SARA'S WEEKNIGHT MEALS V
#501: Sustainable Surf
Sara is passionate about seafood, but also about eating it responsibly, without depleting the vast culinary gift the ocean offers. That’s also the mission of our guest, Top Chef winner Hung Huynh. Huynh brings a favorite seafood dish with a nod to his native Vietnam – grilled shrimp and lettuce wraps, and then to pull out the stops it’s his roasted branzino – a culinary experience for fish lovers!
#502: Fan Fare
Tailgating is even more enjoyable with a fun, substantial and easy to make sandwich, along with portable salads and desserts. Sara’s kielbasa sandwiches with kim chi and cheddar is a crazy mash up of cultures, but it works deliciously. She takes them to a rowing regatta to eat with friends and cheer on the team. Then, Sara’s chorizo chicken wings are perfect for a game day meal, especially with her version of egg cream. And, in Ask Sara, we’ve got simple tips for packing a picnic!
#503: Mid-East Meets West
Sara’s guest Einat Admony of New York’s Balaboosta has legions of fans for her Israeli/Mediterranean cuisine, and she’s bringing it to our kitchen with a traditional sinaya - a Middle Eastern shepherd’s pie. We’ll discover more about Einat’s fascinating background, including a stint in the Israeli Army. Also on the menu, one of Sara’s favorites – falafel salad.
#504: Sam’s Simple Sauté
Sara’s son Sam stops by to cook a fast favorite based on a simple technique – sautéed lemon chicken with capers. Also on the menu, one of Sam’s favorites, buttermilk fried pork chops. We’ll also stop by Wholesome Wave, a unique initiative to connect farmers with fresh food to people in underserved communities.
#505: Trip to Spain
What’s not to like about Spanish food? Ham, chorizo, great seafood, tapas – Sara has some great recipes like pork with spanish olives and fideo, a paella like dish that uses noodles instead of rice. Delicious! Sara also visits a specialty maker of chorizo, the spicy sausage beloved throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
#506: Take Out Chinese at Home
Are you a fan of takeout? Then this is your episode! Sara will demonstrate how to make traditional Chinese takeout dishes at home faster than driving to pick them up. First, stir-fry queen Grace Young shows us how to season a wok, and then cooks up her fast and easy Chinese Burmese chicken. Then, Sara makes homemade baby egg rolls with soy dipping sauce. Her goal? Have it on the table before her two staff members can pick up the same dish at a Chinese restaurant. Its beat the clock – Sara style.
#507: Meatless Mondays
Were you bad over the weekend? Get back on track as you clean out and veg out with the hottest vegetarian chef around Amanda Cohen. Sara will answer viewer questions about mushrooms and vegetable storage on Ask Sara, and she cooks her own vegetarian dish, mu shu vegetables.
#508: Family Choice
Sara has two kids of her own, so she’s always found ways to please finicky palates with food adults love too. Take her easy weeknight mini meatloaves baked in a muffin tin that kids love to make themselves. We have two kids helping Sarah in the kitchen to prove it. There’s also Odd Lots mac and cheese, a homemade dish using leftovers from the fridge. Sara tops that off with a cool and refreshing creamsicle drink for dessert. Speaking of cheese, we also visit a Benedictine nun who is the world’s foremost expert on raw cheeses.
#509: Fancy Pasta
Plain old pasta it’s not, but it’s just as simple to make as your weeknight favorites. That’s the story with Sara’s spicy greens ravioli, sophisticated enough for your next dinner party and easy to make. Then guest David Pasternack of New York’s Esca and Eataly shows his flair with fish with a rock shrimp fettuccine. And, in Ask Sara, Sara answers viewer questions about pizza dough and ricotta cheese.
#510: Shellfish Asian Style
Bivalves are the name of the game today when Sara makes a flavorful mussels and bok choy dish with a side of tea pilaf. And it’s down to Chinatown with Chef Dale Talde to get the ingredients for a unique oyster and bacon pad thai. Speaking of oysters, we’ll discover how they are harvested when we take to the sea with an oysterman.
#511: Sunday Supper
There has to be one day to kick back and enjoy cooking and that’s Sunday. Sara has satisfying meals for a family gathering, like a hearty roast duck with a side of duck fat popovers. Then a British favorite deviled bones. In Ask Sara she answers viewer questions about that Sunday favorite mashed potatoes.
#512: Upside Down Day
Turn the day upside down by having breakfast for dinner. Savory waffles Benedict is perfect and perfectly filling as is Sara’s take on the classic spaghetti with bacon, eggs and toasted bread crumbs! We’ll also visit a smokehouse to see how bacon gets the flavor we all crave.
#513: Build a Better Burger – It’s everything you wanted to know about burgers, plus two delicious recipes. Sara’s turkey spinach burger is a light but succulent version of the American standard, while her Spanish burger puts an international spin on an old favorite. We’ll discover the best grind of meat for burgers from a venerable Philadelphia butcher, and while we’re there Sara discovers the secret to great fries at Philly’s Dandelion Restaurant.
#514: Farm to Table
Farm fresh food is a mantra for Sara and so many chefs. That’s why her tea rubbed duck salad with Roquefort and pear dressing hits every note. Then, Sara is off to California’s Napa Valley to visit chef Joey Altman, a three time James Beard award winner. They visit a winery and gather ingredients at a local farm for an al fresco meal of salmon and corn salad with pea pesto crostini.
#515: Chicken Comfort
When it comes to comfort food, chicken is the number one ingredient. In fact, it’s the star of Jean Anderson’s fried chicken. Put away your fryer because this chicken is baked! Then, Sara comes through with a cozy winter chicken chili to warm your bones.
#516: Louisiana Style
It’s Mardi Gras any time of the year with Sara’s easy duck creole. And, because Louisiana’s iconic cuisine is one of America’s favorites, we journey to the bayou to catch some crawfish for a traditional boil with rice and plenty of spice.
#517: Pestopalooza
Summer means more of everything and if you have extra herbs, this is the show for you. We start with a traditional basil pesto, string bean and potato pasta from guest chef Giuseppe Fanelli. On Ask Sara, tips on growing your own windowsill herb garden and how to cook with herb. Sara also creates her phenomenal brown and wild rice with broccoli pesto.
#518: One Pan Wonder
Using just one pan for dinner makes both the cook and the dishwasher happy, plus it’s so easy. We start with guest Ming Tsai and his coconut lemon chicken soup. Then on Ask Sara, tips for using the original pot, the wok. Finally, Sara helps a young bride with an easy one-pot meal – Greek shrimp, farro and greens.
#519: Significant Salad
If you’ve packed on the pounds lately, we have solution – salads that cut the calories without cutting the flavor, Sara’s steak, mushroom and tomato salad, or scallop and grapefruit salad. We’ll also visit the quintessential farmers market to shop for clean greens. It’s like a spa in your own home!
#520: Five Ingredient Cookout
Five ingredients all cooked outside -- what’s not to love about Sara’s scallop, basil and prosciutto kebabs? Since we’re barbecuing, we decided to go to the master, Hill Country Barbecue’s Elizabeth Karmel for her definitive Texas barbeque brisket. Sara cools it off with watermelon lemonade. We’ll also visit with YouTube stars, the Barbeque Pit Boys, an international cooking club for men who love meat and heat.