Look what I have.
The New Portuguese Table is a well written cookbook complete with family and travel stories. The author, well known David Leite, was born in the US to Portuguese parents, then returned to Portugal to find newer emerging versions of the standard Portuguese cuisine. It covers not only the food, but wine of this fine country (and its islands) blended with the cultural settings. The soup recipes look excellent and am looking forward to trying all the meat/seafood dishes included herein.
What a beautiful book and filled with delicious looking and interesting recipes. Some call for ingredients I've never tried before which is a plus for the kitchen-curious. What a treat. The fish recipes are fabulous. I think anyone will want to include this in their cookbook collection. I love the photography as well.
Here is a sample recipe. It's called Arroz de Tomate (Tomato Rice)
A traditional side dish served in many parts of Portugal. It's different depending on the region you are in (and the cook). Use different combinations of thyme, marjoram and rosemary. Here is the recipe directly from the book but my version strayed a bit. Still yummy!
We ate dinner on the patio last evening with lots of candles so...the lighting for photography wasn't ideal....but you can see the delish Arroz de Tomate!
Ingredients you need
3 TB olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
5 ripe plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/2 cup white wine
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups long grain rice
salt and pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons or tablespoons (oops, forgot to jot that down) of tomato paste (optional)
chopped oregano and parsley
Here's what you do......
Heat oil and add onion, bay leaf and garlic. Soften it - takes about 12 minutes.
Add tomatoes and simmer 3 minutes. Tip in wine and let evaporate.
Pour in stock (I used homemade). Bring to a boil then add rice, salt and pepper and tomato paste (if using).
Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender. This takes 20 to 25 minutes. Shower the finished product with parsley and oregano.
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| From Portugese Table |
I am looking forward to sharing more dishes from this cookbook.
Cheers!
Just what I need---another cookbook! But, this post really makes me want to go find this. I will start with the tomato rice. It looks awesome and I think I could make a meal out of it by itself. Great post and I will look for more inspired recipes from this book from you.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about Portuguese food...I think I need to find this one, it sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful looking book, Tina! Love the tomato rice. I can see it being a wonderful side dish with so many things.
ReplyDeleteWould Basmati work? Looks deliciously warm and comforting. You got to eat on the patio in January? *sigh*
ReplyDeleteSounds like a GREAT book Tina. I'm curious though. I've been looking for a Portugese cookbook that shares the Spanish influence. I'm sure David Leite's speaks of it. Does he?
ReplyDeleteThe rice dish sounds delicious!
Thanks for the review and for sharing...
This sounds really good. I love all kinds of rice dishes.
ReplyDeleteI've heard many many good things about this cookbook...from what I can tell, it's a visual masterpiece! Full of delicious recipes, of course. This tomato rice sounds superb!
ReplyDeleteWe went to Portugal 3 times and if I could I would go back. The people are so nice and friendly and the food and wine are terrific. They have the best chicken piri piri in the world; tried to make it but not the same. Gotta try this rice; it looks so tasty good.
ReplyDeleteRita
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI'm portuguese, and coming across your post about our humble arroz de tomate was very nice :)
I don't use wine, that's basically the only difference between your recipe and mine. I'm going to try ours the next time I make it!
One of the things we eat tomato rice with is deep fried fish: peixe frito com arroz de tomate.
I'm very glad you like our food. I'm very interested in other countries dishes as well and one of my joys is trying to make them at home (and hoping they taste alike! :D).
Paula.
Thank you all so much for the very nice comments! I was in Portugal MANY years ago (about 30 years ago I think) and loved the country.
ReplyDeleteNext time I want to add more tomatoes to this rice dish. Great eating!
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