Creamy Scalloped Potatoes with Chive Blossoms
This beautiful dish is sure to be a new spring favorite!
Ingredients:
3 pounds fingerling or other small new potato
2 shallots, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces soft mild goat cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Fresh flowering chives, snipped with scissors, for garnish
Method:
1, Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Peel potatoes and cut into â…›-inch-thick slices with a manual slicer or sharp thin knife. Keep slices in a large bowl of cold water while making sauce.
3. Cook shallots in butter in a small skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Transfer to a blender and purée with milk, cream, cheese, kosher salt to taste, and pepper.
4. Drain potatoes in a large colander and pat dry. Arrange in a buttered 3-quart shallow baking dish in 3 layers, pouring some of sauce over each layer (use all of sauce) and putting best potato slices on top layer. Bake, covered with foil, in lower third of oven. Remove foil after 45 minutes and continue to bake until potatoes are tender, 30 to 45 minutes more. If desired, briefly broil potatoes under preheated broiler until top is golden.
Buttermilk Ranch Potato Salad
Tossed with a plethora of fresh herbs including cilantro, dill and chives, this potato salad is incredibly fresh-tasting.
Ingredients:
3 pounds baby red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh chives
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh dill
¾ cup well-shaken buttermilk
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
â…“ cup mayonnaise
â…“ cup finely-chopped scallions (green parts only)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
Black pepper
Method:
1. Place 1½ to 2 inches of water in the bottom of a large pot. Place a steamer basket in the pot and add the cut potatoes to the basket. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-high. Cover and steam the potatoes until knife-tender, stirring once or twice to ensure the potatoes in the center are evenly cooked, 25 to 30 minutes.
2. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Let cool at least 30 minutes before dressing; the potatoes should be room temperature. Meanwhile, make the dressing.
3. Place the cilantro, dill, and chives in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Remove 3 tablespoons of the mixture to a small bowl and set aside for garnish.
4. Add the buttermilk, yogurt, mayonnaise, scallions, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt to the medium bowl of herbs. Season with pepper and whisk to combine. Refrigerate the dressing until the potatoes are ready.
5. Pour the buttermilk dressing onto the potatoes and fold it in gently until the potatoes are fully dressed. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Scatter the reserved herb mixture on top.
Beet Salad with Chive Blossom Vinaigrette
Tossed with a light, honey-kissed vinaigrette and freshly-roasted beets, this salad sings of springtime.
Ingredients:
1 pound spring salad mix
1 bunch baby beets, scrubbed and trimmed of greens
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Minced chive blossoms
For vinaigrette:
¾ cup olive oil
¼ cup chive blossom vinegar (see recipe)
2 cloves garlic, minced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. To roast beets, preheat the oven to 350° and place the beets in a roasting pan and coat with oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the water to the pan and cover with foil. Roast the beets until they are tender, approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let them cool until just warm enough to handle. Use a towel to gently rub off the skin (this is much easier when they are still warm). Cut into bite-sized pieces.
2. To prepare the vinaigrette, whisk together the olive oil, chive blossom vinegar and garlic, plus sea salt and pepper to taste, in a small bowl until combined.
3. In a large salad bowl or serving tray, arrange washed salad greens, then top with beets. Drizzle with chive blossom vinaigrette, then top with crumbled cheese, chive blossoms and a few grinds of pepper.
Chive Blossom Vinegar
This punchy vinegar is fantastic incorporated into salad dressings; just swap it one-to-one with your favorite vinegar in recipes!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup chive blossoms
1 cup white wine vinegar
Method:
1. Soak chive blossoms in water to clean, then dry them using a salad spinner.
2. Place chive blossoms into a large canning jar so that the jar is filled about halfway with blossoms. Fill jar with the vinegar, covering the blossoms completely.
3. Let blossoms steep in the vinegar at least overnight or up to several days in a cool, dark place. Strain blossoms from vinegar and pour liquid into a clean jar. Refrigerate for the longest shelf life (the vinegar should last several weeks in the fridge).
Chive Blossom-Garlic Aioli
This flavorful aioli is wonderful served with freshly-roasted asparagus, or even with homemade French fries!
Ingredients:
1 egg
2 tablespoons garlic, chopped
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoon sherry or chive blossom vinegar
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chive blossoms
Method:
1. In a blender or food processor, drop in the egg and chopped garlic and process until garlic is smooth. With the motor running, add the oil in a slow stream, until the sauce is thick and emulsified. Add the vinegar and salt. (The sauce should be creamy and mayonnaise-like and will have a nice garlic bite.)
2. Add one tablespoon of the chive blossoms and blend a few more seconds. Place the aioli in a small bowl and mix in remaining chive blossoms. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Mashed Potatoes with Duxelles
These decadent potatoes are mixed with mushroom duxelles for a satisfying finishing touch.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds fingerling potatoes, washed and scrubbed
½-¾ cup milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup crème fraîche or sour cream
¾ cup F&L mushroom duxelles
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large pot, bring 2 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a boil. Add the potatoes to the boiling water and bring the water back to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes fall apart easily when pierced with a fork.
2. Meanwhile, heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan, making sure it doesn’t boil. Set aside until the potatoes are done.
3. As soon as the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher or large heavy-duty fork until thoroughly mashed. Stir in the hot milk mixture with a whisk or rubber spatula. Add enough crème fraîche or sour cream to make the potatoes soft and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste, and mix in the duxelles. Serve immediately, or to keep the potatoes warm, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water for up to 30 minutes.
Fingerling Potato ‘Homefries’
These creamy, rustic potatoes are flecked with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes for heat.
Ingredients:
1 pound baby or fingerling potatoes, such as this week’s German Butterball potatoes
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Method:
1. Place the potatoes in a pot, cover with water and season the water abundantly with salt. Bring to a boil and cook the potatoes until a fork slides in and out of them easily. Drain potatoes and cool.
2. Coat a large sauté pan generously with olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt and bring the pan to a medium high heat. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and sauté for 7 to 8 minutes or until the onions are soft and wilted but do not have any color.
3. Using the heel of your hand, smash the boiled potatoes to flatten and to break apart. Add to the pan, toss with onions and then flatten them against the bottom of the pan so they begin to form a crust. Repeat this process a few times to cover the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and toss with the chopped parsley.
German Potato Salad
This ultra-flavorful and satisfying side dish is best served warm.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds fingerling potatoes, such as this week’s Huckleberry Gold variety, washed and cubed into 1-inch pieces (no need to peel)
8 bacon slices, diced
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup chicken stock
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
Fresh chives, minced
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt
Method:
1. Bring a medium-sized pot of water seasoned generously with salt, to a boil. Toss in the potatoes and reduce to a simmer, cooking until the potatoes are just barely fork tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and reserve the potatoes.
2. Coat a large sauté pan lightly with olive oil. Toss in the bacon and bring to medium heat. When the bacon is getting brown and crispy, toss in the onions and cook until they are very soft and aromatic, 7 to 8 minutes ; add the garlic and cook until soft but not browned
3. Add the stock and vinegar. Toss in the cooked potatoes while they are still warm; mix together and cook until the liquid has absorbed into the potatoes. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with chives and parsley and serve warm or at room temperature.
Purple Potato Salad with Baby Fennel
Fennel adds a subtle anise flavor to sweet, mild purple potatoes in this beautiful salad.
Ingredients:
2 pounds Russian Blue potatoes
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups mustard greens, torn
1 cup fennel fronds, sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Place the potatoes and salt in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Partially cover and simmer until potatoes are tender but not mushy, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. Drain and cool slightly. When cool enough to handle but still warm, cut potatoes into large bite-size pieces. (The salad should be chunky).
2. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Add the oil, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat. Add the garlic, mustard greens, and fennel. Toss to combine and slightly wilt the greens. If the salad is too dry, add a little more oil to achieve desired consistency. Taste for seasoning, and add more salt if desired. Serve at room temperature or chilled.