European Cucumber Soup

European Cucumber Soup or Pasta Sauce

European Cucumber Soup

European Cucumber Soup or Pasta Sauce

SpiceBreeze
As you delve into each spoonful, you'll discover a symphony of tastes, from the subtle sweetness of the cucumbers and cream to the savory notes of the onions and garlic. The infusion of aromatic herbs and spices adds depth and complexity, creating a culinary journey that is both comforting and exciting. This European cucumber soup or pasta sauce is not only a treat for your taste buds but also a celebration of the vibrant ingredients that thrive during the warm season.
Serve with your preferred crunchy topping!
hands-on time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine European
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

Soup [Pasta Sauce]

  • 1 English cucumber [1]
  • 1 shallot [2] finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic finely chopped (optional)
  • oil
  • salt & pepper

Soup Only

  • 1 cup heavy cream [3]

Pasta Only

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream [3]
  • 8 oz wide noodles

Cucumber Soup Culinary Spice Kit

  • Thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, sage, fennel, lemon and orange peel

Optional

  • Serve soup over cooked potato [4] cubes or with fresh baguette slices.

Choose One Topping

  • ham strips fried
  • bacon strips fried
  • steak strips fried
  • chicken strips fried
  • salmon cubes fried
  • tofu cubes fried
  • leftover meat fried

Instructions
 

Soup

  • Cut cucumber roughly into about 1-inch chunks. [5]
  • In a POT, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium heat.
  • Fry onions until they turn translucent. Add garlic for 1 minute.
  • Add cucumber chunks and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil.
  • Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Turn heat off.
  • With a HAND BLENDER, blend the cucumbers in the POT into a smooth puree.
  • Add cream, 1 tbsp of the Cucumber spices and salt & pepper to taste.
  • Bring to a boil. Cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.

Pasta Sauce

  • Follow the soup directions, but reduce water and cream to 1/2 cup each.
  • Pour sauce over pasta.

Serve

  • Serve with your preferred topping. Enjoy!

Notes

[1] Substitute with 10 oz of zucchini or cauliflower.
[2] Substitute with a half medium onion.
[3] Substitute with sour cream or vegan alternatives.
[4] Substitute with any root vegetables.
[5] If you like small cucumber pieces in your soup or pasta sauce:
Peel about 1/3 of the cucumber and add the peel to the remaining cucumber.
Cut the peeled part into 1/4-inch cubes. Set aside. Add the cubes to the POT together with the cream.
 

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European Cucumber Soup

European Cucumber Soup or Pasta Sauce

SpiceBreeze
As you delve into each spoonful, you'll discover a symphony of tastes, from the subtle sweetness of the cucumbers and cream to the savory notes of the onions and garlic. The infusion of aromatic herbs and spices adds depth and complexity, creating a culinary journey that is both comforting and exciting. This European cucumber soup or pasta sauce is not only a treat for your taste buds but also a celebration of the vibrant ingredients that thrive during the warm season.
Serve with your preferred crunchy topping!
hands-on time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine European
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

Soup [Pasta Sauce]

  • 1 English cucumber [1]
  • 1 shallot [2] finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic finely chopped (optional)
  • oil
  • salt & pepper

Soup Only

  • 1 cup heavy cream [3]

Pasta Only

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream [3]
  • 8 oz wide noodles

Cucumber Soup Culinary Spice Kit

  • Thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, sage, fennel, lemon and orange peel

Optional

  • Serve soup over cooked potato [4] cubes or with fresh baguette slices.

Choose One Topping

  • ham strips fried
  • bacon strips fried
  • steak strips fried
  • chicken strips fried
  • salmon cubes fried
  • tofu cubes fried
  • leftover meat fried

Instructions
 

Soup

  • Cut cucumber roughly into about 1-inch chunks. [5]
  • In a POT, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium heat.
  • Fry onions until they turn translucent. Add garlic for 1 minute.
  • Add cucumber chunks and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil.
  • Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Turn heat off.
  • With a HAND BLENDER, blend the cucumbers in the POT into a smooth puree.
  • Add cream, 1 tbsp of the Cucumber spices and salt & pepper to taste.
  • Bring to a boil. Cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.

Pasta Sauce

  • Follow the soup directions, but reduce water and cream to 1/2 cup each.
  • Pour sauce over pasta.

Serve

  • Serve with your preferred topping. Enjoy!

Notes

[1] Substitute with 10 oz of zucchini or cauliflower.
[2] Substitute with a half medium onion.
[3] Substitute with sour cream or vegan alternatives.
[4] Substitute with any root vegetables.
[5] If you like small cucumber pieces in your soup or pasta sauce:
Peel about 1/3 of the cucumber and add the peel to the remaining cucumber.
Cut the peeled part into 1/4-inch cubes. Set aside. Add the cubes to the POT together with the cream.
 
Polish Barszcz Wigilijny

Polish Barszcz Wigilijny

Polish Barszcz Wigilijny

Polish Barszcz Wigilijny

SpiceBreeze
This Christmas Eve, you are invited to the first course of a traditional Polish supper with this clear borscht soup. The soup is made from beetroots and mushrooms. Traditionally, it is poured over homemade mushroom dumplings, but you can choose your favorite tortellini instead. If you prefer a complete dinner meal, keep the vegetables in the soup. To make the flavor experience complete, serve the soup with fresh herbs, a dollop of sour cream, and a slice of dark rye bread.
hands-on time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Polish
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

Protein

  • 9 oz tortellini mushroom or meat

Fresh Produce

  • 1 lemon
  • fresh chives dill, or sprouts (optional for garnish)

Dairy

  • sour cream optional

Packaged Goods/Staples

  • 1 jar pickled beetroots 16 oz, sliced
  • 32 oz vegetable broth
  • 0.5 oz dried mushrooms sliced
  • 0.25 cup vinegar apple cider or wine
  • salt

Barszcz Culinary Spice Kit

  • Allspice, garlic, black pepper, marjoram, cinnamon, star anise, cloves

Suggested Sides

  • dark rye bread or baguette

Instructions
 

Prepare

  • In a BOWL, strain the liquid from the beetroot jar. Set aside for later.

Soup

  • In a large POT, bring broth to a boil.
  • Turn heat off. Stir in mushrooms.
  • Let mushrooms rest for 30 minutes.
  • Bring broth to a boil again.
  • Add the beetroots, Barszcz spices, and salt to taste. Cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add the reserved beetroot liquid.
  • Add up to 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1/8 cup vinegar to taste.
  • Cook for 5 minutes.
  • Drain soup through a fine-mesh SIEVE.

Tortellini

  • Cook tortellini according to package instructions.

Serve

  • Place tortellini on soup plates and then fill plates with the soup.
  • Optionally, add a dollop of sour cream. Serve with bread and garnish with fresh herbs or sprouts.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Substitute dried mushrooms with 3 oz fresh mushrooms. Skip steps 2-4 and add fresh mushrooms with the beetroots in step 5.
Variant 1
Skip step 9 and leave the vegetables in the soup.
Variant 2
Skip step 9 and puree the vegetables in the soup with a hand blender.

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Polish Barszcz Wigilijny

Polish Barszcz Wigilijny

This Christmas Eve, you are invited to the first course of a traditional Polish supper with this clear borscht soup. The soup is made from beetroots and mushrooms. Traditionally, it is poured over homemade mushroom dumplings, but you can choose your favorite tortellini instead. If you prefer a complete dinner meal, keep the vegetables in the soup. To make the flavor experience complete, serve the soup with fresh herbs, a dollop of sour cream, and a slice of dark rye bread.

Protein

  • 9 oz tortellini (mushroom or meat)

Fresh Produce

  • 1 lemon
  • fresh chives (dill, or sprouts (optional for garnish))

Dairy

  • sour cream (optional)

Packaged Goods/Staples

  • 1 jar pickled beetroots (16 oz, sliced)
  • 32 oz vegetable broth
  • 0.5 oz dried mushrooms (sliced)
  • 0.25 cup vinegar (apple cider or wine)
  • salt

Barszcz Culinary Spice Kit

  • Allspice (garlic, black pepper, marjoram, cinnamon, star anise, cloves)

Suggested Sides

  • dark rye bread or baguette

Prepare

  1. In a BOWL, strain the liquid from the beetroot jar. Set aside for later.

Soup

  1. In a large POT, bring broth to a boil.
  2. Turn heat off. Stir in mushrooms.
  3. Let mushrooms rest for 30 minutes.
  4. Bring broth to a boil again.
  5. Add the beetroots, Barszcz spices, and salt to taste. Cook for 10 minutes.
  6. Add the reserved beetroot liquid.
  7. Add up to 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1/8 cup vinegar to taste.
  8. Cook for 5 minutes.
  9. Drain soup through a fine-mesh SIEVE.

Tortellini

  1. Cook tortellini according to package instructions.

Serve

  1. Place tortellini on soup plates and then fill plates with the soup.
  2. Optionally, add a dollop of sour cream. Serve with bread and garnish with fresh herbs or sprouts.
  3. Enjoy!
  • Substitute dried mushrooms with 3 oz fresh mushrooms. Skip steps 2-4 and add fresh mushrooms with the beetroots in step 5.

Variant 1

Skip step 9 and leave the vegetables in the soup.

Variant 2

Skip step 9 and puree the vegetables in the soup with a hand blender.

Main Course
Polish
allspice, cinnamon, cloves, marjoram, star anise
European Holiday Feast

European Holiday Feast

Holiday Feast

European Holiday Feast

SpiceBreeze
Roasted goose with potato dumplings and holiday spiced red cabbage is one of the traditional holiday feasts in Northern Europe. The preparation is faster and easier with gnocchi and chicken or turkey. You can save even more time without gravy. The juicy sauce out of the oven is scrumptious by itself. The key ingredient is the herb mugwort. It's also beneficial for the digestion.
Cuisine Austrian, German, Polish
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

  • 4 lbs chicken legs and breast with bones and skin
  • 1 lb red cabbage finely sliced
  • 1 orange peeled and quartered
  • 1 sour apple quartered
  • 1 sour apple chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 lb gnocchi
  • 1 large onion sliced
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp vinegar
  • 0.5 cup red wine
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • oil
  • salt & pepper

Culinary Spice Kit

  • [1] Mugwort Do not use during pregnancy
  • [2] Juniper berries, cloves, bay leaf

Instructions
 

Chicken

  • Preheat OVEN to 350°F.
  • Rub chicken on all sides with salt & pepper.
  • In a large OVEN DISH, spread 2 tbsp oil and add chicken pieces skin-side down.
  • Distribute Holiday Feast [1] spices, orange, apple quarters, onions, and 1 cup of water around the chicken.
  • Cover*) and bake in the OVEN for 45-60 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Every 15 minutes, stir the liquid and spoon it over the chicken.
  • After 30 minutes take off the cover and turn the chicken.

Gnocchi

  • Prepare gnocchi according to package instructions.

Gravy

  • In a POT, strain liquid from the OVEN DISH.
  • In a small CUP, dissolve flour in 1/8 cup water.
  • Add flour-water to the POT. Bring to a boil, reduce to medium.
  • Simmer for 2-5 minutes until it thickens. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Cabbage

  • In a POT, melt butter.
  • Add cabbage and vinegar. Sauté for 5 minutes.
  • Add chopped apple, wine, Holiday Feast [2] spices, salt to taste, and a dash of sugar.
  • Mix well, cover, and cook over low heat for 45-60 minutes until the cabbage is tender, stirring occasionally. Enjoy!

Notes

Notes & Variations
â–ª Substitute chicken with turkey, goose, duck, or pork tenderloin. Adjust cooking time.
â–ª Substitute gnocchi with mash potatoes.
â–ª Substitute orange with 1 cup of cranberries.
*) Use aluminum foil to cover the chicken.

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Cambodian Samlar machu

Cambodian Samlar Machu

Cambodian Samlar machu

Cambodian Samlar Machu

SpiceBreeze
Samlar Machu is a popular Cambodian dish, both as a stew and a soup. The flavor base is the traditional Cambodian kroeung spice blend that includes lemongrass, galangal, and makrut lime leaves. The combination of tamarind, lime, and fish sauce creates a slightly sour-salty note. Adapt the recipe to your taste with chicken, fish, or tofu, and vegetables of your choice.
hands-on time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Cambodian
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

Protein

  • 1 lbs chicken breast or thighs cut into 1/2-inch pieces (see notes)

Fresh Produce

  • 4 cups chopped vegetables Bok choy, mushrooms, eggplant, bamboo shoots, baby kale, and/ or bell peppers
  • 2 shallots finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped or grated
  • 1 lime or lemon for juice

Packaged Goods/Staples

  • 2-4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • oil
  • salt & pepper

Samlar Machu Culinary Spice Kit

  • Lemongrass, tamarind, galangal, turmeric, chili, makrut lime

Optional

  • fish sauce or anchovy paste to taste
  • fresh chili pepper thinly sliced

Suggested Sides

  • 3 cups steamed or boiled rice

Instructions
 

  • In a POT, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium heat.
  • Stir fry shallots until translucent.
  • Add garlic, chicken, and Samlar Machu spices. Stir for about 3 minutes.
  • Add 2 cups of broth, soy sauce, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • If you prefer a soup, add the remaining broth as well.
  • Optionally, add fresh chili, and fish sauce or anchovy paste.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Turn heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add vegetables.
  • Continue to cook for about 10 minutes until all ingredients are tender.
  • Adjust seasoning to taste with lime juice and salt and pepper.
  • Serve soup and rice in separate bowls.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Instead of chicken, add cubed firm tofu or fish fillets (e. g. snapper, cod, or tilapia, cut into 1-inch strips) together with the vegetables.

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Thailandese Pad See Ew

Thailandese Pad See Ew

Thailandese Pad See Ew

Thailandese Pad See Ew

SpiceBreeze
The Chinese-influenced Thai dish, Pad See Ew, translates to "fried [with] soy sauce." It is comparable to its sibling dish, Pad Thai, which uses thinner rice noodles. While Pad Thai is more sweet and savory, Pad See Ew has a deeper flavor and delicious texture from slightly charred noodles. The highlight of Pad See Ew is the crunchiness coming from the vegetables.
Hands-on time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Thai
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz chicken breast thighs, or tenders, thinly sliced
  • 12 oz bok choy leaves sliced, stems thinly sliced
  • 8 oz wide long noodles* al dente**
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 3 eggs
  • 4.5 tbsp soy sauce*** or tamari
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • 0.5 tbsp brown sugar
  • oil

Pad See Ew Culinary Spice Kit

  • Amchoor, lemongrass, garlic, chili, coriander, lemon peel, ginger, star anise, cilantro, onion, basil, cumin, white pepper, cinnamon, lemon oil  

Optional

  • limes for juice
  • fish sauce

Instructions
 

Step 1)

  • In a CUP, mix sugar and Pad See Ew spices.
  • Stir in 4 tbsp soy sauce and vinegar.

Step 2)

  • In a large PAN or WOK, heat 1 tbsp oil over high heat.
  • Fry chicken until brown.
  • Take it out. Mix with 1/2 tbsp soy sauce.

Step 3)

  • Reduce heat to medium. Add 1 tbsp oil.
  • Stir-fry garlic until fragrant (about 30 sec.).
  • Fry bok choy stems until soft. Take them out.

Step 4)

  • Fry noodles until they dry out.

Step 5)

  • Add the sauce and toss until all noodles are well coated.

Step 6)

  • Crack the eggs into the center of the PAN and break the yolk.
  • When the eggs are half-cooked, mix them with the noodles.

Step 7)

  • Increase heat to high.
  • Fry noodles until they start to burn a bit.

Step 8)

  • Add bok choy leaves.
  • Return the stems and chicken without any liquid.
  • Stir-fry until reheated and leaves are wilted.
  • Optionally, finish to taste with lime juice and fish sauce.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

* Try fresh rice noodles if you can find them.
** Cooked until still really firm to the bite.
*** Recommended: 1/3 dark soy sauce if available.
  • Substitute chicken with sirloin beef or pork (boneless chops or tenderloin), fry shortly in step 2.
  • Substitute bok choy with 8 oz of baby broccoli or Chinese broccoli for more crunchiness.

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Thailandese Pad See Ew

Thailandese Pad See Ew

The Chinese-influenced Thai dish, Pad See Ew, translates to “fried [with] soy sauce.” It is comparable to its sibling dish, Pad Thai, which uses thinner rice noodles. While Pad Thai is more sweet and savory, Pad See Ew has a deeper flavor and delicious texture from slightly charred noodles. The highlight of Pad See Ew is the crunchiness coming from the vegetables.

  • 8 oz chicken breast (thighs, or tenders, thinly sliced)
  • 12 oz bok choy (leaves sliced, stems thinly sliced)
  • 8 oz wide long noodles* (al dente**)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 3 eggs
  • 4.5 tbsp soy sauce*** or tamari
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • 0.5 tbsp brown sugar
  • oil

Pad See Ew Culinary Spice Kit

  • Amchoor, lemongrass, garlic, chili, coriander, lemon peel, ginger, star anise, cilantro, onion, basil, cumin, white pepper, cinnamon, lemon oil  

Optional

  • limes for juice
  • fish sauce

Step 1)

  1. In a CUP, mix sugar and Pad See Ew spices.
  2. Stir in 4 tbsp soy sauce and vinegar.

Step 2)

  1. In a large PAN or WOK, heat 1 tbsp oil over high heat.
  2. Fry chicken until brown.
  3. Take it out. Mix with 1/2 tbsp soy sauce.

Step 3)

  1. Reduce heat to medium. Add 1 tbsp oil.
  2. Stir-fry garlic until fragrant (about 30 sec.).
  3. Fry bok choy stems until soft. Take them out.

Step 4)

  1. Fry noodles until they dry out.

Step 5)

  1. Add the sauce and toss until all noodles are well coated.

Step 6)

  1. Crack the eggs into the center of the PAN and break the yolk.

  2. When the eggs are half-cooked, mix them with the noodles.

Step 7)

  1. Increase heat to high.
  2. Fry noodles until they start to burn a bit.

Step 8)

  1. Add bok choy leaves.
  2. Return the stems and chicken without any liquid.
  3. Stir-fry until reheated and leaves are wilted.
  4. Optionally, finish to taste with lime juice and fish sauce.
  5. Enjoy!

* Try fresh rice noodles if you can find them.

** Cooked until still really firm to the bite.

*** Recommended: 1/3 dark soy sauce if available.

  • Substitute chicken with sirloin beef or pork (boneless chops or tenderloin), fry shortly in step 2.
  • Substitute bok choy with 8 oz of baby broccoli or Chinese broccoli for more crunchiness.
Goan Vindaloo

Goan Vindaloo

white poppy seeds

Whispers of Sweetness

Exploring White Poppy Seeds as a Culinary Thickener

White poppy seeds, derived from the opium poppy plant Papaver somniferum, are tiny, kidney-shaped seeds with a mild, nutty flavor. 

Unlike their darker counterparts, white poppy seeds lack the characteristic bitterness, making them a popular choice for culinary use in various cuisines worldwide. These seeds are often used as a thickening agent, flavoring agent, or garnish in dishes ranging from baked goods to savory dishes. 

Additionally, they are prized for their nutritional benefits, containing essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, along with healthy fats and dietary fiber. Whether incorporated into desserts, bread, or savory dishes, white poppy seeds add both texture and subtle flavor, enhancing the culinary experience.

garlic
ginger
mustard
onion chopped and whole
Goan Vindaloo

Goan Vindaloo

SpiceBreeze
Vindaloo is a worldwide popular dish from Goa, India. Its origin is the Portuguese dish "carne de vinho e alhos" (meat cooked in wine vinegar and garlic). The sour-spicy dish came to Goa with Portuguese explorers in the 15th century and was adapted to the local taste and ingredients.
We recommend to try it with pork or lamb, though it takes a bit longer to cook. Vindaloo is usually very hot. Our spice blend has only a little kick, not hot at all. You can adjust the heat level to taste with fresh chilies.
Customer Review: "I ventured to make the Vindaloo Indian dish. Wow, it was really tasty. I chose to use chicken for my meat and just pretty much followed the directions and kicked the heat up to my liking with some Jalapeno peppers. I was surprised that the chicken breast chunks were still tender, I was afraid they might be rubbery but they weren't. Very savory taste. Yum!"
Hands-on Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Goan
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

Ingredients

  • 1 .25 lbs chicken thighs or breast cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large onion halved and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 head garlic smashed or grated
  • 1 inch ginger grated
  • 1/4 cup vinegar wine or apple cider
  • 1 tbsp mustard
  • sugar brown recommended
  • oil
  • salt & pepper

Suggested Sides

  • Boiled potatoes, rice, or naan bread
  • Roasted cauliflower, cooked peas, or pickles

Optional

  • Fresh chilies to taste chopped

Culinary Spice Kit

  • Cumin, coriander, turmeric, white poppy seeds, cinnamon, cloves, Kashmiri chili

Instructions
 

Marinade

  • Season the meat with salt & pepper to taste.
  • In a BOWL, combine garlic, ginger, vinegar, mustard, chilies (optional), and Vindaloo spices.
  • Add the meat and mix until all meat is well coated with the marinade.
  • Cover and marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes to 24 hours.

Cook

  • In a POT, heat 2 tbsp of oil over medium heat. Fry the onions until they turn brown.
  • Add meat. Fry the meat for 5 minutes over high heat, stirring constantly.
  • Cover the POT. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat. Stir frequently.
  • Add 1 tsp sugar and 1 cup of hot water. Mix well.
  • Cook for about 30 minutes over medium-low heat until the meat is falling apart. Stir occasionally.
  • Add more sugar and/ or vinegar to taste.
  • Serve with your preferred sides.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Optionally, start with 1/8 cup vinegar for the marinade and add more vinegar to taste during the cooking.
  • Substitute the chicken with duck or with lamb or pork stew meat. Adjust the cooking time in the last step.
  • Substitute the chicken with garbanzo beans and/or cubed vegetables (for instance eggplant, cauliflower, and/or sweet potatoes).  

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