Curried Red Lentil Soup

An easy, hearty soup which can be prepared in under an hour thanks to the quick-cook properties of red lentils.

Ingredients:

• 2 yellow onions
  
• 1 lb carrots
  
• 1 garlic
  
• 1 heaped tablespoon hot curry paste
  
• 2 cups red lentils
  
• 1 can (796 ml) no-salt-added stewed tomatoes
  
• 1 can (540 ml) chick peas
  
• 4 cups herb broth
  
• cilantro
  
• olive oil for frying

Directions:

Peel and slice thinly onions, carrots and garlic.
Add curry paste and stir fry in olive oil until vegetables are soft.
Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Enjoy.

Scallop Croquettes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
  
• 1 cup carrot
  
• 1 yellow onion
  
• 2/3 cup flour
  
• 1/2 cup milk
  
• 1 oven roasted garlic
  
• 1lb scallops
  
• fresh parsley or cilantro
  
• flour, eggs and bread crumbs for coating
  
• olive oil for frying

Directions:

Dice onion.
Chop carrots finely in a food processor.
Melt butter in a frying pan.
Add onion and carrot. Cook until softened and onions are translucent.
Add flour. Cook for one minute.
Add milk, incorporating thoroughly.
Remove from heat. The mixture should be a thick paste at this point.
Purée scallops and garlic in food processor.
Chop herbs.
Fold puréed scallops, garlic and herbs into mixture.
Refrigerate mixture one hour or more.
Shape scallop mixture into small patties.
Coat each patty in flour, then quickly dip it in a beaten egg, then roll in bread crumbs.

Heat oil in a large frying pan.
Cook croquettes until they are browned on both sides and heated through. (Approximately two minutes per side.)
Serve with Lemon Tarragon Cream Sauce.

Quinoa Jumble Pot

Healthy whole grain quinoa adds a nutty flavour to this hearty dish.



Ingredients:

• 3 cups red and white quinoa grain
  
• 4.5 cups water
  
• 2 cups sweet corn kernels
  
• 3 large tomatoes
  
• 2 yellow onions
  
• 1 garlic
  
• 300 g spicy smoked sausage
  
• olive oil for frying

Directions:

Bring water to a boil in a large pan.
Add quinoa.
Reduce heat and simmer until quinoa has absorbed most of the water.
Slice tomatoes into wedges.
Peel and dice onions and garlic.
Slice sausage.
Stir fry onions and garlic in oil until onion becomes soft and translucent.
Add sausage and cook until browned.
Toss all ingredients together in a large pot and cook over low heat until jumble is heated through and flavours have had a chance to blend.

Hot Potato Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs small new potatoes
  
• 1 jalepeño, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
  
• 1 1/2 inch piece ginger root, peeled and minced
  
• 1 garlic, peeled and minced
  
• juice of 3 limes
  
• 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
  
• 3 Tbsp. Spicy Island Hot Sauce
  
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
  
• 1 Tbsp. honey
  
• 6 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  
• 4 oz montery jack cheese with peppers
  
• 3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro

Directions:

Drop potatoes into a large pot of boiling water.
Cook for 20-25 minutes, until potatoes are tender (but not falling apart).
Combine jalepeño, ginger, garlic, lime juice, vinegar, hot sauce, soy sauce and honey. Slowly add oil, whisking constantly.
Drain potatoes and transfer them to a large bowl.
Toss warm potatoes with dressing.
Set aside to cool for 20-30 minutes.
Add onion, cheese and cilantro to potato mixture.
Toss and serve.

Chicken Broccoli Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. broccoli
  
• 1 lb. chicken breasts
  
• 1 onion
  
• 1 garlic
  
• olive oil for frying
  
• 2 cups thick tomato sauce
  
• fresh basil, minced
  
• fresh oregano, minced
  
• 9 lasagna noodles
  
• 300 grams chevre
  
• 300 grams mozzarella, grated or thinly sliced
  
• freshly grated parmesan

Directions:

Precook lasagna noodles.
Cut broccoli into small florets and steam until nearly tender.
Peel and mince onion and garlic.
Stir fry onion and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Dice chicken and add to onion and garlic.
Fry until chicken is lightly browned.
Stir minced herbs into tomato sauce.
Spread 1/3 of tomato mixture over bottom of large lasagna pan.
Cover with a layer of noodles.
Spread 1/3 of tomato mixture over the noodles.
Add half the chicken mixture, half the broccoli and half the chevre.
Follow with another layer of noodles topped with the remaining sauce, chicken, broccoli and chevre.
Cover with the third layer of noodles.
Arrange mozzarella over top of the lasagna.
Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes until mozzarella is golden brown.
Slice and serve, sprinkling freshly grated parmesan over individual portions.

Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. sweet potatoes
  
• juice of 1 lemon
  
• 1 Tbsp. flour
  
• cayenne pepper
  
• olive oil for frying
  
• 1 onion
  
• 4 oz. lean bacon
  
• 2 oz. fresh bread crumbs

Directions:

Peel and cube sweet potato.
Bring a pan of water to the boil.
Add lemon juice and sweet potato.
Simmer for 8-10 minutes. Sweet potato should be cooked but not too soft.
Mix flour and cayenne together.
Drain sweet potatoes and toss with cayenne/flour mixture.
Fry onion until soft.
Add bacon and cook over low heat for 6-8 minutes.
Add bread crumbs and sweet potatoes and fry for 5-6 minutes until potatoes are browned on both sides.
Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Tabouleh

Ingredients:

• 1 cup bulghur wheat
  
• 2 tomatoes, diced.
  
• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
  
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
  
• 1/4 cucumber, diced
  
• 1 onion, minced
  
• minced fresh parsley and mint leaves
  
• 2 Tbsp. chopped kalamata olives
  
• juice of one lemon
  
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil

Directions:

Place wheat in a bowl and cover with water.
Set aside until water is absorbed (approximately 20 minutes).
Combine all ingredients and mix well.
Chill salad two hours before serving.

Spicy Island Hot Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 papaya
  
• 1 mango
  
• 1 yellow onion
  
• 1 garlic
  
• 4 habañero peppers
  
• 1 inch fresh ginger root
  
• 1/3 cup dark rum
  
• 1/3 cup lime juice
  
• 2 1/2 teaspoons honey
  
• cardamom
  
• anise
  
• cloves
  
• tumeric
  
• nutmeg
  
• cinnamon
  
• black pepper

Directions:

Peel, seed and chop papaya.
Peel, pit and chop mango.
Peel and chop onion and ginger.
Peel garlic.
Stem, seed and chop peppers.
Purée all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
Transfer mixture to a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
Simmer for ten minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Bottle in a glass jar and refrigerate.

Curried Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon tomato/tamarind based curry paste (such as Patak's hot)
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
  
• 1 cup raisins
  
• 340 grams dry pasta shells or rotini
  
• 1/2 red pepper
  
• 1/2 green pepper
  
• 1/2 red onion
  
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley
  
• 1/2 cup pine nuts

Directions:

Cook pasta, drain, and set aside to cool.
Combine curry paste, olive oil, stock and raisins in a saucepan.
Bring dressing to a boil, simmer for five minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool.
Slice peppers and onion thinly.
Chop parsley.
Toss pasta with dressing.
Mix in vegetables, parsley and nuts.
Serve chilled.

Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 red bell peppers
  
• 4 - 5 large tomatoes
  
• 6 jalepeño peppers
  
• 1 yellow onion
  
• olive oil
  
• 2 heads oven roasted garlic
  
• 1 sweet potato
  
• fresh basil
  
• 3 cups herb broth

Garnish:

• seasoned croutons
  
• feta cheese
  
• fresh basil

Directions:

Remove stem and seeds from peppers.
Remove stem from tomatoes.
Peel onion.
Cut peppers, tomatoes and onion into large chunks.
Coat large baking pan with olive oil.
Add peppers, tomatoes and onion. Toss to coat with oil.
Roast in oven at 350°F for 1 hour.
Peel and cube sweet potato.
Boil until soft.
Strain off water.
Purée peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic, sweet potato, basil and juices from roasted vegetables in food processor.
Add broth.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes to allow flavours to blend well.
Serve topped with seasoned croutons, crumbled feta cheese and fresh basil.

Saffron Mussel Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs live mussels
  
• 3/4 cup dry wine
  
• 1/4 cup butter
  
• 1 yellow onion
  
• 6 small leeks
  
• 1 lb potatoes
  
• 3 cups fish or vegetable stock
  
• 1/2 teaspoon saffron
  
• parsley to garnish

Directions:

Scrub and rinse mussels.
Steam mussels in wine in a covered pan until mussels open. (Approximately 5 minutes on high heat.)
Remove mussels from liquid, discarding any which failed to open.
Set aside both mussels and liquid.
Peel onion and potatoes.
Wash leeks thoroughly.
Dice onion, leeks and potatoes.
Fry vegetables in butter for five minutes.
Add stock and reserved wine/mussel juice and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat.
Add saffron.
Cover and simmer for 25 minutes.
Purée soup in a blender or food processor.
Set aside some mussels in half shells -- one to garnish each bowl.
Discard shells from remaining mussels.
Divide mussels amongst soup bowls.
Ladle puréed soup over mussels.
Garnish each bowl with a mussel in half shell and a sprig of parsley.
Serve immediately.

Roasted Parsnip Soup

A delicious "creamy" soup -- without the cream! This soup is lactose-free and vegan-friendly.



Ingredients:

• 1 lb. parsnips
  
• 1 firm pear
  
• 1 large potato
  
• 1 yellow onion
  
• 1 garlic
  
• 1 yellow pepper
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 4-5 cups vegetable stock
  
• 1 tsp ground thyme

Directions:

Peel parsnips, pear, potato, onion & garlic.
Core pear.
Seed pepper.
Cut vegetables into large chunks.
Toss vegetables with oil in a large, shallow casserole dish (such as a lasagna pan).

Roast at 400°F for 40 minutes, turning vegetables over in pan after first ten minutes to ensure they are fully coated in oil. Vegetables should be soft and lightly browned when done.
Heat stock in a large pot.
Add roasted vegetables.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Purée soup in a blender or food processor.
Return to pan.
Add thyme and more liquid if desired.
Simmer for a further 15 minutes to allow flavours to blend.
Ladle into soup bowls and serve warm.

Fried Plantain Platter

A delicious and simple appetizer.
This is a great prelude to my jambalya.

Ingredients:

• 2 green plantains
  
• 1 yellow plantain
  
• 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
  
• 1 garlic, minced
  
• cayenne pepper
  
• olive oil for frying

Directions:

Slice one green plantain into wafer thin rounds and fry until golden.
Coarsely grate the second green plantain and stir fry with sliced onion until golden.
Cut yellow plantain into 1/2 inch cubes and sprinkle with cayenne pepper. Fry with minced garlic until brown.
Arrange three styles of fried plantain on a serving platter and serve immediately.

Gazpacho

This cold tomato soup is the perfect dish for a hot summer day. Full of flavour and fresh-from-the-garden goodness.



Ingredients:

• 5 large tomatoes
  
• 1 red bell pepper
  
• 1 green bell pepper
  
• 1 red onion
  
• 1 garlic
  
• cilantro
  
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  
• hot sauce such as Susie's Calypso
  
• 2 cups cold vegetable stock
  
• seasoned croutons for garnish

Directions:

Dice tomatoes, peppers and onion.
Mince garlic and cilantro, reserving some cilantro leaves whole for garnish.
Toss vegetables and minced cilantro together.
Pour oil and vinegar over vegetables and mix well.
Fire it up as desired with hot sauce.
Mix in cold vegetable stock.
Cover and refrigerate 2 hours to allow flavours to blend.
Serve cold, garnished with croutons and whole cilantro leaves.

Gourmet Cheese, Tomato & Carmelized Onion Panini

Cheese & tomato sandwiches, grilled cheese, and cheese & onion just about anything are traditional common grub in my native land. In the best tradition of my adopted country; however, I've combined these flavours with some local specialties and a cooking technique from yet a third country (the Italian pressed & grilled sandwich or "panino") to create this delicious sandwich. Simple food with gourmet taste.



Ingredients:

• hearty whole grain, multi-grain bread
  
• onion, thinly sliced
  
• tomato, sliced
  
• chèvre
  
• aged Canadian cheddar, sliced
  
• extra virgin olive oil
  
• olive oil for frying

Notes:

Panini are traditionally made in a ridged sandwich press which toasts both slices of bread while heating the sandwich through and fusing the fillings together. The ridges give the panino its characteristic stripes. If you don't have such a press; however, you can still enjoy this delicious sandwich by cooking it in a skillet and pressing down the top of the sandwich with a second heavy skillet or other weight, then flipping the sandwich halfway through the cooking time to toast the opposite side of the bread. You won't have the stripes using this second method, but you'll still get all of the flavour!

Directions:

Stir fry onion in olive oil over medium heat until onions are caramelized (soft and caramel in colour).
Spread chèvre on one side of each slice of bread.
Place tomato slices on one slice of bread for each sandwhich.
Top tomato with slices of Canadian cheddar. (I've had great results making this sandwich with Balderson's 2 Year Old Royal Canadian Cheddar.)
Spread carmelized onions over top of cheddar.

Top sandwiches with second slice of bread (cheese side inside).
Brush outside of sandwiches lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
Cook in a hot sandwich press or skillet with top weight until both sides of the sandwhich are toasted and the cheeses have melted, fusing the fillings together.
Enjoy hot off the grill.

Jambalaya

A little bit of everything adds up to a whole lot of wonderful!



Ingredients:

• 1 garlic
  
• 1 large yellow onion
  
• 1 green bell pepper
  
• 1 red bell pepper
  
• freshly ground black pepper
  
• ground cayenne pepper
  
• ground oregano
  
• 375 g Cajun smoked sausage
  
• 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  
• 400 ml clam juice
  
• 1/2 pound shrimp
  
• olive oil for frying

Directions:

Mince garlic.
Cut onion into eighths and separate layers.
Remove stems and seeds from bell peppers and cut into bit-sized chunks.
Toss onion, garlic and bell peppers together in a large bowl.
Season vegetables generously with black pepper, cayenne and oregano.


Fry chicken in olive oil until cooked through. At this point, the chicken should be soft enough to cut easily into small pieces with a plastic spatula.

Remove chicken from heat and set aside.

Slice sausage 1/4 inch thick and fry until browned.

Remove cooked sausage from pan, placing between sheets of paper towel to absorb excess fat.

Stir fry seasoned vegetables in olive oil until onion becomes soft and translucent.


Add cooked chicken & sausage to the pan with the vegetables.
Add clam juice and bring stew to a boil.


Continue cooking Jambalya until most of the liquid has evaporated/been absorbed.
Add shrimp during final 6 minutes of cooking.


Serve over hearty whole-grain rice with a side of Garlic & Hot Pepper Corn Bread.

Firey Fajitas

A splash of hot sauce adds a spicy twist to my take on this favourite dish. These fajitas are simple to prepare and ready to eat in under ten minutes. Fast food can be flavourful!

Ingredients:

• 10 inch diameter whole grain tortillas
  
• yellow onion
  
• cooked chicken breasts, cut into strips
  
• red bell pepper
  
• avocado
  
• feta cheese
  
• Dan T's WhiteHot Inferno sauce
  
• olive oil for frying

Directions:

Heat oil in a skillet.
Slice onion lengthwise and stir-fry until soft and translucent.
Add strips of cooked chicken and continue cooking until chicken is heated through and onion begins to carmelize.
While the chicken and onions are cooking, slice pepper and avocado into thin strips and crumble feta.

Place onion, chicken, pepper, avocado, feta and hot sauce across the centre of a tortilla, leaving one edge bare.


Fold the bare side of the tortilla up over the fillings.


Fold the near edge of the tortilla up over the fillings and folded bottom edge.


Beginning with the side you have folded over, roll the fajita away from you until it is fully wrapped.


Enjoy!

Zucchini and Corn Enchiladas

Here's a vegetarian derivative of my popular chicken enchiladas recipe.

Ingredients:

• olive oil for frying and greasing pan
  
• 1 garlic, peeled and diced
  
• 1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
  
• 1 zucchini
  
• 1 cup sweet corn kernels
  
• 2 cups hot (spicy) tomato-based salsa
  
• 1/2 lb aged cheddar cheese, grated
  
• 10 seven-inch whole wheat tortillas
  
• sour cream (to garnish)
  
• guacamole (to garnish)

Directions:

Lightly grease a lasagna pan or other large casserole dish with olive oil.

Heat a small amount of oil in a large frying pan or wok.

Stir fry garlic and onion until onion turns translucent and soft.

Add zucchini and corn and stir fry until cooked through.

Add one cup of salsa, mixing well.

Remove filling mixture from the heat.

Lay one tortilla flat on a large plate or other flat surface.

Spoon a row of filling across the tortilla, about 1/3 of the way in from the near edge.

Sprinkle a small amount of grated cheese on top of the filling.

Starting at the near edge, roll up the tortilla around the filling.

Place rolled enchilada into greased casserole dish, seam side down.

Continue filling and rolling enchiladas as above until all are lined up side by side in the casserole dish.

Spread remaining salsa over top of enchiladas.

Sprinkle remaining cheese over top of salsa.

Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes, until cheese is melted and starts to brown.

Serve warm with sour cream and a side of guacamole.

Chicken Enchiladas

Last week my father was craving Mexican food and asked me to take him to Taco Bell.
I told him no. I'd make him Mexican cuisine with real food instead.
This was the result.

Ingredients:

• olive oil for frying and greasing pan
  
• 1 garlic, peeled and diced
  
• 1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
  
• 1 lb chicken breast, cut into strips
  
• 2 cups hot (spicy) tomato-based salsa
  
• 1/2 lb aged cheddar cheese, grated
  
• 10 seven-inch whole wheat tortillas
  
• sour cream (to garnish)
  
• guacamole (to garnish)

Directions:

Lightly grease a lasagna pan or other large casserole dish with olive oil.

Heat a small amount of oil in a large frying pan or wok.

Stir fry garlic and onion until onion turns translucent and soft.

Add chicken and stir fry until cooked through.

Continuing to stir fry, use the edge of a spatula to dice chicken strips into small pieces.

Add one cup of salsa, mixing well.

Remove chicken/salsa mixture from the heat.

Lay one tortilla flat on a large plate or other flat surface.

Spoon a row of chicken/salsa mixture across the tortilla, about 1/3 of the way in from the near edge.

Sprinkle a small amount of grated cheese on top of the chicken/salsa.

Starting at the near edge, roll up the tortilla around the filling.

Place rolled enchilada into greased casserole dish, seam side down.

Continue filling and rolling enchiladas as above until all are lined up side by side in the casserole dish.

Spread remaining salsa over top of enchiladas.

Sprinkle remaining cheese over top of salsa.

Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes, until cheese is melted and starts to brown.

Serve warm with sour cream and a side of guacamole.

Shrimp Curry

A wonderful succulent and savoury shrimp curry, great as a crêpe filling or served over rice.



Ingredients:

• olive oil for frying
  
• 1 garlic, peeled and diced
  
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
  
• 2 inches ginger root, peeled and diced
  
• 2 tablespoons hot curry paste*
  
• 250 g carrots, julienned
  
• 250 g snow peas, sliced on the diagonal
  
• 2 cups coconut milk
  
• 1 mango, peeled, pitted and diced
  
• fresh cilantro leaves
  
• freshly squeezed juice of one lime
  
• 500 g shrimp**

Notes/Substitutions/etc.:

* I favour Patak's Madras curry paste, but there is a wide variety of excellent prepared curry pastes available for those of us without the time to prepare our own.

** If you are preparing the curry for use in crêpes or will be serving it to people who are squeamish about handling their food with their fingers, peel the shrimp and remove their tails before adding them to the curry.

Directions:

Stir fry onion, garlic and ginger in olive oil.


Add curry paste and mix well.

Add carrots and snow peas, continuing to stir fry until carrots soften slightly.


Add coconut milk and bring to a boil.


Reduce heat and simmer.

Add mango, chopped cilantro leaves and freshly squeezed lime juice.


Continue to simmer curry until flavours are well blended and the sauce has thickened.

Add shrimp during final few minutes of cooking and heat through.

This dish is best served fresh!