New Style Broccoli and Beef Stir-Fry

New Style Broccoli And Beef Stir-Fry

 A quick stir-fry can make for such a satisfying weeknight dinner. Here, takeout favourite Broccoli & Beef gets a twist by highlighting the über-fresh and delicate broccoli flavour that comes with using the early sprouts of broccoli as a crisp topper.Makes 3 to 4 servings
Ingredients:
1/4 cup (60 mL) soy sauce
3 tbsp (45 mL) rice wine vinegar
3 tbsp (45 mL) oyster sauce
3 tbsp (45 mL) freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp (15 mL) finely grated fresh ginger
1/4 cup (60 mL) cornstarch, divided
3/4 to 1 lb (340 to 455 g) sirloin tip steak or striploin steak, thinly sliced into strips
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1/4 cup (60 mL) vegetable oil, divided
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 bunch thin or 1/2 bunch thick asparagus, trimmed
2 baby bok choy, trimmed and quartered
1/4 cup (60 mL) chicken broth or water, plus more if needed
1 cup (250 mL) long-grain white or brown basmati rice, cooked following package directions for 4 servings
1 to 2 pkgs (each 50 or 75 g) micro broccoli or Asian blend microgreens

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk soy sauce with vinegar, oyster sauce, orange juice, ginger and 1 tbsp (15 mL) cornstarch. Set aside.

Place steak in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with salt then remaining 3 tbsp (45 mL) cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly.

Heat 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil in a large wok or wide frying pan set over medium-high heat. Add garlic. Cook, stirring often until softened slightly, 1 minute. Remove to a medium bowl. Add asparagus and bok choy to pan. Pour in 1/4 cup (60 mL) broth. Cook until bok choy begins to wilt and asparagus turns bright green, 2 minutes. Add more broth if more liquid is needed. Turn into a large bowl, scraping in any liquid from pan bottom. Wipe out pan.

Coat wok or frying pan with remaining 3 tbsp (45 mL) oil. Add half of coated steak strips. Stir frequently until lightly browned on each side, 1 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove to bowl with vegetables. Repeat. When beef is done, pour soy-sauce mixture into emptied steak pan. Cook, until thickened, about 2 to 4 minutes. Return vegetables, beef and garlic to pan. Stir to coat evenly. Pour over rice, garnish with micro broccoli and serve immediately.

Makes 3 to 4 servings

Salmon Poached In White Wine With Tangerine & Bay Leaf

Salmon Poached In White Wine 

With Tangerine & Bay Leaf

This salmon dish is lovely served warm with orzo and buttered spinach but is also wonderful when chilled and added to a salad the next day. If you can’t find tangerines, mandarins will work well.   Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil
1/2 cup (125 mL) thinly sliced green onions
1 1/2-inch (4-cm) piece fresh ginger, sliced as thinly as possible
2 fresh bay leaves
2 tangerines, zested on a rasp
1 cup (250 mL) dry white wine
1 tsp (5 mL) salt
4 salmon fillets, each 6 oz (170 g), skin removed
1/4 cup (60 mL) mayonnaise
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup (250 mL) microgreens, divided
Directions:
In a large deep-sided skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add green onions, ginger and bay leaves. Cook for 7 minutes or until onions and ginger are softened.

Place 1 tsp (5 mL) tangerine zest in a small bowl. Slice tangerines in half. Juice 1 half into the small bowl with the zest, and set aside. Juice remaining halves into the pan once onions and ginger are cooked. Place 4 tangerine halves, along with the remaining zest, into the pan. Add white wine, salt and 1 cup (250 mL) water. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Allow the liquid to simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavours to be released.

Carefully slide salmon fillets into poaching liquid—salmon should be fully immersed. If needed, add enough water to just cover fish.

Replace lid and simmer until salmon is cooked through, about 10 minutes, depending on thickness.

Meanwhile, stir reserved zest mixture with mayonnaise and season generously with black pepper to taste.

When salmon is cooked through, gently remove to a plate, drizzle with mayonnaise mixture and top with microgreens.   Serves 4

Seared Scallops With Basil-Pineapple Risotto

Seared Scallops With Basil-Pineapple Risotto

There’s just something about the caramelized crust and meaty interior of scallops that makes them the perfect protein. They also have a naturally delicate flavor, so it’s important to let them shine with a simple seasoning of salt and pepper. However, that means whatever scallops are served with has to take the lead with big, bold taste. Cue basil-pineapple risotto! Once you make risotto with pineapple juice, you’ll be hard pressed to go without it ever again. If you’re looking to wow guests with a meal they’d be likely to find in a five-star restaurant, then this is your dish. 

Ingredients

2 cups pineapple juice 

1½ cups vegetable broth

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

⅓ cup minced yellow onion

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1¼ cups uncooked Arborio rice

¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning

¼ teaspoon black pepper, plus more for seasoning

3 tablespoons minced fresh basil

1 pound sea scallops

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more as needed

½ cup microgreens, for serving

Direcctions:

Combine the pineapple juice and broth in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then cover with a lid and remove from the heat.

Heat the butter in a large saucepan set over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Add a ladle of the hot juice mixture to the saucepan and cook, stirring, until the liquid is fully absorbed. Continue adding the hot liquid to the saucepan, one ladle at a time and stirring intermittently, until the rice is no longer crunchy, about 30 minutes.

Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper, then turn off the heat and stir in the basil. Set aside, covered, while you cook the scallops.

Pat the scallops dry, then season with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add half the scallops and cook undisturbed for 2 minutes. Flip the scallops once, then tilt the skillet and baste them with the oil. Continue cooking the scallops an additional 1 minute, until no longer translucent. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining scallops, adding more oil as needed.

Divide the risotto among serving plates and top with the scallops.

Garnish with microgreens and serve.  Serves 4

Prep Time 10 minutes  Total time  1 hour.

Fig And Cheese Toasts

Fig and Cheese Toasts

Ingredients:

1 (1 pound loaf country bread, halved and sliced crosswise 3/8 inch thick

1 8.5 ounce jar good fig spread, like Dalmatia

8 oz. cramy cheese i.e. goat cheese or cream cheese

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 ripe figs, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise

Microgreens

Syrupy balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Toast the bread in a toaster and while still warm, spread the fig spread on each slice to cover it entirely.  Place the cheese in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds until it is creamy and spreadable.  Spread a layer of cheese on the fig spread, leaving the edges of the fig spread visible.  Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.  Cut the toast crosswise to make appetizers that will be easy to eat.  Lightly drizzle each piece with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, and top with a few micro greens.  Serve at room temperature.