Category: Recipes


Aug
2012

Cajun Salmon with peach Salsa

categories: Fish/Seafood, Meals, Recipes

It is the last few weeks of summer I am horrified (yes, horrified) at how quickly the summer went by. Asides from my week of vacation, I think Ive been in the sun for a total of 10 days. Sigh, the life of a medical student/netflix watcher (Buffy the Vampire slayer and Friday Night Lights 2 very different shows that live deep in my heart).

Asides from the earlier sunset, August also means its peach season. They are so fresh and sweet now that they add something special to any dish. You can go for the classic peach cobbler, or you can cut fresh peaches into a green salad (if you just came back from a heavy-eating vacation). In my case, I used sweet peaches to balance the spicy zing of my cajun salmon and it went perfectly.

This dish is a cajun spiced salmon with a fresh tasting peach salsa. You can buy cajun seasoning pre-made at your grocery store. No need to make a melange (thats french for mixture) of your own. And while the recipe calls for a peach salsa, I didnt cut my veggies and fruits into teensy tiny pieces Im rebellious. Conform if you wish.

cajun salmon with peach salsa

Cajun salmon with peach salsa

Ingredients: (for 4)

For the fish:

  • 4 salmon fillets
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp cajun seasoning (warning: it can be spicy!)
  • salt and pepper

Peach salsa:

  • 1 1/2 cups (finely) diced peach
  • 3/4 cup (finely) diced red pepper
  • 1/2 cup (finely) diced green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cups finely diced onions
  • 1/4 cup diced fresh cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon huice
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • salt and pepper
Directions:
  1. Heat BBQ to medium-high heat or turn on your Foreman grill/use your grill pan
  2. Brush the fish with olive oil. Spread the seasoning on a plate and dredge the fish through it, turning to coat (try to not have the seasoning too thick as it is spicy). Sprinkle salt and pepper on the fish.
  3. Grill fish, about 4 minutes per side or until fish is opaque in the centre.
  4. For the salsa: Combine the peach, peppers, onions and cilantro in a bowl. Mix together the lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper and pour onto salsa, stirring to combine.
  5. Serve fish with salsa on top and a sprig of cilantro for a beautifully served dish.

From: Panache cookbook (Best cookbook in my kitchen I have sited too many recipes already!)

Hope you enjoy this dish and your last few weeks of summer!

– Jennie


Apr
2012

Fattoush Salad

categories: Recipes, Side Dish, Vegetarian

Any of my friends in my medical class know how stressed out I am right now, because they are too. Now is the time to decide what we want to apply to next year. It is frightening.

What do you want to be when you grow up? The answer was easy when I was 10, but nowwell, im now hurtling towards my 30s (oh g-d) and I just dont want to answer that question. It comes with where will you live? Where will you work? Will you have a family?

So Ive decided to regress. Im taking a page out of my psychiatry textbook and pulling the defense mechanism card regression.

Example A: Ive made a a fattoush salad. Kinda sounds like fat tush.

Regardless of my current immaturity, fattoush is a lebanese salad that is lemony and tasty.I highly suggest you try it! The only odd ingredient is Sumac, and you can find it at any middle eastern grocery store or even your neighborhood grocery store (ive seen it at both!).

Fattoush Salad

Ingredients:

  • 2 whole wheat pita pocket breads, torn into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 gloves of garlic, chopped
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tsp powdered Sumac
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 heads of Romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup diced cucumber (english cucumber)
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves (can increase up to 1/2 cup)
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley (can increase up to 1/2 cup)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Spread the pita chips in a single layer on a baking sheet and baking for 10 minutes, or until dry. Cool.
  2. In a large bowl, combine lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, green onion, parsley and mint.
  3. For the dressing, combine the garlic, salt, sumac and lemon juice. Whisk in olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Add the bread to the salad before serving and toss the salad with the lemon dressing.
  5. Serve and enjoy! (can sprinkle individual plates with some extra sumac!)

Adapted from Kalyns Kitchen


Feb
2012

Best Ever Thai Tom Yum Soup

categories: Recipes, Soup, Vegetarian

Tom YUM soup. YUUUUUUUUUM.

I impressed myself with this soupI admit it, it was a surprise.

I love when I can surprise myself, its such a treat!

Its a pretty rare occasion because you obviously cant hide what youre thinking from yourselfor can you? Hopefully Ill find out the ways of the mind in my Psychiatry rotation next month! Woohoo.

Back to how impressive this soup is.

I bought a bunch of ingredients that I thought would go well into a thai-inspired soup. I decided to be adventurous and go sans-recipe into this spicy world, thats right This is a Jennie Original.

I figured if it didnt taste good I could add so much spice that all Ill taste is the flesh of my tongue. Tasty!

Lucky for me, this soup turned out to be so full of flavor (and heat of course) that I ate the entire pot of soup in less than 24 hours. I admit, I had nothing else in my fridge to eat (student life) but regardless, this soup was one of my favorite things Ive ever made. It was full of veggies, tofu, rice noodles and the broth was spicy with a touch of sweetness. Amazing.

Taking photos of this soup got a little wacky though. My mint kept posing on my furniture and begged me to snap photos of it. How weird is that? Does your mint do that too?

Thai Tom Yum Soup

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock)
  • 1 cup light coconut milk
  • juice of 2 limes
  • 2 pieces of lemongrass
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce (can use soy sauce instead)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp red curry paste (use 1 tbsp for less spicy)
  • 1 tsp garlic-chili sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Fresh ginger, sliced (about 1 tbsp)
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/2 small onion, sliced
  • 3 thai chilis, chopped (2 for less spicy)
  • 1 small tomato, diced
  • 1/2 cup bamboo shoots
  • 1/2 cup mini corn
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil
  • 1 cup sliced tofu (extra firm)
  • Rice noodles cooked (optional)
  • cilantro, green onion, mint and bean sprouts for garnish

Directions:

  1. In a large pot, mix together stock, coconut milk, garlic-chili sauce, basil, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, lemongrass, and ginger. Bring to boil on high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 15 minutes.
  2. Stir in red curry chili paste. Add tofu, mushrooms, corn, onion, bamboo shoots and chiles. Simmer another 15 minutes. Stir in tomato and cooked rice noodles.
  3. Before serving, remove lemongrass and ginger or you can eat around it.
  4. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with a handful of bean sprouts, green onion, mint and cilantro. Serve with a slice of lime.

Thai food is one of my favorite foods to eat (and cook!).

I hope you try out this soup, it really is great! Dont be scared to substitute or leave out ingredients use what you have on hand! Whatever ingredients you have left over you can use in this Thai Mango Salad!

Hope you enjoy!

– Jennie


Feb
2012

Curried Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

categories: Recipes, Soup, Vegetarian

I dont really like green soups.

Split pea, cream of broccolieek! I will RUN for the hills. (Dinner parties can get awkward when I suddenly disappear when green soup is served!)

I know its a strange statement to make is it the color greenor is it the specific vegetables used?

It may be my aversion to all things related to mucous ( yes, Im in medical school and I totally queeze at the site of mucous)if you see me, please cough the other way :) So I guess Im going to go with a thick soup consistency with a green color!

Since I dont like green soups, that knocks out a number of popular soups to make in my kitchen.

Orange soups thats where the money is! Give me an orange soup and Ill devour it in seconds. Ive previously made a Carrot ginger soup that was great, and now Ive made an identical looking but completely different tasting curried butternut squash and sweet potato soup.

The soup (as with most soup recipes I like) is fairly easy to put together and incredibly tasty. The spices add a hint of heat while the squash adds some sweetness. Once pureed you get a thick, smooth soup that is satisfying. I added in a dollop of yogurt when I served it. My friend (and neighbor) wasnt too keen on the yogurt idea but once she tasted it she was hooked it complements the heat of the soup well.

Curried Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp vegetable oil
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups sweet potato, peeled and chopped
  • 3 1/4 cups vegetable stock (can use chicken stock)
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/8 tsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1/2 cup light coconut milk (or 2% milk)
  • Salt and pepper

Garnish:

  • Plain yogurt
  • fresh basil
  • Cracked black pepper

Directions:

  1. Peel, seed and chop all vegetables.
  2. In a large nonstick saucepan, heat oil. Sauté garlic, onion and mushrooms until softened about 5 minutes.
  3. Add squash, sweet potato, vegetable stock, ginger, curry, cumin and paprika powders. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
  4. Purée in food processor or with hand blender until creamy and smooth. Stir in honey and milk, blending well. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Ladle into bowls and top with a dollop of plain yogurt, chopped fresh basil and freshly cracked black pepper.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Adapted from Rose Reisman Brings Home Light Cooking

Hope you try this soup out its a healthy and satisfying soup for a cold night!

– Jennie