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In Japan, where wasting food is tantamount to heresy, they’ve taken this humble upcycling of stale bread and turned it into a culinary craze. But rusk is ridiculously simple to make at home and not only does it prevent waste, it makes for a delicious teatime snack. Head over to PBS Food for the lowdown. [...] Similar Recipes: Vegan Basil “Chicken” Daigaku Imo (Glazed Sweet Potat
I know what you’re thinking. “Peanut butter in a taco?!” It might sound a little crazy, but hopefully I’ve earned enough trust from you all over the years that you believe me when I tell you that it makes for an awesome combo. Moles(the Mexican sauce, not the burrowing rodent) traditionally use nuts and seeds [...] Similar Recipes: Peanut Butter Baklava Minute Molten Peanu
This popular meze originated in Aleppo, Syriah, which is known for its wondrous red chili peppers. Like most dishes that have been around since before the reign of cookbooks and measuring cups, Muhammara is made in about as many ways as there are cooks who make it. Most recipes use a base of breadcrumbs and [...] Similar Recipes: Lemon Chili Chicken Pickled Peppers Yuzu Kosho (Yuzu Chili Paste)
If you live in the northern latitudes spring tends to come a little late, but when it does finally arrive, it comes fast and furious with an onslaught of blossoms, fruit and vegetables. A recent haul of asparagus, snap peas and baby ramps inspired me to come up with a fresh take on this new [...] Similar Recipes: Crab and Tomato Pasta Scallop and Garlic Scape Pasta Ramp Pesto Pasta
It’s Cinco de Mayo and you’re probably wondering why I’m sharing a Chinese dish with you on this day that General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín led a ragtag band of Mexicans to victory against a French force double it’s size. Well, I don’t have a good excuse, but I can tell you that this Huí Guo [...] Similar Recipes: Buta Kabuni (pork belly and turnips) Buta Kimchi (Pork
When it comes to Mexican cuisine, there are few things more provocative than a classic mole that involves hours of roasting, grinding, caramelizing, and braising. As delicious as it can be, not every occasion calls for a whole day spent in the kitchen, especially on a day like Cinco de Mayo, which for me, is [...] Similar Recipes: Braised Chicken Tacos Red Wine Braised Ham Fish Tacos
This tuna tartare is easy to make and makes for an impressive first course for a dinner party. With a flavorful layer of tuna marinated in olive oil, soy sauce and chives, a layer of creamy avocado, and a magical gelée made with with yuzu infused dashi, it’s as visually stunning as it is orally [...] Similar Recipes: Yuzu Kosho (Yuzu Chili Paste) Tuna Sashimi “Pizza” Uni with Yu
This is what inevitably happens when I spend any amount of time in a place… I start to crave the flavors and aromas of the country long after I’ve arrived home. Earlier this month I got to spend some time in the Middle East with access to some of my favorite ingredients including tart, floral [...] Similar Recipes: Chipotle Chicken Chili Lamb Green Chili Lamb with Green Chili Masala
Maybe I’m just weird, but I find looking through beautiful photos of food both relaxing and inspirational. I used to flip through magazines, which was replaced by RSS feeds, and now I love scrolling through pages of tantalizing food on websites that aggregate food photos. Lately though, it seems like there’s a new site coming [...] Similar Recipes: Nutrition facts at Edamam Fried Oyst
Molokhia ( ??????), also known as Jute, or Jews Mallow is the name of both a plant and a dish. It has medium sized saw-toothed leaves that come to a point at the tip and have small tendrils at the base of each leaf. Nutritionally, it has three times the calcium and phospherous as Kale, [...] Similar Recipes: Mapo Tofu (Sichuan Style) Japanese Style Broast Duck Kale with Raisins & Pine Nuts
I tend to like my breakfasts savory rather than sweet. Maybe it’s the Asian DNA, but eating a syrup drenched pancake for my first meal just doesn’t have the same appeal as an omelette. It’s also worth noting that I like my eggs runny, prefer good ham, and that nothing puts a smile on my [...] Similar Recipes: Polenta Cakes with Eggs and Pate Baked Eggs SVS: Slow Cooked Eggs
For many, the word “pickle” conjures images of an intensely sour and salty gherkin, colors muted, and the flavors rendered musty and with age. But that’s not how they have to be. Using fresh vegetables like bell peppers, you can make a bright flavorful quick pickle that takes almost no time to make and makes [...] Similar Recipes: Curried Pickled Ramps Pickled Jalapenos (escabec
In a world where most clam chowders would be more aptly named “clam flavored potato soup”, finding a morsel of clam is like winning a Toyota Camry. It’s a feeling of elation that’s quickly tamped down by the realization that the rubbery clam is bland and tasteless. That’s not a problem you’ll have in my [...] Similar Recipes: Clam and Chicken Paella Asari Miso
If you read my post on making vegan ground “meat” a few weeks ago, you’ve probably been wondering what you can make with it. Here’s one dish that I can’t stop making. Aside from being absurdly simple to make, this earth-friendly take on Basil Chicken is delicious and healthy. Head over to PBS Food to [...] Similar Recipes: Basil Chicken (Gai Pad Krapow) Vegan Mango P
My first encounter with the Sloppy Joe was at my elementary school lunch counter where giant cans of sloppy joe mix were dumped into beat-up chafing dishes before being unceremoniously ladled into a crumpled hamburger bun. It may not sound like much of a lunch, but with other options like leathery turkey smothered in mucus-like [...] Similar Recipes: Monte Cristo Sandwich Croissant Breakfast Sand
Twenty layers of buttery maple crepes layered with a maple-scotch pastry cream, topped with a crisp layer of caramelized sugar. Need I say more? This week over at PBS Food I show you how to make my take on this French classic. It’s the perfect cake for people who don’t bake. continue ? All text [...] Similar Recipes: French Toast Brulée Sweet Potato Leek Soup Creamy Tomato Soup
Whether it’s an ingredient that traveled to a new land, or an old-world recipe reinvented with local ingredients, food has been evolving for as long as humans have roamed the Earth. It’s been a way for newcomers to assimilate and to cross cultural gaps. It’s also how some of the most delicious dishes were born. [...] Similar Recipes: Curry Crusted Lamb Breasts with Thai Basil Ra
Learn why you want to look for “dry” scallops, along with how to make this delicious yet irresistibly simple pasta in my post this week over at PBS. With only a handful of spring’s finest ingredients, it’s the perfect pasta for a quick weeknight meal. continue ? All text and photos © 2013 [ No [...] Similar Recipes: Garlic Scape and Shrimp Salad Ramp and Scallop Linguine C
I’m chronically impatient and unrepentantly lazy. Whether I’m navigating a city’s streets or planning a meal, I’m always seeking the quickest, easiest route. It’s not one of my best traits, but it has a tendency to make me more efficient. If a dish has too many ingredients, involves too much prep, or looks like I’ll [...] Similar Recipes: Meyer Lemon Curd Meyer Lemon Icebo
I love Korean Fried Chicken and would be tempted to make it every day if it weren’t for the rather time consuming double frying process. This week over at PBS Food, I show you a quick way to get a crispy skinned piece of chicken with a sweet and spicy glaze without making a deep [...] Similar Recipes: Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps Crispy Chicken Cracklin’s with Ponzu Korean Fried Chicke
In a perfect world, we’d only crave tomato soup when the days are long and hot and tomatoes are at their sweetest. But let’s face it, there’s nothing better than coming in from a bleak winter day to a vibrant bowl of tomato soup. This week over at PBS Food I show you how I [...] Similar Recipes: Creamy Salmon Miso Soup (Sake No To-nyu Jiru) Sweet Potato Leek Soup Corn Soup with
I have a love-hate relationship with Chicken Parm. It sounds great in theory: I love chicken, I love Parmesan, I love tomato sauce and I love spaghetti. So I should love Chicken Parmesan too, right? But for all its promise, in most restaurants, it’s an utter abomination that ruins the ingredients that go into the [...] Similar Recipes: Strawberry Rhubarb Parmesan Crisp Chicken Karaage (Japa
This week over at PBS I use a few tricks I’ve picked up over the years to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Impossibly crisp on the outside, hot and fluffy on the inside, with a molten center of cheese and chutney that balance each other out without being greasy. Hit the jump for the [...] Similar Recipes: Easy Macaroni and Cheese Croissant Breakfast Sandwich Fried Mac & Cheese
A growing number of people are adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet because of the health and environmental benefits that go along with them. As the number of non-meat eaters rise, the processed food industry has been quick to adapt their products and create new brands to cater to this burgeoning multi-billion dollar market. But [...] Similar Recipes: Vegetarian Bi Bim Bap Vegetarian Gyoza (potsti
While most people picture a vermilion hue and fiery heat when the word “kimchi” is thrown out, did you know that kimchi used to be “white” before chili peppers were introduced to Asia from the New World by the Portuguese in the 1600th century? Making kimchi was historically a way for people to preserve vegetables [...] Similar Recipes: Buta Kimchi (Pork and Kimchi Stir Fry
Some may argue that cherry red food coloring, MSG and high fructose corn syrup are integral parts of Chinese-American Sweet and Sour Pork, but I don’t see any need for these ingredients in my food. That’s why I created this reboot of the pagoda boxed classic, relying on the tart complexity of black vinegar to [...] Similar Recipes: Black Pepper Beef Green Beans with Garlic Black Bean
This is by far the best lamb that I’ve ever had, and it might very well be one of my favorite meat preparations of all time. It’s hard to put into words what it’s like taking a bite into one of these juicy lamb chops, but it’s a profoundly pleasurable experience in the same category [...] Similar Recipes: Cumin Crusted Lamb with Watermelon Chutney Lamb Green Chili Lamb wit
Eating a burdock salad might sound like an odd way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but with tons of fiber and minerals and dressed with cholesterol lowering sesame seeds, this creamy spicy salad is just what your heart needs to make amends for more sinful pleasures you may be indulging in. Read more » All text [...] Similar Recipes: Kinpira Gobo (japanese burdock) Farro and Roasted Cauliflowe
With Valentines day just around the corner, I’m guessing more than a few of you are scrambling to find an easy dessert that doesn’t require an MOF in pastrymaking or a week to make. Good news! This molten peanut butter cake takes around a minute and is ridiculously good. I love Peanut Butter and Co.’s [...] Similar Recipes: Peanut Butter Potato Salad Peanut Butter Baklava Spicy
If you saw my Sunday post, you know that I have a thing for rice bowls. They’re easy to make and clean up after, but more importantly they’re a delicious balanced meal. This week over at PBS food I’ve written about another favorite in my rice bowl repertoire: Sesame Beef. It’s made with thin pieces [...] Similar Recipes: Gyudon (beef rice bowl) Beef Tri-Tip with Roasted Fi
Oyako donburi (???), which literally means “parent child bowl” is a popular chicken and egg rice bowl in Japan. It’s a simple one bowl meal with flavorful chunks of chicken wrapped in a custardy blanket of eggs, all seasoned with a mild dashi broth that tickles down onto the steamy bed of rice below. At [...] Similar Recipes: Easy Chicken Teriyaki (Pan-fried) Katsudon (pork cutl
Dashi (along with soy sauce, miso, and mirin) is one of the four cornerstones of Japanese cuisine. Given the simple, understated nature of many Japanese dishes, good dashi is what sets apart bland salty water from a deeply nuanced miso soup. While the ingredients used to make dashi varies regionally, the most basic dashi used [...] Similar Recipes: Red Miso Soup Shiso Wrapped Bass Dumplings in Da
Popularized by Nobu Matsuhisa in his eponymous restaurant, Black Cod with Miso has become an instant classic associated with Japanese food. The irony is that black cod (or more accurately Sablefish), is not native to the waters around Japan and is imported from the US and Canada. In Japanese cuisine, “gindara” (??) or silver cod, [...] Similar Recipes: Miso Glazed Black Cod Kinpira Mi
Blu-rays are better than VHS, smartphones are better than rotary phones and refridgerators are better than iceboxes. While there will always be a place for the classics amongst aficionados and nostalgists, cuisine much like technology marches on. This week over at PBS Food, I’ve updated Potage Parmentier by adding more flavor while eliminating the dairy [...] Similar Recipes: Sweet Potato S
As far as citrus is concerned, Meyer Lemons are at the top of my list of favorites. Unfortunately due to a short shelf-life and thin, easily damaged skin, it’s rare to find them outside areas where they are grown; and yet there they were, nestled between the apples and oranges, a bin full of plump [...] Similar Recipes: Pomegranate Lamb Tagine with Preserved Meyer Lemons Yuzu Kosho (Yuzu Ch
I am not vegan, and probably never will be. But that doesn’t mean I see anything wrong with omitting dairy, eggs and meat if it doesn’t come at the cost of taste. While using tofu instead of cream and eggs to make a mango pudding is not going taste exactly the same, it does come [...] Similar Recipes: Red Bean Pudding with Blueberry Sauce Chocolate Pudding Recipe Banana Pudding
Growing up, in a Japanese-American household, we had an interesting mix of foods that graced our dinner table. It’s only after I left home that I came to recognize them as comfort foods. Mac and Cheese didn’t make the list, but Japanese Curry and Spaghetti with Meat Sauce were some regulars. Lasagne is another classic [...] Similar Recipes: Spaghetti and Meat Sauce Best Meatloaf Japan
I know nutrition facts for our recipes is something that many of you have asked for. While I still haven’t figure out a good way to implement them on this site, Edamam is a great resource to check out the nutrition facts for every recipe I publish. They break down the nutrition information visually so [...] Similar Recipes: Peanut Butter Baklava Gambas Al Ajillo Quick Quiche
Most store-bought seaweed salads are loaded with food coloring, preservatives and MSG, that’s why I like making mine from scratch. Given how easy it is to make, I’m not really sure why anyone would opt to buy it pre-made. Finding the dried seaweed can be a bit of a challenge, but it’s available on Amazon, [...] Similar Recipes: Avocado Tofu Salad Peanut Butter Potato Salad Kale
While most of the world knows Japan for only one soup, there’s more to the Japanese soup repertoire than miso soup. Tonjiru (??), which is also sometimes called Butajiru, literally means “pork soup” and is a mainstay at the dinner table during the frigid months of winter. To make the preparation fast, the pork is [...] Similar Recipes: Chicken Chashu Buta Kabuni (pork belly and
Some things were made to be together. Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus, Snooki and Jionni, and red on a Ferrari are a few pairings come to mind. Black pepper and beef are two ingredients that have a long history together, and whether you live in Boston, Bordeaux or Beijing, you’ve probable sprinkled some pepper on [...] Similar Recipes: Beef Tri-Tip with Roasted Figs Beef Stroganoff Beef Taco
You’ve heard of Tex-Mex, but how about Japa-Mex? Thanks to a large US military presence in Japan, dishes like this Taco Rice have become a regional staple in the southern island of Okinawa. It’s a hybrid dish with taco meat seasoned with soy sauce and chili powder over Japanese white rice and topped with cheese, [...] Similar Recipes: Hayashi Rice (??????) Japanese Curry Rice Recipe (
Shumai are a type of Chinese dumpling often associated with Cantonese cuisine. While many in the West have become familiar with it through dim sum (yum cha), it actually exists in many forms throughout China (and the rest of Asia). Steamed or pan fried, partially or fully enveloped in dough, filled with everything from pork [...] Similar Recipes: Shrimp Toast Coconut Shrimp with Spicy Orange Sauc
I’ve always been been more of a savory breakfast kind-of-guy. Maybe it’s my Japanese roots, but given a choice, I’ll choose a savory item over a sweet item 95% of the time. This week over at PBS Food, I’ve posted one of my favorite savory breakfast items: Shakshouka. I love it because it’s not only [...] Similar Recipes: Baked Eggs Croissant Breakfast Sandwich Black
It plays out the same way every year. You eat a ton of turkey, get back to work, only to find yourself inundated with work before the holidays. The next thing you know it’s December 20th and you still haven’t gotten gifts for all your loved ones! Well, if one of those loved ones happens [...] Similar Recipes: Grilled shrimp with tamarind noodles Kuromame (black soy beans) Banana peel
Boiling eggs may sound like the simplest thing you could possibly cook, but if you’ve ever boiled an egg you’ve probably run into problems at one time or another. The challenges with boiling an egg generally fall into two categories: cooking the egg, and peeling the egg. Despite following a set of directions precisely you [...] Similar Recipes: Boiled Peanuts SVS: Slow Cooked Eggs Pol
The first time I ever had zucchini bread as I child, it kind of blew my mind. “Wow, you mean you can turn a vegetable into dessert?!” I said. A few dozen years later, remixing notions of what ingredients go together is my favorite way to create new dishes. This week’s clearance basket from my [...] Similar Recipes: Crispy Zucchini Fritters Pumpkin Bread Pudding Zucchini Gratin
If you’re ever tempted to leave your day job by the leisurely lifestyle of a food blogger, filled with good food, exotic travels, and time to pursue your culinary passion, go stand in front of a mirror, smack yourself a few times, and pour a pitcher of water over your head. As with most things [...] Similar Recipes: Fried Oysters Chicken Fried Steak a la Veracruzana Fried Mac & Cheese B
If you’re like me and secretly enjoy covering your scrambled eggs in ketchup, then you’ll love omurice(?????). “Omu” is an abbreviation for “omuretsu” (omelette pronounced with a Japanese accent) and “rice” (pronounced raisu) refers to the sweet and savory chicken rice it’s filled with. It’s unclear where the dish originated, but in Japan
