Red Curried Vegetable Tomato Soup ::: The Food Matters Project

This post has to be quick, I am currently doing two jobs at my company and March has been manic! The great news is that I will be taking on a new position in April…more to come there soon.

I love soup, but I rarely make it at home. Strange because I almost always order it at restaurants.

This curried soup recipe from the Food Matter Project was unknown for me. I have never had soup with curry flavors nor have I cooked with coconut milk before. The flavors end up mixing really well. Spicy, sweet, bold, and hearty…this soup will be going into the favorite soups file.

The full recipe can be found here at Eats Well With Others by Joanne and on page 107 of The Food Matter’s Cookbook.

For my version I added an extra jalapeño because I love very spicy soup, 3 stalks of celery, an extra carrot, and used red curry powder.

* I have a lot left over,  so I plan to try the poached egg version where you crack  an egg in the gently boiling soup and then serve.

::: the onion, jalapeño, celery, garlic, and ginger sautéing in dutch oven :::

Red Curried Vegetable Tomato Soup     serves 4-6

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp minced ginger
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, minced
  • 2 tbsp red curry powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • big pinch of sugar
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 2 carrot, chopped
  • 3 stalks of celery, chopped
  • salt and black pepper
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup light coconut milk
  • 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 small cauliflower, cored and roughly chopped
  • 4 hard boiled eggs, roughly chopped, for garnish or opt to poach the eggs in the soup
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Put the oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. When it is hot add the onion, garlic, ginger, and jalapeno. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened 3-5 minutes. Stir in the curry powder, cumin, and sugar. Cook and stir until the spices become fragrant, 1-2 minutes.

Add the potatoes, carrots, and celery and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring for a minute or 2 then add the vegetable broth, coconut milk, and tomatoes with their liquid. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat so the mixture gently bubbles.  Cook, stirring once in a while, 20 minutes.

Add the cauliflower and adjust the heat to the mixture bubbles gently again. Cook until all the vegetable are very tender about 15 minutes more.

The soup will refrigerate great for 3-4 days and you can also freeze it to re-heat later.

optional: Serve with chopped hard boiled eggs and cilantro.

 

And to see some creative renditions of the original recipe head here to where the other Food Matter’s Project members posted their recipes.

::: keelymarie :::

Seared Bean Sprouts with Beef & Sesame Orange Sauce

Picture from catesworldkitchen.com

{Picture from cate’s world kitchen}

 
Sprouts. 
Fillers. 
Tasteless. 
Waste of space. 

Well Mark Bittman, you’ve done it again.

Maybe this is the theme of this Food Matters Project, but I was scared of the amount of sprouts in this recipe. SPROUTS? They are a filler food to me. I hate when Benihana or better yet, KOBE’s, puts them in their fried rice. Total blemish in a perfect food.

But these sprouts won me over. Just like the brussels sprouts won so many people over last week. Pretty good @Bittman, pretty good. This recipe is for keeps. Thanks for a great pick this week Dominica!

I was excited to try this recipe because of the asian style sauce and the quick cook time (less than 20 min!).  Minus the sprouts- I know, I know I can stop with the sprouts. But that’s the idea of this Food Matters Project right? Expand my horizons and eat a little better. I did make a side of chicken fried rice though just in case. 😉

I stuck to the recipe 100%, but hesitated while searing the beef on high. It was sliced so thin and the pan is supposed to be on high with oil, I really thought I would ruin it. My bad, I turned the heat down and afterwards wish I had seared it on high. Cooking such thin cut meat on high for just 2 minutes will help it stay tender, mine ended up a bit more tough.

This recipe’s sauce was pretty watery since it’s made with fresh squeezed orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, and honey.

::: I’d like to make it again, but begin by sautéing the sauce in a saucepan on the side with a bit of corn starch. This will thicken it up a bit before pouring it over the sprouts and beef.  I will also add crushed red pepper flakes, and 1 more tablespoon each of  honey and soy sauce. :::

Seared Bean Sprouts with Beef and Sesame Orange Sauce

Full Recipe by Mark Bittman found HERE at WINE FOOD LOVE

Ingredients:

  • thinly sliced beef
  • 2 oranges, squeezed and zested
  • soy sauce
  • honey
  • lots of sprouts
  • sesame seeds
  • scallions

Tips:

  • Good pick for a quick carb free meal (less than 20 minutes)
  • Don’t be afraid to sear the meat on high, just keep it to 2 minutes
  • Potentially try cooking the sauce on the side and thickening it with a bit or corn starch before pouring it over
  • For a bold flavor add 1 more tablespoon each of soy sauce and honey
  • For spice add a pinch of crushed red pepper
 ::: Head here to see how the other members of the Food Matter’s Project fared. I can’t wait to see if anyone got creative! :::

Chicken Fried Rice       side serves 4

  • 1 chicken breast, chopped very small
  • 1 cup of white or brown rice, cooked and set aside (makes 3 cups cooked)
  • 1/2 a large sweet onion diced
  • 3 scallions, sliced up to some of the green
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup frozen edamame
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup light soy sauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ginger powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Heat olive oil on medium high heat. Cook chicken for 3 or 4 minutes until there is no pink you can see. Add onions, scallion, and carrots and cook for 4 minutes. Add peas and edamame cook for 4 more minutes. Add rice, garlic powder, ginger, soy sauce, and salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 4 more minutes.

Push rice to the side and crack the eggs into the pan. Let cook for 30 seconds (until fluffy) then mix into the rice. Add sesame seeds.  Add more seasonings to your preference.

::: keelymarie :::

Baked Rigatoni with Brussels Sprouts, Figs, Pears, Apples, Fontina & Gruyère

I  love, love, love cooking for friends and family. It is such a release to me and a great excuse to have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand with the music blasting (and not the TV).

Last night we had some friends over because I planned to cook this week’s Food Matter’s Project dish “Baked Rigatoni with Brussels Sprouts, Figs & Bleu Cheese.”

Continue reading “Baked Rigatoni with Brussels Sprouts, Figs, Pears, Apples, Fontina & Gruyère”

Twisted Chick Parm ::: Roasted Red Pepper Walnut Pesto

 

:::Twisted Chicken Parmesan w/ Roasted Red Pepper Walnut Pesto:::

We ate really well last week. Well we had a  few good excuses with Peter’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, and I was home for a week from work travels.

It started with Jambalaya for Peter’s birthday.

We have been making Sarah’s TO DIE FOR jambalaya recipe  since she posted it a year ago, if you love spice please make this ASAP. You should also visit her fabulous blog to wish it a happy 2nd birthday!

Then we had filet, lobster (that we caught ourselves in the Keys!), and whole artichokes for Valentine’s Day…

…and then what I am calling “Twisted Chick Parm” with the Roasted Red Pepper Walnut “Pesto” from the Food Matters Project. {The pesto recipe was chosen by Heather from girlichef this week and can be found on her blog post today.}

I first made the “pesto” from scratch on Valentine’s day, with hopes it would be a nice dip or sauce for our steak. It is really red peppery and rich, so I decided it would taste better with chicken and whole wheat pasta the next day.

The FMP is expanding my ideas for cooking fresh veggies, but I will say we are still eating a lot of meat and non whole wheat carbs. Hopefully once we are through a few months of the recipe book I will be able to combine some of the favorites for more full meals.

Twisted Chicken Parmesan & Pasta     serves 2

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup italian bread crumbs
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup parmesan and mozzarella mix, shredded
  • 3- 4 cups of whole wheat pasta (we use rigatoni)
  • 1/2 recipe of previously prepared Roasted Red Pepper Walnut “Pesto”
  • 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
Prepare Roasted Red Pepper Walnut “Pesto” and set aside at room temperature.  I roasted the red peppers myself and still used 2 cloves of garlic even though I only made half of the recipe.
To see other uses for this flavorful pesto head here to see recipes from the other Food Matter Project members.
***After seeing many of the posts this morning I think I found MONSTER sized red peppers at the grocery store.  I can see how a little less red pepper and adding cannellini beans or chickpeas might balance the flavors even more than just adding parmesan cheese as I did in this recipe. 

Pre-heat over to 350°F. Crack the egg into a prep bowl and whisk. Mix bread crumbs, garlic powder, salt & pepper in separate prep bowl.

Wash and clean chicken breasts. Place each in the egg mixture, then in the breadcrumbs, and then on a nonstick or greased baking pan/sheet.

Bake for 25 minutes. Top with parmesan and mozzarella cheese and bake for 5 more minute.

Cook pasta as directed on box. Drain and set aside.

In a food processor, blender, or mixer; mix the parmesan with the Roasted Red Pepper Walnut “Pesto.” Then in a saucepan on medium heat, sauté 1/2 of the pesto with whole wheat pasta until warm. Pour the second half of the pesto over the chicken and serve.

 

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keely marie

The Food Matters Project ::: Cracked Black Pepper Sweet Popcorn

 

Oh man! I am home this week from almost 4 weeks of travel and I am pretty thrilled to relax at home with Peter for his birthday tonight. Happy Birthday baby!

This week kicks off, as it will for the next few months, with my Food Matters Project post.

Tell me: WHO goes 28 years NEVER having made any popcorn but MICROWAVE popcorn?!

Well Kate, from COOKIE + Kate, made sure we all knew what we were missing with this week’s The Food Matter Project recipe.

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Not really sure why we all grow up just eating the microwave kind.  This was fast and simple, no bag necessary.

I chose to make my rendition a bit “spicy and sweet” {my favorite combo!}- with some melted butter, fresh cracked black pepper, salt, and sugar.

I actually cannot stop eating it right. this. minute…

 

After the popcorn is made, melt 3 tablespoon of butter with 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of fresh cracked black pepper. Toss the popcorn in the mixture and add more black pepper, to taste. I added more because I love how the cracked black pepper balances the sweet buttery sugary taste.

Follow the recipe to make the simple homemade popcorn over at COOKIE + kate and check out the other FMP members’ renditions here.

I also decided to make a handful covered in red candy coating for some Valentine’s Day love. <3 <3<3

 

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keely marie