Meatball and Potato Jerusalemite Sofrito

“Sofrito” means “fried” in Ladino (a Jewish version of Spanish); a term that is often used in the Sephardic cuisine, to describe not only the process of simple frying, but also to describe a specific dish, that combines meat and potatoes.

Quince Recipes Revisited

Quince is a unique and amazing fruit, that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. As it is now the best season for getting it fresh and fragrant, I thought it would be a good idea to gather the quince recipes posted here before, in one post. Try one or all, and enjoy.

Lobster with Brown Butter and Capers

Finding a freshly boiled lobster at major discount, was all the reason I needed to grab one. With such a fresh lobster, the only thing it needed was to smother it in brown butter seasoned with with some good Old Bay seasoning, add a bit of garlic and capers, and a few drops of fresh lemon juice – and serve.

Lemon and Cilantro Roasted Chicken Thighs

Roasted chicken thighs with lemon and herbs, is a dish I make often, and have posted a couple of versions of it here. This time, I’ve decided to rely on cilantro as the main herb, and enhanced its aroma and flavor by adding Zhoug, a spicy cilantro based paste.

Rosemary-Lemon Scented Poached Salmon, with Vegetable Salad

Poaching is one of the best methods to cook fish: the liquids in which the fish is cooked, prevent it from drying, and the result is moist and tender texture.

Chicken Patties with Indian Lime Pickle and Peppadew Peppers

Chicken patties make a lighter alternative for beef hamburgers, and I tend to make them more often in the summer, with different seasonings.

Pan Fried Shrimp with Spicy Pickled Lemon Mayonnaise

With extremely hot weather outside, even with the A/C on, the last thing anyone want is to stand by the stove for a long time. The following quick pan-fried shrimp dish is a good way to avoid that.

Puff Pastry Parcels with Ground Beef, Dried Currants and Almonds

Keeping a package of good quality puff pastry in the freezer, makes it easy to create a wide variety of pastry treats.
This time, I’ve used it to create the following small crispy savory “parcels”, which were filled with a tasty beef, dried currants and roasted almonds filling.

Lemony Smoked Salmon and Dill Mousse

 

The recipe for my smoked salmon mousse is one of the most popular in this blog, and was shared more then 1K on Pinterest, most likely because it is quick to make, and very flavorful. I use it often, in various ways.

Chicken Legs with Fennel Lemon and Potatoes

 

Roasted chicken with lemon and potatoes, is one of my favorite combinations, and I always try to find new ways to add different flavors to the basic recipe.

Swordfish with Spicy Grape Tomatoes Sauce

 

Swordfish is one of my favorite fish; for its “meaty” and firm texture, and its ability to absorb bold flavors. It is also a fish that handles freezing and defrosting well, and requires only a very short cooking time.  So, I always keep a few vacuum packed fillets in the freezer, and use them in different ways.