Busy in Brooklyn – Modernizing traditional food, one dish at a time.

Hawaij Lentil Soup

On October 14, 2024

You guys!! I couldn’t be more excited about this soup!! I was planning my Yom Kippur break-fast menu, and I always make soup, but I was bored of our minestrone that I make after every fast so I decided to change it up. Lentil soup felt like a good idea, but my traditional recipe is too similar to minestrone. I thought about my favorite soups and what I love about them, and my Yemenite chicken soup immediately came to mind because it’s a family favorite around here. There is literally NOTHING like the smell of hawaij wafting through your kitchen, so…. I made hawaij lentil soup, inspired by Yemenite soup – loaded with carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, cilantro – and my unique addition, fennel! OMG it was DIVINE. You must try it for Chag!

Hawaij Lentil Soup

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium Spanish onion, diced small
1/2 large bulb of fennel, thinly sliced
2 carrots, thinly sliced
10 cloves garlic, sliced
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 1/2 tbsp hawaij for soup
1 large soft tomato, diced
1 1/2 cups red lentils, rinsed and drained
3 Yukon gold potatoes, diced
1 small bunch cilantro
8 cup vegetable stock
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot. Add the onions and saute for 2 minutes. Add the fennel and continue to saute for another 2 minutes. Add the carrots and saute until softened. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant. Add the hawaij and stir to incorporate, then add the tomato paste and saute until darkened, 2 minutes. Add the tomato, lentils, potatoes, cilantro and stock and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper, cover the pot and simmer until the lentils are soft, about 30 minutes.

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Ramen Salad

On October 13, 2024October 13, 2024

by chanie

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I found these new Ramen toppers at the store and was inspired to create a Ramen Salad using some of my favorite components of ramen soup – namely, soft boiled eggs and shitake mushrooms. I love putting a jammy yolk on just about everything, but it works especially well with kale, and I often top my kale Caesar salad with them too!

This is not your typical salad, but the ingredients come together so well, with the crunchy onion garlic ramen and Asian dressing. Serve with a side of crudo and you’ve got yourself a full meal!

Ramen Salad

3 soft boiled eggs
1/2 lb shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sesame oil
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 cups chopped kale
1 cup frozen edamame, thawed and rinsed
1 avocado, diced
1 cup Gefen onion garlic ramen toppers

Dressing:
1/3 c grapeseed oil
2 tsp sesame oil
3 tbsp rice vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1 clove minced garlic
1 tbsp honey
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp salt
Juice of 1/2 lime

Method:

For the soft boiled eggs, bring a small saucepan to a boil, reduce to a simmer and lower the eggs into the water with a spoon (I like to pierce them with an egg piercer first to make peeling easier). Simmer for 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer the eggs to an ice bath.

While the eggs are cooking, trim the shitake mushroom stems and slice them into strips. Saute in the grapeseed + sesame oil until browned and softenened. Season with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl combine the dressing ingredients. Whisk until emulsified.

Thinly slice the kale and add to a large salad bowl. Top with mushrooms, edamame, avocado, ramen and soft boiled eggs. Add the dressing and lightly toss. Enjoy!

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Pulled Beef Focaccia

On October 10, 2024October 13, 2024

by chanie

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We’re coming up on a long holiday with back-to-back meals and I’m about the repurposing! Leftover chicken soup becomes chicken pot pie, leftover meat or poultry gets loaded into a ramen bowl or spread over tacos. I love that it reduces waste and keeps things fun and inventive.

Pulled beef focaccia or flatbread is another favorite way that I love to repurpose pulled beef. Just mix your favorite BBQ sauce into the beef and pile on all the toppings! So pretty and oh. so. good!

Pulled Beef Focaccia

1 ready-to-top focaccia bread, such as Tuscanini
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1.2 lb. leftover pulled beef
1/3-1/2 cup bbq sauce
1 heaping cup arugula
1/3 cup pomegranate seeds

Pomegranate Pickled Onions
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced into half moons
1 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup pomegranate juice
¼ cup honey
1 tbsp kosher salt

In a 1-quart pot, bring vinegar, pomegranate juice, honey, and salt to a boil. Remove from the heat. Add onions to an 8oz glass jar and pour the hot brine over them until they are fully submerged. Cool and refrigerate for up to 1 month.

Garlic Aioli
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, minced
juice of 1/2 lemon
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
kosher salt, to taste

Add all the ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.

Method:

First things first, you’re going to pickle your onions! Get them in the fridge while you prep the other ingredients.

Add the pulled beef to a skillet and stir in the bbq sauce until fully incorporated and heated through.

Prepare the garlic aioli.

When you’re ready to assemble, drizzle some olive oil on the focaccia and bake until crispy. Top with the pulled beef, arugula, pickled onions, pomegranate seeds and garlic aioli.

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Simanim Ceviche

On September 30, 2024October 9, 2024

by chanie

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Believe it or not, I used to be that person who only ordered vegetables rolls at sushi spots, which eventually gave way to tempura rolls, but I was NOT into raw fish. It wasn’t the idea of it, more the texture for me – and I credit ceviche for being my gateway to loving sashimi! The beauty of ceviche is that the fish is “cooked” with acid (usually lime juice), which firms up the fish and changes the texture completely – the longer it sits, the more “cooked” it will be (overnight and it’s flaky!). Now, I can’t get enough of raw fish – pass me the omakase, and it’s all due to this recipe.

While traditional ceviche uses lime juice, I incorporate all the citrus juices for an unbelievable marinade that’s loosely inspired by Peruvian Tigers Milk. In honor of Rosh Hashanah, I incorporate several simanim or symbolic foods including apple, pomegranate, leek and honey. The resulting dish is a textural dream and flavor explosion.

Wishing you a Happy & Sweet New Year!

Simanim Ceviche
YIELD: 6 appetizer portions

1 lb sushi grade salmon, diced small (may sub tuna or any flaky white fish)
⅓ cup leek, white party only, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeds and veins removed, thinly sliced
Handful chopped cilantro
1 small green apple, peeled and diced small
½ cup pomegranate seeds

For marinade:
2” chunk of ginger
1 large clove garlic
Handful cilantro stems
1/4 c lime juice
2 tbsp each lemon, grapefruit and orange juice
1 tsp honey
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste

To prepare the ceviche, place the marinade ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and discard the solids.

In a large bowl, combine the salmon, leek, jalapeno, apple, pomegranate and cilantro. Pour the marinade over the mixture 30 minutes – 1 hour before serving and stir to incorporate.

Serving suggestions: dip the rim of a glass in citrus juice and tajin. Fill with ceviche.

PREPARE AHEAD: Prepare the marinade and store in a container in the fridge. Prep the ceviche ingredients and store in separate containers (you might want to dice the apple fresh so it doesn’t brown). Combine the ceviche ingredients into a large bowl, pour the marinade on 30 minutes – 1 hour before serving.

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Rosh Hashanah Sweet & Sour Braised Cabbage

On September 26, 2024October 9, 2024

by chanie

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I’m a cruciferous girl through and through, so I love cabbage every way. Raw in salads and sandwiches, pickled, roasted, braised – you name it! Oh and soup! Let’s not forget my Bubby’s cabbage soup, one of my favorites! I always have a head of cabbage in the fridge – and I don’t discriminate between red and green!

The humble veg has been getting more attention recently, especially roasted in wedges, but the classic sweet and sour braised cabbage is a recipe I’ve been loving and making for years. It makes a great side dish for meat, poultry and fish and it’s easy and pretty hands-off! And if you use red cabbage, it brings beautiful color to your plate too.

While traditional sweet and sour braised cabbage is usually prepared with vinegar and sugar – I used pomegranate juice, sumac and honey in honor of Rosh Hashanah for the same sweet and sour flavor, honoring the tradition of the holidays.

Sweet & Sour Braised Cabbage

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion, thinly sliced into half moons
1 large honeycrisp apple, diced small
1 small head of red cabbage, shredded
1 1/2 cups Tuscanini pomegranate juice
1 1/2 tsp sumac
pinch of allspice
2 tbsp honey, or to taste
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

In a deep and wide skillet, heat the olive oil. Add onions and saute until translucent. Add the apples and continue to cook until softened. Add the cabbage, stirring until it starts to soften. Add the pomegranate juice, sumac, allspice, honey, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot and braise for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If the pomegranate juice cooks out, add a bit more.

Serve warm alongside the protein of your choice!

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