As you know I've designated July okra month. This is my favorite way to enjoy okra outside of a good pot of gumbo. It's quick, flavorful, and only requires a few ingredients. You'll want to keep the harissa sauce on hand and use it for other dishes as well.
Special Diets
Cool, crisp, and straight-up refreshing — this Japanese sunomono salad is your go-to side for summer dinners, sushi nights, or when the grill’s running hot and you need a little chill on the plate. Your flavor DJ here, spinning something cool for your plate and your palate — this ain’t your average cucumber salad, baby. …
Cazuela de moriscos is a Colombian Seafood Stew common in the city of Cartagena which has a strong Caribbean vibe to it. My wife and I visited multiple cities (Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena) in Colombia earlier this year. I was impressed by the appreciation for culture andh heritage as evidenced by its visual and performing street artists. Food-wise we had so many great experiences from street food to restaurants. This seafood stew recipe was inspired by a dish at had there and I plan to make others that I experienced during my visit. Stay tuned! This one tastes like I spent all day cooking it, but in reality, it was just 30 minutes.
Fun vibes with this Okra Fried Rice. It's a fusion of cultures that results in high flavor. The best part is it comes together easily for a quick weeknight dish. But it's also fancy enough to serve to guests at a weekend celebration.
A salad you can eat with your hands in the form of a watermelon wedge salad. Fresh, ripe watermelon is cut into wedges and topped with chimichurri style sauce featuring fresh mustard greens, cilantro, and lime juice.
Bold, Sticky & Fall-Off-the-Bone: Smoked Jerk Oxtail with Deep Heat and Tender Soul Now we talkin’ smoked oxtail, baby and this one’s got that low-and-slow groove that hits like a funky bassline. Jerk seasoning is added for next level flavor. Smoked oxtails take a classic soul food cut and give it the slow-burn magic of …
Flank steak salads are fun for me. They are simple yet extremely tasty and satisfying. The fun comes from what you add to the salad. I had lemongrass pickled celery I was dying to find a pairing for. Also had some leftover cherry tomatoes I had smoked on the grill. Both made the salad memorable. I highly recommend both the toppings if you have time for them. They're great for the salad but just as great on their own or in other dishes.
A smoked cherry tomatoes salad may sound a bit unorthodox, but take a leap of faith and trust me on this one. The tomatoes work well as a stand-alone salad, vegetable poppers, or as an ingredient in another recipe.
One of my new favorite condiments/snacks. I avoided celery like the plague until I discovered that lemongrass and coconut water make for great pickling flavor. Stay tuned for recipes featuring them, but just know they taste great on their own.
It's almost okra season, but I couldn't wait. This is my version of "fried okra aka "Southern Popcorn." I switch it up to longer okra halves so they're more like fries. And for a super crispy texture, I subbed rice flour for wheat flour. It's not only crunchier but has a light, clean finish about it. Don't worry there is absolutely no slime!
The last of the recipes featuring harissa sauce, I think. I'm tempted to make another batch and create more recipes to pair it with. Keeping the simple + elegant vibe these glazed harissa carrots will put a smile on your face. No fuss, but high flavor.
My first grilling recipe of the spring is this Cedar Plank Salmon. However, the black tea (Lapsang) rub is a special one and elevates a really simple dish. It's a 20-minute recipe that tastes like hours of work.
A quick no-cook side dish salad with fennel as the star of the story and collard greens and ripe pears in the background. I eat a big plate of these for lunch or just add a simple protein for a full meal. Enjoy
Charred Asparagus may just be the perfect side. Less than 5 ingredients, Less than 10 minutes total cook time including prep, and backed by an ever so versatile and killer harissa sauce. Don't worry the sauce is not too spicy, as the honey and lemon juice tames the heat from the chili paste.
These grilled prawns are as quick and gourmet you can get in about 5 minutes. We serve them as weeknight appetizers, but they're snazzy and unique enough to pull-off at a fancy party. Make the sauce ahead of time and be sure to make enough to use for a few other recipes.
Quick Tapas Dish Fast! Shishito or Padron peppers are my go-to eat while cooking dish or tide me over appetizer or fancy party finger food.
Try this West African inspired peanut sauce. It's simple, versatile, and delicious. You'd be surprised at all the different foods you can pair it with; from shrimp and chicken to vegetables like cauliflower, mushrooms, and cabbage.
Nothing like a quick and easy side dish with incredible complex flavor. This blanched spinach salad is simple, unique, and everyday! Put it on your weeknight menu in less than 10 minutes.
I'm having way too much fun with my new InstaPot. I'm still learning, but have been to churn out some good recipes, mostly traditional classics that I've converted for pressure cooking. This Southern classic black-eyed peas recipe is made vegan, so I had to do a little extra to replicate the smoke from what would have been smoked meat. I think I figured it out. I went deep into the classic rock vault for some inspiration. Enjoy.
A few years ago my family got invited to the premiere of the movie "The Hundred-Foot Journey," which is a movie produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey about an Indian family seeking asylum in France. The son becomes a famous chef introducing the French to Indian spices and cooking techniques. I remember thinking at the time how similar Indian cooking was to "soul food" in terms of the use of spices and seasonings to take humble ingredients to extraordinary. I was reminded again during our Thanksgiving trip to Dubai when we ate a Masala based fried cabbage dish which was very similar to the southern fried cabbage I grew up. I bought a lot of spices from the local Souk including the garam masala I used in this dish. This dish tastes as great as it smells so be prepared.
Set the mood for a slow Sunday supper with these sous vide 72-hour braised beef short ribs — rich, smoky, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Perfect for when you want to impress without stress. These short ribs are the kind of dish that whispers luxury and roars comfort. We’re talkin’ short ribs that’ve been cold smoked, slow-danced …
I've probably had plank smoked fish 121 times and in all the years of perfecting my plank game, I never strayed from fish until recently. I guess you can say I was ready for a change. In the process I learned that what works for salmon and trout, also works for portobello mushrooms. Even better you can stuff them with things like couscous and simple, flavorful vegetables for easy, filling meatless Monday night. Or if you aren't ready for that much change, have your meat protein and make the stuffed portobellos as a side accompaniment.
Celery Root is definitely not the prettiest vegetable at the market, but what it lacks in good looks it more than compensates with inner beauty, dynamite taste and ease of prep/cooking. If you're not familiar with celery root or celeriac as it's known, it's beyond worthy of your consideration. This celery root steak recipe is a great introduction. We enjoy it in our house as one of our many meatless nights. It also presents well enough to be on your holiday menu. Don't worry it's tastes nothing like celery, is easier to handle than it looks, and is low calorie and low carb.
Light, vibrant, and full of groove — these sautéed zoodles are your go-to weeknight or brunch side when you want flavor that dances but won’t weigh you down. We're coming at ya with a green groove for the soul — sautéed zoodles that hit light but land heavy in the flavor department. These spiralized zucchini …
I've been listening to Anderson Paak's latest album, "Oxnard" which by design has something for any mood, vibe, tone, etc. you prefer. It's a wonderful album, my favorite of 2018, and each time I listen it moves up my list of best things I've heard. Cauliflower is having it's day and has been a long time favorite for me, but It's always bothered me that most recipes didn't put cauliflower front and center. Instead it's typically the vessel to feature sauces and other meal enhancers. Most don't think to roast an entire head of cauliflower, but I've been putting in work to perfect cooking such a wonderful vegetable. Enjoy this cooking tutorial along with the accompanying recipes. Find one that fits you or be inspired to create you own "Yes Lawd!"
Sundays mean meal prep for me, which pretty much always means making 2-3 sauces for the week. As I tend to keep things on the simple end during my always busy week, having reliable, delicious and versatile sauce on hand allow me to elevate any basic dish whether its pasta, grilled chicken, or roasted potatoes. This collard green salsa verde qualifies as one of those do it all type sauces. It definitely skews on the healthier side, but in no way skimps on flavor. Besides the taste and versatility I find it's an easy way to get the nutritional benefits provided by collard greens on a daily basis without the labor of cooking up a big ole pot of collards. JUST keep things simple with the recipe and you'll love it as a condiment/meal enhancer.
For a nice change-up to sweet potato Thanksgiving recipes try this simple, low prep hasselback sweet potatoes dish. This doesn't have to be a special occasion dish, as it easily works for a weeknight side. I've been experimenting more with ghee (claried butter) lately in some of my dishes. Ghee is a great cooking oil that I jokingly refer to as super butter since its both lactose and casein free, has a high smoke point (aka you can cook it at high heat levels without it browning/burning), and is rich and complex in flavor. Celebrate the life of the great Roy Hargrove with me by cooking to my favorite track "Strasbourg/St. Denis" which is my favorite song by his quintet.
Smoky-sweet, velvet smooth, and dripping with soul—this roasted red pepper sauce is the kind of flavor that lingers like a good groove. Whether slathered over pasta, drizzled on grilled meats, or used as a dip, this sauce promises to be a game-changer in your kitchen, infusing every bite with a delectable fusion of savory warmth. …
Had the chance to team up with Parmigiano Reggiano brand cheese for this cheesy whole roasted cauliflower recipe. I like this dish personally because, besides being easy to make, it's versatile as both a side dish and meatless main entree. With the focus being on real Italian cheese, I thought it appropriate to call on Aretha Franklin's version of "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing." Enjoy
A big green salad just in time for Thanksgiving side dish plans. It's a unique salad featuring an unlikely mix of ingredients that work magic together. Collard greens, baby lima beans, smashed cucumbers, and lemongrass-coconut pickled celery make for soul food meets Asian cuisine mash-up. Requires little cooking to free you up to focus on other things. The recipe is powered by a soulful hip hop track "Greeny Green" from Atlanta's finest Goodie Mob featuring Ceelo Green.
A bold and tangy chow chow relish made with collard greens, green cabbage, and chopped vegetables—the ultimate Southern condiment. Listen up flavor peeps—this here chow chow relish recipe is straight fire for your taste buds. We talkin’ collard greens bringin’ that earthy backbone, chopped vegetables keepin’ it crisp, and apple cider vinegar cuttin’ through with …
Turn your dinner table into a soulful feast with this whole roasted black bass—crispy skin, tender flesh, and a bright salsa that sings.This sea bass recipe is simple yet stunning: a perfectly seasoned fish roasted until the skin crisps up and the flesh stays tender and juicy. High-heat oven roasting locks in moisture and delivers …
Bright, bold, and full of feel-good flavor — this Vegan Pozole Verde is a bowl built for lazy Sunday suppers or cozy weeknight dinners, where comfort and spice come together like old friends around the table. Well now, flavor fans, pull up a chair and let your taste buds tune in — we’re talkin’ about …
A vibrant, and refreshing main dish option that can be added to your 30 minute meals arsenal. Quinoa is easy to cook and requires little effort to impart flavor. Given this, it's a staple in our house as a busy weeknight go-to. Plus it offers so many other beneficial qualities that I recommend you get …
This comforting skillet cabbage recipe is a great weeknight meal. It's delicious and perfect for all types of customization. I know how much you guys love quick and easy meals, so today I am sharing my grandma's quick and easy beef cabbage stir. Add this to your collection of 30-minute meals. There are only a …
Mexican Seafood Stew Recipe Mexican Seafood Stew: Spicy, Brothy Comfort with Fresh seafood mixture and Smoky Guajillo Depth Alright now, lean in close, flavor lovers, ‘cause we're bringin’ you a coastal groove that simmers with soul — Mexican seafood stew, aka caldo de marisco, baby! This ain’t no rush job; we talkin’ kinda slow-simmered layers …
Raw Beet Salad A delicious and easy salad that takes little time to make and is the perfect side dish for the holidays or quick weeknight dinner. This raw beet salad looks and tastes fancy but is SUPER EASY to make. It comes together in minutes since no cooking is required. It's just beets, radishes, …
Smoky, spicy, and full of island flair—your new favorite vegan centerpiece This roasted whole cauliflower takes the humble head of cauliflower and turns it into a showstopper with bold jerk seasoning and slow, even roasting. The marinade penetrates every floret, delivering heat, citrus, and aromatic depth that makes it perfect for a vegan main or …
Fluffy Coconut Ginger Rice with a Creamy Kick and Fiery Fresh Zing Yo!, food lovers and flavor chasers, this one right here is a groove—coconut ginger rice that hits like a warm bassline wrapped in sunshine. We're talkin’ jasmine rice simmered slow and silky in coconut milk, with fresh ginger sliding through like a smooth …
Simple in execution, complex in flavor, this is an easy weeknight skillet corn is a side full of flavor and versatile enough to work with whatever ingredients you have on hand. This is a great summer cookout dish. It's super easy to make and can be eaten cold or at room temperature so it travels …