Asparagus with French Sauce

Serves 6 - 8

Procedure

1. Cut off the bottom inch or so—wherever it’s tough and woody—and discard. Use a vegetable peeler (or paring knife if the asparagus are huge or tough) to peel the skin away from beneath the flowering part of the stalk. Discard the skin.

2. Steam or boil in salted water for 2 to 5 minutes depending on the thickness of the stalks. Drain.

3. If you’re serving them cold, immediately rinse off with cold water to stop the cooking.

For the Sauce

1. Whisk together the egg yolk, salt, and vinegar until smooth. 

2. Slowly whisk in the oil—add about a teaspoon at a time and work it in slowly—until the sauce begins to stiffen. 

3. At this point, the oil can be added a tablespoon at a time.

**Asparagus is notoriously hard to pair but the Alsatian Pinot Gris is the closest pairing given the taste of the asparagus.

Featured Sauce: Morel/porcini mushroom mayonnaise

Ingredients

Asparagus

Wine Pairings:

Alsatian Pinot Gris

For the Sauce:

1 egg yolk
Pinch salt
½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
½ cup inert oil such as grape seed oil or avocado oil

Asparagus Wrapped in Prosciutto

Serves 24

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Cut the prosciutto strips in half lengthwise, so you have 24 long, skinny strips. Wrap each asparagus stalk tightly with prosciutto and place on a wire rack over a rimmed sheet pan. Season with ground pepper.

3. Bake until prosciutto is crisp and asparagus has browned.

Ingredients

24 thick asparagus stalks, woody ends trimmed

12 slices prosciutto

Freshly ground black pepper

Flavorful Roasted Leg of Lamb with Gremolata Sauce

Serves 6 to 8

Procedure

1. In a heavy bottom pan over medium flame, heat about 2 tablespoons olive oil; add shallot, cook until softened and translucent. Stir in garlic, rosemary, thyme, zest of 1/2 a lemon, zest of 1/2 an orange, and anchovy paste; continue cooking, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and cool completely.

2. Remove the netting from the leg of lamb and place fat side down on a cutting board. Using your fingers, gently separate the muscles and flatten out. Trim excess fat and connective tissues with a sharp knife. Season the lamb with black pepper, salt, and Garam masala. Rub half of the cooled shallot mixture all over the meat, massaging it in.

3. Roll the lamb into a compact, tight roast and tie with butcher’s string. Season the outside of the roast with salt and pepper; rub with remaining shallot mixture.

4. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Roast the lamb, fat side up, on a rack set over a rimmed baking sheet until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center registers 125 - 130 degrees F, for medium-rare. It took our roast about 2 hours. Remove from oven and allow to rest for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, raise oven temperature to 500 degrees F. Put the lamb back into the oven to crisp and brown the outside, about 10 minutes.

5. Make the gremolata: In the bowl of a food processor, add remaining lemon & orange zests, lemon & orange juices, parsley, mint, and pine nuts. Pulse until mixture is finely chopped. Stir in enough olive oil to create a loose pesto-like consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Remove to a serving dish and set aside.

6. After browning, allow roast to rest for a few minutes before removing the butcher’s string, carving, and serving with the gremolata.

Ingredients

1 medium shallot, minced

3 medium cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary

1 teaspoon Garam masala

2 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon finely chopped thyme

Zest and juice of 1 lemon, divided use

Zest of and juice of 1 orange, divided use

2 teaspoons anchovy paste

1 Boneless Leg of Lamb, 5-6 pounds

1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 cup chopped fresh mint

1/2 cup pine nuts (or bread crumbs)

Anjeer Khajoor Barfi (Fig & Date Bars)

Serves 10

Procedure

1. Soak the dry figs and dates, separately, in hot water, just to cover the dried fruit for 15~20. Drain the water and grind them to a smooth paste adding a tablespoon of water.

2. Melt ghee and oil in a heavy bottom pan, and add the figs and date puree and cook on medium heat low, stirring frequently, until the mixture dries out about 15 minutes.

3. Stir in the nuts and the cardamom and mix well to combine the mixture well.

4. Continue to cook the barfi, on medium low heat, stirring frequently, for another 10 minutes or until the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan.

5. Remove the mixture into a greased plate or tin and press down to form the barfi.

6. Set aside to cool. Cut into squares or diamonds when completely cooled.

Ingredients

1 cup (about 15) Dry Figs, chopped

1 cup (about 18) Dates, pitted and chopped

3 tbsp almonds, finely chopped

2 tbsp plain cashews, finely chopped

2 tbsp unsalted pistachios, finely chopped

3 cardomom pods, seeds removed and crushed fine.

1 tsp ghee + 1 tbsp sunflower oil

Brioche Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened

1 - 14 oz loaf brioche bread, cut or torn into 1 inch cubes

6 eggs

2 cups whole milk

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup granulated sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cardamom (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt

Powdered sugar for garnish

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Use the butter to coat the bottom and sides of a 9x13 inch baking dish.

3. Scatter the bread cubes in the dish.

4. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and add the milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, salt and spices.

5. Pour over the bread cubes and let stand for 30 mins.

6. Bake uncovered for about 45 mins (in the 9x13 baking dish) or until the custard is well puffed and set, but still soft in the center. The top and edges should be golden brown. Adjust the baking time for smaller dishes.

7. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve warm.

Guinness Lamb Stew

Ingredients:

3 tbsp olive oil

2 lbs lamb shoulder or beef chuck cut into 2 inch chunks

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 onion large chopped (white or brown)

3 leeks (white stalks not green tops)

3 garlic cloves minced

3 tbsp flour

22 oz Guinness Beer (See Note 1 and 2)

2 cups beef broth

4 carrots peeled and cut 1/2" pieces

2 potatoes peeled and cut into 2" pieces

3 sprigs thyme

Procedure:

1. Peel and cut up carrots and potatoes, mince garlic. Trim root end of leeks, strip off tough greens. Cut leeks lengthwise and rinse any grit off underwater. Slice into 1/2" pieces. Cut the lamb into 2" chunks. Pat dry and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a Dutch oven or heavy based pot over high heat. Add lamb in batches and brown well all over. Remove to plate and repeat with remaining lamb. Set aside.

3. Lower heat to medium and add remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion and leek, cook for 3 minutes until softened, then add garlic, cook 2 minutes. Stir flour into the vegetable mixture and cook for 3 more minutes.

4. Add Guinness beer (See Note 1 and 2), stirring and scraping up browned bits on bottom of pan then add beef broth.

5. Return browned lamb to the pot, including any juices, along with carrots, potatoes and thyme tied with kitchen twine.

6. If lamb and vegetables are not fully covered add enough water to do so. Cover, bring to a boil, stir then lower heat so it is bubbling gently. Cook 2 hours then remove lid and simmer for 30 minutes more until lamb falls apart and the sauce has reduced and thickened.

7. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove thyme bundle and serve with crusty bread.

Creamy Colcannon with Leeks and Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 1/2 lb. russet potatoes, peeled and quartered

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

8 tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter

3/4 cup milk

4 bacon slices, cut into 1/2-inch dice

4 large shallots, thinly sliced

1 large leek, white and light green portions, halved lengthwise, rinsed well and thinly sliced

1 bunch curly kale, about 3/4 lb., stemmed and coarsely chopped

1 small head napa cabbage, about 1 lb., cored and coarsely chopped

1/8 tsp. mace or freshly grated nutmeg

Procedure:

1. Put the potatoes in a large pot, add water to cover the potatoes by 2 inches and generously salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce the heat to medium and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes. Drain well in a colander.

2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and milk and heat until the butter melts and the mixture is hot, 8 to 10 minutes.

3. Set a potato ricer over a large bowl and press the potatoes through in batches. Fold in the milk mixture in two additions. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil and set over a large saucepan of barely simmering water to keep warm.

4. Heat a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.

5. Pour off all but 3 Tbs. of the fat from the pot. Return the pot to medium heat, add the shallots and leek and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the kale and toss just until wilted but still bright green, about 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and toss until tender-crisp, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the mace and the bacon, and season with salt and pepper. Stir the potatoes into the cabbage mixture and serve warm.

Gingery Spiced Molasses Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup wheat bran (unprocessed)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp fine sea salt

1 tsp fresh finely grated ginger

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tbsp kashmiri garam masala

1 stick unsalted organic butter at room temp.

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 unsulfured molasses

1 large egg at room temp.

1/3 cup hot coffee (freshly brewed or espresso)

1 tbsp confectionery sugar (for decoration)

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place the rack in the center of the oven.

2. Butter a 9 inch round cake pan and prepare the pan by lining it with the parchment paper.

3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, finely grated ginger, and kashmiri garam masala. Keep aside.

4. Using a stand mixture with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and the brown sugar together on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Add the molasses and beat for another 2 minutes. Add eggs and mix for another 2 minutes.

5. Add the flour mixture and pulse to incorporate with over-mixing the flour.

6. On low speed, add hot coffee and mix until the batter comes together. Scrape the batter into the pan.

7. Bake for 28-33 minutes.

8. Take the cake out into a rack, and gently peel off the parchment paper.

9. Invert out into another rack and cool to room temperature.

10. Dust with confectionery sugar.

Blood Orange Old Fashioned

Procedure

1. In a cocktail shaker, stir all ingredients together and shake well.

2. Take two cocktail glasses and add desired amount of ice.

3. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and blood orange peel.

4. Serve immediately.
    

Tips

1. Strain the freshly squeezed blood orange juice to remove any pulp or seeds.

Ingredients

4 oz Bullet Bourbon

2 oz fresh blood orange juice

2-3 dashes orange or cherry bitters

1 tsp honey

Maraschino cherries for garnish, optional

Blood orange peel for garnish, optional

Naan Khatai

Culinary History:

The word “Nankhatai” is derived from the Persian word “Naan” which means bread, while
“Khatai” comes from the Afghan word meaning biscuit. Nankhatai is a traditional dessert made
for Christian and Jewish holidays. Introduced by Dutch spice traders in the sixteenth century, it
originated in the City of Surat, in the Indian State of Gujarat. The original Dutch recipe was a
shortbread, but over centuries the Indian version turned into a biscuit.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour

2/3 cup confectionery sugar

1/2 cup cold organic unsalted butter

1/8 tsp fine sea salt

Orange water (optional)

5 pods of cardamom

Dried Rose Petals (optional)

Procedure:

1. In a large bowl, rub the butter and the flour with your fingers to form a bread crumb consistency.

2. Crush three cardamom pods and remove the seeds. Using a motor and pesto, crush the seeds and keep them aside.

3. Add the rose water, cardamom, icing sugar, and rose petals to the flour mixture. Mix together to form a firm dough.

4. Take a clean surface and roll out the dough to a thickness of 3/4 inches. Using a fluted circular cookie cutter, cut the cookies and place them on a lined baking tray with parchment paper.

5. Chill the cookies for 20 minutes in the refrigerator till its firm.

6. Preheat the oven to 340 degrees and bake the cookies for about 20 minutes.

7. Remove from oven and decorate with two cardamom pods and dried rose petals.

Spiced Cranberry Dark Chocolate Bark

Procedure

1. Fit a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl. Fill the bowl with your dark chocolate pieces and stir until melted, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl and stir in most of the crystallized ginger and Kashmiri Garam Masala (saving a bit for the end).

2. Line a cookie tray or baking sheet with parchment paper and pour the melted chocolate onto the sheet. Using a spatula, smooth out the chocolate into an even layer about ¼ inch thick. Add the cranberries and nuts, and finish it off with a sprinkle of Garam Masala.

3. Chill or refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes or until firm. 
    

Ingredients

5oz of Dark Chocolate (60% Cacao or better)
2 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger
½ tsp Organic Kashmiri Garam Masala
½ cup dried Cranberries
½ cup of your favorite Nuts

Gobi Musallam (Baked Spiced Cauliflower)

Culinary History:

The diverse background of this dish is evident in its name; gopi is Hindi for ‘cauliflower’, while musallam is from Urdu, the language associated with the Muslims of Hindustan, abd means 'whole' or 'complete'. It is not a coincidence that the word musallam comes from the same root as ‘Islam’ or ‘Muslim’, which has similar connotations. The Islamic Mughal dynasty of the northern part of India introduced this dish, which has now become a dish enjoyed throughout the state.

Serves 8 - 10

Ingredients:

(For the Gopi Mussalam)
1 whole cauliflower, leaves removed and roots left
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp sunflower oil

(For the spice masala)
1 onions peeled and roughly chopped
2 green chilies
12 cashew nuts
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 inch piece ginger, peeled
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cloves
½ tsp nutmeg
6 green cardamom pods, husks removed
4 tbsp low fat Greek yogurt
1 tsp salt

1 tsp ghee
1 tbsp sunflower oil

2/3 cup fresh tomatoes, pureed
1 tbsp concentrated tomato paste
1 cup of low fat milk
1 cup frozen peas

(For the garnish)
1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro leaves
1 tsp nigella seed (optional)
 

Procedure:

1.    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

2. Rub the cauliflower with salt, turmeric and oil. Place the spiced cauliflower on an ovenproof tray and roast for 25 minutes or until tender. Remove the tray from the oven and set aside.  

3. Grind all the ingredients for the spice masala into a smooth paste. 

4.  In a large, heavy bottom pan on medium-high heat, add the ghee, oil, and the spice paste. Cook, stirring constantly, until the paste turns lightly golden brown.    

5. Stir in the pureed tomatoes, tomato paste and milk until well mixed. Allow the spices and vegetables to simmer on a low heat for 8 minutes. Add the peas and stir well.   

6.  Gently lay the whole cauliflower into the pan and baste with the prepared sauce. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 5 minutes. 

7.  Remove the lid and baste again, cooking for 10 more minutes with the lid off. Serve in a large bowl or platter, garnished with coriander leaves and nigella seeds.

   Cooks notes:

   Gobi Musallam makes a stunning centerpiece for the dinner table and is perfect for sharing. Give everyone a large spoon and dig in, being sure to break the tender morsels of cauliflower off its stem.  This dish is best accompanied with either a flaky paratha or a cucumber raita. 

   Substitutions: 
   You may substitute the cauliflower for a whole head of broccoli and cook it in the same way. 
   You could substitute the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom spices with 1 teaspoon of Kashmiri Garam Masala.

Garam Masala Spiced Cranberry Cake

Serves 8 - 10

Ingredients:

2 cups/8 ounces fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon water
1 stick, unsalted butter
2⁄3 cup light brown sugar
1⁄2 cup whole milk
1⁄2 cup maple syrup
1⁄4 cup unsulphured molasses
1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon Kashmiri Garam Masla
1⁄2 teaspoonbaking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (from 1-inch piece)
1 tablespoon orange zest

Procedure:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9-inch square or round baking pan with parchment.

2. In a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan, stir together cranberries, granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon water. Stir the mixture over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved and the cranberries form a sauce that is syrupy and bubbling thickly, about 10 minutes. Do not crush all of the cranberries but have about half of the cranberries more or less whole.

3. For the batter, stir together the butter, brown sugar, milk, maple syrup and molasses over medium heat in a separate saucepan. Bring the mixture to just barely a simmer and then remove it from the heat. Do not let it come to a boil, or the mixture may curdle.

4. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, ginger, garam masala, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Beat in the butter-maple syrup mixture and then beat in the eggs. Stir in the ginger and the orange zest.

5. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Drop large dollops of cranberry sauce onto the surface of the cake batter. Drag a long, slender knife through the batter in a swirly design, as if you are marbling a cake and tracing large "S"s in the batter. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake it until the top is firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire baking rack and let the cake cool completely before eating it.

Aromatic Roasted Turkey

Serves: 6 - 8

Procedure:

1. Heat all ingredients and bring to a boil.

2. Let the brine cool before adding to the turkey. Then stir in white wine.

3. Refrigerate in the brine for 4 days.

4. Once the turkey is ready to roast, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. dry turkey well then coat with ghee and paprika.

5. Roast the turkey in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, about two hours. Take our the turkey and tent it with aluminum foil for an hour.

Ingredients:

1 20 pound whole turkey
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup honey
4 allspice berries
2 cinnamon sticks
3/4 cup celery
2 bay leaves
4 peppercorns
1 sprig thyme
2 tsp. Keralan curry powder
10 cups water or to cover turkey
1 cup dry white wine
Ghee
Paprika

If an alto sham is at your disposable, cook the turkey at 250 in the alto sham for 4 hours and let it cool for at least 6 hours.