Category: basque

A Taste of the Basque Country in Boise

Boise, Idaho—The first thing that strikes me about chef Dan Ansotegui’s cooking is the colors. I’m staring at an aromatic quartet of vibrantly red roasted piquillo peppers, stuffed with a creamy spinach béchamel, floating in an orange and red pepper sauce and topped with green parsley. More plates of Basque delicacies, equally tantalizing, quickly follow…


Ansots Spinach Béchamel-Stuffed Piquillo Peppers

Piquillo peppers are a specific type of sweet pepper grown in Navarra, in the southern part of the Basque Country in Spain. Roasted red peppers could be used as a substitute, but are usually much larger than piquillo peppers. Makes 28 peppers For the Peppers 2 cups whole milk 2 cups half-and-half 1 tablespoon unsalted…


How to Make Basque Cheesecake at Home

My first bite of Basque cheesecake was a revelation. I’ve never been a fan of super-rich New York-style cheesecake, so it was as if Basque cheesecake—which is decidedly less sweet and really lets the flavor of the cheese shine—was made for me. I was initially drawn in by its dark, almost-burnt appearance, but it was…