Onion Soup Gratinee

Onion Soup Gratinee

Much of the credit for what we know today as onion soup we can give credit to Julia Child. If you followed Julia when she was featured on TV weekly shows, she wasted nothing but turned it into such tasty dishes. French Onion Soup was her creation.

French Onion Soup has to be on the top of my list for favorite soups. This recipe by Julia Childtakes a little longer than many simpler recipes, but it’s well worth the time spent. So get out your apron, and prepare to indulge in a classic French favorite.

Ingredients:

5-6 Cups Yellow Onions, sliced thin
1/2 Yellow Onion, raw
4 tablespoons Olive Oil, 

About 8 slices French Bread,
2-3 tablespoons Cogniac, (optional)
4 ounces Parmesan Cheese,
12 ounces Swiss Cheese, Grated,
Salt and Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Sage, Ground,
1 Bay Leaf,
1 cup White Wine,
6 cups Beef Stock,
3 tablespoons Flour
1/2 teaspoon Sugar,
2 tablespoons Butter,
1 tablespoon Cooking Oil,

Directions:
Heat a heavy, oven-safe, stock pot over medium-low heat and add the cooking oil once the pot is hot. Melt the butter into the hot oil.  Stir the sliced onions into the oil/butter mix, ensuring they are evenly coated. Cover the stock pot and cook for around 20 minutes checking to make sure they aren’t burning. Onions should be clear and very tender once finished. Turn up the heat to medium-high, and add the sugar and 1tsp salt. Continue cooking while stirring until onions are thoroughly browned (caramelized).

Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in 3 Tbsp flour. Cook 2-3 minutes until flour forms a thick paste (add more butter if needed).  Stir in 1 cup of beef stock, and stir heavily for a couple seconds.

Add the rest of the stock, wine, sage, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F. Drizzle both sides of french bread slices with olive oil, and place on a baking sheet. Cook the bread in the oven for 15 minutes on each side.

Cider-Brined Spareribs With Maple Pepper BBQ Sauce

Cider-Brined Spareribs with 

Maple Pepper BBQ Sauce

This is an easy method for low-and-slow spareribs when you don’t feel like firing up the smoker or grill. Brining keeps the ribs moist and juicy, plus apples are such a natural partner with pork. A bold spice rub adds more layers of flavour, and quick BBQ sauce brings sweet, sour and peppery heat.

Ingredients:

Brine
8 cups (2 L) non-alcoholic apple cider
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 head garlic, cut in half horizontally
1 tbsp (15 mL) whole black peppercorns
1/2 cup (125 mL) kosher salt or 6 tbsp (90 mL) fine sea salt

Spice Rub and Ribs

1 tbsp (15 mL) sweet paprika
2 tsp (10 mL) dry mustard
2 tsp (10 mL) onion powder
1/2 tsp (2 mL) garlic powder
1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground black pepper
1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground coriander
1/2 tsp (2 mL) chili powder
1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground sage
2 racks spareribs (St. Louis cut), about 2 lbs (905 g) each

BBQ Sauce
1/2 cup (125 mL) ketchup
2 tbsp (30 mL) apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp (30 mL) maple syrup
2 tsp (10 mL) yellow mustard
2 tsp (10 mL) ground black pepper
1 tsp (5 mL) Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp (1 mL) garlic powder
1/4 tsp (1 mL) onion powder

Directions:
 For the brine, place cider, bay leaf, rosemary, garlic, peppercorns and salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and stir until salt is completely dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Strain into an airtight container. (Brine can be refrigerated up to 2 days.)

For the spice rub, combine spices in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly. Transfer to airtight container. (Spice rub can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.)

To brine ribs, place rib racks in a large roasting pan and add brine. Cover and place in refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours. Do not brine any longer or ribs will get too salty.

Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).

Remove ribs from brine, rinse lightly, and pat dry with paper towel. Season ribs all over with spice rub. Place ribs on a foil-lined baking sheet. Cook on middle rack until fork-tender, about 2 hours.

While ribs are cooking, make BBQ sauce. In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients until combined. Set aside.

Remove ribs from oven and raise heat to 450°F (232°C). Brush ribs generously with BBQ sauce. When oven reaches temperature, return ribs to oven, and cook until sauce is set and brown, about 5 minutes. Remove ribs from oven and brush once more with sauce. Rest for 5 minutes then cut into individual ribs. Serve immediately with remaining BBQ sauce on side.  Serves 4 to 6

Vegan Red Beans And Rice ~ Instant Pot

    

Vegan Red Beans and Rice ~ Instant Pot

Ingredients:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
one large yellow onion, chopped
Kosher salt and black pepper
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
10 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 heaping tablespoon white or yelloe Tofu paste

2 teaspoons smoked paprka

1 teaspoon sweet paprika

1 teaspoon onion powder 

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cayenne, plus more to taste

1/2 teaspoon ground sage, optional

1 pound dried red kidney beans (no need to soak)

3 dried bay leaves

3 fresh thyme sprigs or 1 teaspoons dried thyme

1 teaspoon soy sauce

Cooked rice for serving

Sliced scallions

Louisiana-style hot sauce, for serving

Directions:
Use the saute setting on the electric pressure (Insta-Pot) cooker and heat the oil. Add the onion, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until limp and translucent, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the celery and bell pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 8 minutes.  Add the chopped garlic and miso paste, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and sage (if using).  Grind in a generous amount of pepper and add 3/4 teaspoon salt.  Stir well to combine all the ingredients, then tuen off  t the saute setting.

Add the beans, bay leaves, thyme, and 5 1/2 cups water.  Scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any brown bits,  Cook on high pressure until the beans are creamy, 50 minutes to 1 hour.

Turn off the pressure cooker and allow the pressure to reduce naturally for 10 minutes, then reduce the remaining pressure manually and open the lid.  Add the soy sauce and season to taste with salt and cayenne.  Using a fork mash some of the beans against the side of the pressure cooker to make the mixture creamy.  It will continue to thicken as it sits, or you can turn on the saute setting and let the mixture bubble for a few minutes to thicken.  Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs.  Top the beans with hot cooked rice and scallions, serve with the hot sauce.

Chickpea Coconut Curry ~ Vegan

Chickpea Coconut Curry 

(Instant Pot or Saucepan)

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Soak time

1 hr

Total Time

55 mins

Vegan Chickpea Coconut Curry - Instant Pot or Saucepan. This one  Pot Coconut Chickpea Curry uses dried chickpeas and coconut milk. Add other veggies like sweet potato, squash. Vegan Glutenfree Nutfree Soyfree Recipe

Course: Main Course 

Cuisine: Gluten-free, Indian Fusion, Vegan 

Keyword: chickpea curry coconut milk, coconut chickpea curry, instant pot chickpea coconut curry, vegan coconut curry 

Servings: 4

Calories: 286 kcal

Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

1/4 cup water or broth or use 1 tsp oil
1/2 onion chopped
4 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 hot green chili ,chopped (such as serrano, jalapeno) or use mild chili or omit
1 tsp each ground cumin 
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp each cinnamon  
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/3 tsp cayenne or to taste
1/4 tsp grouond sage or dried oregano
1 red bell pepper ,chopped or sliced 
1 tbsp minced ginger
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup dry uncooked chickpeas ,soaked for atleast 30 mins in boiling hot water (4 hours to overnight soaking works best)
13.5 oz can coconut milk , reserve 2 tbsp for garnishing
1 to 1.5 cups water ,depends on curry consistency preference.
lemon/lime juice , cilantro, pepper flakes for garnish

US Customary - Metric

Instructions
Press saute on the Instant Pot. Add onion, garlic, chili and a good pinch of salt. Cook for 3 to 4 mins until translucent. Deglaze with more broth if needed.

Add the spices and mix in. (You can add spice blends of choice here such as curry powder, garam masala, berbere or jamaican curry powder, or curry pastes instead of listed spices).

Add the bell pepper and ginger and mix in. Drain the chickpeas and add to the pot. Add salt, coconut milk and water and give it a good mix to pick up any stuck bits

Cancel saute, Close the lid to sealing. Pressure cook at high pressure for 40 to 45 mins (30 mins for overnight soak)**. Let the pressure release naturally then open the lid.

Taste and adjust salt and flavor, add more spices if needed. If the mixture is thin, Mash some of the chickpeas to thicken or blend half cup of the curry and mix in, saute for a few mins if needed. (Fold in some baby spinach at this point while the chickpeas are still hot). Garnish with lemon, pepper flakes, remaining coconut milk and cilantro and serve over rice or grains.

Recipe Notes

Saucepan (dried chickpeas): Soak the chickpeas overnight. Follow steps 1,2,3 in a saucepan over medium heat. Add only half the salt, add 2 cups water. Cook partially covered for 50 minutes.Then check the chickpeas for doneness. Add more salt, more water if needed and continue to cook for another 10-15 mins. 

Saucepan(canned/pre-cooked) chickpeas: Follow steps 1,2,3 in a saucepan over medium heat. Add only 1/4 cup water and 2.5 cups cooked chickpeas. Partially cover and cook for 20 mins. Taste and adjust flavor, mash some chickpeas to thicken and serve. 

Instant Pot (Canned Chickpeas): Follow steps 1,2.3. Use just 1/4 cup water, 2.5 to 3 cups cooked chickpeas and pressure cook for 5 mins. 

Variations: Use other beans such as brown chickpeas (pressure cook 50 mins), black eyed peas(pressure cook 30 mins), kidney beans or white beans(pressure cook for 45 mins). 

Add a cup of chopped tomatoes with the chickpeas.

** times are for creamy curry with soft chickpeas. Chickpeas that are just done have a bite and clash with the creamy profile i am going for. Adjust the times based on preference if needed.