Quick Pickled Shiitake Mushrooms With Ginger And Soy

June 29, 2021 Nora Dummer

I originally started making these Japanese inspired pickled shiitake mushrooms to accompany my bowls of homemade ramen, but the longer the excess sat in my fridge, the more applications I would find for them. Soba noodles with peanut coconut sauce, shrimp stir fry, fried eggs, roasted vegetables, cucumber salads… basically anything you need a pop of acid, sweet, salt, and savory (so, basically anything). These little flavor bombs add so much character to dishes simple and complex.

(Recipe for Pickled Shiitake Mushrooms follows)

Black Sesame Paste with Maple and Coconut

June 15, 2021 Nora Dummer

There are fewer crops steeped in more history and lore than the humble sesame seed. Not only is it the oldest known plant grown for its seed and oil, it’s rumored to be adored by the gods. In Assyrian mythology, the gods got drunk on sesame wine the night before they created the earth. In Hindu mythology, the seed is blessed by the god of death, Yama, and symbolizes immortality; today, Hindus often use them in their funeral rituals. Additionally, sesame seeds make an appearance in Qing dynasty legend as a holy medication for immortality, were used to make perfumes in Babylon, and was mentioned for their medicinal properties in the 1550 BC Egyptian book of medicine, Papyrus Ebers.

(Recipe for Black Sesame Paste with Maple and Coconut follows)

Black Garlic Oil (Mayu) For Ramen Or Rice

June 8, 2021 Nora Dummer

Not to be confused with the fermented black garlic, this garlic oil is named as such to avoid calling it by its less enticing but more accurate epithet: burnt garlic oil. The trick to making this recipe delicious is to resist temptation to turn up the heat - cooking the garlic too quickly will result in the bitter compounds to come out. Instead, adopt your new mantra: low and slow. Read on, cook on.

(Recipe for Black Garlic Oil follows)

Creamy Cashew, Dulse & Miso Dip

September 16, 2020 Nora Dummer

Most people’s nesting urge manifests in building cribs and cleaning out closets. Well, our crib is still in pieces and don’t even get me started on the state of the closets. However, this doesn’t mean that I haven’t acted on this inevitable preparative cleansing - mine just looks a little different. 33 weeks pregnant, and my nesting urge has translated to food. Stocking my pantry with the most superist of “super foods”. Filling my freezer with bone broth. Cooking the most nutrient dense meals I can imagine. It’s like I’m nesting, but INSIDE MY BODY. The closets will just have to wait.

(Recipe for Creamy Cashew, Dulse & Miso Dip follows)

Pandemic-Inspired Cardamom-Rose Pistachio Butter

August 29, 2020 Nora Dummer

This pandemic has forced many of us to look inward. Maybe we’re exploring a new sense of self because we can no longer identify ourselves with a job, or scrutinizing our social tendencies because society is largely off limits, or examining our contribution to the entrenched and broken systems of our current politics. Or maybe, we’re simply looking inward into the depths of our pantries for something to eat.

(Recipe for Cardamom-Rose Pistachio Butter follows)

Chili, Garlic and Shallot Jam

July 23, 2020 Nora Dummer

I have no story to tell about this recipe other than the fact that it is so good it deserves its own post. I mean, just look at it.

This is another recipe adapted from the Night + Market cookbook by Kris Yenbamroong based off the dishes served in his Los Angeles restaurants by the same name, and featured in my post for Chicken, Coconut & Lemongrass Soup.

(Recipe for Chili, Garlic and Shallot Jam follows)

Add some variety to nights at home, with a virtual cooking class.