Szechuan Lemon Curd

We are always game to try an adventurous spice pairing, and this one came out a winner! Lemon curd is a delightful decadence, sweet-tart and intense, and made even more exceptional with a fresh zing of Szechuan pepper. In this Szechuan lemon curd, the tingle lingers on the palate after the burst of citrus flavor fades and the combination is intensely satisfying. Try it on shortbread or scones at tea time or over ice cream.There are loads of different methods for making lemon curd, but we chose this simple recipe from One Hungry Mama and barely adapted it by changing the spice. We were thrilled with the results, and you will be, too. An easy, no-fuss technique, the curd came out perfect with each round of testing. Of course we had to make it several times........

Learn more

Za'atar Lamb Chops

This simple recipe is quick and flavorful. The classic combination of Green Za'atar and lamb is always a winner, and we've also paired both fresh and dried herbs in the marinade for maximum flavor. Oregano was the fresh herb of choice for this version, but rosemary, marjoram or a mixture would also be wonderful. Pick your favorite!

Learn more

South Asian Coconut Butter

If you love sauces, and want to try something new, check out Mastering Sauces by Susan Volland. This book is full of inspired and delicious sauces like this coconut "butter," using classic South Asian flavors like Turmeric and Brown Mustard Seed to add a little zing to coconut oil. From the Author: "In South India, coconut oil is the cooking oil of choice. Many dishes are garnished with a drizzle of coconut oil, popped black mustard seeds, crispy fried curry leaves, and frizzled small red onions. I like to stir these wonderful ingredients together like a compound butter and spread or melt it on various foods as the whim strikes: on savory pancakes, pilafs, or grilled whole fish."

Learn more

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."

Learn more

FODMAP Friendly Salmon Chowder

This salmon chowder recipe is missing some surprising ingredients! Onions and garlic are two of the most challenging foods to eliminate for the FODMAP diet, and two of the most critical! Enter Asafoetida, the perfect spice to add flavors of onion and garlic without using the vegetables themselves. This intensely pungent spice fills the gap nicely when you have to eliminate these essential ingredients. It infuses loads of flavor into this chowder alongside Herbes de Provence and Urfa Biber. You won't believe we've left out the onion and garlic.Baking the sweet potato and roasting the vegetables before adding them to the soup intensifies their flavor, and we've added a sprinkle of spice to each step to really spread the flavors around.

Learn more

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.

Learn more

White Bean Chicken Chili

Mild and mellow with layers of spice, this go-to chicken chili recipe is sure to please. It's equally delicious whether you're cooking in a Dutch oven in the back country or entertaining friends at home. This version is mild, but packed with flavor from Adobo, Cuban Spice and Mexican Oregano. This is our favorite version, but you can play with different flavor profiles by changing the Cuban Spice to a chili powder like Chipotle, Ancho or New Mexico Chili Powder. Adobo is the perfect spice base for all Latin soups and stews. A simple shortcut to flavor, it includes onion, garlic and cumin.

Learn more

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.

Learn more

BBQ Broccoli

Eat your vegetables? Yes, please! We love to cook outside the box, so why not treat broccoli like BBQ. Seasoned with KC Tailgater's BBQ Rub and roasted to perfection in a hot heavy skillet, we finished the BBQ broccoli with a delightful Smoked Honey Bourbon dipping sauce.

Learn more