cilantro | sel et sucre

Vietnamese Shrimp Salad

Posted on March 19, 2012March 18, 2012 by Claire

vietnamese shrimp salad

We’ve had an exceptionally mild winter in DC this year (which, as someone with a very low tolerance for cold, I’ve actually enjoyed). At the beginning of March, temperatures suddenly shot up in the sixties and seventies, and it’s been feeling like spring ever since. With trees bursting into bloom and tulips out in full force right outside my front door, I just can’t bring myself to keep eating the same hearty soups and stews I’ve been relying on all winter. So when the recipe for this Vietnamese shrimp salad found its way into my inbox, I immediately set about cooking it.

… Read the rest

Vegetable Korma

Posted on February 24, 2012February 23, 2012 by Claire

vegetable korma

Although Indian food is one of my favorites, I’ve often faltered when it comes to recreating my favorite curries. So after a friend of mine cooked up a very tasty vegetable korma, I knew I had to grab the recipe and make it my own. The use of cashew butter as a thickener adds some extra decadence (and protein) here, and I used my homemade Madras curry powder to make sure the flavors were fresh and strong. Ever since I’ve discovered the magic of roasting cauliflowers and carrots, especially when adding them to stews, I can’t resist so that’s what I’ve chosen here, but this curry would go well with any vegetables you have around (or with chicken or lamb, if you so desire).

… Read the rest

Chipotle Black Bean Soup

Posted on February 13, 2012February 12, 2012 by Claire

chipotle black bean soup

On Sundays, I love making huge pots of hearty soups to have for lunch throughout the week. Having this food stockpiled feels like a secret arsenal, a little extra something for a healthy midday energy burst. And many soups actually improve after sitting in the refrigerator for a couple days as the different flavors have a chance to meld together. This black bean soup is simple but delicious, meaning that even on my lazier Sundays, it’s an easy option to give me a head start for the week. I nearly always have all these ingredients on hand in my kitchen, too, so this is a good recipe for when I’ve gone a little too long without grabbing fresh groceries.

… Read the rest

Spicy Chickpea Stew

Posted on December 26, 2011December 25, 2011 by Claire

spicy chickpea stew

This blog probably makes it pretty clear that I have a great fondness for simple and flavorful one pot meals. This particular stew is perfect for warming up on a cold winter night. Roasting the cauliflower and carrots adds a great sweetness, and the spices provide a nice heat (and delicious flavor). I’m typically hesitant when it comes to fennel (and I did cut back on the amount here), but I think it really adds a lot. I served this stew with a good dollop of yogurt on top (sour cream would also work) to cut the spiciness of the cayenne pepper and add an extra tanginess, but it is still quite tasty without this addition.

… Read the rest

Thai Red Curry Paste

Posted on October 17, 2011October 9, 2011 by Claire

Thai Red Curry Paste

Anyone who’s a regular reader of this blog has probably figured out that I cook quite a lot of Asian food. I’ve long been a lover of the flavors found in Asian cuisine, and I somewhat recently began doing most of my shopping at an Asian supermarket (H&A Supermarket in Langley Park for anyone who’s in the area) and thus have easy access to many rarer ingredients for ridiculously cheap prices. When I discovered this store, I knew immediately what I had to make first: Thai curry. Thai food plays around a lot with mixing salty, sweet, and sour, and this curry paste is the first step in building a delicious curry with those flavors.

… Read the rest

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Posted on October 10, 2011October 9, 2011 by Claire

Roasted Tomato Salsa

It may already be October, but my garden is still producing some last tomatoes, so I used them to make this delicious roasted tomato salsa. Popping the tomatoes (and some of the other components) in the oven adds a nice sweetness to the salsa, and I included both jalapeno and chipotle peppers to give this salsa a good spicy kick. The great thing is how truly easy this salsa is – give some veggies a rough chop, toss them in the oven, and then blend with a few other ingredients. I love having salsa around for adding to sandwiches, putting in burritos or tacos, or having with my eggs in the morning.

… Read the rest