Cha Ca Thang Long Recipe: Vietnamese Dill Fish with Turmeric

Chả cá thăng long is a pan-fried dill fish dish. Try saying that three times in a row! The yellow hue comes from aromatic turmeric powder. Unlike Indian and Middle-Eastern cooking, dill -called thì là in Vietnamese- is not a very common ingredient in Southern Vietnamese cooking save for a few seafood dishes. Dill has a unique fresh flavor; it's sautéed in the same pan where the fish was pan-fried, then mixed back with the turmeric fish. The moisture from the herbs keeps the fish from drying out.

My family is originally from Cầnthõ and Sàigòn (Southern Vietnam) but my mother took me to Hànội (Norththern Vietnam) when I was seventeen. This dill fish recipe originates from that region. That's why it's also known as chả cá Hànội. You also might find it as chả cá lã vọng on some Vietnamese restaurant menus. If you're looking for a healthy dish, a meal composed of fish and cold rice vermicelli noodles (called bún in Vietnamese), might be the perfect fix.

Cold Carrot Ginger Soup (Cappuccino De Carottes)

Cold soup in shot glasses can be served as a wonderfully refreshing summer appetizer or first course. Ginger is always very refreshing, so I use it often in summer dishes. Today, I made a cold carrot soup flavored with fresh ginger. I think the bright orange color is very representative of the season, especially enhanced by a touch a saffron.  

The carrots are cooked until softened, blended with a little cream until smooth, then chilled. I served the cold soup in individual glasses, which is an elegant start to any meal. To finish the dish, I garnished the soup with cumin-flavored whipped cream and a piece of candied ginger as a reminder of the flavoring inside.

Tabouleh Recipe

Tabouleh is one of the easiest salads you could prepare. All you need to do is to cook semolina until soft and fluffy and season it with a mixture of lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil. I also added pickled grape vine leaves for a briny flavor to the salad and feta cheese for more creaminess.

This can be made in advance and is great to bring to a pot luck.

Picnic Menu Ideas

It's getting very hot in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's the perfect weather to enjoy as many outdor meals as possible. I love barbecues, but I find that picnics require less prep and are far more relaxing since all of the food is ready to serve.

Goat Milk Ice Cream with Molasses Syrup Swirl

You've probably noticed, I'm addicted to anything and everything goat. Whether it's goat ricotta cheese, goat cheese Gouda or simple chèvre, I cannot get enough of goat’s milk unique flavor profile. I often use goat dairy products in savory dishes, but I thought it would be fun to experiment with goat milk in desserts. After some thought, it occurred to me that there is no better showcase for goat milk than making ice cream.

I made a simple custard using goat milk and chilled it overnight. I churned the ice cream and finished it with swirls of molasses and raisin syrup. The result was silky, delicious and not too rich. I've heard that goat milk is more easily digestible than regular cow's milk, which is good for the lactose-intolerant members of my family. The only downside: there wasn't enough to feed everyone!