Appetizer | DanaSlatkin.com

Summer Vegetable Ceviche

07/25/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

There’s nothing like a summer breakup to make you feel all young again. Last week, a friend and I parted ways, and though I saw it coming for months, I wasn’t prepared for the teenager-like symptoms that hit me soon after: the moping, the zits, the loss of appetite. For the past few days, I just haven’t been myself. So I got busy cooking. Luckily, I had a brand new cookbook on my counter, Nobu’s Vegetarian Cookbook. It was the perfect distraction, and I sat down and perused it cover to cover. It’s a spectacular book, crammed with the celebrated chef Matsuhisa’s imaginative vegetable musings and glorious photos. Just as I was starting to get hungry again, I came across a recipe for vegetable ceviche. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes

Zucchini Lemon Mint Hummus

06/29/2012 By Dana Slatkin 3 Comments

I’m going to tell you a little story about a hike I took recently. It’s a hike I have taken every summer for the past fifteen years, and it has nothing to do with hummus. But it has everything to do with this recipe. Aspen Mountain is certainly not the highest peak in Colorado, but it’s the one I stare at from the window of our summer rental. Climbing to its 11,200 foot peak is a daily ritual for many locals. For me, it is a grueling challenge. But time and again, I am strangely drawn to its trails, even though they are punishingly steep. Early one morning this week, I set out on one such hike, dreading the process but eager for the breathtaking view at the top. I plodded up the jagged trail buttressed by Aspen trees … [Read more...]

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Spring Carrot Sunflower Pate

03/13/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

No one rejoices more than I do when we sacrifice that extra hour of the day to make way for Spring. Because it means tulips and warm weather are just around the corner. And even though the vernal equinox is still a week away, I’ve got matzah balls and Easter bunnies on my mind. Two of the year’s cheeriest, most hope-filled holidays are coming up, and what better way to celebrate than with a colorful feast? This sunny vegan carrot spread helps set the mood. Even the name makes me smile! This recipe sprung from the mushroom paté I posted last March. This time, I substituted fresh dill for thyme and sunflower seeds for walnuts to play up the sweet, fresh notes of the carrots. But feel free to try your favorite herbs and … [Read more...]

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Parsnip Hummus with Moroccan Roasted Mushrooms

03/08/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Veggies have always had a voice in our national diet, but they were often relegated to the back of the choir. Now they are finally getting to sing the solos. After decades of meat worshipping and protein seeking, we have become obsessed with the incredible, edible vegetable. My vegetable romance began when I was 12, the year I decided I was done eating anything with a face or a mother. And even though my own mom was quite perturbed that I wouldn’t touch her brisket or Bolognese, I never looked back. I wanted to learn about, grow, cook and devour every kind of vegetable there was. In fact, once I realized it was impossible to find the limits of the vegetal universe, it began expanding even faster (kind of like our own universe). … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Side Dish Recipes

Momed’s Avocado Hummus

05/25/2011 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

About a year ago, without the usual Beverly Hills fanfare, a new restaurant snuck into the old Rosti space on South Beverly Drive. With sleek, contemporary cafeteria décor and a mouth-watering display case, Momed (short for Modern Mediterranean) offered something locals hadn’t tasted before — enlightened versions of flavorful dishes from Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. Owner Alex Sarkissian has 90210 appetites pegged. Using organic produce and sustainably-raised meats, his menu features clever twists on traditional Middle Eastern fare, such as grilled skewers of ahi tuna served with a pesto made from grape leaves and capers, and an addictive red pepper-walnut spread called muhammara, … [Read more...]

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Savory Mushroom Pate

04/19/2011 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Holidays tend to bring out the best and worst of me. Though I love keeping tradition, bringing together family and friends, and hosting a festive meal, there’s my dark side: the little demon that sits on my shoulder for up to a week before, demanding perfection, questioning every dish on my menu, mocking my efforts as I obsess over the particulars of the meal. As I was sautéing earthy mushrooms for this rich vegan hors d’oeuvre, which I always serve during Passover with matzah and cucumber slices, I started reflecting. We all have shadows from our past. They follow us everywhere, demanding acknowledgment. But as the story of Passover reminds us, we are free to walk with our history, no matter how shady or tormenting. … [Read more...]

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Baked Potatoes Stuffed with Ratatouille and Mozzarella

03/10/2011 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

When I was working at Michel Guerard’s restaurant in France, there was one expression that was music to my ears. Every day at about 5 pm, one of the cooks would yell, “Bouffe!” to announce the staff “nosh.” We would all gather at a long farm table — cooks, dishwashers, servers and sommeliers — to enjoy a hearty meal before facing the orchestrated chaos of the dinner service. This dish was one of my favorites, because it got me through the evening while leaving me feeling light in my clogs. It was usually accompanied by a large platter of braised meat or a whole roasted fish. But to me, a giant roasted spud overflowing with stewed vegetables and bubbling cheese is completely satisfying on its … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Side Dish Recipes

Warm Brie-Stuffed Dates

12/28/2010 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Who’s your date for New Year’s Eve? Mine’s warm, sweet, luscious, and rich. Completely irresistible, in fact. But I’m happy to share, and there will be plenty to go around. Trust me, one bite hot out of the oven and you’ll be swooning like me. I’m talking about a caramelized organic Medjool date, filled with creamy oozy Brie that will have you licking your fingers for every last drop. It’s without question my favorite match of the year. Pop the dates in the oven just before company arrives for the easiest hors d’oeuvre ever. Or serve them as an unexpected dessert. Whether you’re kicking off the New Year solo or in good company, this is one date you really don’t want to miss. Happy, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes