1 00:00:00,767 --> 00:00:01,867 [narrator] It's Valentine's, 2 00:00:01,867 --> 00:00:03,467 so I'll spice some things up right 3 00:00:03,467 --> 00:00:05,367 with a dinner date on the farm. 4 00:00:05,367 --> 00:00:06,200 Ta-da. 5 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:08,166 [narrator] Juicy roasted sumac chicken 6 00:00:08,166 --> 00:00:10,967 dripping with bright zhoug. 7 00:00:10,967 --> 00:00:13,367 Talk about some sexy thighs, you know what I'm sayin'? 8 00:00:13,367 --> 00:00:15,266 [narrator] Sweet and peppery Matbucha 9 00:00:15,266 --> 00:00:17,367 on a fluffy bed of whipped feta. 10 00:00:17,367 --> 00:00:18,767 [Molly] This is so flavorful. 11 00:00:18,767 --> 00:00:19,767 [narrator] Veggie fried rice 12 00:00:19,767 --> 00:00:21,767 with warming Middle Eastern spices. 13 00:00:21,767 --> 00:00:23,266 It's almost too pretty to eat. 14 00:00:23,266 --> 00:00:25,867 [narrator] And for dessert, deliciously, dangerous 15 00:00:25,867 --> 00:00:28,166 chocolate cardamom cake donuts. 16 00:00:28,166 --> 00:00:29,634 [Molly] These are love at first bite. 17 00:00:30,266 --> 00:00:31,900 Happy Valentine's Day. 18 00:00:31,900 --> 00:00:33,767 [upbeat music playing] 19 00:00:33,767 --> 00:00:35,467 [Molly] Look at these beauties. 20 00:00:35,467 --> 00:00:37,967 [narrator] Hey, this is me, Molly Yeh. 21 00:00:37,967 --> 00:00:39,467 This is my husband Nick. 22 00:00:39,467 --> 00:00:41,066 This is our growing family 23 00:00:41,066 --> 00:00:42,100 and this is our farm 24 00:00:42,100 --> 00:00:43,767 on the North Dakota, Minnesota border. 25 00:00:43,767 --> 00:00:46,834 The place where I eat, sleep, and breathe food. 26 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:51,166 [upbeat music playing] 27 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,667 It's Valentine's Day. 28 00:00:53,667 --> 00:00:55,367 So, Nick and I are celebrating 29 00:00:55,367 --> 00:00:57,767 with a spiced up dinner on the farm. 30 00:00:57,767 --> 00:01:00,667 For something sweet, I am making my chocolate 31 00:01:00,667 --> 00:01:02,567 cardamom cake donuts, 32 00:01:02,567 --> 00:01:04,467 which are tender rich donuts 33 00:01:04,467 --> 00:01:08,066 with a sweet crackly shell and moist cakey innards. 34 00:01:08,066 --> 00:01:10,767 They're a love letter to your taste buds. 35 00:01:10,767 --> 00:01:12,867 To make my dough, I'll start by combining 36 00:01:12,867 --> 00:01:16,467 a quarter cup of melted, unsalted butter 37 00:01:16,467 --> 00:01:17,867 that's cooled slightly 38 00:01:17,867 --> 00:01:20,667 with two-thirds of a cup of granulated sugar. 39 00:01:20,667 --> 00:01:22,767 And I'm using melted butter here to get that 40 00:01:22,767 --> 00:01:26,367 signature dense cakey quality of a cake donut. 41 00:01:26,367 --> 00:01:27,800 I'll get this onto my stand mixer 42 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,066 and mix this until it's creamy and combined. 43 00:01:31,066 --> 00:01:32,734 [mixer whirring] 44 00:01:33,367 --> 00:01:35,000 Unlike making a layer cake batter, 45 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,400 I don't actually wanna incorporate that much air 46 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,667 into this mixture because I want the donuts 47 00:01:39,667 --> 00:01:42,567 to have a super dense quality. 48 00:01:42,567 --> 00:01:45,166 Add three egg yolks one at a time. 49 00:01:45,166 --> 00:01:46,767 I'm just using the egg yolks 50 00:01:46,767 --> 00:01:48,367 to yield an extra rich texture. 51 00:01:48,367 --> 00:01:50,066 [mixer whirring] 52 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,000 Two teaspoons of vanilla extract. 53 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,000 Vanilla enhances chocolate deliciously. 54 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,166 And then a signature quality of old-fashioned cake donuts 55 00:02:01,166 --> 00:02:02,567 is something tangy, 56 00:02:02,567 --> 00:02:04,934 so either buttermilk or sour cream. 57 00:02:05,367 --> 00:02:06,367 I'm going with sour cream 58 00:02:06,367 --> 00:02:07,767 because there's more fat in it, 59 00:02:07,767 --> 00:02:11,567 and more fat means more moisture in the cake. 60 00:02:11,567 --> 00:02:13,467 I'll add three quarters of a cup of it. 61 00:02:13,467 --> 00:02:15,900 [country music playing] 62 00:02:15,900 --> 00:02:18,000 Now, for my dry ingredients, I'm gonna plop them 63 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,066 just right on top of the wet ingredients. 64 00:02:20,066 --> 00:02:22,200 So, I'll get my bowl off of the stand mixer. 65 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,567 I'll use a combination of cake flour and all-purpose flour 66 00:02:25,567 --> 00:02:28,834 to get a great, tender cakey texture. 67 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:31,767 One and a quarter cups of cake flour. 68 00:02:31,767 --> 00:02:33,367 There's a lower protein level 69 00:02:33,367 --> 00:02:36,066 in cake flour than all-purpose flour, 70 00:02:36,066 --> 00:02:39,166 so it's not as dense, it's not as bulky. 71 00:02:39,166 --> 00:02:42,166 And then three quarters of a cup of all-purpose flour. 72 00:02:42,166 --> 00:02:44,500 Two teaspoons of baking powder 73 00:02:44,500 --> 00:02:49,000 is what is going to help the donuts get crunchy. 74 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,266 And then one cup of unsweetened Dutch cocoa powder 75 00:02:52,266 --> 00:02:55,900 that has slightly darker, more bold flavor. 76 00:02:55,900 --> 00:02:57,166 And it's Valentine's Day. 77 00:02:57,166 --> 00:02:58,266 You gotta have some chocolate. 78 00:02:58,266 --> 00:03:00,667 A half teaspoon of instant espresso powder 79 00:03:00,667 --> 00:03:03,166 enhances the cocoa flavor, 80 00:03:03,166 --> 00:03:04,667 a teaspoon of kosher salt. 81 00:03:04,667 --> 00:03:06,900 Chocolate tastes best when it's paired with 82 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:09,667 a good amount of salt, like an extra quarter teaspoon 83 00:03:09,667 --> 00:03:11,166 and then you might think you would need. 84 00:03:11,166 --> 00:03:13,100 And then three quarters of a teaspoon 85 00:03:13,100 --> 00:03:14,200 of ground cardamom. 86 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,100 It's woodsy, it's floral. 87 00:03:16,100 --> 00:03:18,967 It's a little bit citrusy. 88 00:03:18,967 --> 00:03:20,867 I'll give the dry ingredients a rough whisk 89 00:03:20,867 --> 00:03:23,767 before I incorporate them in with the wet ingredients. 90 00:03:23,767 --> 00:03:26,266 These donuts are loosely inspired by Turkish coffee, 91 00:03:26,266 --> 00:03:28,300 which is typically spiced with cardamom, 92 00:03:28,300 --> 00:03:31,367 and I find the combination of cardamom 93 00:03:31,367 --> 00:03:33,600 and coffee totally enchanting. 94 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,000 So delicious. 95 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,166 I'll mix this until it's combined to form a dough. 96 00:03:37,166 --> 00:03:38,467 [upbeat music playing] 97 00:03:38,467 --> 00:03:40,066 [mixer whirring] 98 00:03:40,066 --> 00:03:42,266 And the final texture is gonna fall 99 00:03:42,266 --> 00:03:44,166 somewhere between a super thick batter 100 00:03:44,166 --> 00:03:45,600 and a really wet dough, 101 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,967 and that is going to yield the best texture of donuts. 102 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,367 My dough is combined. 103 00:03:52,367 --> 00:03:55,900 I'll roll it out into a 9 by 9 inch square, 104 00:03:55,900 --> 00:03:57,467 just under half an inch thick, 105 00:03:57,467 --> 00:04:00,266 and cut that into nine pieces. 106 00:04:01,767 --> 00:04:04,300 I'll cut out their centers using about an inch 107 00:04:04,300 --> 00:04:06,166 on a quarter circle cutter. 108 00:04:07,266 --> 00:04:09,333 I'm obviously gonna fry these up, too. 109 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:13,033 They look great. 110 00:04:13,033 --> 00:04:14,900 So, what's ultimately gonna help these donuts 111 00:04:14,900 --> 00:04:17,000 achieve their signature crackly shell 112 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,967 is if they go into the fryer when they're cold. 113 00:04:19,967 --> 00:04:22,166 So, I'll get these onto my baking sheet here 114 00:04:22,166 --> 00:04:24,467 and stick 'em in the freezer for 30 minutes 115 00:04:24,467 --> 00:04:25,867 while I get going on my glaze. 116 00:04:25,867 --> 00:04:27,600 [country music playing] 117 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,667 [Molly] This is just a basic glaze, powdered sugar, 118 00:04:30,667 --> 00:04:32,900 water, vanilla, 119 00:04:32,900 --> 00:04:34,767 salt, mix, mix, mix. 120 00:04:34,767 --> 00:04:36,200 I'm ready to fry. 121 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,667 I've got a couple of inches of neutral oil 122 00:04:38,667 --> 00:04:42,367 heating in my cast iron pot here to 350 degrees, 123 00:04:42,367 --> 00:04:44,266 and I'll fry these in batches 124 00:04:44,266 --> 00:04:47,000 for two minutes per side until they're crisp. 125 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,567 If you add too many cold donuts, 126 00:04:49,567 --> 00:04:51,767 it'll drop the temperature of the oil. 127 00:04:51,767 --> 00:04:55,500 And if you try to fry with oil that's not hot enough, 128 00:04:55,500 --> 00:04:57,066 don't make a greasy donut. 129 00:04:57,700 --> 00:04:58,967 They smell so chocolatey. 130 00:04:58,967 --> 00:05:01,867 I'm ready to seeing some of the crackles forming. 131 00:05:01,867 --> 00:05:04,066 When I was little, I liked the airier 132 00:05:04,066 --> 00:05:08,667 yeast risen donuts more, but in my distinguish age, 133 00:05:08,667 --> 00:05:11,233 I love a dense cakey donuts so much. 134 00:05:13,066 --> 00:05:14,166 Oh. 135 00:05:16,367 --> 00:05:19,300 I dream about these crevices 136 00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:22,567 and how much glaze it's gonna be trapped in there 137 00:05:22,567 --> 00:05:25,100 and how crunchy they're gonna be. 138 00:05:25,100 --> 00:05:26,467 Oh, these look awesome. 139 00:05:26,467 --> 00:05:30,200 I'll transfer them to a wire rack so they can cool briefly. 140 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,166 I'm glad I have my glaze on standby, 141 00:05:32,166 --> 00:05:33,567 because you've gotta glaze 142 00:05:33,567 --> 00:05:34,967 these donuts while they're warm. 143 00:05:34,967 --> 00:05:37,200 You've gotta enjoy them while they're warm. 144 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,000 Now, as soon as they're cool enough to handle, 145 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,000 I'll get them swimming in my glaze 146 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,166 and coat them completely to give them a shell. 147 00:05:45,166 --> 00:05:46,400 Drop them in, 148 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,300 turn them around to coat. Oh. 149 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:51,567 Look at the way that the glaze is catching 150 00:05:51,567 --> 00:05:53,266 in those crevices. 151 00:05:53,266 --> 00:05:55,667 This is a beautiful thing. 152 00:05:55,667 --> 00:05:56,667 Look at that. 153 00:05:56,667 --> 00:05:57,967 I love you. 154 00:05:58,367 --> 00:05:59,367 Keep on dunking. 155 00:05:59,367 --> 00:06:00,667 [upbeat music playing] 156 00:06:02,266 --> 00:06:03,233 I'm doing it. 157 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:10,233 [upbeat music playing] 158 00:06:12,467 --> 00:06:13,967 Those are so chocolatey, 159 00:06:13,967 --> 00:06:16,433 and the cardamom is the ideal touch. 160 00:06:17,567 --> 00:06:19,300 These are love at first bite. 161 00:06:19,300 --> 00:06:20,567 Sorry, Nick. 162 00:06:20,567 --> 00:06:22,734 [upbeat music playing] 163 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,100 [narrator] Coming up, juicy chicken 164 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:27,400 with a spicy twist 165 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,166 your heart and stomach won't resist. 166 00:06:30,166 --> 00:06:31,233 Rhyme. 167 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:36,166 [upbeat guitar music playing] 168 00:06:37,100 --> 00:06:40,000 Nick loves meat, so for Valentine's Day, 169 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:41,767 I'm giving him what he wants. 170 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,066 Thick thighs. 171 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,367 I'm making my roasted sumac chicken with zhoug. 172 00:06:49,367 --> 00:06:54,100 It's juicy, tender meat with a crispy fatty shell 173 00:06:54,100 --> 00:06:57,166 and finished with a spicy Yemenite sauce. 174 00:06:57,166 --> 00:06:58,066 To get going on the marinade, 175 00:06:58,066 --> 00:07:00,266 I'll start with a quarter cup of olive oil. 176 00:07:00,266 --> 00:07:03,000 It's gonna be the tastiest shell on the chicken 177 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,100 and then grade in a couple of cloves of garlic, 178 00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:07,867 just enough to make it taste good 179 00:07:07,867 --> 00:07:10,867 but not so much that you have garlic breath. 180 00:07:10,867 --> 00:07:12,266 Although if you both have garlic breath, 181 00:07:12,266 --> 00:07:13,800 they cancels each other out. 182 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,467 It's the rule of garlic on Valentine's Day. 183 00:07:16,467 --> 00:07:18,767 And I'm grating it in with my fine zester 184 00:07:18,767 --> 00:07:21,400 to help it really incorporate with the mix. 185 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,433 It sticks better to the chicken that way. 186 00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:28,100 And then I'll zest in a whole lemon and juice it in. 187 00:07:28,100 --> 00:07:28,934 I'm using chicken thighs, 188 00:07:28,934 --> 00:07:31,367 so they're fattier than chicken breasts. 189 00:07:31,367 --> 00:07:34,166 And the counterpoint of all the bright flavors 190 00:07:34,166 --> 00:07:38,066 with fatty thighs is what makes this dish irresistible. 191 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,867 The very second thing Nick ever cooked for me 192 00:07:41,867 --> 00:07:43,967 at his little apartment in Washington Heights 193 00:07:43,967 --> 00:07:46,734 after we first started dating was chicken breasts. 194 00:07:47,166 --> 00:07:49,400 It was totally inedible. 195 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:50,767 He didn't season it or anything. 196 00:07:50,767 --> 00:07:52,600 I think he just took it out of the package 197 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,000 and put it in the oven for, like, forever. 198 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:57,767 It was still a great date, though. 199 00:07:57,767 --> 00:07:59,166 Nothing has changed. 200 00:07:59,166 --> 00:08:01,967 I don't think he would know how to make a chicken 201 00:08:01,967 --> 00:08:04,166 if it whacked him across the face. 202 00:08:04,166 --> 00:08:05,166 But it's fine. 203 00:08:05,166 --> 00:08:06,900 I love cooking, obviously, 204 00:08:06,900 --> 00:08:08,533 and he loves doing the dishes. 205 00:08:09,567 --> 00:08:13,800 The acidity from the lemon juice will tenderize the meat. 206 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:15,367 I want a tender thigh. 207 00:08:15,367 --> 00:08:18,700 Some chopped cilantro, a beautiful freshness. 208 00:08:18,700 --> 00:08:20,867 A tablespoon of honey will balance out 209 00:08:20,867 --> 00:08:22,000 all of these bright flavors, 210 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,567 and then it'll also caramelize on the skin of the chicken. 211 00:08:25,567 --> 00:08:29,266 Ugh, chicken skin is the best. 212 00:08:29,266 --> 00:08:31,066 And then a tablespoon of sumac, 213 00:08:31,066 --> 00:08:33,367 which is one of my favorite spices. 214 00:08:33,367 --> 00:08:36,100 It has kind of a vinegary vibe. 215 00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:38,800 It's also a pretty red, and it's Valentine's Day. 216 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:39,967 It all makes sense. 217 00:08:39,967 --> 00:08:43,767 A teaspoon of smoked paprika, a teaspoon of cumin. 218 00:08:43,767 --> 00:08:46,166 Cumin and sumac are really lovely together. 219 00:08:46,166 --> 00:08:48,166 Two teaspoons of kosher salt 220 00:08:48,166 --> 00:08:51,166 and then half a teaspoon of freshly cracked pepper. 221 00:08:51,867 --> 00:08:53,533 Just whisk this all together. 222 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,300 The flavors here are inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine. 223 00:08:58,300 --> 00:09:00,467 There are bunch of ingredients that I keep on hand 224 00:09:00,467 --> 00:09:03,500 at all times, and these flavors go so well 225 00:09:03,500 --> 00:09:05,867 with the herby zhoug that I'll be topping it with. 226 00:09:05,867 --> 00:09:07,767 So, between the sumac 227 00:09:07,767 --> 00:09:10,266 and the olive oil and the cumin, 228 00:09:10,266 --> 00:09:13,266 these flavors live in the same world as zhoug. 229 00:09:14,767 --> 00:09:16,667 And then get my chicken thighs in here, 230 00:09:16,667 --> 00:09:18,433 their bone and skin on. 231 00:09:20,467 --> 00:09:22,600 I'm gonna rub this marinade all over 232 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,967 so the flavors can make full contact with the meat. 233 00:09:24,967 --> 00:09:28,367 And then I'll let it marinate in the fridge for two hours. 234 00:09:28,367 --> 00:09:29,700 I'll bring it to room temperature 235 00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:33,567 and then roast at 425 degrees for 30 minutes 236 00:09:33,567 --> 00:09:35,767 until the skin is so crispy. 237 00:09:35,767 --> 00:09:37,700 And in that time, I'll make my zhoug. 238 00:09:37,700 --> 00:09:40,133 [upbeat music playing] 239 00:09:43,567 --> 00:09:46,400 Zhoug is a Yemenite sauce that is both hot 240 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,266 and fresh all at the same time 241 00:09:48,266 --> 00:09:50,700 because it's loaded with peppers 242 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:53,100 and tons of fresh herbs. 243 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:54,700 It's great on chicken. 244 00:09:54,700 --> 00:09:57,400 I also make it whenever I make hummus. 245 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:58,934 It's good on eggs. 246 00:09:59,467 --> 00:10:00,767 It's a little bit deceptive 247 00:10:00,767 --> 00:10:03,266 because it kinda looks like pesto, 248 00:10:03,266 --> 00:10:06,467 but you wanna eat it in much smaller quantities than pesto. 249 00:10:06,467 --> 00:10:08,567 For my peppers, I'm using jalapenos, 250 00:10:08,567 --> 00:10:11,066 which is a nice middle of the road spiciness. 251 00:10:11,066 --> 00:10:12,500 It's a heat that I can handle. 252 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:15,100 And I'm removing the seeds and the pith, 253 00:10:15,100 --> 00:10:17,767 and I'm chucking everything into my food processor. 254 00:10:17,767 --> 00:10:19,367 And next my herbs, 255 00:10:19,367 --> 00:10:21,467 a combination of parsley and cilantro, 256 00:10:21,467 --> 00:10:24,300 and I'm not even gonna pick them off the stems. 257 00:10:24,300 --> 00:10:26,500 I'm just gonna coarsely chop these leaves 258 00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:28,867 and the tender stems off because the tender stems 259 00:10:28,867 --> 00:10:31,166 are totally fine to use in this. 260 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:33,934 The juice of a lemon, 261 00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:37,000 four cloves of garlic, 262 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,266 some kosher salt, and then cumin and coriander 263 00:10:40,266 --> 00:10:42,767 make it citrusy and floral. 264 00:10:42,767 --> 00:10:45,667 Okay. I'll pulse this all together until it's paste-y. 265 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:49,567 And then I'll let the processor run 266 00:10:49,567 --> 00:10:51,867 while I drizzle in a quarter cup of olive oil. 267 00:10:51,867 --> 00:10:53,000 [food processor grinding] 268 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,533 [upbeat music playing] 269 00:10:59,900 --> 00:11:02,266 Ah, yum. 270 00:11:02,266 --> 00:11:04,433 There's so much flavor in this sauce. 271 00:11:05,100 --> 00:11:07,300 I'll pour it into a serving bowl. 272 00:11:07,300 --> 00:11:10,166 I'm smelling that chicken, so let me check on that. 273 00:11:10,567 --> 00:11:12,367 Ooh. 274 00:11:12,367 --> 00:11:13,367 Oh, man. [sniffs] 275 00:11:13,367 --> 00:11:16,800 That is some good-looking chicken skin. 276 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:20,600 True love is Nick not caring if I peel all 277 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:22,066 of the skin off of one of these. 278 00:11:23,467 --> 00:11:25,934 All right. You can hear how crispy it is. 279 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:30,266 [chuckles] 280 00:11:30,266 --> 00:11:32,700 Hmm. 281 00:11:32,700 --> 00:11:34,667 The brightness of the zhoug 282 00:11:34,667 --> 00:11:37,066 with that crispy, fatty chicken 283 00:11:37,066 --> 00:11:41,967 is a match made in Valentine's Day romantic heaven. 284 00:11:41,967 --> 00:11:44,433 Talk about some sexy thighs, you know what I'm saying? 285 00:11:45,467 --> 00:11:47,000 Chicken looks cute, too. 286 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,166 [upbeat music playing] 287 00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:53,400 [narrator] Next, my Matbucha is everything 288 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:55,567 your taste buds dream of, 289 00:11:55,567 --> 00:11:58,834 a dip, a salad, a sauce, and a spread all in one. 290 00:11:59,166 --> 00:12:00,734 Swoon. 291 00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:07,367 [upbeat guitar music playing] 292 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:10,667 This side dish is just like Nick, 293 00:12:10,667 --> 00:12:13,000 always there for you when you need it most, 294 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:14,467 and it makes me so happy. 295 00:12:14,467 --> 00:12:15,967 I'm making Matbucha, 296 00:12:15,967 --> 00:12:19,100 which is a cooked tomato and pepper salad 297 00:12:19,100 --> 00:12:20,867 that's common in Moroccan cuisine, 298 00:12:20,867 --> 00:12:23,066 and it is so delightful. 299 00:12:23,066 --> 00:12:25,300 It's sweet and smoky, 300 00:12:25,300 --> 00:12:28,867 and I'm nestling it on a bed of fluffy whipped feta 301 00:12:28,867 --> 00:12:31,200 and scooping it up with fresh pita. 302 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:32,767 I can't wait. 303 00:12:32,767 --> 00:12:36,000 I'm starting with a good glug of olive oil in my pot here. 304 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,467 And to this, I'll add loads of garlic. 305 00:12:38,467 --> 00:12:40,166 The ingredients to this Matbucha 306 00:12:40,166 --> 00:12:41,567 are really quite simple, 307 00:12:41,567 --> 00:12:43,467 but the magic comes from how they all 308 00:12:43,467 --> 00:12:45,266 melt and mingle together. 309 00:12:45,266 --> 00:12:47,166 And they get cooked for kind of a while, 310 00:12:47,166 --> 00:12:49,467 so their flavors truly develop. 311 00:12:49,467 --> 00:12:51,767 And then a tablespoon of sweet paprika 312 00:12:51,767 --> 00:12:54,100 to bring the smokiness. 313 00:12:54,100 --> 00:12:56,567 I'll let this sizzle for just about a minute 314 00:12:56,567 --> 00:12:59,567 and allow the paprika and the garlic to bloom. 315 00:12:59,567 --> 00:13:01,867 Matbucha is a cooked salad. 316 00:13:01,867 --> 00:13:04,000 It literally, in Arabic, means cooked. 317 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,367 It's sort of like a thicker dip 318 00:13:06,367 --> 00:13:09,100 that you can get away with eating just by the spoonful. 319 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:11,667 I make this all the time, especially in the winter. 320 00:13:11,667 --> 00:13:14,367 I get my vegetables by reaching for a can 321 00:13:14,367 --> 00:13:17,467 of tomatoes and a jar of roasted red peppers, 322 00:13:17,467 --> 00:13:20,300 and cooking them together into the salads. 323 00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:23,000 It's simple, but it's very comforting. 324 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,100 Okay. I'm smelling that paprika and that garlic. 325 00:13:26,100 --> 00:13:27,700 I'll add in my tomatoes now. 326 00:13:27,700 --> 00:13:31,800 I have a 28-ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes. 327 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:33,567 And then I'll break them up with my spoon 328 00:13:33,567 --> 00:13:34,867 into little bits. 329 00:13:34,867 --> 00:13:36,600 And I like using the whole peeled tomatoes 330 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,800 because they taste a little better 331 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:40,266 than the crushed tomatoes. 332 00:13:40,266 --> 00:13:42,367 And then two roasted red bell peppers. 333 00:13:42,367 --> 00:13:45,467 I'm just dumping them out of the jar here. 334 00:13:45,467 --> 00:13:49,467 A teaspoon of sugar will caramelize as this cooks 335 00:13:49,467 --> 00:13:52,266 and balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. 336 00:13:52,266 --> 00:13:54,033 A couple of good pinches of salt. 337 00:13:55,367 --> 00:13:57,066 And then a few cracks of pepper. 338 00:13:58,166 --> 00:14:01,166 I'll bring this to a boil and then reduce to a simmer 339 00:14:01,166 --> 00:14:04,467 and cook it uncovered for a good 35 minutes 340 00:14:04,467 --> 00:14:07,000 to allow this to reduce and thicken. 341 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,600 And you never wanna rush it, because it truly needs 342 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,667 all of that time for its flavors to meld 343 00:14:12,667 --> 00:14:16,367 and for this to transform into magical Matbucha. 344 00:14:16,367 --> 00:14:18,567 In that time, I'll get going on my feta. 345 00:14:20,066 --> 00:14:23,467 This spread is smooth and so tangy from the feta. 346 00:14:23,467 --> 00:14:26,567 It is the ideal platform for my Matbucha. 347 00:14:26,567 --> 00:14:28,900 And I'm just tossing it all into a food processor. 348 00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:30,367 It's so easy. 349 00:14:30,367 --> 00:14:32,300 I love the way that feta, 350 00:14:32,300 --> 00:14:34,166 which is such a crumbly cheese, 351 00:14:34,166 --> 00:14:36,567 transforms into a fluffy 352 00:14:36,567 --> 00:14:38,567 cloud-like consistency in this. 353 00:14:38,567 --> 00:14:40,266 This is eight ounces of feta. 354 00:14:40,266 --> 00:14:42,166 It's briny, it's tangy, 355 00:14:42,166 --> 00:14:44,700 and it's so salty in the best way. 356 00:14:44,700 --> 00:14:47,467 Three quarters of a cup of whole milk Greek yogurt. 357 00:14:47,467 --> 00:14:50,667 We'll add that creamy element and more tang. 358 00:14:50,667 --> 00:14:52,567 This is, like, tang on tang. 359 00:14:52,567 --> 00:14:55,500 I'll often add just a plop of yogurt to Matbucha 360 00:14:55,500 --> 00:14:57,667 for that creamy element, but I'm going the extra mile 361 00:14:57,667 --> 00:15:00,433 and making it super special with the feta spread. 362 00:15:01,066 --> 00:15:02,266 Clove of garlic 363 00:15:02,867 --> 00:15:05,066 and the zest of half lemon. 364 00:15:05,066 --> 00:15:07,834 Lemon and feta never been better. 365 00:15:10,266 --> 00:15:12,066 And then a drizzle of olive oil. 366 00:15:12,066 --> 00:15:15,000 That extra bit of richness goes a long way in this. 367 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,367 I'm not adding salt 368 00:15:16,367 --> 00:15:18,066 because there is quite a bit of salt in feta. 369 00:15:19,367 --> 00:15:21,266 And I'll just whiz it up until it's creamy. 370 00:15:21,266 --> 00:15:23,066 [food processor grinding] 371 00:15:24,867 --> 00:15:25,700 Looks great. 372 00:15:25,700 --> 00:15:26,767 I'll plate it up. 373 00:15:26,767 --> 00:15:28,467 I've got my pita for dipping, 374 00:15:28,467 --> 00:15:30,600 and some veggies, and olives, 375 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:31,967 and then all the different snacks. 376 00:15:31,967 --> 00:15:33,767 And the girls can just go wild. 377 00:15:33,767 --> 00:15:38,066 This is, like, an ideal weeknight dinner for us. 378 00:15:38,066 --> 00:15:40,000 And I like to serve this in a shallow bowl 379 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,333 and spread a thick layer of feta along the bottom. 380 00:15:44,567 --> 00:15:45,767 Okay. Ah. 381 00:15:46,867 --> 00:15:48,533 Hmm. Hmm. 382 00:15:49,166 --> 00:15:50,734 This is so flavorful. 383 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:53,266 That's awesome. 384 00:15:53,266 --> 00:15:56,100 My Matbucha has become super nice and thick. 385 00:15:56,100 --> 00:15:58,634 I'll spoon this right over the feta. 386 00:15:59,166 --> 00:16:01,567 When the feta and the Matbucha 387 00:16:01,567 --> 00:16:04,166 mingle and mix together on your plate, 388 00:16:04,166 --> 00:16:05,800 it will kinda become a pink color. 389 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,767 This is perfect for Valentine's Day. 390 00:16:07,767 --> 00:16:09,367 Drizzle of olive oil. 391 00:16:09,367 --> 00:16:11,834 Look really pretty and tastes good. 392 00:16:12,266 --> 00:16:13,166 [whispers] Oh, yeah. 393 00:16:13,166 --> 00:16:15,100 Got some cilantro and parsley. 394 00:16:15,100 --> 00:16:19,467 I mean, this is just begging to be dunked with a pita. 395 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,266 I'm gonna do, like, a half-spoon, 396 00:16:23,266 --> 00:16:24,867 half-dunking switch. 397 00:16:31,266 --> 00:16:32,233 Hmm. 398 00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:34,000 Hmm. 399 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,767 Those tomatoes are so sweet 400 00:16:36,767 --> 00:16:39,233 paired with that briny, tangy feta. 401 00:16:40,266 --> 00:16:42,467 This marriage is gonna last. 402 00:16:42,467 --> 00:16:44,634 [upbeat music playing] 403 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:46,767 [narrator] Still to come... 404 00:16:46,767 --> 00:16:48,767 The secret to giving fried rice 405 00:16:48,767 --> 00:16:52,333 some eggstra special love like you've never seen. 406 00:16:56,467 --> 00:16:57,734 [upbeat guitar music playing] 407 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,166 [sizzling] 408 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,667 Our chicken needs the perfect pairing for our dinner. 409 00:17:03,667 --> 00:17:05,066 So, for a stunning side, 410 00:17:05,066 --> 00:17:08,200 I am making my Middle Eastern veggie fried rice, 411 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:09,967 which is fluffy, fragrant, 412 00:17:09,967 --> 00:17:12,166 basmati rice that has poached eggs, 413 00:17:12,166 --> 00:17:13,767 nestled right in it. 414 00:17:13,767 --> 00:17:15,300 I'll build it all in my braiser. 415 00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:17,200 I'm starting with some yellow onion 416 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:18,467 and yellow bell pepper 417 00:17:18,467 --> 00:17:20,333 that I'm cooking in some olive oil. 418 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,467 I'll pile in some grape tomatoes and eggplant, 419 00:17:24,467 --> 00:17:27,200 which brings such great sweetness. 420 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,100 And I'll just let this cook until the tomatoes 421 00:17:29,100 --> 00:17:30,800 start to break down and the eggplant develops 422 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:31,834 some great color. 423 00:17:32,367 --> 00:17:33,667 I love fried rice. 424 00:17:33,667 --> 00:17:36,266 Typically, I make Asian fried rice with kimchi 425 00:17:36,266 --> 00:17:38,900 or whatever veggies we have, but I figured, 426 00:17:38,900 --> 00:17:41,166 with that chicken, we should channel some more 427 00:17:41,166 --> 00:17:43,900 Middle Eastern flavors into this fried rice. 428 00:17:43,900 --> 00:17:47,000 Eggplant is central to Middle Eastern cuisine, 429 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,867 and it's not a veggie that I use that often, 430 00:17:49,867 --> 00:17:53,400 but when it's salted well and has some great color, 431 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,166 it is so, so good. 432 00:17:55,166 --> 00:17:56,767 I love it in this. 433 00:17:56,767 --> 00:17:58,500 My veggies are looking great. 434 00:17:58,500 --> 00:17:59,834 I'll throw in some garlic 435 00:18:00,367 --> 00:18:01,700 and some fresh oregano, 436 00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:03,900 which is so earthy. 437 00:18:03,900 --> 00:18:06,467 And then a teaspoon and a half of baharat, 438 00:18:06,467 --> 00:18:08,867 which is delicious. 439 00:18:08,867 --> 00:18:12,767 All-purpose seasoning that's typically used to season meat. 440 00:18:12,767 --> 00:18:14,867 It's got some great warm flavors 441 00:18:14,867 --> 00:18:16,667 like cinnamon and clove, 442 00:18:16,667 --> 00:18:19,000 as well as some cumin and coriander. 443 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:20,400 I just love this stuff. 444 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,033 Some crushed red pepper, 445 00:18:22,767 --> 00:18:24,367 the zest of a lemon. 446 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:27,066 All right. 447 00:18:27,066 --> 00:18:29,266 Just let the spices toast. 448 00:18:30,066 --> 00:18:31,967 And now, it's time for my rice. 449 00:18:31,967 --> 00:18:33,967 I've got basmati rice here. 450 00:18:33,967 --> 00:18:37,300 It's day old, which means that it's extra perfect 451 00:18:37,300 --> 00:18:40,367 for fried rice, because when rice 452 00:18:40,367 --> 00:18:42,166 is a little bit dry, 453 00:18:42,166 --> 00:18:43,867 there's actually more room within it 454 00:18:43,867 --> 00:18:45,634 to absorb the flavor. 455 00:18:46,166 --> 00:18:47,000 I'll season with salt. 456 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:50,300 And then just stir to incorporate this in 457 00:18:50,300 --> 00:18:51,467 with the veggies. 458 00:18:51,467 --> 00:18:53,867 Now, allow the rice to heat up. 459 00:18:53,867 --> 00:18:56,100 Oh, these colors are so beautiful together, 460 00:18:56,100 --> 00:18:57,767 like, confetti rice. 461 00:18:57,767 --> 00:18:59,934 [upbeat music playing] 462 00:19:01,667 --> 00:19:04,467 Now, one of my favorite ways to eat eggs 463 00:19:04,467 --> 00:19:06,300 is to cook an egg 464 00:19:06,300 --> 00:19:09,166 right in the center of a pile of rice. 465 00:19:09,166 --> 00:19:12,834 I'll create four little divots in here to catch the eggs. 466 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:15,100 I've got my divots. 467 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:16,400 I'll crack my eggs in, 468 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,166 taking care not to break the yolk, 469 00:19:18,166 --> 00:19:19,667 because the runny yolk 470 00:19:19,667 --> 00:19:21,100 is one of the best parts of this. 471 00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:22,533 [upbeat music playing] 472 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,667 Four for four with no broken yolks. 473 00:19:26,667 --> 00:19:28,900 I'll cover this up and cook on medium low 474 00:19:28,900 --> 00:19:31,567 for about seven minutes until the egg whites are set 475 00:19:31,567 --> 00:19:33,166 but the yolks are still runny. 476 00:19:35,467 --> 00:19:36,700 All right. 477 00:19:36,700 --> 00:19:37,967 I think the eggs are ready. 478 00:19:37,967 --> 00:19:39,567 Let me take a peek. 479 00:19:39,567 --> 00:19:41,567 Oh, those are perfect. 480 00:19:41,567 --> 00:19:44,867 The whites are totally opaque, but if you jiggle the pan, 481 00:19:45,667 --> 00:19:47,000 the yolks are still soft. 482 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,467 I'll finish with a slew of pretty toppings. 483 00:19:49,467 --> 00:19:50,800 First, I've got to season, 484 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,066 kinda make sure that those eggs are salted. 485 00:19:53,066 --> 00:19:55,066 I'll get a squeeze of lemon juice on here, 486 00:19:55,066 --> 00:19:56,000 more brightness. 487 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,200 A drizzle of olive oil, 488 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,834 dollops of yogurts for that creamy, cooling tang. 489 00:20:04,166 --> 00:20:05,333 Toasted pine nuts 490 00:20:05,900 --> 00:20:07,967 that are so buttery, 491 00:20:07,967 --> 00:20:09,767 some thinly-sliced red onion. 492 00:20:09,767 --> 00:20:11,333 You could also use pickled onion. 493 00:20:11,900 --> 00:20:12,700 Black pepper. 494 00:20:12,700 --> 00:20:15,066 I love to see speckles of black pepper 495 00:20:15,066 --> 00:20:17,100 on my poached eggs. 496 00:20:17,100 --> 00:20:19,667 Fresh herbs, parsley, and cilantro. 497 00:20:19,667 --> 00:20:21,700 Now, it's coming together. 498 00:20:21,700 --> 00:20:25,100 And lastly, I'll nestle in my lemon wedges 499 00:20:25,100 --> 00:20:27,000 for an extra little squeeze before we eat. 500 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:28,600 Ta-da! 501 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:29,867 I'm gonna go for it. 502 00:20:30,667 --> 00:20:33,233 Oh, that's a good, oozy yolk. 503 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:37,667 Hmm. 504 00:20:38,367 --> 00:20:39,400 Hmm. 505 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,166 There is such a range of flavors in here, 506 00:20:42,166 --> 00:20:45,100 from the warm baharat to all of the brightness 507 00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:46,667 from the veggies and the lemon. 508 00:20:46,667 --> 00:20:48,400 It's almost too pretty to eat. 509 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,000 Let's get this Valentine's Day dinner started. 510 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,100 [cheerful music playing]