Roasted Golden Beet & Yellow Tomato Pizza

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IMG_2641 Pizza

Pizza Arrosto Di Barbabietola Dorata e Pomodoro Giallo is what this pizza is called in Italian….

I was looking for something different in terms of making a healthy pizza. I had an abundance of golden beets. So I roasted them and made pizza dough that was topped off with red onions onions, lots of roasted golden beets, a little fresh mozzarella and a little bit of crumbled goat cheese. A little salt and a little honey added the sweet and savory taste that made this almost vegan pizza, Oh so good! And of course a glass of Chardonnay went perfectly with this pizza. A glass a wine is optional, but I highly recommend it!

And if you know someone who doesn’t like beets, this pizza might convert them.

Makes One 10-inch Pizza, Serving 8

Ingredients:

One 4-ounce golden beet
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pound Basic Pizza Dough
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
cup goat cheese, crumbled
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 pint yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon honey
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Fresh snipped chives, for garnish

Special Equipment:
Parchment Paper
Pizza Stone

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Leave root and 1 inch of stem on beet; scrub with a brush. Wrap beet in parchment paper and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 450°F for 40 minutes or until tender. Remove from oven; cool. Trim off beet root; peel off skin. Cut beet in half crosswise; thinly slice halves.

Position an oven rack in the lowest setting. Place a pizza stone on lowest rack. Increase oven temperature to 500°F.

Preheat pizza stone 30 minutes before baking pizza.

Gently brush oil over Basic Pizza Dough. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top of the dough, followed by beet slices,red onion and yellow tomatoes, evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Slide dough onto preheated pizza stone, using a spatula as a guide. Bake at  500° F  for 8 minutes or until crust is golden.

Remove from pizza stone. Sprinkle with salt  and drizzle with honey. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and snipped chives.

Cut into 8 wedges and serve.

Cook’s Notes:
If you can substitute shallots for the red onion, if desired. A commercially prepared pizza crust also works in a pinch when there is not enough t time to make the pizza dough.

Hello Friends!

All photographs and content, excepted where noted, are copyright protected. Please do not use these photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this photograph and all other contents, then we kindly ask that you link back to this site. We are eternally grateful and we appreciate your support of this blog.

Thank you!

Product Review: Verve Culture Green Curry Thai for Two

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Hello There Loyal Fans and Followers!

I have something I want to share with you, but first of all,Full Disclosure…..
By no means  do I receive any compensation or product endorsement from any company, but I am always happy to find extremely  the excellent products in which I think most people could benefit from.

One of this such finds is Thai for Two Curry Kits from Verve Culture.

Verve Culture is a women-run business spanning three generational groups from Baby Boomer, Gen X, to Millennial. We are in constant pursuit of life travelled fully. As founders,a mother and daughter team and have worked together for 25 years in the gift industry. After becoming disillusioned with the mass produced products prevalent in the marketplace, we started to seek products that were more unique and have actual heart and soul.

Verve Culture’s concept is about Culture Exploration and is not product specific. They curate iconic items that are made in the country of origin using traditional practices.  They also work with a team of amazing artisans and craftsmen from around the world that are proud to share their stories of heritage and passion.

They are committed to offering an inside view of how certain tools and tastes can create memorable experiences with friends and family. Beautiful, purposeful, authentic and respectful of the people who make the items, is at the heart of Verve Culture’s  philosophy. Each of  their kitchen, homeware and gourmet food products comes with the story of where it is made, by whom, and the history of the item.  Verve Culture believe that exposure to new cultures and experiences brings joy.

And with that being said, I was intrigued to try some of their epicurean food offerings.  Earlier this year, they were offering a special deal on buying four meal kits  and receiving one for free, with free shipping. Given the COVID-19 Pandemic and I was missing the entrees and soups from my favorite Thai restaurant, I took a chance to see what these products were all about. In the past, I have tried meal kit services like Plated, Home Chef, and Blue Apron with mixed success.

So I decided to try the Green Curry , which is is one of the most recognizable and iconic dishes from Thailand. It is both gently soothing and packed with flavor.  Verve Culture  work with an organic farm in Thailand to give the consumer  authentic green curry ingredients that are hard to get – seasonings and herbs, like kaffir lime leaves and Thai green chile peppers  that makes the meal deliciously, authentically Thai. This kit is unbelievably easy to make.  Along with the pre-packaged items in the kit, you can add your own protein and vegetables, follow the easy directions, and in less than ten minutes you’ll have your first bite. ……..and it is a delicious one, leaving you wanting more.

The Thai Green Curry Meal Kit includes:

  • Instructions
  • Organic dried herbs
  • Organic green curry seasoning
  • Organic green curry paste
  • Organic coconut milk

Straight from the source
Verve Culture worked with a USDA-certified organic farm in Thailand that yields fresh, pure produce like kaffir lime leaf, galangal, and lemongrass. This farm uses renewable resources and conserves the fertility of their soil and water to preserve the environmental quality for future generations.

Everyone-friendly
These Thai kits are organic, vegan, gluten-free, and sustainably-made. They’re easy, convenient, and healthy – and not to mention gift-worthy thanks to the beautiful drawstring bag! Perfect for date night or a hostess gift at your next dinner party.

You’ll have date nights and family nights covered with our Thai cooking kits. Check out the rest of them here.

Meet the Farmers
Verve Culture partnered with Somkiat and Pornpan – a couple who met in university studying Food Engineering. Their family is dedicated to sharing the true taste of Thailand from their organic farm, and only use pure ingredients without fillers. Learn more about them here.

Ingredients: Ingredients:
Organic Coconut Milk, Organic Sugar, Organic Green Chili,  Salt, Organic Rice Bran Oil, Organic Garlic, Organic Shallot, Organic Galangal, Organic Lemongrass, Organic Coriander Leaves, Organic Dried Sweet Basil Leaves, Organic Kaffir Lime Rind, Organic Dried Kaffir Lime Leaves, Organic Dried Sliced Chili, Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid (INS330)).
* Contains Coconut
* Manufactured in a facility that uses peanut ingredients.

Thai Green Curry is known for its spicy, tangy and pungent flavor, enriched with the fresh taste of coconut milk and kaffir limes leaves. 

Here is my offering of the meal kit. I opted to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs as my protein. Broccoli, green beans, and julienned carrots along with a few fresh serrano chilies and mini red bell peppers were my vegetables of choice.

Basically, everything in Verve Culture’s Thai for Two Organic Green Curry cooking kit comply with global standards for organic certified ingredients.

6 EAST STEPS FOR AUTHENTIC GREEN CURRY

  1. Heat 1 Tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or saucepan over medium heat and fry Organic Green Curry Paste for 1 minute to release the aroma. Use less paste to make the final dish less spicy.
  2. Add the Organic Coconut Milk and stir until the oil starts separating on the surface.
  3. Add 1 1/4 (150 ml) water. Bring to a boil.
  4. Add Organic Green Curry Seasoning. Mix well for about 2 minutes.
  5. Add your desired meat or protein and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add desired vegetables. Stir the mixture for another 2-3 minutes until cooked.
  6. Add Organic Dried Herbs, and mix well together.

Serve with jasmine rice, and enjoy!

Simple Green Curry combination suggestions:

  • Chicken, broccoli and green beans
  • Chicken, asparagus, broccoli and spring onions
  • Shrimp, zucchini and sugar snap peas
  • Tofu, green beans, broccoli and green peppers
  • Tofu, asparagus and green beans

For the more adventurous palate…

    • Thai eggplant is round, green, and found in most Asian markets. Occasionally you will also find Pea Eggplant there too. When cooked, both of these eggplants become softer and absorb the flavor of the sauce.
      thai-eggplant pea-eggplant
    • Bok Choy and Chinese Broccoli are traditional and nutrient dense vegetable additions to Thai curry, and are available in most supermarkets
      bok-choy        chinese-broccoli

The best thing about Verve Culture’s  Thai for Two cooking kits is that you can customize them in countless ways. Use all the vegetables that are in the fridge. Take advantage of that great deal on pork at the supermarket. Use tofu or seitan on meatless Monday. The possibilities are endless, and totally up to you!

To be perfectly honest, this was one of the best meal kits I ever had. It was so easy to make that any home cook on any level from beginner to completely experienced, will find it a pleasure. It is also great for kids who are just learning to cook as well.

The basic kit cost $12.00 each, which comes down to $6.00 per serving. A few other kits cost about $15.00. This price range is reasonable for most home cook’s budgets. It is also the perfect meal kit to use in family activity in teaching kids how to cook a simple meal.

The packaging provides for shelf stable products. The coconut milk is vacuumed sealed in a pouch as wells as the other ingredients like the green curry paste, the dried herbs and seasonings are also packaged separately and labeled for you convenience.

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the rating that is the best ever, this meal kit is a 5, ten times over. It was really that good. Authentic Thai to a tee……

Just so, you know, that in the  past two months, these kits have become very popular.

So , just a note, go to the Verve Culture website and pre-order today! This flavor is currently sold out and will be back in stock in limited quantities in late September. Order today to reserve your Green Curry Cooking Kits. Be sure to check out our other flavors which are still available (but selling fast!).

Hello Friends!

All photographs and content, excepted where noted, are copyright protected. Please do not use these photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this photograph and all other contents, then we kindly ask that you link back to this site. We are eternally grateful and we appreciate your support of this blog.

Thank You!

Inside the Thai Pantry

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This is a first in a series of posts to help with adding a bit of variety to your pantry staples. Happy Eating!

The Global Pantry Series: Inside the Thai Pantry

by Ashley Russell
The Table Home Chef Blog

For our money, no cuisine out there manages to hit on all the flavors – sweet, salty, sour, umami, (and yes, sometimes spicy!) like Thai food. From universally loved noodle dishes like Pad Thai, to more adventurous ones like deep fried whole fish with chili sauce or fiery minced meat dips, there’s a kaleidoscope of flavors to explore beyond what’s offered at the average takeout spot. Cooking Thai food at home can seem intimidating to many cooks, but you’d be surprised how many dishes are built on the same foundational ingredients and simple techniques. Shopping ahead of time for some key pantry items will ensure you can create those intense flavors you expect from a restaurant at home, and the rest is simple – just add vegetables, rice or rice noodles, and the protein of your choice to your weekly shopping list and you can be cooking authentic-tasting Thai food in no time.

(image via indie culinary)

Curry Paste

Thai curries can be laborious to make from scratch, as they often contain garlic, chilies, galangal, lemongrass, and dried shrimp. Luckily, some great-quality pre-made curry pastes can be purchased in your local Asian market or online, like these ones from Mae Ploy. They come in a rainbow of curries, like red, yellow, green, and panang. If you’re looking for a seafood-free version, these vegan pastes by Maesri are your best bet. A little goes a long way, and they keep well, so we recommend buying them all and finding your favorite!

(image via street smart kitchen)

Sauces

Thai cooks rely on an arsenal of sauces for the umami flavors they add to stir-fries and noodle dishes. We couldn’t choose just one sauce to recommend, so we’re suggesting two: oyster sauce, and fish sauce. These sauces are versatile and widely available, but don’t judge them by their smell straight from the bottle! They’re both used in small amounts, and don’t taste overtly fishy in the finished dish – especially if you buy from brands with high quality standards, like Red Boat and Lee Kum Kee. If you’ve just been cooking with soy sauce up until now and feel like your stir-fries or curries are missing depth of flavor, these are the two sauces that you need in your kitchen. Interested in diving in deeper? Street Smart Kitchen has a great guide to Asian sauces.

(image via inquiring chef)

Tamarind Paste

Lime juice is liberally used in many Thai dishes, but it’s not the only sour component you’ll find in the Thai pantry. Tamarind, the pulp of a tropical tree pod is both fruity and really tangy – and it’s used in savory dishes, desserts, and even drinks! You may have seen the large brown pods for sale in Mexican or Asian grocery stores, but if not, you can buy a shelf stable concentrate with no compromise in flavor. We like this one from our friends at The Spice House. but if you’re feeling intrepid, you can make your own using this guide from Inquiring Chef.

(image via inquiring chef)

Bird’s Eye Chilies

If you’ve ever ordered Thai takeout, you’re familiar with the follow up question “how spicy?” Contrary to popular belief here in the states, some Thai dishes are meant to be enjoyed spicy while others are completely mild, and you’d never order using the star rating for spice at a restaurant in Thailand. Whether you’re spice fanatical or fearful, one of the best parts about cooking Thai at home is that you can control the heat. Thai Bird’s Eye Chilies are easy to find dry or in paste form, and as a pepper that rates 50,000 – 100,000 on the Scoville scale, a little goes a long way. Serve Nam Prik Pao table-side so everyone can add as much (or as little) as they like, or if not, there’s always Sriracha.

(image via the kitchn)

Coconut Milk

There’s nothing like fresh milk straight from the coconut, but we know that’s not realistic for most of us living outside of the tropics! Great coconut milk is essential for making Thai curries, and luckily, it’s now widely available at most stores. However, there’s a lot of varieties and formats out there, and it can get confusing fast. We’ll make it easy: look for full fat, unsweetened coconut milk, in a box (or tetra pak) if you can find it. We love the Aroy-D brand, straight from Thailand.

Kaffir Lime Leaves

Lastly, there’s lime leaves. Like we’ve mentioned previously, lime juice is often  added as a final squeeze of freshness in many dishes, but Thai cooks don’t just stop at the fruit! The leaves are incredibly fragrant, and if you’ve ever enjoyed a comforting bowl of Tom Kha Gai soup, you know how distinctive the flavor they add is. As with Kaffir limes, their leaves are not easy to find fresh – look for them frozen, and next time your curry needs a dose of fresh, zesty aroma, snip in a leaf, thinly sliced.