De Ma Cuisine

Roasting Archive

Friday

19

December 2014

0

COMMENTS

Lentils on Crispy Sweet Potatoes

Written by , Posted in Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Legumes, Lentils, Lunch, Main Dishes, Potatoes, Quick and Easy, Roasting, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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I wonder if you may have some sweet potatoes left over from Thanksgiving. Hiding in the dark pantry, waiting to be used. Purchased with the best of intentions… Sound familiar? I was out of town for Thanksgiving, so I didn’t get to use any of my sweet potatoes. I had quite a collection. They needed to be cooked.

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I thought that red lentils, with their slightly mushier texture, might be nice over top of some crispy sweet potatoes. I’ve done something similar with leftover chili served over crispy potatoes. Why not with lentils and sweet potatoes?!

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I like crispy potatoes (sweet or regular) with lots of seasoning. This time I went with salt, cayenne, coriander, ginger, and pepper. I also really like potatoes with paprika and chili powder. Uhh luuuk it uhh laaat.

Sorrynotsorry.

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Tossed with a bit of olive oil, onto a baking sheet, and into the oven.

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I’d never tried red lentils before. I think I usually use green. Use whatever you have on hand. Just vary the cooking time depending on your lentil. (Red lentils cook a bit faster, like closer to 10 minutes, green lentils take a bit longer.) Okay? Okay.

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Every once in a while it’s like the perfect storm and I have no garlic or onions in the house. Disaster!! Tim brought me some garlic yesterday. Relief! (Also, we aren’t completely out of onions, but are running low… if you were worried.)

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The garlic cooks for just a minute, then some dijon, balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of coriander, ginger, and salt is added.

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They’d been added to the lentil pan, after the lentils were drained and set aside. Then added back in to mix it up with the other flavors.

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Sweet potatoes pop out of the oven. Crispy outside, tender inside.

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Sometimes I like to have cilantro with sweet potatoes. Like today. And like this time a few weeks ago.

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It’s chopped up and plomped on top of the Greek yogurt, on top of the lentils, on top of the sweet potatoes.

Food tower.

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This dish is best with a bit of each component in every bite.

I’ll show you what to do with any leftover lentils in January!

Happy Eating!

Lentils on Crispy Sweet Potatoes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 2

Lentils on Crispy Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 1 sweet potato, cubed
  • 2 T olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • 1/8 t cayenne
  • 3/4 t coriander
  • 1/4 t ginger
  • 1/4 t pepper
  • 1 C red lentils
  • 2 C water
  • 1 t olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1-2 t dijon mustard
  • to taste salt
  • pinch coriander
  • pinch ginger
  • Greek yogurt, for topping
  • cilantro, for topping

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 F.
  2. Toss sweet potatoes through pepper. Spread out on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes (or until they're done on the inside), flipping once halfway through.
  3. Add lentils and water to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes, or until lentils are cooked to desired tenderness. Drain lentils and rinse. Set aside.
  4. Add 1 t olive oil to the lentil pan. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute over medium-low. Add vinegar, mustard, salt, coriander, and ginger. Cook for 30 seconds. Add lentils and cook for 3-5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  5. Serve sweet potatoes topped with a scoop of lentils, a dollop of yogurt, and a sprinkle of cilantro.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/lentils-crispy-sweet-potatoes/

Monday

3

November 2014

2

COMMENTS

Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Holiday, Lunch, Potatoes, Roasting, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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I’m thinking about the upcoming holidays. I’m making lists of gifts to buy for others, things I’d love to have (not that I need anything else), and recipes to make while we’re with family. A few weeks ago I was talking with my brother, Josh. We really like food, so that’s usually part of any conversation. We decided that at Christmas we’re going to make Duck Tourtière, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans with Bacon and Almonds, and a Butter Lettuce Salad with Pine Nuts, Pumpkin Seeds, and Cranberries.

I may try to sneak these Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes in to the mix. Or I might see if I can add them to the Thanksgiving dinner menu… Whenever it happens, I’ve got to eat these again.

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They start out simple – some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then in to the oven.

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While they roast away, cilantro is washed and chopped.

Confession: I didn’t think I liked cilantro. I’m still not sure that I do. But, I’ve heard that you either love it or hate it, and if you hate it, you think it tastes like soap. I don’t think it tastes like soap, so I must love it.

I’m learning to, in any case.

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The cilantro is mixed with a bit of spicy chile pepper (cayenne would work too), garlic, and cheese. Once the sweet potatoes are finished with their oven time, the flesh gets scooped out and mixed in too.

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Mash it up and make it as creamy as you’d like. I like a few lumps left in there for texture.

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They get to roast for a little while longer while the toppings are prepared. More cilantro, some Greek yogurt, and some Kale Pesto (Basil Pesto would be great too!).

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I sprinkled them with some coarse sea salt before they went in to the oven. I didn’t add any more cheese to the top. You could do the opposite if you’d prefer.

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A good dollop of Greek yogurt goes on top, cilantro is sprinkled, and pesto waits to adorn.

Happy Eating!

Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Yield: 2

Serving Size: Half of a sweet potato.

Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 1 medium sized sweet potato, halved
  • 1 t olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1 T fresh cilantro, chopped, divided
  • 1/2 T unsalted butter
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1/4 C cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1/2 chile pepper, ribs and seeds removed, minced (or pinch cayenne)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • coarse sea salt, for topping (optional)
  • Greek yogurt, for topping
  • kale (or basil) pesto, for topping

Instructions

  1. Brush both sides of the sweet potato with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on a baking sheet. Pierce a few times with a fork. Bake at 350F for 45-50 minutes, or until the flesh is tender.
  2. Scoop out the flesh and mix with cilantro through garlic. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Return the filling to the skins and top with sea salt. Return to the oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes more.
  3. Serve topped with yogurt, pesto, and reserved cilantro.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/spicy-twice-baked-sweet-potatoes/

 

Monday

1

September 2014

2

COMMENTS

Irish Nachos

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Cheese, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Potatoes, Quick and Easy, Roasting, Sides, Snacks, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Confession: I’ve never actually had Irish Nachos. I’ve seen some pictures though, so maybe that counts for something. Tim had them once when he was out with friends. He came home and talked about how good they were.

They seemed like something that I could make.

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It all starts with potatoes. You could slice them thin and round if you’d like. I cut them in to chunks because it’s quick and easy.

I need more quick and easy when it comes to meal preparations.

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Since we get a weekly box of produce from Abundant Harvest Organics, I try to add as many veggies as possible to our meals. The longer I do it the easier it is and now it’s become second nature. All the times that I’ve made my Irish Nachos, I’ve added some sort of greens. I just love their flavor when they’re roasted.

This particular version of Irish Nachos has more veggies than Tim would prefer (just a little too piled on for him). I’ve made them two or three other times with less. He liked those better. So use my recipe as a suggestion box and tweak it and adapt it to suit your family.

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I feel like Irish Nachos ought to have some sort of green onion sprinkled over top. That might just be me. In any case, I really like what they add to the dish.

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Crisped up potatoes are gathered into piles.

Mmmmm piles of potatoes.

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Then all of the toppings are piled on. You can do them in whatever order you’d like.

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Don’t forget the cheese. They are nachos after all.

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Since I recently cut a bunch of corn off the cob, I’m using it in everything. Summer Pizza, Squash and Egg Wraps, and Quinoa Salads… It’s good to have corn on hand.

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My favorite part, whenever there’s hot cheese involved, are the crispy bits of cheeeeeese. Every last bit needs to be scraped off the pan.

Every last bit.

Happy Eating!

Irish Nachos
Recipe Type: Main, Dinner, Side, Snack, Potatoes, Vegetarian
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
  • 4 potatoes, cut into long chunks
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1/2 t (or more) salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1/2 to 1 C greens (collards, kale, spinach, chard) cut in a chiffonade (thin ribbons)
  • 1/2 to 1 C green onions (or chives), chopped
  • 1/2 to 1 C cheese, grated
  • 2 cobs corn, cut off the cob
  • yogurt, for topping
  • lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
  2. Toss potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on 1-2 baking sheets (don’t overcrowd them – use two sheets if needed), and bake for 15 minutes, flip them (and rotate the position in the oven if using two sheets), and bake about 15 minutes more (or until potatoes are crispy outside, tender inside).
  3. Gather potatoes into piles (as many piles as there are people eating), and top with greens, onions, cheese, and corn. Bake for 10 minutes more.
  4. Serve topped with yogurt and a squeeze of lemon.

 

Monday

28

July 2014

0

COMMENTS

Parsnip Fries with Dip

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Cheese, Condiments, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Leftovers, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Roasting, Sides, Snacks, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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I have something to confess. Other than roasting parsnips, or using them in soups, I don’t have many other ways that I use them.

Maybe because I know how good they are roasted. Think fried plantains meets roasted carrots.

I figured that it was time to try something a little bit different. I mean, I’m still roasting them, but this time there’s dip.

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As with most of the veggies that I roast, they are tossed with Bari’s Organic Olive Oil, salt, and pepper. Simple.

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Then they go onto a baking sheet with a bit of room around each one. They’ll roast a bit better that way. I used two baking sheets for the seven parsnips, flipping the parsnips and rotating the sheets in the oven partway through.

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And then there is dip.

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A creamy, herby, garlicky dip.

You could dip so many things in this. Roasted veggies, obviously. Fresh veggies, yum. Or you could thin it out a little with some buttermilk and make it into a salad dressing.

The taste is a bit like caesar dressing meets ranch dressing.

Or, goodness in a bowl.

Confession number two: I couldn’t stop dipping.

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I can’t get enough of roasted veggies. They get all crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

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I made these to eat while we watched the All-Star Game the other week.

They’re best hot out of the oven, but room temperature is perfectly acceptable too.

If you don’t eat them all in one sitting (it was difficult for me to not eat them all before Tim even got home from work) and there are leftovers here are some yummy ways you could use them:

  1. Re-heated in some tinfoil (closed to start with, then once they’re warm, open to let them crisp up).
  2. Chopped up and sautéed with some greens.
  3. Re-heated and pulsed a couple times in the food processor (regular blender/hand blender) with some of the dip to serve alongside a roasted chicken.
  4. Chopped and added to soup (near the end of the cooking time).

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If you do eat them all in one sitting, I understand.

Happy Eating!

Parsnip Fries with Dip
Recipe Type: Side, Snack, Appetizer
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Sweet and crispy roasted parsnips are dipped in a creamy garlicky herb dip, making a delicious appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
  • 7-8 parsnips, cut into 3/8″ x 3/8″ x 3″ sticks (or French fry shape)
  • 1-2 T olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • dip: 3/4 C yogurt
  • 1/4 C parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • pinch ginger
  • 1/2 T honey
  • 1 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 to 1/2 t dried thyme
  • 1/4 to 1/2 t dried parsley
  • 1/4 C fresh basil
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1/4 C olive oil
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
  2. Toss parsnips with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on two baking sheets, without overcrowding. Bake for 10-15 minutes, flip, rotate position in the oven, and bake for about 10 minutes more (or until parsnips are crispy outside, tender inside).
  3. Blend dressing ingredients together (in food processor or blender). Adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. Serve immediately.
Notes
This makes a lot of dip, so you could probably halve the recipe and be just fine… probably. 😉

Thursday

17

July 2014

0

COMMENTS

How To Dry Tomatoes

Written by , Posted in Canning, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Roasting, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Tomatoes are such a great fruit. It’s weird that we use them like a vegetable when they’re not one.

I’m ok with that.

They go with so much, they can be used in so many different ways.

The possibilities are pretty endless.

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Around here, the growing season for local tomatoes is pretty long. We’ve been getting them in our Abundant Harvest Organics box for about two months now.

We’re very fortunate.

But, that doesn’t mean we don’t need to preserve them and make them last as long as possible.

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I opted to dry the tomatoes by slow roasting them in the oven at a low temperature.

I love the intense flavor that roasting brings.

I’ve always called this type of tomato a “sun-dried tomato”. But, since I did not dry them in the sun, I didn’t want to lie.

Also, if I’d tried to dry them in the sun I have a feeling that a curious dog might have enjoyed a snack. They are safer in the oven.

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It’s simple: tomatoes, olive oil, and salt.

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Tomatoes are sliced thin, but not too thin. No thinner than a quarter of an inch please.

Trust me.

They will burn.

But, the dog will be happy because he will get a treat.

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Dried tomatoes are just perfection. A fabulous way to make summer tomatoes last a little longer.

Or, in our case, a fun new way to enjoy them. As they will soon be eaten.

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Since the base recipe is simple, it leaves so many options for flavoring the oil they are stored in.

I opted to make a jar of simple Italian-style, with basil, oregano, and garlic.

Other yummy options would be:

Red pepper flakes, garlic, and rosemary.

Cilantro, oregano, and jalapeño (dry the jalapeños the same way as the tomatoes).

Rosemary and garlic.

Bay leaf, garlic, and rosemary.

Dill, lemon thyme, and garlic.

Fennel seeds, garlic, and basil.

Thyme, rosemary, and oregano.

Lemon zest, basil, and garlic.

I want to make them all!

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I’ve stored them in the fridge and plan to use them quickly, on bruschetta, in pasta, and on pizza.

The olive oil, which will become a delicious flavored oil, will be used as well.

We don’t waste food around here if we can help it. 😉

Happy Eating!

Kitchen Basics: Drying Tomatoes
Recipe Type: Condiment, Preserving, Roasting, Drying, Vegetarian, Fruit
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Preserve summer’s beautiful tomatoes by drying them and storing them in olive oil.
Ingredients
  • 2 tomatoes, sliced 1/4″ thick (no thinner, or they will burn)
  • 1-2 T olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • 1 T dried basil
  • 1 T dried oregano
  • 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 to 3/4 C olive oil
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 250F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper. Place tomatoes in a single layer on the silpat or parchment paper. Drizzle generously with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt.
  3. Bake for 3 hours, turning occasionally, until tomatoes are nicely dried.
  4. Cool completely and combine in a half pint jar with herbs, garlic, and olive oil. Store in the refrigerator.
Notes
Yields: one half pint, including the oil.
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