Chicory Soup

The MUST KNOW THING about this fantastic stew – a stew that has way more than it’s fair share of delicious elements - is the lemon-chili-garlic relish. Make it. Eat it on Everything. Tell everyone you know about it. It is that addicting. Preserved lemons + toasted garlic + torn ancho chilis = Awesome.

The rest of the soup is pretty bomb-diggity too. Barley, onion, and celery make up the grounding, earthy, comforting foundation of this stew. The subtle thyme and bay leaf broth is so simple and unexpectedly delicious that it will make you forget you used to think broth had to have any other elements. From there it’s all about the toppings. Each bowl is garnished with a mélange of simply dressed chicory, fresh cilantro, crème fraiche and the lemon-chili-garlic relish. Each of these delicious bits jockey for position on your spoon every bite. But don’t worry, I won’t say anything if you go grab a bigger one.  

Chive Dumplings

In our house, dumplings are our most revered comfort food. Dumplings, pot stickers, wontons, boiled, in soup, pan-seared, fried, with chili oil. We love them any and every which way. When our favorite neighborhood spot, referred to as “our supplier,” closed down we went into mourning. After we had dried our tears, I went looking for a recipe to console us. Always game to try another dumpling recipe, I was excited to come across Heidi’s Chive Dumplings in Near and Far. These are a wonderful vegetarian rendition of a classic gyoza style pot sticker. The wrapper is thin and delicate up top with just enough contrasting crispiness on the bottom side to give that satisfying crunch and mouth feel. The hearty filling is mild, green (so you know it’s good for you!), and flecked with a hint of umami. The chive oil is a breeze to make and keeps well in the fridge. Not to mention, with its brilliant bright green hue and 100% drizzle-ability, it's absolutely impossible to resist making lots of gorgeous chef-y designs on the plate.

CHIVE DUMPLINGS

— adapted from Near and Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel by Heidi Swanson (Ten Speed Press, 2015)

CHIVE OIL

• ½ cup sunflower oil
• ½ cup freshly chopped chives
• Fine-grain sea salt

DUMPLINGS

• 2 cups cooked green split peas, at room temperature
• ½ to ¾ cup coconut milk or half-and-half
• ½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
• 1 medium garlic clove, smashed to a paste
• 1 cup well-packed spinach
• 1/3 cup chopped chives
• 1 package 4-inch round pot sticker wrappers

METHOD (Adapted)

For the chive oil, puree half of the chives with the sunflower oil, then stir in the remaining chives and add a pinch of sea salt to taste. This can be made ahead, refrigerated, and brought to room temperature before using.

For the dumpling filling, whiz the cooked split peas in a food processor just a bit, then pulse in ½ cup coconut milk, salt, and garlic. Next comes the fresh spinach and chives stirred in with a few pulses. Gradually add in the remaining coconut milk a bit at a time until you have a nice thick, sticky, tacky consistency. Add more salt to taste.

Filling the dumplings is the fun part. And a little prep setting up your filling station goes a long way for making this an easy process. You will want a place to set the formed dumplings. A parchment-lined baking sheet dusted with a few tablespoons of flour works nicely. Then the bowl of filling, a little bowl of water for wetting the wrappers, a small flat plate as a filling station and a place for the stack of wrappers. If you have one of those mechanized scoopers about ½-1 tablespoon in size, those work great for putting a uniform dollop of filling in each wrapper. But if not a regular old spoon does a perfectly good job of it too.

Place a wrapper on the plate, place a dollop of filling in the center, and run a wet fingertip around the perimeter of the wrapper. Next fold the wrapper in half, pressing to seal the edges (try not to trap any extra air in the packet). Make a nice little crimp or pleat around the semi-circle seam edge and set the dumpling with it soft, round bottom side down, on the lined baking sheet. You may have to press each one down a bit to flatten the bottom and get it to sit up straight.

Once the dumplings are all formed I like to cook them up or freeze them right away. Too much air exposure tends to dry out the wrapper. If you like soft dumplings, they can be dropped into boiling water for about 3-5minutes. But if you prefer the crisp, golden brown bottom a nice pan-sear is the way to go. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, add in the sunflower oil, and place in as many dumplings as will fit, seam side up. They can be nestled tightly together but its better if they don’t touch less they stick together. Let the dumplings cook for a few minutes until the bottoms start to brown, being careful not to burn them. Pour in 1/3 cup water, immediately cover with a lid, and let them steam for a few minutes until the water has nearly evaporated. Uncover, let the last bits of water steam off, check the bottoms to see that they are just the way you like them, and slide onto a large plate. Serve topped with the chive oil.

Yogurt Bowl

Sometimes yogurt is what you have to eat. What's always in your lunch box. The modern day PB&J. Like sensible shoes, long underwear, and that moisturizing face mask you wear on Sunday nights, it is good for you but no matter what the commercial tries to tell you, it is never sexy. Well, that's what I thought until I met this recipe, the Beyonce of Yogurt Bowls. First off let's just talk about the quinoa crisps, tastes like Rice Crispies looks like shiny Millet, yes you want it's phone number. Then, wait, was that bee pollen you saw? Adding brilliant dusty bursts of chroma to your already golden honey pools? Yes it was. Wait a minute Ms. Pomegranate Juice, I know your next, you'll get your limelight. Sunflower seeds, not taking a second row seat this time, come in to add a sustaining, hearty crunch and texture. But the Prima Ballerina who floats in and out of the scene on gossamer wings to steal the show, is the sprinkling of torn and crumbled dried rose petals. Used sparingly, these fuschia beauties add a subtle floral note that together with the sweetness of the honey, make all the flavors sing in chorus and elevate this bowl of yogurt to Beyonce status. 

YOGURT BOWL

— from Near and Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel by Heidi Swanson (Ten Speed Press, 2015)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons fresh pomegranate juice
• a drizzle of honey
• a big dollop of Greek-style yogurt
• a handful of puffed quinoa cereal
• a sprinkling of toasted sunflower seeds
• whole pomegranate seeds of fresh or dried rose petals
• a bit of bee pollen (optional)

METHOD

In a bowl, swirl the pomegranate juice and honey into the yogurt just a bit, sprinkle with the cereal and sunflower seeds, then finish with the pomegranate seeds or rose petals and bee pollen (if you are using).

Notes from Leslie

• Spread the dollop of thick Greek yogurt around the base of a shallow wide mouth bowl, making sure to create generous ravines and valleys for the lovely toppings to glide over and pool into.
• I used both pomegranate seeds and a few dried crumbled rose petals cause if you've got it, why not flaunt it?

Harira

Harira from Heidi Swanson's Near and Far cookbook

Harira is a classic Moroccan stew eaten throughout the year, though most traditionally it is served as a snack to break the fast each evening in Ramadan.  With a relatively mild base of tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and a bit of pasta, this dish gets it’s real kick from ginger, saffron, loads of spices and onions. The lovely, unexpected garnishes of dried dates, celery leaves and cilantro elevate this hearty, stick to your ribs stew to an elegant, warming, and delightful dish.

Not surprisingly, this soup tastes even better the next day. With so many elements at play here, an overnight in the fridge really does give the flavors time to settle in and come together nicely.

The subtle notes from torn celery leaves and the sweetness from a the chopped dates are my favorite bits.

Red Lentil Hummus

Boring. Ubiquitous. Hum drum ole Hummus. So often it is a shelf stable, pre-packaged, been in this container for 3 months already rendition that is in front of us. Is it even possible to remember a time when hummus had some soul, when it brought delight, and on occasion even a little revelation? 

I can admit to having known a few hummuses (or is it hummi?) of such repute, little mini show stoppers in their own right. They are: 1. My sister’s Pickled Red Beet Hummus with it's brilliant magenta glow  2. My college roommate's mom's Classic Lebanese Hummus topped with a fruity olive oil and browned pine nuts - never met a smoother, silkier hummus - and 3. The newest entry to the list, Heidi Swanson’s Red Lentil Hummus.  Definitely worth getting the food processor out of the cabinet for folks.

The red lentils add an unexpected and enchanting earthy note to the blend that, combined with the ribbon of toasted sesame oil threaded through, provide a nutty, rich, nuanced flavor that is altogether quite addicting.

RED LENTIL HUMMUS

— Adapted from Near and Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel by Heidi Swanson (Ten Speed Press, 2015)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ½ cups cooked red lentils (see Note)
• 2 medium cloves garlic
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2/3 cup tahini
• ¾ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
• 2 to 3 tablespoons whey, kefir, or warm milk
• 2 teaspoons black sesame seeds
• Extra-virgin olive oil (a good amount), toasted sesame oil (a few drops), minced chives, and/or chive blossoms, to serve

METHOD (Adapted)

Start by blending the cooked lentils and garlic together in the bowl of a food processor for at least a minute, then add the lemon juice, tahini, and sea salt. Blend for another minute.  Add a splash of the whey a bit at a time and keep blending until the hummus is smooth, creamy, and aerated. Adjust the seasoning until it is to your liking, adding more salt or lemon juice as needed. To serve, top with the black sesame seeds, a drizzle of toasted sesame oil, olive oil, and chives and chive blossoms.

NOTE: To cook the lentils, take 1 ½ cups dried red lentils, rinse them well, and put in a saucepan with 1 ¾ cups water. Cover, simmer, and cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes.

LESLIE’S NOTE:

·      I reverse the quantities of toasted sesame oil and olive oil here because I love toasted sesame oil.

Fennel Stew

In my admittedly bizarre mind, stews are the football game of the culinary playing field. An unabashedly hearty scrimmage of bold flavors and big textures bashing into each other, and when it’s a really good match up, there will be a few nimble escalations per serving that make you want to stand up and cheer. That was until I met this stew. The stand up a cheer part is still there, but the textures are nuanced and synchronized, more of a mélange than a scrimmage, the flavors subtle and harmonized.

Slivers of fennel, loads of leek and onion, pillowy soft beans in a mild saffron scented broth accentuated by these tiny bits of salt-cured olive and crumbly creamy & tangy feta; this was a new kind of stew for me. Delicate, subtle, yet substantial, dare I saw sophisticated? So lovely it made me put down my phone. I sipped the broth, wiggled a few more fennel fronds onto my spoon and enjoyed the simplicity. 

FENNEL STEW

— adapted from Near and Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel by Heidi Swanson (Ten Speed Press, 2015)

• 4 small (baby) fennel bulbs, cut into thin wedges, fronds reserved
• 2 generous pinches of saffron (about 40 threads)
• Fine-grain sea salt
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 small yellow onions, cut into ¼-inch slices through the root end
• 4 medium leeks, washed, trimmed, and cut into ¼-inch slices
• 6 small cloves garlic very thinly sliced
• 2 pounds of cooked corona beans (cannellini work well too)
• 2/3 cup dry white wine
• 2 to 3 cups warm water (or broth left-over from cooking the beans)
• Feta or goat cheese, chopped oily black olives, and lemon wedges to serve

METHOD

It is important in this recipe to take care when cutting the vegetables as their shape and size subtly plays into the harmonizing effect of the whole.

Blanch the fennel briefly in well-salted boiling water until crisp tender, 1-2 minutes, drain, put in an ice bath until chilled, and drain again. Set aside.

Using a mortar and pestle, grind the saffron with ¼ teaspoon sea salt.

In a large pot over medium heat gently heat the olive oil and saffron until fragrant. After about a minute, add the onions and cook gently for about 10 minutes. This is just to soften them, but we don’t want any browning here. Add in the leeks and garlic, give it all a good stir and cook for another few minutes. Add the wine, beans, and just enough water or broth to cover the beans. Bring everything to a gentle simmer for 3-4 minutes. When you are just about ready to serve the stew, stir in the reserved fennel slices and any fennel fronds to warm them through. Top each serving with the chopped olives and feta or goat cheese. Give a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice to each and you’re ready to dig in.

Buttermilk Cakes

Buttermilk Cakes made with Rye flour from Heidi Swanson's Near and Far cookbook.

I have to admit, I didn't quite know what to expect when I read this recipe. It starts off with "2 cups rye flour..." RYE FLOUR y'all! In a cake? Ok. That made me curious. Let's see what these little cakes have got. Since I was going for it, I decided to jump in with both feet and try her suggestion for an entirely whole grain batter that calls for whole wheat pastry flour in place of the all purpose. Turns out these beauties have a rustic, delicate crumb slightly reminiscent of cornbread, a light tang from the buttermilk, and a soft note of vanilla running through it all that, well, pretty much puts a bow on it.

Pouring the icing over each of these little cakes, making all kinds of drizzly sugary patterns, well I don't have to tell you. You know it was fun.

BUTTERMILK CAKES

— adapted from Near and Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel by Heidi Swanson (Ten Speed Press, 2015)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups rye flour
• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons aluminum free baking powder
• 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups natural cane sugar
• 4 eggs, at room temperature

BUTTERMILK GLAZE

• 1 1/2 cups organic confectioners' sugar
• 3 to 4 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

METHOD (ABRIDGED)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour several small- to medium-size cake pans. You can use whatever variety of pans you prefer, just be sure to only fill the pans 2/3 of the way full of batter.

Sift the flours, baking powder and salt together and set aside. In another bowl stir together the buttermilk and vanilla, set aside. 

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time. This should be a well mixed soft, fluffy batter. Carefully stir in 1/3 of the dry ingredients and then 1/3 of the buttermilk. Continue until you've incorporated all the wet and dry ingredients. You only want this to be just barely mixed so be careful not to overmix the batter.

Pour the batter into prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or the tops spring back. Smaller cakes will be done sooner than larger ones. Set on a cooling rack to cool slightly before removing the cakes from the pans.

Meanwhile, stir together the glaze ingredients, whisking until nice and smooth. Drizzle over the tops of the cooled cakes, allowing a bit of extra glaze to run down the sides. Store out on the counter or if they won't be all eaten on the first day, in an airtight container.

You had me at Turmeric

When I approached the Turmeric Tea recipe in Near & Far it was with equal parts curiosity and fear. While I was afraid of how a drink of black pepper and turmeric would taste, I was drawn in by the fact that Heidi came up with this recipe while researching old cookbooks at the LA library. In my mind the scholarly approach somehow helped imbue this combination with the wisdom, and safety, of the ages. So there was the fear thing knocked out of the way. Given my penchant for food trends, and the fact that I've been hearing a low rumble around turmeric for a good while now, curiosity was getting the better of me. Give me an interesting ingredient in a way I've never had it, and pretty much I'm in. So all it took for me to start stirring up my turmeric + honey paste last night was a slight tickle in my throat.

You most likely have all of these ingredients in your pantry already. So really there's no reason not to give it a go tonight. Powdered turmeric, honey, black pepper, and a lemon. The honey + turmeric paste comes together in about 5 stirs. No big whoop. Boil the water. While that's happening you have time to lazily crank the pepper mill over your mug...20, 21, 22, 23...yup, the more  cranks the better folks. Oh, and squeeze that half a lemon in.  Then, look at that, the water's ready. The round, overflowing spoonful of sturdy honey-turmeric paste melts away as you stir it round in your mug. And you are good to go. The earthy, sweet, spicy, tart steaming addictive goodness burns and soothes on its way down. Tastes equally great after dinner, before bed, or Sunday afternoon on the couch.

TURMERIC TEA

— adapted from Near and Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel by Heidi Swanson (Ten Speed Press, 2015)

• 2 ½ teaspoons dried turmeric
• 1/3 cup good, raw honey
• 1 lemon
• Lots of freshly ground black pepper
• Drizzle of pure almond oil or coconut milk, or ½ teaspoon extra-virgin coconut oil or ghee

METHOD (Adapted)

Pour the honey into a small jar with a tight fitting lid. Stir the turmeric into the honey until it forms a thick paste. This paste (in the jar with the lid on) will keep well in a dark cupboard indefinitely. Which is great since now you’ll have enough turmeric-honey paste on hand for at least 5-6 servings of tea.

For each single serving, take a large rounded teaspoon of turmeric-honey paste and place it in your mug. Pour the hot water over the paste allowing it to melt a bit and then stir well. Add a good squeeze of lemon, as much black pepper as you like, and finish with the extra-virgin coconut oil, ghee, or almond oil. The good bits will sink to the bottom every so often so keep a spoon on hand to swirl it up as necessary.