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FOOD FUN: Sushi Donuts For National Donut Day

Sushi Donuts
[1] Sushi donuts can be filled and topped with anything you like. Express your outer sushi artist with different toppings, artistically presented. Here’s how to start, from A Side Of Sweet.

Vegetarian Sushi Donuts
[2] Vegetarian sushi donuts, above with orange carrot, purple carrot, radish and black sesame seeds. Here’s the recipe from Two Spoons, as well as recipes for avocado-mango sushi donuts and rainbow sushi donuts.

Shrimp Sushi Donuts
[3] Shrimp and avocado sushi. Here’s the recipe from Sainsburys.

 

June 7th is National Donut Day. If you want to cut out the sugar and refined carbs, how about some sushi donuts?

This recipe from Kelly of A Side Of Sweet shows you how.

The donuts are typically “filled” with avocado or other soft item (small-dice poke, spicy tuna, etc.).

All you need are a donut baking pan or silicone donut molds*, sushi rice, and the toppings you want to use.

Begins with sushi-grade fish, or you can make vegetarian sushi donuts. Then, the toppings:

  • Avocado
  • Cilantro or parsley leaves
  • Crab leg/sea leg, shredded
  • Chives (minced) or scallions (finely chopped)
  • Cucumber
  • Furikake†
  • Miso mayonnaise
  • Pickled ginger (gari)
  • Radish
  • Red cabbage, diced
  • Roe (tobiko or masago are the most affordable)
  • Sesame seeds (black seeds are more dramatic)
  • Shichimi togarashi (spicy Japanese spice blend)
  • Spicy mayonnaise
  • Sprouts
  • Tamago (sweet omelet)
  • Wasabi or wasabi mayonnaise
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    If you’re near an Asian grocer, take a look at all the pickled vegetables, for the donuts or as a side.

    Fish and vegetables should be thinly sliced; and don’t forget soy sauce for dipping.
     
     
    SIDE DISHES

    Make a meal of it, by adding:

  • Cucumber salad
  • Green salad with Japanese dressing
  • Grilled eggplant With Ponzu Sauce
  • Grilled gofu (or green beans/other vegetable with tofu)
  • Kabocha squash (recipe)
  • Miso soup
  • Tsukemono (Japanese pickled vegetables)
  • Shredded daikon salad
  • Steamed vegetables with teriyaki sauce
  • Surf & turf, with chicken or pork teriyaki
  •  
    Make a buffet with all of them!

    We tried the buffet idea, but ended up saving time by making poke bowls instead of enough sushi donuts for a crowd.

     
     
    THE HISTORY OF SUSHI DONUTS

    Sushi donuts were created in 2017 at Project Poke, an Asian fusion restaurant in Fountain Valley, Orange County, California.

    The 4-inch snack was an immediate hit: sushi rice shaped like a donut, with a variety of seafood and/or vegetarian toppings.

    It became an Instagram darling and now, sushi you can make at home with no rolling mat or skill to make nigiri beds.
    ________________

    *Grease the pan/mold with grapeseed or other flavorless oil to allow for easy removal.

    †Furakaki is a dry seasoning blend of chopped nori seaweed, dried fish (bonito) and sesame seeds with a bit of sugar and salt (it isn’t sweet). In Japan, it is sprinkled onto cooked rice, vegetables, and fish. You can shake it onto Western foods as well: deviled eggs, rice and grains, other starches, vegetables, the works.

      

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    TIP OF THE DAY: Filet Mignon Eggs Benedict

    If you’re near a Fleming’s Steakhouse (there are locations nationwide), you can celebrate Father’s Day with Filet Mignon Eggs Benedict (photo #1).

    It’s a meat-lovers riff on the classic Eggs Benedict, which is Canadian bacon, a poached egg and hollandaise sauce on an English muffin (photo #2).

  • Fleming’s Eggs Benedict has filet mignon, sautéed spinach and hollandaise on a round of baked brioche French toast.
  • You can go surf-and-turf with this recipe: Filet Mignon & Crab Eggs Benedict.
  • Or, turn America’s favorite food into Burger Eggs Benedict.
  •  
    The original recipe from the 1860s is toasted English muffins topped with a round of cooked ham “an eighth of an inch thick and of the same diameter as the muffins one each half.” A poached egg is placed atop each muffin half, and the whole is covered with hollandaise sauce.

    Here’s the history of Eggs Benedict.

    Over the years, the ham was replaced with the newly-popular Canadian bacon; and since then, there has been an explosion of variations.

    Just take a look at these and plan your own Signature Eggs Benedict.
     
     
    VARIATIONS: MORE EGGS BENEDICT RECIPES

    Here are updated versions of the Eggs Benedict recipe; but don’t forget Classic Eggs Benedict.

  • American Casual: Burger Eggs Benedict.
  • Comfort food: Grilled Cheese Eggs Benedict.
  • Custom Eggs Benedict: Mix & Match Your Favorite Ingredients.
  • Down-Home: Corned Beef Hash Eggs Benedict.
  • Down Home 2: Corned Beef Hash Patties.
  • Format: Eggs Benedict Casserole.
  • From A Sandwich Favorite: BLT & BLAT Eggs Benedict.
  • Fusion Food: Grilled Cheese Eggs Benedict.
  • Luxury: Surf & Turf Eggs Benedict (lobster and filet mignon).
  • No Carbs: Portabella Eggs Benedict.
  • Reinvented Eggs Benedict: Reinvented Eggs Benedict.
  • Scandinavian: Icelandic Eggs Benedict, with smoked salmon and skyr.
  • Steak Lovers: Filet Mignon Eggs Benedict.
  •  
    Plus A Related Recipe:

  • Potato & Crab Hash With Poached Eggs.
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    Filet Mignon Eggs Benedict
    [1] Filet mignon eggs benedict, with filet mignon instead of ham/Canadian bacon and an added touch of sautéed spinach (photo courtesy Fleming’s Steakhouse).

    Eggs Benedict
    [2] Classic Eggs Benedict: ham, poached egg and hollandaise sauce on an English Muffin, garnished with chives and paprika (photo courtesy The Incredible Egg).

     
    But tip your hat in homage to the original. Where would brunch be without it?

    National Eggs Benedict Day is April 16th.
     
    Find more egg recipes on the pull-down menu at the upper right.
     
     

    CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

     
     

      

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    FATHER’S DAY GIFTS: Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice Gin & Jumbo Ice Cubes

    Hendrick's Midsummer Solstice Gin
    [1] Don’t let the summery flowers and lavender label give the wrong impression: This floral gin is a delight for anyone who loves gin botanicals (photo courtesy Hendrick’s Gin).

    Epare Jumbo Ice Cube Trays
    [2] These ice cube trays make jumbo ice cubes, twice the size of standard cubes (photo courtesy Eparé).

     

    Two Father’s Day gifts we’re giving this year: Hendricks Midsummer Solstice limited release gin, and Eparé jumbo ice cube trays, for the ultimate on-the-rocks experience.
     
     
    HENDRICK’S MIDSUMMER SOLSTICE LIMITED EDITION GIN

    The latest expression from Hendrick’s Gin, created at the newly-opened Hendrick’s Gin Palace in Girvan, Scotland.

    The new expression captures “nature’s flavors and aromas at the peak of summer,” per Master Distiller Lesley Gracie, who also created the original Hendrick’s Gin. “…For this new expression I’ve hand-selected each floral essence to capture this intensity,” she notes.

    The packaging (photo #1) features a deep purple bottle with lavender labels. The gin is clear, as always.

    But don’t think that summer flowers and lavender labels mean “feminine.”

    This is a full-on gin that’s perfect for sippers who enjoy the botanicals in a glass of gin, straight-up or on-the-rocks.

    While Hendrick’s has created special cocktails to show off the new gin, we think that the best way to enjoy the uniqueness of any particular expression of spirits is to drink it “as is,” without the layering of other flavors or aromas.

    But there are plenty of recipes online, starting with this Midsummer Spritz.

    Once the small batch of bottles is gone, it’s gone forever. So in addition to Father’s Day gifts, we picked up an extra couple of bottles; maybe for gifting later on, maybe to remain in our personal stock.

    For more information, visit HendricksGin.com.
     
     
    EPARÉ JUMBO ICE CUBES

    Eparé’s Clear Ice System has created trays for jumbo ice cubes: They’re two inches square!

    They’re not just eye-catching: The larger the cube, the slower it melts.

    Each ice cube tray makes six cubes (as compared to the traditional dozen regular cubes), $15.99 for a set of two trays.

    The ice cube trays have lids, to protect the cubes from migrating aromas and freezer detritus.

    Get yours at Empare.com, or at Overstock, Target, Wayfair and other retailers.

     
    TIP: For flawless, clear ice cubes every time, use distilled water; or boil tap water twice, and let cool.

    You can also use the trays to make:

  • Ice cream squares.
  • Ice cubes decorated with fruits or flowers (here’s how).
  •  
    Here are more uses for ice cube trays.

      

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