Sweet • Sour • Savory

Food blog on scandinavian style food done right.

Dinner

Roasted Winter Squash

Dinner, Holiday, Sides, Thanksgiving, VegetablesTove Balle-PedersenComment
Roasted Winter Squash

Roasted Winter Squash

For years I heard about the hokkaido pumkin/squash from my Danish friends, but I have not been able to locale it here in California. Well, now I learned that is the same as the red kuri squash, and I found this in my local Whole Foods Market. 

I'm still on the quest to get my husband to love squash, so I had to find a way to make it, in a different way than I made other squash dishes. I actually thought that hokkaido/red kuri would be sweeter than it was, and sweet and mushy squashes will never persuade my husband, that winter squash is his thing. I really like winter squash, and I love having them as another option instead of potatoes. I like that squash is high in vitamin A, and has a good amount  (1.8g/100g) of dietary fiber. (Potatoes have 2.4g/100g.)

So I needed to season it with some bold flavors. I stumbled upon a recipe from the Danish blog "loisogbearnaisen," baking the squash with red onions and carrots. It looked so so good, and adapted my version from this.

Serves 2 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 small or ½ medium red kuri squash/hokkaido pumpkin

  • 1 red onion

  • 2 carrots

  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil

  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • 1-1½ teaspoons salt

  • 1-2 sprigs rosemary

  • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F (200℃). Halve the squash lengthwise, and scrape the seeds out. 
Peel the squash with a vegetable peeler and cut  into bite size cubes. Peel onion and carrots and cut them in bite sized chunks.

Place all the vegetables in an ovenproof baking dish. Toss with oil, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes. Sprinkle rosemary and pumpkin seeds.  Roast until just tender with some bite to them, about 30 minutes.

Serve with any kind of meat, or eat it alone for a nice healthy lunch.

Enjoy!

 

Nordisk Jul - Nordic Christmas

Christmas, Dinner, Holiday, Meats, sous vide, GameTove Balle-Pedersen2 Comments
Elgfilet, karameliserede rodfrugter og appelsinsalat med rosenkål, granatæble og mandler.

Elgfilet, karameliserede rodfrugter og appelsinsalat med rosenkål, granatæble og mandler.

For mig har den Nordiske Jul og specielt den Danske Jul og dens trationer en helt særlig betydning. Det er selvfølgelig fordi jeg nu er udenlandsdansker.

Da jeg boede i Danmark var det lettere at lade sig rive med af nye trends og tendenser, for dybest set var de danske traditioner og højtider jo fastforankrede, det er en del af det at være dansker i Danmark. Som udenlandsdansker er det meget op til dig selv. Man er på mange måder rodløs. Man hører ikke til nogen steder. Mange af de ting vi som danskere tager for givet, er nu de ting vi glæder os mest over.

Rent madmæssigt, nu dette er en madblog, så er det nu himmelsk at få en rugbrødsmad med leverpostej eller markrel i tomat, hvor det tidligere var umådeligt uinteressant.

Her i huset holder vi dansk jul den 24. om aftenen. Vi har et rigtigt grantræ pyntet med bl.a. Dannebro og stjerne på toppen. Vi spiser and og/eller flæskesteg, med rødkål, brunede kartofler og flødesovs. Og selvfølgelig får vi risalamande med kirsebærsauce til dessert, og ja der er en mandelgave. Der er ingen der skal lave om på min gamle jul! Men der er ting, der mangler. Her er ingen sne, og kulden er det så som så med her i Californien. (Jeg ved godt, at jeg bare kan køre ind til Tahoe og så har jeg kulden og sneen, på et godt år).

Hvordan vil en Nordisk Jul se ud her i Californien? Nordisk, må være gode, nordiske, rustikke råvarer med elementer fra den mere traditionelle julemiddag.

Jeg har valgt at lave elgfilet med stjerneanis "stegt" sous-vide, med karameliserede bagte rodfrugter og en frisk appelsin/limesalat med rosenkål, granatæble og mandler. Billedet er taget uden saucen, som var en indkogt portvin monteret med lidt smør og tilsat lidt friske blåbær.

Denne middagskombination var et stort hit herhjemme. Kødet var perfekt rosa og smagte "vildt" med en diskret note af stjerneanis. De karameliserede rodfrugter, havde stadig lidt bid, og smagte fantastisk. Salaten brød sødmen og gav god tekstur til middagen. Alt i alt var det et kongemåltid.

Til 3 personer

Ingredienser:

Elg:

  • ca 20 cm stykke elgfilet (3-400g)
  • 1 stjerneanis, knækket i mindre stykker
  • 1 klat smør
  • salt, efter smag.

Rodfrugter:

  • 3 gulerødder
  • 4 pastinakker
  • 3 jordskokker
  • 1 lille knoldselleri
  • 3 små rødbeder
  • salt
  • lidt olie, til bagningen
  • sukker og smør til bruningen

Salat:

  • 3 appelsiner
  • 1 lime
  • ca 250 g rosenkål, kun yderbladene
  • ¼ granatæble
  • 1 lille håndfuld hele mandler

Sauce:

  • ca ½ flaske portvin
  • 1 tsk smør
  • 1 lille håndfuld blåbær

Fremgangsmåde:

Kødet:

Elgfileten renses for sener og saltes jævnt over det hele. Den knækkede stjerneanis fordeles også på fileten. Kom kødet i en vacuumpose, og læg en lille klat smør på toppen af kødet. Vacuumpak kødet.

Tilbered kødet ved 61℃ i 1 time og 40 minutter. Når tiden er gået tag kødet op af vandbadet, og tag den ud af posten. Dup kødet tørt med lidt køkkenrulle. Brun fileten på en glohed pande med lidt olivenolie og smør, så du får en god stegeskorpe.

Skær kødet tyndt, og server straks.

Rodfrugterne:

Forvarm ovenen til 200℃.

Skræl rodfrugterne og skær den i mundrette stykker. Rødbederne holdes for sig selv, og steges også for sig selv, så det hele ikke bliver rødt.

Kom rodfrugterne i ovnfaste fade, og vend dem i lidt olie og kom salt på. Bag rodfrugterne i ca 30 minutter, indtil de er møre, men stadig har lidt bid. Tag rodfrugterne ud og lad dem køle lidt ned.

Når du er klar til serveringen, smeltes sukker på en stor pande. Sukkeret skal dække bunden med en jævnt lag. Når sukkeret er smeltet og det er gyldent tilsættes ca. en teske smør. Rør rundt i sukkermassen til det lige bruser af. Kom de kølede rodfrugter på panden. Rør rundt i det hele, til alle rodfrugterne er dækket af et karamel lag. Server staks.

Saucen:

Kog portvinen ind til en sirup. Dette skal gøres ved ikke for høj varme. Tag siruppen af varmen og pisk smørret ned i saucen, dette vil tykne saucen lidt. Kom blåbær ned i den varme sauce og lad den varme igennem . Server saucen.

Saucen passer perfekt til al slags rødt kød.

Salat:

Vask rosenkålen, og gem de pæne yderblade, det er dem der skal bruges til salaten. Gem resten af rosenkålen og lav evt en rosenkålsmos en anden dag. Hak rosenkålsbladene groft.

Skræl appelsinerne og limen og skær dem i tyndeskiver. Hak mandlerne groft. Befri granatæblekernerne og undgå at få de hvide lameller med. Youtube er fuld af forskellige metoder, men jeg skærer bund og top af. Så skærer jeg kun skallen fra top til bund de steder, hvor jeg kan se der er et ophold i kernerne. Jeg trækker så både ud med kerner og piller dem fra skallen. Det sviner knap så meget som når man skærer kernerne over. Saml salaten på tallerknerne eller på et fad.

English version:

Elk with caramelized root vegetables and citrus salad

Ingredients:

Elk:

  • 8 inch (20 cm) piece elk loin (3-400g)
  • 1 star anise, broken into smaller pieces
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • salt, to taste

Root vegetables:

  • 3 large carrots
  • 4 parsnips
  • 3 sun chokes (Israeli artichokes)
  • 1 small root celery
  • 3 small beets
  • salt
  • a splash of oil for the baking
  • sugar and butter for the caramelizing

Salad:

  • 3 oranges
  • 1 lime
  • ca 250 g brussels sprouts, only the vibrant green outer leaves
  • ¼ pomegranate
  • 1 handful almonds

Sauce

  • ca ½ bottle port wine
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 1 handful blueberries

Directions:

Elk:

Trim loin of excess fat and/or membranes. Season the loin and place in a large plastic bag with star anise and butter. Vacuum-seal. Cook the meat in a sous-vide water bath preheated to 142°F (61°C) for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Remove bag from the water and remove the loin from the bag. Pad it dry. Sear the meat on all sides in a very hot pan with a little oil and butter. Slice the meat thinly and serve immediately.

Root vegetables:

Preheat the oven for 400℉ (200℃). Peel the root vegetables and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Keep the beets separate even during baking, to prevent all the vegetables from turning red. Dress the vegetables in oil and season with salt. Bake the vegetables in ovenproof dishes for about 30 minutes until tender, but not soft. Cool the vegetables. Just before you are ready to serve, heat a large skillet over high heat, pour in the sugar and melt it. When the sugar has turned the color of light amber, add the butter and stir with a wooden spoon. Carefully pour the vegetables into the hot caramel. Lower the heat and make sure the vegetables get covered in the caramel and get heated through. Serve immediately, otherwise the vegetables looses the shine.

The sauce:

Reduce the port to a syrup over low to medium heat. Remove from heat when the port can cover the back of a spoon. Stir in a teaspoon of salted butter, this will thicken the sauce a bit. Add the blueberries so they just get heated. The sauce is perfect with any kind of red meat.

Salad:

Rinse the brussels sprouts, save the outer leaves, these will be used in the salad. Save the rest og the brussels sprouts for anther day, maybe making this brussels sprouts pure. Chop up the brussels sprouts leaves roughly . Peel the oranges and the lime, and slice them up finely. Chop up the almonds. Place the brussels sprouts on a plate , place the oranges and limes on top. Sprinkle almonds and pomegranate on top.

Scalloped Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Christmas, Dinner, Holiday, Sides, Vegetables, ThanksgivingTove Balle-Pedersen4 Comments
Scalloped Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Scalloped Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and maybe its time to change up some of the sides. I really loved the scalloped hasselback potatoes I've posted previously, and thought that I might work with sweet potatoes too. The smoked gouda and the sweet potatoes and with the caramelized crunch works perfect.

I have a feeling that these sweet potatoes could very addictive. I might have to put a waring label on this post. 

Serves 4-6 people.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes

  • 6 fl oz (5 dl) heavy whipping cream

  • smoked gouda

  • 2 sprigs thyme leaves, leaves only

  • salt

  • 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar

Direction:

Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200℃).

Grate the cheese, and mix it with cream, thyme and some salt.

Peel the potatoes and slice them thinly on a mandolin. Toss the potato slices in the cream/cheese mixture, making sure to cover each slice. 

Purple and orange sweet potatoes

Purple and orange sweet potatoes

Stack the potato slices and lay them in ovenproof dish with their edges aligned vertically. Continue to fill the dish with the potatoes until the dish is filled. Pour excess cream/cheese mixture evenly over potatoes.

Cover dish with tin foil, and bake the potatoes for about 35 minutes until  the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife

Take off the foil and sprinkle the brown sugar on top, and continue to bake for another 5-10 minutes until the sugar has caramelized.

When the potatoes is done, take the dish out of the oven and let the potatoes rest for a few minutes, before serving.

Enjoy!

Tortilla Soup

Dinner, SoupTove Balle-PedersenComment
Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup

It's no secret we love spicy food, and here in the fall we love eating soup for dinner. Tortilla soup combines all the things I love in Mexican cooking: Chipotle, salsa, avocado, cilantro and fresh hot tortilla chips all in one.

If you want a more filling soup you can add more vegetables and some cooked rice, or serve the soup with a slice of good bread.

Ingredients

  • 4 6-inch (small) corn tortilla, preferably a little old and dried out
  • ¼ cup (1 dl) grape seed oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 chipotle pepper w. some of the adobo sauce
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups (1 liter) chicken stock (or 4 cups water + teaspoons chicken base
  • 1 can (14 oz/400-450 g) tomatoes
  • rotisserie chicken, shredded
  • ¼ cup (1 dl) lime juice
  • ½ cup (75-100 g) sweet yellow corn

Toppings

  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 2 tomatoes, deseeded and diced
  • fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • creme fraiche or sour cream.
  • tortilla strips

Directions

Starting with fresh tortilla, you need to do this extra step:

Place the tortilla on a baking sheet and bake them at 200°F (95℃) for about 10-15 minutes to dry them out a bit.

Cut dry tortillas into ¼-inch (¾ cm) wide strips. Heat oil in a wide pan. Working in batches, fry the tortilla strips in the oil, until crisp and lightly browned. Let excess oil drain from the tortilla strips on a paper-towel-lined plate.

In a large pot or dutch oven sauté the onions in a splash of oil until translucent. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Add the chopped, powdered chili, stock, canned tomatoes and salt. Bring the soup to a boil and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and corn, and cook until heated through.

While the soup simmer, dice the tomato, chop the cilantro, peel and deseed the avocado and slice it. Cut the lime into wedges.

Serve the soup scalding hot in small bowls, with the topping you like.

Enjoy!

40 Cloves of Garlic Chicken

Dinner, Meats, PoultryTove Balle-Pedersen6 Comments
40 Cloves of Garlic Chicken

40 Cloves of Garlic Chicken

When I saw this recipe on saveur.com, I knew I had to try it, because I love, love, love garlic. 40 cloves of garlic is a lot, but the garlic cooked in the sauce and became sweet and soft. There were no sharp garlicky taste. I really loved how the vermouth played off the tarragon and sweet soft garlic cloves. I opted for chicken thighs instead of a whole chicken cut up, and the thighs turned out juicy and flavorful. I served roasted root vegetables with the chicken and it paired up perfectly. We are definitely having this again soon.  

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 6 chicken thighs, skin on bone-in

  • 40 cloves garlic, peeled

  • 400 g button mushrooms, sliced

  • ½ cup (1 dl) dry vermouth

  • 1½ teaspoon chicken base + ¾ cup water (or a good chicken stock)

  • 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, chopped

  • salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Heat oven to 400℉ (200℃).

Heat oil in an ovenproof sauté-pan over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and sear them in pan, turning once, until browned, about 10 minutes. Place the chicken on a plate and set aside. Add garlic to pan and cook until browned in spots it only takes a few minutes. Take out about ¼ of the garlic, and mash the remaining in the pan, and add mushrooms, vermouth and stock. Place the chicken back in the pan, with the whole garlic cloves. Bake the chicken for 15-20 minutes until tender. Garnish with tarragon.

Serve with roasted root vegetables.

Enjoy!