For 2021 I have challenged myself to cook 10 recipes from a different cookbook every month. This is a fun bonus newsletter to share my experience and share the recipes with you guys to try them too.
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Flavor
Yotam Ottolenghi
Remember when I mentioned giving myself grace when I didn’t reach all ten recipes in a month? Here I am giving myself grace. I have had a busy month but I was able to cook through seven recipes from Flavor.
Za’atar Cacio e Pepe
Sweet Potato in Tomato, Lime, + Cardamom Sauce
Asparagus Salad with Tamarind + Lime
Sticky Rice Balls in Tamarind Rasam Broth
Rainbow Chard with Tomatoes + Green Olives
Chaat Masala Potatoes with Yogurt + Tamarind
Super-Soft Zucchini with Harissa + Lemon
I was familiar is Ottolenghi’s cooking before opening Flavor. I had cooked through his other cookbook Simple a few years back when a client picked it up and asked me to prepare a few recipes. His harissa is a staple in my kitchen and I turn to his recipes online for inspiration often. The recipes in Flavor are all vegetarian and highlights produce with incredible flavor, pairings for the best flavor, and the process in which something is cooked to achieve the best flavor.
Ottolenghi’s recipes are simple but call for a lot of spices and herbs in a way the reminded me of the recipes in India: The Cookbook. This can be intimidating or offputting for home cooks but I encourage you to give this book a try. The flavors were layered beautifully and every bite was satisfying. The recipes in the acidity section were acidic and the heat section were H O T. If you like bland food…this isn’t the book for you.
Do you have a favorite Ottolenghi recipe? Or love one of his cookbooks? Leave a comment and tell me which one below!
Marco Favorite:
Sticky Rice Balls in Tamarind Rasam Broth
Marcella Favorite:
Chaat Masala Potatoes with Yogurt + Tamarind
I’m switching things up for the month of May and cooking through Pickled. So I will technically be pickling ten things in May. Marco bought this book in college but hasn’t made anything from it. It should be a fun adventure!
Talk soon, M.
I too love Ottolenghi. I have Simple, Flavor and Nopi. Nopi's recipes are some of my favorite, but unrealistic for most home cooks. A sauce could have 2 - 3 pages it feels like. Thus what I like about it is the techniques he uses. He has explained over and over he is not vegetarian, but somehow his food is vegetable heavy. He has mastered how to make the most of those vegetables. In Nopi there is an eggplant recipe that is to die for... In Flavor I like the butternut squash gallete minus the orange. Definitely reduce the orange that the recipe says and its the perfect fall meal... Also if you are following Ixta - they now have a Ottolenghi test kitchen!! Sounds heaven to me!