Hearty Blueberry Muffins

29 March 2025|0 Comments

Hearty Blueberry Muffins

300kcal
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 35 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Course Dessert, Recipes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 large Eggs, room temperature
  • 2 TSP Vanilla Extract
  • 6 TBSP Greek Yogurt
  • 6 TBSP Cream (or buttermilk!)
  • 1 TBSP Baking Powder
  • 1/2 TSP Salt
  • 2 cups + 2 tablespoons AP Flour
  • 2 cups Blueberries, fresh or frozen
  • 3 TBSP Turbinado sugar, optional

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease 10 standard size muffin tins and line with cupcake liners. Set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl combine granulated sugar an the melted butter, whisking until combined.
  3. Add the eggs in one at a time. Add the greek yogurt, milk, and vanilla extract and mix well.
  4. Add 2 cups of the flour, baking powder, and salt. Use a silicone spatula to fold the batter together until it mostly comes together–it’s okay if it’s a little lumpy. You don’t want to overmix it!
  5. Add the blueberries and extra tablespoons of flour to the batter. Fold the blueberries into the batter, mixing only until combined.
  6. Scoop the batter into prepared muffin tins, filling about 3/4 of the way. You can use a lage cookie scoop or a 1/4 cup measure to keep things consistent. Sprinkle the tops with Turbinado sugar, if using.
  7. Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at 425°F, then turn oven down to 375°F and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until muffins are golden brown and spring back to the touch. Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before eating!

Nutrition

Calories300kcal

Notes

  • If using frozen berries, toss them in 2 TBSP of flour to prevent them from sinking in your muffins
  • Recipe credit to BromaBakery.com, I only made a couple of minor tweaks
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    Pizza Sauce

    6 March 2025|0 Comments

    Pizza Sauce

    300kcal
    Prep 10 minutes
    Cook 30 minutes
    Total 40 minutes
    Simple homemade pizza and marinara sauce made from crushed tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and a touch of sugar, simmered down to a thick, flavorful sauce.
    Servings 3 cups
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine Italian

    Ingredients

    • 2 TBSP olive oil
    • 3 clove garlic medium, minced
    • 2 TBSP dried oregano
    • 1/4 TSP red pepper flakes
    • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
    • 1 TSP granulated garlic
    • 1 TSP granulated onion
    • 1 TBSP sugar
    • 1 TSP MSG
    • salt to taste

    Method

    1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering.
    2. Add minced garlic, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
    3. Add the crushed tomatoes, granulated garlic, granulated onion, and sugar; stir to combine.
    4. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook until reduced to about 3 cups, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    5. Season with salt to taste. Use immediately on pizza or as a marinara for pasta, or cool and store.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates20gProtein4gFat22gSaturated Fat3gSodium600mgPotassium1200mgFiber6gSugar12gVitamin A25IUVitamin C40mgCalcium80mgIron3mg

    Notes

    We use this on our Detroit Style Pizza and as a marinara sauce for pasta!

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    Vodka Sauce

    3 March 2025|0 Comments

    Vodka Sauce

    300kcal
    Prep 20 minutes
    Cook 40 minutes
    Total 1 hour
    Creamy tomato vodka sauce for pasta made with butter, onions, garlic, tomato paste, cream and a splash of vodka.
    Servings 4 servings
    Course Recipes, Sauce
    Cuisine Italian, Italian-American

    Ingredients

    • 3 TBSP butter
    • 1 medium onion diced
    • 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
    • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
    • 1 tsp kosher or sea salt season lightly, additional to taste
    • 6 ounces tomato paste approximately
    • 1/2 28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes crushed while simmering
    • 1 cup whipping cream
    • 1 pound tube pasta penne, rigatoni, or similar
    • 1/4 cup vodka add near end of sauce cooking
    • 2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano grated, plus extra for serving

    Method

    1. Melt butter in a large saucepan or small Dutch oven over medium heat.
    2. Add diced onion, sliced garlic, and red pepper flakes; season lightly with salt and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are very soft and not browned, about 15 minutes (reduce heat if needed).
    3. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
    4. Add the canned whole peeled tomatoes with their liquid, bring to a simmer, and simmer, crushing the tomatoes roughly with a spoon, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 10 minutes.
    5. Stir in the whipping cream, then transfer the sauce to a blender and blend until very smooth (or use an immersion blender if safe to do so). Return the blended sauce to the pot and season lightly with salt.
    6. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until about 3 minutes shy of package directions (just shy of al dente). Reserve pasta water.
    7. About 1 minute before adding pasta, add the vodka to the tomato sauce and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
    8. Using a spider or slotted spoon, transfer the pasta directly to the sauce along with 1/2 cup (120 ml) of reserved pasta water (or add drained pasta plus 1/2 cup reserved water). Increase heat and cook, stirring constantly, until pasta is well coated and reaches al dente, about 3 minutes; add more pasta water 1/4 cup at a time if sauce becomes too thick.
    9. Remove from heat and stir in the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust salt; add a few drops more vodka if desired (use sparingly).
    10. Spoon pasta onto warmed plates, top with additional grated cheese, and serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates40gProtein12gFat12gSaturated Fat6gCholesterol45mgSodium800mgPotassium800mgFiber4gSugar10gVitamin A800IUVitamin C10mgCalcium200mgIron2mg

    Notes

    Recipe reproduced from SeriousEats. Adjust vodka amount to taste; be cautious — too much will overpower the dish.

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    Focaccia Bread

    3 March 2025|0 Comments

    Focaccia Bread

    300kcal
    Prep 2 hours
    Cook 20 minutes
    Total 3 hours
    Classic olive oil focaccia with a soft, chewy crumb — a versatile base for pizza, sweet or savory toppings.
    Servings 1 loaf
    Course Bread
    Cuisine Italian

    Ingredients

    • 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water (~105°F)
    • 2 tsp sugar
    • 2 1/4 tsp quick yeast instant yeast
    • 500 grams bread flour
    • 2 tsp salt
    • 6 tbsp olive oil divided (for bowl, pan, and drizzling)
    • flaky sea salt for sprinkling
    • fresh rosemary optional, for sprinkling

    Method

    1. Add lukewarm water and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix briefly.
    2. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and sugar mixture and set aside for about 5 minutes until the yeast activates and becomes foamy.
    3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the bread flour and salt.
    4. Fit the stand mixer with the dough hook, start on low speed and add the flour mixture. Mix a few minutes until a shaggy ball forms.
    5. Increase the mixer to medium-low and knead the dough for about 10 minutes, until it becomes sticky and smooth.
    6. Grease a bowl with olive oil and, using a greased spatula, transfer the dough to the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a towel and let rise until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours (or use the oven’s “Proof” setting).
    7. Brush a 9×13-inch baking dish with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Uncover the dough, oil your hands, and fold the dough into itself around the bowl to form a rough ball. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and turn to coat in oil. Press the dough to the pan edges, cover, and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Start preheating the oven to 425°F about 30 minutes into this rise.
    8. Remove the cover, drizzle the remaining olive oil over the dough, then use oiled fingers to make indentations across the surface, pressing down to the pan. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and rosemary if using.
    9. Bake in the preheated 425°F oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool slightly before slicing and serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates45gProtein8gFat8gSaturated Fat1gSodium400mgPotassium150mgFiber2gSugar2gCalcium20mgIron2mg

    Notes

    Fantastic base recipe for so much: Detroit-style pizza, strawberry jam focaccia, apple fritter focaccia, and more. The dough is soft and chewy — hard to stop eating! Recipe adapted from Love & Lemons.

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    Fridge Dill Pickles

    16 December 2024|0 Comments

    Fridge Dill Pickles

    300kcal
    Prep 15 minutes
    Cook 24 minutes
    Total 1 day
    Quick refrigerator dill pickles made with a simple vinegar brine; can be accelerated with a vacuum chamber to finish in about 24 hours.
    Servings 2 servings
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds Kirby or mini cucumbers sliced lengthwise once
    • 1 1/4 cups white vinegar 5% acidity
    • 2 tbsp kosher salt
    • 2 tbsp sugar
    • 2 tbsp coriander seeds
    • 8 cloves garlic base recipe is 3 per jar; author often uses 8
    • 1 tsp mustard seeds
    • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
    • 16 sprigs fresh dill branches or sprigs
    • water used to dissolve salt and sugar; recipe calls for adding 2 cups ice cold water after dissolving

    Method

    1. In a small pot, combine the kosher salt, sugar and enough water to dissolve them; heat gently only until dissolved.
    2. Add 2 cups of ice-cold water to the brine and set aside to cool.
    3. Into each jar, pack the sliced cucumbers, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, garlic cloves and fresh dill.
    4. Pour the cooled brine (vinegar plus the dissolved salt/sugar solution and ice water) into each jar, covering the cucumbers.
    5. Close the jars and refrigerate. For standard fridge pickles allow a few days for flavor to develop; if you have a vacuum attachment or chamber you can speed the process and have ready pickles in about 24 hours.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates10gProtein2gSodium1200mgPotassium300mgFiber2gSugar6gVitamin A200IUVitamin C3mgCalcium40mgIron1mg

    Notes

    This is a basic refrigerator dill pickle recipe — adjust spices and garlic to taste. Extra garlic can make pickles spicier. Add other flavorings (bay, peppercorns, turmeric, horseradish) as desired.

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    Chip Shop Curry Sauce

    13 December 2024|0 Comments

    Chip Shop Curry Sauce

    300kcal
    Prep 5 minutes
    Cook 40 minutes
    Total 45 minutes
    A silky British chip-shop style curry sauce made with coconut cream, warm spices and a simple cornstarch slurry to thicken.
    Servings 4 servings
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine British

    Ingredients

    • 1 large onion sliced thinly
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 10 g fresh ginger chopped
    • 1 tbsp tomato paste heaping
    • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
    • 1 tsp cumin ground
    • 1 tsp coriander ground
    • 1 tsp turmeric
    • 0.5 tsp chili powder
    • 1 tbsp garam masala
    • 200 ml chicken stock
    • 1 tin coconut cream or milk
    • 1 tbsp honey
    • 1 tbsp soy sauce
    • 2-3 tbsp cornstarch mix with cold water to make a slurry to thicken

    Method

    1. Heat the vegetable oil in a pan and soften the sliced onion over medium heat.
    2. Add the minced garlic, chopped ginger and heaping tablespoon of tomato paste; cook and stir for about 3 minutes.
    3. Add the cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, chili powder and garam masala; stir constantly for another 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
    4. Pour in the chicken stock, add the coconut cream (or milk), honey and soy sauce, bring to a gentle simmer.
    5. Simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes to develop flavor.
    6. If needed, whisk the cornstarch with a little cold water and stir into the sauce to thicken to your desired consistency.
    7. Blend the sauce until smooth with a stick blender or in a blender, then serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates14gProtein3gFat23gSaturated Fat12gCholesterol15mgSodium700mgPotassium300mgFiber2gSugar8gVitamin A80IUVitamin C4mgCalcium40mgIron1.5mg

    Notes

    We use this sauce all the time; it’s also great for meat pies.

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    Easy Caramel Sauce

    12 December 2024|0 Comments

    Easy Caramel Sauce

    240kcal
    Prep 5 minutes
    Cook 10 minutes
    Total 15 minutes
    A quick, versatile caramel sauce made from sugar, butter, cream and vanilla — great on ice cream, pastries or by the spoonful.
    Servings 8 servings
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup sugar packed (white or raw sugar)
    • 6 TBSP butter unsalted preferred
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1/2 cup whipping cream room temperature
    • 1 TBSP vanilla extract

    Method

    1. Place a heavy-bottomed saucepot over low–medium heat. Add the sugar and begin stirring constantly to prevent burning.
    2. Continue stirring as the sugar melts; once it is fully melted and reaches a light butterscotch color, remove the pot from the heat.
    3. Carefully add the butter (warm if possible) and whisk vigorously until fully incorporated.
    4. Slowly pour in the room-temperature whipping cream while whisking continuously until smooth and combined.
    5. Stir in the vanilla and salt, taste and adjust salt if needed. Allow to cool slightly before using; store in a jar in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Calories240kcalCarbohydrates25gProtein1gFat16gSaturated Fat10gCholesterol75mgSodium180mgPotassium60mgSugar25gVitamin A300IUCalcium40mg

    Notes

    Pay close attention while melting the sugar — it can go from perfect to burned very quickly. Work without distractions.

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    Jamaican Patties

    12 December 2024|0 Comments

    Jamaican Beef Patties

    300kcal
    Prep 30 minutes
    Cook 40 minutes
    Total 1 hour 10 minutes
    Flaky Jamaican-style beef patties filled with spiced ground beef and a curry-scented pastry. Makes 16 hand-held patties.
    Servings 16 patties
    Course Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine Caribbean, Jamaican

    Ingredients

    • 1 TBSP vegetable oil
    • 1 medium onion finely chopped
    • 3 clove garlic minced
    • 3 scotch bonnet peppers seeded and minced
    • 2 TBSP Jamaican curry powder for filling
    • 1/2 red bell pepper seeded and finely chopped
    • 2 TSP kosher salt for filling
    • 1.5 TSP dried thyme
    • 3/4 TSP ground allspice
    • 1.5 lb ground beef
    • 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
    • 3/4 cup beef stock or water
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 TBSP Jamaican curry powder for dough
    • 1/2 TSP kosher salt for dough
    • 170 g cold butter cut into small pieces
    • 1/2 cup + 2 TBSP ice cold water use more as needed
    • 1 egg beaten with 1 TBSP water (egg wash)

    Method

    1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, red bell pepper, scotch bonnet, garlic, 2 TBSP curry powder, salt, thyme, and allspice; cook about 5 minutes until softened.
    2. Add the ground beef and break it into pieces with a spoon. Cook, stirring frequently, until beef is fully cooked, about 5 minutes.
    3. Stir in the breadcrumbs, then add the beef stock (or water) and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let the filling cool completely.
    4. Meanwhile, make the dough: whisk together the flour, 1 TBSP curry powder, and 1/2 tsp salt in a large bowl. Add the cold butter and cut/rub it into the flour until mostly pea-size pieces remain; do not overwork.
    5. Sprinkle in about 1/2 cup of the ice cold water and gently mix with your fingers or a scraper. Add the remaining 2 TBSP (or a little more if needed) until the dough just comes together into a ball.
    6. Divide the dough into 16 pieces (about 1 1/2 ounces / 43 g each). Roll each into a ball, smooth between palms, and chill on a plate for 10–15 minutes so they are easier to roll out.
    7. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
    8. On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough ball into a roughly 5-inch circle. Spoon a packed 1/4 cup of the cooled filling onto one half of the circle, leaving about a 1/2-inch border.
    9. Fold the dough over to enclose the filling and pinch the edges to seal. Use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges for a tight seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
    10. Place sealed patties on the prepared baking sheets and chill in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Brush tops with the egg wash and bake 30–35 minutes, rotating pans halfway, until golden brown. Serve warm.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates26gProtein12gFat18gSaturated Fat8gCholesterol55mgSodium450mgPotassium350mgFiber2gSugar2gVitamin A6IUVitamin C8mgCalcium40mgIron2.5mg

    Notes

    Recipe adapted from Mission-Food.com. Yields 16 patties. Chill patties before baking for flakier pastry.

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    Japanese Gyoza

    12 December 2024|0 Comments

    Japanese Gyoza

    300kcal
    Prep 30 minutes
    Cook 10 minutes
    Total 40 minutes
    Crispy pan-fried Japanese pork gyoza with a savory cabbage filling and a simple soy-vinegar dipping sauce. Easy to make and great for gatherings.
    Servings 40 servings
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Japanese

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 cups Napa cabbage finely chopped
    • 0.5 tsp salt for wilting cabbage
    • 1 lb ground pork preferably fatty
    • 1 cup green onions or chives chopped
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 1 tsp sesame oil
    • 1 tsp fresh ginger grated
    • 2 tsp soy sauce
    • 1 tsp salt for filling
    • 40-50 gyoza wrappers or round wonton wrappers
    • 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce for dipping sauce
    • 1 tsp rice wine vinegar for dipping sauce
    • 1 tsp sesame oil for dipping sauce
    • 1 tsp chili crisp for dipping sauce
    • 1 tbsp neutral oil vegetable or canola oil for frying
    • 1/3 cup water for steaming during pan-fry
    • as needed cornstarch to dust baking sheet and prevent sticking

    Method

    1. Toss the finely chopped Napa cabbage with 1/2 tsp salt and set aside for 30 minutes to wilt and draw out moisture. Drain and squeeze out excess water thoroughly.
    2. Combine ground pork, chopped green onions (or chives), minced garlic, 1 tsp sesame oil, grated ginger, 2 tsp soy sauce and 1 tsp salt in a bowl. Mix thoroughly, then add the drained cabbage and mix again with your hands until evenly distributed.
    3. Prepare a baking sheet dusted with cornstarch to place filled gyoza on so they don’t stick.
    4. Place a gyoza wrapper in your palm. Moisten the edge of half the wrapper with water. Put about 1 slightly heaped tablespoon of filling in the center. Fold the wrapper over and pleat the edge to seal (about 4 pleats), pressing firmly to close. Place sealed gyoza on the prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
    5. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange about 10–12 gyoza in the pan in a row, slightly touching. Cook until the undersides are light golden brown.
    6. Carefully pour 1/3 cup water into the pan around the gyoza and immediately cover with a lid. Steam until the water has evaporated and the wrappers become slightly translucent on top, about 3–4 minutes.
    7. Remove the lid and continue cooking briefly if needed so the golden undersides stay crisp. Transfer gyoza to a plate, crisp side up.
    8. Mix the dipping sauce: 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce, 1 tsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tsp sesame oil and 1 tsp chili crisp. Serve alongside the gyoza.
    9. Serve immediately and enjoy.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates18gProtein18gFat18gSaturated Fat5gCholesterol60mgSodium800mgPotassium400mgFiber2gSugar2gVitamin A200IUVitamin C6mgCalcium40mgIron2mg

    Notes

    Recipe adapted from RecipeTin Eats. See referenced video for folding technique.

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    Red Enchilada Sauce

    12 December 2024|0 Comments

    Red Enchilada Sauce

    300kcal
    Prep 5 minutes
    Cook 15 minutes
    Total 20 minutes
    A classic Mexican-style red enchilada sauce made with chili powder, toasted spices, beef stock and tomato sauce — quick to prepare and great for enchiladas, chilaquiles or as a red sauce base.
    Servings 8 servings
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine Mexican

    Ingredients

    • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
    • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
    • 1/4 cup chili powder
    • 1 tsp cumin freshly toasted and ground if you can
    • 1/2 tsp dried oregano preferably Mexican oregano
    • 2 cups beef stock
    • 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • salt to taste

    Method

    1. In a saucepan, stir together the oil, flour, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring, to form a fragrant roux.
    2. Slowly add the beef stock, then the tomato sauce, followed by the minced garlic and salt. Whisk or stir until smooth.
    3. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and flavors meld.
    4. Adjust seasoning with salt to taste. Cool and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates18gProtein6gFat24gSaturated Fat3gCholesterol10mgSodium900mgPotassium900mgFiber5gSugar10gVitamin A15IUVitamin C20mgCalcium60mgIron2.5mg

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    Birria Tacos

    12 December 2024|0 Comments

    Birria Tacos

    300kcal
    Prep 30 minutes
    Cook 3 hours
    Total 5 hours
    Slow-simmered beef in a rich, spiced chile-tomato consomé, shredded and crisped in corn tortillas for authentic birria tacos served with dipping broth.
    Servings 8 servings
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican

    Ingredients

    • 6-7 lbs chuck roast (blade roast) cut into 3-inch chunks
    • 8 pieces guajillo chiles dried and seeded
    • 3 pieces pasilla chiles dried and seeded
    • 2-3 pieces arbol peppers dried and seeded
    • 5 roma tomatoes quartered, charred
    • 1 white onion rough chopped and charred
    • 1 head garlic whole, smashed
    • 1 tbsp black peppercorns
    • 1 tbsp cumin seeds toasted
    • 5 pieces Mexican cinnamon 1-inch pieces
    • 1 tbsp dried oregano Mexican oregano if possible
    • 1 tbsp dried thyme
    • 1 tsp coriander seeds
    • 4 pieces whole cloves
    • 1 tsp fresh minced ginger
    • 2 tbsp apple cider or white vinegar
    • 2 pieces bay leaves
    • 1 tbsp kosher salt adjust to taste
    • 7 cups water approx. 4 cups to simmer + 3 cups to rinse blender
    • corn tortillas for dipping and frying
    • white onion, chopped for topping
    • cilantro, chopped for topping
    • Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese, shredded optional for quesataco style
    • lime wedges for serving

    Method

    1. Cut chuck roast into 3-inch chunks, season with kosher salt, and sear pieces in a hot pan; set aside.
    2. Char the roma tomatoes and the roughly chopped onion under a broiler, with a torch, or in a hot pan until blackened in spots.
    3. In a large pot, add the charred tomatoes and onion, whole smashed garlic head, dried chiles, whole cloves, toasted cumin seeds, peppercorns, cinnamon pieces, dried oregano, dried thyme, coriander seeds, and fresh minced ginger (do not add bay leaves yet).
    4. Stir the spices and aromatics for a few minutes over medium heat, then add the vinegar and about 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes to soften the chiles and meld flavors.
    5. Carefully transfer the hot broth mixture to a blender and blend until as smooth as possible. Strain the blended sauce through a fine mesh sieve back into a cleaned pot.
    6. Rinse the blender with ~3 cups of water to collect remaining bits, strain that liquid into the pot as well. Add the bay leaves to the strained sauce.
    7. Return the seared beef to the pot with the strained sauce. Add additional water as needed to cover the beef. Simmer gently, partially covered, for about 3 hours until the meat is very tender and shreddable.
    8. Remove the beef from the pot and shred with two forks. Taste and adjust seasoning of the consomé with salt if necessary.
    9. Heat a large griddle or skillet over medium heat and coat lightly with oil. Dip a corn tortilla into the warm birria sauce (consomé) so it is well coated, then place on the hot pan.
    10. Top the tortilla with shredded birria meat, cheese (if using), chopped onion, and cilantro. Fold the tortilla in half and fry several minutes until crispy and browned on the bottom, then flip and brown the other side.
    11. Serve the tacos hot with a bowl of the consomé for dipping, extra chopped onion, cilantro, and lime wedges.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates20gProtein22gFat15gSaturated Fat6gCholesterol65mgSodium600mgPotassium600mgFiber3gSugar3gVitamin A700IUVitamin C10mgCalcium150mgIron3mg

    Notes

    Recipe adapted from ‘Tastes Better From Scratch’. Consomé is used for dipping; cool and refrigerate leftovers separately. Adjust chile heat by varying arbol peppers.

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    Red Beans and Rice

    12 December 2024|0 Comments

    Red Beans and Rice

    300kcal
    Prep 8 minutes
    Cook 3 hours
    Total 3 hours 8 minutes
    Classic Creole one-pot red beans with andouille sausage, simmered until creamy and served over white rice.
    Servings 4 servings
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Creole, Southern

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 lb dried red beans
    • 1 lb andouille sausage sliced
    • 4 tbsp vegetable oil
    • 6 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 medium onion sliced thinly
    • 1 rib celery
    • 1 medium green bell pepper diced
    • 2 tsp black pepper
    • 0.125 tsp cayenne powder
    • 2 tsp kosher salt
    • 3 bay leaves
    • 2 tsp dried basil
    • 1 tsp rubbed sage
    • 1 cup curly/Italian parsley chopped
    • 1 bunch green onions chopped, for garnish
    • 2 sprigs thyme fresh thyme twigs (to be removed before serving)
    • cooked white rice for serving

    Method

    1. Place beans in a large bowl and cover with about 6 cups (1.5 L) cold water. Add 2 tablespoons kosher salt and stir until dissolved. Soak at room temperature 8 to 16 hours. Drain and rinse before cooking.
    2. In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high until shimmering. Add the sliced andouille and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
    3. Add the sliced onions, diced bell pepper, and celery to the pot. Season with salt and cook, stirring, until the vegetables soften and begin to brown around the edges, about 8 minutes.
    4. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 45 seconds.
    5. Add cayenne, rubbed sage, and about 10–12 grinds of fresh black pepper. Cook, stirring, about 30 seconds to release aromas.
    6. Add the drained beans to the pot along with enough water to cover by about 2 inches (roughly 6–8 cups). Add the bay leaves and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a bare simmer. Cover and cook until beans are tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.
    7. Remove the lid and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid thickens and the beans turn creamy, about 20 minutes. If it looks dry before reaching desired creaminess, add a cup of water and continue simmering, repeating as needed.
    8. During the last hour of cooking, remove a cup of cooked beans and mash them, then return the mashed beans to the pot to help create a thicker “bean gravy.”
    9. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot over cooked white rice and garnish with chopped parsley and green onions.

    Nutrition

    Calories300kcalCarbohydrates40gProtein18gFat10gSaturated Fat3gCholesterol40mgSodium900mgPotassium700mgFiber9gSugar4gVitamin A15IUVitamin C20mgCalcium80mgIron3mg

    Notes

    For extra creaminess, mash a cup of cooked beans during the last hour and stir back into the pot. The recipe benefits from a long, slow simmer; adjust water as needed.

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    Eatapedia is your trusted resource for tested, easy-to-follow recipes. From smoky BBQ classics to sweet desserts, we share dishes that deliver flavor without fuss. Explore, cook, and enjoy.