ArcaMax Chef

Perhaps it was the “exotic” name — turkey tetrazzini — as well as its ease of preparation that made it my mom’s signature casserole. The recipe is said to be named for Luisa Tetrazzini, an Italian opera star at the turn of the 20th century. Who created it is widely disputed, with stories crediting chefs in New York City and San Francisco. The dish certainly sounds more interesting than its humble assemblage of leftover turkey, noodles and cheese.

Eggplant was an important vegetable in the Old World, with roots that reach back to their first known cultivation in fifth-century China. How it ended up on American dinner tables depends on who you're talking to. Some say Spanish and Portuguese sailors brought the nightshade veggie — which is botanically a fruit — to North American shores in the 15th century. Others claim President Thomas Jefferson brought eggplant seeds from France in the early 1800s to grow in his gardens at Monticello.

I recently ate at a Peruvian steak restaurant and loved the big flavors and sweet/hot spices. So, I decided to recreate these flavors in a simple, homemade stir-fry. Aji Amarillo, a hot yellow pepper paste, is one of the ingredients used in this style of cooking. You can buy it in a jar at many markets. If difficult to find, use any hot pepper sauce or follow the Aji Amarillo substitute below. HELPFUL HINTS: Four crushed garlic cloves can be used instead of minced garlic. Any type of rice can be used.