Potato kugel

Potato kugel

A kugel is a puddinglike dish, best eaten hot or warm. Potato Kugel is generally a side dish, but it could be used as the basis of a light meal, with the addition of a soup or salad and some fruit. Serves 6 to 8 • 4 medium-sized potatoes (about 2 lbs.) • 1 large…

Red cabbage with apples

Red cabbage with apples

Serves 6 to 8 • 2 lbs. red cabbage, cored and shredded • 1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped • 1½ lbs. tart green apples (about 3 large), peeled, cored, quartered, and sliced • ½ cup butter • 1 tsp. salt • 2 Tbs. brown sugar • 2 Tbs. cider vinegar • ¼ tsp. ground…

Stewed eggplant

Stewed eggplant

Serves 5 to 6 • 2 large eggplants • olive oil to taste • salt to taste • 2 large onions • 3 cloves garlic, minced • ⅓ cup olive oil • 3 large tomatoes • 1 cup cooked, chopped spinach • ¼ cup chopped chives • ½ cup chopped celery leaves • 1½ tsp. oregano • plenty of…

Tomatoes stuffed with hearts of palm

Tomatoes stuffed with hearts of palm

Serves 6 to 10 as a salad • 2½ cups hearts of palm, cut in ¼-inch slices • ¼ cup fruity olive oil • 3 Tbs. white wine vinegar • fresh-ground black pepper to taste • ⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley • salt to taste • 10 medium-sized tomatoes 1. Drain and rinse the hearts of…

Marinated mushrooms

Marinated mushrooms

Serves 6 • 1 lb. fresh white mushrooms • 1½ cups water • 1½ cups cider or white vinegar • 1 Tbs. pickling spice, or: • 4 cloves, 4 peppercorns, ¼ tsp. mustard seeds, ½-inch stick cinnamon, pinch of dried rosemary, and 1 bay leaf • 2½ Tbs. olive oil • ¼ tsp. basil,…

Pressed cucumber-sour cream salad

Pressed cucumber-sour cream salad

Serves 6 to 8 • 3½ lbs. cucumbers • 1 tbsp. salt, and more to taste • ½ cup sour cream • 2 Tbs. lemon juice • 1 tsp. sugar 1. Peel the cucumbers, cut them in half lengthwise, remove any large seeds, and slice the cucumbers as thinly as possible. Toss the slices with…

Zucchini soufflé

Zucchini soufflé

Serves 4 to 6 • 1 lb. fresh zucchini • 1 small yellow onion • 5 Tbs. butter • ¾ tsp. salt, and more to taste • ¼ to ½ tsp. dried basil, crushed • fresh-ground black pepper to taste • 3 Tbs. flour • 1⅓ cups warm milk • 6 egg yolks • 2 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese • 7…

Broccoli-walnut soufflé

Broccoli-walnut soufflé

Serves 5 to 6 • 4 Tbs. butter • 4 Tbs. flour • 1½ cups hot milk • 5 egg yolks • 1½ cups chopped cooked broccoli • ½ cup finely chopped or sliced walnuts • 3 Tbs. minced onion • 2 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese • ½ tsp. salt • fresh-ground pepper to taste • 7 egg whites •…

Avocado-ranch-dressing

Avocado-ranch-dressing

It makes about 1½ cups. Don’t make this dressing more than a couple of hours in advance, and use it on a fairly simple tossed green salad: for instance, romaine and butter lettuce with some thin-sliced bell pepper and a bit of sliced red onion. • 1 medium-sized ripe…

Taratour sauce

Taratour sauce

It makes about 2 cups Serve this with hot, quartered pita bread or use in preparing Hommos bi Tahini and Baba Ghanouj. • 1 cup tahini (sesame seed paste) • 3 large cloves garlic, crushed or finely minced • ½ cup fresh lemon juice • 1 tsp. salt • ½ cup cold water 1….

Dumplings for soup

Dumplings for soup

It makes 6 to 8 servings These dumplings are good with any broth, and they are a must with creamed fresh pea soup. • 6 Tbs. soft butter • 2 eggs • 1½ cups flour • ⅓ cup milk • ½ tsp. salt • ⅛ tsp. nutmeg • ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper 1. Cream the butter in a deep bowl and…

STIR FRIED SPINACH ANDHRA STYLE PALAKO

STIR FRIED SPINACH ANDHRA STYLE PALAKO

In Andhra, the term “vepadu” refers to dishes that are either stir-fried or deep-fried until they are crisp (see this page for vepadus and more on Andhra meals). In the south, this delicious spicy spinach is generally served on the side, along with rice, thin dals,…