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Eggplant Caviar with Mint Yogurt Sauce
Serves 8 Ingredients 1 large eggplant 2 medium tomatoes, chopped medium 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon lemon zest 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 8 ounces Greek Yogurt ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped fine ¼ cup fresh lemon juice Directions Preheat oven…
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Khichdi
Serves 6 Ingredient 1 cup small split yellow dal, pre-soak for 30 minutes 1 cup of rice 2 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter) 1 tablespoon of cumin seeds ½ teaspoon of asafetida (Kayam) powder (found at specialty Indian store) 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 1 small piece of ginger, grated 2 green chilies, chopped 2 cloves garlic,…
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Tarka Daal
Serves 6 Ingredients 1 pound chana dal (dried yellow split peas), rinsed until the water runs clear 2 pints water 4 tablespoons clarified butter 2 tablespoon cumin seeds 1 medium onion, finely chopped 3 to 4 whole green chilies, pricked with a knife 1 small (2 inch) piece fresh ginger, grated 3 cloves garlic, peeled…
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Massaman Thai Curry Paste / Gaeng Massaman
Makes 1 cup Ingredients 5 small fresh red chilies 5-6 cloves garlic, chopped fine 2 tablespoons shallots, chopped fine 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt 2 tablespoons galangal root, peeled and chopped fine 2 tablespoons ginger root, peeled and chopped fine 2 tablespoons lemongrass bulb, cleaned and trimmed and chopped fine 2 tablespoons lime zest 2…
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Thai Red Curry Paste / Gaeng Phet
Makes 1 cup curry paste Ingredients 5-10 small fresh red chilies (10=HOT) 5-6 cloves garlic, chopped fine 2 tablespoons shallots, chopped fine 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt 2 tablespoons galangal root, peeled and chopped fine 2 tablespoons ginger root, peeled and chopped fine 2 tablespoons lemongrass bulb, cleaned and trimmed and chopped fine 2 tablespoons…
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Thai Green Curry Paste / Gaeng Keow Wan
Makes 1 cup curry paste Ingredients 5-10 small fresh green chilies (10=HOT) 5-6 cloves garlic, chopped fine 2 tablespoons shallots, chopped fine 3 teaspoons coarse sea salt 2 tablespoons galangal root, peeled and chopped fine 2 tablespoons ginger root, peeled and chopped fine 2 tablespoons lemongrass bulb, cleaned and trimmed and chopped fine 2 tablespoons…
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Guatamalan Pollo en Peppian Tacos (Chicken Tacos with Pumpkin Seed Sauce)
Makes 20 tacos INGREDIENTS 2 cups water 1 chicken breast, skinless 2 chicken thighs, skinless 2 chicken legs, skinless ½ large white onion (half reserved), chopped 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup green pumpkin seeds 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 2 whole allspice berries 3…
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Guatamalan Red Chili Pork Chuchitos (Tamales)
Makes 20 tamales INGREDIENTS For the red chili pork 2 cups water 1 medium tomato, chopped medium 1 red chile, torn into pieces 1 medium yellow onion, chopped medium 3 cloves garlic, chopped fine 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, toasted 1 pound pork butt 1 teaspoon salt 1 fresh bay leaf 2…
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Shredded Chicken Mole Verde Tostadas
Makes 15 tostadas INGREDIENTS 2 cups water 1 chicken breast, skinless 2 chicken thighs, skinless 2 chicken legs, skinless ½ large white onion (half reserved), chopped 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup green pumpkin seeds 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 2 whole allspice berries 3…
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Salsa Rojo (Red Sauce)
Makes approximately 1½ cups INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium dried red chilies, seeded and chopped (stems included) ½ a medium yellow onion, chopped ½ a poblano pepper, seeded and chopped 1 medium tomato, chopped ½ tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves 1 clove garlic, chopped ½ teaspoon cumin ¼ teaspoon cumin…
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Shredded Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS ½ tablespoon cumin ½ tablespoon chili powder ½ teaspoon cumin seeds Zest of 1 lime 1 chicken breast Salt/pepper 1½ tablespoons canola oil ½ a large white onion, chopped medium 1 poblano pepper, chopped Juice of 1 lime 3 whole chipotle peppers in adobe, chopped ¼ cup tomato sauce 3 tablespoons chicken…
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Spicy Black Bean Sweet Corn Tomato Salad
This salad is so delicious and quick to prepare, healthy as all heck, and CHEAP CHEAP to make! I eat it often when I am short on time. I used to sprinkle cotija cheese over the top, but since I am on my new, almost-vegan diet I have eliminated it and have not for a…
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Indian Cheese in an Herbed Green Sauce
Serves 4 INGREDIENTS For the paneer 1 pound whole milk ricotta cheese ½ to 1 tablespoon canola oil For the green sauce 1 pound bag fresh spinach, stemmed and washed, or 1 pound frozen spinach, unthawed 1 tablespoon ghee, butter, or canola 3 whole dried red chiles ¾ teaspoon cumin seeds 7 green cardamom pods…
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Corn Curry
Serves 4 INGREDIENTS For green paste 1 fresh hot green chile, stemmed and cut in half ½ teaspoon cumin seeds 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into large chunks 12 fresh or 16 frozen curry leaves, torn into pieces (optional) ¼ cup fresh cilantro sprigs (with tender stems only) 2 tablespoons water For the…
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Curried Black-Eyed Peas
Serves 4 to 6 INGREDIENTS ¼ cup canola oil 4 whole cloves ¼ teaspoon black peppercorns 6 green cardamom pods 1-inch piece cinnamon stick 3 whole dried red chiles ½ teaspoon cumin seeds 2 bay leaves 1½-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced 1 large red onion, finely chopped 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste…
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Warm Lentil Salad with Coconut and Tomato
Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 2½ tablespoons canola oil 1 tablespoon black mustard seeds (optional) 1 teaspoon yellow split peas 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 2 whole dried red chiles 8 fresh or 12 frozen curry leaves, torn into pieces (optional) 1⁄8 teaspoon asafetida (optional) 1 fresh hot green chile, cut corsswise into thin slices 1 red onion,…
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“Kwalitys” Chickpeas
Serves 4 to 6 INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons canola oil 1 teaspoon cumin seeds ¼ teaspoon black peppercorns 4 whole cloves 4 green cardamom pods 3 whole dried red chiles 1½-inch piece of fresh ginger, minced 4 fresh or 6 frozen curry leaves, torn into pieces (optional) 2 red onions, finely chopped 3 fresh hot green…
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Tamarind Rice
Serves 8 INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon plus 1½ teaspoons tamarind concentrate ½ cup warm water 3 tablespoons canola oil ½ cup unsalted peanuts (preferably unroasted), roughly chopped 1 tablespoon mustard seeds 16 curry leaves, roughly torn (optional) 6 dried red chiles (optional) 1 teaspoon cumin seeds ¾ teaspoon turmeric 1 large red onion, quartered and thinly…
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Not-so-dull Dal
Serves 6 INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons canola oil 2 teaspoons cumin seeds 3 dried red chiles Pinch asafetida (optional) 1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced 1 jalapeño (cored and seeded to make more mild), finely chopped 1 tablespoon kosher salt 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 1½ cups washed masoor dal or yellow…
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Samosas, Puff Pastry, with green peas
Makes 9 turnovers INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 (9-to-10-ounce) package frozen petite peas ¼ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons Green Chutney, or store-bought (sold as cilantro or mint chutney) 1 tablespoon Tamarind Chutney, or store bought 1 pound frozen puff pastry, thawed 1 egg whisked with a pinch of salt, for…
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Tamarind Chutney
Makes about 1¼ cups INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon fennel seeds ½ teaspoon asafetida (optional) ½ teaspoon Garam Masala 2 cups water 1¼ cups sugar 3 tablespoons tamarind concentrate DIRECTIONS Heat the oil and spices in a medium saucepan over medium-high…
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Parathas Stuffed with Potato, Chiles, and Cilantro
Makes about 12 Parathas INGREDIENTS 1 cup whole wheat flour plus 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, or 2 cups chapati flour Salt 1 to 1¼ cups water 1½ pounds boiling potaotes, boiled in their skins until tender (25 to 30 minutes) and cooked ½ cup very finely chopped red onion 1 fresh hot green chile,…
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Rice Pilaf with “Standing Spices”
Serves 6 to 8 INGREDIENTS 2 cups basmati rice 4½ cups cold water 2 medium red onions ¼ cup canola oil, plus about 1 cup for deep-frying 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 8 green cardamom pods A 2½-to-3-inch piece cinnamon stick, broken in half ¼ teaspoon whole cloves ¼ teaspoon black peppercorns ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds…
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Stir Fried Carrots with Cumin and Lime
Serves 4 to 6 INGREDIENTS 2½ tablespoons canola oil 2 teaspoons black mustard seeds (optional) A 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into a fine julienne ½ fresh hot green chile, minced 3 whole dried red chiles 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 8 fresh or 12 frozen curry leaves, torn into pieces (optional) 1½ pounds…
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Stir Fried Cauliflower with Potato & Crunchy Bengali Spice
Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons canola oil 1 teaspoon nigella seeds (optional) 1 teaspoon cumin seeds Rounded ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds A 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped 1½ pounds red boiling potatoes, peeled, halved, and sliced lengthwise about ½ inch thick 1 small to medium head cauliflower, cored and cut into medium florets…
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Mezcal, Cilantro Dried Cherry Glazed Chicken Wings
Smoky mezcal and dried cherries give these wings a unique flavor, and the sweet and smoky flavors perfectly complement ice cold beer!
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Sweet & Spicy Herbal Slaw
Makes 4-5 cups of Slaw, serving 12-15 people INGREDIENTS 1 medium to large head of red cabbage, shredded and center discarded 2 large carrots, peeled and shredded 1 red bell pepper, deseeded, pith removed, and chopped 1 yellow bell pepper, deseeded, pith removed, and chopped 1 orange bell pepper, deseeded, pith remove, and chopped ½…
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Mango-Sage BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
This is the perfect special occasion addition with a no fuss recipe. Sure to be a crowd pleaser, it is a sweet & spicy and herbalicious treat. You will need party size buns, too.
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Shrimp and Crab Fresh Corn Enchiladas with Salsa Verde & Red Sauce
Serves 6 Salsa Verde INGREDIENTS 1 pound tomatillos, husks removed, cut in quarters 3 poblano chili peppers, seeded and chopped 1 teaspoon cumin 1 cup water 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves ½ cup half-and half Juice of 1 lime PREPARATION Place the tomatillos, poblano peppers, cumin, salt, and water in a medium…
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Peruvian Blue Potato Latkes
These latkes are colorful, vibrant and have a spicy tang that gives them a special kick.
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Three Bean Pork & Green Chili
Serves 6 INGREDIENTS For the Rub 2 tablespoons cumin 2 tablespoons green chili powder 2 tablespoons salt 3 pounds pork butt, cubed in 1-inch pieces For the Chili Vegetable oil 2 medium yellow onions, chopped 1 jalapeño, seeded, pith removed, and chopped 1 pound tomatillos, husks removed and chopped 3 poblano chilies, roasted, peeled, seeded,…
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Smokey Eggplant Mousse
One of the truly most decadent dishes I have ever tasted in Israel is the many versions of eggplant mousse. A longtime fan of baba ganoush, I was skeptical a few years ago when I tried my first version of this classic Middle Eastern staple in a mousse form. I am not the biggest fan…
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Purple Majesty Potato Latkes with Tomato Cumin Sour Cream
Makes 20 medium latkes. INGREDIENTS 5-6 medium blue potatoes, washed, peeled and grated 1 medium white onion, grated 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped fine 2 eggs beaten ½ cup all purpose flour 1 tablespoon cumin 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons black pepper vegetable oil PREPARATION In a large mixing bowl, combine…