Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Smashed potato salad with tzatziki dressing

 WaPo Food section 7/31/24

Smashed Potato Salad With Tzatziki Dressing

6 to 8 servings (makes 8 cups)

This TikTok-inspired recipe uses the crispy texture of smashed

potatoes to create an unorthodox but delicious potato salad. The

creamy, cooling dressing is based on tzatziki, featuring a combination

of Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill and lemon juice, but dill pickles and red

onion add another pop of briny, acidic flavor. Though it’s a bit of a time

investment, most of the cooking is hands-off, and the unique texture of

the salad is worth the wait. It’s a twist on tradition that is sure to be a hit

at cookouts, barbecues and potlucks.

Storage: The texture of the salad is best when fresh, but you can

refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.

Active time: 30 mins; Total time: 1 hour 45 mins

Adapted by editorial aide Anna Luisa Rodriguez from Hungry

Happens and Allrecipes.

Ingredients

For the potatoes

l 3 pounds baby potatoes, scrubbed

l 1 tablespoon plus 1/ 2 teaspoon fine salt, divided

l 3 tablespoons olive oil

l 1/ 2 teaspoon garlic powder

l 1/ 4 teaspoon freshly ground

black pepper

For the dressing

l 2/ 3 cup plain Greek yogurt, preferably whole-milk

l 1/ 2 cup seeded and finely chopped cucumber

l 1/ 2 cup finely chopped dillpickles

l 1/ 3 cup mayonnaise

l 1/ 3 cup finely chopped red onion

l 1/ 4 cup finely chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish

l 1 garlic clove, minced or finely grated

l 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

l 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

l 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Steps

l Make the potatoes: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees.

Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

l In a large (at least 6-quart), lidded pot, combine the potatoes with 1 tablespoon of the

salt, and add enough cold water to cover the potatoes by about 1 inch. Set the pot over

high heat, cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Uncover and reduce the heat to medium, or

as needed, so the water is at a lively simmer, and cook until the potatoes are very tender

and easily pierced with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes.

l Drain the potatoes, transfer to the prepared sheet pan and set aside until cool enough to han-

dle. Using the bottom of a glass or measuring cup, carefully and slowly crush each potato to

1/ 4-inch thickness, doing your best to keep them intact. Brush the tops of the potatoes with

the olive oil and season with the remaining 1/ 2 teaspoon of salt, the garlic powder and

pepper.

l Transfer the potatoes to the

oven and roast for about

55 minutes, or until crispy and

golden brown. Let cool on the

pan for 10 to 15 minutes.

l Make the dressing: While the

potatoes are roasting, in a large

bowl, whisk together the yo-

gurt, cucumber, pickles, may-

onnaise, onion, dill, garlic, lem-

on juice, vinegar and mustard

until combined.

l Once the potatoes are cool

enough to handle, cut them in

half or bite-size pieces and add

to the dressing. Toss to coat

evenly. Garnish with dill and

serve.

l Substitutions: For a richer

potato salad >> use sour cream

in place of Greek yogurt, or a

combination of equal parts

Greek yogurt and mayonnaise.

Red wine vinegar >> white

wine vinegar or apple cider

vinegar. Vegan? >> Use vegan

mayonnaise and plant-based

yogurt. Instead of red onion >>

try scallions or shallots. Dill >>

parsley or chives.

Nutrition | Per serving (1 cup), based on 8:

257 calories, 29g carbohydrates, 6mg

cholesterol, 13g fat, 5g fiber, 5g protein,

2g saturated fat, 309mg sodium, 3g sugar

Recipe tested by Anna Luisa Rodriguez;


Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Baba Ganouj


From https://www.loveandlemons.com/baba-ganoush/

It’s easy to include the eggplant on the grill with whatever else you’re preparing.  You might get bitten by the bugs but you’ll keep your kitchen cool. 

Made this with eggplant grilled for ~ 20 minutes - just brushed with oil and pierced in a few places.  After cooling, cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the innards.  Then proceed with making the dip.  There is enough liquid involved that I was able to use my Magic Bullet - no fuss, no muss. 

Ingredients

  • 2 medium (or small) eggplantspierced with a knife or fork
  • ¼ cup tahini
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oilplus more for serving
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • Finely chopped fresh parsley
  • Smoked paprika
  • Red pepper flakesoptional - used Aleppo flakes from Shafa in Rockville
  • Pita breadfor serving
  • Veggiesfor serving

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F and wrap the eggplants in foil. Roast for 50 to 60 minutes, or until they are soft and collapse to the touch. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  • Once cool to the touch, peel the skin from the eggplants, removing any big clumps of seeds. Place the flesh in a strainer set over a bowl and let stand for 20 minutes to remove excess water.
  • Place the eggplant flesh, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and salt in a food processor and pulse until smooth. 
  • Transfer the baba ganoush to a serving dish and sprinkle with parsley, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes, if using. Serve with pita and veggies.

Notes

Note: For a more traditional, smokier baba ganoush, cook the eggplant on the grill (no foil), until the eggplant is very soft and charred all over. Remove the charred skin and continue with the recipe instructions.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Quick okra with sweet-and-sour dressing

From Ottolenghi Simple

If you keep the okra whole and barely cooked, you should avoid having it get slimy.  Also, if I cut into one and hear it ‘crunch’ it usually means it’s older and tougher, so I don’t use it.  

This dressing would be good on most veggies.  Would try on broccoli.  

Serves 4 as a side

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 pounds okra, stems trimmed, not exposing the seeds

3 Tbsp peanut oil (or other mild oil)

2 garlic cloves minced

Salt and black pepper

1 red chile, seeded and thinly sliced

2 tsp maple syrup

1 large lime, finely zest to get 1 tsp and juice to get 1.5 Tbsp

1/2 tsp sesame oil

3/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped

1/3 cup salted roasted peanuts, roughly chopped, to serve

DIRECTIONS:

1) Preheat oven to 425 (I used an air fryer)

 2) Place the okra in a bowl with 2 Tbsp of the oil, the garlic, 3/4 tsp of salt (or less), and a good grind of black pepper.  Spread on 2 parchment lined baking sheets, not crowded, and roast for 7 minutes until just slightly cooked but still firm and bright green in color.  Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

3) Place the remaining 1 Tbsp of oil in a large bowl with the chile, maple syrup, lime zest and juice, sesame oil and 1/8 tsp of salt.  Mix to combine and then, just before serving add the okra and cilantro.  Mix really well - the dressing tends to sink to the bottom.  Then transfer to a serving bowl.

4) Sprinkle the roasted peanuts over the top and serve.