Tahini. Nothing more than sesame seeds that have been ground to form a smooth and velvety paste. Tahini seems to be everywhere these days, although there’s nothing remotely novel or new about sesame seeds. Rather, it’s an ancient food that has been cultivated in India since 5000 BC; references to sesame seeds have been found on cuneiforms … Continue Reading
A short post today… Quick, weeknight dinners need not be dull and boring. Meet larb, it may be just what you’re looking for. Larb (also spelled laap, larp, lahb or laab) is a salad of Laotian and Northern Thai origin. Larb can be made with various proteins, from chicken to pork to duck. The meat is minced … Continue Reading
I love all types of fish and seafood. So when Australis Barramundi (aka ‘the sustainable sea bass’) approached me to develop a couple of recipes for their site, I was on board. If you’ve never had Australis Barramundi before, it’s a moist, buttery, and meaty whitefish, native to Australia and Southeast Asia. Its clean, mild flavor … Continue Reading
As a big fan of sea vegetables, I’m quite excited about the latest addition to my cookbook collection — Ocean Greens: Explore the World of Edible Seaweed and Sea Vegetables (published in October 2016). I’ve thumbed through it and bookmarked several recipes that piqued my interest — among others, a tiramisu thickened with agar agar (a type of … Continue Reading
I love octopus. You name it, I love it (grilled, boiled, braised, etc.). Any octopus fans out there? Yes, you say. Have a favorite preparation? If so, please share. Braised polipetti (baby octopus) is one of my hands down, all-time favorite dishes. As the octopi stew, they release much of their water content, which melds with the … Continue Reading
