In Memory: A Red Cat Zucchini Saute

This is an odd post.
It's a 4 for one.

A cooking injury.
A dedication for my beloved cat, to whom we said goodbye to this week.
A restaurant/cookbook review.
And of course, a recipe.

This blog is my therapy, so just go with the flow.



This was the most popular recipe on food blogs in 2008.

How could something SO SIMPLE be SO GOOD?

The recipe is from The Red Cat Restaurant, a Chelsea neighborhood institution in NYC. I have always loved this side dish that they serve.

The recipe is in their cookbook, The Red Cat Cookbook, so you can make it at home.



The combination of the sliced almonds and zucchini is just that satisfying and delicious.
If you can't use good Pecorino or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, then skip the cheese all together.

Zucchini & Almond Saute: recipe from The Red Cat Restaurant

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons thinly sliced almonds
1 to 2 small zucchini, cut into 1/8-inch matchsticks with a knife or julienne blade on a mandoline
salt and freshly ground pepper
a few slices of Pecorino or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (sliced w/ a vegetable peeler)

First let me start out by asking, "why don't kitchen gadgets come with warning labels for dopes like me?".

Fancy pants bought a cool peeler or stripper, perfect for little vegetable matchsticks.

I am super careful with my mandoline, as to not cut off any fingers, but no one warned me about this thing!



OUCH! #*%@!
I peeled the side of my hand right off!

That did not stop the show from going on.
I will be more careful next time.

On with the recipe.........

In a heavy large skillet, heat your olive oil and add your sliced almonds.
Cook about a minute.



Now throw in your zucchini sticks (you should have about 2.5 cups).
Sprinkle w/ a liberal amount of salt and pepper and cook only 30 seconds.

Saute the zucchini only another 30 seconds. Once the moisture starts to release from the zucchini, the dish is done. I didn't believe how quickly this cooks, but it does.



Place in a serving dish and place shaved pieces of Pecorino Romano on top.
Serve immediately.



In Memory of Shasta the Cat. 1989-2009
Our beloved friend & pet for 20 years.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Stacy,
That dish looks amazingly good--I'll definitely have to try it ASAP. Hope you heal soon. Sorry you had to say goodbye to your Shasta--20 years of togetherness won't easily be forgotten I'm sure.
Kaye
sorry about your kitty....

agghhhhhh - mandoline- you got off easy but still...
lisa is cooking said…
So sorry about your sweet cat. She must have lived a happy life for those 20 years.

The zucchini looks fantastic with the almonds. I actually heard about a mesh glove to wear when slicing to protect your hand from the blade. http://www.amazon.com/Harold-Imports-Intruder-Cutting-Glove/dp/B000HUV30Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1248267724&sr=8-1
HungryinSW said…
Ah, the mandolin, so helpful and yet so scary.
kat said…
It so hard to say goodbye to a pet, I hope you are doing ok
Pam said…
I am so sorry for your loss...and for your cut.

I am loving this side dish - my neighbor just gave me a bunch of zucchini.
Dana said…
I'm always looking for a good easy side dish. Yum! Sorry about your kitty - 20 years is a nice long time. Also, hope you heal soon!
Zoe said…
This looks delicious and easy. Im so sorry about your beloved cat.
Karen said…
I'll give this recipe a try when I start harvesting zucchini... it looks real good. I had two kitties... they each lived to be 18. It's so sad to lose them. xoxo
Nancy said…
Bless your heart, sharing a recipe, while grieving the loss of a beloved pet. So sorry for your loss, Stacey.
Teanna said…
I've never heard of that restaurant! I am going to have to check it out when I move home (in 3 weeks)!!! So sorry to hear about your cat :(
StaceyEsq said…
RIP Shasta. What a wonderful,long life she had with you. So very sorry, Stace. xoxo
The JR said…
Oh Stacy, I'm so sorry for your loss of Shasta.

I hope your heart heals soon.

Ramona
Curry St John said…
I am so sorry for the loss of your Shasta. My cat Gladys is almost 18 and a half, and I know I will be devastated when she goes.
Sarah said…
and now I know what I'm making for dinner! So sorry about your injury - but also for your cat. The loss of a pet is so hard. Hang in there!
LaDue & Crew said…
Shasta.... was a sweet looking snuggly critter. I'm sorry, Stace.

I will def make this dish ;-)
The Food Hunter said…
Sorry about your cat. I made this recipe for the first time last week and loved it.
Linda said…
Looks yummy and Shasta looks adorable

I hope you heal soon, the hand and the heart!!
Love you both
Linda said…
PS
Kitchen gadgets are deadly. A year or so ago I was making a yummy dinner for the masses and grating our go to favorite, Locatelli, YUMMY, well I grated my thumb knuckle right off. You would have been proud though, wrapped a towel around and kept grating. That is until the MR. came home and saw the red soaked towel and off to the ER we went for stitches. But the dinner was finished!!!
I am woman hear me roar!!!
Anonymous said…
I am so sorry for your loss.
Rest in peace, Shasta.
Foodiewife said…
Wow! So many things going on, and many to address.
First, your kitty. 20 years is a remarkable lifetime for a cat. It's tough. I know. What a great photo and tribute to her.
As for your food recipe...it's remarkable what recipes we post that get the most hits. This one sounds very tasty.
Last, but not least, ouchee! So sorry that happened. Such are the hazards of home cook foodies.
Again, so sorry to hear about your Shasta. They do find a way into our hearts, forever, don't they?

Deb
Lori Lynn said…
So sorry to hear about your kitty. 20 years, that is a blessing!

The recipe sounds excellent, hope your hand has healed by this time.
LL
SarahB said…
I made this in honor of Shasty last night! So good!
I know you loved your little Shasta, but you gave her such a good life, and she you, what more can we ask for. You have great memories!

I love this dish, I'm making it. I'm pulling nice size zucchini off the vine.

If I didn't wear my reading glasses, I'd have cuts all over me!
I do have a few oven burns on my arms though.
Ciao Chow Linda said…
Stacey - So so sorry about Shasta. Hopefully you will remember all the good times together. My Rocky is 17 years old and we wonder how much longer he can continue. This recipe looks perfect for all the zucchini popping up right now - that mandoline is a hazard for me too.
Giff said…
very sorry to hear about Shasta, but 20 years! what a good long life!
Kat said…
I am sorry to hear about your kitty... and your injury. The zucchini recipe looks quite appetizing!
Bob said…
Sorry about Shasta. Hopefully you're better at dealing with pet passing than I am. :)

The zucchini sound wicked good though...
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
happyvalleymom said…
Stacey...speaking about end of summer, it's not too late for you to run this recipe again is it? Lots of zucchini still out there and think of all your newer reader who might not see this without a re-post. I did just give this a thumbs up the other night on the website stumbleupon -- I am telling you this is one of my "go to" recipes from your blog. Keep up the great posts
- another Oregon fan aka happy valley mom