Kale & Potato Soup
This rich, traditional Portuguese soup—called caldo verde (green broth)—would be a lovely starter to this week’s Italian pasta supper.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Lacinato kale
2 pounds baking potatoes
2 quarts water
Olive oil
Salt
Method:
1. Remove stems from the kale, wash the leaves and cut them into a chiffonade. (You should have about 6-8 cups of kale). Peel potatoes and chop very fine.
2. Bring water to a boil in a heavy sauce pan and add salt. Add chopped potatoes, return to a boil and cook for 2 minutes, covered. Add the kale and cook 2 minutes more. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and needed. If desired, top hot soup with a splash of olive oil.
Variations: You can pass this soup through a food mill and serve it as a purée; moisten it with chicken stock instead of water; or enrich it with additional vegetables. One excellent variation is to stew sliced shallots and garlic until very soft and caramelized, then purée with the kale and potatoes.
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Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Herb Crème Fraîche
This soup is the epitome of fall comfort food.
Ingredients:
1, 2-2½ pound Winter Density pumpkin, quartered and seeded
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons sea salt, plus additional
for seasoning the soup
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup diced Cipollini onion
1 cup diced Yukon Gold potatoes
1 garlic cloves, crushed
4 cups chicken stock
Fresh ground pepper
For Herb Crème Fraîche:
¾ cup crème fraîche, plus additional for garnish
2 teaspoons each fresh parsley (finely chopped) and thyme leaves
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Place pumpkin quarters in a baking dish and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with 2 teaspoons sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Roast at 350° for 45 minutes or until lightly browned. Scoop out cooked pumpkin and reserve.
2. Heat butter and remaining oil in a large stock pot. Add onion and garlic and
season with a pinch of sea salt. Sweat over low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring often. Do not brown.
3. Add the chicken stock, potatoes, and roasted pumpkin and season with salt and pepper. Bring soup to a simmer, and cover, cooking for about 15 minutes or until potatoes are very tender.
4. While soup is cooking, combine crème fraîche with fresh herbs and season with salt and pepper. Once soup is ready, purée it in batches in a food processor (or with an immersion blender). Stir in ¾ cup of crème fraîche. Add more chicken stock as necessary to achieve desired consistency. Garnish each serving with reserved crème fraîche.
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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.
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Smoky Potato Salad with Bacon and Barbecue Sauce
The mayonnaise dressing for this potato salad gets a hit of smoky-sweet flavor courtesy of crispy bacon and barbecue sauce.
Ingredients:
4 pounds fingerling potatoes
½ pound bacon
1¼ cups mayonnaise
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons spicy mustard
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 celery ribs, diced
1 small red onion, diced
¼ cup chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large pot, cover the potatoes with cold salted water and bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 35 minutes. Drain the potatoes and, when they are cool enough to handle, slice them in half.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, cook the bacon slices over moderate heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels and coarsely crumble.
3. In a large bowl, mix the mayonnaise with the barbecue sauce, mustard and sherry vinegar. Fold the potatoes into the dressing while they are still warm. Let the potato salad stand, stirring a few times, until the potatoes have cooled and absorbed most of the dressing, about 20 minutes.
4. Add the celery, red onion and parsley to the potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Let stand for an additional 20 minutes, stirring a few times. Garnish with the bacon and then serve at room temperature.
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Vegetable Rice Soup with Sweet Ground Chile Pepper
This soup is incredibly hearty and healthy, full of beautiful vegetables, mushrooms and tender greens.
Ingredients:
1 cup F&L rice blend
2 cups chicken stock
5 cups water
2-3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 cup Cipollini onions, peeled and chopped
1 leek, roots and tough green ends removed, then chopped
2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cups French fingerling potatoes, scrubbed and chopped
1 cup dried wild mushrooms, reconstituted and sautéed (see enclosed method)
2 large handfuls combined red baby kale and Swiss chard leaves, torn
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon sweet ground chile pepper
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large stock pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, then add chopped onion and garlic and sauté until onion is soft and translucent and garlic is fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add in chopped carrots, leeks and potatoes and continue to sauté until vegetables are slightly softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add in the rice, chicken stock and water, seasoning with the fresh thyme and sweet ground chile pepper, plus sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
2. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, until rice and vegetables are fully cooked and tender.
3. Turn off heat and add the wild mushrooms and greens to the soup, stirring to combine until greens are slightly wilted. Check for seasoning and add additional salt and pepper as desired.
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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.
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Kale-Potato Frittata
This easy frittata is baked in a skillet with hearty kale, fragrant garlic and Grana-style cheese.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Lacinato kale, cut crosswise into wide strips
2 cups purple potatoes, washed and cut into thin coins
1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
¼ cup olive oil
3 garlic cloves, sliced paper thin
8 large eggs
½ cup Grana-style cheese, grated
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat olive oil in a broiler-proof nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, then add potato coins and diced onions. Cook, stirring carefully and occasionally, until the onions brown and the potatoes are tender. This should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Toss in the kale and garlic and cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and season with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat oven broiler, positioning oven rack about 4-6 inches from heat.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, Grana cheese and an additional ½ teaspoon salt. Slowly pour egg mixture over the vegetables. Cook eggs over medium-low heat without stirring for 8 minutes, or until almost set.
4. Transfer skillet to broiler and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until top of frittata is browned. (Check often to make sure it does not burn.) Remove and let sit 3-4 minutes before slicing into wedges and serving.
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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.
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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.
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Italian Vegetable Soup
A deeply flavorful soup, thanks to the addition of fresh herbs, Corona beans and our housemade chicken stock.
Ingredients:
2 cups Corona beans, rinsed and soaked in a large stock pot of water overnight
2 leeks, trimmed of tough tops and ends, then diced
2-4 cloves garlic, minced
½-1 winter squash of your choice, peeled, seeded and cut into bite-sized cubes
1 cup Bolero carrots, peeled and sliced
1 cup fingerling potatoes, washed and cut into bite-sized cubes
4 cups canned diced Italian plum tomatoes
4 cups F&L chicken stock
3-4 cups water
½ cup white wine (if desired)
3-6 tablespoons combined chopped rosemary, parsley and thyme
2 cups spinach leaves, washed and torn if large
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. Drain beans, rinse and set aside. Rinse out the stock pot and place it on the stove, turning the heat to medium-high. Add leeks and garlic, drizzling with the olive oil. Cook until leeks are translucent and garlic is fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
2. Once leeks are cooked, add in beans, water, wine (if using) and chicken stock. Generously season with salt and pepper. Bring soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer 30-40 minutes, or until the beans are almost done. Add squash, carrots, potatoes and diced tomatoes and bring soup back to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 more minutes, until the vegetables and beans are tender. Check for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if necessary.
3. Turn off heat and add in fresh herbs and spinach. Serve with grated Grana-style cheese alongside.
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