Food

This fresh herbed chunky tomato sauce is chock full of flavour, and is the perfect accompaniment to the silky shaved zucchini ribbons.

The delicious avocado has a lovely creamy texture that adds a perfect smoothness to this cold curry-spiked soup.

Sacha inchi seeds can lend interesting texture and taste to all kinds of baked goods. These gooey bite-sized brownies with a crunch are a perfect example. Because they are relatively low in fat and calories, they are one sweet treat you can indulge in with near impunity!

This elegant fish and tuber combo is a healthy alternative to fish and chips—and it’s surprisingly easy to prepare. Although sunchokes are crispy and delicious eaten raw, roasting them, as in the following recipe, really brings out their innate, nutty sweetness.

Freekeh is prepared similarly to rice and other grains. It is available in both cracked and whole forms. Cracked freekeh takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes to cook, while the whole grain takes 40 to 45 minutes. You can use freekeh just as you would any healthy whole grain. Its unique nutty flavour imparts an exotic cachet to even the most banal of recipes! The following recipe can be prepared as a side dish or stuffed inside peppers or squash for a vegan entree.

Although cactus leaves are picked while young and tender, they still contain spines and eyes, which must be removed thoroughly before the leaves are ingested. A vegetable peeler and a sharp paring knife are the best tools to accomplish this task. The flavour of the leaves—similar to asparagus or a tart green bean—makes them a winning addition to soups, stews, and stir-fries.

This rich and spicy dessert soup is sure to help you break out of the winter doldrums. Originating in Asia, the tiny bird’s eye chili pepper (also called Thai chili) packs a serious punch, so make sure to use only one. You can also try using serrano chili pepper for the recipe.

The now ubiquitous and addictive Thai Sriracha sauce is smoking hot in culinary circles, so to speak. It’s surprisingly easy to craft your own fresher tasting chili-garlic sauce at home. Using smaller red chilies such as bird’s eye will produce a hotter sauce.

Ancho chili peppers are the dried version of the poblano chili and have a smoky-sweet flavour that is well suited for glazes. They are available at Latin markets, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets.

Here is a nutritional upgrade of the iconic soup that offers a fiery Asian twist. The searing serrano chili pepper is a smaller and more potent version of the jalapeno. If you want your soup to pack more of a punch, include more serrano seeds.

Jalapeno’s signature bite only serves to elevate these wholesome gluten-free cornbread muffins. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can add 1 Tbsp (15 mL) fresh lemon juice to a 1 cup (250 mL) measuring cup. Top lemon juice with milk, stir, and let sit for 2 minutes.

Chipotle peppers are smoked, dried red jalapenos. In cans they are packed with a tomato sauce called adobo and make a wonderful smoky addition to salsas, chilis, soups, and pasta sauces. Most supermarkets now carry chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. If you really want to bring the heat, up the amount of chipotle used in the tomato jam by 1 tsp (5 mL). A little goes a long way, so freeze extras for future use.

Here’s a meal worthy of a fine dining establishment. Grainy mustard is a whole seed-laced version of the condiment and is also often labelled “Dijon.” It comes in a range of heat levels from mild to nose-clearing. It adds texture and verve to mashed and puréed vegetables. Removing as much moisture as possible from scallops is the key to achieving a good sear.

This silky sweet side dish is sure to make tasters coo with delight. Mustard is the unexpected flavour booster offering a tempered kick.

If you’re in need of an appetizer for the impending Easter holiday that offers some wow factor, try these pretty in pink devilled eggs. The vinegary snap of old-fashioned yellow ballpark mustard—whose vibrant yellow hue is actually due to the addition of the spice turmeric—is ideal for the filling of devilled eggs as well as for a range of dips. Whenever possible, use organic ingredients. 2 medium beets, peeled and quartered 6 large free-range eggs 3/4 cup (180 mL) cider vinegar 1 Tbsp (15 mL) whole black peppercorns 1/3 cup (80 mL) reduced-fat sour cream 1 Tbsp (15 mL) chopped chives 1 Tbsp (15 mL) yellow mustard or creamy Dijon 1 tsp (5 mL) curry powder 1/2 tsp (2 mL) paprika 1/4 tsp (1 mL) black pepper 1/4 tsp (1 mL) sea salt Pickled jalapeno, for garnish (optional) Fill medium saucepan half full with water; add beets and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until beets are softened, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, place eggs in separate saucepan and fill with enough cold water to cover them by at least 1 in (2.5 cm). Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove pan from heat, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain, crack the shells gently (this will help with peeling), and place eggs in bowl of cold water for a few minutes to cool, then peel shells. In large wide-mouthed jar or other large glass container, combine the beets, 1 1/2 cups (350 mL) of red cooking water, peeled cooked eggs, vinegar, and peppercorns. Let the mixture sit at least overnight. The longer the eggs soak the more they will pickle and deepen in colour. Slice each egg in half. Scoop out yolks and place in medium bowl. Using back of fork, mash yolks. Add sour cream, chives, mustard, curry powder, paprika, pepper, and salt; stir until smooth. To fill eggs, either spoon yolk mixture into cavities or use piping bag for a fancier presentation. Serve with pickled beets and garnished with pickled jalapeno, additional chives, and/or a sprinkle of paprika. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serves 6. Each serving contains: 110 calories; 8 g protein; 7 g total fat (3 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 4 g total carbohydrates (2 g sugars, 1 g fibre); 130 mg sodium from "Cooking with Mustard", alive #365, March 2013

Crafting your own mustard is far from a high-flying kitchen feat. Just grab some mustard seeds and good quality dark ale. Want more heat? Use more brown mustard seeds than yellow ones.

First created in Dijon, France, creamy Dijon-style mustard has an assertive yet refined flavour that can gussy up sauces and salad dressings. It’s most often a mixture of yellow and more pungent black mustard seeds that is produced according to strict French guidelines. Poaching chicken breasts, which have a tendency to dry out during cooking, is a great way to keep the meat deliciously moist. This salad can serve double duty as an elegant dinner entree or a nutritious workweek lunch.

For millions of Thailand denizens, the day doesn’t start until they have slurped up their noodle soup from open-air stalls to take a bite out of the chill in the early morning air. Here in Canada you may find this delightful soup more to your liking for lunch or dinner. To turn up the heat, the Thai will often stir in some guise of fiery paste or sauce such as the recipes that follow. And always make sure to stuff each bowl with a generous amount of lively herbs.

Pad Thai is one of the dishes that first comes to mind among Canadians when thinking of Thai cuisine. Sadly, most North American restaurant versions are little more than a big plate of uninspiring saucy noodles. A good pad Thai will be a medley of carefully matched ingredients that combine to create a plateful of sweet, sour, and salty flavours. If your wok or skillet is small, you may need to make this recipe in two batches.

The explosion of flavours and unforgettable textural contrasts makes this refreshing Thai salad one of the great gastronomic pleasures when visiting the Asian nation. Make it for a light lunch or dinner side dish. Often, the heat-loving Thai will add a handful of chili peppers. But if you’re not after revenge, it’s best to only use one or two for more sensitive palates.

Skewers of grilled meat are a staple at Thailand night markets as the aromatic smoke from satay stands lure in hungry customers. These are also perfect to serve at soirees or as part of a dinner menu. The oven broiler can stand in for the grill when the weather outside is not so tropical.

Stunning black rice is soaked before cooking, helping to give it a chewy bite and making it the perfect anchor for this especially satisfying dessert. The nutty whole grain rice is encased in a deep purple husk thought to contain antioxidants similar to dark berries. In Thai markets the rice and rich custard are often wrapped in pandanus leaves for the ultimate take-away treat. If you’d rather just enjoy the rice without the custard, try topping it with sliced mango.

Yellow Squid Curry

Pumpkin pie isn’t just for Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can use canned organic pumpkin purée all year round. Rather than a dessert coffee after dinner, serve your guests this warm smoothie, sweetened with dates. Top it off with whipped cream, if desired.