One of the most significant changes to our lives over the years has been evening activities with our child, which has meant less time for making dinner. While it's been a shift, I've come to rely heavily on filling items that freeze well, including dumplings, soups, and filled pasta such as this kabocha ravioli.  Kabocha... The post Kabocha Ravioli with Chile-Lemon Butter appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more

When it comes to flavorful finishes for vegetables, nothing quite compares to compound butter. This little bit of fat, which can also be a vessel for salt, heat, spices, alliums, or acid, can take an average dish and make it unique within 60 seconds—my current obsession: this chile-lemon butter.  Compound butter, two ways Typically, compound... The post Chile-Lemon Butter | Component Cooking appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more

While I adore and use as many vegetables as possible, I have a handful of ones I turn to more often, primarily because they grow well, and I love them with many flavors. During the summer, romano beans come front and center. These flat and large runner beans are gorgeous and are easily the star... The post Tofu Cutlets with Charred Romano Beans appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more

A certain kind of magic happens when you combine vegetables with a bit of binding and fry them until golden and crisp. Think of a solid okonomiyaki with cabbage, a hearty potato latke, a crispy pakora, or these delightful corn fritters. The combination always hits the spot.  MY CORN FRITTER CRITERIA While I’ll gladly eat... The post CHEDDAR CORN FRITTERS WITH BASIL MAYO appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more

Mayo is a newer condiment to my repertoire, but I can’t seem to get enough now. Mayo helps create creamy dressings, spreads, and dips. And while I’ll usually make a homemade version, I also adore just gussying up a bit of premade mayonnaise. The easiest way to do this is to add a bit of... The post Basil Mayo | Cooking Component appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more

When it comes to beans, people often feel like they need to be extra, paired with many ingredients, and fussed over—often feeling that beans have no flavor. However, when given just a bit of love (like in these brothy beans), the taste and texture of beans are unmatched.  THE MAGIC OF BROTHY BEANS Cooking beans... The post BROTHY BEANS WITH ROASTED TOMATOES appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more

One of my major weaknesses in gardening is over-planting cherry tomatoes. I let my fear of not having enough cherry tomatoes take over, and before I know it, I'm overwhelmed with tomatoes. What's a girl to do? Well, one thing to be done is cook this lovely roasted tomato component that can be used as... The post ROASTED TOMATOES IN OLIVE OIL | Component Cooking appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more

This is a post that was originally created for Casual Zine. Pizza has become a weekly tradition in our house while being at home over the past year. It’s what I look forward to making each week. It’s also the thing I get the most questions about, so I figured it was time to put... The post How I Make Pizza Dough appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more

I believe that savory pie and variations make for a delightful vegetarian lunch. You can easily pair with a salad and a simple roasted vegetable for a full meal. This caramelized onion galette is a favorite of mine for this lunch category. The flavors mimic that of French onion soup but in a delightful pastry... The post <strong>Caramelized Onion Galette</strong> appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more

As I get back into sharing more recipes in this space, I have a few recipes that have seen heavy rotation in my cooking over the last two years. Early on, I became obsessed with this Gochujang-Glazed Eggplant from Eric Kim. I’ve made endless amounts of riffs throughout every season. However, this delicata squash version... The post Gochujang Delicata Squash with Rice + Tofu appeared first on Naturally Ella ..read more