side dish | The Spamwise Chronicles

Spinaci alla Genovese

May 18, 2014 by Stan Santos

Now that we’re in the throes of spring here in New York City, let’s talk about greens. I adore greens of all kinds, whether they’re arugula, broccoli rabe or chickweed, to name a few. Arugula is such an underrated substitute for lettuce; try using it in salads or in pesto. Chickweed has a crispness and a faintly grassy flavor that’s brightened with a vinaigrette of hazelnut oil and lemon juice. When subjected to long, slow cooking, broccoli rabe tames its […]

Categories: cooking, food, food photography, Gluten-Free, Italian food, recipe, spring • Tags: anchovy, food photography, gluten-free, Italian food, raisins, side dish, spinach, spring

Green Beans and Cauliflower, Stewed in Tomato Sauce

August 14, 2013 by Stan Santos

I love the combination of green beans and cauliflower braised in tomato sauce. The usual combination is fagiolini in umido (“green beans, stewed in tomato sauce”); the addition of cauliflower gilds the lily, in my opinion. There are variations where the sauce is fairly thin and brothy, the better to sop up with hunks of bread. My version is a bit heftier; it begins with a soffritto of celery, carrot, onion and celery leaves, to which crushed tomatoes and herbs […]

Categories: food, food photography, Gluten-Free, Italian food, recipe, summer, vegan, vegetarian • Tags: cauliflower, food photography, gluten-free, green beans, Italian food, side dish, summer, vegan, vegetarian

Fagiulini Spilusieddi

August 13, 2013 by Stan Santos

Behold the humble green bean, a vegetable that most people don’t give its due. It’s fast becoming one of my favorite summer vegetables, even more than tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. It’s featured in so many different dishes, from contorni such as “fagiolini alla Genovese” (green beans in the style of Genova) to main dishes such as “stufato di verdure” (vegetable stew). Long, slow-cooking, is what you need to get the best out of a green bean when it comes to […]

Categories: food, food photography, Gluten-Free, Italian food, recipe, summer, vegan, vegetarian • Tags: food photography, gluten-free, green beans, Italian food, onion, side dish, summer, vegan, vegetarian

Fennel Confit

March 13, 2013 by Stan Santos

Fennel is a staple in my pantry during the winter and spring. It can be eaten or cooked in an seemingly endless variety of ways. The flavor is faintly reminiscent of anise or licorice. Bulbs should be firm and compact, with no shrinkage; fronds should be a vibrant, lively green. I often use it as part of a mirepoix or as a substitute for celery. If you page through this blog, you’ll see that I typically use it in salads, […]

Categories: food, food photography, Gluten-Free, recipe, vegetarian, winter • Tags: fennel, food photography, gluten-free, side dish, vegetarian, winter

Stewed Cabbage, with Pancetta and Onion

February 20, 2013 by Stan Santos

So many vegetarians I talk to all say the same thing: “I like rice and beans, but…” “I eat too much cheese…” “Breakfast/lunch/dinner looks like a steam table at some cheap buffet…” “Another stir-fry/tofu/tempeh/seitan/fake meat thing?” “I don’t live on salad alone…” “Steamed vegetables? I don’t want ‘healthy’…I want ‘exciting’…” This is a trap that everyone falls into, even professional chefs. Until fairly recently, the mere idea of a vegan or vegetarian gourmet restaurant was a flight of fancy not […]

Categories: cooking, food, food photography, Gluten-Free, Italian food, winter • Tags: cabbage, food photography, gluten-free, Italian food, side dish, winter

Brussels Sprouts “Home Fries”

January 10, 2013 by Stan Santos

When people tell me they hate brussels sprouts, it’s usually because of the intense cabbage flavor. Brussels sprouts seem to be the red-headed stepchild of cruciferous vegetables. They conjure memories of meals in a British boarding school in a previous life, when British food was synonymous with the odor of boiled cabbage cooked to death. For me, they remind me of 1970s cuisine, with cheese sauce-covered broccoli, and peas and carrots bathed in butter. I think that brussels sprouts is […]

Categories: American cuisine, cooking, food, food photography, Gluten-Free, recipe, vegetarian, winter • Tags: appetizer, brussels sprouts, food photography, gluten-free, side dish, vegetarian, winter

Dinner Snapshots

December 25, 2012 by Stan Santos

A selection of photos from dinners in the past week: Cannellini beans, with roasted garlic, cauliflower and herbs

Categories: Chinese food, food, food photography, Indian food, Italian food, winter • Tags: appetizer, Chinese food, food photography, gluten-free, Italian food, salad, seafood, side dish, vegan, winter

Fagiolini e Zucchine

August 24, 2012 by Stan Santos

Fagiolini e zucchine, otherwise known as “string beans and zucchini” in English There is little in this world more beautiful and humble than a bowl of string beans. It’s one of the more unappreciated of vegetables.

Categories: cooking, food, food photography, general, Italian food, recipe, summer • Tags: appetizer, food photography, gluten-free, Italian food, side dish, string beans, summer, zucchini

The Zucchini Problem

August 21, 2012 by Stan Santos

Every summer, every person I know who has a garden has a bumper crop of zucchini. Then as now, the inevitable question arises as in ‘What ever shall I do with all of these summer squashes? Ratatouille and zucchini bread get old really quickly, especially after the fortieth time making or eating it.’ Hopefully, today’s offering — as well as a few other recipes this week will go a long way towards solving that problem for you, or if not, […]

Categories: food, food photography, Gluten-Free, Italian food, recipe, summer • Tags: appetizer, food photography, gluten-free, Italian food, side dish, summer, zucchini

The Spamwise Chronicles

A blog devoted to the beauty of food.

Tag: side dish