My dad grows tomatoes in his garden. If I am lucky enough to see him in late summer, this means I get to go home with a bucket of wonderful vine ripened tomatoes. Which can be used to make this yummy tomato tart. If you’ve never had a tomato tart, think of it sort of…
Tag: Side
Green Papaya Salad
I adore the green papaya salad that I’ve had at Thai restaurants. I was delighted to find that green papaya is sold at the Asian market and I could make a quick and easy version that completely satisfied what I like so much about the dish. It’s crunchy and spicy and fresh, but with a…
Garlic Cheese Squash
If you buy a nice chunk of pecorino and have some leftover which you don’t want to go to waste, make this garlic cheese squash. It can be a veggie side, or just a great snack. When I make these, I tend to just munch them all down like chips. Crisp, cheesy goodness! Guessipe 1…
Tomato Salad
Good tomatoes don’t need much to become a bright and fresh summer salad. Tomato salad may be one of those salads that actually gets better over time, as the juices release from the tomatoes and all the flavors meld. The liquid that is leftover after you’ve eaten all the tomato is so good that I’ll…
Jicama Lime Slaw
I love the crunch of jicama. It is great for make-ahead salad, because it stays crisp in the dressing. The sweetness of the apples brings out the sweetness of the jicama, and contrasts nicely with the bite of the lime and vinegar. This jicama slaw is so refreshing I find myself popping into the fridge…
Pork Bok Choy Boats
Everybody loves a lettuce wrap. But what’s even better? A bok choy boat! Lettuce is bland and tends to be just a flimsy vehicle for delivering the filling into your face. Baby bok choy has a nice flavor and crunch, which complements the filling nicely and serves as a sturdier scoop. It also presents nicely, so…
Sweet & Spicy Broccoli
My mom taught me this awesome trick to make broccoli a gorgeous color and great crunchy texture. You basically throw it into boiling water, then immediately pull it out and run it under cold water. Then you can quickly stir-fry it over high heat to infuse whatever flavors you’d like – I like these spicy…
Atchara
Atchara is a Filipino side dish of pickled green papaya. The crunchy acidity of atchara makes it a great accompaniment to cut through the grease of fried or grilled meats. I remember going camping with one of my best childhood friends, and happily sitting by the fire eating a big bowl of rice, meat, and…
Greek Salad
I like a Greek Salad because it’s got great crunch and body, but also feels hearty, probably because of the feta. It’s easy to throw together, and keeps well as it’s another one of those salads with no lettuce to get soggy in the dressing. You can use whatever kinds of cucumbers and tomatoes you…
Creamy Broccoli Salad
I love this Creamy Broccoli Salad for a picnic or a day at the beach. It doesn’t have any lettuce to get soggy, and actually gets better with some time soaking in the sweet creamy dressing. It’s got so many layers of flavor and texture, and lots of good for you veggies! Guessipe 1 lb…
Chili Garlic Snap Peas
I always loved it when my mom made snap peas, because the snap peas are barely touched by heat so they stay nice and crunchy. I think lots of people grow up hating veggies because they are frequently over-cooked and under-seasoned. Chinese veggie dishes tend to be only slightly cooked so they maintain their flavor…