De Ma Cuisine

Dips Archive

Friday

26

February 2016

0

COMMENTS

Baked Onion Rings with Herb Dip

Written by , Posted in Baking, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Eggs, Gluten Free, Herbs, Quick and Easy, Roasting, Sides, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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I’m not a sweets person. I don’t often crave chocolate, I can go without candy, and if given the option, I’d take potato chips over a donut. I do really love ice cream, but I think that’s because Tim is so good at making it. But, even then, I might take onion rings over ice cream. Because I really really love crunchy deep fried foods. French fries, tempura, onion rings… They’re so tasty.

We don’t need to talk about the dangers of fried foods. I’m well aware. You’re well aware. We’ve got that covered. It’s a treat, not an everyday thing.

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When it comes to guilty pleasures, these onion rings seem like they’d fit in. But, they’re actually pretty innocent. They’re dipped in eggs (you could use coconut or almond milk if you want to keep them vegan), then coated in flour. I double dipped some (you know, egg, flour, egg, flour). I’m not sure which turned out better. They all tasted great.

All.

I ate them all.

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The first secret to this delicious treat is baking them at a high temperature for a short amount of time. We’re talking 425°F for 18-20 minutes total. The second secret is the dip. It’s made up of things like yogurt or silken tofu or mayo or avocado (or ALL!) blended up with some blanched greens, herbs, garlic, and olive oil. I fully submerged each onion ring in the dip before devouring.

If you wanted to make a huge platter and call this dinner, you might also do some green beans, par-cooked potatoes or root veggies (and in a few months summer squash), and add the beans to the dip. Serve it with a big salad and some other fun finger foods (like nachos with refried bean dip) and you’ve got a winner. In fact you’ll most likely find us eating this for dinner sometime this weekend.

Happy Eating!

 

Baked Onion Rings with Herb Dip

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 2-4

Baked Onion Rings with Herb Dip

Ingredients

  • 2 C any of your favorite greens
  • 2.5 C any combo of: yogurt/crème fraîche/mayo/sour cream/avocado
  • 1 T dijon
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 t lemon zest, chopped
  • 1 t lemon juice
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
  • pinch cayenne (optional)
  • handful chopped herbs like: parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano
  • 1-2 onions, sliced
  • 2 (or more) eggs, whisked (or coconut, almond, or cow's milk)
  • 2 C flour (AP or GF)
  • to taste salt*
  • to taste pepper

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Blanch greens in boiling water for 1 minute. Transfer to an ice bath to cool. (Or, use leftover sautéed greens.)
  3. Whisk yogurt through cayenne. Add herbs and blanched or leftover greens. Blend. Taste for seasoning. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  4. Mix flour with salt and pepper. Taste (for real). Separate onion into rings. Dip veggies in egg/milk then flour. Repeat if desired. Tap off excess flour. Place on a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. Do not let the veggies touch. Bake for about 10 minutes, flip, bake about 8-10 minutes more (or until crispy and browned).
  5. Serve with dip.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/baked-onion-rings-with-herb-dip/

Monday

7

December 2015

0

COMMENTS

Broccoli and Goat Cheese Wraps

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Cheese, Condiments, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Nuts, One Dish Dinners, Quick and Easy, Sandwiches, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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I saved a wrap for Tim to eat when he got home from work. He came into the office and told me that it was really good. He loved how the broccoli was tender, with just a bit of crunch. That the nuts gave more crunch. The creamy dressing over it all. He said that if I ever open a restaurant, this should be on the menu. Just the way it is. Don’t change anything. My love language is “words of affirmation”, so that was really nice to hear… Maybe I should have him write the rest of this post. 😉

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I came up with this recipe because we’re entering broccoli season. I’m pretty content to just roast it and finish off the entire pan. But, diversity can be good, so I thought I’d change things up a bit.

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My skillet of choice is almost always a cast iron and I’ve acquired many over the years. Most were found at thrift stores and yard sales. Some look to be old old old, some are new and are branded with the name Lodge. I love them all.

The cast iron helped the broccoli to get a bit browned, a little tender, a little crispy, just the way Tim likes it. I added garlic and ginger at the end, just to take a bit of the bite out. I’m all for raw garlic, but sometimes the flavor is best softened a little.

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While the broccoli cooked, I whisked together the dressing. It’s a quick and easy mixture of goat cheese (which apparently I no longer hate), mayo, yogurt, and fresh herbs. It totally makes the dish. If you’re not into goat cheese, try feta. If you’re not into mayo and yogurt, try silken tofu. If you’re out of broccoli, give cauliflower, onions, shallots, leeks, carrots, radishes, bell peppers, mushrooms, chile peppers, or summer squash a try.

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The other thing that Tim mentioned was that the homemade tortillas that I’d made were the perfect vessel. They were still a bit warm, soft, and a little thicker than the store bought ones that we usually buy. I’ve been working with a sourdough starter over the past week and a half. When you’re refreshing a starter you have to discard some of it. Since I can’t stand to waste food, I’ve been making it into pancakes and tortillas. You could also use lavash, pitas, or any flatbread that you have on hand. Or, if you feel like attempting some homemade tortillas, I’d say go for it!

Since we’re into December now, I tried to make the tortillas a bit festive. See how they’re kinda pinkish? They were meant to be a little more red. I used the beets that I steamed when I was working on the Twice Cooked Beets post and just pressed them onto the uncooked tortillas. I don’t normally use food coloring and prefer not to buy foods with added coloring, so it was fun to experiment and see what I could come up with. Pink. I’m ok with pink, even if it’s not as festive as I’d hoped.

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Hey, and speaking of festivities, if you’re hosting over the holidays and you have a houseful of people, you could prep most of this dish in advance and have a ready and waiting lunch. Just warm up the broccoli when you’re ready to eat. If you’ve frozen last week’s leftover turkey, you could add that too (just let it defrost in the fridge for a day). Or, add some scrambled, fried, or poached eggs or crispy tofu and turn this into a breakfast wrap. If you have leftover dressing, set out a platter of veggies and dip that evening for people to munch on while you finish dinner.

Happy Eating!

Broccoli and Goat Cheese Wraps

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Total Time: 19 minutes

Yield: 2

Serving Size: 1 wrap

Broccoli and Goat Cheese Wraps

Ingredients

  • 1 T olive oil
  • 2 C broccoli (or combo of: broccoli, cauliflower, onions, shallots, leeks, carrots, radishes, bell peppers, mushrooms, chile peppers, summer squash), chopped or cut into bite sized pieces
  • to taste salt
  • 2 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 t fresh ginger, diced
  • 1 t white vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 T plain yogurt (or silken tofu)
  • 1 T mayo (or silken tofu)
  • 2 oz. goat cheese or feta
  • 1 T fresh herbs (combo of any: basil, dill, or parsley), chopped
  • pinch cayenne
  • to taste salt
  • 2 tortillas
  • olives or capers (optional), chopped
  • nuts (any: almonds, peanuts, pecans), chopped
  • lettuce or spinach (or kale, chard, or other greens), shredded
  • 2-3 T parmesan, grated

Instructions

  1. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add oil. When oil is hot, add broccoli (and other veggies, if using) and salt. Cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until veggies are tender-crisp. Add garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute more. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Whisk together vinegar through salt. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  3. Divide veggie mixture between tortillas. Top with dressing, olives or capers, nuts, greens, and parmesan. Roll up to serve.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/broccoli-goat-cheese-wraps/

Friday

27

November 2015

0

COMMENTS

Potato Pancakes

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Breakfast, Brunch, Cheese, Condiments, Dinner, Eggs, Gluten Free, Herbs, Holiday, Kid-Friendly, Leftovers, Lunch, Main Dishes, One Dish Dinners, Potatoes, Quick and Easy, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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It’s finally arrived. The day of my favorite meal: Thanksgiving. I don’t know if it’s favorite because it only happens once a year though. If I could only have one meal for the rest of my life, I don’t know that it would be this one… Then again, maybe it would.

It’s just the perfect mix of flavors, textures, and since it’s most often eaten surrounded by loved ones, it’s such a winner.

My perfect Thanksgiving plate includes: Turkey, dressing, green beans, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, and gravy to pour over almost everything. It’s a feast for sure. There’s always more than we need. Part of the fun of a meal like this is getting creative with the leftovers.

Today, I’m tacking the mashed potatoes. I usually just make a big pot of soup and call it good. But, here’s a way to use those potatoes, and maybe a few other dishes from dinner, in a non-soupy way.

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I combined the potatoes with some sautéed veggies (the possibilities are pretty limitless here: sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squash, mushrooms, peas, corn, bell peppers, garlic, greens, chile peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, summer squash…), spices, cheese, flour, baking powder, and an egg (to hold it all together).

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Then I dropped them onto a hot skillet with a bit of olive oil. Easy. Almost done.

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They didn’t need long to cook, just a few minutes per side.

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I topped each one with a dollop of yogurt with fresh herbs mixed in. The perfect little treat for a lazy, relaxing holiday lunch.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Potato Pancakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 33 minutes

Total Time: 48 minutes

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 4-5 pancakes per person

Potato Pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1-2 C veggies (could be carrots, peas, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, winter squash, corn, garlic, greens, bell peppers, chile peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, summer squash), chopped, if needed
  • to taste salt
  • 1/4 C plain yogurt or silken tofu
  • 1 T fresh herbs (dill, parsley, basil, chives)
  • to taste salt
  • pinch cayenne
  • squeeze of lemon or splash of white vinegar
  • 1/4 C All Purpose flour (or gluten free)
  • 1 t baking powder
  • 2-3 C mashed potatoes (could also add green bean casserole or dressing/stuffing)
  • to taste salt
  • 1/4 t paprika
  • pinch cayenne (optional)
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1/4 C cheese, grated or cut into small cubes
  • 1 egg
  • 1-2 T olive oil, for frying

Instructions

  1. Heat skillet. Add 1 T olive oil. Sauté veggies with salt over medium-low heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until all veggies are tender, stirring occasionally.
  2. Combine yogurt or silken tofu through lemon or vinegar. Taste for salt. Set aside.
  3. Combine flour and baking powder.
  4. Combine sautéed veggies with mashed potatoes through cheese. Stir gently. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Stir in flour mixture, then stir in egg.
  5. Wipe out veggie skillet. Heat and add 1 T olive oil. When oil is hot, drop and flatten (slightly) 2T pancake batter. Cook over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes per side, working in batches until all batter has been used, adding more oil as needed. Place finished pancakes on a baking sheet lined with a cooling rack in the oven (set at the lowest temperature to keep them hot).
  6. Serve pancakes topped with a dollop of herbed yogurt.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/potato-pancakes/

Thursday

12

November 2015

0

COMMENTS

Roasted Broccoli and Squash with a Basil and Tahini Sauce

Written by , Posted in Condiments, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Main Dishes, Pasta, Quick and Easy, Rice, Roasting, Sauces, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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As I type this, I’m practicing my songs for the Christmas concert in December. This seems wrong because the weather doesn’t match the feel of the songs. I don’t know if it will ever not be weird to me to have 90 degree weather in October, but I’m coping. I try to avoid using the oven too much when it’s hot. But, today I made an exception. It just has to be done earlier in the day when it’s still cool out. And, even though it warms up the house a lot, it’s worth it to be rewarded with roasted veggies.

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Roasted broccoli is one of my favorite things. Sure, it can make the house smell like toots, but it tastes so good that it doesn’t really bother me. And roasted summer squash, I can eat the entire pan by myself. Easy.

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I tossed them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Simple.

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While they roasted I blended together some sauce (which could be a dip, just make it a little thicker). It contained things like garlic, ginger, basil, tahini paste, and homemade yogurt. I’m totally on a homemade yogurt kick right now. It’s the best, and it’s not too difficult to make. When I make it, I feel like I’m winning at life. Same with homemade bread. I guess we all have our things that make us feel like we’ve accomplished something great. Those are two of mine.

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This sauce might be another. It’s a bit Asian-inspired, with the soy sauce (liquid aminos if you’re gluten-free) and the tahini. If you have leftovers, you might use it on an Asian Chicken Salad or a Napa Cabbage Slaw. If you don’t have tahini paste (which is ground up sesame seeds), you could use almond or peanut butter.

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I served the veggies drizzled with the sauce, over some brown rice. Other options would be to serve it over pasta, spaghetti squash, chicken, tofu, or just dip the veggies in the sauce. They’re great that way too.

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I see cooler weather in the forecast. It’s almost the season for all the roasted veggies, soups, and stews.

Happy Eating!

Roasted Broccoli and Squash with a Basil and Tahini Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 2

Roasted Broccoli and Squash with a Basil and Tahini Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 head broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces (stems too, just peel the tough outer skin)
  • 1 medium or 2 small summer squash, cut into sticks
  • 1 t olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • pinch cayenne
  • sauce: 1 T tahini paste
  • 1 t soy sauce or liquid aminos
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2" cube fresh ginger (or good pinch dried)
  • pinch cayenne
  • 2-3 T plain yogurt (Greek or coconut) or silken tofu
  • 1/4 t dried thyme or 1 t fresh
  • 2-3 T fresh basil
  • to taste olive oil
  • cooked rice, rice noodles, spaghetti squash, chicken, tofu, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
  2. Toss broccoli and squash with oil, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Roast for 10 minutes, flip, and roast for 10 minutes more (or until a bit crispy outside).
  3. Blend tahini through olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  4. Serve veggies drizzled with sauce (over rice, rice noodles, spaghetti squash, chicken, or tofu, if desired).
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/roasted-broccoli-tahini-sauce/

Thursday

22

October 2015

0

COMMENTS

Winter Squash Dip

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Beans, Cheese, Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Legumes, Nuts, Potlucks, Roasting, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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I’m a big supporter of fall. I love it when the leaves change color, the chill that creeps into the air, and the winter squash that start to appear in our Abundant Harvest Organics boxes. This fall is no different. I’m in the mood for soups and stews, cozy sweaters, and all the winter squash I can get my hands on.

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I have a few go to recipes for winter squash. Things like Spaghetti Squash au Gratin (which uses both spaghetti and butternut squash), Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, and Spaghetti Soup. I’ll make them over and over again for sure. But, it’s fun to get creative with food, so I came up with a fun winter squash dip that will be perfect to snack on while watching post season baseball, for a dinner party appetizer, or as a simple supper.

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I used acorn squash this time. But, seriously, any winter squash will do. I’d planned to use pumpkin, but I didn’t have one on hand. If you have pumpkin, and the skin doesn’t get too soft when roasting, it’d make a lovely serving dish. I tried to do that with the acorn squash, but the skin isn’t as tough as say spaghetti squash, so I opted for an oven-safe dish.

This dip is full of options for what to add to it. Not only can you use whatever winter squash you have on hand, there are plenty of possibilities for what to mix in. I used garbanzo beans, basil, cheddar, and parmesan. But, you could substitute white, kidney, or black beans for the garbanzos. Then you could choose between blue cheese, feta, Fontina, Gorgonzola, Gruyère, mozzarella, pecorino, ricotta, ricotta salata, Romano, or Roncal if you don’t have cheddar or Parmesan, or tofu if you want to go vegan. And for the fresh herbs, I’d go with either parsley or thyme if you don’t have basil (or along with it). Just pick things that you think will go well with the other flavors you’ve got going on.

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I topped the dip with some halved cherry tomatoes and some nuts. And again, here the possibilities are pretty limitless: hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, or pumpkin seeds would all be great in place of almonds. I love the crunch that the nuts bring to the dip.

I’d used half of the cheese in the dip, the rest went on top to get bubbly and browned, along with the tomatoes. One of my favorite things.

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You can serve this dip hot, room temperature, or eat it right out of the fridge. If you opt for the latter, you might get the entire previously melted cheese slice in one bite. Not the worst problem you could have. I liked it best cooled slightly, but still warm, with lots of dipping utensils: corn chips and raw veggies were my favorite.

Happy Eating!

Winter Squash Dip

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Yield: 8-10

Winter Squash Dip

Ingredients

  • 4 C combination of any: (squash) acorn, butternut, spaghetti, buttercup, delicata, hubbard, kabocha, pumpkin; halved or top sliced off and seeds removed,carrots, ends trimmed
  • 1 head garlic, top sliced off
  • a good sprinkle of cayenne or 1 hot pepper, halved, ribs and seeds removed
  • 2 t olive oil
  • 2 C combination of any: garbanzo, white, kidney, or black beans; cooked
  • 1 C greens (optional), chopped
  • 1/4 C combination of any: fresh basil, parsley, or thyme
  • 2 C combination of any: blue, cheddar, feta, Fontina, Gorgonzola, Gruyère, mozzarella, Parmesan, pecorino, ricotta, ricotta salata, Romano, Roncal; grated (if needed), or may use tofu (silken or firm and crumbled)
  • 1 C combination of any: corn, tomatoes (fresh or dried)
  • to taste salt
  • 1/4 C combination of any: almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, pecans, pinenuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds; chopped
  • raw veggies (carrots, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, green beans, celery), roasted veggies (sweet potatoes, summer squash, eggplant, fennel), chips, crackers, or bread; for serving

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
  2. Brush squash/pumpkin with oil inside and out. Place cut side down on a baking sheet (the lid too, if you didn't halve it - if you halved it and are planning to serve the dip in it, you could slice a bit off the bottom so it sits flat). Drizzle the garlic with olive oil and wrap with foil. Brush carrots and hot pepper with olive oil and wrap with foil. Roast for 45-60 minutes, or until tender (pepper may take closer to 20-30 minutes). If using greens, sauté in 1 T olive oil over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Scrape squash from shell (reserve shell to serve in if desired) then either mash or purée in food processor with garlic (squeeze cloves from skin) through cheese (reserving half cheese for topping). Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  4. Return to squash shell or to a greased oven safe dish, top with remaining cheese and tomatoes/corn/nuts. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, or broil for a few minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned.
  5. Serve with raw or roasted veggies, chips, crackers, or bread, for dipping.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/winter-squash-dip/