I have a practice I call\u00a0Friday Night Fridge Finds. The premise behind it is that we \u2013 people in general \u2013 often wind up at the end of the week without much food in the fridge or motivation to cook, but we can still come up with a healthy, tasty, and easy-to-prepare meal. Typically, it also means using up what ever \u201con their last leg\u201d ingredients are left to be used.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a great opportunity to avoid wasting things, eat something good, and not rely on take out.<\/p>\n
Every once in a while, I have this experience of not having much in the fridge mid-week. The glaring ingredient this week: broccoli that should have been eaten sooner. It wasn\u2019t off; just a little wilted and dejected-looking.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t cook creatively with broccoli \u2013 typically just roasting or steaming it as a simple side. So, I turned to my trusty copy of The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America\u2019s Most Imaginative Chefs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Before I get to what I made, though, let me tell you about this book. It is a truly great resource. It outlines almost every ingredient imaginable \u2013 from spice to meat, vegetable to nut, and dairy product to liquid concoction, etc. \u2013 in alphabetic order, along with a list of other foods (and beverages) that complement it or are related to it, and the global cuisines it is often found in. There are suggested dishes and short essays from notable chefs, notes on when an ingredient is available during the year, how it tastes and feels in your mouth,and even techniques you can use to prepare it. What are notably absent are recipes \u2013 the point is to encourage you to try your own hand at a recipe using your favorite of the suggested flavor combinations. I highly recommend it!<\/p>\n This is the book I turned to to help me with my broccoli dilemma. What caught my eye was this:<\/p>\n Flavor Affinity: broccoli + garlic + lemon juice + olive oil<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n And, above that: a note about using broccoli florets and puree to make rich, flavorful soup.<\/p>\n Sounded good to me! So, I made Lemon Garlic Broccoli Soup. Creative, I know : )<\/p>\n I added just a touch of the savory ghee<\/a> I made, and it brought a little more richness to the dish. What stood out, though, were the lemon and garlic \u2013 so good in this soup! And it was even better the next day.<\/p>\n