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Try these dishes from a whiz kid in the kitchen

Sam Stern, a 15-year-old chef and author of ‘Cooking Up a Storm,’ serves up some fare to inspire other kids to cook. Check out the recipes

NBC VIDEO
Teen's cooking passion turns a profit
Aug. 7: Unlike most teens who stick to the microwave for cooking, this 15-year-old chef is a whiz in the kitchen. Sam Storm whips up a dish from his book, "Cooking Up A Storm."  NBC's Keith Miller reports.

Today Show Books

TODAY
updated 11:07 a.m. ET Aug. 7, 2006

Sam Stern, a 15-year-old who can cook with the best of them, shares dishes from his book, “Cooking Up a Storm.” The book sets out to inspire other young people to try their hand in the kitchen.

Fab Tuna Wrap with Green Onions, Cucumber, and Wasabi
"Sam Stern's Cooking Up a Storm"

Serves 1 or 2

“This tuna wrap’s got crunch, punch, brain boosters, and flavor.”

INGREDIENTS

6-ounce can tuna, drained
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
“Good slug” of wasabi or horseradish
2 green onions
4-inch piece of peeled cucumber
Squeeze of lime or lemon juice
Salt and pepper
1 wrap
Lettuce or other green leaves

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

Tip the drained tuna into a bowl and break it up with a fork. Add the mayo and wasabi or horseradish. Taste for strength of flavor. Mix well.
To give a variety of crunchy textures, slice one green onion into thin lengths and chop the other into small pieces. Repeat with the cucumber. Add onion and cucumber to the tuna mix.  Squeeze in a little lime or lemon juice; you don’t want it too wet. Season with salt and pepper.
Lay the wrap on a flat surface. Put the lettuce or leaves into the center, then pile the tuna mix on top.
Fold, then roll your wrap. Cut it in two.

TIPS

Variations: Also great with canned sweet corn, finely chopped red onion or red pepper or chopped cilantro.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


Gazpacho
"Sam Stern's Cooking Up a Storm"

This chilled red soup with lots of bits is great for sharing. There’s no cooking involved — just slicing and dicing. It tastes as good as it is for you. Looks dramatic with little effort.

INGREDIENTS

8-10 ripe tomatoes
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
4 green onions or 1 small onion chopped
1 cucumber, peeled and finely diced
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 teaspoon fresh thyme or basil to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Pinch of sugar
Salt and pepper
1 to 1 1/2 cups water to taste

Garnish

1/2 red pepper, seeded and chopped
2 green onions or 1/2 mild onion, chopped
A few black olives, chopped
Croutons
1 hard-boiled egg, chopped
1/2 cucumber, peeled and finely diced

DIRECTIONS

Put the tomatoes in a heatproof bowl. Carefully pour enough boiling water over them to cover. Let stand for 2 minutes. Remove them from the bowl with a slotted spoon.
Peel the skins off and cut the tomatoes in half. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Chop the flesh.
Put the tomatoes, pepper, onion, cucumber, garlic, herbs, oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper into a juicer or food processor. Blitz till smooth. Add water.
Put the soup into bowls. Chill for 2 hours.
Arrange the garnishes on a big plate. Sprinkle over soup.

TIPS

Why not put a few ice cubes in each bowl if it’s a hot day.

Eat with: Slices of bread

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


Mixed Up Chicks
"Sam Stern's Cooking Up a Storm"

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

4 skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons pesto
5 ounces garlic & herb flavored cream cheese
8 strips prosciutto
Olive oil
1 lemon, cut in wedges
Handful of fresh basil leaves
Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise almost all the way through. Open out.
Spread the insides of two breasts with pesto, two with the garlic & herb flavored cheese.  Close them up.
Wrap a couple of slices of prosciutto roughly around the outside of each one, and lay them in a baking dish.
Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Add lemon wedges. Scatter basil over the top. Bake for 30 minutes. Eat hot, warm, or cold. Slice up and share. Eat the lemon flesh. And don’t waste those juices — mop them up with some good bread.

TIPS

Eat with:
Roasted cherry tomatoes:
Put some cherry tomatoes in a roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil. Add some garlic, fresh herbs, and salt. Roast for 10 minutes.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES



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