Home alone & Home Cooking.. CHICKPEA MASH & LEMON HERB SHRIMP SAUTE

The bf is on a work retreat since last Sunday. I normally do all the cooking at home which I have no problem of doing so. Although I miss him & wish he was here, I'm really enjoying the fact that I can splurge on one of my favourite staple ingredients to use, while he's gone. I love cooking with LEMON/LIME & LEMON/LIME ZEST.
To his point, when 'I put too much of it', lemon juice & zest overpowers the dish. To my point, these ingredients makes the dish pop & is what makes it tastes so much better.
Lately I've been cooking thai, east & west indian & filipino food. Today, I'm sticking with Mediterranean ingredients. I made chickpea mash & lemon herb shrimp saute. Hope you enjoy:





CHICKPEA MASH
1 can of chickpeas, drained
1 medium onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 lemon, juiced & zested
1 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp sesame seed
kosher salt to taste
ground black pepper

• Heat oil & add onions. Cook until softened
• Add garlic, lemon zest, oregano & basil. Let cook for 2-3 minutes
• Add chickpeas & sesame seeds. C
• Cook until softened. Mash with fork in pan
• Add lemon juice, salt & pepper

LEMON HERB SHRIMP SAUTE
1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined & butterflied (tail left on)
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 zucchini, thinly sliced
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs dried oregano
1 Tbs dried basil
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1 lemon, juiced & zested
kosher salt to taste
ground black pepper

• Rub shrimp with half of the basil, oregano & lemon zest. Set aside
  
• Add chili flakes & thyme to pan while oil is heating
• Add onions & let cook until softened
• Add garlic, remaining oregano, basil & zest, zucchini & cherry tomatoes. Let cook for 3-5 minutes or until vegetables have softened
• Add shrimp & cook until shrimp turns pink. Squeeze in lemon juice.
• Add salt & pepper to taste

Note: The next time around, I would add either water, white whine or chicken stock to the chickpea mash for a smoother texture.

Day 09 : Happy Steak & S Day!!

March 14 - the male version of Vday! I promised the bf a steak dinner & ...

So the bf & I went grocery shopping & I constructed my menu based on my favorite flavors & of-course affordability! My preferences - lemon, thyme, garlic & mushrooms, with an asian twist! I wanted a good quality meaty steak & went for the Tip Sirloin - mmMMMMmmmmm!

I wanted the steak to have a very simplistic dry rub - salt, pepper & paprika. Alongside, I also rubbed good ol' extra virgin olive oil, soy sauce & Sriracha Hot Chile Sauce. Final topping - lemon zest.

My mom makes this amazing mushroom gravy! I used her recipe & took it on a different level! Pan seared mushrooms cooked in the steak jus, garlic, thyme, butter & ofcourse some lemon zing! I'm glad to say the bf enjoyed his steak dinner on S t e a k & S . . . D a y !! Hope you do too!!

Seasoned Seared Tip Sirloin
2lb Tip Sirloin
1 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 T Sriracha Chili Hot Sauce
1/2 lemon, zested
1 T Soy Sauce
2 tsp Paprika
2 tsp Fresh Thyme
2 Garlic Cloves
Salt & Pepper to taste

1. Pre-heat oven to broiler
   
2. Rub dry & wet ingredients on sirloin both sides
3. Let marinade 1-2 hours
4. Pre-heat pan on high heat, stove top
5. Sear steak both sides until browning & crust forms (4 minutes each side) - save steak jus in pan
   
6. Complete cooking steak in broiler, covered for 10 minutes & then another 10 minutes uncovered
7. Tent steak & let sit until ready to serve.

Lemon-Herbed Mushroom Gravy
Steak Jus
1/2lb Button Mushrooms, sliced thick
1 Garlic, minced
3 Sprigs Thyme
11/2 T Butter
1 can Cream of Mushroom
1/4 can water
1/2 lemon, juice & zest
Salt & Pepper to taste

1. Pan sear mushrooms in steak jus in pan that was used to pan sear the steak
2. Add garlic, thyme, butter, lemon zest & salt & pepper. Cook for 5 minutes
3. Add cream of mushroom & water. Let simmer for 10 minutes
4. Add remaining steak jus from casserole that steak was broiled in oven
5. Add lemon juice
6. Simmer for 5 minutes
7. Serve