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The Weeknight Cook
The Weeknight Cook

By Brigit Binns

Published 2012

  • About
If you like to entertain on the fly, consider stocking your kitchen with a number of essential ingredients that will boost the flavor of any selection you lay out and save you the time and effort of having to prepare them yourself.
  1. CAPONATA Available in jars in Italian specialty shops and some supermarkets, this chunky, sweet-and-sour Sicilian mixture of eggplant (aubergine), onion, celery, pine nuts, currants, capers, and vinegar makes a good summertime dip or a base for bruschetta. It can also be tossed with hot pasta for an easy sauce.
  2. HUMMUS Look in the refrigerator section of your supermarket for premade hummus. Make a quick sandwich or wrap filling by adding lemon juice, minced garlic, and a pinch of cumin. Or, top with a swirl of olive oil and serve with warmed pita slices or crudités such as broccoli florets, carrot sticks, or zucchini (courgette) spears.
  3. PESTO Look for freshly made versions of this vibrant summery sauce at Italian delicatessens, or stock up on flavorful jarred or frozen varieties. You can also make your own pesto very quickly if you have the right ingredients. Spread on thin toasted baguette slices and top with sliced plum (Roma) tomatoes.
  4. SALSA There is a wide variety of fresh salsas to choose from at the supermarket, from tomato and tomatillo salsas to fruit salsas. Keep some on hand to serve with tortilla chips or quesadillas.
  5. SMOKED FISH Vacuum-packed smoked salmon and trout can be kept unopened in the refrigerator for several weeks. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche on toast points, homemade or packaged blini, or triangles of dense German-style rye bread or pumpernickel bread.
  6. TAPENADE This pungent spread, made from minced black olives and seasoned with garlic, is delicious lightly spread on toasted baguette slices or crackers.
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