Cooking with Chef Alba

Zen Comfort Vegetable Soup for Winter

Zen Comfort Vegetable Soup for Winter

Imagine a cold winter day or evening where the air is crisp and you crave something soothing, warm and nourishing. This Zen Comfort Vegetable Soup recipe is a bowl of pure warmth—each ingredient thoughtfully chosen by chef Alba to create a harmonious blend of flavors. Delicate slices of shallot, carrot, zucchini, and celery leaves mingle with sweet potato and green apple, infusing the broth with subtle sweetness and earthy undertones. Fresh thyme add a touch of green vitality, while whole ginger and a hint of lemon skin bring a gentle, invigorating heat that warms you from the inside out.

As the soup simmers, the aroma of bay leaves and herbs fills the kitchen, promising comfort and calm. Every spoonful is light yet deeply satisfying, with the ginger and lemon lifting your spirits and the vegetables offering gentle nourishment. Served in a cup or small bowl, this soup is perfect for quiet moments on chilly days.

Zen Comfort Vegetable Soup for Winter

1 small shallot, peeled and thinly sliced

½ small carrot, thinly sliced

¼ small zucchini, thinly sliced

Green leaves of celery with small stalks, thinly sliced

2–3-inch stalk of broccoli, trimmed and thinly sliced

1/3 white sweet potato, peeled and thinly sliced

½ small green apple, peeled and thinly sliced

2 bay leaves

2 sprigs of fresh thyme

1–2-inch piece of whole ginger, peeled

1 slice of lemon skin, slice vegetable peeler

Salt and black pepper, optional

Directions

In a large soup pan, add 8-12 cups of warm water to the pan. Add all of the ingredients listed, bring to a boil, then simmer on lowest setting for at least 1 hour. Taste for seasoning and adjust to your taste. Remove the herbs and serve soup in a cup or small bowl. Serve with only freshly group black pepper if you like.

Carabaccua Tuscan Onion Soup

Tuscan Onion Soup

Carabaccia Tuscan Onion Soup

¼ cup ground almonds

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Dash ground cinnamon

1 large red onion, very thinly sliced

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt and black pepper

1 tablespoon honey

3 cups hot vegetable broth or hot water

Grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese

A slice of toasted bread per person

1. Mix the ground almonds with the vinegar and a dash of cinnamon and set aside to macerate in a small bowl.

2. In a large pot, braise the onions in a few tablespoons of olive oil with a pinch of salt until they are translucent and falling apart soft. Begin on medium-low then on low heat.

3. When the onions are done, add the macerated almonds, mix them into the onions. Let the onions and almonds sauté for a few minutes, then add the honey, and black pepper, and sauté for a few minutes more.

4. When all the flavors have melded, add the broth and simmer gently 10-12 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning.

5. To serve, lay a slice of toasted bread in the bottom of each bowl, ladle over the onion soup. Top with grated cheese, a sprinkling of cinnamon, and a drizzle of oil. Serve immediately while the soup is still hot.

Carabaccia is a sweet and savory Tuscan onion soup made with slow-cooked red onions and wine vinegar. The Tuscans claim they created this onion soup; it was added in a 1500s cookbook. This rich tasting soup is easy to make perfect served with a slice of toasted bread!

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Apple Celery and Gorgonzola Salad

1 large red apple, unpeeled, cored, and thinly sliced

1 large green apple, unpeeled, cored, and thinly sliced

2 celery stalks, thinly sliced

6 iceberg lettuce leaves, torn

4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

½ red onion, thinly sliced

½ cup walnut or pecan halves, chopped and lightly toasted

Dressing:

2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed

Salt, and black pepper

1. Combine the apples, celery, lettuce, cheese, and onion in a bowl.

2. Dressing: Whisk oil, lemon juice, mustard, and garlic in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Taste dressing, adjust as needed. Place the lettuce on a platter, add the apple mixture on top.

4. Drizzle dressing over salad and lightly toss it to combine.

5. Serve salad with warm walnuts on top. .

Baked Pear Salad with Bacon and Walnuts

2 semi ripe pears

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

6 slice belly bacon or thick bacon, cut into 2-inch pieces

Zest of ½-1 lemon

1-2 teaspoons lemon juice

1/2 cup walnuts

3 tablespoons Marsala wine (or any sweet wine)

Sea Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

1 cup arugula

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Core and slice the pears into ¼ inch slices. Line a baking sheet and drizzle olive oil on top. Add the sliced pears. Bake until the pears are slightly golden. Do not cook to soft.

2. Cut the bacon into 2-inch pieces. Cook in a frying pan or bake until crispy. Remove the bacon. You can leave the bacon fat or remove some of it. Add lemon zest and juice to the pan. Add the walnuts and toss.

3. Deglaze the pan with the wine, taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.

4. Scatter the Arugula on a platter and top of the pears and bacon. Drizzle the pan dripping and walnuts over the salad.

Ricotta and Spinach Strudel for the Holidays!

Ricotta and Spinach Strudel

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Add butter to a skillet, went hot, add the garlic and spinach. Cok over medium- high heat for about 4-5 minutes until the spinach is mostly wilted. Stir occasionally. Place the cooked
spinach in a colander and drain to remove the excess liquid, if necessary, press it a little with a spoon, then let it cool.

3. When the spinach is well drained, rough chop it with a knife then transfer to a large bowl, Add the grated cheese, the egg, the ricotta, pepper, and grated nutmeg. Mix well. Taste for seasoning and add a pinch of salt if needed.

4. Roll out the dough on a sheet of parchment paper, pour the filling only on one half of the dough giving it a rectangular shape. Leave about ½ inch edge from the lower and side edge where you have the filling. Fold the lower edge first, then the 2 side flaps. Using the parchment paper, turn the strudel upside down so that the filling is completely wrapped in the pastry, with the closure at the bottom.

5. In a small bowl, combine an egg yolk, milk, and mix. Brush the surface of the strudel with the milk and egg yolk mixture. Make a few cuts on the surface of the strudel and transfer the strudel to the baking tray. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until evenly golden browned. Remove from the oven, let cool.

This is the classic delicious Italian Strudel, super simple and very appetizing!

Crusty Golden Scallops with Arugula Pesto

Crusty Golden Scallops with Arugula Pesto

3 tablespoons chopped almond or walnuts

1-2 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups packed baby arugula

3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1⁄3 – ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

8 large sea scallops, muscles removed and dry

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

1/2 cup white wine

1. Arugula Pesto: Pulse the nuts, garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper in a food processor until rustic ground. Add the arugula and pulse again. With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Add the grated cheese and pulse to your liking either into a rustic or smooth paste. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.

2. Dry the Scallops be sure to place the scallops on paper towels early in the day to remove any excess liquid. Change the paper after 4 hours.

3. Season the scallops with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add 1 tablespoon of butter. When the butter melts, add the scallops and sear until golden brown on each side. Do not overcrowd the pan. If using a small pan, cook in 2 batches. Add pieces of butter in the pan as needed if it is too dry. Cook first side until crusty golden brown, do not turn the scallops until first side is done. Remember to turn only once during the cooking process. Cook the other side to golden leaving a slight barely uncooked middle. Remove the scallops to a plate. Add the white wine and reduce to slightly creamy.

4. To Serve: When ready, spoon the pesto over the scallops and serve warm.

I love to make this dish because it's really quick to make and absolutely tasty.

It is a favorite in my cooking classes.

Baked Honey Roasted Garlic Potatoes

Baked Honey Roasted Garlic Potatoes

1-pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled

1 head garlic

3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 tablespoons honey

½ - 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika

1 ½ teaspoons minced rosemary

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Handful minced fresh parsley, for topping

1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Cut the potatoes into evenly sized wedges or in half if small, and transfer to a bowl.

3. Separate the cloves from the head of garlic leaving the skin on. Cut a small slit on each clove and add it into bowl.

4. Drizzle the olive oil over the potatoes and garlic, then add the honey, paprika, rosemary and season with salt and black pepper. Toss and mix well.

5. Transfer the potatoes to the baking tray. Bake for 20-30 minutes depending on size of potatoes. Turn the potatoes over after 10 minutes. Test doneness by inserted a toothpick in the center of a potato.

6. Gently mix the potatoes in the baking tray and remove the skins of the garlic before transferring into a serving dish. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve warm.

Why keep the skin on the garlic?

On a culinary level, cooking garlic with the peel has the advantage of preserving the internal juice and therefore giving a more delicate flavor to the dish. Garlic with skin can withstand higher temperatures much longer without burning. In this recipe you will enjoy the roasted garlic as much as the delicious potatoes.

Delicata Squash in Balsamic and Sesame

1/2-pound delicata squash, cut into 2-inch pieces

1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar

3 tablespoons good quality balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons lightly toasted sesame seeds

1/2 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and black pepper

1. Place the toasted sesames in a mortar and lightly crush them.

2. Blanch the pumpkin pieces in hot water for 2 minutes. Strain, cool, and completely dry.

3. Pour the sugar and balsamic into a pan and melt over low heat. Add the pieces of pumpkin to the pan and let them flavor for a few minutes. Drizzle with oil and a few drops of water and cook for about 10 minutes until the cooking juices are slightly dry.

4. When the pumpkin is soft and well caramelized, turn off the heat and let it cool. Distribute the pumpkin on individual plates, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve.

Delicata Squash

You can make this recipe with any squash or pumpkin, just remember to peel them first. I used “delicata squash” because the skin is thin and soft, making it completely edible. When cooked, the skin of delicata squash becomes tender and caramelizes. Make sure to use good quality balsamic for this recipe!

Sgroppino Creamy Lemony Italian Cocktail

Sgroppino is a delicious creamy and lemony summer cocktail made with lemon sorbet, chilled prosecco, and vodka. It originated from the Italian region of Veneto around the beginning of the sixteenth century. The term sgroppino derives from the Venetian dialect, "sgropparsi" which means to digest. It was enjoyed at the end of a sumptuous meal mainly by the wealthy classes of society. From generation to generation, this cocktail has been handed down to present day because of its bright refreshing flavors. This cocktail has remained popular all throughout Italy over the years. It is a delightful drink served to cleanse the palate between courses, a refreshing aperitif, and even an excellent drink to conclude a meal as a dessert especially for lemon lovers. Sgroppino is a very elegant drink best served either in champagne flutes or crystal wine glasses.

Recipe for 1 person

2-ounces chilled Prosecco

1-ounce cold Vodka

1 scoop lemon sorbet

Mint or basil leaves for decoration

Fresh lemon slices or zest for decoration

Add the first 3 ingredients in a cocktail shaker and gently shake. Decorate with fresh herbs and fresh lemon slices.

I am happy to share this recipe with you, not only because I know you will love this refreshing cocktail, but also because sgroppino is not your average drink that you can find in any bar or restaurant in USA. Enjoy making it especially on a hot summer day!

Chicken Strips with Fresh Oranges

2 small chicken breasts, cut into thin strips

Flour for dredging

salt and black pepper

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Zest 1 large organic orange

juice of 2 large organic oranges

Fresh basil for topping

1. Cut the chicken breast into 3-inch-long thin strips. Be sure to cut all strips about the same size for even cooking.

2. Lightly and uniformly flour the chicken strips and place them in one layer on a tray. Be sure to shake off any excess flour or flour will burn in the skillet. Season the chicken strips with salt and pepper.

3. In a large skillet, add a drizzle of olive oil on medium heat. When hot, add half of the batch of the chicken strips and cook until golden on all sides. Transfer the first batch to a warm plate. Repeat the process with a drizzle of olive and the 2^nd batch of chicken strips. Transfer to the plate with the 1^st batch and cover.

4. In the same skillet, add another drizzle of olive oil on medium, when warm, add the orange juice and zest. Cook for about a minute to start to thicken; add the chicken strips back in the skillet. Mix gently to coat the chicken. Warm the chicken until the orange sauce just thickens. Remove from heat, add the fresh basil, and serve warm.

In this recipe, the orange gives a sweet and sour tone to the chicken dish, giving life to a unique and unparalleled taste!