Bucatini with Red Kuri Squash, Kale & Mushroom Confit
The classic pairing of squash and sage is utterly delicious combined with our housemade confit and pasta.
Ingredients:
For squash:
1 Red Kuri squash
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves, coarsely torn
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
To finish:
½ cup half & half
½ cup grated Pecorino cheese
½ bunch Lacinato kale, ribs removed and greens roughly torn into bite-sized pieces
1 pound bucatini pasta
Farm & Larder mushroom confit
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Scrub squash well and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and attached pulp; cut each half lengthwise again, then slice crosswise into ¾-inch thick slices.
2. In a small bowl, mix melted butter with honey. Arrange the squash in a single layer on a baking sheet and brush each piece with the butter and honey, reserving half of the mixture. Season the squash with salt and pepper and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Roast for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, add the fresh sage to the remaining butter-honey mixture. Remove the squash from the oven and turn them with tongs. Brush each piece with the butter mixture, season again with salt and pepper, and return to the oven, uncovered for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook al dente, about 8 minutes, reserving ½ cup of the cooking liquid. During the last minute of cooking, add the kale to blanch. Drain.
4. Combine the pasta and kale in a large serving bowl with half & half and Pecorino, adding pasta cooking liquid as needed to create a loose sauce. Add the squash slices and confit, toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper as needed, and top with an extra grating of Pecorino cheese.
Bucatini Pasta with Sautéed Red Swiss Chard & Shiitake Mushrooms
Finished with garlic confit and a grating of Grana-style cheese, this wintery pasta is incredibly cozy and satisfying.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh bucatini pasta, or other fresh pasta of your choice
2 cups Shiitake mushrooms, washed and thinly sliced
1 bunch red Swiss chard, leaves separated from tough stems and coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter, divided
¼ cup F&L garlic confit
¼ cup Grana-style cheese, grated
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook until the bucatini is al dente, about 5-6 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter in the skillet. Once warm, add the mushrooms and Swiss chard, tossing to coat with oil and butter. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and sweat until mushrooms are tender and Swiss chard is just wilted, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Add drained pasta to the skillet with the vegetables, then toss everything together with the rest of the olive oil, butter and garlic confit. (If pasta seems a little dry, mix in reserved pasta water.) Check for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with a healthy grating of Grana-style cheese and enjoy!
Fall Salad with Roasted Squash, Apples & Candied Squash Seeds
Topped with a maple-mustard vinaigrette and candied squash seeds, this salad would pair nicely alongside this week’s antipasti bites.
Ingredients:
8 cups fall salad mix, or a mix of your favorite greens
1 apple, cut into large matchsticks
1½ cups cubed and roasted winter squash of your choice, such as Robin’s Koginut
¼ cup thinly-sliced red onion
⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
½ cup candied squash seeds (see recipe)
Dressing:
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Whisk all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. In a large bowl, toss the greens with half of the vinaigrette. Arrange the apple slices, squash, red onions, feta, and candied seeds on top of the greens. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette and serve.
Mushroom Risotto with Roasted Squash
Mixed with our own duxelles and sautéed mushrooms, then topped with roasted squash, this creamy and delicious risotto is a favorite here at the farm.
Ingredients:
1½ cups Arborio rice
4 cups chicken stock
½ cup white wine (if desired)
½ finely chopped onions or shallots
1-2 tablespoons chopped garlic (if desired)
8 tablespoons butter or olive oil (can use a mixture)
1 cup duxelles
¼ cup grated Grana cheese
2 cups cubed and roasted Black Futsu squash
1 cup Hedgehog mushrooms, sautéed in butter
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Sea salt and ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. In a saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil and then turn down to a simmer to keep hot.
2. In another large saucepan over medium low heat, melt 4-5 tablespoons of butter and cook the onions until soft but not brown. Add garlic and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Turn the heat up and add the Arborio rice, stir for about one minute. Add a ladleful of stock to the rice and continue stirring until almost absorbed.
3. Add another ladleful of stock and the wine (if using) and continue stirring. Repeat until all the stock is gone and the rice is creamy and tender.
4. Stir in the remaining butter, the duxelles and grated Grana until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add generous helpings of the roasted squash and sautéed mushrooms to each portion of risotto, and sprinkle with fresh parsley and a grating of Grana-style cheese before serving.
Bucatini with Delicata Squash, Spinach & Duxelles
This lovely combination of earthy mushrooms and fresh produce is both hearty and healthful!
Ingredients:
For squash:
1 Delicata squash
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons honey
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
To finish:
½ cup half & half
½ cup grated Grana-style cheese
½ bunch spinach greens, washed, patted dry and roughly torn into bite-sized pieces
1 pound bucatini pasta
Farm & Larder duxelles
4 tablespoons mixed fresh herbs, such as Italian parsley and thyme
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Scrub squash well and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and attached pulp; then slice crosswise into ¾-inch thick slices.
2. In a small bowl, mix melted butter with honey. Arrange the squash in a single layer on a baking sheet and brush each piece with the butter and honey, reserving half of the mixture. Season the squash with salt and pepper and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Roast for 20 minutes. Remove the squash from the oven and turn them with tongs. Brush each piece with the remaining honey-butter mixture, season again with salt and pepper, and return to the oven, uncovered for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook al dente, about 8 minutes, reserving ½ cup of the cooking liquid. During the last minute of cooking, add the spinach to blanch. Drain.
4. Combine the pasta and spinach in a large serving bowl with half & half and Grana, adding pasta cooking liquid as needed to create a loose sauce. Add the squash slices and duxelles, toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper as needed, and top with an extra grating of Grana cheese.
Italian Sausage Pasta with Roasted Squash & Greens
Cozy, comforting and full of flavorful squash and greens, this pasta hits all the right notes.
Ingredients:
1 winter squash of your choice, peeled, seeded, and cut into bite-sized chunks
1 Walla Walla sweet onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 bunch Lacinato kale, leaves pulled from tough stems and torn into small pieces
8-10 fresh sage leaves, torn
5 large garlic cloves, coarse chopped
⅓ cup olive oil
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tight-packed tablespoon brown sugar
1 pound imported pasta, such as this week’s orecchiette
1 pound Italian sausage
½ cup heavy cream
¾ cup Grana-style cheese, grated
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
Method:
1. Slip a large shallow sheet pan into the oven and preheat it to 450°. Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot. In a big bowl, toss together the first eight ingredients, seasoning the vegetable mix generously with salt and pepper.
2. Pull out the oven rack holding the sheet pan. Taking care not to burn yourself, turn the vegetables onto the hot sheet pan and spread it out. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the squash is tender, turning the vegetables two or three times during roasting. Once the squash is tender, turn on the broiler to caramelize it. Watch the vegetables closely, you want crusty brown edges on the squash and wilted, almost crisp greens.
3. While the squash is cooking, cook the sausage in a skillet until no longer pink on the inside, crumbling into bite-size pieces as it cooks. Set aside. At the same time, drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook it until tender, but with some firmness to the bite. Drain in a colander.
4. Scrape the roasted vegetables and sausage into a serving bowl. Add the hot pasta, and the heavy cream. Toss together, and add salt and pepper to taste. Add grated Grana-style cheese and an additional and serve hot.
Savory Mushroom Breakfast Strata
This healthy yet decadent-tasting strata is studded with winter squash, mushrooms and tender greens.
Ingredients:
1 bunch hearty greens, such as kale or Swiss chard
½ pound mushrooms, such as baby Shiitake, washed and sliced
½ winter squash, peeled, seeded and diced into 1-inch pieces
½ loaf French bread (preferably stale!), cut into 1-inch-thick slices
1-2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, coarsely chopped
½ cup Gruyère cheese, grated
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
4 eggs
2 cups milk
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Bring a medium or large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and add the greens. Cook 2-3 minutes, until tender but still colorful. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop coarsely and set aside. Cut one of the garlic cloves in half and rub the slices of bread with the cut side. Then mince all of the garlic. Cut the bread into 1-inch squares.
2. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a heavy skillet and add the squash. Cook, stirring often, until it begins to soften, and add the thyme, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Then add the mushrooms and cook an additional 1-2 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and fragrant. Stir in the greens, toss together and remove from the heat.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°. Oil or butter a 2-quart baking dish. In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, the mushrooms, squash and greens, and the two cheeses and toss together. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
4. Beat together the eggs and milk. Add salt to taste and a few twists of the pepper mill, and pour over the bread mixture. Let sit for 30 minutes before baking so that the bread can absorb some of the liquid.
5. Place in the oven and bake 40-50 minutes, until puffed and browned. Remove from the oven and serve hot or warm.
White Polenta with Wild Mushroom Confit
This creamy dish is deeply-flavorful, accented with truffles, wild mushrooms and spring greens.
Ingredients:
White polenta mix
Farm & Larder mushroom confit
Sautéed greens with garlic (see recipe)
4 cups chicken stock
¼ cup water
Grated Vecchio cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Bring chicken stock and ¼ cup water to a simmer in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan. Add polenta mix in a slow stream, whisking until incorporated. Simmer, stirring frequently with a long-handled whisk or wooden spoon, until liquid is absorbed and polenta is thick and soft, about 10 minutes.
2. While polenta simmers, transfer mushroom confit to a non-stick skillet and gently re-warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. (The re-warmed mushrooms may release a little excess butter. Try mixing it into the polenta, or with roasted vegetables, to provide extra depth of flavor.)
3. Remove polenta from heat and stir in Vecchio cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Top with warm mushroom confit and sautéed greens. Serve immediately.
Bucatini Pasta with Sautéed Baby Shiitake Mushrooms
Also tossed with sweet onions and a topping of Grana-style cheese, this pasta is incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh bucatini pasta, or other fresh pasta of your choice
2 cups mini baby Shiitake mushrooms, washed and thinly sliced
1 Walla Walla sweet onion, peeled and diced
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter, divided
¼ cup Grana-style cheese, grated
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook until the bucatini is al dente, about 5-6 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter in the skillet. Once warm, add the onions, mushrooms and garlic, tossing to coat with oil and butter. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and sweat until mushrooms are tender and garlic is fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Add drained pasta to the skillet with the vegetables, then toss everything together with the rest of the olive oil and butter. If pasta seems a little dry, mix in reserved pasta water. Check for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with Grana-style cheese to sprinkle over pasta.
How-To: Reconstitute Dried Mushrooms
Follow these simple steps to reconstitute the beautiful mushrooms for this week’s risotto.
Ingredients:
Dried wild mushrooms
Tools:
Medium saucepan
Handheld strainer
2-3 cups warm water, stock or wine
Method:
1. Place mushrooms in a medium saucepan. (Dried mushrooms will reconstitute to 6-8 times their dry weight.)
2. Cover mushrooms with warm water, stock or wine. Bring to a boil, then turn off heat. Allow to soak in liquid for at least 15-20 minutes; gradually the mushrooms will begin to soak in moisture and plump.
3. Drain mushrooms of liquid with the strainer. Reserve the flavorful soaking liquid for use in soup, stocks and more! Briefly sauté the reconstituted mushrooms in a little butter or olive oil, add a splash of white wine if desired, add salt and pepper to taste, and then use according to your recipe.