Tag Archives: appetizer

4-3-2-1 Scallop Cheviche

4-3-2-1 Scallop Cheviche

Simple to make – Pretty to look at – Delightful to eat!

INGREDIENTS:

4 Lemons, juiced

3 Oranges, juiced

2 Limes, juiced

1 Blood Orange, peeled, sliced into thin wedges*

1.5 pounds Scallops, cleaned, sliced into thin, round discs

1/2 cup Yellow Pepper, diced

1/2 cup Orange pepper, diced

1/2 cup Red onion, diced

1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp White pepper

3 small Chilies, seeded, chopped

1 small chili, chopped (seeds left in)

PREPARATION:

In a large, non-reactive bowl, gently toss ingredients to mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Serve cold over a bed of greens.

For a spicier Cheviche, leave in more seeds from the chilies

Serves 6-10

*If blood oranges are unavailable, you can substitute with a regular orange or a tangelo


Cauliflower “Rice” Veggie Rolls with Asparagus, Roasted Red Pepper & Thai Basil

Cauliflower “Rice” Veggie Rolls with Asparagus, Roasted Red Pepper & Thai Basil

Both the grilled peppers and cauliflower rice can be made ahead; just make sure to refrigerate until ready to use. Plan to not cook the asparagus ahead of time- that way you won’t lose its vibrant green color.

INGREDIENTS:Asparagus, Roasted Pepper and Thai Basil Sushi Roll
2 Bell Peppers, red, washed
24 Asparagus stalks, thin, washed & trimmed
1/3 Cauliflower head, washed, trimmed + chopped into medium pieces
1 tsp Mirin
1 tsp Simple syrup
1 tsp Vinegar, rice
1/2 tsp Sesame seeds, white
4 Nori sheets
26-36 Thai basil leaves (substitute regular basil leaves if unavailable)

PREPARATION:
Grill red peppers, turning occasionally, until all sides are black. Place peppers in a bowl; cover bowl in saran wrap and let peppers rest for 20-30 minutes. Unwrap bowl; remove and discard pepper skins, stems & seeds. Cut roasted pepper into long strips.

Steam asparagus until al dente, about a minute. Throw asparagus into ice bath to stop cooking; remove from water.

Place cauliflower, mirin, simple syrup and rice vinegar into food processor. Chop until cauliflower pieces are about the size of rice grains. Stir in sesame seeds.

To assemble: Place 1 nori sheet on sushi mat. Thinly spread cauliflower mixture over nori sheet, leaving a 1/2 inch “lip” of one side bare. Place a row of basil leaves in middle of cauliflower (running parallel to bare lip.) Lay some pepper strips on top of basil leaves. Lay 3 steamed asparagus stalks over pepper, allowing the asparagus heads to extend beyond the end of the roll. Take three more asparagus stalks and trim to fit the space left at the end of the first three stalks, again allowing for some length so that the asparagus tips will stick out of veggie roll end. Roll mat slowly toward “lip”; wet bare Nori lip with water and rub onto roll to seal.
Dampen a chef’s knife with a moist cloth. Carefully slice roll into 6-8 pieces. For easier cutting, make sure to clean and re-moisten blade with damp cloth in between each slice.

GARNISH OPTIONS: soy sauce*, wasabi, and/or pickled ginger

*use wheat-free soy sauce or Tamari if preparing gluten-free

Makes 4 veggie rolls
Serving size: 1 roll


Onion Dip

Onion Dip

Baked Taro Chips with Onion Dip on Radicchio

Very quick to assemble, and tastes much better than any processed, store-bought version.
Serve with chopped veggies or baked chips.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup Cottage cheese, nonfat

¼ cup Milk, nonfat

2 oz Cream cheese, nonfat

¼ cup Onion, white, chopped

½ tsp Garlic cloves, minced

1/8 tsp Onion powder

½ tb Vinegar, rice

1/12 tsp Pepper, white

¼ tsp + to taste Salt

to taste Black Pepper

1/8 tsp Paprika

as needed Olive oil

1 tb Chives, minced (optional)

PREPARATION:

In a food processor, combine cottage cheese milk, cream cheese, onion, garlic, powdered onion, rice vinegar, salt and pepper until smooth and creamy. Garnish with chives (optional). Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

YIELD: 8 servings

SERVING SIZE: 1/4 cup

CALORIES: 40

FAT: 0

Hawaiian Patter with Veggie Rolls, Baked Taro Chips with Onion Dip, Sweet Potato Curry Yogurt Salad


Carrot Soup with Orange and Tarragon

Sweet and savory, plus great for the waistline!

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon  Olive oil

1 pound Carrots

¾ cup  Onion, chopped

¼ cup Ginger, chopped

3 medium Garlic cloves, chopped

3 cups Vegetable stock

1/4 cup Orange juice, fresh squeezed

2 tablespoons Wine, white, dry

2 teaspoons Tarragon, fresh, chopped

1 tseaspoon Thyme, fresh, chopped

Pinch Salt

Pinch Pepper, white

PREPARATION:

Add oil to medium pot and heat on medium-high flame.  Add carrot, onion, ginger and garlic and sauté until onion is soft.  Add stock; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots are tender.

Puree soup in batches in blender until very smooth.  Return to pot. Stir in orange juice, wine, chopped tarragon, thyme, salt and white pepper and simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors.

Garnish with sprigs of tarragon.

Soup can be served either hot or chilled.

YIELD: 8 servings

SERVING: 1 cup


Miso Soup

This soup is low in calories (50 per serving) and big in flavor.

INGREDIENTS:

¼ cup  Hijiki seaweed, dried

7 cups Water

1 cup Tofu, firm, diced

¾ teaspoons Garlic, minced

¾ teaspoon Ginger, fresh, minced

1 large  Scallion, chopped

1 ½ cups  Chinese cabbage or bok choy, thinly sliced

3 tablespoons Miso paste, red

3 tablespoons Tamari or soy sauce (wheat-free)

PREPARATION:

In a small bowl soak the seaweed in ½ cup of the water for about 5 minutes; drain. Divide hijiki and tofu among 9 serving bowls.

Bring remaining 6 ½ cups water to a boil in a medium pot; add ginger and garlic and simmer about 3 minutes. Add scallions and greens and cook 1 minute longer.

Remove pot from heat. Add miso and tamari sauce and stir gently to dissolve the miso. Let soup rest 3 minutes, then gently stir again and then pour the soup into the prepared bowls and serve immediately.

Variation: Add ½ cup thinly sliced mushrooms to soup along with the greens and scallions.

Makes 9 servings

SERVING SIZE: 1 cup


Baked Taro Chips

Baked Taro Chips with Onion Dip on Radicchio

Baked Taro Chips
A healthier version of the Hawaiian snack favorite.  If you cannot obtain fresh taro root, you can substitute with white or sweet potatoes.

Serve with Onion Dip.

INGREDIENTS:

5 each  Taro root, small, fresh

5 cups  Water

¼ cup Vinegar, white

as needed Spray oil

PREPARATION:

Peel taro root and slice very thinly on a mandolin. Place in bucket with water and white vinegar, and soak for a couple of hours.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rinse soaking taro chips; dry with towel. Place in large bowl and toss with salt, pepper, paprika. Lay chips out on baking sheet sprayed with oil and bake for about 10-12 minutes, making sure to flip chips halfway through cooking.

Hawaiian Patter with Veggie Rolls, Baked Taro Chips with Onion Dip, Sweet Potato Curry Yogurt Salad