While not nearly as sweet as bananas, plantains do have a sweet flavor. In this soup we keep that sweetness at bay by using firm plantains with green skins rather than riper brown-skinned ones--the sugars will have not yet developed, so the fruit will add starchy body to the soup without too much sweetness.
Your cookbook inventory is not complete without a volume or two from best-selling cookbook author and food writer Nancy Harmon Jenkins. For the olive oil...
Couscous is a great secret weapon for busy nights because it needs only a 5-minute soak to be ready for the table. If you don't like scallops, peeled deveined jumbo shrimp make a tasty substitute.
The subtle sweetness of roasted red pepper pairs perfectly with succulent grilled shrimp in this cozy 10-minute soup. Enjoy with a side of crispy garlic toast!