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Easy Rigatoni (or any pasta)

February 7, 2017 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

This is the easiest pasta dish I know. At it’s simplest it’s pasta (of whatever kind you like) with garlic oil and hot red pepper. And the beauty of this dish is that you can innovate by adding whatever ingredients you need. The basic recipe is the same. The additions will give you the innovations you desire.

In the recipe given I used rigatoni (they were on sale at the supermarket and I said, What the hell, let’s go with it). That’s why I call the dish “Easy Rigatoni.” But you can use string types like spaghetti or linguini; or tubular ones like ziti, rotini, or even plain elbow noodles. So the dish can be can be Easy Angle Hair, Easy Perciatelli (or Bucatini), Easy Fettuccini, etc. The choices are infinite. Also, to the base recipe I added onion, black olives and, of course, Parmesan cheese (you can substitute Romano or Asiago). If you like, you can add seafood or meat, or whatever strikes your fancy. Or keep it plain and simple. It’ll still be worth the effort, which is minimal.

EASY RIGATONI

1 pound box rigatoni
1/2 cup olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons
1 medium onion, peeled and slice into thin rings
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 small hot red pepper, seeded and crumbled into tiny pieces
1 5.75-oz. can large or jumbo black olives, drained and sliced in half
Parmesan cheese

1. Cook rigatoni in salted water according to package directions.
2. While pasta is cooking, heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent.
3. Add garlic and hot red pepper, and cook about 2 minutes more.
4. Drain rigatoni, stir in garlic/hot sauce. Add two tablespoons olive oil, mix well, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Crab Cakes

January 19, 2017 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

Put crab cakes on a restaurant menu, and it’s gonna sell out pretty quick. They’re a favorite all season long. Crab cakes are actually a type of fish cake popular through out the U.S. The ingredients may vary but every recipe I’ve come across always contain bread crumbs, mayonnaise and eggs. And then you can add whatever seasonings desired. So, don’t be shy, experiment. Usually served as an appetizer, it’s an easy dish to prepare at home. In the Rivera clan we love crab cakes. The preferred topping for crab cakes is tartar sauce. With or without the tartar sauce, we eat them for breakfast with eggs, and an an entrée for dinner with rice, veggies or whatever.

The recipe given follows the traditional method of frying in butter (if you’re worried about cholesterol intake, you can substitute olive oil). Or you can bake the suckers: just preheat oven to 375 degree F. and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

CRAB CAKES

1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 6-oz. cans crab meat, drained
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter

1. In a medium-sized bowl combine all ingredients, mixing by hand, Form into good-sized patties, about 1/2-inch thick.
2. In a large skillet (I prefer cast-iron) heat butter over medium heat. Fry patties until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes on each side.
Yield: 4 servings (about 8 patties).

Broiled Tofu

January 10, 2017 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

I didn’t come across tofu, or bean curd, as an edible until my young manhood. It was sometime back in 1970, when I had just returned from Vietnam that I came across this product that had been a staple of Asian cooking for centuries. We never had such a thing when I was growing up in Spanish Harlem. When I first tasted it, at the behest of some adventurous vegetarian friends, I was, to be honest, underwhelmed. The thing had no flavor. But then I discovered that, ironically, that was the beauty of it: tofu can acquired whatever flavor you give it, whether cooked or not. In my bachelor days I had a lady friend whose signature dish was plain tofu, cubed, seasoned with salt and pepper, drizzle with a little soy sauce, and served over rice or whatever grain was available. That such a simple dish could be heavenly, was new to me. Over the ensuing years, tofu has become a national rage, and tofu cookbooks abound, all celebrating its health benefits.

I’m not that much concerned about its health aspects, so much as its flavor profile. As noted, stir-fried, sauteed, boiled or baked, bean curd will take on whatever flavor designation you desire. You can make it mild to the taste, or more spicy as in a previous post in which I rendered Fried Tofu with Sichuan Peppercorn Sauce (05/14/14). The recipe given does not incorporate hot peppercorns of any type. It’s just a simple preparation of broiled tofu with whatever spices you have on hand. Served over steamed white rice (or brown rice, if you must), and nothing could be tastier or better for you.

BROILED TOFU

14 ounces firm or extra firm tofu
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon olive oil or vegetable oil
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh chopped oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon rice vinegar (can substitute white vinegar)

1. Rinse tofu under running water and pat dry with paper towels. Slice into 1-inch cubes. The best way to do this is to slice the tofu into 1-inch rectangles, then slice rectangles into cubes.
2. Heat broiler on high and arrange a rack in top third of oven.
2. Whisk the soy sauce, olive oil, pinch pf pepper, oregano and garlic powder in a medium shallow bowl. Dip the tofu pieces in the soy sauce mixture to coat (let the excess sauce drip back into the bowl). Then lay the pieces on a baking sheet, or place in a baking pan (for this I always use my trusted cast-iron pan). Set the remaining sauce aside.
3. Broil the tofu until browned, about 10-15 minutes, turning the tofu every 5 minutes to brown on all sides, and remove from oven.
4. Add the scallions, vinegar and sesame oil to the reserved sauce and toss to coat. Serve with steamed rice.
Yield: 4 servings.

Cod Fillets in Mushroom Sauce

Fish fillets and mushrooms. A classic combination. All combined in a perfect sauce that adds that magic to a dish that even those who don’t like seafood will find irresistible.

COD FILLETS IN MUSHROOM SAUCE

4 cod fillets, about 6 ounces each
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt to taste
White pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fresh chopped oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1/2 cup dry white wine

SAUCE:

2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons flour
1 cup hot chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon turmeric
6-8 ounces fresh mushrooms, washed and sliced thin
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 egg yolks

1. Washed cod under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Let stand 10 minutes; then season with salt, pepper, and oregano.
2. Heat butter over medium flame in a large fry pan or skillet. Add fish and brown well, about 5 minutes on each side.
4. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more. Stir in the parsley, and add the white wine. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove cod fillets to a preheated platter and keep warm, but reserve pan drippings.
5. For sauce: Melt butter over medium flame in a saucepan. Stir in flour, pour in chicken broth and reserve pan drippings. Add white wine, stir in turmeric, and reduce heat to a simmer.
6. Add mushrooms to sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Add lemon juice. Remove a small amount of sauce and blend with egg yolks. Return to sauce and stir thoroughly until heated through—but do not boil since the yolks will curdle (and you don’t want that).
8. Pour sauce over cod fillets and serve.
Yield: 4 servings.

Greek Omelet

December 31, 2016 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

I will scarf up anything with eggs in it. I love the suckers: boiled, par-boiled, fried, scrambled, sunny-side up, you name it. One of the favorite is a Greek omelet. Actually, it’s more of a souffled omelet (or omelette). In this case, filled with spinach. So in another universe it could be it could be called “Omelet Florentine.”

This recipe can be a breakfast, lunch, or, dinner entrée. I discovered long ago that eggs are not solely for the morning. Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: cholesterol. Recent studies have questioned the whole cholesterol bit. Supposedly, it’s all in the egg yolks. But egg whites really don’t afford the same taste and texture. In this recipe I use both egg whites and yolks. Through trial and error I found that separating the whites from the yolks, beating them separately and then adding them to the omelet makes an airy, fluffy dish. Even if you’re worried about the cholesterol thing, having eggs once in a while is not going to kill you. As with all things. moderation is the key.

This dish goes great with crusty bread, french fries, or (my favorite), served over rice

GREEK OMELET

3 tablespoon olive oil
1 bag (about 8 ounces) spinach, washed and patted dry
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
2-3 ounces crumbled feta cheese
4 large whole eggs plus 2 egg whites
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
Chopped fresh dill

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Add the spinach, salt, pepper, and oregano, and cook, stirring, until the spinach is wilted. Sprinkle with the feta cheese. Set aside and keep warm.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the egg yolks with a pinch of salt, pepper, and the lemon zest. Whisk until the mixture is fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold the egg whites into the yolks and stir until they are mixed.
4. Heat the remaining olive oil in the skillet, pour in the egg mixture, and gently spread it out evenly. Place the skillet in the middle shelf in the oven and bake until it’s almost cooked, about 3 minutes. If your skillet is not cast-iron or does not have an oven safe handle, cover the handle with foil wrap while baking.
5. Remove omelet from the oven. Spoon the spinach mixture over half of the omelet. Using a spatula, fold the other half of the omelet over to cover the filling. Return the omelet to the oven and bake another 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the dill, cut into serving pieces and serve immediately.
Yield: 4 servings.

Circassian Chicken

December 24, 2016 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

I’m into Middle eastern Cuisine. The flavors, the ingredients all fascinate me. In some cases it’s as far from Caribbean cooking as one can find. So I’m always on the lookout for something unique within a Middle eastern venue. And that explains the recipe given today. It’s called “Circassian Chicken.” A little history here. The Circasssians are an ethnic group that hails from the Northwest Caucasus. They were incorporated into the Czarist Russian Empire during the 19th century. But most Circassians are Sunni Muslims, and their cooking, I’m told, is very popular throughout the Middle East. They have a very old tradition in which nuts, ground fine, are used to enrich and thicken a sauce that is very prevalent in their cooking, as you will note with this dish.

Ground nuts in cooking? you say. Haven’t done that lately. Well, just try the dish. You’ll be surprised how good it is. Impress your crowd tonight. Tell ’em they’ll be dining on a dish worthy of a Sultan or Caliph.

CIRCASSIAN CHICKEN

1 large roasting chicken, about 4 pounds, cut into serving pieces
2 large onions, peeled and quartered
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 cup shelled nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, or a mixture)
1 cup fine bread crumbs
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoons paprika
Cooked rice (enough for 4 servings)

1. Wash chicken pieces under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Place in a large pot or pan, cover with water, add the onions, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about an hour or until the chicken is tender.
3. Drain the chicken, but reserve the stock, keeping the chicken warm.
4. Grind the nuts in a food processor or blender. Place 2 cups reserved chicken stock into a clean pan. Stir in the nuts and bread crumbs. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until the mixture has thickened. Add more stock if it becomes too thick. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. In a cup or saucer, mix the paprika with the oil until it becomes bright red. Add this to the nut/bread mixture and stir to combine.
6. Arrange the rice on a serving platter, top with the chicken and pour the nut sauce over both the chicken and rice.
Yield: 4 or more servings.

Quick Shrimp Fixes

December 10, 2016 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

One thing you know about this blog is that I love shrimp. Just review the previous posts like Shrimp Aglio e Olio (1/9/15), Shrimp with Garlic (3/21/15), and Shrimp with Cream Sauce (1/2/16) and you get the idea. What I like about shrimp, apart from its texture and taste, is that it’s so easy to cook. Whether you broil it, steam it or stir-fry, the trick is quick cooking, 2-3 minutes over medium heat until its turns pink.

If there’s one drawback about it, is the preparation. That is, removing the shell and deveining. Here’s a secret. You don’t need to devein shrimp, unless you’re a purist (which I ain’t). In some cultures, they eat the shrimp whole, eyes and all. That vein down the back of the shrimp is part of the intestinal tract. Now, before you start thinking about eating intestines, you won’t fall ill from eating it. In Chinese restaurants, I’ve never seen anyone remove the vein. It’s all a matter of preference. Also, convenience. With small shrimp, no one even bothers. But even with large shrimp like prawns or jumbo, it could take hours to devein the thing. Fortunately, most suppliers these days offer shrimp that has already been shelled and deveined.

The recipes given can be done quickly and efficiently. The white bean ragout can be served over rice. With the shrimp and vodka, I prefer it over pasta, whatever type you like. But, if you want to serve it with a grain, go right ahead. In terms of cuisine, I discovered long ago, do what suits you best.

SHRIMP AND WHITE BEAN RAGOUT
(Note: I first had this dish in my young manhood, years ago, at one of my favorite watering holes, Ye Olde Tripple Inn at 54th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue. When I saw it on the menu, I told Mike, the owner, “I’ll have the “RAG-OUT.” He corrected me: “Dummy, it’s called “RAGOO.” To which I replied, ‘Okay, I’ll have the ‘RAGU.'” The Tripple Inn is no longer with us, but memories are made of this.)

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 pound large raw shrimp, 1/4 teaspoon each garlic powder and crumbled dried rosemary, plus salt and pepper to taste. Cook 2 minutes. Add 1 can (15 1/2 ounces) rinsed Great Northern Beans (white beans) and cook 2 minutes until heated through. Serve over rice. 4 servings.

SHRIMP WITH VODKA

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 small onion, chopped; and 2 cloves garlic, finely minced. Cook, stirring, about 4-5 minutes, until softened. Add 2 tablespoons tomato sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup heavy cream. Bring to a boil, add salt and pepper to taste, and let the sauce bubble until it starts to thicken slightly. Add 1 pound large raw shrimp to the sauce plus 2 tablespoons vodka. Cook, stirring, over medium heat 2-3 minutes more. Pour sauce over cooked pasta, either strand, tubular or other. Toss well and serve. 4-6 servings.

Polynesian Kebobs

December 3, 2016 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

This is a recipe that I obtained from an old cookbook I found at the bottom of some desk drawer somewhere. The cookbook, an old softcover, was published by the Rival Manufacturing Company in 1982. The “Rival” brand name is still around and they manufacture small kitchen appliances. Whether they still published the cookbook, Time to Enjoy: A Quick and Creative Recipe Collection, I do not know.

The recipe intrigued me simply because I enjoy kebob (kebab) cooking. That is, broiling or grilling meat and/or veggie on a skewer. The recipe is termed “Polynesian.” I gather because it has pineapple chunks. Somehow, somewhere along the line, adding pineapple to a dish made it Hawaiian or Polynesian. Just as adding soy sauce to a dish makes it “Asian.”

This is a very easy to prepare recipe that calls for Italian salad dressing, the type found in any store or supermarket. If you’re loath to use a processed product that comes in a can or jar, you can make your own. Here’s a quicky method: combine in a salad cruet or quart mason jar with a tight fitting lid, 3/4 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup red wine vinegar; 1 finely minced garlic clove or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried; 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley or 1 tablespoon dried. If desired, you can add 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, but this is optional. Some like, some don’t. Shake well, and serve. It renders about 1 cup of salad dressing.

Note that in this recipe, I served the kebobs with couscous. But you can serve it over rice or any other grain.

POLYNESIAN KEBOBS

1 pound beef sirloin, cut in 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup Italian dressing
1 can (8 ounces) pineapple chunks
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 zucchini, cut in bite-size chunks

1. In bowl, combine sirloin cubes and salad dressing. Allow to stand a few minutes.
2. Drain pineapple chunks, reserving liquid. In small saucepan, combine liquid, brown sugar, soy sauce and cornstarch; heat until boiling and thickened.
3. On skewers, alternate beef, pineapple and zucchini. Brush with remaining salad dressing marinade.
4. Broil 10 minutes or until beef is cooked, turning skewers half-way through cooking. Serve with sauce.
Yield: 4 servings.

Lamb Shanks with Apricots

November 17, 2016 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

This recipe is probably Arabic in nature. Which means its original providence is Persia, or modern day Iraq. In the seventh century, Muslim armies conquered Persia, and the Arabs moved their capital from Damascus in Syria to Baghdad, the heart of the former Persian empire. And thus began the great change in Arabic cooking. The desert Arabs had subsisted on sheep’s milk, barley, mutton and dates. In contrast, the caliphs of Baghdad enjoyed truffles from the Arabian Desert, cakes from Egypt and couscous from North Africa. Arab cooking underwent a transformation. Now they were dining on spices from India and China, apples from Syria, raisins from Jerusalem. and exotic fruits, such as apricots, from Central Asia. And this all went into their dishes. This, in turn, was transferred to Spain with their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. Eventually, this was co-opted by the Crusaders, who took it back to Europe, and introduced strange and fascinating new recipes from the Holy Land.

Which leads to the current recipe listed. A round-about historical perspective, I admit, but a damn good meal for any occasion. And one which I know you will enjoy.

LAMB SHANKS WITH APRICOTS

4 lamb shanks
1/2 cup flour
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup sliced dried apricots
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Rinse lamb shanks under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels.
2. In a plate, combine the flour with the salt, pepper, oregano and garlic powder. Dredge the shanks in the flour.
3. Heat olive oil over moderate heat in a large pan or skillet. Add shanks and brown on all sides.
4. Add chicken broth, cover and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.
5. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, and cook for 3 minutes. Lower heat, cover and simmer for an additional 30 minutes. or until shanks are tender.
Yield: 4 servings.

Lamb Curry

November 7, 2016 / Oswald Rivera / 0 Comments

I’m a fan of curries; mainly because I like fragrant and spicy dishes. Coming from a Latino culture, this is a given. The origin of curry dishes is India. It is the Tamil word for “sauce.” Today we think of it more as a seasoned gravy. This is thanks to our British brethren who, during the 18th century, adopted the ides of curry, modified it, and made it an international dish.

Curry also has a history in Pakistan and Thailand. Indian curry is made with a mixture known as masala. This comes from the Hindi word for “spice.” It’s a combination of spices such as garlic, ginger, onions, and chili paste. While Thai curry is made from a paste of chilies, herbs and vegetables. Today, curries are popular world-wide.

Below is my recipe for lamb curry. Let me note that curry is usually served with plain boiled rice. This time around I served it on a bed of tubettini noodles.

LAMB CURRY

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, peeled and slice into thin rings
1 clove garlic, finely minced
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
1 tablespoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 tomatoes, rinsed and chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2/3 cup chicken bouillon
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 1/4 cups unflavored yogurt

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet or pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook about 1 minute (do not let garlic brown).
2. Add ginger, lamb, garam masala and chili powder. Cook, stirring, until the lamb is browned.
3. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, bouillon, salt and pepper, and half the yogurt. Cover and simmer over low heat until meat is tender (about 30 minutes). Stir in the remaining yogurt and serve on a bed of pasta or rice.
Yield: 4 servings.

Oswald Rivera

Author, Warrior, and Teacher