Recipes

Chole

We loved Chetna Makan on "Great British Bake Off" and her first cookbook, The Cardamom Trail was full of many flavorful and stunningly photographed dishes. For Chai, Chaat & Chutney: a street food tour through India, she returned home to India and the street food that she grew up on. The book has four chapters that are organized by cities that make up the four corners of India - Chennai, Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta), Mumbai and Delhi. The fifth chapter? All masala and chutney recipes. Some recipes will look or sound familiar, others will not...but the photos and descriptions of the food will make you want to eat (or drink!) all of them. If you love Indian food or any form of street food, this is the cookbook for you! This recipe is a wonderful example how curries in the North of India use lots of fragrant and aromatic spices to make this mouth-watering vegetarian curry made with chickpeas.From the author: "One of the ultimate curries of the North, this chickpea curry is often paired with Bhatura, a deep-fried flatbread sold piping hot originally on the streets of Delhi but, now, all over the country. This combination should be on everyone’s must-try list when visiting India. You can keep it light by eating this curry with rice or chapatti, if preferred."

Fried Eggplant Roll-Ups

One of the countries in the Persian culinary region that has colorful and flavorful food is Georgia. Nestled between the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea, Georgia has a climate similar to the Mediterranean's, and a love of vegetables blended with walnuts and vibrant herbs. This recipe from Naomi Duguid's book Taste of Persia shows up how the combination of eggplant and a rich walnut paste can make for one delicious dish. From the author: "These succulent roll-ups are one of the treasures of the Georgian table. Strips of fried eggplant are coated with spiced walnut paste and rolled up. They're best if made an hour or more ahead of time and slightly chilled, so that the filling firms up and the flavors have time to blend. Badrigiani make a great appetizer, though in Georgia they are usually served as part of a wide selection of dishes at a meal."

Summer Squash Soup

Summer squash soup? What a revelation! This soup is light and lemony, with a delightful range of flavors from our Emerald City Seasoning. Lemon thyme and chives are paired with pink and green peppercorn for a mild seasoning that allows the yellow squash to shine through. A quick and easy cook time yields this beautiful dish that is very refreshing on a hot summer day. You can serve it lightly chilled or gently warmed alongside other summer favorites.

Shawarma Spice Marinade

2 hrs, 5 min

Our Shawarma Spice is the not-so-secret ingredient in this simple marinade for chicken shawarma. Use it on on chicken, lamb, beef or even cauliflower to infuse the meat (or veggie) with incredible flavors. Serve for an easy weeknight supper with a simple salad or as the star of a Middle Eastern feast with all the trimmings from hummus to saffron rice.

Bread & Butter Pickles

Growing up in the South, Heather Earnhardt used to help her Granny in the kitchen whenever she would can, pickle or preserve fruit and vegetables in the summer. Big Food Big Love: Down Home Southern Cooking Full of Heart of Seattle's Wandering Goose has a whole chapter called "All About the Pickles: Jar it Up". One of her most popular is this quick-pickle version of Bread & Butter Pickles. This recipe that you'll want to make over and over again comes from Heather L. Earnhardt's Big Food Big Love: Down Home Southern Cooking Full of Heart of Seattle's Wandering Goose.From the Author: "Our front-of-house staff asks the kitchen for sides of these pickles with their meal. They're great for gifting to friends and family. You can find a crinkle cutter at kitchen supply stores or online; if you don't have one, regular slices are just fine."

Golden Milk

Golden Milk is a delightful warm, spiced beverage often sipped before bed for its healing properties. The key ingredients are milk and turmeric, and from there variations abound! Most begin with a non-dairy milk and a healthy dose of turmeric, along with other spices to round out the flavor. Our favorite begins with a base of DIY cashew/coconut milk for pure creamy goodness, and we've blended in the spices with the making of the milk so there's no straining later on. No muss, no fuss and maximum flavor!

Osaka Miso Dressing

I've been spending lots of quality time with Osaka Seasoned Salt lately. Its just so darn cheerful I keep coming back to it! It started when I put this perky seasoning on steamed broccoli with lemon juice and sesame oil, creating a simply spiced combination that became a go-to for lunch. Then on to ramen and 6 minute eggs, fabulous! So I was having Osaka Salt for breakfast too. And now the Osaka Miso Dressing. This stellar flavor combination has been gracing many a crunchy salad and stir-fry this spring and that pushed it over the top. Osaka Salt is now on my desert island spice list.In this dressing, the flavors come together beautifully. It is light and intense, with a strong presence of ginger leading the way. There's just enough toasted sesame to be noticed without overpowering and the vegetal and sesame flavors of the Osaka Salt play right along. This dressing is NOT ginger shy, so cut back a little if you'd like a milder version. Enjoy it on vegetables, noodles or to dress chicken or tuna salad.

Mummy's Nutty Saffron Rice

If you're looking for a spectacular side dish, perfect for any dinner, look no further than this delicious Saffron Rice. It's easier to make than you might think...but you don't have to let anyone know that. We saw this dish in Summers Under The Tamarind Tree: Recipes and memories from Pakistan, and knew that we had to get permission from author Sumayya Usmani to share it with everyone.From the Author: " I was never fond of raisins and rice as a child, but as my taste buds matured, I realized that my mother's Persian-influenced recipe is a spectacular yet simple midweek rice dish, a good accompaniment...The saffron is infused in the water that cooks the rice, much like a pulao, and it gives the final dish a rather elegant biryani look."

Szechuan Crisp Fried Wild Mushrooms

Coming out of such a vast country, authentic Chinese home cooking means different things to different people. This gorgeous Szechuan Crisp Fried Wild Mushrooms recipe from Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees by Kian Lam Kho, is just the thing to expand your understanding of Chinese Cooking. Included with this dish is a recipe for an addictive Szechuan Spiced Salt, which lends itself to endless creative possibilities.From the Author: "The batter used in this recipe is based on Japanese tempura batter. It is light and crisp while having the effect of bringing out the mushroom flavor. But the spicy and numbing flavor of the Szechuan spiced salt, made with dried red chile and Sichuan peppercorns, is all Chinese. This is a great vegetarian finger food for a party."