BrokeAss Gourmet

BrokeAss Gourmet

Pork-Kale Gyoza

  • Prep Time 0:25
  • Cook Time 0:10
  • Estimated Cost $8.00
  • 4 Comments

Pork and kale are married in this simple yet impressive take on the gyoza. Tofu replaces the pork easily for vegetarians, as does ground chicken or even chopped shrimp. Be sure you have a frying pan with a fitted lid.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb lean ground pork, preferably grass-fed $3
  • 6 large kale leaves, stems removed $1.50
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed Pantry
  • 1 small piece ginger, peeled $1
  • 1 small bunch cilantro, including stems $1
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce plus more for dipping Pantry
  • 30 round potsticker wrappers $1.50
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided Pantry

Directions

  1. Combine kale, garlic, ginger, cilantro and soy sauce in a blender or food processor until finely chopped. Set aside.
  2. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook until browned, 3-4 minutes. Add kale mixture and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
  3. To assemble the gyoza, place a potsticker wrapper on a clean, dry surface. Brush the edges lightly with water and place about 1 1/2 tbsps of filling in the center of the wrapper. Fold in half and press the edges to seal completely. Place on a clean plate. Repeat until all wrappers and filling are used up.
  4. Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the gyoza in the hot pan until they are lightly golden brown and crisp on the bottom.
  5. Pour 2 tbsp water over the whole pan and quickly cover the pan with its fitted lid. Allow the gyoza to steam for about 1 minute. Remove lid (keeping heat on) and let the excess liquid evaporate for a few minutes.
  6. Serve hot with soy sauce, chili sauce or rice vinegar.

Makes 30 gyoza.

Almond-Fig Shake

  • Prep Time 0:05
  • Cook Time 0:00
  • Estimated Cost $6.50
  • 2 Comments

2 weeks ago, my parents brought me the best present ever: fresh figs from their tree. I knew I would be tempted to eat nothing but figs until they disappeared unless I froze some of them, so I removed their stems, sliced them in half and packed them in an airtight container. Boy am I glad I did because this dairy-free yet creamy shake was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Feel free to experiment with soy, hemp or regular milk.

Ingredients

  • 15 fresh figs that have been halved and frozen $4
  • 1 cup ice cubes
  • 1 cup almond milk $2.50 for 32 oz.

Recipe Serves 2

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add more almond milk if necessary to achieve desired texture.

 

Omelets with Goat Cheese, Caramelized Onions and Fresh Herbs

  • Prep Time 0:10
  • Cook Time 0:08
  • Estimated Cost $9.50
  • 1 Comment

Perhaps one of the my quickest, simplest meals, the omelet isn’t just for breakfast. I frequently whip up an omelet with salad or toast at the end of a long day when I’m left with no energy for cooking. I recently picked up farm-fresh eggs, goat cheese and herbs at the farmers market and thought this the perfect way to enjoy them with minimal effort.

Ingredients

  • 6 eggs $1.50 for 6
  • 2 oz. soft goat cheese, such as chèvre or Boucheron $4 for 6 oz.
  • 1/2 white onion, diced $0.50
  • 3 tbsp butter, divided $1.50 for a stick
  • 1 small bunch basil, chopped $1
  • 1 small bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped $1
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry

Recipe Serves 2

Directions

  1. In a small frying pan, melt 1 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add the onions and cook slowly, allowing to caramelize, about 6 minutes.
  2. While the onions cook, beat the eggs in a small bowl until fully scrambled. Melt 1 tbsp butter in another (or the same, after removing onions) small frying pan, over medium-low heat. Add half of the beaten eggs and immediately begin moving your spatula around in the eggs. 
  3. Once the bottom of your omelet is firm, top with half the goat cheese, half the caramelized onions and half the fresh herbs. Add salt and pepper to taste. Gently fold in half and transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining omelet ingredients and eat. If necessary, the first omelet can be kept warm in a 180 degree oven briefly while the second omelet is cooked.
  4. Serve hot with toast, potatoes, bacon, a green salad, fruit etc--or just on its own.

Sweet Potato-Pear Piergoies

  • Prep Time 0:30
  • Cook Time 0:08
  • Estimated Cost $11.25
  • 5 Comments

When we were kids, my friend Rebecca used to come over to my house before Hebrew School. We probably should have been doing our homework, but instead I made elaborate snacks for us to share. One of our favorites was frozen pierogies, which I would pan-fry and serve with applesauce and sour cream.

I still love traditional pierogies, but was delighted with this sweeter, more complex version. The filling would make a delicious side dish on its own.

Note: be sure you have a frying pan with a fitted lid.

Ingredients

  • 30 round potsticker wrappers $1.50
  • 1 large sweet potato or 2 small ones, peeled, diced, and boiled until soft $1
  • 1 Bartlett pear, peeled and diced, plus extra for garnish $0.75
  • 1/2 small white onion, diced $0.50
  • 1 small bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped, plus extra for garnish $1
  • 3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish $4 for 10 oz.
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry
  • 1 tbsp butter $1 for a stick
  • 2 tbsp olive oil Pantry
  • sour cream (optional) for garnish $1.50 for 8 oz.

Directions

  1. Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and pear and cook for 3-4 minutes or until onions are fragrant and pear softens slightly. Remove from heat.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine cooked sweet potato, pear-onion mixture, flat leaf parsley, Parmesan, butter and salt and pepper to taste. Mash with the back of a fork until smooth.
  3. To assemble the pierogies, place a potsticker wrapper on a clean, dry surface. Brush the edges lightly with water and place about 1 1/2 tbsps of filling in the center of the wrapper. Fold in half and press the edges to seal completely. Place on a clean plate. Repeat until all wrappers and filling are used up.
  4. To cook the pierogies, heat the remaining olive oil in a frying pan (you can use the one you cooked the onions and pears in to minimize dirty dishes) over medium-high heat. Cook the pierogies in the hot pan until they are lightly golden brown and crisp on the bottom. Flip and cook the pierogies on the other side. Once both sides are crisp, pour 2 tbsp water over the whole pan and cover the pan with a fitted lid. Allow the pierogies to steam for about 1 minute. Remove lid and let the excess liquid evaporate for a few minutes until the pierogies become crisp again.
  5. Serve garnished with additional Parmesan, pear and parsley with sour cream for dipping.

Makes 30 pierogies.

On Wednesday night, I met my friend Lindsay at the farmers market in my neighborhood. The plan was to shop for the makings of a yummy summer dinner and sample the wine from this awesome organization she works for—Agent For Change Wines .

Agent for Change Wines (A4C) is a portfolio of wines produced to create awareness and raise funds for worthy causes. By drinking charitably, A4C donates a substantial portion of the proceeds to non-profit organizations. Since September 2008, A4C has released three awesome wines from the Central Coast of California: a Sauvignon Blanc, a Zinfandel, and a Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

The best part of drinking this tasty (and affordable—bottles run from $12-$15) wine is that fifty percent of their profits are donated to community-based organizations that deliver health care to uninsured and under-insured workers in the wine industry.

But I’m not just bragging on my friend’s cool organization to help her out. Agent for Change wants to hook up BrokeAss Gourmet readers too. Shop for Agent for Change wines at Big Hammer Wines and use the code 204bag to save 20%. But hurry, because the code will be good until Monday, September 14, 2009.

For more information on Agent for Change Wines, check out their Twitter and blog

Drinking wine feels good in and of itself—why not also feel good about where the money you spend on it goes?

Category: Wine

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