Fragrant, steamed jasmine rice is good—but jasmine rice made with coconut milk and fresh ginger is even better! This is a great side dish for Asian-themed meals, and could even be paired with some Caribbean and Latin American dishes. It’s super easy to make and a step up from plain ol’ rice. Garnish with chopped cilantro if you like. Enjoy!

Coconut Rice
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine 

Cooking fragrant jasmine rice in a mix of coconut milk and water gives this simple side dish a luxurious, rich texture that dresses up any stir-fry or Asian-inspired main. Serves 4.

1-1/2 cups jasmine rice or long-grain white rice 
1-1/2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
2 Tbs. canola oil
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk (preferably not “lite”)
3/4 tsp. kosher salt

Rinse the rice in three changes of cold water, or until the water becomes only slightly cloudy from the rice. Drain well in a sieve.

Heat the ginger with the oil in a small (2-qt.) saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to sizzle steadily and becomes fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until the grains and ginger start to brown in places, about 2 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk,
1-3/4 cups water, and the salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the liquid has reduced to about the same level as the top of the rice, 5 to 7 minutes. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook without disturbing the rice until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, 15 minutes.

Tags: Asian coconut rice, Caribbean rice, coconut milk, coconut milk rice, coconut rice, jasmine rice, rice

If you like beets you’re going to LOVE this salad: Earthy steamed beets tossed with a simple vinaigrette, tangy pickled red onions, salty feta, and fresh parsley…AWESOME! It’s definitely a restaurant-quality salad (actually better than most beet salads I’ve had in restaurants)! My beet-loving dad remarked after tasting it, “Now THIS is a beet salad!” That’s high praise indeed!

You could substitute goat cheese or blue cheese for the feta if you like. Enjoy!

Bi-Rite Market’s Beet Salad
with Pickled Onions and Feta
-from Bi-Rite Market’s Eat Good Food

This hearty salad is a near-constant in our deli case and a favorite among guests and staff. Although the beets are the star of the show, the pickled onions play an important role, adding textural interest and a vinegary punch. At the store, we cook the beets by baking them whole, in a deep roasting pan with 1″ of water. For a small, at-home quantity, I suggest streaming. It’s faster because steam gets hotter than boiling water (which maxes out at 212°F) and uses less energy than turning on the oven. However, if you prefer to roast or boil your beets, feel free —the results will be just as tasty. -Bi-Rite Market

Serves 4 to 6

1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced lengthwise
3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds (about 5 medium) beets
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (1/2 cup)

Combine the onion, vinegar, and a couple of pinches of salt in a small bowl and set aside.

If using baby beets, leave the skin on but halve or quarter them as needed so that they’re all about 1 inch thick. If using medium or large beets, peel and cut into 1-inch chunks.

Fit a steamer basket in a large pot, add water just to the bottom of the basket, and arrange the beets in a snug single layer. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to maintain a vigorous simmer. Cook until the beets are completely tender when pierced with a skewer, about 30 minutes. (Keep an eye on the water level during cooking, and add more if it threatens to dry up.) Remove from the heat and let cool. If you’re using baby beets, slip the skins off as soon as they’re cool enough to handle.

Reserving the liquid, remove the onion from the vinegar and add to the beets. In another bowl, whisk together the oil, mustard, honey, 1 tablespoon of the reserved vinegar, and a few big pinches of salt.

Add the dressing, the parsley, and all but 2 tablespoons of the feta to the beets. Toss well and taste; season with more salt or vinegar as needed. Garnish with a sprinkling of the remaining feta on top.

Note: The beautiful hue of beets will stain your hands and clothes. Wear gloves and an apron if pink isn’t your color!

Tip: Use any color beets you have available; if you choose to use both golden and red beets, toss them with the dressing separately to keep the red beets from staining the yellow ones.

Tags: beet salad, beets, Bi-Rite Market, pickled onions, summer salad

If you’ve never made your own salsa, it’s time you step out and give it a whirl. Not only is fresh salsa super easy to make but it tastes much, much better than the jarred stuff. Plus, you’ll be the star of the party when you walk in with a bowl of this fresh, smoky deliciousness!

The first time I made this salsa it ended up pretty spicy—which was fine because I love the heat—but probably hotter than most people would like. Jalapenos range in heat from mild to spicy so I recommend adding everything except the jalapeno to the processor, pulse a few times then taste. If you want it spicier, go ahead and add the chopped jalapeno, and pulse a few more times. The chipotle chile (smoked jalapeno) is spicy, too, so you may want to start with less (maybe a teaspoon or so) if you don’t want a spicy salsa. You can always add more chile to get more spicy heat but it’s difficult to go backwards once you’ve added it (you’d need to add more tomatoes, etc.).

Sometimes I grill the veggies instead of broiling them. Serve the salsa with locally-made tortilla chips. My favorite Oregon brand is Juanita’s. Enjoy!

Tomato Chile Salsa
-recipe from Gourmet Magazine

Broiling tomatoes and onions concentrates their flavor in this spicy salsa that’s good any time of the year.

Yield: Makes about 2 1/2 cups
 
Olive oil for greasing
1 1/2 lb plum tomatoes (about 6 large)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo plus 2 teaspoons sauce from can

1 (2 1/2-inch) fresh jalapeño, seeded and remainder chopped (1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Accompaniment: tortilla chips

 
Preheat broiler.

Oil a 13- by 9-inch roasting pan (not glass). Halve tomatoes lengthwise, then arrange, cut sides up, in roasting pan. Sprinkle onion over and around tomatoes and broil 4 to 5 inches from heat until tomatoes and onion begin to brown, 25 to 30 minutes.

Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

Transfer tomatoes, onion, and any juices in pan to a food processor and add chipotles with sauce, jalapeño, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Pulse until vegetables are finely chopped.

Transfer to a bowl and stir in cilantro. Season with salt.

Cooks’ note: Salsa keeps, covered and chilled, up to 3 days. Do not add cilantro until ready to serve. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Tags: chipotle, fresh salsa, jalepeno, Juanita's tortilla chips, Mexican, Oregon, salsa, tomato chile salsa, tomatoes

This fresh-tasting, super easy salad makes a great side dish for an Asian meal! I love the salty-sweet-sour combination of flavors and the punch of fresh herbs…delicious!

I’ve made the salad a variety of ways. Sometimes I substitute lime for lemon, or green onions for the red onions. I’ve also made it with both mint and cilantro, or just cilantro. You can even use the bagged pre-shredded cabbage and carrot cole slaw mix (about 3 1/2 to 4 cups) if you want to save a little prep time.

The recipe only makes 2 servings so do your math to increase quantities if you plan on feeding more than 2. Enjoy!

Thai-Style Cabbage Salad
-recipe from Epicurious.com (Gourmet Magazine)

Yield: Serves 2

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups finely shredded cabbage
1/2 small red onion, sliced thin (about 1/3 cup)
1/3 cup grated carrot
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves or 3/4 teaspoon crumbled dried
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (coriander)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil 

In a bowl stir together the lemon juice, the sugar, and the salt until the sugar and salt are dissolved, add the cabbage, the onion, the carrot, the mint, the cilantro, and the oil, and toss the salad well.

Tags: Asian salad, asian slaw, cabbage, Salad, Thai salad, Thai-style cabbage salad

Since the holidays are are upon us, here’s a great side dish that will compliment a potpourri of menus. I love the combination of chewy wild rice, roasted butternut squash and sweet corn…delish! This dish goes well with just about any meat, and much of the recipe can be made ahead of time — making it perfect for entertaining.

I roasted the cubed squash on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper which made clean-up a breeze. Plus, I didn’t have to worry about the squash sticking to the pan. Click here for tips on how to peel a butternut squash. Enjoy!

Wild Rice with Butternut Squash, Leeks, and Corn
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine (November 2008)

Test-Kitchen Tip: Some kinds of wild rice take longer to cook than others. The rice is fully cooked when the grains are tender but still chewy and beginning to split. Be sure to test the rice before draining.

Makes 10 servings

1 1/2 cups wild rice (about 9 ounces)
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
3 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled butternut squash (from 1 1/2-pound squash)
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, divided
1 1/2 cups finely chopped leeks (white part only)
1 1/2 cups frozen white corn kernels, thawed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley

Rinse rice in strainer under cold water; drain. Bring 6 cups water and 2 teaspoons coarse salt to boil in large saucepan. Add rice; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered until rice grains begin to split and are tender but still slightly chewy, about 45 minutes. Drain. Spread on rimmed baking sheet to cool. Transfer to bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil rimmed baking sheet. Toss squash cubes and 3 tablespoons oil in medium bowl. Spread squash in single layer on prepared sheet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast just until tender but firm enough to hold shape, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Transfer squash to bowl. Cool. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Melt 4 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and 3/4 cup water; simmer until leeks are tender, about 7 minutes. Add corn; simmer 2 minutes longer. Add rice and butternut squash; simmer until heated through and liquid is absorbed, about 4 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.

Tags: Bon Appetit Magazine, butternut squash, Christmas, corn, holiday recipes, holiday side dish, holidays, Thanksgiving, vegetarian, wild rice

I love sweet potatoes (yams) but I’m not a fan of the cloyingly sweet dishes that call for sugar and marshmallows. Instead, I prefer savory sweet potato recipes like this one that includes smoky chipotle chiles. The heat of the chiles is really delicious with the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. This recipe is perfect for a holiday dinner or Southwestern-themed meal.

You can also skip the potato skins and bake the potato mixture in a greased baking dish (about an 8×8 size) at 425° for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy!

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Chile
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

Chipotle chiles are smoked jalapeños. For  this recipe, you’ll need them canned in adobo; you can usually find them with other canned chiles in the Mexican section of the supermarket. The stuffed potatoes can be  made a day ahead, covered, and refrigerated. Bring them back to room temperature before  baking.

Serves four.

4 small sweet potatoes of similar size (about  3 pounds total), scrubbed
1 to 2 tsp. olive oil or vegetable oil
1/4 cup sour cream; more for serving
1/2 chipotle chile in adobo, minced to a paste; more to taste
2 Tbs. unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 lime, cut into quarters

Heat the oven to 425°F. Put the potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet, rub them with the oil, and arrange them so they’re spaced as far apart as possible. Bake until a skewer or fork slips easily into the center of the potato, 50 to 55 minutes. Set on a rack to cool but leave the oven on.

When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice off about the top one-quarter or one-third (lengthwise) of each potato to expose the interior. Peel off and discard the skin from this top section and put the potato flesh in a medium bowl. Use a spoon to scoop out the rest of the flesh of each potato, leaving about 1/4 inch of sweet potato attached to the skin to help retain its structure. Put the potato flesh in the bowl.

Beat the sweet potato flesh, sour cream, chile paste, butter, and salt with an electric hand mixer on medium speed just until smooth. Taste and, if you want more heat, mince more chipotle to a paste and add it. Mound the mixture into the potato skins and set them in a  baking pan. Bake the stuffed potatoes at 425°F until hot, 20  to 25 minutes. Serve with the lime wedges and more sour cream.

Tags: chipotle chile in adobo, chopotle chile, Christmas, Christmas side dish, holiday side dish, holidays, sweet potato, sweet potatoes, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving side dish, twice-baked potatoes, twice-baked sweet potatoes, yams

This is seriously one of the easiest side dishes I’ve ever made. If you like brussels sprouts then you’ll love the extra flavor that roasting brings out in them. If you don’t like brussels sprouts then maybe it’s time to try them. C’mon, I dare you! These pint-sized cabbages are loaded with Vitamins A and C and fiber. I like to buy them still on the stalk and then cut them off right before using (find them on the stalk at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods).

I roasted the brussels sprouts for less time because they were on the small size and I didn’t want to overcook them. I also didn’t add more salt like Ina did after they were finished roasting because they tasted perfect as is. Serve with roasted turkey, chicken, beef, pork…just about anything. Enjoy!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts
-recipe from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

Makes 6 servings.

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
3 tablespoons good olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly. Sprinkle with more kosher salt ( I like these salty like French fries), and serve immediately.

Tags: brussel sprouts, brussels, brussels sprouts, Christmas, holidays, roasted brussels sprouts, Side Dish, sprouts, Thanksgiving

Not only are quesadillas super easy to whip up but they make a great snack, lunch or light dinner. This particular recipe is jazzed up with a creamy, smoky chipotle and corn filling…it’s delicious! Serve the quesadillas with mixed greens drizzled with Southwestern Vinaigrette and you’ve got a tasty meal!

Note: The recipe calls for a grill pan but I cooked the quesadillas in a regular frying pan. Also, chipotle chiles in adobo are smoked jalapenos that are canned in a red sauce. You can find them in the Mexican foods section of your grocery store.

Grilled Monterey Jack and Corn Quesadillas
-recipe from Gourmet Magazine

Yield: Makes 2 to 4 servings

4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 scallions, thinly sliced crosswise
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo
4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Special equipment: a well-seasoned ridged grill pan

Stir together cheese, corn, mayonnaise, scallions, cilantro, and chiles in a small bowl. Lightly brush 1 tortilla with some of oil. Turn tortilla over and spread 1/2 cup filling over half, then fold other half over to form a half-moon. Assemble 3 more quesadillas in same manner.

Heat lightly oiled grill pan over moderate heat until hot, then cook quesadillas, 2 at a time, turning over once, until cheese is melted, about 4 minutes total per batch. Transfer to a cutting board and cut in half.

Tags: chipotle, chipotle chiles, Epicurious.com, Gourmet Magazine, Monterey Jack cheese, quesadillas

These delicious thick-cut fries couldn’t be any easier to make! I served them with a smoky Chipotle Mayo dipping sauce along side grilled burgers…sooo good!

Instead of using non-stick spray on the baking sheet, I lined it with parchment paper. In the past, I’ve had potatoes stick to the pan even with the non-stick spray but there was non of that nonsense with the parchment — it worked perfectly! Parchment paper can be found in the grocery store by tin foil, plastic wrap and plastic baggies. I use it all the time for baking.

For the Chipotle Mayo: mix 2-4 teaspoons of minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo with about 1/2 cup of mayonnaise and a squeeze of fresh lime juice (use more or less chiles depending on the desired amount of heat).

Enjoy!

Oven-Roasted Fries
-adapted recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Thick-cut oven fries are delicious—and so easy, especially if you don’t have time to make the deep-fried version. Use russet or purple potatoes, or a mixture of both.

Yield: Makes 4 to 6 servings

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 pounds unpeeled russet potatoes or purple potatoes, scrubbed, cut lengthwise into 1/2- to 1/3-inch wedges
2 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Toss potato wedges with olive oil in large bowl. Sprinkle potato wedges generously with salt and pepper; spread in single layer on prepared baking sheet. Roast potato wedges until tender and brown in spots, turning occasionally, about 45 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

Tags: baked french fries, baked fries, Bon Appetit Magazine, Epicurious.com, french fries, fries, oven fries, potatoes

This easy basmati rice pilaf is flavored with sauteed sweet onions and fresh herbs…simple yet delicious! I recently served it with Cedar-Planked Salmon and Grilled Veggies…a perfect summer meal!

Basmati rice is a fragrant variety of long grain rice grown in India and Pakistan. The cooked grains of rice are long and slender, and have a nutty flavor. Basmati rice can be found in many supermarkets and in Middle Eastern and Indian markets. 

I didn’t have fresh dill so I substituted green onions and added it along with the Italian parsley and tarragon. Yum!

Basmati Rice with Sweet Onions and Summer Herbs
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Stirring the fresh herbs into the hot rice preserves their flavor and releases their aroma. Makes 6 servings

1 1/2 cups basmati rice (about 10 ounces)
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
2 cups chopped sweet onions (such as Vidalia or Walla Walla)
2 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon

Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear; set aside. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice, 2 1/2 cups water, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 10 minutes. Stir in herbs. Season with pepper and more salt, if desired. Transfer to bowl and serve. 

Tags: basmati rice, Bon Appetit Magazine, herbs, parsley, rice, rice pilaf, rice salad, Side Dish, sweet onions, tarragon, vidalia onions, Walla Walla onions