Broccolini & Mushrooms with Fried Shallots

Two words for you: fried shallots.

They are crispy, salty, savory, and akin to those French’s Crispy Onions, but they’re just fried shallots with a little bit of salt. They can be used just about about any way you’d normally use French’s, but are also used in many Vietnamese recipes (like as a topping on Pho… YUM!). And they can be made ahead — one of two days before you’re going to use them. They add a crispy crunch to whatever you serve with them!

In this case, broccolini and mushrooms get the special treatment. After being sautéd, They’re topped with a generous amount of crispy shallots. It’s a fun way to make something so simple (sautéd broccolini) feel special — special enough to be a side dish at a holiday meal, or topped with a poached egg for breakfast 😍 …runny yolk and fried shallot is a particularly great combo.

With Winter Solstice tomorrow, it felt good to eat something earthy and fresh between all of the holiday cookies. 🌎 Happy Solstice! 

So how do you make those little golden rings? It’s not too difficult, and once you’ve done it once you’ll be pro. Here are a few tips:

• Slice two shallots extra thin.

• Use an oil with a high smoke point. I used avocado oil, which has a fairly high smoke point — 520°F, far below what we’ll need here. Avoid olive oil.

• Use an instant read thermometer to monitor the temperature of your oil. In this case, using a thermometer makes it way easier to get timing right!

• You can drain fried shallots on a plate stacked with paper towels, but we don’t keep paper towels in the house. Instead, I place a fine mesh sieve over a heat-proof bowl or pot. Works great, less waste!

• Salt immediately. With all fried food, salting right after frying helps the salt stick to the food, so salt those shallots up! A few sprinkles will do. Toss them gently to coat.

Making fried shallots ahead of time: This can be very helpful, especially if you plan to already be at the stove earlier in the week. Plan ahead, and you’ll be glad. Store fried, cooled shallots in an air-tight container in the fridge (let them cool completely, so that no steam is trapped in the container — that will make for soggy shallots). You can store them in the fridge for two days, though the shallots are really best used right after they are fried or the next day. If they feel a little soft when you go to use them, you can toast them in a  oven or toaster oven for 10 minutes at 350°F, and then leave them to cool again (they will at first feel even softer when heated, and then will crisp up again as they cool).

Broccolini & Mushrooms with Fried Shallots

Published December 20, 2018 by Caitlin Sherwood

Yield: 4   |    Active Time: 40 minutes

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Ingredients:

2 shallots, sliced thin

1-inch high-heat oil for frying (such as avocado), plus one tablespoon for sautéing broccolini

1 bunch broccolini

1 cup sliced baby portobello mushrooms

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Place a fine mesh sieve over a heat-proof bowl or pot. Set aside for later use.
2. Heat oil in a skillet. Use an instant read thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil. When the oil reach 275°F, carefully add shallots to the oil. Shallots will slowly turn from pink-white to yellow-brown. Stir occasionally. When the oil temperature reaches 375°F, wait 5 more seconds. Then, use a slotted spoon to transfer shallots from oil to prepared sieve. Sprinkle salt over shallots and toss to coat (1/16 to 1/8 teaspoon). Allow shallots to continue to cool in sieve.
3. Sauté mushrooms & broccolini: heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once oil glistens, add sliced mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes, and stir. Add broccolini, and place lid on pan. After about 5 minutes, stir again, and then return lid to pan, cooking until broccolini is bright green and tender through.
4. Transfer cooked broccolini and mushrooms to a serving dish, and top with fried shallots. Season to taste with salt & black pepper.
5. Serving suggestion: Serve this as a dinner side, and top with freshly grated Parmesan Reggiano, or for breakfast, topped with a poached egg.

Instant Pot French Lentil Soup

The dictionary definition of “Cozy” might as well include French Lentil Soup. It fits right in there between "giving a feeling a comfort” and “keeping warm.”

In addition to French lentils, bay leaves, white wine, and fresh thyme go into the pot. What comes out is this steaming hot, broth-y stew that boasts every flavor a “French” soup should. It’s amazing what a splash of wine can do! Lentils are not the first thing I think of when I imagine French food (maybe brie, or baguettes, or wine) but lentils are a huge part of French culture. Even though lentils originated in the Middle East, Le Puy Lentils (French Lentils) are specific to France and have the same Protected Designation of Origin as Champagne — to be called lentilles du Puy, they must be grown in Puy.

Instant Pot French Lentil Soup

Published December 6, 2018 by Caitlin Sherwood

Serves: 8   |    Active Time: 20 minutes

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Ingredients:

2 cups french lentils, rinsed (also called Le Puy or French Green Lentils)

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 large onion, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

Splash white wine (about 1/4 cup)

2 large carrots, diced

1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes

2 bay leaves

6-1/2 cups vegetable broth

1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper 

Leaves from 3 sprigs of thyme

1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt (more if using homemade broth, less if using store-bought broth with sodium), plus more to taste

Garnish: minced parsley

Directions:

1. Heat coconut oil in the bottom of an Instant Pot on the sauté setting. Add onion, garlic, and celery, and sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, until onions are translucent and starting to brown. Add the splash of wine and stir. Continue to cook on sauté setting until wine has cooked off.
2. Add carrots, canned tomatoes, lentils, bay leaves, vegetable broth, black pepper, salt and thyme, and stir.
3. Place lid on Instant Pot and turn to “Bean/Chili” setting with timer set to 14 minutes and vent in the sealed position.
4. When timer goes off, release the pressure. Stir soup and season with salt additional to taste. Serve topped with minced parsley.
5. Tip: For extra veggies in your meal, place a handful of baby kale or spinach in the bottom of your bowl when serving, and spoon the hot lentils over top.

Instant Pot Spicy Ginger Sweet Potato Soup

Pairs well with grey days, warm slices of sourdough toast, and your favorite mug. We’re talking about this Spicy Ginger Sweet Potato Soup.

Often times, sweet potato soups (and for that matter, pumpkin and butternut squash soups) are too sweet for me. This one employs a generous amount of shallots, roasted garlic, fresh ginger, and a dash of cayenne to balance that out. Plus, it’s velvety smooth, thanks to a can of coconut milk.

The result is a soup that is like one big creamy autumn hug. Which, sometimes you just need.

We keep our house at a brisk 62°F during the winter months, and I’ve grown used to living in my slippers and wrapped up in a blanket. (That’s not a complaint, I do like being all bundled up and cozy!) Something warm to sip on or slurp is definitely a bonus on the chilliest days!

Keep things simple, by topping your mug with cilantro and cayenne, or if you’re feeling fancy try crème fraîche (I love a good dollop of crème fraîche, though I’m never quite well enough prepared when the time is right.)

Instant Pot Spicy Ginger Sweet Potato Soup

Published November 1, 2018 by Caitlin Sherwood

Serves: 6   |    Active Time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients:

2-3 shallots, peeled and sliced

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons minced ginger

1 tablespoon coconut oil

3 pounds sweet potato, washed and peeled

1 15-ounce can coconut milk

2 cups vegetable broth

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Dash ground cayenne

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

Optional, to serve: minced cilantro, additional cayenne, and/or crème fraîche

Directions:

1. Heat coconut oil in the bottom of your Instant Pot on the sauté setting.
2. Sauté the shallots, ginger, and garlic until fragrant and shallots being to turn translucent.
3. Roughly chop sweet potatoes and place in pot, along with coconut milk and broth.
4. Add nutmeg, cayenne, ground black pepper, and salt. Place lid on Instant Pot and set to “Soup” setting, with the timer at 7 minutes and the vent sealed.
5. After the timer goes off, release the pressure. Using an immersion blender puree soup to desired consistency . You can make it super silky smoothy, or leave a few small chunks if you prefer.
6. Serve soup hot, topped with cilantro, additional cayenne, and/or crème fraîche as desired.