Cuisine: Nouveau Kimchi Recipe

I love, love, love, love kimchi. I like its spicy heat and vinegary finish. It is a flavor explosion that always puts me in a good mood. Kimchi, however, is most definitely an acquired taste. Not everyone likes it because the "salt" is fish sauce, which has a very strong and pungent flavor.

I created Nouveau Kimchi for those that do not like fish sauce. Instead, I substituted Worcester Sauce. Yes, Worcester Sauce has some anchovies in it, so there is a fishy flavor. It is, most definitely, not as fishy as fish sauce. I also replaced the sugar with maple syrup. These two substitutions created a Nouveau Kimchi that still reminds you of traditional kimchi but with a little of the south thrown in.

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Ingredients:
1 head green cabbage, quartered, cored, and roughly chopped
3 carrots, completely peeled using a peeler
2 bunches green onions, cut into 1-inch chunks and then sliced
3 jalapenos, diced
3-inch piece of ginger, grated
1/8 cup Worcester Sauce
1/8 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup chili flakes
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
2 tsp sesame oil
1 TBSP pure maple syrup
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup salt

Directions:
Fill a large bowl with water and add half a cup of salt. Stir to combine. Add the cabbage and let sit for about four hours. Discard water. Mix in all the other ingredients. Let stand overnight. Enjoy the next day.

Cuisine: Tangerine and Cabbage Slaw

I walked in to the the produce market yesterday and was overwhelmed by the smell of the fresh tangerines. I knew immediately I needed to use them in a recipe for dinner. I had already decided I wanted to make Spicy Chipotle Pork Stew, and I was trying to figure out what would be a good pairing. Then, it hit me. Take the best of Curtido (a Latin American slaw) and add tangerines. It paired perfectly with the stew, adding a freshness and crispness to the palate. It would also be a fantastic pairing to any type of barbecue.

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Preparing the slaw:
1/2 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
1/2 bunch Italian parsley, roughly chopped
1 1/2 jalapenos, cored, seeded, and sliced thinly lengthwise
1 head cabbage, quartered, cored, and sliced thinly lengthwise
3 carrots, shredded
1 1/2 onions, sliced thinly lengthwise
3 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients together and place in colander. Place colander in large bowl. Let drain for about 45 minutes. Make sure to pour out liquid. (Tip: If you are making Spicy Chipotle Pork Stew, reserve liquid and add to stew when you add the reserved liquid from the vegetable base and pork marinade.)

For the dressing:
3 tangerines, juiced
2 limes, juiced
2 lemons, juiced
4 tsp salt
2 dry roasted garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp smoked chipotle powder
2 TBSP good olive oil

Whisk all ingredients together.

Mixing the slaw:
2 tangerines, diced
1 lime, diced

Mix the prepared slaw, dressing, tangerines, and limes. Set aside for 15 minutes. Taste and add salt if needed. Let sit for another 10 minutes.

Serve with Spicy Chipotle Pork Stew, Mexican sour cream, and fresh tortillas.

Click here for a grocery list for the above dinner.

Cuisine: Mmm....Curtido

I make this dish A LOT. In fact, my husband jokes that it's one of the only things I make when we have company. He's not wrong, but why would I make something else when this is so damn good.

I got the idea of this recipe from loving the curtido you put on pupusas. (I still haven't mastered those yet. Soon. Very soon.) It can be altered very easily. I sometimes put equal parts rice vinegar, cider vinegar, and lime juice. That tastes a little more central European than this version.

This version is a great balance of ingredients. It's just slightly sour, a little bitter, and all goodness. Enjoy and let me know how you innovate on this dish. The possibilities are endless.

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Ingredients

• 1 head green cabbage, quartered, cored and sliced very thinly (Do not use a food processor or shredder. Those damage the leaves little too much.)
• 3 carrots, 1 sliced with a vegetable peeler, 2 shredded with a grater
• 4 large cloves garlic (or 6 small), minced
• 4 jalapenoes, cored, seeded and minced
• 1 yellow onion, sliced finely
• 4 medium tomatoes, cored and sliced lengthwise finely
• 3-4 limes, juiced
• 1-2 lemon(s), juiced
• 2 tablespoons (or more) salt
• pepper and hot paprika to taste
  

Directions

Mix all ingredients together. Let sit for at least one hour. Enjoy!

It's even better the next day.