Recipes by their Ingredients

olive oil

  • Baked Stuffed Sole

    Baked Stuffed Sole
    Baked Stuffed Sole
    (Serves 6)


    6, (2 to 2½ oz each) sole fillets
    ¼ yellow onion, finely chopped
    1/3 poblano pepper, finely chopped
    2 cloves of garlic, minced
    1½ tblsp olive oil
    ¾ lb crab meat
    1 tsp dijon mustard
    ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
    1 egg, beaten
    1 tblsp Parmigiana Reggiano cheese, grated
    2 tsp fresh lemon juice
    1 stick unsalted butter melted


    NOTES: You can substitute the Poblano pepper with any color bell pepper, I just like the added spice of the Poblano.
     

    Pre-heat the oven to 375°F.

    Heat up a saute pan on medium low heat with 1 tblsp oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chopped onions, pepper and garlic, and a pinch of salt. Stir to coat with the oil and let soften for 2 minutes or so.

    Set the sauted vegetables on a plate spread out to cool. in a separate bowl add the crab meat, mustard, breadcrumbs, egg, cheese, melted butter and lemon juice. Mix together all the ingredients until they are mixed well. Don't forget to add in the cooled down onions, garlic and peppers.

    Grease a baking sheet or a baking dish with butter or olive oil. Give the fish a little salt and pepper or some cajun spice. Now depending on how you want to "stuff the sole" there are a few ways to do it.
    The first way is mound an egg shape size of stuffing on the dish or sheet and place the sole on top of it, smoothing down the sides of the fish over the edges of your stuffing mound.
    The second way lay the sole with the flat side up, place a handful of the stuffing in the center and wrap the fish around the stuffing, then place the either on their side with a toothpick holding the edge together or on the seam side down.
    The third way is the opposite of the first way, place the fish flat side down, mound an egg shaped handful of the stuffing on the center of the fish and spread out along the whole fish length.

    Bake center of the oven for 25-30 minutes. Serve with rice pilaf or some mashed potatoes.

  • Chimichuri Sauce

    chimichuri sauce
    Chimichuri Sauce
    Makes 1 cup
    ½ cup of Italian flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
    2 tablespoons finely minced fresh oregano
    4 garlic cloves, finely minced
    ½ cup finely minced green onions
    1 small red chili pepper (red Fresno or red Korean), deveined, seeds removed and finely diced (can be replaced with 1-2 teaspoons of chili pepper flakes)
    2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    ½ cup of olive oil
    Salt and pepper to taste
    pinch of ground cumin

    NOTES: Serve as an accompaniment to empanadas, or use as a marinade for beef.

    Mix all ingredients together, chill for 1/2 hour. Keeps for a week covered in the refrigerator.

  • English Crumpets

    English Crumpets
    English Crumpets
    (Makes 6)


    6.3 oz (180g) All-purpose flour
    1 cup (235g) Lukewarm water 104°F
    1 tsp (4g) Dry active yeast
    ½ tsp (4g) Salt
    1 tsp (4g) Baking powder
    1 tsp (6g) Sugar
    1 tblsp Olive oil and 1 oz soft butter, for greasing the crumpet rings


    NOTES: You will need 4 to 6 crumpet rings/molds for this recipe. You can freeze the crumpets after baking and cooling or keep them in your fridge until needed.
     

    Add the sugar and yeast to the warm water, mix well and allow the yeast to "proof" for 10 minutes until it foams up.

    After proofing the yeast add the yeast mixture to a bowl. Add the flour and salt to the bowl, and sift in the baking powder, pushing any lumps through with your fingers.

    Whisk the mixture for 2 minutes making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl down while whisking.
    (If you are using an electric whisk, beat for only 1 minute.)
    A final scraping down of the sides of the bowl again then cover the bowl with a tea towel, put it in a warm spot and let it rest for 45 minutes.

    At the end of the 45 minutes, heat up a large non stick frying pan to 375°F.
    Then add the olive oil and soft butter to a bowl, using a pastry brush coat the inside of one of the rings with the mixture, place the ring into the hot pan.

    Your crumpet mix should now be active and bubbly. Spoon the mixture into the hot ring halfway up. Do the same for 3 more rings but don’t overcrowd the pan, you need space to move the rings around.

    It is very important to keep the temperature constant at 375°F, any hotter the bottoms will burn before the tops get cooked. After 5 minutes you'll see the classic crumpet bubbles start to appear around the edges of the crumpets. Using a small pointy knife to pop any stubborn bubbles.

    Once the mixture has dried out around the edges, use an oven mitt to lift off the rings. Once you see that the middles are less gooey, you can carefully turn them over to brown the tops.

    When they're golden brown and delicious remove them from the pan and onto a wire rack to cool.

    To serve these crumpets, toast them for 3 minutes and top with your favorite topping(s) like butter or jam or butter and jam!

  • Fettuccine Broccoli Salad

    Fettucine Broccoli Salad

    Fettuccine Broccoli Salad


    (Serves 6-8)

    1 lb fettuccine pasta
    ¾ lb (12oz) broccoli florets
    1-2 tsp red peppers flakes
    1¼ tsp salt
    ½ tsp Tony Chachere's Cajun Spice
    fresh ground pepper
    3 tblsp virgin olive oil
    ¾ cup Parmesan cheese (Kraft is perfect, you want the cheese to be almost a powder)

    NOTES:

    In salted boiling water, blanch the broccoli florets for 30 seconds to a minute. Remove and cool down with running cold water, drain and set aside.

    I used the same water and dropped the fettuccine in for about 12 minutes. Make sure you stir the pasta often so it doesn't stick. When 'al dente' or to your liking, remove from boiling water and rinse in cold water, drain.

    In a large bowl combine the pasta, broccoli, olive oil, red pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, Tony Chachere's Cajun Spice. Toss until the pasta and broccoli are coated well with the cheese, olive oil and spices.

    Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
    Bon Appetite!

  • Red Sauce

    Red Sauce
    Red Sauce
    (Serves 4)


    10-12 Roma or Plum tomatoes, or, 1 can of crushed plum tomatoes, @24-28oz
    ½ red or white onion, minced fine
    cracked black pepper, to taste
    2 cloves of garlic, crushed and minced
    ¼ cup red wine, I prefer a Merlot, Cabernet or Shiraz
    2 tblsp olive oil
    salt, to taste
    2 tblsp fresh basil leaves, minced
    ¾ tblsp fresh oregano leaves, minced, preferably Greek
    1 ½ tblsp fresh marjoram leaves, minced, minced ½ tblsp fresh thyme leaves, minced
    1 tsp fresh rosemary leaves, minced
    1 tsp red pepper flakes
    1 tblsp Parmigiana Reggiano cheese, grated

    NOTES: Save the rind of your Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and use it, instead of the 1 tblsp fresh grated cheese, just remember to remove it from the sauce before you serve it!
    If you're using fresh whole tomatoes, here's what you do:
    • Cut the core out the stem area of each tomato [How to Link]
    • Score the bottom of the tomato with a sharp knife in the shape of an X [How to Link]
    • In a pot of boiling water, drop the tomatoes in for 15-45 seconds
    • You will know when they are ready to come out because the skin will split where you scored them
    • Remove from the hot water and place in an ice bath, which is a large bowl or sink filled with ice and cold water
    • After 30 seconds or so, peel the skin from the tomatoes, throw the peels away
    • Now chop the tomatoes into small ¼ inch chunks, like a large salsa cut
    • Hold tomatoes in a non-reactive bowl, like a glass bowl

    If you are using the canned crushed tomatoes, here's what you do: open the can.

    Lets get this sauce cooking! In a large skillet or pot, on medium heat, add &frac; your olive oil, let it warm up, then add your chopped onions, simmer until they are translucent, about 5-8 minutes, add the other 1 tblsp olive oil, let warm then add the minced garlic, stir and cook for about 1 minute.

    Do not let your garlic get browned! At this point add in your tomato product, juice and all.

    Now pour in the ¼ cup of wine over the sauteed onions and garlic. Give it a stir and add in your fresh spices, basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, rosemary and marjoram. Stir well. Add in your rind of Parmigiano Reggiano or your fresh grated cheese. Stir and let simmer on low heat until the tomatoes break down and are virtually mush. About 20 minutes or so.

    Have a taste. Need salt? Yup, add in a small amount at first, perhaps a tsp. Taste again. adjust salt if necessary. Add some fresh cracked black pepper if you desire.

    If you used the cheese rind, remove it now and serve over fresh hot pasta or use with a delicious lasagna!
    Enjoy!

  • Red Sauce (Fast Version)

    Red Sauce (Fast Version)
    Red Sauce (Fast Version)
    (Serves 4)


    1 can Hunts tomato Paste, 6oz
    1 tsp onion flakes, dried
    cracked black pepper, to taste
    1-2 cloves of garlic, crushed and minced
    ¼ cup red wine, I prefer a Merlot, Cabernet or Shiraz
    1 tblsp olive oil
    ½ cup chicken stock, optional
    salt, to taste
    1 tsp basil leaves, dried
    1 tblsp Italian Spice mix, dried
    1 tsp red pepper flakes
    1 tblsp Parmigiana Reggiano cheese, grated

    NOTES: Save the rind of your Parmigiana Reggiano cheese and use it, instead of the 1 tblsp fresh grated cheese, just remember to remove it from the sauce before you serve!

    In a large skillet or sauce pan, on medium to low heat, add the olive oil, let it warm up, then add the minced garlic, stir and cook for about 1 minute.

    Do not let your garlic get browned! At this point add in your tomato paste. Let it 'brown' for 30 seconds and flip it to the other side and do the same, this will bring out a more pronounced tomato flavor. Do not let your garlic get browned!

    Now pour in the ¼ cup of wine over the tomato paste and garlic. Give it a stir and add water or chicken stock while stirring with a whisk. You want just enough to thin it out and a little more that will cook out. Now add in your Italian Spice and red pepper flakes, stir well. Add in your rind of Parmigiana Reggiano or your fresh grated cheese. Stir and let simmer on low heat. About 5 minutes or so.

    Have a taste. Need salt? Yup, add in a small amount at first, perhaps a tsp. Taste again. adjust salt if necessary. Add some fresh cracked black pepper if you desire.

    If you used the cheese rind, remove it now and serve over fresh hot pasta or use with a delicious lasagna!
    Enjoy!

  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts

    Roasted Brussels Sprouts

    Roasted Brussels Sprouts


    (Serves 4)

    1¼ lbs Brussels sprouts (@20-25)
    1 tsp Tony Chachare's Creole Spice
    1 tsp olive oil

    NOTES:

    Split the Brussels sprouts in half, put into a steamer basket and steam for 7 minutes.

    Drain and remove from the steamer.

    In a large fry pan over very high heat, add your olive oil, when it starts to smoke through in the Brussels sprouts and then toss with the spice and let sit for 20-30 seconds, until it gets a nice caramelization on the bottom. Flip over and bronze the other side or just serve.

  • Salsa (Pico de Gallo)

    Salsa (Pico de Gallo)
    Salsa (Pico de Gallo / Salsa Fresco)
    (Serves 10-12)


    6 Roma Tomatoes, cut very small (1/8th x 1/8th)
    2 jalapeno peppers, cut very small, keep seeds
    1 Serrano chili, cut very small, keep seeds (optional)
    1 red onion, minced
    1 tblsp olive oil
    1 lemon, juiced
    fresh black pepper, to taste
    1 bunch cilantro, minced
    1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
    2 tsp salt


    NOTES:I like mine cut small but if you like larger chunks, feel free! Something I learned recently, raw salsa, aka Salsa Cruda, is not really called a salsa, they call this Pico de Gallo or Salsa Fresco. A cooked salsa, would be one where the tomatoes and chilies have been boiled or roasted and typically blended. Use as a topping for cooked fish, chips and salsa, filling for burritos and tacos. If you threw these ingredients into a blender, you'd have Salsa Roja, less chunky and slightly more watery.
     

    In a large bowl combine everything. Easy.

    Mix well.

    Now comes the waiting part. The salt will need time to break down the tomatoes and produce that yummy liquid in salsa. You can come back and stir it every half hour until a taste test reveals, deliciousness. For best results let sit covered in the fridge for 1 hour or more.

    Stores a week in the fridge.

  • Salty Hot Pepper Side

    Salty Hot Pepper Side
    Salty Hot Pepper Side
    (Makes 6-8 oz)

    12 Serrano Chilies
    3 cloves garlic, minced fine
    4 tblsp Sambal Oelek chili sauce
    ¼ cup soy sauce
    2 tsp salt
    1 tblsp olive oil

    NOTES: I started making this for a rice dish I was trying to mimic called 'spicy crispy chicken over rice'. The chicken was easy, make nuggets deep fried. The rice even easier... make rice. The trick I found was this tiny amount of salty spicy mix that there was never enough of! Here is my version of that salty spicy mix!

    In a medium sauce pan add the olive oil, when warm, add the sliced Serrano chili peppers. Sprinkle half the salt, 1 tsp, over the peppers. Cook down until soft, about 3 minutes, then let some get a tiny bit crispy, mix well. At this point add in the minced garlic and the last tsp of salt. Stir. let saute for 2 minutes. add in the Sambal Oelek, mix then add the soy sauce. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes. (the longer the more concentrated the saltiness). Use with your favorite recipes that call for some heat! Good in cheese dips, salads, pastas, breads spreads, etc! Enjoy!
    Store in refrigerator in small Tupperware covered containers.

  • Seafood Paella

    Seafood Paella
    Seafood Paella
    (Serves 4-6)


    2 tblsp olive oil
    5 or 6 roasted piquillo peppers, cut into strips
    1 bell pepper, diced
    12 oz sofrito
    1½ cups Valencia rice
    ½ tsp saffron
    4 cups seafood broth, or chicken broth
    1 lb fresh seafood (mussels, shrimp, clams, scallops, octopus, squid)
    2 oz dried Spanish chorizo, sliced thin, optional
    lemon wedges for service


    NOTES: Bomba, Valencia or Calasparra Rice is best. Arborio rice would be used in a pinch but gets creamy when stirred. The "pegado" (stuck) or "raspa" (scrape) rice on the bottom edge is the most sought after and flavorful!

    Heat the olive oil in the paella pan and saute the bell pepper. Add the sofrito and simmer for 5 minutes.
    Add the rice and distribute evenly. Crush the saffron lightly and add it to the pan.
    add the heated broth slowly, do not stir the rice after this point. After 10 more minutes, add the seafood and piquillo peppers into the mixture. Once the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes, remove from heat, cover with foil and let sit 10 minutes, garnish with lemon wedges and serve.

  • Sofrito

    Sofrito
    Sofrito
    (Makes @43 oz)


    5 medium white onions, diced
    5 cloves of garlic
    1 red bell pepper
    1 green bell pepper
    ½ cup olive oil
    2 oz tomato paste


    NOTES:

    Add olive oil to a medium low heated pan, add everything but the tomato paste and saute until soft and carmelized lightly, about 30 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and heat for another 5 minutes.

  • Vindaloo

    Vindaloo
    Vindaloo
    (Serves 4-6)


    (Toast the first eight(8) spices listed)
    4 large Dried Chili Pods
    2 or 3 Green Cardamom Pods
    1 tsp Coriander Powder
    5 or 6 whole cloves
    1 tsp Cumin Seeds
    1 tsp Black Peppercorns
    ½ Cinnamon Stick
    1 tsp Black Mustard Seeds

    ½ tsp Paprika
    1 tsp Turmeric

    3 Tblsp Olive oil
    ¼ cup diced onions

    6 Garlic Cloves
    1 inch Piece of Ginger

    1 Tblsp Tomato Paste
    ½ Cup Chicken Stock
    1/4 Cup White Wine Vinegar
    1 Can Coconut Milk
    1 tsp Sugar

    Optional
    Cooked garbanzo beans
    Cooked Black Beans
    Dal, read the package for cooking time, anything over 30 minutes should perhaps be almost cooked before adding into the vindaloo
    Small diced potatoes or potatoes chunks that are almost cooked
    Chicken, Pork, Lamb or Beef, best to sear the outsides of these before dropping them in the vindaloo
    Shrimp
    Peas
    Paneer (Indian Cheese)

    NOTES: I like to mix my dried chilies, depending on their level of heat. You can start off with chilies that aren't so hot and after making the recipe once adjust the heat to your level. If you're using (boneless) meat, like lamb, chicken, pork or beef cubes, I usually sear the outsides of the meat in a hot pan before adding it to the sauce. For grinding the whole spices into powder, I use a cheap $20 coffee grinder that I dedicate to spices only.
     

    Toast the first 8 whole spices in a medium/low pan just until they are about to smoke or you can smell them.
    Grind the spices, and when your done add to it the turmeric and paprika, mix together. Occasionally I will use a smoked paprika, especially when I crank the spice level up!


    Mince the garlic and ginger, set aside.

    Mix the tomato paste, chicken stock, white wine vinegar and sugar together and set aside.

    Open the can of coconut milk and set aside.
    In a large skillet (12-14"), at medium heat, add the olive oil and when warm, throw in the chopped onions and saute for 3 or 4 minutes.
    Now add the minced garlic/ginger mix and saute for another 3 minutes.

    Now stir in the spices, mix well and cook for about 1 minute
    Now stir in the tomato paste, mix slightly, add the chicken stock, coconut milk, white wine vinegar and sugar and stir until mixed well.

    If you wanted to add garbanzo beans, diced potatoes or meat, you can do so now.

    Cook the sauce down on simmer, until it thickens, anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on what you added to the mix.

    For instance if I use boneless lamb cubes, I sear them, set them aside, and then add olive oil, the onions, after adding the meat back in at this stage, I cover with tinfoil (due to tougher meat, the lamb, being added), bring down the heat to simmer, then 30 minutes later I taste test, usually nice and tender at this point, I'll start the rice and spoon out any lamb fat that has risen to the top.

    Serve with Basmati Rice and a side of Naan bread.