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somethin’ on the side

couscous tabbouleh

August 5, 2013
somethin' on the side, the underwear diet
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6 servings of cooked couscous
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 small hothouse cucumber, deseeded and chopped
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1 small bunch parsley, roughly chopped
1 small bunch dill, roughly chopped
1 small bunch mint, roughly chopped (I didn’t have any on hand but think it would complete the dish)
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
kosher salt and pepper

1. Cook 6 servings of couscous (I used whole wheat) according to the package’s directions.
2. Combine the couscous with the rest of the ingredients.
3. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

This paired wonderfully with baked salmon topped with cucumber yogurt sauce:

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red pepper sauce

July 30, 2013
condiments, somethin' on the side
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1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
3 medium to large red bell peppers, medium rough dice
1 medium onion, medium rough dice
kosher salt and black pepper
2 large cloves garlic, minced

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
2. Once oil is hot, add the bell peppers and onion. Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently enough to avoid browning.
3. Add the garlic to the pan and cook for another minute.
4. Cover the vegetables with water. Bring to a boil and then simmer until 2/3 of the water evaporates.
5. With an immersion blender, puree until smooth.
6. Adjust seasoning and serve with roasted eggplant rollatini.

The sauce packs a surprising amount of flavor for such few ingredients. For this reason, as well as the smooth, luscious texture, it would serve as an excellent red pepper soup. Serve hot or chilled, and garnish with fresh herbs and heavy cream, or extra-virgin olive oil.

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asparagus with quick tomato chive jam

June 20, 2013
somethin' on the side, the main event, the underwear diet
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1 bunch thin asparagus, ends trimmed
1 tsp olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper
1 batch quick tomato chive jam
4 hardboiled eggs, quartered
Feta cheese, optional, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Toss asparagus with 1 tsp olive oil, salt and black pepper and arrange on a baking sheet.
3. Roast for about 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
4. Remove asparagus from the oven; plate and top with the tomato chive jam.
5. Scatter eggs and feta, optional, over the asparagus and tomatoes.

Serves 2 as a main dish, or 4-6 as a side or appetizer. Can be enjoyed hot or at room temperature.

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Or, with feta:

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red quinoa and grilled romaine salad

April 24, 2013
somethin' on the side, the main event, the underwear diet
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4 1/2 cups cooked red quinoa (1 1/2 cups uncooked; can use a blend of red and white quinoa)
Kosher salt and black pepper
3 hearts of romaine
2 tsp olive oil
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups corn kernels
1 shallot, thinly sliced
Juice of 2 limes

1. Preheat a grill pan over high heat.
2. Cut the romaine hearts in half lengthwise, keeping the end intact to hold the leaves together. Brush with 1 tsp of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Place the romaine on the grill and cook until nice grill marks are achieved. Remove and cool.
4. Roughly chop the romaine and add to the cooked quinoa.
5. Add the remaining ingredients and the remaining 1 tsp of olive oil and stir to combine (do not over stir because it will make the quinoa gummy).

Future considerations: cumin, fresh herb?

lemony couscous with peas and arugula

April 18, 2013
somethin' on the side, the underwear diet
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Couscous, prepared using package’s directions for 6 servings
4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 10-oz bag baby arugula
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 1/2 cups sweet green peas (if fresh: blanch ahead of time; if frozen: thaw)

1. Make the couscous (yeah, yeah, I know–these are very lazy instructions. Womp womp). Add 1 tbsp of the oil, salt and black pepper to the cooking liquid (I used water) before adding the couscous.
2. While the couscous is cooking, heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for about 30-60 seconds.
3. Add the arugula to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Stir until just barely wilted and remove from the heat.
4. Once the couscous is finished, fluff with a fork and add the remaining olive oil, lemon zest and juice and peas.