Bags of Spices

Favorite Recipes

Roasted

  • Rosemary & Oregano Oven-Roasted Potatoes

    Rosemary & Oregano Oven-Roasted Potatoes

    These rosemary and oregano potatoes are a simple side that works with almost anything on the dinner table. A preheated baking sheet gives them crisp, deeply golden edges while the centers stay creamy, and garlic and olive oil round out the savory Mediterranean flavor. They are especially good alongside roasted or grilled meats and vegetables.


    Ingredients

    • 3 lb (1.36 kg) Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1½-inch (4 cm) pieces
    • ¼ cup (55 g) extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
    • 2 tsp dried oregano
    • 1½ tsp table salt
    • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 tbsp (15 g) minced garlic

    Directions

    Season the Potatoes

    Heat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Place a large rimmed baking sheet in the oven while it heats.

    Combine the potatoes with the olive oil, rosemary, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Toss until evenly coated.

    Roast

    Carefully spread the potatoes on the hot baking sheet in a single layer, placing as many cut sides against the pan as possible. Roast for 25 minutes without disturbing them.

    Turn the potatoes, add the minced garlic, and toss briefly to distribute it. Continue roasting for 15–20 minutes, until the potatoes are deeply golden, crisp on the edges, and tender in the center.

    Taste and adjust the salt before serving hot.

    Yield: Approximately 8 servings.


    Notes

    Preparation

    • Adding the garlic after the first 25 minutes keeps it from burning during the long roast.
    • Do not crowd the pan. Divide the potatoes between two preheated baking sheets if needed.

    Variations

    • Substitute 1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed between your fingers, for the fresh rosemary.

    Serving Suggestions

    • Serve with roasted or grilled chicken, beef, lamb, fish, or vegetables.
    • These potatoes pair especially well with our Keftedes (Greek Meatballs) with Tzatziki when another part of the meal already provides plenty of lemon.

    Make-Ahead & Storage

    • The potatoes are best served immediately while the edges are crisp.
    • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat at 425°F (218°C) for 10–15 minutes, until hot and crisp.
  • Babi Panggang — Indonesian Roasted Pork

    Babi Panggang — Indonesian Roasted Pork

    Working in the office in the city of Bussum in The Netherlands, we’d often order take-out from our favorite Chinese-Indonesian restaurant, Tong Fong, in the neighboring city of Hilversum. One stand-out item was their delicious Babi Panggang, which was always a part of our order. I later learned that Babi Panggang is the most ordered main dish at Indonesian restaurants throughout the Netherlands. This is my attempt to recreate the vibrant flavors and textures of this delicious dish.


    Ingredients

    • 2 lb pork shoulder or belly
    • Marinade

    • ¼ cup ketjap manis
    • 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
    • 2 tbsp rice cooking wine
    • 1 tbsp brown sugar
    • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
    • 1 tbsp fish sauce
    • ½ tbsp sambal oelek
    • ½ tbsp sambal badjak
    • ½ tsp toasted sesame oil (optional)
    • ¼ tsp Chinese five spice (optional)
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • Juice and zest of 1 lime
    • Sweet & Sour Red Sauce

    • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
    • 1 small onion, finely chopped
    • 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 tsp grated ginger
    • ½ tsp sambal oelek
    • 3 tbsp tomato paste
    • ¼ tsp chicken powder
    • ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
    • 3 tbsp ketchup
    • 2 tbsp lime juice
    • 2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
    • 1 tbsp Tamarind Paste
    • 1 tbsp ketjap manis
    • 1 tsp fish sauce
    • ¾ cup chicken stock or water
    • ¼ cup brown sugar (adjust to taste)
    • 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water

    Directions

    Marinate the Pork

    Combine all marinade ingredients, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Pour into a resealable container or vacuum-seal bag. Add the pork, coating thoroughly. Seal and marinate in the refrigerator for 4–12 hours.

    Sweet & Sour Red Sauce

    Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion until lightly browned; add garlic, ginger, and sambal, and cook until fragrant. Add tomato paste and chicken powder; cook 1 minute to develop sweetness.

    Stir in sweet chili sauce, ketchup, lime juice, vinegar, tamarind, ketjap manis, fish sauce, stock or water, and brown sugar. Simmer 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Add the cornstarch slurry and simmer until glossy and thickened. Blend with an immersion blender and adjust thickness with additional stock, if needed.

    Preparation #1: Sous Vide

    Preheat sous vide bath to 170°F / 77°C for pork shoulder (130°F / 55°C for pork loin or tenderloin; 150°F / 65°C for pork belly). Submerge vacuum-sealed pork and marinade in the water bath and heat for 12–24 hours (2–8 hours for pork loin or tenderloin).

    Remove from the bag and pat dry. Brush with oil and finish under a broiler set to high for 4–5 minutes to crisp the top. Brush with red sauce during broiling and allow it to develop a few bits of char.

    Slice and serve over rice with a generous amount of sauce. Serve with acar ketimun (pickled vegetables), cucumber salad, fried cabbage, and/or blanched green beans tossed with garlic and sesame oil.

    Preparation #2: Oven

    Preheat oven to 350°F / 177°C. Place pork on a rack in a baking tray. Reserve marinade and boil in a saucepan for 5 minutes. Roast pork for 30–40 minutes per pound, or until internal temperature reaches 190°F / 88°C, basting with the boiled marinade halfway through.

    Rest pork for 20 minutes. Pat dry, brush with oil, and finish under a broiler set to high for 4–5 minutes to crisp the top. Optionally, baste with the red sauce while broiling and allow it to develop slight char.

    Slice and serve over rice with a generous amount of sauce. Serve with acar ketimun, cucumber salad, fried cabbage, and/or blanched green beans tossed with garlic and sesame oil.

    Preparation #3: Pellet Grill

    Preheat pellet grill to 250°F / 120°C. Smoke until internal temperature reaches 187°F / 86°C, basting halfway through. Rest pork for 30 minutes.

    Pat dry, brush with oil, and finish under a broiler set to high for 4–5 minutes to crisp the top. Optionally, baste with the red sauce while broiling and allow it to develop light char.

    Slice and serve over rice with a generous amount of sauce. Serve with acar ketimun, cucumber salad, fried cabbage, and/or blanched green beans tossed with garlic and sesame oil.


    Notes

    Preparation

    • Fattier cuts such as pork shoulder or belly are preferred, but pork loin or tenderloin (especially when using the sous vide method, with times and temperatures adjusted accordingly) can also be used. Take care not to overcook leaner cuts.
    • Preparation #1, Sous Vide, is the preferred method for the most tender and flavorful result.

    Serving Suggestions

    • Serve sliced Babi Panggang over rice with plenty of red sauce spooned on top.
    • Pair with acar ketimun, fried cabbage, cucumber salad, or blanched green beans with garlic and sesame oil.