Recipes
Allspice Mushroom Medley
Use allspice in savory sides and discover a whole new world of flavor possibilities. A simple mushroom medley transforms into a spice bazaar with this one simple addition. Allspice is an all-in-one spice. It has warm, sweet notes of cinnamon and nutmeg and zingy notes of ginger and clove. These play wonderfully with the woodsy flavor of the mushrooms. For this recipe, we used a few different types of mushrooms for contrast in texture and flavor, including local chanterelles and lobster mushrooms, but the flavors shine with any combination. Try crimini, shiitake, portobello or your local favorite. The amount of allspice used in this recipe is generous and flavorful, a traditional measure in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. This flavorful medley is wonderful on a steak, makes an exotic holiday side dish or appetizer on toast.
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Paprika Roasted Baby Potatoes with Black Garlic Aioli
It's a running joke at the shop is that we have never ate a potato we didn't like. Just because they're all delicious, however, doesn't mean we can't have favorites. This potato recipe makes for an easy side dish or appetizer, and we've found ourselves coming back to it over and over again. There are just a few ingredients here, but they're all full of flavor. The Hungarian Paprika is sweet, fruity and coats these baby potatoes beautifully. Alongside the potatoes, we made a Black Garlic aioli that you're going to want to put on everything. Black Garlic is fermented and fruity, somewhat reminiscent of molasses. It doesn't have the bite of regular garlic, and it has umami qualities similar to balsamic vinegar. Together, these mini potatoes and aioli make for a delicious and flavorful bite.
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Garam Masala Meatballs with Mango Chutney
These meatballs are sweet, spicy, fruity and tangy. We seasoned our meatballs with an all purpose blend, Indian Garam Masala. For the chutney, we used some over-ripened mangoes and chopped dried tart cherries, although dried cranberries would be delicious, too. Making it the perfect sauce adding warmth and bite from nigella seeds and cayenne. Chutney has a lot of uses and is normally used to add sweet and sour tang to Indian dishes. Next we strewed the meatballs in the chutney. After 45 minutes of simmering these meatballs melt in your mouth! We used beef here, but lamb would be delicious, too! Add a toothpick to them for an easy appetizer or serve over basmati rice.
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Juniper Duck Breast Pastrami
Make your own pastrami! Easy? Yes. Impressive? Yes. Delicious? YES!!!! This pastrami will bring Pacific Northwest flavors to your charcuterie board and guests clamoring for more. Juniper berries impart sweet, piney flavors with citrus top notes that play perfectly with European Coriander Seed. The smoky layers on the crust hint at a campfire flavored with Alderwood Smoked Salt and Upper Left Madrona Smoked Honey. This pastrami has turned many into duck lovers and will be the first to go on your smorgasbord. Use for charcuterie plates, sandwiches and pasta dishes. Tasty cold.
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Kala Masala Shrimp Cakes
Kala Masala is an Indian spice blend, named for the dark color of its ingredients, which are often toasted before use. Sweet spices like Cloves and tangy Amchoor make this blend an excellent seasoning on seafood, and especially good on shellfish.We used Kala Masala as the signature flavor in these shrimp cakes, which have sweet potato and rice as the binder and a coconut crust. That also makes them gluten free, for those keeping score. The Rooster Spice aioli, which we whipped up as a dipping sauce, takes no time at all. It's spicy and just a little bit sweet: the perfect accompaniment to these tasty appetizers.
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Jerk Scallop & Mango Ceviche
The fresh flavors are incredible in this Jerk Scallop & Mango Ceviche It is easy to make, and this party-sized batch will be a welcome addition to your next gathering as an appetizer or side dish. Citrus and mango are the perfect complement to the scallops, and our Jerk Seasoning brings Caribbean spicing to the mix. It has allspice, thyme, ginger and a friendly amount of habanero. The sweet mango and creamy avocado meld with the scallops, contrasted with a crunch of onion and bell pepper for the perfect bite. Cilantro and chive give additional pops of flavor in this sunny dish.
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Pumpkin Seed Dip with Yucatan Rojo Spiced Oil
This traditional Yucatan dip, known as Sikil Pak, is made from a base of ground pumpkin seeds, or pepitas. On it's own, it has a fresh, creamy, nutty taste, lighter in flavor but similar in texture to a traditional hummus dip. But when drizzled with our Yucatan Rojo spiced oil, something magical happens. Each bite offers a contrast in flavors, with the earthy Rojo-spiced oil adding a vivid contrast to the mellowness of the pepitas, elevating this Mexican party dish to a whole new level. This dip whips up in a jiffy, especially if you use pre-salted and roasted pepitas, though you can opt to toast your own. Serve it with crackers or tortilla chips, along with fresh crudites such as sliced jicama, carrots, snap peas and green pepper strips for an inventive alternative at your next barbeque or potluck. The spiced oil also makes a great topping when drizzled on fish tacos, scrambled eggs, burgers, pizza, or just about anything else you can think of.
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Cheddar Cheese Coins
Appetizers aren't just for parties and gatherings. Whether you just want some snacks for watching tv or something to nibble on while catching up on that novel, this is the cookbook for you. The experts at Cook's Illustrated have put together 75 "only the best" appetizer recipes to help you find something for any time of the year. All-Time Best Appetizers Cookbook makes it easy to create a spread with everything from things that can be dipped, spread, eaten by the handful or two-bite treats. These Cheddar Cheese Coins, as well as their different variations, would be perfect for a wine and cheese plate or...just to snack on. From the authors: "Why this recipe works - When it comes to homemade crackers, you need a recipe that's easy, versatile, and packs a huge flavor punch. We wanted to come up with a simple, foolproof version that would be cheesy, buttery, and just a little spicy. We started with a full 8 ounces of cheese and a touch of salt, cayenne, and paprika. We used the food processor to combine the dry ingredients and the shredded cheese, which helped to keep the coins tender by limiting the handling of the dough. Adding a little cornstarch with the flour further ensured that the coins baked up flaky and buttery. We processed the dry ingredients with chilled butter until the mixture resembled wet sand, added water, and processed until the dough came together. Next, we rolled the dough into logs, refrigerated them until firm, and then sliced them into thin coins before baking until lightly golden and perfectly crisp. With this simple technique, it's easy to vary the cheese and flavorings used to suit any taste."
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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."
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