Recipes
Fried Potatoes with Harissa Tehina
Zahav is a popular Middle Eastern restaurant in Philadelphia, and its owner Michael Solomonov wrote a fantastic cookbook using recipes that he serves at the restaurant, as well as at his home. Cowritten by James Cook, Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking reinterprets the type of Israeli Cuisine served at the restaurant, but makes it more manageable for American kitchens. We're especially excited about this inventive recipe for fried potatoes using Harissa, a perennial favorite here at the shop!From the Authors: "This dish happened by serendipity. At Zahav, our Israeli pickles come packed in huge cans with a ton of excess pickle juice. One day, in a passion for brining, I decided to throw some peeled potatoes into that leftover pickle juice. A day later, I drained and fried the potatoes, ending up with the most amazing French fries ever. The potatoes were seasoned from within with a garlicky tang from the pickle juice. Deep-frying can be an undertaking, so when I make this dish at home, I just slice the potatoes into rounds and pan-fry them on both sides in a cast iron skillet until they’re nice and crispy. I serve the potatoes with tehina augmented with harissa, the North African condiment based on dried chiles that’s a staple on the Israeli table. In my harissa, I use ground Aleppo pepper from Syria, which has a fruity flavor and is not screamingly hot, so you can appreciate the pepper’s earthy undertones. I thin the sauce with a little more pickle juice to cut through the richness and echo the flavor of the potatoes. I’ll bet there’s a jar in your fridge, with a lonely pickle or two bobbing in a sea of brine. This recipe is the perfect way to put those pickles out of their misery."
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Massaman Curry
There's a world of currries out there, and we are happy to try all of them! We often get requests for a Japanese-style curry, so we got approval to add this wonderful one from Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes. The book features a mouthwatering lineup of dishes, like this recipe for Massaman Curry features Indian Coriander Seed, Turmeric, Star Anise, and Cassia Stick Cinnamon alongside fresh ginger and lemongrass.
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Cajun Cobb Salad
I won't kid you, this Cajun Cobb salad has a lot of ingredients that require individual prep, but it is SO worth the effort! A Cobb salad is wonderful in its own right, but when you add layers of flavor with Cajun blackened shrimp, caramelized vegetables with Herbes de Provence and a generous splash of peach-infused white balsamic vinegar it becomes something spectacular.
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Shakshuka
Shakshuka is a Middle Eastern dish that is quick and easy to make, and can be served for any meal. Our favorite occasion is always brunch with friends, though, because it's such a crowd pleaser. This versatile recipe is traditionally seasoned with cumin and paprika, but you can use just about any spice blend that suits your fancy. For this one, I used our El Greco, with Mediterranean herbs and a hint of sumac. To top it off, I added chopped spinach and feta cheese to the sauce.
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Southwest Pumpkin Soup
This southwest pumpkin soup is a delicious fall treat, perfectly spiced with warm heat from our Chorizo Bomb. Sultry smoke from our perennial favorite, smoked paprika, rounds out the taste. Cooking your own pumpkin for this recipe is really easy, but the canned pureé works fine as well. Serve it up with crusty bread and a nice porter or stout and you’ve got an instant Oktoberfest!
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Paprika Potatoes
Smoked Sweet Paprika is an indispensable ingredient in any spice pantry, and the authors of Fresh & Fermented agree! Check out their delicious recipe below!"Smoked paprika, also known as pimentón, has finally reached mainstream status in the spice world, and not a minute too soon. Made from pimento peppers that have been dried or smoked over a fire, this spice imparts a robust smoky flavor. As a hearty side, this dish pairs well with your favorite sausages, pork loin, or any grilled meat. Leftovers are delicious with eggs in a breakfast burrito or scrambled into a breakfast hash."
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Caraway Kraut
Fermented food just continues to become more popular every year. We were glad to find this local cookbook, Fresh & Fermented: 85 Delicious Ways to Make Fermented Carrots, Kraut, and Kimchi Part of Every Meal by Julie O’Brien and Richard Climenhage. Here's a sneak peek at one of their recipes...From the Author: "We didn’t start making Caraway Kraut until our third year in business—we just weren’t sure if our customers would like the distinctive caraway flavor. When we started experimenting, however, it took just one test batch to convince us that Caraway Kraut belonged in Firefly’s lineup of fermented foods.Caraway Kraut contributes its pleasing earthy taste to some of the recipes in this book and also makes a great side dish for grilled meats or mashed potatoes. It’s the perfect addition to the classic Reuben (of course) and adds intrigue to potato salads and coleslaws too. Whirl it with fresh avocado for a simple sandwich spread or as a dip for chips and veggies. (The acid does double duty—it adds flavor and keeps the avocado from getting brown.)Caraway Kraut brine, which results from the fermentation process, is a delicious tonic on its own. For hundreds of years people have been drinking sauerkraut brine to heal ulcers or temper hangovers—it’s a well-known Russian remedy—and that inspired us to start bottling and selling the extra brine as our first Tummy Tonic."
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Voodoo Pimento Cheese Ball
Looking to bring the appetizer A-game to the next house party? This recipe is the ultimate game-day snack and a real fan favorite of ours. Voodoo seasoning has robust ingredients like Aleppo Pepper, brown and yellow mustard, allspice, thyme, onion, and garlic. These flavors compliment the bright pimento and rich cheese perfectly. Whip this up, set it in the center of the table, and watch it disappear!
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Ras el Hanout Kaleidoscope Salad
This colorful salad is a delicious fall favorite. First off, Ras El Hanout and butternut squash or pumpkin is a match made in heaven. Often containing up to 20 ingredients, the complexity of Ras el Hanout is part of what makes it so versatile. Ours has a mild, savory base with peaks of exotic pepper and swirls of floral ether. Pair that with the dark leafy kale tenderized with vinegar and wilted by the warm squash, top it off with the pop of fresh pomegranate and a little nutty crunch and you have a kaleidoscope of texture, color and flavor.This is a great dish to keep on hand through the season for a healthy lunch, and it will look beautiful on your holiday table.
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