Kristen's Recipes

Marry Me Roasted Cauliflower

1 medium cauliflower (cut into florets)

1 T. olive oil

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 T. olive oil

3 cloves garlic (finely minced)

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp. chili flakes

1 C. vegetable broth (low sodium)

1/2 C. cream (use coconut cream for a dairy-free option)

1/2 C. chopped sun-dried tomatoes

1/3 C. Parmesan cheese (grated)

1/4 tsp. black pepper (or more to taste)

1 T. fresh parsley (chopped for garnish)

Start by heating your oven to 425°F (220°C). While the oven is heating, take the cauliflower and cut it into uniform florets. Make sure the pieces are roughly the same size so they cook evenly. Rinse the cauliflower under cool water and pat it dry with a paper towel to ensure it crisps up when roasted.  Once dry, remove any leaves from the cauliflower head and trim the stem so the florets break off easily. You want the florets to be a bite-sized size, as this will allow for the perfect balance of crispy edges and tender interior.  Now it’s time to season your cauliflower! Place the florets in a large mixing bowl, then add the olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together until the cauliflower is well coated in the seasoning. This step is crucial for ensuring every bite is bursting with flavor. Next, spread the seasoned cauliflower in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make sure the florets aren’t overcrowded so they can roast properly and get crispy on all sides. Roast the cauliflower in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes. The cauliflower should be golden brown and tender when done. If you want an extra crispy texture, you can broil the cauliflower for an additional 1-2 minutes, but keep a close eye on it to prevent burning. While the cauliflower is roasting, it’s time to make the creamy sauce that will bring everything together.  In a medium saucepan, heat 1 T. olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until it becomes fragrant and slightly golden. This will release the garlic’s natural oils, adding a wonderful aroma to the sauce. Next, pour in the vegetable broth and bring it to a simmer. Let it cook for about 5 minutes to reduce slightly and intensify the flavors. Now, stir in the cream, Italian seasoning, and sun-dried tomatoes. Allow the sauce to simmer for another 5 minutes so the flavors can blend together perfectly. Once the sauce is done simmering, reduce the heat to low and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with additional pepper if needed.  When the cauliflower is finished roasting, remove it from the oven and transfer the florets into the saucepan with the sauce. Toss everything together so that each piece of cauliflower is well-coated in the creamy sauce. The cauliflower will soak up the flavors, and the sauce will provide a rich, velvety texture.To finish, garnish with freshly chopped parsley to add a touch of freshness and color. Serve immediately.

Smoky Corn with Green Garlic Butter

1. T. green garlic butter
1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

Heat a medium frying pan over medium heat. Add 1 T. green garlic butter. Add corn and smoked paprika and sauté until corn is cooked through, about 2-3 minutes.

To make the green garlic butter, heat a small frying pan over medium heat. Add 2 T. butter and green garlic (1/4 cup green garlic, white and tender green parts finely chopped) and sauté a couple minutes until soft but not brown, reducing heat if needed to prevent burning. Add 1 T. lemon juice and season with salt and pepper (makes about 1/4 cup).

Peppery Baked Onions with Sage and Gruyère

4 medium yellow (Vidalia) onions, peeled and halved

2 tsp olive oil

3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup less-sodium beef broth

2 tsp low-sodium soy sauce

1/4 tsp dried rubbed sage

1/2 cup finely shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese

Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.  Trim about 1/4 inch off top and bottom of onions so that halves sit flat on a plate. Cut onions in half crosswise and then peel them. Arrange onion halves, cut sides up in prepared oven. Brush tops of onions with olive oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Mix beef broth with soy sauce.  Pour over onions. Bake for 30 minutes more or until onions are brown and tender. Sprinkle sage and cheese evenly over onions; cover and bake for 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Makes 4 servings.

Las Primas Empanada de Choclo con Queso

¼ C. Butter

1/3 C. Flour

2 C. Vegetable Stock

1 C. Onion, diced small

1 C. Choclo (corn)

1 C. Queso Fresco

½ tsp. Turmeric

½ tsp. Salt

Melt butter and cook onion until translucent. Add turmeric.  Slowly add flour.  After incorporated, slowly add stock and mix well until mixture thicksn and there are no lumps.  Then add salt, cheese and choclo.  Mix well.  Bake in oven for about 40 minutes until golden.

Grilled and Roasted Walla Walla Sweet Onions with Pine Nut Butter

At the Dahlia Lounge, these grilled, roasted and buttered onions are served as an appetizer on a bed of sautéed Swiss chard.

4 medium Walla Walla Sweet Onions

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ cup pine nuts, toasted

3 ounces unsalted butter, softened

½ teaspoon lemon zest

½ teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste

⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

lemon wedges and rosemary sprigs for garnish

Toast the pine nuts in a 350 degree oven for 6 to 7 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool. Caution: pine nuts burn easily. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and fire up an outdoor grill. Peel onions and cut them in half, top to bottom. Brush onions with oil and place cut side down on the preheated grill. Barbecue until grill marks form. Place on a cookie sheet and finish cooking in the oven until tender, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, make the pine nut butter. Place the 1/2 cup pine nuts in the bowl of a food processor and pulse several times until finely ground. Add butter, lemon zest, rosemary, black pepper and salt. Process until mixture is well blended. Spread the tender onions liberally with pine nut butter. Return to the oven to cook just until butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Serve onions warm, sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese and additional toasted pine nuts. Garnish plates with lemon wedges and rosemary sprigs.

Hashed Brussels Sprouts with Lemon Zest

2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus grated zest of 1 lemon

2 pounds brussels sprouts

2 T. olive oil

2 T. butter

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 T. black mustard seeds or poppy seeds

¼ cup dry white wine or vermouth

Salt and pepper to taste.

Place lemon juice in a large bowl. Cut bottoms off sprouts, and discard. Halve sprouts lengthwise, and thinly slice them crosswise. The slices toward the stem end should be thinner, to help pieces cook evenly. As you work, transfer slices into bowl with lemon juice. When all sprouts are sliced toss them in juice and separate leaves. (Recipe can be prepared to this point and refrigerated, covered, for up to 3 hours.) When ready to serve, heat oil and butter over high heat in a skillet large enough to hold all sprouts. When very hot add sprouts, garlic and seeds, and cook, stirring often, until sprouts are wilted and lightly cooked, but still bright green and crisp, about 4 minutes. Some leaves might brown slightly. Add wine, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, 1 minute more. Turn off heat, add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the lemon zest, reserving a little for top of dish. Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with remaining zest and serve

Garlicky Braised Cauliflower with Capers

3 T. olive oil

4 salted anchovies, rinsed and minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

¼ tsp. dried red pepper flakes

1 ¼ pounds (about 6 cups) cauliflower florets

3 T. capers

¼ cup chopped parsley

Salt

Combine the olive oil and anchovies in a skillet and warm over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring, until the anchovies begin to melt into the oil, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and keep cooking until the garlic softens, another 3 minutes. Add the cauliflower florets and one-half cup of water. Cover tightly and cook on medium-low until the florets become slightly tender — soft enough to be pierced with a knife, but not so soft that they can be crushed, about 7 minutes. Remove the lid and raise the heat to high. Cook, stirring, until the water evaporates, leaving behind a thin layer of syrup in the bottom of the pan, about 5 minutes. Add the capers and parsley and cook briefly. Season to taste with salt and serve warm.