Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Tips for Creamy, Cozy Plant-Forward Soups

Chicken noodle soup and minestrone are great, but there are few things more crave-worthy than a creamy, rich, and hearty soup. Of course, the ingredients that make those soups so tasty—cream, butter, cheese, beef—are not always high on our list of healthy ingredients, or you might follow a vegan diet. […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Tips for Enjoying Beans

You may, for any number of reasons, be thinking that it’s time to introduce more beans into your routine. And we get it! They are vegetarian and vegan sources of protein, they are gluten-free, they are heart-healthy, and inexpensive. What’s not to love? But unless you grew up eating lots […]

Main Dishes

Tortelli with Stracchino Cheese and Zucchini

Serves 4 to 6 You can also dice the zucchini very small, sauté them, and mix them into the filling in step 1. Serve with tomato sauce or butter and sage sauce. Ingredients Stracchino Tortelli 12 oz stracchino 1/2 cup fine fresh white bread crumbs 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Try New Things: Gai Lan

We love all veggies (yes, even beets!), but there are some that really suit our fancy. Gai lan is one! Sometimes called Chinese broccoli, gai lan is, well, not particularly extraordinary. It’s relatively neutral in flavor, a lot like regular old broccoli, with a familiar texture (yup, like broccoli!). It […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Using Dried Mushrooms

Dried mushrooms are big flavor in a tiny package, and they are one of our go-to pantry staples for adding savory richness (also known as umami) to stews, risottos, sauces, or broths—and more! When shopping for dried mushrooms, look for whole varieties, since they’ll generally hold their flavor better than […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Using Fresh Fava Beans

If you’ve been lucky enough to venture out to the farmers’ market, you may have found fresh fava beans—one of the most underappreciated spring veggie! Though you can buy dried fava beans all year long, if you haven’t enjoyed them fresh, well, you’ve really barely experienced them. Fresh fava beans […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks, Side Dishes

Vegetable Carpaccio

Makes 6 servings Ingredients Berbere Drizzle 1 tablespoon sesame oil 2 tablespoons safflower oil 1 tablespoon Dry Berbere Spice Blend  Garlic Drizzle 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons water 2 garlic cloves Sea salt, to taste 3 tablespoon safflower or olive oil 1 kohlrabi (see note), peeled 1 watermelon radish, […]

Allergen Friendly, Main Dishes

Vegetable Fajitas

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 cup red onion, cut into thin strips 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 1 lb red pepper, cut into thin strips 1 lb green pepper, cut into thin strips 1 lb yellow pepper, cut into thin strips 1 lb napa cabbage, chiffonade […]

Main Dishes

Vegetable Lasagna with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Makes 6 to 8 servings Ingredients Roasted Vegetables 1 large eggplant (about 2 lb) 4 medium zucchini (about 1 1/2 lb) 2 large ripe yellow tomatoes Kosher salt, as needed 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced Leaves from 6 thyme sprigs 3 red bell peppers Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed Extra-virgin […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Vegetable Purées for Plant-Forward Cooking

Plants are quadruple-threat ingredients, adding flavor, texture, color, and nutrients to any dish. They’re versatile, and we eat them raw or roasted, whole or bite-sized, simple or seasoned, and every possible way in between. In the plant-forward kitchen, vegetables are even more useful, because they can be used not just […]