Edible Delights: Pasta

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Curried Apple Couscous

DISCLAIMER: When I categorize dishes "Vegetarian", I standardize it on the absence of poultry and meat such as chicken, duck, turkey, beef, or pork. I don't consider ingredients such as eggs which come from poultry or seafood vegetarian because I know many vegetarians who eat these ingredients without complaint.

Quite frankly, I'm not a fan of sweet flavors in main dishes, although I'm a die hard for sweets. This recipe was no exception. I only chose to make it because I came across an abundant amount of apples, and I needed to use them up. I figured this was a free opportunity to test out new recipes. After all, new experiences are good for the mind, and our taste preferences change over time. I found out that in this case, my taste hasn't changed, but it was worth the experience. The recipe isn't bad. It's just not a flavor I'm into. It is quite filling, though. So if you like the curried apple flavor, I recommend this.

4 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp curry powder
1 medium apple, cored and chopped
1 cup couscous
1 3/4 cup water
1 tsp sea salt

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add 3 tbsp of butter, curry powder, and a couple generous pinches of salt. Cook for a minute or until the spices are fragrant. This happens very quickly. Stir in the chopped apples and cook for about 3 minutes, enough time for the apples to soften a bit and absorb some of the curry. Scoop the apples from the pan, and set aside in a separate bowl.

In the same pan, again over medium-high heat, add the remaining tablespoon of butter. Add water and salt. Bring to a boil, stir in the couscous, cover, and remove from heat. Steam for 5 to 10 minutes and then use a fork to fluff up the couscous. Stir the apples back in. Season with more salt and curry powder to taste, if necessary.

The original recipe called for scallions and fresh mint. I hate scallions, so I omitted those. And I usually don't have mint on hand. The recipe is very filling and easy to make. Be really careful because the curry powder heats up quickly. If you're not careful, it'll burn. If your stove is on the hotter side, I actually recommend cooking on medium heat. This recipe is a great way to use up apples a little past its prime or the bland flavored versions. The curry powder enlivens the flavor of dull tasting apples and the water rehydrates it.

Primavera Orzo

DISCLAIMER: When I categorize dishes "Vegetarian", I standardize it on the absence of poultry and meat such as chicken, duck, turkey, beef, or pork. I don't consider ingredients such as eggs which come from poultry or seafood vegetarian because I know many vegetarians who eat these ingredients without complaint.

Okay, so this photo doesn't look very appetizing. The colors are rather bland, but it's more flavorful than the image suggests. More importantly, it's such an easy recipe to make that it's worth mentioning. It's light, perfect for lazy days. I don't think I added enough zucchinis and carrots, which I think offers the most amount of flavor along with the curry powder. I also prefer omitting the peas because I think it neutralizes the carrots and zucchinis. This recipe originally came from Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals, which I modified.

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 small zucchinis, shredded
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp curry powder
3 cups chicken stock
1 cup orgo pasta
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, zucchinis, and carrots. Saute for 5 minutes. Add curry and chicken stock, and bring to a boil. Add orzo, and return to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta absorbs the liquid, about 10 minutes.

The recipe originally included two shallots, which I omitted because I hate the flavor. It's also only supposed to include one zucchini, chopped, but shredding it intensifies the flavor, so I doubled up. 1/2 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano and 1 cup of frozen peas is also included at the very end. But my modified recipe is the one I prefer. The photo I took is closest to the original recipe excluding the shallots and 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. If you follow my preferred recipe, it's much more appetizing looking and easier, not that the original isn't simple enough. The color contrasts are actually intense and vivid, a deep but bright orange, crisp greens, and a nutty color the orzo offers.

Recipes I've Made

Appetizers 1) Guacamole 2) Prosciutto and Carrot Bundles 3) Smoked Salmon Spreads 4) Asparagus Wrapped Bacon Beans 1) Fried Chickpeas 2) Lemon Garlic Chickpea Dip 3) Lentil Beans 4) Pinto Beans 5) Refried Beans Beverages 1) Appletini 2) Avocado Smoothie 3) Black Russian 4) Cosmopolitan 5) Garlic, Honey, & Lemon Tea 6) Japanese OJ 7) Lemon Drops 8) Lemonade 9) Malibu Rum and Coke 10) Mango Energizer Drink 11) Mint Julep 12) Peanut Butter Smoothie 13) White Russian Breakfast 1) French Toast 2) Pancakes Casseroles 1) Tuna Noodle Casserole Desserts/Snacks 1) Almond Macaroons 2) Asian version of Jell-O 3) Baked Apples 4) Brownies 5) Cranberry Roll-Up Freezer Cookies 6) Crystallized Ginger 7) Jam Cookies 8) Pan Fried Apples 9) Peanut Butter Cookies 10) Potato Chips 11) Spiced Nuts 12) Tapioca Pudding 13) Asian Cookies 14) Stuffed Roasted Strawberries 15) Deathening Cake 16) Ritz Mints 17) Lime Meltaways Eggs 1) Baked Eggs 2) Deviled Eggs 3) Egg Casserole 4) Ham and Cheese Mini Frittatas 5) Hardboiled Eggs 6) Overeasy Eggs 7) Poached Eggs 8) Sunny Side Up 9) Poached Eggs in Tomato Sauce 10) Soft-boiled Eggs 11) Fried Eggs Grains 1) Lemon-Infused Quinoa 2) Tabbouleh 3) Garlic Fried Rice 4) Quinoa Potato Croquettes with Carrots and Curry Flavor Japanese 1) Onigiri Meat 1) Balsamic Vinegar Infused Burger 2) Beef Stroganoff 3) Braised Lamb Chops 4) Herb-Roasted Lamb with Baby Potatoes 5) London Broil 6) Marinated Lamb Chops 7) Meatballs 8) Meatloaf 9) Pineapple-Glazed Baked Half Ham 10) Pork Chops 11) Pork-Rib Dinner 12) Yogurt Marinated Lamb Kabobs 13) Sloppy Joe's 14) Broiled Lamb Chops 15) Korean-style Marinated Pork Pasta & Noodles 1) Baked Macaroni and Cheese 2) Farro Spaghetti with Three Kinds of Garlic 3) Lasagna 4) Mushroom Risotto with Peas 5) Primavera Orzo 6) Pasta Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing 7) Tortellini Salad 8) Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Broccoli 9) Your Basic Pasta with Pasta Meat Sauce (tomato based) 10) Beef and Broccoli Top Ramen 11) Korean marinated beef, mizuna, and poached eggs in top ramen 12) Spaghetti Carbonara Pickles 1) Cucumber Kim Chi 2) Kim Chi 3) Pickled Cucumbers 4) Pickled Eggplants 5. Nippy Carrots 6) Raw Cultured Vegetables (green cabbage, broccoli, carrots, garlic, onions, green apple, string beans, white and black peppercorn) Poultry 1) 40 Garlic Cloves with Chicken 2) Buttermilk Fried Chicken 3) Chicken Pot Pie without the Pie 4) Chicken Rice Bake 5) Chicken Salad 6) Chicken with Roasted Lemon and Rosemary Sauce 7) Cornish Hens with 40 Garlic Cloves with Lemon and White Wine 8) Curry Marinated Baked Chicken 9) Garlic Roast Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon 10) Greek Garlic Chicken 11) Lemony-Buttery Marinade Turkey 12) Mughlai Chicken 13) Nutty Chicken 14) One-Pan Chicken and Vegetables 15) Roasted Chicken 16) Saucy Broccoli Turkey Bake 17) Sesame Coated Chicken Strips 18) Thai Basil Chicken 19) The Angry Bird 20) Grilled Chicken 21) Roasted Chicken with Lemons, Asparagus, and Potatoes 22) Creamy Stuffed Pastry Bites 23) Chicken with Bacon, Tomato, and Thyme 24) Lemony Chicken Scallopini 25) Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken 26) Braised Chicken Wings 27) Daven's Sweet Chicken Drumsticks 28) Roasted Chicken with baby tomatoes, black olives, fresh basil with lemon juice 29) Turkey Meatloaf with Carrots, Corn, and Potatoes 30) Baked Chicken Salads 1) Asparagus, Green Beans, and Hearts of Palm Salad 2) Mesculin Salad with Super Citrus-y Dressing 3) Cucumber in Lemon Juice and Salt 4) Fruity Salad: spinach and grapefruit 5) Greek Salad 6) Italian Chopped Salad 7) Mango Salad 8) Papaya Salad 9) Tomato Salad 10) Tossed Salad with Lemony-Mustard Dressing 11) Zesty Cabbage Salad with Garlic and Lemon 12) A Lazy Girl's Salami Salad 13) Greens with Kombu seaweed and Oyster Mushrooms 14) Kale and Pear Tomatoes 15) Farmer's Market Fresh Purslane, Pear tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, and Cucumber Salad Sandwiches 1) Grilled Cheese Sandwich 2) Ham Sandwich 3) Salami Sandwich Sauces 1) Cranberry Sauce 2) Pesto Sauce 3) Pico de Gallo Seafood 1) 4 Minute Spicy Garlic Shrimp 2) Poached Salmon 3) Salmon Cakes 4) Shrimp Boil 5) Scalloped Salmon and Sweet Potatoes 6) Swordfish Baked in Foil with Mediterranean Flavors 7) Japanese-style Sashimi Salmon with Shiso Leaves 8) Baked Swai (seasoned with lemon juice, ginger, marjoram, and other miscellaneous seasoning & spices) 9) Baked Swai (seasoned with lime juice and pico de gallo) 10) Braised Mussels in a Garlic White Wine Sauce 11) Braised Mussels in a Cream Sauce 12) Baked Fish (tilapia or swai) seasoned with Green Garlic, Sliced Garlic, Spicy Red Peppers, and Various Herbs Slow Cooker 1) Slow Cooker Beef with Root Vegetables Soups/Stews 1) Albondigas 2) Artichoke & White Bean Soup 3) Cauliflower Soup and Garlic 4) Chicken Soup for the Sick 5) Chinese Herbal Soup 6) Clam Chowder 7) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup 8) Crab Soup 9) Cream of Bok Choy Soup 10) Cream of Mushroom Soup 11) Creamy Tomato Soup 12) Escarole & Meatball Soup 13) Italian Wedding Soup 14) Lester's Veggie Soup 15) Minestrone Soup 16) Mini Meatball Soup 17) Mondongo 18) Morrocan Stew 19) Old-Fashioned Beef Stew 20) Portuguese Chourico and Kale Soup 21) Sinigang 22) Tom Yum Goong 23) Creamy Vegetable Chowder 24) Ten Mothers Garlic and Spinach Soup 25) Red Lentil and Bulghur Wheat Soup 26) Spicy Cream Chowder Soup Vegetables 1) Baby Potatoes with Cumin 2) Baked Creamed Spinach 3) Baked Potatoes 4) Balsamic Glazed Vegetables 5) Braised Kale 6) Braised Root Vegetables 7) Broccoli with Garlic and Soy Sauce 8) Broiled Zucchini & Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese 9) Colcannon 10) Coleslaw 11) Cooked Carrots & Peas 12) Creamed Corn 13) Garlic Fries 14) Greek Lemon Roasted Potatoes 15) Greek Beans and Bacons 16) Lemon Pepper Green Beans 17) Mashed Potatoes 18) Mashed Potatoes with Wasabi 19) Oven-Dried Tomato Chips 20) Oven-Roasted Wild Mushrooms with Garlic and Thyme 21) Pesto Mashed Potatoes 22) Potato Pancakes 23) Potato Wedges 24) Ratatouille 25) Roasted Asparagus 26) Roasted Garlic 27) Roasted Butternut Squash 28) Roasted Carrots, Zucchinis, and Potatoes 29) Sauteed Baby Artichokes 30) Sauteed Mushrooms with Garlic 31) Shish Kabobs 32) Slow Cooked Brussels Sprouts 33) Spinach Dip 34) Steamed Whole Artichokes 35) Stirfried Zucchinis 36) Tomato Stuffed Italian Dried Bread Crumbs with Parmesan Cheese 37) Tomato Vegetable Casserole 38) Zucchini Spaghetti 39) Zucchini Sticks 40) Roasted Purple Peruvian Potatoes 41) Roast Fingerling Potatoes 42) White Asparagus with Orange Butter 43) Garlic and Herb Tomatoes 44) Steamed Asparagus 45) Mediterranean Roast Vegetables (zucchinis, tomatoes, carrots, and garlic skin on) 46) Spicy Green Beans with Garlic 47) Carrots Glazed with Balsamic Vinegar and Butter 48) Moroccan Beet Salad 49) Braised Bok Choi 50) "Amy's" Okra and Tomatoes 51) Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries 52) Unblended Tzatziki 53) Raw Beet Salad 54) Braised Baby Artichokes 55) Breakfast Potatoes 56) Strawberry Fennel Salad 57) Sauteed Mizuna 58) Lettuce Blend with Beets 59) Farmer's Market Fresh Strawberry and Fennel Salad sweetened with a White Wine Vinaigrette 60) Roasted Cauliflower 61) Farmer's Market Fresh Roast Vegetables (asparagus, baby zucchini, beets, new potatoes, and paty pan squash) 62) Sauteed Brussels Sprouts 63) Ratatouille 64) Roasted Okra and Pear Tomatoes 65) Raw Grated Beets and Carrots with Thai Basil and White Wine Vinaigrette 66) PURPLE Cabbage Roasted and Flavored with Balsamic Vinegar 67) Genovese-style Artichokes 68) Mashed Potatoes flavored in Lavender, Mint, and Half & Half 69) Spicy String Beans Total Recipes Made: 248 recipes

Edible Delights

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Curried Apple Couscous

Primavera Orzo

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