Tomato Risotto Recipe

This version of tomato risotto has a decidedly Indian sensibility. I flavored the rice with tomato chutney as I recently did with an Indian-inspired asparagus pie. The flavors from the chutney are so bold that no other spices and very little salt are needed. I just added chopped sun-dried tomatoes as garnish.

Making risotto takes a little bit of practice to begin with, but once you've worked on your fundamentals, you can start to use the basic recipe and create dozens of different variations. I've stuffed artichokes with risotto, paired pistachio pesto with celery risotto, stuffed it in zucchini flowers, made a roasted beet and ricotta cheese version, and also a rather unconventional risotto with bamboo; the list of adaptations is truly endless.

Gnocchi in Bolognese Sauce

Bolognese gnocchi is comfort food at its best. And with the chilly temperature we've been having this week in the Bay Area, a warm bowl of potato gnocchi pasta in Bolognese sauce fits the bill.

It took some time to complete the meal but it was so worth it. I made everything from scratch. I started by simmering Bolognese sauce for over an hour. While the beef and tomatoes were cooking down in the sauce, I mashed potatoes and added flour to form the gnocchi. I also added roasted turnip to give texture to the dish.

I didn't add cheese to the dish because I've been trying to be healthy and hit the gym regularly, but I'm sure a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese wouldn't hurt the flavor. It’s up to you!

Baked Stuffed Tomatoes

Rice-stuffed tomatoes are quite easy to make. I made this version with a sun-dried tomato risotto, which I then stuffed inside Brandywine tomatoes. The tomatoes were paired with a vegetable sauce made from the insides of the tomatoes, lemon juice, and a few additional vegetable such as carrots, corn, peas and onions. The sauce was placed at the bottom of the baking pan to help keep the tomatoes from burning.

I topped the tomatoes with a Parmesan shortbread crust and baked them for a few minutes before serving. The result is a fairly light meal with a nice contrast of texture from the crusty top and the creaminess of the rice filling.

How to Cook Tender Beef Short Ribs

Since I got married, I have to admit I eat a lot less meat than I used to because Lulu's a vegetarian. But that doesn't mean I don't still enjoy a large portion of meat once in a while.

If you’ve come to the site before, you've probably seen that in previous recipes I often use acid-based marinades to tenderize and flavor meat. Today, I cooked Korean-cut beef short ribs (called galbi), and I again made an acidic marinade. The marinade consists of buttermilk, a little dark soy sauce, horseradish mustard, honey, cooking wine and olive oil. The preparation is very fast and easy. Just marinate the ribs overnight in a glass baking dish. Once you're ready to eat, simply pan-sear the meat for about 10 minutes total on both sides. You'll have a feast with very little time spent in the kitchen!

French Savory Cake Recipe (Smoked Salmon Cake)

Savory cakes ("le cake salé" in French) are the perfect dish if you want to serve a light, enjoyable lunch. Cake salé, as the name implies, is just a savory adaptation of a sweet cake. Sugar, chocolate and fruits are replaced with cold meats/ or fish (I used smoked salmon), olives and strong cheeses. For a nice contrast in texture, I added walnuts. Instead of baking the cake in a standard loaf pan, I used individual mini molds. So cute!

This cake is also ideal for picnics and potlucks, as it meets all the requirements for safe transport. No need to re-heat! I recently served cake salé with a candied walnut salad and finished the meal with a fruit medley. It was a flavorful meal that no one felt guilty about afterwards!