Jason Sandeman, R.S.E.

Tag: fast

  • So Chef Says to Mini-Papa: ‘How Canadian!’ — A Lesson in Simplicity (With a Killer Stir-Fry)

    So Chef Says to Mini-Papa: ‘How Canadian!’ — A Lesson in Simplicity (With a Killer Stir-Fry)

    GET TO THE POINT, PAPA—JUST GIVE ME THE RECIPE!

    The Story: So Chef Says to Me…

    Fifteen years ago, I wasn’t “Papa” yet. I was just a sous chef—young, eager, and utterly convinced that more was always better:

    • ✅ More ingredients.
    • ✅ More sauce.
    • ✅ More flair.

    And then there was Chef.

    We called him Maurice, but he’ll always just be Chef to me. You could be knee-deep in the weeds—thirty tickets in, the line on fire—and Chef would waltz in, put down his cocktail, tie on his black apron over a perfectly pressed chef jacket, and calmly get to work. Within minutes, chaos became calm. It was maddening to work with him, but the man was a master, and you couldn’t help but learn.

    One night, Chef turned to me and said, “Make me a stir-fry.”

    It seemed simple enough. Stir-fry is easy, right? Just throw a bunch of stuff into a pan, douse it in sauce, and voilà! So that’s exactly what I did. I grabbed every vegetable I could find:

    • ✅ carrots
    • ✅ celery
    • ✅ onions
    • ✅ mushrooms
    • ✅ bell peppers
    • ✅ bean sprouts
    • ✅ choi tips.

    Then came the sauces:

    • ✅ soy
    • ✅ teriyaki
    • ✅ oyster
    • ✅ sambal
    • ✅ sesame oil
    • ✅ hell, I might’ve added plum sauce just for kicks.

    It was a kaleidoscope of flavors and colors, a masterpiece (or so I thought).

    I plated it up and handed it to Chef. He took the dish with his signature aloofness, gingerly used his fork to lift a small amount to his mouth, and tasted it.

    He sighed.

    Then, without a word, he handed the dish back to me.

    That maddening smile spread across his face as he stood there. I was dumbfounded.

    “What the fuck, Chef?” I asked.

    He grinned and, with that signature look—half smirk, half mystery—said, “It tasted very…Canadian. Good job. It’s like what you’d cook at a Chinese buffet in the Prairies.”

    Ouch.

    “Too much going on,” he continued. “Onions, garlic, soy, sambal, teriyaki, six kinds of vegetables—why? You’re stacking flavors like it’s a lasagna. Keep it simple. Respect the ingredients. They taste good—why are you trying to hide them?”

    That moment was a gut punch—but also a revelation.

    Chef taught Papa something he’ll never forget: simplicity isn’t boring—it’s bold. Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. Take that VH Sweet-and-Sour Sauce, for example. There’s no shame in using it. Chef would say, “It’s not like all Asians make their own soy sauce.” Sure, you can make your own sauce if you’ve got time, but why get cute about it when the jarred stuff gets the job done?

    Years later, that lesson came full circle with today’s recipe. It’s the anti-buffet stir-fry: crisp tri-colored peppers, red onion, just enough sweet-and-sour sauce to moisten, and a handful of chili-lime peanuts for a kick. That’s it. Simple, clean, and damn good.

    The Recipe

    Fine! Here’s the recipe! Sometimes Papa gets distracted. Thanks for sticking with Papa.

    Peppers with Sweet-and-Sour Sauce and Chili Peanuts

    Total Time: ~10 minutes | Serves: 2-4

    Ingredients

    • 1 fl oz vegetable oil
    • 1 small red onion, medium dice (1 cm)
    • 1 small red pepper, medium dice (1 cm)
    • 1 small yellow pepper, medium dice (1 cm)
    • 1 small green pepper, medium dice (1 cm)
    • 1/2 fl oz Shaoxing wine (or eyeball it—you’re not auditioning for Top Chef)
    • 2 fl oz VH Sweet-and-Sour Sauce
    • A handful of lime-and-chili-flavored peanuts

    Method

    1. Heat the Oil: Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a wok until shimmering.
    2. Start with Onions: Add the diced red onion and cook for 1 minute, just until they soften.
    3. Add the Peppers: Toss in the diced peppers. Stir-fry for another 1 minute, keeping them crisp.
    4. Deglaze with Shaoxing Wine: Sprinkle the Shaoxing wine over the vegetables and let it cook off. This step builds the flavor—don’t skip it!
    5. Sauce It Up: Add the VH Sweet-and-Sour Sauce. Stir and bring it to a gentle simmer. Lower the heat and let it cook for another minute.
    6. Add the Peanuts: Remove the wok from heat and toss in a handful of peanuts for crunch and a little zing.
    7. Taste and Adjust: Taste the dish. Adjust with salt and pepper if needed (though it might already be perfect).

    Papa’s Notes

    • Quick and Crisp: The short cooking time keeps the veggies vibrant. If they’re mushy, you’ve gone too far.
    • Peanuts are the MVP: I used kettle-cooked lime-and-chili peanuts (Compliments brand). If you can’t find them, use plain roasted peanuts with a squeeze of lime and a pinch of chili powder.

    Papa Wanna Get Something Off Papa’s Chest

    “Hey Papa–what’s the deal? You’re using VH sauce? I thought you were a chef?” – A smart-ass apprentice, probably

    No Sauce Shame: VH Sweet-and-Sour Sauce is the real deal when you’re short on time or just need something simple. Chef Maurice once told me, “It’s not like all Asians make their own soy sauce.” Convenience doesn’t equal compromise—it’s about using the right tool for the job.

    Make It Your Own Later: If you want to make your own sauce, we can tackle that another day. But for now? Crack open that jar and let it do the heavy lifting.

    Don’t have Shaoxing wine and can’ use it as an excuse for an Asian-Market excursion? Don’t sweat it, sherry (or even white wine) will do here-the alcohol is what promotes the flavour.

    Optional Add-Ons

    Papa knows it can be tempting to add more to this, so that it can shine better, right? Keep it simple, and don’t complicate the flavors. The only thing Papa might do to bring a little extra flair would be to garnish with thinly sliced Asian-Style scallions.

    Have you tried this recipe? Share your thoughts or variations in the comments below! And don’t forget to subscribe for more Papa Sandemano recipes and lessons.

  • Papa Sandemano’s Vegetarian Lentil Soup (Inspired by Marcella Hazan)

    Papa Sandemano’s Vegetarian Lentil Soup (Inspired by Marcella Hazan)

    GET TO THE POINT, PAPA—JUST GIVE ME THE RECIPE!

    A Tradition of Lentils and Luck

    In the Sandemano family, New Year’s traditions combine practicality and superstition:

    • ❌ No fowl on New Year’s Day—we don’t want our luck flying away.
    • ✅ Yes to lentils—because they look like coins (and we could all use a little more prosperity, right?).

    This year, Papa’s taking on the challenge of creating a vegetarian version of Marcella Hazan’s lentil soup for the Sous Chef (a.k.a. a picky eater who objects to eating animals). Will it work? Maybe. Mess it up? Probably. But that’s how we learn, folks. Papa Sandemano always steps into the kitchen like it’s their wrestling ring: ready to win—or at least put on a hell of a show.

    Speaking of Marcella, let’s just say: love her, but measuring butter, onions, carrots, and celery by the tablespoon? It threw Papa, who spent an embarrassing amount of time Googling why anyone would do this. Papa’s theories:

    1. She had someone chopping for her.
    2. She prepped a giant batch of “soffrito” in advance.
    3. She had to or the powers-that-be wouldn’t publish her books.

    Oh, and “soffrito”? Don’t let that Italian word intimidate you—it’s their fancy word for onion, carrots, and celery. Like the French and their “mirepoix”. Same idea, different language.

    The Recipe

    Fine! Here’s the recipe! If you read this already—Thanks for reading this far! Papa promises the rambling is done… for now.

    Ingredients

    • Butter: ¼ cup (see below for Papa’s rant on butter measurement)
    • Onion: Approx. ¼ small yellow onion, finely diced
    • Carrot: Approx. 2 inches of a medium carrot, finely diced
    • Celery: Approx. 3 inches of a celery stalk, finely diced
    • Smoked Paprika: 1 teaspoon
    • Tomatoes: 1 cup canned tomatoes with juice
    • Lentils: ½ pound dried lentils
    • Liquid: 1 liter tap water (or, if you’re feeling fancy, “mushroom broth”)
    • Flavoring Agent: 3 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon (vegetable base)
    • Vegemite: ¼ teaspoon (Papa’s secret weapon for umami depth)
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • Parmesan or nutritional yeast for serving

    Instructions

    1. Melt ½ of the butter (2 small pieces) in a pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until golden.
    2. Add the carrot and celery, stirring occasionally, and cook for 2-3 minutes to build the “soffrito” flavors. (Don’t let that Italian word intimidate you—it’s their fancy word for onion, carrots, and celery. Like the French and their ‘mirepoix.’)
    3. Lower the heat and sprinkle the smoked paprika over the “soffrito”. Stir gently for about 30 seconds, just until the aroma develops.
    4. Add the tomatoes and stir, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pot like you’re deglazing. Let the mixture bubble gently for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    5. Stir in a dab of Vegemite (Papa’s secret weapon). Start with ¼ teaspoon—it’s bold, but it brings depth. A little goes a long way
    6. Add the lentils, liquid, (and its flavoring agent. Bring to a steady simmer, cover, and cook until the lentils are tender (about 45 minutes). Add more liquid if needed.
    7. Stir in the remaining butter (2 small pieces) just before serving to give the soup a luxurious finish.
    8. Taste and adjust seasoning.
    9. Serve with Parmesan (or nutritional yeast) or a drizzle of olive oil.

    Papa Wanna Get Something Off Thier Chest: Stop Playing with Your Butter

    Listen up! Papa’s got something to say, and it’s time you stopped playing with your butter. You know what grinds Papa’s gears? Recipes telling you to measure “3 tablespoons of butter.” Who has time for that? Who wants to dig out a sticky tablespoon just to appease a recipe?

    • ❌ Not you
    • ❌ Not Papa
    • ❌ Not the dishwasher—They already giving you the side-eye thinking, “Whatcha gonna do with that?”

    Here’s the deal: Let’s simplify it. Look at the butter package:

    Here’s what Papa means–Look at the handy-dandy ¼ cup line. Cut there. It doesn’t have to be perfect!

    Now cut that into four pieces. Boom—four tablespoons. Use half (2 pieces) for cooking and save the rest for swirling in at the end. And if those pieces aren’t perfectly even? WHO CARES? Papa says, “Close enough is good enough!”

    This isn’t rocket science; it’s butter. Butter doesn’t judge. Butter just makes things taste amazing. And guess what? With butter, there’s no losing—only flavor-packed wins.

    Optional: For Meat Lovers

    If you’re serving omnivores alongside vegetarians, crisp up some pancetta, prosciutto, or bacon in a separate pan. Let everyone top their bowl as they like—because soup should make everybody happy.