika, dry mustard, garlic powder and salt to combine. Set aside.
- To make FALL VEGETABLE SALSA: Warm oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add pumpkin and sauté until lightly caramelized and softened but not mushy, 2 minutes. Stir in corn and continue to sauté another minute. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and cool for 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, parsley and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- To serve, top each shortbread with 2 tsp (10 ml) cheese spread. Transfer to a platter and top with a small spoonful of salsa and garnish with Parmesan.