RECIPE: Easy GF Lamb Merguez Meatballs

I needed a quick dinner idea and had one pound of ground lamb in the fridge that needed to be used,  so I came up with this quick version using Moroccan seasoning.

Quick & Easy GF Lamb Merguez Meatballs

Makes 30-40 meatballs depending on size

1 pound ground lamb
2 small eggs
1 T. ground chia seeds or 4 t. whole
1 t. salt or to taste
1 t. harissa or to taste
2-4 t. berbere seasoning*
1 t. minced parsley
1 t. minced cilantro
1 t. minced mint

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a small bowl, beat the eggs until the white disappears.  Stir in everything except the lamb and let it sit for 10 minutes until the chia has been hydrated.

Stir in the lamb.  Cook a little and taste for seasoning.

Using a 1" disher (#100), drop onto a small baking sheet.  Cook for 7-10 minutes.  We like them a little on the rare size and use 7 minutes.

Remove from oven and let them sit for 1-2 minutes.

Serve with basmati rice and a green vegetable (I served asparagus).  They're also delicious with Moroccan Salad with Orange and Cilantro.

Optional, cucumber yogurt and/or humus.

This blog post recommends Tablas Creek Terret Noir wine as the perfect pairing for this recipe!


* A friend made this recipe and found that 4 t. berbere was too much for her.  If your tolerance for spicy hot food is low, then use less, or omit the harissa.  

RECIPE: Beef Fried Rice

I've been trying to incorporate more vegetables into our diet, something I struggle with in winter.  I developed this recipe to use up leftovers and it was really tasty...

Veggie-heavy Beef Fried Rice  

Serves 4

• 2 cups leftover cooked rice (I used basmati)
• 2 cups raw beef steak, sliced thin  (I used tenderloin, you can use flank/skirt steak or ribeye)
• 4 eggs, scrambled
• 2 large onions, diced 1/4"
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 1 c. green veggies (I used peas, you can use broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, bell peppers, etc...)
• 1/4 c. ghee, divided
• 2 T. water, divided
• 1 T. toasted sesame oil, divided
• 2 T. garlic coconut aminos
• 1 T. South River tamari (made without soy!), divided
• Opt: pinch baking soda for tougher cuts of meat
• Opt: red pepper flakes
• Himalayan pink salt

If you're using flank or skirt steak, please use these instructions for the proper way to cut it.

Mix beef with 1 T. water, 1 t. sesame oil, 1 T. aminos, and 1 t. tamari.  Add baking soda if you're using a tougher cut of meat - it will tenderize it.  Set aside while you chop the veggies.

In a small bowl mix remaining 1 T. water, 2 t. sesame oil, 1 T. aminos, and 2 t. tamari.  Set aside.

In a large saute pan, melt 1 T. ghee over high heat.  Add meat to pan and saute until 1/2 cooked, about 2 minute.  It should still be pink in the middle.  Remove to the bowl you marinated it in.

Reduce heat to med-high and melt another 1 T ghee.  Add onions and saute until translucent.  Add carrots, green veggies, and optional hot pepper flakes and saute until they're crisp-tender.  Peas took about 5 minutes.

Push vegetables to the side of the pan, melt another 1 T. ghee in the center, and add the rice.   Saute, turning constantly, until warmed through.  Mix with the veggies and push everything to the sides of the pan.

Reduce heat to medium and melt the last 1 T. ghee in the center.  Add the eggs and let them sit until they coagulate into an omelet.  Stir to break the omelet into smaller pieces and then stir these into the rice mixture.

Add the reserved beef and the reserved sauce. Stir until the beef is heated through.  Adjust salt and serve.

I served it with Bok Choi Salad.

RECIPE: Belgian Endive with Celeriac Puree, Walnuts, and Red Pepper

Belgian endive is one of my FAVORITE winter appetizers!  This recipe was adapted to use either celeriac or parsnips, both of which are available in our farm store over the winter.  Since I try and use farm products as much as possible, I also substituted roasted red peppers (which I store in the freezer) for fresh.  (There is no endive in the farm store at the moment so I will update the photo later with one of my own.)

Original Recipe: Endive, Cannellini and Walnut Appetizers

Belgian Endive with Celeriac, Walnuts, and Red Pepper

Makes 30

Tikkido's Endive and Walnut Appetizers

• 2 c. celeriac puree (or parsnip puree)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 T. EVOO
• 2 T. fresh lemon juice
• 
  
• 30 Belgian endive leaves
• 1/4 c. walnuts, toasted and chopped
• 1/4 c. roasted red bell pepper or sun dried tomatoes, chopped (or fresh, if you prefer)

Puree the celeriac, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice in a blender or food processor.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Spoon into endive leaves, top with walnuts and red pepper or sun dried tomato.

RECIPE: Chicken Salad with Pear and Rosemary

The weather has just cooled down - highs in the 50's rather than the 70's - so I wanted to use fall seasoning in the chicken salad.  Noticing a pear on the counter that needed to be consumed I decided to use it, because I think chicken salad always tastes better with some kind of fruit...

Chicken Salad with Pear and Rosemary

Makes 3 cups

• 2 cups leftover cooked chicken, shredded
• 1/2 c. homemade mayonnaise (if you use purchased mayonnaise you may need more*)
• 2 T. minced red onion
• 2 T. minced celery
• 1-2. seeded and minced jalapeno pepper
• 1 pear, peeled and diced 1/4"
• 1/4 t.. ground rosemary
• himalayan pink salt to taste
• OPT: 1/4 c toasted walnuts, chopped

Mix everything together, adjusting the jalapeno and salt to your taste. 



*My homemade mayonnaise is quite loose, not stiff like most purchased mayonnaise.  The one time I used avocado mayonnaise I needed more than I normally use.

RECIPE: Pork Coddled in Olive Oil

This recipe is from Paula Wolfert's WONDERFUL, The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen, one of my favorite cookbooks.  There are hundreds of recipes in this book that are as good as this one.  Unfortunately, Ms. Wolfert suffers from dementia, so please buy the book and support her!

When I need an impressive recipe that can be made ahead this is the one I use because it is so SO delicious!   I've made a few changes to the original that work better with the pastured pork we get from our farm.  If I'm able to get two pork shoulders, I double the recipe.

Original Recipe : Pork Coddled in Olive Oil

Pork Coddled in Olive Oil 

with Tuscan Beans and Arugula

Serves 4 

2 1/4 pounds pork shoulder or butt
1 T. coarse salt (I use 2 t. himalayan pink salt)
1 T. crushed black peppercorns
2 imported bay leaves, crushed to a powder, or 1/4 t. powdered bay leaves
1/2 t. bruised fennel seeds
2 sprigs thyme, or 1/4 t. dry
2 c. plus EVOO
1 small head garlic, halved
For Serving:
1 small red onion, sliced paper thin
2.5 t. red wine vinegar
Tuscan Beans (recipe follows) or one 29oz can cannellini beans
2 large bunches arugula

Trim away all fat, sinew, and membrane from the pork.  Cut the meat into 1-inch chunks.  In a large  bowl, toss the meat with the salt, peppercorns bay leaves, fennel and thyme.  Massage the seasonings into the pork, seal or cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.  (If I'm pressed for time, I will pack the pork into the pot I'll be cooking it in, and leave it at room temperature for an hour instead of refrigerating it overnight.)

Without draining the meat,squeeze the pieces into a medium ceramic or enameled cast-iron casserole in a single layer.  Pour on 2 cups of olive oil, making sure it gets under the pork.  Add the halved head of garlic (I separate the cloves and bury them among the meat).  Cover with a sheet of crumpled parchment paper and a lid and place in a cold oven.

Turn the oven to 275F (yes, 275F, this cooks on very low heat) and cook for 3 hours.  Check that the oil bubbles only a little, the meat should not brown.  To test if it's ready, scoop out one piece and tap it lightly; it should break into smaller chunks and be a soft pink color.  Remove from the oven and let stand until completely cool.

Raw on the left.................cooked on the right

Drain the pork into a colander set over a bowl.  Discard the garlic (I save it and use to flavor mayonnaise or salad dressing) and thyme.  Allow the juices to settle, then pour off the oil.  Add 3 T. of the flavored oil to the juices and store the juices separately.  Refrigerate for up to 5 days, making sure the pork is completely covered in oil, adding additional fresh if necessary.

Reheat the pork slowly, making sure it never boils!  I don't even let it come to a simmer.

At the same time, soak the red onion in the vinegar for 30 minutes.  In a large bowl, mix the beans with the reserved juices, the vinegar, and the red onions.

To serve, mound the arugula on a plate, spoon the beans on top, then scatter the pork over all.  Save any leftover oil - it's wonderful to dip bread into or as a base for salad dressing.

NOTE: Ms. Wolfert recommends mounding the beans on the platter, scattering the pork on top, and then sprinkling with the onions and arugula.  

Tuscan Beans

2 c. dried cannellini beans
2 garlic cloves peeled
1 dried hot red pepper
2 bay leaves
Himalayan pink salt
Freshly ground pepper

Soak the beans in cold water to cover by at least 2" for at least 12 hours or overnight.  Drain the beans.

Place the beans in a large pot and cover with 3 quarts of fresh cold water. Slowly bring to a boil, skimming once or twice.  Add the garlic, hot pepper, and bay leaves, and cook over lowest heat until tender, about 3 hours.

Drain the beans and discard the hot pepper and bay leaves.  Cool to room temperature and season with salt and pepper.  If beans are made ahead and refrigerated, return to room temperature before serving.

RECIPE: North African Couscous

Couscous is traditionally steamed over the pot in which the meat and vegetables are cooking, and is more toothsome than the instant varieties generally available, but it's become nearly impossible to find.  I FINALLY found some TRADITIONAL, ORGANIC North African couscous at Chefshop!  (They also sell harissa, if you don't want to make your own.)

Rather than steam it in a couscousier, which is a real pain, I followed the recipe on the Chefshop website, purportedly from Joyce Goldstein, and it worked like a charm.  Her recipe uses 3 cups of couscous but I've dropped it down to 1 cup, which is easily scaled up.

How to cook North African Couscous Without Steaming 

Serves 2

1 cup North African couscous (NOT instant!)
1.5 cups water
1 t. EVOO
1/2 t. himalayan pink salt

Spread couscous in a flat bottom pan.  Bring the water to a boil and season with EVOO and salt.  Pour over couscous, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit until absorbed 10-30 minutes.

Rake with a fork, or break up with your hands, and serve immediately.

RECIPE: Vegetarian Couscous with Seven Vegetables

This recipe, also from Paula Wolfert's book Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco, is usually made with beef or lamb, but I needed it to be vegetarian so I eliminated the meat, doubled the vegetables, and added a few spices to compensate for the lost umami.  I found no meat-free couscous recipes in her book and had to improvise. 

I've made this several times now and use whatever vegetables I have on hand - radishes, green beans, butternut squash, etc....  The only veg you must have are garlic, tomatoes, onions, carrots and zucchini.

Vegetarian Couscous with Seven Vegetables

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 1/2c. butter or ghee
• pinch pulverized saffron
• 1/2 t. ground turmeric
• 1/2 t. ground ginger
• 1/2 t. ground coriander
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• small bundle fresh parsley and cilantro tied with a thread 
• 4 t. salt
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped, or 2 t. garlic powder
• 4-5 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and quartered (I used canned)
• 4 medium yellow onions, quartered
• 2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced into 1.5" lengths
• 2 pounds turnips or radishes, peeled and cut into 1.5" lengths
• 2 pounds zucchini and/or summer squash washed and cut into 2" lengths
• 1 pound pumpkin, butternut or potato, peeled, cut into 2" chunks, and steamed
  
• 2-3 quarts water or vegetable stock
• 1 fresh chili pepper
• Handful of black raisins
• 22oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed* 

For serving: 

• 3 cups couscous, cooked using the broth from the vegetables** (I use quinoa for our gluten-free friends)
  
• 1 T. melted butter or ghee
• 1 t. harissa 
• 1 T. lemon juice
• 1 T. EVOO
• Pinch of cumin

In a large stock pot, melt the butter or ghee over medium heat and add the spices, herbs, garlic, onions, and tomatoes.  Cover and cook gently for 10 minutes.  Add 2 quarts water or vegetable stock.

(If you're using dry chickpeas, add the soaked and drained chickpeas here.  Add an additional 1 quart water, cover and simmer for 1 hour.)

Add the carrots and turnips.  Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add the zucchini, fresh chili pepper, raisins and canned chickpeas.  Add another quart of water if necessary to keep the vegetables submerged.  Cover and simmer another 20 minutes.

To serve:

Dump the couscous onto a serving dish and toss with 1 T. butter or ghee.  Spread out and form a large well in the center.  With a perforated spoon, transfer the vegetables into the well.  Add the cooked pumpkin/potatoes.  Taste the broth for seasoning, adjust and strain.

Mix one cup of broth with harissa, 1 T. lemon juice, 1 T. EVOO, and a pinch of cumin.

Moisten the grain with the remaining broth.  Serve with Harissa Sauce.

* If you want to use dry chickpeas, soak 1 cup overnight in 4 c. water, then drain and cook for 1 hour in the tomato/onion broth before adding the carrots and turnips.

** Couscous is normally cooked in a colander OVER the simmering vegetables.  Because that requires special equipment, I prefer to cook the grains in a separate pot using the broth from the vegetables.  Once the vegetables are cooked, I skim off enough broth to cook the grains, and keep the vegetables warm while they cook.  In the photo below, they're shown over quinoa.

7-vegetables over quinoa "couscous"

RECIPE: Kuku Sabzi

There has been lots of chard in the farm store lately, so I Google'd for recipes and found this, which sounded delicious to me.  In reality, it was addicting!  I couldn't get enough of it. 

Once again, I combined two recipes, adding the chard from the first, and using the second for the seasoning and easier cooking method.  If you don't use chard, the second recipe is much easier overall.

Original recipes: Splendid Table and The Mediterranean Dish

Kuku Sabzi (Chard and Herb Fritata)

Serves: 4-6

• 2 bunches green chard, washed, stems removed and chopped into 1/4" dice
• 1 large leek, washed and sliced 1/4" thick  (I used green onions)
• 7 T. butter, ghee, or Spanish or Greek EVOO
• 2 cups finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems*
• 1 cups finely chopped flat leaf parsley leaves and tender stems
• 1 cups finely chopped dill leaves and tender stems
• 6 large eggs
• 1.5 t. baking powder (I didn't use this)
• 1 t. himalayan pink salt
• 3/4 t. grond green cardamom
• 3/4 t. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t. ground cumin
• 1/4 t. black pepper (I used cayenne)
• 1/2 c. walnuts, toasted and chopped (optional)
• 1/3 c. dried cranberries, coarsely chopped (optional)

Position an oven rack in the upper-middle position and heat to 375F.  Fit a piece of parchment paper into an 8" square or 9" round cake pan (original recipe calls for cutting the paper to fit the bottom of the pan, but my cake pans are aluminum and I didn't want the fritata touching the sides so I just folded and pressed the parchment to cover the sides as well.  I didn't coat the paper with EVOO and had no trouble removing it.  The second time I made this, I baked it in a ceramic baking dish with no parchment and had no trouble removing it). 

Saute the chard leaves in 1 T. fat until wilted.  Remove to a strainer.

Add another 3 T fat to the pan and saute the sliced leeks and chard stems over medium heat until tender and translucent.  Stir from time to time, add a splash of water if needed, or cover with a piece of parchment paper to entrap steam and prevent color from developing.

Meanwhile, squeeze the cooked chard leaves dry and discard the liquid.

In a food processor, combine the cooked chard leaves, parsley, cilantro and dill with the remaining 3 T. fat and process until finely ground. 

When the leeks and chard stems are cooked, add them to the greens.  Let everything cool a bit and then use your hands to mix everything evenly.  Taste and season generously knowing you're about to add a bunch of eggs to the mixture.

Recipe can be prepared ahead to this point.  Greens can be refrigerated for 3 days.

In a medium bowl, whisk the baking powder, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin and pepper.  Add 2 eggs and whisk until blended, then add the remaining eggs and whisk until just combined.  Fold into the herb mixture.   Add walnuts and cranberries if using.  Pour into prepared pan and smooth the top.

Bake in 375F preheated oven until the center is firm, about 20-25 minutes.

Let the kuku cool in the pan fro 10 minutes.  Invert the pan onto a plate and peel off the parchment.  Slice and serve warm or at room temperature with a dollop of yogurt or labneh (yogurt cheese).

* if you don't like cilantro, eliminate it and increase the other herbs by 1c. each.

Photo courtesy of The Mediterranean Dish

RECIPE: Moroccan Kefta (Beef Meatballs)

The original recipe is from Paula Wolfert's book Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco.  I used her seasoning mix but changed the procedure somewhat.  In Morocco, the meat is kneaded to produce a fine texture; I used the food processor.  You can make these without the breadcrumbs and eggs but they will not be as moist.

Moroccan Kefta (Beef Meatballs)

Makes sixty 1.5" meatballs

• 2 pounds ground beef 
• 1/2 c. fresh breadcrumbs (pulse bread in food processor until finely ground) 
• 2 eggs
• 1 medium onion
• 1/2 c. coarsely chopped parsley leaves and small stems
• 1/3 c. coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves and small stems
• 1/2 t. dried Moroccan mint or 2 T. fresh mint
• 1/4 t. dried marjoram or 2 t. fresh
• 1 t. ground cumin
• 1 t. ras el hanout
• 2 t. himalayan pink salt

In the bowl of a food processor, process the onions and fresh herbs until both are finely minced.

Add the breadcrumbs, eggs and spices.  Puree.

Add the meat and pulse to combine and grind the meat a little finer.  Don't  overdo it - the meat shouldn't be mush!

Set aside for at least 1 hour to let the flavors ripen.

Preheat oven to 400 F and position rack in center.  Line a jell roll pan with parchment or Silpat.

Using a 1.5" disher, drop meat mixture onto the lined pan.  By placing them fairly close together I can get 60 meatballs onto one 12 x 17" pan (they're going to shrink, so they can almost touch).

Bake for 10 minutes.

Remove and let cool for a minute or two, then serve.  We like to dip them in Cilantro Jalapeno Sauce or harissa mayonnaise.

RECIPE: Muhammara Roasted Red Pepper & Walnut Spread

This unusual roasted-red-pepper-and-walnut concoction can be used as a dip, a sandwich spread, a pasta/pizza sauce, or a vegetable garnish!   I've wanted to make it for sooo long, and finally have all the required ingredients, like homemade pomegranate molasses and organic EV Spanish olive oil.

Original recipes (I combined them): Ottolenghi's Muhammara, Mediteranean Muhammara, Food52Muhammara

Muhammara Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip 

Makes 4 cups

4 large red bell peppers, roasted, peeled and seeded (OR one 7oz jar roasted piquillo peppers )
1 c. breadcrumbs (pulse dry/toasted bread in food processor until fine crumbs form)
8 oz walnut halves, toasted (or almonds, or cashews, or a combination)
2 cloves garlic, pressed or grated (might be good w black garlic?)
1/2 c. pomegranate molasses
1 T. balsamic vinegar (or lemon juice)
1/4 c. tomato paste
2 t. himalayan pink salt
2 t. ground toasted cumin
2 t. smoked paprika
2 t. sumac
1/2 t. cayenne or Aleppo pepper
1 c. Spanish olive oil, divided

1. Add the breadcrumbs and walnuts to the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender and pulse until the walnuts are finely chopped. 

2. Add 1/2 the olive oil and the remaining ingredients and process to a puree.  If it's too thick, add the remaining olive oil 2 T at a time.   The dip will be smoother if you use a high-speed blender.

3. Adjust seasoning and serve.

Ways to Use Muhammara (Pinterest)