It’s done. I just added a new category of recipes to the blog, entitled Incredibly Simple. You can find it on the right side, scrolling past Blogroll. Under this new category I list recipes that are almost effortless to put together. In the near future I will also make a separate category in the index page, so they are not only easy to make, but also easy to find in the site. For this round-up I share four side dishes, one uses the air-fryer. I am aware that not many people own one, but I was so amazed by the outcome that I had to include it. You can of course make it in a regular oven… it will just take a bit longer to reach the dinner table, and the texture won’t be quite the same.
INCREDIBLY SIMPLE #1
MICRO-STEAMED ASPARAGUS
Inspiration for this recipe came from seriouseats
The simple part of this method is the steaming. I’ve been using it all the time now. Place asparagus in an even layer on a large microwave-safe plate and season with salt and pepper. Lay a double layer of damp paper towels on top of the stalks, completely covering them. Microwave on high for about 3 minutes. Check with a fork, if necessary add another 30 seconds to 1 minute. That is it. You can dress them super simply with a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice, or if you have a bit more time, go for this simplified walnut vinaigrette.
Toast half a cup or so of walnuts in a skillet or oven. Coarsely chop them and place in a small bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of a mild vinegar, 1 tablespoon of water, a very light drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, until it all emulsifies. The walnuts will help the process. Season with salt, and add on top of the asparagus fresh from the microwave step. That is all. You want to know a little secret? The exact same method works well for broccolini too, you might have to slightly increase the steaming time.
Inspiration for this recipe came from Geoffrey Zakarian on a recent episode of The Kitchen.
Don’t let the simplicity of this non-recipe fool you. The result goes well beyond expectations. As GZ put it on the show, the combination of orange and avocado is a complete winner, and we agree. The only work involved is segmenting the orange. Distribute the slices of avocado on a plate, add orange segments on top. Squeeze all the juice left from the orange in a small bowl, season with salt and pepper, whisk a small amount of olive oil to emulsify it. If you like your dressing on the sweet side, a touch of honey will do. Drizzle on top of the salad, and sprinkle pomegranate seeds on top. You can also substitute toasted slivered almonds or walnuts in case you don’t have pomegranate around. I’ve made it twice in the same week, and intend to keep bringing this to our table. Blood oranges would make it even more special, so keep that in mind.
INCREDIBLY SIMPLE #3
ROASTED BROCCOLINI WITH LEMON AND PARMIGIANO CHEESE
Inspiration for this recipe came from Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes, by Alison Roman.
Put a baking dish in the oven and heat it to 425 F. You will need broccolini, one lemon, and freshly grated Parmigiano cheese.
Add one or two bunches of broccolini to a large bowl, add to it very thin slices of one lemon. Drizzle olive oil all over, just enough to coat the veggies and lemon slices. Season with salt and pepper.
Place the broccolini on the hot baking sheet in one layer, add a small coating of grated Parmigiano cheese and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until it all starts to get golden, and the broccolini is cooked through.
The cheese will more or less disappear, but you will notice its sharp bite as you bite into the broccolini. Super simple indeed, and absolutely delicious.
INCREDIBLY SIMPLE #4
This is really a non-recipe if I’ve ever seen one. Fork the skin of the sweet potato a few times. Rub it with olive oil, season with salt. Place in the air-fryer set at 390 F or the highest temperature your machine will go. Cook for 35 minutes, turning it once or twice during frying. Remove from the fryer, cut the skin open, add some butter, salt and pepper. That’s all.
What amazed me about this recipe is that you won’t have to wait for the oven to heat to high temperature to start roasting. The air-fryer needs no advance notice. You turn it on, in a minute or so you are right where you need to be. For whole potatoes or sweet potatoes, it’s hard to beat the convenience of using the air-fryer. And the texture turned out perfect, I think better than a regular oven. We would need a blind test to be sure, but I tell you, this was really really good. Apparently regular potatoes can be prepared exactly the same way and won’t take more than 40-45 minutes to be done. They are on my list for the near future.
So that’s all for now… Four recipes that are so easy to put together, no matter what happened at work, you can face their preparation with a smile. Making life simple is always a good move.
ONE YEAR AGO: Two Salads and a Blog Award!
TWO YEARS AGO: When Three is Better than Two
THREE YEARS AGO: Somebody Stop Me!
FOUR YEARS AGO: Zucchini Pasta with Cilantro-Cashew Pesto
FIVE YEARS AGO: Bran Muffins, Take Two
SIX YEARS AGO: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
SEVEN YEARS AGO: Mogo Mojo
EIGHT YEARS AGO: Slow-Roasted Chicken Thighs: an Ice-Breaker
Bewitching Kitchen 
Perfect! A great new category for your blog and lots of lovely vegetable based dishes for me 😊😊😊😊
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I thought you might enjoy this one… I almost told you about it yesterday but decided it could be a little surprise… ;-))))
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Aah, thank you 😘😘😘
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I always particularly like your dressings, do you have dressings category too?
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No I do not… Funny I never think of my dressings as anything that special – now that you mention, I will pay more attention – it would be pretty hard for me to get a category going.. the thought of going back through my recipes and finding which ones are worth including…. too many recipes… (sigh)
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I know, but as you just throw some together throughout the week, just start making a note of them…I often notice that you use orange juice, and nuts and their oils..
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I like very simple dressings, for the most part. As you know, no onions here or garlic – so for the most part the dressings I make have a very subtle flavor and they never interfere too much with the “dressed” – if you want to know my very favorite, is a roasted lemon vinaigrette, it’s in the blog already, from years ago… that thing is a killer
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Ooh, that sounds good!
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I am Dangerspouse, and I approve this new category. Rock on.
🙂
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Thanks heavens for that! I already could not sleep last night, a nervous wreck, wondering. Now I am at peace
😉
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I bear a heavy responsibility. You little people have no idea how much it weighs on me that I have this effect on you.
Or it WOULD weigh on me if I had a conscience. Either way: you’re weclome 🙂
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I swear I have a huge laugh with those political ads – after 60 seconds of dragging the opponent through mud, they go “I am such and such, and I approve this message”
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Lol! I know, right? Funny thing is, I sometimes have to voice those ads for paying political clients. I always roll my eyes when I hear my own voice followed by the craven reprobate giving that tag line afterwards.
But…it’s the American Way. Love it, or go back to Pukistan, ya commie.
🙂
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I think this is an excellent category! Sometimes we just need a quick side or salad and just get stuck in a rut. Think of it as inspiration!
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that’s why I did not even include a “printable” version – these are totally read and make… no need to complicate even the attack 😉
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Great idea! I am curious about your air fryer. I have so many appliances that some of them have to be stored in the garage. I am reluctant to invest in another. Do you think it is worth it and what brand is the best?
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You have to keep in mind I love gadgets – so in my mind, they are all worth it, but I tend to put them all to use, of course not on a weekly basis, but they always show up. Can you live without an air-fryer? For sure. Absolutely needed? not at all – but if you have fun using different toys to play in the kitchen, that is a fun option. You can check my index for all the recipes I have = my favorite perhaps air-fried carrots – do them often. The only thing to keep in mind, it is better for small families, or a couple (like my case) –
as to the brand, I love my Philips..
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We are a couple so something with smaller batches would work. I have to think about it, I still haven’t really played with my instant pot.
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Easy to make, easy to find works for me. Meanwhile, broccolini has never looked so good! Give me all the warmth… ready to put my head in the oven this morning :s (don’t tell my Canadian family what a weenie I’ve turned into, k?)
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opposite for me here – my family and friends think I’m some type of a hero because I moved to a place where homes need heating and sub-zero (Celsius) temperatures happen… 😉
perspective is everything, isn’t it????
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Wonderful, colorful and tasty dishes that are quick to assemble. Can’t ask for more! 🙂
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I also love the color of that salad with avocado and orange – a feast for the eyes!
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All 4 of those vegetables are ones I enjoy. I need to try the avocado and orange one when avocados aren’t so pricey.
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do try it! It’s really amazing how well they go together. In the show one of them mentioned crab meat could be another component and it’s true, it would go well (if you like crab, that is…)
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I love avocado and citrus salads! That looks so good. And, I’m so curious about air fryers. I need to try one!
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My list of gadgets: food processor, Vitamix blender, immersion blender, electric kettle, Instant Pot. The immersion blender & kettle are used daily. The Vitamix is used 1-2x/week. Food processor and Instant Pot, maybe once a month for both, these days. Not sure how much an air fryer will be used. But it sounds so good.
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