Rose Water Cardamom Lassi

I still had some plain yogurt leftover from making a batch of Mango Lassi over the weekend. I wanted to try to make my own combination and realized I still had rose water on hand. I love love rose water, which is a common ingredient in this sweet yogurt drink. I also picked up some ground cardamom when I was picking up all of the Indian spices. Cardamom is used to flavor a lot of desserts so I thought it would work great in the lassi as well. So I ended up with a Rose Water Cardamom Lassi!

 
Ingredients:
1 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon rose water
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
2 tablespoons coconut milk
Ice cubes
1 tablespoon pistachios, chopped

Add all ingredients except the ice cubes and pistachios to a blender. Puree until well combined.
Pour into a glass over ice. Top with chopped pistachios.
Um. Yum.
The rosewater is oh so nice in this drink.
The pistachios add a nice crunch to the drink which I really liked.
Lassi is supposed to be super sweet, but if you’re sensitive to sweetness, you can limit the amount of sugar, or you can substitute vanilla yogurt for the plain yogurt and omit the sugar entirely.
I love how easy these are to whip up!
Lassi is traditionally served with lunch, but I honestly love it as a dessert drink.

Honey-Rosemary Blue Cheese Canapes

I received two packages of Kitchen Table Bakers‘ Parmesan Crisps in the mail recently, and my mind immediately went to making fun little hors d’oeuvres with them. The crisps, made entirely from Parmesan cheese, are like a thin chip packed with a bunch of delicious cheesy flavor. So why not add a little more cheese on top?
Ingredients:
Kitchen Table Bakers Rosemary Parmesan Crisps
Blue Cheese
Honey
Fresh Rosemary

Bacon Bloody Mary

What could possibly make a traditional Bloody Mary even better? Bacon of course! The smoky taste of bacon is a perfect upgrade to everyone’s favorite brunch accompaniment.  I used Bakon Vodka to make this Bacon Bloody Mary, but you can also make your own homemade version if you so choose.
Ingredients (makes one drink):
1 1/2 oz Bakon Vodka
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
Juice of 1/2 a lime
1 teaspoon Worcestershire
4 drops tabasco, or more if you want it spicy
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay, plus more to rim the glass
Tomato Juice
1 piece of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 celery stalk
Ice

Continue reading Bacon Bloody Mary

Learning How To Cook Indian Food in Haneeda’s Kitchen

I had the best Saturday. A huge part of making it such an amazing day was the opportunity to take an Indian Cooking Class taught by Haneeda Riaz, of Haneeda’s Kitchen. Every Saturday, Haneeda hosts two hour hands-on classes to groups of 8 students or less. The classes, posted here, lay out what dishes will be taught, although Haneeda also (I believe) has private classes that can be customized.
Me and Haneeda

My mom and I headed to Glen Mills, PA to learn how to cook 5 different Indian dishes: Chicken Tikka Masala, Aloo Tikki, Cucumber Raita,Vegetable Pulao, and Mango Lassi. Our class of 7 immediately got started. The Chicken Tikka Masala needs some time to marinate so we began there, making the marinade and letting it soak for 30 minutes. We then made the sauce, broiled the chicken, and added it to the sauce.
Cucumber Raita, a cucumber yogurt-based salad, also needs time for the flavors to meld, was made next and popped in the fridge.
Next came the fun part, we got to get a little messy 🙂 To make the Aloo Tikki, a potato croquette, we had to form the potato mixture into little discs. These get sauteed up until golden and are served with chutney.
Learning how to make the vegetable pulao, a rice dish, changed my life. Hehe. We made the whole thing, vegetables and all, in a rice cooker! Needless to say, I am now the proud owner of a rice cooker.
Last but certainly not least, we whipped up the Mango Lassi, an absolutely delicious mango yogurt drink.
We then got to sit and taste our fine handiwork. Yum!
Aloo Tikki
Cucumber Raita
Vegetable Pulao
Mango Lassi
SO GOOD!
See? I wasn’t joking.
Haneeda is a fantastic teacher. Not only does she guide you through the whole cooking process, but gives every person in the class a chance to do the actual cooking. Haneeda is also full of knowledge; she took the time to show and discuss each and every spice we’d be using. She can also direct you to where to find the ingredient you used in the area. (I went on Sunday, and I fell in love with the Indian grocery store, it smells SO good in there!)
Not only do you get to sit down and enjoy the wonderful meal you just made, Haneeda sends each person home with the recipes!
So I had to show off my newly developed Indian cooking skills for my boyfriend. I made everything but the Aloo Tikki, because I forgot to pick up potatoes (whoops). So how did it turn out?
Not. Too. Shabby. If I say so myself 🙂  It was delicious! I made a whole Indian meal on my own!

 

I would strongly suggest checking out Haneeda’s (or honestly, any other hands-on cooking classes) to learn a new cuisine, or even something like a knife cutting class, to further develop your skills. It’s a bunch of fun, and really informative!
Many thanks tor Haneeda for the opportunity to attend her class, I can’t even begin to describe how great it was!
For more information about Haneeda’s Kitchen, head over to her website: https://www.haneedaskitchen.com/ There was also a wonderful write up about Haneeda and her classes last year, which can be found here.

Penne with Bacon Vodka Sauce

Yes, you read that title correctly. Penne with Bacon Vodka Sauce. I have wanted to make some recipes using Bakon Vodka ever since I heard of its existence. My mind immediately went to Bloody Mary’s (which I will have a post on soon), but a coworker suggested I use it for Penne Vodka. Brilliant, no?
Ingredients:
1 can (28 oz) tomato sauce
1 shallot, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon basil
2/3 cup Bakon vodka
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 box penne pasta

Chop the shallot and garlic cloves. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and cloves and cook for 3 minutes.
Add the tomato sauce, oregano, parsley, and basil. Add the Bakon vodka and stir to combine. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally; it will thicken and reduce a bit.
While waiting for the sauce to reduce, boil a pot of water and cook the penne according to directions, you want the pasta al dente. After the 15 minutes have passed, add the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
Add the pasta and mix to combine. Cook for another minute or so to allow the sauce to absorb into the pasta.
Mmmm. Smoky goodness.
This was really tasty! The bacon vodka added a subtle smokiness, kind of like using roasted tomatoes, or smoked paprika.
It wasn’t an overpowering, punch-in-the-face kind of bacon taste though. Honestly, it might be tough to pinpoint the flavor if you didn’t know that was in it.
So if you’re really in a bacon-y mood, I’d suggest adding some crumbled bacon or pancetta on top of the finished pasta.
Penne with Bacon Vodka Sauce

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 can (28 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon basil
  • 2/3 cup Bakon vodka
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 box penne pasta

Instructions

  1. Chop the shallot and garlic cloves. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and cloves and cook for 3 minutes.
  2. Add the tomato sauce, oregano, parsley, and basil. Add the Bakon vodka and stir to combine. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally; it will thicken and reduce a bit.
  3. While waiting for the sauce to reduce, boil a pot of water and cook the penne according to directions, you want the pasta al dente. After the 15 minutes have passed, add the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
  4. Add the pasta and mix to combine. Cook for another minute or so to allow the sauce to absorb into the pasta.
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Banana Berry Pecan Granola Bars

There are so many fantastic food bloggers out there. One food blog I regularly check is Cookin’ Canuck. Dara makes the most appealing looking recipes and her photos are always stunning. She has also cooked her way healthy and has a wonderful post about her journey. Dara has a great recipe for Low Fat Granola Bars with Bananas, Dried Cranberries, and Pecans that I just had to try. I switched it ever so slightly, but you can find the original recipe here.
Ingredients:
  • 3 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup pecan pieces
  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey (to make vegan, substitute agave nectar)
  • 3/4 cup dried berries (I used Trader Joe’s Golden Berry Blend)
  • 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 3 tbsp whole flax seeds
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Crispy Herbed Shrimp with Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes

Have you ever opened up a food magazine, and have decided by a photo only that you want, no need, to make that recipe? I didn’t even look at the title, or read the ingredients, before I had earmarked this recipe to make. Shrimp, asparagus, and tomatoes? This is right up my alley. The best part of cooking with seafood is that it’s almost always a quick meal. This Cooking Light recipe for Crispy Herbed Shrimp with Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes can be made in only 40 minutes, perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Shrimp:
  • 3/4 cup panko, divided
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Chive Aioli:
  • 1/2 cup 2% Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup canola mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika

Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes:

  • 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
  • 1/2 cup grape tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup sliced shallots
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • Cooking spray

Continue reading Crispy Herbed Shrimp with Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes

Artichoke, Spinach, and Feta Stuffed Shells

I have been making a bunch of freezer-friendly meals lately. You never know when you will come home and just be too exhausted to cook, and frozen meals can really save the night. This one also happens to be vegetarian. I found this recipe in an old Cooking Light. I absolutely love artichokes and spinach so I knew I’d like this!
Ingredients:
(makes 5 servings. serving size 4 shells)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup chopped pepperoncini peppers (they come in a jar)
1 (28-ounce) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes, undrained
1 (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded provolone/mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup (4 ounces) fat-free cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (9-ounce) can artichoke hearts, chopped
1/2 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry
2 garlic cloves, minced
20 cooked jumbo shell pasta (about 8 ounces uncooked pasta)
Cooking spray

Cook the shell pasta according to directions on the box. Drain and set aside on a cookie sheet lined with tin foil so they don’t stick together. Take a 13×9 cooking dish and spray it with cooking spray.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Add the oregano, pepperoncini peppers, crushed tomatoes, and tomato sauce to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup provolone/mozzarella (I used “pizza” cheese) and the feta, cream cheese, black pepper, artichokes, spinach, and garlic.
To make it easier to fill the shells, add the mixture to a ziplock bag. Close the bag, and snip off one of the bottom corners.
Pipe the mixture into the shells. (Note: some of the artichokes might get stuck a bit while doing this so be careful you don’t end up with more mixture than you want coming out!) Add the stuffed shells to a 13×9 baking dish coated with cooking spray.
Spoon the tomato mixture over the shells.
Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese melts.
You can freeze them after stuffing the shells, freezing the tomato mixture separately and doing the last few steps later. I personally prefer frozen meals that can just be popped into the microwave or oven and the only additional step is that I have to consume the meal.
This is really an awesome recipe. I usually only have plain stuffed shells with tomato sauce and cheese so I liked the addition of the spinach and artichokes. The peppers added a little bit of pizazz to the dish without making them really spicy. (You can leave them out if you don’t want a little heat).
I did, however, crave a little bit of extra sauce (I love love sauce), so I’d suggest adding another can of puree to the mix. Past that, a good solid recipe!

Winter Lentil Soup

Philadelphia is about to have a full week of weather in the 70s. I think there’s even an 80 degree day thrown in In March! I’m so excited, but I feel a bit stressed because I didn’t get to make all of my winter soups and stews. But who says you need to eat these in freezing weather? So I decided to make this Winter Lentil Stew for lunches in my office when they crank up the AC and I feel like it’s winter.
Ingredients:

4 leeks, white and light green parts only
1 bunch kale  (mine was huge, so I ended up using half)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, undrained
6 cups water
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut
1/2 cup brown lentils
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper


Prepare all your ingredients. Slice each leek in half lengthwise and then slice into 1/4 inch thick half-moons. You want about 2 cups of half moons.

Add to a large bowl filled with cold water and swish to remove any grit. Drain and pay dry. Lay on a paper towel.

Remove the stems from the kale and then thinly slice the leaves. You want about 3 cups of leaves.

Peel and chop your sweet potatoes. You want them to be bite sized or smaller. Measure out the lentils, prepare your thyme leaves, and open your can of diced tomatoes.

Add a large saucepan to the stove over medium heat. Add the oil and heat.  Add the leeks and cook for three minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.

Add the water and bring to a boil.

Stir in the kale, sweet potatoes, lentils, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cover, lower the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender.

If freezing, you can spoon into individual containers, let cool, and freeze at this point.

If enjoying immediately, eat as is, or sprinkle with some grated Parmesan cheese.

I can’t wait to enjoy this on my “colder” days in the office!

Chunky Vegetarian Chili

I love chili, and with the warm winter we’ve been having, I didn’t have nearly enough of it. So before spring is truly here, I wanted to make another batch. This meatless chili has so many different beans and flavor, you won’t even miss the meat! I adapted this recipe from Cooking Light, using more peppers, diced tomatoes instead of stewed, and a bit of vegetable broth to thin it out a little.
Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups chopped onion
1 chopped yellow bell pepper
1  chopped red bell pepper
1 chopped orange bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup vegetable broth


To make, heat a large pot or a Dutch oven over medium- high heat. Add the olive oil. Add the onion, peppers and garlic.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the sugar, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix to combine. Add the tomatoes, beans, and broth.

Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.

That’s it!

A delicious, hearty, meatless meal in 40 minutes.

Serve with corn bread if desired.

I love the colors in this! Look at all those different tones!

The chili looked a little too chunky without the vegetable broth, but if you like it that way, feel free to omit the broth.

 

Reuben with Homemade Sauerkraut

What do you do with left over Corned Beef and Cabbage? Make Reubens of course!
Because we still had some of the Creamy Horseradish Dijon sauce from the Corned Beef and Cabbage, I substituted that for thousand island dressing. Past that, this recipe is pretty traditional.
I still had half a cabbage left so I decided to make my own sauerkraut using a “fast” method so I could enjoy a Reuben with Homemade Sauerkraut today instead of waiting days for the sauerkraut to be ready.
Ingredients:
Sauerkraut:
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 a small onion, chopped
  • 1/2 a head of cabbage, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup apple juice
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon caraway seeds

Reuben:

  • 2 tablespoons butter, divided
  • Left over corned beef, thinly sliced
  • Sauerkraut (recipe above)
  • Rye bread
  • Swiss cheese
  • Creamy Horseradish Dijion (recipe here), or thousand island dressing

Continue reading Reuben with Homemade Sauerkraut

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, which means Americans nationwide are gearing up for a corned beef and cabbage feast. Despite being Irish-American myself, I’ve never eaten this St. Patrick’s Day staple before. My boyfriend, a huge corned beef fan, was really looking forward to having some, so I finally decided it was time to try to make it. I choose to adapt this recipe from Food Network for Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage so that I could use my slow cooker and not have to watch over it for hours.

Ingredients:
  • 4 pounds raw corned beef brisket
  • Pickling Spice (included with brisket)
  • 1 medium rutabaga, halved, peeled and cut into wedges
  • 5 large carrots, cut into 4-inch pieces
  • 1 bag red potatoes
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 leek, white and light-green parts only, sliced
  • 1/2 head cabbage, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup Dijon mustard with horseradish
  • 1/3 cup crème fraiche or sour cream

“Irish Potatoes”

I am Irish, on my father’s side. So, more appropriately, I’m Irish American (among other things). Even more specifically, I am Irish Philadelphian. (Yes, I may have made that phrase up. But there are a bunch of us so I think the phrase should exist.)

Now I’m sure you were very interested in what my heritage is, but there is a reason I’m telling you this. Philadelphia has this… candy? dessert? … we will go with “treat”… called an Irish Potato.

It’s cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and coconut rolled into a little ball and coated in cinnamon. So it ends up looking kind of like a potato, hence the name.

A super cute potato, that is

I’m under the impression this treat is essentially a Philadelphia-only thing. Friends from New York and D.C. both look at me like I’m crazy when I bring these up. But they are delicious and an integral part of every St. Patrick’s Day for me, so I needed to share them!

 

Ingredients:
  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 cups sweetened coconut, lightly packed
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Guest Post: Gourmet Turkey Burger with Island Slaw from Positively Cooking

I have another amazing guest post for you today! Adrienne, from Positively Cooking, agreed to share one of her delicious recipes with us. Positively Cooking is chock full of delicious and nutritious meals that use easy to find ingredients. Her Gourmet Turkey Burger with Island Slaw is not only beautiful (I mean, look at these photos) but it is a healthy and delicious meal as well. Check out her recipe below and be sure to pop over to Positively Cooking to see all of the other mouth watering recipes her blog has to offer!
 A savory, juicy burger is pretty hard to beat. When that burger is full of nutrients, easy on your waistline, easy on your budget, and needless to say tastes delicious, a burger is near impossible to beat.  Using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, I have developed my Gourmet Turkey Burger w Island Slaw from my own personal cravings for a filling, tasty meal.
You don’t need to wait until sweet summertime to enjoy burgers from the grill. Since I am an Ohio girl (and stuck inside during the winter months… ugh), I grilled mine stovetop on a griddle and also tried it on my George Foreman – both will leave your burgers beautifully cooked through and juicy. That being said, I am already looking forward to enjoying this recipe with some Sangria this weekend because hey, enjoying refreshing dishes like this helps an Ohio girl like me get through the winter!Enjoy!

Gourmet Turkey Burgers 
1 lb. ground turkey
1 bell pepper, chopped and seeded
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cups spinach, roughly chopped
1 egg, beaten
½ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
Honey Mustard, to garnish
Avocado, to garnish
Cheese slices, to garnish
Whole wheat buns
In a medium-size mixing bowl, place your ground turkey. Add in all ingredients [OTHER than garnishes – Honey Mustard, Avocado, and Cheese] Combine thoroughly.
With meat-mixture, form into one big “ball” and divide into 4-6 even sections. Form each section into a burger patty. [Tip: make the center of your patty thinner than the rim, to ensure it is cooked through.]
Grilling? Place patties on foil, and grill at medium-high heat for about 8 minutes on each side. Remember, your George Foreman counts!
Cooking stovetop?Lightly coat skillet with cooking spray. Cook patties over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, turning once.
Serve your burgers with desired toppings [As mentioned before, I suggest honey mustard, avocado, cheese, and of course Island Slaw]
Tips: Sub ground beef for the ground turkey if that is what you prefer.
Island Slaw
1 bag shredded cabbage
¾ cup All-Natural Light Coleslaw Dressing OR Light Poppyseed Dressing
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
½ cup walnuts, crumbled
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients for coleslaw. Mix thoroughly. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Tips: I encourage you to enjoy the Island Slaw right on top of your Gourmet Turkey Burger
Doesn’t this sound like the perfect way to make you feel like warmer weather really is just around the corner? The Island Slaw has such beautiful colors in it; pineapple, mandarin oranges and walnuts together must be heavenly! And that is one snazzy looking burger; I love that it has spinach as well as chili powder to add some extra flavor. 
Many thanks to Adrienne for sharing this recipe! Don’t forget to stop over at Positively Cooking to say hello and check out all the other yummy meals Adrienne has cooked up! (Some of my personal favorites include Blackberry Salmon, Skinny and Spiced Jalapeno Poppers, and Coconut French Toast with Sauteed Peaches)

Risotto Balls with Marinara Dipping Sauce

I love when you can incorporate leftovers from one meal into a new dinner the next night. I am a huge fan of risotto, but it can get a little old eating reheated risotto after a few nights. Risotto balls are the perfect way to still use those leftovers but have a completely different meal. I used my leftover Mushroom Risotto for this recipe, but feel free to use whatever you might have.
Ingredients:
1 cup risotto
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 large egg
6 fresh mozzarella balls
1 tablespoon fresh basil, roughly chopped
1 shallot, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup marinara sauce (I used Pomi Tomato Basil sauce)
Oil, for frying

Add the risotto, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, basil, and the egg to a small bowl. Mix to combine.
Form the risotto into palm sized balls, adding a mozzarella ball in the center and forming the risotto around the mozzarella ball. (It should make 6 risotto balls)
Add the remaining bread crumbs to a plate. Roll the balls in the bread crumbs and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. (This will help the risotto balls keep their shape when you fry them.)
While waiting for the 30 minutes to pass, chop the shallot and garlic. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil to a saute pan over medium high heat. Add the shallot and garlic.
Cook for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup marinara sauce and simmer on low for 10-15 minutes. Keep warm.
Heat the oil to 350 to 375 degrees. (I was a bit low on canola oil so I actually only ended up putting about an inch depth of oil in the pot. It still turned out fine, but having enough to cover the risotto balls would make this easier/quicker to make.) Add the risotto balls two at a time.
Cook until cooked, turning to cook evenly (about 3-5 minutes). Transfer to a paper towel. Serve while still hot with the marinara sauce.
These are crunchy little balls of deliciousness. I didn’t know risotto could taste better than it already did until now!
The risotto was so yummy I completely forgot about the mozzarella ball in the center, but was more than happy to come upon it!
It didn’t melt all the way, which I would have preferred, but it was still delicious. The marinara sauce was the perfect dipping accompaniment. I love the Pomi Tomato Basil sauce because it really doesn’t need anything to make it taste awesome. (I’ve written two posts in the past about all the positives of Pomi. Check them out here and here)
Is it bad that I might put some risotto to the side from now on just so I can have these the next day?
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