The Chef: LizThe Menu: A savory meal that was bursting with greens! Liz made a double serving of Risotto with Oyster Mushrooms, Leeks, and Peas, and a lovely side of Sicilian Collard Greens with Pine Nuts and Raisins. Both of these recipes were from The Kind Diet, and both dishes have completely disappeared. The huge, beautiful kale salad you see was one of Liz's own recipes, and featured avocado, black sesame seeds, and Parma! Everything was scrumptious and promptly devoured.
The Goods: From the looks of the responses to yesterday's post, you all love some salad! We couldn't agree more—you might have noticed that just about every single post on this blog features some sort of leafy mixture. Speaking of things you might have noticed on this blog, we're giving away Alicia Silverstone's book! Congrats to GreyShore, who is the winner from yesterday's comments! GreyShore, send us an email, and we'll mail out your copy! To be entered to win today's copy, leave a comment with your answer to this question: Do you like raisins in savory food (such as in today's lovely collards?)
I really don't!
ReplyDeleteI love it. Just a touch of sweetness.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love raisins in savory grain or salad dishes. They add just a bit of sweetness to make the dish pop! My love of raisins in savory dishes has now led me to experiment with dates in a variety of my favorite salads. Yum....
ReplyDeleteOnly Like Raisins in Sweets to be honest.
ReplyDeleteBut in All Fairness, only ever tried (non-sweets/Meal type) two dishes containing them...
No thank you! I only like raisins by themselves actually (not in baking or sweet things, either). I do, however, think craisins go with everything.
ReplyDeleteI love raisins so adding them to different foods just improves them
ReplyDeleteLike em! They add just a little burst of sweetness,yum!
ReplyDeleteLauren
Yes! I love raisins in curry dishes.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was going to say no, but after looking at the deliciuos plate, I can't wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteI like raisins in some rice dishes, like stuffed cabbage and lentils w/rice. I'm willing to try it though!
ReplyDeleteI most certainly do not - heck, I barely like them in sweet dishes! But I might be willing to give them a shot if someone made me Sicilian Collard Greens. :P
ReplyDeleteNo - not a raisin person. I'll consider them in oatmeal though.
ReplyDeleteYes, I literally like raisins in pretty much anything. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love raisins in savory foods. With cooked greens, in couscous, in salads. I use a lot of different dried fruits in all my cooking, not just for sweets.
ReplyDeleteNope, but my roommate manages to sneak them into all our dishes anyway... :)
ReplyDeleteI never quite appreciated it... I think raisins are too sweet to be part of a savory dish!
ReplyDeleteI only like to eat raisins by themselves or in salads.
ReplyDeleteyes! the sweet/savory combo is great :]
ReplyDeleteoh yeah! Raisins work both sweet and savory.
ReplyDeleteI hate raisins! But I usually substitute dried cranberries which are much yummier :)
ReplyDeleteYES! especially with pine nuts or slivered almonds.
ReplyDeleteraisins in savory food is really good!
ReplyDeletei put them in my broccoli salad and vegan homemade slaw dressing that I make.
yes, I love raisins in anything!
ReplyDeleteI love raisins in savory food! Each bite with a raisin gives a burst of sweetness that makes me search them out in the dish!
ReplyDeleteNo, not really, although i'll give it a try in new dishes.
ReplyDeleteI do but not when they are paired with cinnamon in a dinner dish
ReplyDeleteyess! they are soo good.. i love raisins!
ReplyDeleteNo, I am not a raisin person. I pick around them in dishes! I do however feed them to my son.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy raisins in some savory foods like collards. We add raisins to our "not" loaf and it is a nice contrast.
ReplyDeleteI actually prefer them (especially the golden variety!) in savory dishes such as the posted recipe, or dishes such as dolmas, rice dishes, tart sauces for savory foods, etc. They're especially good if they're rehydrated during cooking so they're nice and plump versus chewy and dense.
ReplyDeleteyes i do!
ReplyDeleteNo, raisins are gross :( Sorry...
ReplyDeleteI do! The raisins give that unexpected burst of chewey sweetness. A nice surprise and compliment!
ReplyDeleteyes,i like to scatter some raisins in homemade "meat"balls.my sicilian grandmother done taught me that :-). it's quite tasty.
ReplyDeleteI like raisins in some savory dishes, especially when you have that sweet and salty thing going on.
ReplyDeleteit depends on what it is. i don't mind it in those rice salads and a couple other things. i don't think i'd want them in my greens...
ReplyDeleteYES! I love raisins in savory dishes. I also like to have them around when I need a sweet snack after lunch or dinner.
ReplyDeletei love raisins but not in savory dishes.
ReplyDeleteI love this simple and savory rice recipe with raisins---it gives the rice a sweet and tasty flare and is oh so colorful!
ReplyDelete1 cup brown rice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup Raisins
1/4 cup Golden Raisins
1/4 cup sliced green onion
salt
Yummy! :P
I love them (or other dried fruit, like cherries) in things like a savory couscous. It adds a little excitement to the palate.
ReplyDeleteNo raisins for me in savory OR sweet food. Dried cranberries are another story-bring 'em on.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge raisin fan (I also sub cranberries whenever they are called for), but after trying Bryant Terry's Citrus Collards with Raisins, I think I've been converted. They turn all plump, juicy and fruity - almost like they've turned back into grapes! Yum!
ReplyDeleteUp until two days ago, I would have said "absolutely not you sick freak". But now, I must admit that I have recently tasted the most amazing antipasti dish from a vegan-friendly joint here in NYC called Pala. It's called "zucca" and aside from plump golden raisins, it contains roasted butternut squash and carmelized onions. Basically, it was heaven in my mouth.
ReplyDeleteSo yes, thumbs up to raisins.
Oohh... Hm. Well... I'd have to say on a regular basis Nope, no raisins in savory food. I've had a dish maybe once that I liked that way but ... it's just weird, I'm not sure why! :)
ReplyDeleteThese meals look So delish - I definitely need to get back in the kitchen!! Thanks!
I totally do - in greens, or in things like curries.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely (but I love raisins in anything). Delicious with kale & toasted pine nuts. Yum!
ReplyDeleteI do love raisins in savory dishes. Especially golden raisins!
ReplyDeleteYes I do, especially in curry dishes.
ReplyDeleteI think rasins in savory food provide a nice and subtle surprise sweetness.
ReplyDeleteKimberlee
Oooh yeah. Raisins in couscous salad - yes, yes, ya'll!
ReplyDeleteYes. I love them in stuffing especially.
ReplyDeleteNope...not a raisin fan at all!
ReplyDeleteMore than raisins, I prefer dried apricots or cranberries in savory dishes. But some of the raisin ideas posted here by commenters sound great, as do Alicia's collard greens.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love the touch of sweetness they bring to savory food. More often than not, though, I'll substitute dried cranberries, apricots, or even dates for the raisins because, for some reason, I'm not a huge raisins fan (even in sweet food).
ReplyDeleteRaisins? Absolutely! They're like little bursts of sweetness to balance out all the other flavors.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love raisins in savory food. Sweetness of raisins complements savory--like yin & yang balance :-)
ReplyDeleteSometimes! Some people just put them in savory dishes where they really don't belong, but sometimes they go wonderfully with the dish.
ReplyDeleteI like raisins better in sweet things
ReplyDeleteI prefer my raisins naked.
ReplyDeleteYummy! I love raisins in everything, and for a twist I love currants...
ReplyDeleteI love raisins in stuffing. Does that count? :)
ReplyDeleteMost of the time, yes I do! I especially like them in this raw broccoli salad, which also features onions and nuts -- the raisins give it the touch of sweet it needs.
ReplyDeleteRaisins & currants are surprisingly good in savory food. Sprinkle some peanuts and raisins on thai curry: delicious.
ReplyDeleteI love raisins in everything! Cookies to collards. Mmm!
ReplyDeleteNo thank you; I will leave my raisins for my sweet dishes!
ReplyDeleteI love raisins (and dried cranberries) in salads and cooked greens. Adds a lot of sweet flavor to the bittness of greens. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteYes! Especially in salads and sautes.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, it's not my favorite. I like cranberries a little better - the tartness is a nice touch.
ReplyDeletemost of the time i do! i really love craisins in broccoli salad-mmmm!
ReplyDelete-toni D
toniisplanted@hotmail.com
No, gross! Raisins are for cookies!-Sherry G
ReplyDeleteIt depends-I like sweet chili (spicy with brown sugar) but I like my salads to be salty and that's it. (Jason D)
ReplyDeleteNo, not really-I'll end up picking them out. Gracie D.
ReplyDeleteI love cooked raisins in savory dishes...they're so good when they plump up! Especially golden ones....
ReplyDeleteI am typically not a fan of sweetness in my salad perhaps with the exception of mandarin oranges.
ReplyDeleteLisa D.
There was a time when I did not, but I've really grown to love raisins (and other dried fruits) in savory dishes. I'm glad I kept giving it a try!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I dislike raisins in all food and will generally eat around them or pick them out.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to substitute dried cranberries, apricots or other fruits though.
I do, especially in Indian or Italian food or pilaf.
ReplyDeleteI really don't like raisins at all, actually... something about them grosses me out!
ReplyDeletethat is too weird. last night for dinner, i had collard greens and raisins together for the first time. the recipe was from Vegan Soul Food and it was delicious!
ReplyDeleteyes! Last night my husband and I made an eggplant dish from the Eat to Live book that contained raisins. It was really good.
ReplyDeleteI actually kind of prefer them in savory food instead of sweet!
ReplyDeleteI love raisins in just about anything!
ReplyDelete