Crispy Diced Pork Belly
These little nuggets of goodness are wonderful scattered over braised greens or this week’s polenta.
Ingredients:
½ pound Skagit River Ranch pork belly ends
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Line a heavy baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay out pork belly ends, spacing out evenly on the sheet.
3. Bake pork belly until crisp and golden, about 15-20 minutes. (Check frequently to avoid burning.) Remove from oven, allow to cool, then finely-dice with a sharp knife.
Variations: Feel free to test out your own seasonings sprinkled over the raw pork belly, then bake. Our favorites include brown sugar or cayenne pepper.
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Braised Fava Greens
The tender, succulent greens are lovely simply sautéed in butter and topped with crispy pork belly.
Ingredients:
1 bunch fava greens
2 tablespoons butter, olive oil, or a combination or both
¼ cup crispy diced pork belly (see recipe)
Sea salt
Freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Method:
1. Thoroughly clean greens, trimming of any tough stems.
2. Heat a large sauté pan over high heat. Once warm, add butter to melt, then add in greens. Cook, stirring occasionally, until greens are wilted about 3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, season with salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with extra lemon and crispy diced pork belly.
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Ratatouille
This rustic Provencal dish is summer in a bowl, crafted with zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes.
Ingredients:
2 cups diced eggplant, skin on
2 cups mixed sweet peppers, seeded and diced
2 cups zucchini, diced
1½ cups heirloom tomatoes, seeded and diced
1½ cups diced Walla Walla sweet onion
¼ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon freshly chopped basil
1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Set a large stock pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the onions and garlic to the pan. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are wilted and lightly caramelized, about 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Add the eggplant and thyme to the pan and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is partially cooked, about 5 minutes. Add the peppers and zucchini and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, and salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for a final 5 minutes. Stir well to blend and serve either hot or at room temperature.
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Baked Orzo with Smoked Pork Stock
Flavorful and filling, this satisfying baked dish is wonderful served with this week’s grilled halloumi kabobs.
Ingredients:
2 cups orzo pasta
4 tablespoons butter
4 white spring onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups smoked pork stock
½ cup water
1 cup Grana-style cheese, grated
½ cup freshly-chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add in the onions and garlic and sauté for about 4-5 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.
2. Add in the orzo, and cook for about a minute, stirring constantly. Add in broth and then salt and pepper to taste and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and sprinkle in the cheese, mixing well.
3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350° and grease a 2-quart baking dish. Add the orzo mixture and bake for 35-40 minutes, until all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from oven and garnish with the chopped parsley before serving.
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Fresh Corn Salad
Crisp, crunchy and spicy, this side salad is even better the second day!
Ingredients:
3 cups corn kernels, cut from husks
1 heirloom tomato, seeded and diced, or 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered if large
2 sweet peppers, seeded and diced
1 Anaheim chile pepper, seeded and diced
½ Walla Walla sweet onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ cup chopped parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine corn, tomato, peppers, Anaheim chili, sweet onion and garlic in a small mixing bowl.
2. Toss in the garlic and parsley and combine, then drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as desired.
Variation: Try adding in 1 cup of this week’s canned Italian borlotti beans!
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Frizzled Leeks
These crispy leeks are a wonderful garnish for salads, soups or main dish proteins like beef, pork or salmon.
Ingredients:
1 medium leek, trimmed of roots and dark green tops
2 cups neutral-flavored oil, such as peanut, vegetable or canola
Sea salt
Method:
1. Thinly slice the white and light green parts of the leek into 3-inch-long julienne strips. Rinse in a bowl of water to remove the grit, drain and pat dry.
2. In a small saucepan heat the oil over medium-high heat (it should reach a depth of about 1 inch) it reaches 325º and 350º on a candy thermometer. Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low to hold the oil in this temperature range. Add a small handful of the leeks to the oil.
3. Fry the leeks in batches, stirring often with a metal slotted spoon, until the oil is barely bubbling and the leeks are light golden brown, 1-3 minutes. (The oil temperature will drop when you add the leeks; let it return to the starting temperature before frying the next batch.)
4. Lift the leeks from the oil using the slotted spoon, tap against the side of the pan to drain off excess oil, and transfer to a large plate lined with paper towels.
5. Sprinkle the leeks lightly with salt while they are still hot. Let cool to room temperature before using as a garnish.
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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.
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Braised Savoy Cabbage
This versatile winter dish from Alice Waters is delightful served by itself or mixed with sliced boiled potatoes or crispy bacon.
Ingredients:
1 large (or 2 small) Savoy cabbages
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 onion, peeled and diced
1 celery stalk, peeled and diced
1 bay leaf
2 thyme sprigs
2 garlic cloves, chopped
½ cup white wine
½ cup chicken broth or water
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Remove the tough outer leaves of the cabbage and cut the heads in half, then into quarters. Cut out the cores and cut the quarters into thick slices. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a heavy pan. Add carrots, onion and celery and cook over medium heat for about 7 minutes, or until soft. Add bay leaf, thyme, garlic and a dash more salt. Cook for another minute and then stir in the cabbage and white wine.
3. Cover and cook until the wine is mostly evaporated, about 8 minutes. Add chicken broth or water and bring liquid to a boil. Turn down to a simmer, cover the pan and cook for about 15 minutes until cabbage is tender, stirring two or three times during cooking. Season to taste with salt and white wine vinegar as needed.
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Pisto
Serve this Spanish pepper stew, called a pisto, with poached or fried eggs!
Ingredients:
1 Walla Walla sweet onion
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon mashed roasted garlic
2 Basque peppers, seeded and diced
1 small zucchini, diced
½ cup dry white wine
2-3 heirloom tomatoes (about 3 cups), diced
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons freshly-chopped parsley leaves
¼ cup Manchego cheese, finely grated
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over moderate heat. Add the onion and the fresh and roasted garlic and cook until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the peppers and zucchini and cook for 3 minutes, stirring often. Pour in the white wine and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the wine has reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 5 minutes.
2. Reduce the heat to low. Add the tomatoes and simmer gently until the juices have evaporated, about 30 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, parsley and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt. Transfer the pisto to bowls and sprinkle with the grated Manchego.
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Summer Ribollita
Inspired by a recipe found in the Lark: Cooking Against the Grain cookbook, this ribollita celebrates the beautiful vegetables of summer.
Ingredients:
1 cup summer squash, cut into ½-inch dice
1 cup tomatoes, cored and cut into ½-inch dice
¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup green beans, trimmed and cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup rainbow Swiss chard, stems removed and leaves cut into 2-inch strips
½ jarred cooked cannellini beans, drained of brine
2 slices of day-old bread, lightly toasted and torn into bite-size pieces
4 cups chicken stock
1 cup yellow onion, peeled and diced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
¼ cup dry white wine
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
2 tablespoons torn basil leaves, for finishing
Pistou (see recipe)
Method:
1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook until lightly golden, about 7-8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until softened but not brown. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to maintain a simmer and let wine reduce slightly, 1-2 minutes.
2. Add the summer squash, all the tomatoes and green beans. Stir in the bread pieces, kale and the cannellini beans.
3. Add the 4 cups of chicken stock and then season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to maintain a simmer. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
4. To serve, stir 3 tablespoons of the pistou sauce into the ribollita and immediately ladle into serving bowls. Sprinkle the basil over the ribollita and then add a healthy grating of Grana-style cheese. Serve with the additional pistou on the side.
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