Monthly Archives: June 2011
Warm Soba Noodle Salad with Grilled Shrimp
| June 27, 2011 | Filled under Asian, Fish and Seafood, One Pan, Quick Weeknight Meals, Summer |
Because I plan my meals for the week ahead of time and buy groceries as I need them, the available ingredients in my kitchen can vary greatly from week to week. Of course, there are certain items that I always have on hand — either because they’re staples that come together into a quick meal when I haven’t planned ahead or because they’re things that I use all the time. Pasta, lemons, goat cheese. Canned tomatoes. Black beans. Gin.
Lately, an increasing number of Asian ingredients have secured a dedicated spot in my cabinet. Especially seasoned rice wine vinegar and sesame oil. Both of these are easy to find in most grocery stores and add a ton of flavor to all sorts of foods. They make it super easy to prepare quick Asian-inspired dishes like Edamame Salad and these Soba Noodles with Grilled Shrimp.
These noodles are my idea of the perfect summertime meal. They’re fast and easy to make and require minimal effort. They also make great leftovers and don’t even need to be heated up – I think I actually liked them even more the next day, after the flavors had a chance to meld. Unlike other similar dishes that have a tendency to be flat, the combination of rice wine vinegar and lime juice gives these noodles have a nice acidity and a bright flavor that plays really well off the earthy buckwheat noodles and nutty sesame oil. Watery vegetables keep the whole dish light and fresh. Topped with a few grilled shrimp (another ingredient that I’m always sure to keep in my freezer), this salad makes a great light meal for a hot summer night.
Mussels with Saffron Tomato Sauce
| June 21, 2011 | Filled under Fish and Seafood, Italian, Quick Weeknight Meals |
I like to use San Marzano tomatoes, which are naturally lower in acidity and have a sweeter flavor than other canned tomatoes, in this sauce. Some brands can be expensive, but there are a few brands that aren’t bad at all. I like Bella Terra Organic San Marzano Tomatoes, which are about $3 per can. Since the rest of the ingredients in this sauce are cheap (I stock up on cheap saffron at Trader Joe’s whenever I’m visiting a place where there is one), I still make out better than buying a jar of “good” sauce. If you can’t find San Marzanos or want a cheaper option any can of whole peeled plum tomatoes will do.
Milk and butter add a layer of richness and help give the sauce its amazing texture. Full fat or skim milk will work, but you can also use almond milk or even coconut milk if that’s what you have around. I actually used Silk Simply Coconut in the sauce shown here and was very happy with the way it turned out (I had a coupon for a free half gallon of the milk, which is delicious!)
Mussels with Saffron Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 10 minutes, Total time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
- 1 large (28 oz) can Whole, Peeled Tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
- 1/2 bulb Fennel, chopped (1/2 cup)
- 1 small Onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp Saffron, lightly crushed
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1/2 cup Water, reserved from cooking pasta
- 1 tsp Butter
- 2 pounds Mussels scrubbed
- 8 ounces dry Pasta
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil.
While waiting for the water to boil: Add the tomatoes, along with the puree or juice they’re packaged with, into the bowl of a food processor or blender. Process several seconds, until smooth.
Heat the oil in a medium (3 Quart) saucepan. Add the garlic, fennel, and onions and cook 5 minutes or until softened. Add the pureed tomatoes, saffron, and vanilla. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer at least 15 minutes.
Once the water comes to a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package. Steam the mussels in a separate pot. When the pasta has finished, stir 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid and 1/4 cup of milk into your sauce. Drain the pasta.
Add the butter and stir until it melts into the sauce. Serve sauce over pasta and mussels.
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I’m submitting this post to Presto Pasta Nights, hosted this week by Simona of Briciole and to Wanderfood Wednesday.
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