Charred Spring Onion Gremolata
This smoky sauce is wonderful slathered on toasted bread.
Ingredients:
3-4 spring onions
3 small lemons
2 garlic cloves, skins on
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons parsley, chopped
Method:
1. Cut off the roots of the onions, and trim about an inch off their greens. Cut the lemons into thin slices, reserving the ends for another use. Toss the scallions, lemon slices, and garlic with the oil, salt and pepper.
2. Grill until charred on all sides, being careful not to burn the garlic. Let cool in a bowl.
3. Peel the garlic and mince. Finely chop the lemons and onions. Mix everything together with the parsley. Add salt if desired.
Cara Cara Orange Salad with Arugula & Fennel
This crisp, citrus-kissed salad is both bold in flavor and beautiful in presentation.
Ingredients:
1 Cara Cara orange
½ pound arugula greens
½ red onion, thinly sliced
2 petite fennel bulbs, quartered, cored and thinly sliced, plus a handful of the fronds
Vinaigrette:
1 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced
⅓ cup freshly squeezed juice from a Cara Cara orange
¼ cup white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
¾ cup olive oil
Sea salt salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Spread the arugula greens out on a large, round serving platter to make a bed.
2. Using a sharp paring knife, cut the tops and bottoms off the orange. Stand oranges up and slice to remove the peel and membrane. Then, slice oranges crosswise into thin wheels.
3. Arrange the orange on top of the arugula, overlapping the slices slightly. Then layer on the fennel slices.
4. Whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients and drizzle over the salad and then season with ground pepper if desired.
Buttery Braised Leeks
Accented with just a squeeze of lemon, these sublime leeks are a worthy side dish.
Ingredients:
2 leeks, trimmed and halved lengthwise
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
Juice of ½ lemon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Melt butter and olive oil over a medium-high flame in a large sauté pan.
2. Once the oil and butter are hot, place the leeks cut side down into the pan. Let the leeks brown in the pan for 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully flip the leeks over and turn the heat on low. Cover and let the leeks braise for about 25 to 30 minutes or until the leeks are soft all the way through.
3. Take the leeks off the heat and squirt the lemon juice over the braised leeks and add salt and pepper to taste.
