Zucchini Fritters

Grate zucchini and place in a colander
In a mixing bowl beat and egg, add some breadcrumbs, herbs, salt, pepper, cumin- whatever spices you like. Add the grated zucchini. You should have a mixture that isn’t too wet and not really too stiff.
* If you don’t have breadcrumbs- leftover rice worked for me. […]

“Bhaingan” Pizza

Bhaingan Bhartha is a North-Indian style eggplant dish. It starts off much the same way the Mediterranean dish Baba Ganouj does.
Take a whole egglplant and rub some oil on the exterior skin. Bake in the oven until the eggplant looks “deflated”.
The tender inside is scraped out and cut. Cumin, […]

Bittermelon

My mom has a jungle in the backyard and she grows lots of yummy things. Greens for which I do not know the name in English for, varieties of chillies, and numerous varieties of squashes and pumpkins. One thing I love- and that not many people do- is bittergourd. Sometimes in stores it […]

Lunch with Miso Master

I used to live in Japan. I admire their stringent food import restrictions, protection of rice farmers, and pristine produce. Where you can taste one strawberry, close your eyes and think perhaps you have by mistake, stuffed 100 of them in your mouth- the flavor is that intense. Produce is grown according to season […]

Kale Dolmas- When eating greens gets boring.

I have a CSA from Coon Rock Farms.
I chose this CSA because I thought I would get interesting variety.
Not the case.
Week after week my box is full of lettuce and greens. Maybe a tiny head of cabbage.
The boxes I pay $24 dollars for are far from balanced. I got spoiled […]

Smoked Chicken and Rice Soup

Smoked Chicken and Rice Soup

This soup was invented as a way to make the most of some local, smoked and spice-rubbed chicken leftovers and other odds and ends. The recipe itself was inspired by soups you might find at Toast restaurant in Durham.
Step one: Make a stock
Throw broccoli stalks, a carrot, shallots, scallion and whatever […]

Tempeh, Mustard Greens & Pimento Cheese Lettuce Cups

Tempeh, Mustard Greens & Pimento Cheese Lettuce Cups

I saved some of my tempeh from the Sesame Tempeh sauce, and just set it aside plain.
I decided to use these with a yummy southern favorite- pimento cheese. Weaver Street in Carrboro makes a high-fructose corn syrup-free version and I believe Whole Foods does, too. I have […]

Sesame Tempeh & Mustard Green Lettuce Cups

Sesame Tempeh & Mustard Green Lettuce Cups

Like Sesame Chicken? Its pretty much the same thing- minus the deep fried, breaded bits of chicken. Although, if you could use just about any protein choice and this would still be good.
Cook your protein choice how you like it.
I like to slice a whole block of […]

Beet Palya on Green Salad

Beet Palya on Green Salad

Palya is a general term for vegetable side dish in tradtional south-indian cooking.
What makes a palya a palya, is a technique called “ogriney”. Instead of sauteeing your vegetable of choice in just oil, you first flavor the oil with : brown mustard seeds, dried or fresh chillies, curry leaves, and […]

Sesame Baby Black Bok Choy

Sesame Baby Black Bok Choy: Now, say 3 times as fast…

Choice of Tahini (raw or roasted- differs in taste and nutritional value)
Splash of soy sauce
Sesame oil
Cleaned bok choy stalks
Cayenne pepper
Sautée whole or place under the broiler for a few minutes.
If you go the lazy broiler route- just layer the stalks in baking dish and sprinkle […]