Black Currant Sauce
This rich, luscious sauce is fantastic served with salmon or other grilled protein!
Ingredients:
1 cup chicken stock
1 shallot, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
3 cups black currants
1 tablespoon honey
½ cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Pour chicken stock into a medium saucepan over medium high heat and simmer to reduce the chicken stock by half. Add the shallot to the chicken stock and cook until the shallot is soft and golden. Continue to reduce the stock for a few more minutes. Add in the thyme leaves and the currants, coating the currants with the chicken stock. Add in the honey and the vinegar.
2. Simmer the sauce over low heat for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until the black currants have softened and extruded their juices. You can use the back of a wooden spoon to press against the berries to crush them lightly. Add in the butter and melt, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
Pear Sauce
This lovely sauce is amazing on top of freshly-baked scones, or enjoyed with your morning oatmeal.
Ingredients:
4-6 D’Anjou pears, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Method:
1. Combine pears, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pears have softened, about 20 minutes.
2. Use an immersion blender to process the pear sauce until smooth. If you prefer a chunkier sauce, mash with a potato masher. (You can also transfer the cooked pear mixture to a food processor or blender to process, just make sure the pear sauce has cooled down first.)
3. Once the pear sauce has cooled down, pour into glass or plastic containers. Cover and store in the refrigerator, sauce will keep in the fridge for one week.
Peach Habanero-Garlic Hot Sauce
This spicy hot sauce is made with fiery roasted peppers and plenty of garlic, ideal for spicing up your favorite foods.
Ingredients:
6-8 habanero peppers, stemmed and halved
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup water (for thinning the sauce to your preferred consistency)
4 cups white vinegar
20 garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar or to taste
3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
½ cup lime juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Set peppers on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until soft and skins begin to blister.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large pot to medium heat and add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until onion and garlic soften. Add roasted peppers and simmer for about 5 minutes.
3. Transfer mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth. Alternatively, use an immersion blender and puree directly in the pot. Return to the pot and simmer for another 5-10 minutes. Serve, or strain into sterilized bottles until ready to use.
Garlic-Ginger Beef & Vegetable Stir-Fry
Serve this fragrant stir-fry with rice or noodles; we also love topping each serving with a fried egg and extra hot sauce.
Ingredients:
½ cup soy sauce
½ cup hoisin sauce
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons freshly-grated ginger
1- 2 tablespoons Sun Sauce or Sriracha (optional)
1 pound stir-fry beef, thinly-sliced
2 tablespoons sesame oil or vegetable oil
8 ounces mushrooms, such as a mix of Cremini and Shiitake, washed and sliced if very large
1 bunch broccolini, trimmed of any tough ends
1 bunch Senposai greens
1 Lotus root, peeled, trimmed of root ends and thinly-sliced into rounds
1 yellow onion, cut into slices
1 bunch scallions, trimmed of root ends and minced
Method:
1. In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger and Sun Sauce until combined.
2. Put the beef slices in a plastic baggie or bowl. Pour ¼ cup of the garlic-ginger sauce over the pork and mix to coat evenly. Marinate at least 1 hour or overnight in the fridge. Place remaining garlic-ginger sauce in the fridge as well.
3. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the sesame or vegetable oil and the pork. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the pork from the skillet and set aside.
4. In the same skillet add the other tablespoon of oil and add all the prepped vegetables and greens. Cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the pork and remaining garlic-ginger sauce. Cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with scallions and sesame seeds on top, if desired.
Soy-Pickled Baby Shiitake Mushrooms
These delightful mushrooms made famous by Momofuku are a delightful addition to a stir-fry!
Ingredients:
4 cups loosely packed baby Shiitake mushrooms (about 3 ounces by weight)
1 cup sugar
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup white wine or sherry vinegar
1 thumb-sized knob of ginger, peeled
Method:
1. To prep the mushrooms, wash thoroughly and then remove the stems from the mushroom caps and discard. Slice the caps into 1/4 inch wide slices.
2. Combine the mushrooms with 2 cups water and the sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and ginger in a sauce pan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Allow the mushrooms to cool in the liquid.
3. Pack the pickled mushroom slices into a quart size container and add enough of the cooking liquid to cover. Ready to serve immediately, or they should last in the refrigerator in a tightly-sealed jar for 2-3 weeks.
Black Radish Cream
Substitute this zingy spread for horseradish in your favorite recipes.
Ingredients:
1 cup coarsely-grated black radish*
1 cup sour cream or crème fraîche
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons fresh oregano or chives, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine all ingredients. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper as desired. Chill before serving.
*To grate the radish, first trim the radishes from their green tops, and then wash and scrub their tough outer skin. Then, using the large holes of a standard cheese grater, grate the radish flesh on a paper towel-lined plate. Use paper towel to then squeeze any excess moisture from grated radish, then incorporate as described above.
Bucatini with Italian Sausage & Marinara Sauce
So simple, so satisfying: Top this week’s bucatini with our housemade sauce and cooked and crumbled Italian sausage.
Ingredients:
1 pound bucatini
1 pound Italian sausage
Nonna Pat’s Marinara Sauce
1 tablespoon butter
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Grana-style cheese
4 tablespoons micro basil
Method:
1. Cook the bucatini for 5-7 minutes in a pot of heavily salted water until al dente, or just cooked through with a bit of bite left. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water, and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, cook the Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium-high until no longer pink, breaking into bite-sized pieces with a spoon. Add in cooked pasta, 1 tablespoon butter and marinara sauce, tossing to combine thoroughly. Serve with a grated Grana-style cheese and a sprinkling of micro basil.
Matsutake Mushroom Stir-Fry with Black Rice
Topped with quail egg and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds, this delicious recipe comes courtesy of Wei Kitchen.
Ingredients:
1 cup Venere black rice
1 pint Matsutake mushrooms, cleaned and sliced into quarters
1 bunch green onion, diced, with white and green parts separated
2-4 tablespoons shallot oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cups F&L chicken stock
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Pickled or soft-boiled quail eggs (see recipe and method)
Toasted black sesame seeds
Method:
1. Pour shallot oil into a large, hot sauté pan on high heat. Add mushrooms to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened and beginning to brown. Add in the white pieces of green onion, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Mix well and distribute mixture evenly across bottom of pan.
2. Carefully spoon rice evenly over your layer of vegetables Pour chicken stock into pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover, turn heat down to low and let simmer for 25 minutes or until rice is completely cooked and all stock has been absorbed by the rice. (Check the rice after 15 minutes to make sure bottom of rice is not burning and to mix evenly.)
3. Add the remaining green onion (diced green stalks) and mix well. Top each serving with your choice of pickled, or soft-boiled quail egg and a generous sprinkling of toasted black sesame seeds. If desired, drizzle lightly with Wei Kitchen shallot oil.
Stuffed Pasta Shells with Tomato Sauce
Our spin on the Italian classic is freshened up by bright parsley, basil and handmade ricotta cheese.
Ingredients:
1 pound lumacone shell pasta
1 jar Nonna Pat’s tomato sauce
3 ½ cups Farm & Larder fresh ricotta cheese
½ cup grated Romano cheese
1 egg
12 basil leaves, chopped
2 tablespoons minced parsley
Farm & Larder Vecchio cheese (for grating)
Method:
1. Cook pasta shells for half the cooking time; make sure not to overcook. Drain and rinse in cool water. Set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix ricotta, Romano cheese, egg, salt and pepper, basil and parsley. Stir until combined.
3. To assemble, coat the bottom of a baking dish with ½ cup tomato sauce. Fill each half-cooked shell with the cheese mixture. Place face down on the sauce. Repeat with shells until cheese mixture is gone. Top shells with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with grated Vecchio cheese.
4. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Kissed with a hint of orange juice, this sweet-tart recipe is a holiday classic.
Ingredients:
2½ cups cranberries
⅔ cup sugar
½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of kosher salt
Method:
1. Combine the sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, salt and cranberries in a medium saucepan along with ½ cup water. Bring up to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes until cranberries begin to burst. Let cool completely before serving.
Variations: Make this recipe your own! Feel free to substitute Grand Marnier for the orange juice; add the zest from an orange; or even add a dash or two of port.