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Serves 4
Ingredients
4 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion, minced
4 cups whole milk
8 cups chicken stock
3 cups instant polenta
1 cup packed Thai basil leaves
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon pink peppercorns, hand cracked
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Add 1 tablespoon butter to large sauce pan over medium-high heat and melt. Add onion, sauté until softened, and season with salt and pepper. Add milk and stock and bring to a simmer. Whisk in polenta and cook until creamy and smooth. Check flavor and season, if necessary. Whisk in remaining butter. Meanwhile, toss Thai basil with lemon zest and juice and season with salt and pepper. Serve polenta in bowls and top with Thai basil salad and pink peppercorns.
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Ming Tsai is the host and executive producer of public television series Simply Ming. Each week, Simply Ming brings mouthwatering recipes inspired by the combination of East and West into homes across the country.
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By Susie Middleton |


Even if you don’t have a gluten intolerance, you’ll find the tender, fluffy, and flavorful Gluten-Free Buttermilk Pancakes in this recipe irresistible! Rather than use a lot of cornstarch and refined rice flour, as many gluten-free recipes do, these pancakes are based on more nutritious, fiber-rich whole-grain brown rice flour and almond meal.
Serves: 4
Ingredients
4-3/4 oz. (1 cup) brown rice flour
1-1/2 oz. (1/3 cup) almond meal
1 Tbs. cornstarch
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. table salt
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 Tbs. canola oil
1 Tbs. honey
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Cooking spray
Pure maple syrup, for serving
Directions
Heat the oven to 200°F.
In a large bowl, whisk the brown rice flour, almond meal, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs, canola oil, honey, and vanilla. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined.
Coat a large nonstick griddle or skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-low heat until hot. Working in batches, ladle a scant 1/4 cup of the batter per pancake onto the griddle or skillet, leaving a few inches of space between each to allow for spreading. Cook until golden-brown on the bottom and beginning to dry around the edges, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook the pancakes until the other side is golden-brown, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a large baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Spray the griddle with a fresh coating of oil between each batch.
Serve the pancakes with the maple syrup.
Nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 100; Fat (g): 4; Fat Calories (kcal): 40; Saturated Fat (g): .5; Protein (g): 3; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 1; Carbohydrates (g): 12; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): .5; Sodium (mg): 200; Cholesterol (mg): 30; Fiber (g): 1;
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Susie Middleton is editor at large for Fine Cooking magazine. |
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By Susie Middleton |


Pasta night just got a bit more interesting, and delicious, thanks to this recipe for pasta with roasted cauliflower, arugula, and prosciutto. It’s a dish that loads your plate with color and flavor.
Serves: 4
Ingredients
Kosher salt
One-half medium head cauliflower, cored and cut into 3/4-inch florets (3-1/2 cups)
1 pint grape tomatoes
3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
9 large fresh sage leaves
4 large cloves garlic, peeled
6 thin slices prosciutto (about 4 oz.)
12 oz. dried orecchiette
5 oz. baby arugula (5 lightly packed cups)
3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Directions
Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil.
Toss the cauliflower, tomatoes, oil, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper on a rimmed baking sheet; spread in a single layer. Roast, stirring once or twice, until the cauliflower begins to turn golden and tender, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, pulse the sage and garlic in a food processor until minced. Add the prosciutto and pulse until coarsely chopped. Once the cauliflower is golden, toss the herb mixture into the vegetables and continue to roast until fragrant and the cauliflower is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.
Boil the orecchiette until al dente, 9 to 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta-cooking water. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Stir in the roasted cauliflower mixture, arugula, cheese, and enough pasta water to moisten. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 300; Fat (g): 16; Fat Calories (kcal): 140; Saturated Fat (g): 3; Protein (g): 34; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 8; Carbohydrates (g): 4; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 3; Sodium (mg): 650; Cholesterol (mg): 55; Fiber (g): 1;
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Susie Middleton is editor at large for Fine Cooking magazine. |
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By Susie Middleton |


For a healthy, delicious weeknight dinner, look no further than quickly seared fresh tuna steaks. Fresh tuna is so good for you – it’s chock full of heart-healthy omega 3s – and its dense, meaty texture and flavor taste great, too. The steaks take less than 5 minutes to cook, and a zesty tomato-olive salad to go with them takes only a few minutes more.
Serves: 4
Ingredients
4 5-oz. boneless, skinless tuna steaks
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium shallot, finely chopped
2 cups mixed yellow and red grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup sliced pitted green olives, such as picholine or Cerignola
2 Tbs. finely chopped fresh basil
1/2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
Directions
Season the tuna with 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange the tuna in the skillet in a single layer and cook, turning once, until done to your liking (3 to 4 minutes for medium rare). Transfer the tuna to a large plate.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the shallot to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until golden-brown, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, olives, basil, 1/2 tsp. salt, and a few grinds of pepper; cook until warmed through and the tomatoes are just softened, about 2 minutes more. Remove the skillet from the heat and gently stir in the lemon juice.
Transfer the tuna to plates, top with the tomato salad, and serve.
Nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 300; Fat (g): 16; Fat Calories (kcal): 140; Saturated Fat (g): 3; Protein (g): 34; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 8; Carbohydrates (g): 4; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 3; Sodium (mg): 650; Cholesterol (mg): 55; Fiber (g): 1;
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Susie Middleton is editor at large for Fine Cooking magazine. |
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By Susie Middleton |


Just say the name of this incredible recipe -- Texas Beef Chili with Poblanos and Beer – and you know that it’s going to be good. This is a classic Texas-style chili because contains meat and chiles, but no beans (although they do make a tasty garnish, if you like). It’s got a great spicy kick, and its flavor gets even better if you make it a day or two before, so plan ahead. We promise it'll be worth it!
Tip: Try it with chipotle and New Mexico chile powders, available from McCormick in your grocery store.
Serves: 8
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil; more as needed
2 large sweet onions, diced (about 4 cups)
2 large fresh poblano peppers (or green bell peppers), stemmed, seeded, and diced (about 1-1/2 cups)
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. kosher salt; more to taste
4-1/2 lb. boneless beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 bay leaves
2 cinnamon sticks, 3 to 4 inches long
3 Tbs. New Mexico chile powder (or 2 tablespoons ancho chile powder)
1 Tbs. chipotle chile powder
1 Tbs. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
12-oz. bottle amber ale, such as Shiner Bock (made in Shiner, Texas), Dos Equis Amber, or Anchor Steam Liberty Ale
1-1/2 qt. homemade or low-salt beef broth
For the Garnish
2 14-oz. cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 medium tomatoes, cored, seeded, and chopped
1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
12 oz. sour cream or whole-milk plain yogurt
Directions
In a 12-inch skillet, heat 2 Tbs. of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté until softened, translucent, and starting to brown, 8 to 10 min. Add the poblanos, reduce the heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the poblanos soften, another 8 to 10 min. If the pan seems dry, add a little more olive oil. Add the garlic and 1 tsp. salt and sauté for another 5 min. Set aside.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil in an 8-quart or larger Dutch oven (preferably enameled cast iron) over medium-high heat. Sear the beef cubes until browned and crusty on two sides, working in batches to avoid crowding the pan. With tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the browned beef to a bowl. During searing, it’s fine if the pan bottom gets quite dark, but if it smells like it’s burning, reduce the heat a bit. If the pan ever gets dry, add a little more oil.
Once all the beef is seared and set aside, add the onions and peppers to the pan, along with the bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, chile powders, cumin, and cloves and cook, stirring, until the spices coat the vegetables and are fragrant, 15 to 30 seconds. Slowly add the beer while scraping the pan bottom with a wooden spoon to dissolve the coating of spices. Simmer until the beer is reduced by about half and the mixture has thickened slightly, 5 to 7 min. Add the beef, along with any accumulated juices, and the beef broth. Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer, partially covered, for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Test a cube of meat—you should be able to cut it with a spoon. Discard the cinnamon sticks and bay leaves.
If not serving immediately, chill overnight. The next day, skim any fat from the top, if necessary, before reheating.
To serve, heat the chili gently. Using a slotted spoon, transfer about 2 cups of the beef cubes to a plate. Shred the meat with a fork and return it to pot. (The shredded meat will help create a thicker texture.) Taste and add more salt if needed. Heat the beans in a medium bowl covered with plastic in the microwave (or heat them gently in a saucepan). Arrange the beans, chopped red onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and sour cream in small bowls to serve as garnishes with the chili.
Nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 590; Fat (g): 29; Fat Calories (kcal): 260; Saturated Fat (g): 11; Protein (g): 58; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 13; Carbohydrates (g): 20; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 2; Sodium (mg): 900; Cholesterol (mg): 175; Fiber (g): 6.
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Susie Middleton is editor at large for Fine Cooking magazine. |
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By Susie Middleton |

Chicken Parmesan doesn’t have to take hours to make. In fact, we're going to show you how to make a quick version that tastes just as good as the original!
These crisp chicken cutlets are topped with two cheeses and a super-fast tomato sauce in this easy take on an Italian restaurant favorite.
Serves: 4
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
2-1/4 oz. (1/2 cup) unbleached all-purpose flour
Freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
1-1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
4 thin-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breast cutlets (about 14 oz.)
Kosher salt
5 Tbs. olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (use the small holes on a box grater)
4 oz. fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 14.5-oz. can crushed tomatoes (preferably Muir Glen fire-roasted crushed tomatoes)
1/4 cup packed fresh basil, chopped (1/2 oz.)
Directions
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmedbaking sheet with foil and lightly coat the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Mix the flour and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a wide, shallow dish. In a second wide, shallow dish, lightly beat the eggs with 1 Tbs. water. Put the panko in a third wide, shallow dish. Season the chicken with salt and coat each piece in the flour, tapping off the excess, then the egg, and then the panko, pressing the panko to help it adhere.
Heat 2 Tbs. of the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in two batches, cook the chicken, flipping once, until the crumbs are golden and the chicken is almost cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side, adding 2 Tbs. more oil for the second batch. Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the chicken with the Parmigiano and then top evenly with the mozzarella. Bake until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, wipe the skillet clean and set over medium heat. Pour in the remaining 1 Tbs. oil and then add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is tender and lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and 1/4 tsp. salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the sauce over the chicken.
Nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 480; Fat (g): 28; Fat Calories (kcal): 250; Saturated Fat (g): 8; Protein (g): 33; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 16; Carbohydrates (g): 24; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 3; Sodium (mg): 610; Cholesterol (mg): 160; Fiber (g): 3.
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Susie Middleton is editor at large for Fine Cooking magazine. |