Starters Archives - Page 3 of 12

Poached Shrimp with Peach Habanero Hot Sauce

September 6, 2024 No Comments

The summer may be winding down but patio weather lingers. Sure, school is back in session but we still have acres of good weather ahead of us. So before we dig out our casserole dishes and launch into soup mode, let’s keep those effortless summer recipes going a little longer. Today’s Poached Shrimp with Peach Habanero Hot Sauce fits that particular brief perfectly. It can be made in advance, it pairs well with a beer or a crisp glass of white, and its cook-time is minimal. Sounds pretty summery to me!

Cocktails & Beverages, Starters, Vegetarian

Bloody Mary Spritz

August 12, 2024 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Lately, I’ve been researching savory cocktails. It’s not that I have anything against sweet\fruity drinks. I just don’t find them particularly compelling. And overly sweet beverages? I cannot stress enough how much I dislike them. A drink should have a lot more going on than just sweetness. You’re not popping a straw into a Capri-Sun after all. I do like the taste of alcohol, I don’t need it to be masked. But savory cocktails take things even further. They don’t just balance the sweet with the alcohol burn. They put the sweet in the back seat in favor of notes of feta brine, pickle brine, tomatoes, celery, and/or fish sauce. And if this all sounds gross to you, I promise it is not. Plus, they double as an appetizer, which is just economical. Today’s Bloody Mary Spritz definitely fits the cocktail/appetizer description.

Salads, Sides, Starters

Watermelon Salad with Whipped Ricotta

July 2, 2024 No Comments

Jump to Recipe

I feel a little silly dedicating an entire post to this wee Watermelon Salad with Whipped Ricotta. As I said in a recent Instagram post, this is less of a recipe and more of a styling exercise. But this combo tasted so good that it seemed cruel to keep it from you. So here we are with a less-than-five-step recipe that is more of a concept. It’s fair to ask what this historic combo is. You’re looking at a solid disc of juicy watermelon topped with a ribbon of whipped ricotta dotted with bits of olive drizzled with Calabrian chili oil. The salad is finished with a sprinkling of crushed pistachios and bits of wood sorrel.

Custards & Puddings, Starters

Asparagus Mousse with Tarragon Oil

June 20, 2024 No Comments

Jump to Recipe

Okay, so these Asparagus Mousse Cups look intimidating. You put edible flowers on anything and it’s “Hello, tasting menu”. But despite its bespoke appearance, this is not a difficult recipe and it’s an excellent starter particularly when temperatures soar and you’re looking to get a meal off to a refreshing start. These cups feature a butter-poached asparagus mousse topped with a pool of homemade tarragon oil. Chive blossoms and wood sorrel decorate the edges to create a whimsical dish that will delight and impress guests like no other. So let’s make ‘em!