Paolo Thinks About Food

Ramen with a homemade miso mushroom broth. Added in some kale, carrots and tofu, to help round out the flavours. Had a craving for something hot and brothy, after a long weekend getaway eating many delicious, but carb heavy, foods. When I was young, and we would return from a family vacation abroad, my late grandma would always have a hot bowl of soup waiting for us when we got home from the airport. Soup was one of her favourite foods, and it's one of mine too. This ramen hit the spot! . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #ramen (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUWBRZctjPh/?utm_medium=tumblr

🍅 + 🌿= 🍝! I took some fresh tomatoes from the garden, added some fresh basil (apologies for the slightly blurry 📸), and turned it into a delicious fresh sauce. Tossed it on some mushroom ravioli, and covered it in freshly grated Parmesan. Dinner is served! . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #gardentomatoes #sauce #basil #weekdaydinner (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CULuitFtB_L/?utm_medium=tumblr

A few pics from my parents' garden. They're growing 🍅🍆🍉🌶️, lettuce, all kinds of herbs and a literal wall of basil (seriously it's about 4.5" tall!) . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #notmygarden #summer #garden (at Welland, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTIOU2FFf7y/?utm_medium=tumblr

Made this very easy corn soup with some corn from @stlawrencemarket. Corn, diced red pepper, onion, garlic, jalapeno and some cream at the end before serving (I used coconut cream). Pressure cook on high for 7 minutes in the InstantPot. This was very easy to make and can also be made vegan. . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #corn #summersoup #stlawrencemarket https://www.instagram.com/p/CScSsL4gtSJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

Easy weeknight spaghetti sauce made with a few fresh tomatoes from the garden. The sauce simmers while the pasta boils. I used half an onion, a handful of garlic cloves and my dad's famous chili oil. A little salt and pepper to taste. Served on spaghetti with fresh Parmesan and basil! . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #tomatoes #eatlocal #freshtomatosauce #spaghetti (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSNZBnjAJjx/?utm_medium=tumblr

Super simple summer soup! This minestrone was incredibly easy to make, and came together very quickly. I used a lot of the produce in season right now. New carrots, green beans, zucchini and tomatoes. I also added in one turnip and some elbow macaroni. Perfect lunch for an overcast day. . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #lunch #soup #minestrone #seasonal (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRt_R3TNsUZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

Sunday morning waffles are a weekly tradition in my home. This morning I added some golden raspberries from @stlawrencemarket. It's my favourite time of year at the market - summer fruit season! . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #stlawrencemarket #sundaybrunch #waffles #goldenraspberries #summer #freshfruit (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRMHYYlt4wG/?utm_medium=tumblr

My favourite kind! Vanilla slab cake with lemon filling! #paolothinksaboutfood #happybirthdaytome https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ1_-KKtQ3c/?utm_medium=tumblr

This is not a typical Sunday spaghetti recipe. It's a pasta stir fry! With mushrooms and broccolini. It's very easy to make. Ingredients • spaghetti • mushrooms, chopped • broccolini, chopped • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tsp Chinese five spice • 3 tbs butter • 2 green onions, thinly sliced Sauce • 2 tbs oyster sauce • 2 tbs maple syrup • 1 tbs soy sauce • 1 tbs sesame oil • 1 tbs chili oil Method 1. Cook pasta to al dente. 2. While pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, sautee the mushrooms in neutral oil until browned, about 8 minutes. Add in garlic, five spice, salt and pepper to taste. 3. Transfer mushrooms to a plate. Add more oil and the broccolini to the skillet. Cook until tender but crisp, about 5 minutes. 4. While broccolini are cooking make the sauce by whisking all ingredients together. 5. When pasta is cooked add to skillet. Add butter and sauce and toss until coated. Add mushrooms and 1/2 cup pasta water. 6. Garnish with green onions. . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #spaghettistirfry #sundaydinner #pasta #vegetarianrecipe (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPzD3hfNOVn/?utm_medium=tumblr

This is one of the easiest soups I've ever made. Chop up a leek, some kale (cut out the hard stems), a few sausage links (I used spicy Italian) and a few potatoes. Throw everything together with a can of tomatoes, 4 cups of stock and a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. I made it in the Instant pot - pressure cook 9 minutes. But you could also simmer on the stovetop. Dinner in about 35 minutes! . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #sundaydinner #instantpot #soup #easydinner (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPhDcXptfD4/?utm_medium=tumblr

In the most classic of Canadian traditions, I cooked gnocchi for dinner on Victoria Day! 😛 This  @clarkbar recipe from @nytcooking is a simple one pot meal made with leeks, chard (I swapped in kale instead) and fresh peas. Served with some freshly grated Parmesan. Happy Victoria Day! 🇨🇦 . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #gnocchi #onepot (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPRmodFtjGr/?utm_medium=tumblr

TheseThe first time I ever ate arepas was in the early 1990s. My sister and grandparents had just returned from visiting our family in Venezuela, and they spoke of these delicious corn patties that everyone ate there. My mom made them shortly after that at home, and I remember them being delicious. Flash forward to a few years ago, and I was in Montreal for a weekend getaway with some friends. We ended up having dinner at a Venezuela arepa restaurant and it reminded me of all those years earlier when I had first had them. Since that Montreal trio a few years ago, aepas have now become a semi-regular dish in my hope. Easy to make (PAN flour, salt, baking powder and water. Fried 4 minutes per side, plus 10 minutes in the oven). And you can top or stuff them with your favourite toppings. I prefer refried beans, guac and salsa (all homemade, of course 😛). These beauties, and all there fillings, were on the table in about 45 minutes. A pretty quick turnaround for a weeknight dinner. Also makes me think of my Venezuelan family when I have them. Enjoy! . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #weekdaydinner #arepas (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPHUeLotRmf/?utm_medium=tumblr

This glazed tofu dish from @yewande_komolafe is unbelievably delicious and incredibly easy to make! Pan fry the edges of the tofu until it's golden and crispy. And then tear it roughly by hand. The secret is the glaze however. Sweet, spicy and slick. It perfectly costs the tofu and gives it so much flavour. I would love to try this next time on some chicken with some crispy skin. Serve it on some basmati rice, which will end up soaking up any of the leftover sauce! Glaze ingredients • 1/4 cup of water • 1/4 cup of sugar • 1 whole star anise (I didn't have any and used 1/4 tsp Chinese five spice instead) • 1 cup vegetable broth • 1/4 cup rice wine • 1/4 soy sauce • 2 garlic cloves thinly sliced • 1 (1/2 inch) piece of fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 1 small dry chilie (I used 1/4 tsp dry chilie pepper) • 6 green onions, thinly sliced Method 1. Pan fry two blocks of firm tofu in some canola oil over medium heat. Turn every 3-4 minutes until all sides are crispy. Remove and set aside. 2. In the skillet add the water, sugar and star anise. Careful of the splatter! Simmer for 3-4 minutes until reduced. 3. Add all the remaining glaze ingredients. Cook, stirring frequently, until syrupy and glossy, approximately 5-7 minutes. 4. While the glaze is reducing, tear the tofu into 1/2 chunks. Toss the tofu back in the glaze until it is well coated and warned through. 5. Remove the star anise and chilie. Serve on basmati rice. . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #dinner #delicious #vegetariandish #weeknightsupper (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPCHZcvNEg8/?utm_medium=tumblr

First gelato of the season! Stopped at @nanisgelato and got the hibiscus sorbetto. It was remarkably creamy for a vegan treat! 🍦 . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #gelato #warmweather #icecream (at Nani's Gelato) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO73RvnNNmx/?igshid=6csa3vs03ixa

Had some leftover roast chicken. Added it to a grain bowl of quinoa, avocado and various vegetables. Easy to throw together and lunch is ready in just a few minutes. . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #lunch #leftovers (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/COih_g9NBJY/?igshid=3qjk9cotog6z

It's burger season! (I guess it's burger season all the time.) . These beauties are @jamieoliver mushroom and black bean patties. . On a @nigellalawson yeasted bun. . Topped with havarti cheese and some pickled red onions I made recently. . I made the fries in the @instantpotofficial air fryer with just a drop of oil. (Have I mentioned how much I love my #instantpot? And how much I also love my #instantpotairfryer?!) . The burgers were super simple to make. And the buns were even easier to make! . I love burger season! . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #vegetarianrecipe #burgers #homemade #delicious #weekendcooking (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN0yBo4Aj83/?igshid=189vqwtz27uqk

Made a batch of @ciaosamin "whatever you want" soup. As the name says, the ingredients are whatever you want. I used a couple leftover beets I had in the fridge, a few carrots, potatoes and celery, a cup of borlotti beans and some peas from the freezer, and leftover stock from Easter weekend. Chopped it all up, threw it in the Instant Pot for 12 minutes and added in a handful of soup noodles at the end. It was a quick and easy weeknight dinner. . . . #paolothinksaboutfood #simplesuppers #weekdaydinner #soup (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNYhPZ2AMlY/?igshid=wru8jjpb0idj