Sara's Weeknight Meals Season 13, Episode 3: Catalon Soul Food

A Taste of Tunisia and Turkey

Sara’s Weeknight Meals hits three continents in one show, starting with Africa, where Sara starts a food tour of Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said at a tea house with chef and food historian Malek Labidi. After tasting the local version of donuts, they retreat to a garden overlooking the Mediterranean to make a killer Shakshuka, eggs poached in spicy red sauce.

27 min

Shrimp: Santorini to Vancouver

The impossibly romantic Greek island of Santorini is our destination for a walk in the tiny village of Meglachore, where Sara samples the famous local wine on the edge of the Caldera. Then she joins local chef Christos Tyrantasyllopoulos to make three famous Greek dishes: Greek salad, Tzatziki and Shrimp Saganaki.

27 min

Under the Acropolis

Fish is on the menu when Sara joins Greek Chef Maria Loi in a harbor near Athens to cook lemony, crispy skinned Branzino along with Beet, Beans and Feta Salad and Lemon Potatoes. Then it's off to Athen's Varvakios Central Market to buy Retsina at a famous tavern for a rooftop mezze party in the shadow of the Acropolis. Back at home, Sara uses canned sardines for a quick and easy pantry taco.

Olive Mallorca: A wood fired feast

On the Spanish island of Mallorca, an ancient olive grove tended by sheep is the magical setting for Sara and local chef Joan Abrams to cook over an open fire. After tasting olive oil from trees that are 1000 years old, we cook the local hunters stew of Arroz Brut, with a fire roasted tapa of eggplant and peppers. Back home, Sara makes Seafood Gazpacho. On 'Ask Sara', she answers a viewer's questions about Lemons.

26 min

Barcelona; Gaudi, Gin and Gambas

If having gin and tonics in the shadow of the iconic Sagreda Familia caps your dream day in Barcelona, we've got you covered. Sara joins ex-pat food journalist Matt Goulding ('Eat This, Not That') to mix the city's favorite drink, and they make easy Catalon dishes like Gambas al'ajillo, a yummy garlic shrimp to start, then a local classic Iberico Pork with Romanesco sauce. At home, Sara whips up her own Barcelona dish, Fideo, a version of paella using toasted noodles instead of rice.

26 min

Which Came First?

Chicken or eggs? We love them both and Sara's got some amazing recipes to make them shine, starting with a chicken paillard, pounded thin, sauteed and slathered in a compound date butter. Baked Chicken thighs are pointed up with artichoke hearts and the acid of homemade lemon pickles. Then a French chef shows Sara a simple galette of ham and eggs wrapped in pastry - perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

How Sweet It Is

Holidays are when Sara pulls out the stops when it comes to sweets and desserts. Try her Glazed Pears and shortbread pecan praline, or the surprising twist on potstickers filled with dried plum and apricots. On Ask Sara, she shares tips on blind baking a pie crust for the pumpkin and apple pies of the season. Then a favorite food gift in Sara's family - homemade Chocolate Peppermint Bark.

Family Friendly Fare

The challenge of kid friendly meals their parents will like is solved when Sara makes two family favorites: Spaghetti with Bacon and Eggs and Meatloaf but made in individual portions with spiced peas and onions on the side.

A Tale of Two Chinatowns

Two unique Chinatowns of North America are the focus of this deep dive into Chinese cultural heritage First we go to Vancouver for a culinary tour of this century’s old community. At a local tea shop, she learns to make two deceptively simple appetizers cooked with tea. She samples Dim Sum at a shop owned by an opera singing second generation Chinese local. Then local Judy Lam Maxwell shows her a Chinese dumpling mashup filled with Korean Bulgogi. Back at home, Sara’s old Wok Queen Grace Young describes her efforts to preserve New York’s Chinatown as she and Sara make meat candy – a melt in your mouth BBQ Pork that is the perfect ingredient for Grace’s Yangchow fried rice.