Eye for a Recipe

This baked pasta dish from Bon Appetit is a perfect weekend supper that will satisfy vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Roast eggplant and cherry tomatoes, combine with cooked spaghetti and a sauce of tomato paste, eggs and Parmesan, add capers and basil, press into an oven-proof skillet and bake. Cut into wedges and serve with a green salad.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

No Name tomato paste and Unico capers are additive-free.

Ingredients:

1 medium globe eggplant, peeled, cut into ½-inch (1.25 cm) pieces

2 pints (1 L) cherry tomatoes

8 garlic cloves, smashed

¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for skillet

½ tsp. (2.5 ml) crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for sprinkling

Kosher salt

2 large eggs

2 Tbsp. (30 ml) tomato paste

4 oz. (113 g) finely grated Parmesan, divided

1 lb. (454 g) spaghetti

2 Tbsp. (30 ml) drained capers

½ cup (125 ml) torn basil, plus a few whole leaves

Cook eggplant and tomatoes until tender

The tomatoes should begin to burst

Combine tomato paste, eggs and cheese

Toss sauce with tomatoes, eggplant, cooked pasta and basil

Press mixture into oven-proof skilled and top with more basil and cheese

Baked pasta alla Norma

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425° F (218° C). Combine eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, ¼ cup (60 ml) oil, and ½ tsp. (2.5 ml) red pepper flakes in a large ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron. Season generously with salt and toss to combine. Roast, shaking skillet once or twice, until eggplant is tender and tomatoes burst, 25–35 minutes. Let vegetables cool while you prepare the pasta (watch out for the hot handle when you take the skillet out of the oven). Reduce oven temperature to 400° F (200° C).

Whisk eggs and tomato paste in a medium bowl until smooth, then whisk in about three-quarters of Parmesan.

Cook spaghetti in a pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Immediately drain pasta in a colander and shake to remove excess water; transfer pasta back to pot.

Add cooled vegetable mixture to pot with pasta. Wipe out skillet and drizzle in a little oil; roll around in skillet to coat. Add egg mixture to pasta and toss vigorously with tongs until pasta is evenly coated. Add capers and ½ cup (125 ml) basil and toss again to combine.

Transfer pasta mixture to skillet and press gently into an even layer. Top with remaining Parmesan, a few whole basil leaves, and an extra sprinkle of red pepper flakes.

Bake pasta until surface is nicely browned, 30–35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before cutting into wedges for serving. Serves 8.

From Bon Appetit

This recipe from Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi refers to the dish Patrick Dempsey’s character tells Renée Zellweger’s Bridget Jones that he would have brought her on their imaginary second date in the movie Bridget Jones’s Baby. “From Ottolenghi,” says Dempsey, “delicious and healthy!” According to Ottolenghi, “What sounded like a bit of product placement on our part was in fact no such thing. The recipe didn’t even exist on our menu, so this is a retrospective acknowledgement.” Whatever its origins, this is a great way to serve simple pan-fried or oven-baked salmon fillets.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

The currants, pine nuts, capers, olives and saffron may contain additives or colour, so check the labels. No-Name currents and pine nuts are additive free. I use Unico capers and President’s Choice garlic-stuffed green olives. I often substitute turmeric for saffron, as the latter, depending on the source, can contain colour.

This salmon is topped with a pine nut salsa

Bridget Jones's Pan-Fried Salmon with Pine Nut Salsa

Ingredients:

¾ cup (100 g) currants

4 salmon fillets, skin on and pin-boned (1 lb, 2 oz/500g)

7 tbsp (100 ml) olive oil

4 celery sticks (1 ¾ cups/180 g),  cut into ½ inch (1 cm) dice, leaves removed but kept for garnish

¼ cup (60 ml) pine nuts, roughly chopped

¼ cup (60 ml) capers, plus 2 tbsp (30 ml) of their brine

Large green olives, pitted and cut into ½ inch (1cm) dice (about 8/60 ml)

1 good pinch of saffron threads (¼ tsp/1 ml), mixed with 1 tbsp (15 ml) hot water

1 cup (250 ml) parsley, roughly chopped

1 lemon: finely grate the zest to get 1 tsp (5 ml), then juice to get 1 tsp (5 ml)

Salt and black pepper

Preparation:

Cover the currants with boiling water and set aside to soak for 20 minutes while you prep the salmon and make the salsa.

Mix the salmon with 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of oil, 3 teaspoons (15 ml) of salt and a good grind of pepper. Set aside while you make the salsa.

Put 5 tbsp (75 ml) of olive oil into a large sauté pan and place on a high heat. Add the celery and pine nuts and fry for 4–5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the nuts begin to brown (don’t take your eyes off them, as they can easily burn). Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the capers and their brine, the olives, saffron and its water and a pinch of salt. Drain the currants and add these, along with the parsley, lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside.

Put the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of oil into a large frying pan and place on a medium-high heat. Once hot, add the salmon fillets, skin side down, and fry for 3 minutes, until the skin is crisp. Reduce the heat to medium, then flip the fillets over and continue to fry for 2–4 minutes (depending on how much you like the salmon cooked). Remove from the pan and set aside.

Arrange the salmon on four plates and spoon over the salsa. If you have any celery leaves reserved, scatter these on top.

From Simple, by Yotam Ottolenghi

This recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi’s new cookbook, Simple, is simply fantastic. Cut potatoes into fries and parboil. Toss with oil and salt and bake for about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, fry sliced garlic in oil until golden. Toss the potatoes with the oil and bake for another few minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with dried oregano and feta and serve. So good!

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use a brand of feta cheese with all-natural ingredients.

Parboil potatoes and place on parchment-lined baking sheet

Bake until tender and golden, then toss with garlic oil

Sprinkle with oregano and feta and serve

Ingredients:

4 ½ lbs (2 kg) yellow potatoes, unpeeled and cut into ¾-inch- (2-cm-) wide fries

6 tbsp (90 ml) sunflower or canola oil

Flaked sea salt

¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 tsp (10 ml) dried oregano

5 ¼ oz (150 g) feta, roughly crumbled

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450 F (232 C).

Place a large pot filled with plenty of salted water over high heat. Once boiling, add the potatoes and cook for 7-8 minutes, until starting to soften at the edges but still holding their shape. Drain and set aside to dry out for 5 minutes, then transfer to a large bowl. Add the sunflower or canola oil along with 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt (I used less; about 1 tsp/5 ml) and mix well.

Tip the potatoes and oil onto two large parchment-lined baking sheets, so that they are not overcrowded and bake for 40-50 minutes, stirring a few times, until golden brown and crisp.

About 5 minutes before the fries are ready, heat the olive oil and garlic in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Fry gently for 3-4 minutes, until the garlic is pale golden brown. Take the cooked fries out of the oven and pour the olive oil and garlic over them, then return to the oven for a further 4 minutes. Remove from the oven and, while piping hot, sprinkle with the oregano and feta. Serve at once. Serves 6.

From Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi

This dish from The New York Times is as tasty and soothing as a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Marinate chicken drumsticks, brown them and set aside. Cook the onion and then add orzo and broth. Cook for a few minutes, then place the drumsticks on top and cover the pan. Cook until the chicken is done, the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is gone. Remove from the heat and scatter cucumber, feta and dill over the top.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

I use Imagine Organic brand chicken stock and President’s Choice green olives stuffed with garlic. Look for a feta cheese with all-natural ingredients.

Brown the chicken

Cook the onion

Add the orzo

Return the chicken to the pan and cook until it is done

Chicken drumsticks with orzo, feta and dill

Ingredients:

2 lemons

5 tablespoons (75 ml) olive oil

3 garlic cloves, smashed

1 teaspoon (5 ml) kosher salt

1 teaspoon (5 ml) black pepper

2 pounds (907 g) chicken drumsticks (about 6 drumsticks)

1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped

2 cups (500 ml) orzo

3 cups (750 ml) chicken broth or water

2 small or 1 large thin-skinned (English) cucumbers, chopped

5 ounces (141 g) feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 ¼ cups/310 ml)

2 tablespoons (30 ml) chopped fresh dill

Castelvetrano or other green olives, for serving

Preparation:

Cut one of the lemons into wedges and set aside. Juice the remaining lemon and combine with 3 tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, in a large resealable plastic bag or in a bowl, along with the chicken pieces. Seal and shake the bag (or stir in the bowl) to coat. Set aside for 30 minutes, or refrigerate up to overnight.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting the excess drip off, and cook until lightly golden all over, turning when the chicken releases easily from the pan, about 12 minutes total. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.

Add the onion to the pan and stir to coat with the remaining fat. Decrease heat to medium and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in the orzo and the broth or water. Cook until the liquid is partly absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Top with the chicken legs and cover with a lid or foil. Continue cooking until the orzo is tender, most of the liquid is absorbed, and the chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes more, depending on the size of your drumsticks. Remove from the heat and scatter the cucumber, feta and dill over the top. Serve from the skillet with lemon wedges and olives.

From the New York Times