Sizzlin’ Sauces’ Mojo’s Tapenade blends Kalamata olives with sun dried tomatoes into a great spread that goes wonderfully with not just French bread but also burgers and dogs.
When Arrabbiata Meets Sambal
Sambal is becoming more common, a spicy Malaysian chile paste that is widely used for a lot of Asian cuisine. You can find it in the Asian food aisle of any well-stocked grocery store. A generally straightforward mix of chiles, salt and vinegar (some have garlic and/or sugar), sambal can best be described as an Asian harrissa. It’s different from Sriracha in that it is nice and chunky with lots of seeds and bits of chile. It makes for a great shortcut to Arrabbiata and here’s the simple way to do it.
The Cure: Do-It-Yourself Spicy Olives
The preservation method is simple: First the olives are blanched in hot water. Then moisture and bitter components are drained from the fruit with sea salt, and finally the fruit is dried – in the early days by use of charcoal fires, now in special drying ovens, called “essiccatori” (dehydrators).
The Italian Job: Sausage Sandwiches with a Greek Twist
Usually when you hear the word “tapenade” spoken while watching football or basketball, it’s grounds for removing one’s man card. This tradition goes back to the cavemen, who, not having olive spread handy, never used it on charred mammoth. Thus, a tasty sammich spread never found its way into the manly lexicon of acceptable condiments (unlike ketchup and mustard, which as we all know, occurred naturally in large pools back then—I saw that on Fox News, so it must be true).
Add a Burst of Flavor with Sriracha
A table condiment to similar to ketchup—but much more pungent—sriracha sauce is becoming increasingly popular, and expanding from its traditional Thai roots into other cuisines.
