sometimes ideas of recipes come to me. other times i need to search high and low for inspiration. i really don't like making something just to make it. i prefer to be inspired by an ingredient, or an idea. usually these ideas get stuck in my head until i figure them out. having gluten and dairy intolerances can get in the way of making an ordinary recipe, but that is part of the fun. i love finding interesting recipes, making substitutions, and producing something that is within the confines of what my body can tolerate. i really take joy in finding ways of making food tasty and yummy and the best i can possibly make it. having this blog has let me be creative in so many ways that i wouldn't have been in my non-blog life. big thanks to supportive people out there. i've been making a lot of recipes lately revolving around ingredients that i see at the farmer's markets. i never saw myself as someone who cooks only with what is in season. however, i'm finding that one ingredient can inspire an entire dish if you you let it. the ingredient of choice this time around was spring garlic. i thought they were so beautiful, and i immediately had recipes running through my head. the spring garlic has a similar taste and smell to garlic cloves, but the texture is more onion-like. i've sautéed them, roasted them, and eaten them raw (i encourage only people who really love garlic to do this), all yielding awesome results.
crispy spring garlic + yam salad
inspired by Adina Niemerow - Food & Wine, March 2012
serves 2
1 large white yam or sweet potato, cut into 2-by-1/3- inch sticks
1 1/2 cups miner's lettuce (you can substitute mung sprouts, or adzuki sprouts,or any other seasonal sprout)
2 cups packed lettuce greens
1 small cucumber, cut into 1/2 inch dice
6 stalks spring garlic, bulbs finely sliced, greens discarded (scallions will work too)
1 ripe avocado, sliced
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds, toasted
1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted
3 tablespoons olive oil
large grain sea salt
// dressing
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons low sodium tamari
1/2 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
// directions
pre heat oven to 375°
line a baking sheet with parchment paper
in a bowl, toss the potato sticks with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil (use more if needed), and a couple pinches of large grain salt. turn out onto baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes, until crisp and lightly browned - flip them over every 10-15 minutes. remove and let cool
while the potatoes are baking, heat a skillet on medium. coat pan with olive oil. add sliced garlic, and sauté until crispy - about 8 minutes. remove from heat and drain the garlic on a paper towel to remove excess oil
in a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, balsamic, tamari, and honey with the olive oil
in a large bowl, combine the lettuces, cucumbers, crispy garlic, baked yams, and sliced avocado with the dressing. sprinkle with seed mixture, serve and enjoy