Chef John Ash

Category: Recipes

  • Not Your Ordinary Burger

    Not Your Ordinary Burger

    A little history about burgers.  According to Alan Davidson in his wonderful encyclopedic book The Oxford Companion to Food (Oxford University Press 1999), the word “hamburger” first showed up in print around 1890.  Cooked, flavored patties of meat however date a long way back and appear in many cuisines.  It’s…

  • Shrimp Burgers with Peach Aioli

    Serves 4 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp (any size), finely chopped1 large egg white, lightly beaten5 tablespoons mayonnaise1 tablespoon minced parsley1 tablespoon minced green onion2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, white preferredSalt and freshly ground white pepper to tasteDrops of hot sauce to taste1/2 cup or so coarse dry breadcrumbs (panko…

  • Pork Burgers with Slaw

    Makes 4 This uses your favorite bottled barbeque sauce to punch up the flavor. For the slaw 1/4 cup mayonnaise1 tablespoon chicken stock or milk2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar1 teaspoon sugar or to taste2 generous cups thinly sliced green cabbage1/2 cup very finely shredded carrot1/2 cup thinly sliced sweet red…

  • Portobello Mushroom Burgers

    Serves 4 You can cook the mushrooms in a preheated 400° oven or on a grill over moderately high heat. 4 large portobello mushrooms1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegarKosher salt and freshly ground pepperPimento cheese (recipe follows)4 soft brioche or other hamburger bunsTo top:  Slices of tomato, iceberg lettuce leaves,…

  • Nectarine Slump

    Serves 6 – 8 Although there is a great debate on what makes a “Slump”, the definition seems to be that slumps or grunts are simmered on top of the stove rather than baked in the oven. They are topped with dumplings that steam and expand on top of the…

  • Cold Vegetable Soups

    Beat the heat with one of these chilled vegetable soups. So easy to make using the bounty from your garden, or somebody else’s.

  • Bastille Day Picnic “Sonoma Style”

    First a little history – – July 14th in France is Bastille Day, a national holiday, which commemorates the storming of the Bastille.  It was a fortress-like prison that, though it only held 7 prisoners at the time of its capture, became a symbol of the corrupt power of Louis…

  • Simple Weeknight Pastas

    Simple Weeknight Pastas

    Pasta is one of those go-to meals when you don’t have a lot of time and you can look for inspiration in your pantry.  While pasta is often associated with Italian cuisine, its origins date back much further. Some historians believe that pasta was first invented in China over 4,000…

  • Wild Spring Greens

    Wild Spring Greens

    I give a tip of the hat here to Euell Gibbons whose 1962 book “Stalking the Wild Asparagus” opened my eyes to wild food.  Asparagus has an interesting history.  It grew wild along the Nile.  It was a delicacy to the Greeks, who introduced it to the Romans. The Romans…

  • OYSTER PO’BOYS

    This classic New Orleans sandwich is thought to be a version of the sub or hoagy of the Northeast using local ingredients. The origin story goes back to 1929, when a restaurant in the city served free sandwiches to streetcar drivers who were on strike and so were called “poor…