Pasta with Sautéed Spring Greens & Chevre
This incredibly-satisfying pasta is very versatile: Use any combination of your favorite hearty greens!
Ingredients:
1 pound pasta of your choice
6 cups mixed spring greens, such as a mix of this week’s micro broccoli, sunflower shoots, pea shoots
1 bunch Swiss chard, tough ribs removed and greens coarsely chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter, divided
½ cup Chevre cheese, crumbled
¼ pine nuts, toasted
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter in the skillet. Once warm, add the garlic and all the greens, tossing to coat with oil and butter. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and sweat until greens are just wilted and tender and garlic is fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Add drained pasta to the skillet, 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 crumbled Chevre and pine nuts on top.
Casarecce Pasta with Sautéed Fiddleheads
This light spring pasta is kissed with fiddleheads, fresh green garlic and parsley butter for a delightfully-fresh flavor.
Ingredients:
1 pound Lagana Foods casarecce pasta
¼ pound fiddleheads, thoroughly washed and trimmed
3 bulbs green garlic, minced
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Farm & Larder parsley compound butter
Pinch red pepper flakes
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook until casarecce is al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once warm, add the fiddleheads and green garlic, tossing to coat with oil. Season with salt, pepper and just a pinch of red pepper flakes, then cover and sweat until ferns are tender and garlic is fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Add drained pasta to the skillet with the fiddleheads and garlic, then toss with the parsley compound butter. If pasta seems a little dry, mix in reserved pasta water. Check for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Spring Pasta with Asparagus, Kale & Olive Oil-Fried Duck Eggs
This light, creamy pasta is a show-stopper, topped with spring produce and fried duck eggs.
Ingredients:
1 pound pasta
1 large bunch Lacinato kale, greens stripped of tough ribs, washed and coarsely chopped
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed of root ends, and cut into 2-inch-long pieces
1-2 stalks of green garlic, trimmed of root ends and minced
4 duck eggs
2-3 tablespoons butter
4-5 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 tablespoons freshly-chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Freshly-grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of heavily-salted water to a boil. Drop in pasta noodles and cook according to package directions, or until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon each of butter and olive oil. Set aside.
2. In a large sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmery, then add the green garlic, asparagus and kale leaves, tossing to coat with oil. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the garlic is fragrant, the greens are wilted, and the asparagus are tender. Remove from the heat and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, heat another 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmery. Carefully crack 1 duck egg and drop into the pan, seasoning generously with salt and pepper. Fry until whites are set and crispy around the edges, but yolk is still runny, about 3-4 minutes. Repeat with remaining eggs.
4. Add the pasta to the skillet with the kale, return to medium heat briefly, and toss with remaining tablespoon of butter and fresh parsley, until all are combined. Pile noodles into 4 individual serving bowls and top each with a fried duck egg. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Pasta Primavera
This colorful pasta is incredibly versatile—feel free to add in any of your favorite spring veggies!
Ingredients:
1 pound pasta of your choice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ pound baby carrots, trimmed of greens and sliced into coins
½ pound asparagus, ends snapped and sliced into ¼-inch-thick pieces
¾ cup freshly-shelled peas
¼ cup thinly sliced leeks, white part only
4 cups braising greens
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
⅔ cup grated Grana-style cheese
¼ cup crème fraîche or ricotta cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
Salted capers and Piranske Soline Fior di Sale sea salt
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrots, asparagus, peas and leeks. Cook until vegetables are barely tender (but not too soft or mushy), 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in braising greens and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes more, until the greens are wilted. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
3. Drop pasta into boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain well and transfer pasta to the skillet. Immediately toss pasta with vegetables, grated Grana cheese, crème fraîche or ricotta and herbs. Top each serving with salted capers and a pinch of sea salt, as desired.
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.
Fresh Mafaldine Pasta with Sautéed Pioppini Mushrooms
Also rich with chicken stock and herbs, this pasta beautifully captures the flavors of mellow, earthy mushrooms.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh mafaldine
4 cups pioppini mushrooms, washed and patted dry
¼ cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided in half
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ cup combined fresh chopped parsley, sage and thyme
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
¼ cup grated Grana-style cheese
Method:
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Drop in pasta noodles and cook until al dente, about 4 to 6 minutes. Drain and rinse, reserving ½ cup of the starchy cooking liquid.
- Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter with the olive oil over medium heat, stirring to combine. Add the mushrooms and garlic and sauté 2-3 minutes until mushrooms are soft and tender and then add chicken stock and cook until reduced slightly, another 3-4 minutes. Add in fresh herbs and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Add in the drained pasta and toss. Add in reserved 1 tablespoon of butter and grated cheese, and mix to distribute. If pasta seems dry, add in reserved cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time until adequately moist.
Poached Duck Eggs over Sautéed Spring Greens & Hedgehog Mushrooms
These creamy poached eggs are perfectly complemented by flavorful kale rapini, pea shoots and Swiss chard greens.
Ingredients:
4 duck eggs
4 teaspoons vinegar
1 large bunch kale rapini, removed of any tough stem ends, florets reserved and greens roughly chopped
1 large bunch Swiss chard, removed of any tough stem ends and greens roughly chopped
2 cups pea shoots
2 cups Hedgehog mushrooms, trimmed of any tough ends
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Grana-style cheese, grated, and crispy breadcrumbs (optional)
Method:
1. To poach the eggs, half-fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Add a hefty pinch of salt. Meanwhile, crack each egg into it’s own small bowl and add a teaspoon of vinegar to each. Stir the boiling water vigorously with a balloon whisk until you have a whirlpool then immediately (and softly!) slip the egg into the pot. Turn the heat down low, and cook for three minutes. Gently lift eggs out of the pot and drain on paper towels.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the rapini greens and florets, pea shoots, Swiss chard greens and mushrooms and cook until all are just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
3. To serve, add a serving of greens and mushrooms to a plate, and then top with a poached egg. Season with salt and pepper, as needed, and top with grated Grana-style cheese and crispy breadcrumbs, if desired.
Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, Sautéed Kale and Porcini Salt
Also tossed with garlic, onions and a topping of Asiago Pressa cheese, this pasta is incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients:
1 pound rigatoni pasta, or other pasta of your choice
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
6 cups baby kale, stripped of larger stems and torn into large pieces
1 sweet onion, peeled and diced
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter, divided
¼ cup Asiago Pressa cheese, grated
½ teaspoon Porcini salt
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook until the pasta is al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
2. Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a skillet over medium heat until done, breaking into bite-sized chunks with a spoon. Remove the sausage to a plate and reserve. Wipe any excess sausage grease from the pan and then heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter in the skillet. Once warm, add the onions and garlic, tossing to coat with oil and butter. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and sweat until onions are tender and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add in kale and cook until just slightly wilted, about another minute or so.
3. Add drained pasta and sausage to the skillet with the kale mixture, 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 a healthy pinch of Porcini salt and the Asiago Pressa cheese. Serve with additional Asiago Pressa-style cheese to sprinkle over pasta as desired.
Signs of Spring Recipes
Though our days continue to be drippy, the gardens are finally beginning to show signs of new life as the first of the shelling peas, mint and microgreens are now gracing us with their presence. Thus, spring fare takes center stage in this week’s box, too, with fresh semolina pasta, pain au levain bread and locally-crafted sharp cheddar cheese all helping to accent a bevy of produce that includes red cabbage rapini, romanesco and baby Japanese turnips. Crack open a bright Spanish white wine, pop a juicy apple cake into the oven and enjoy the first taste of the season!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Gemelli Pasta with Shelled Peas, Lemon & Mint
Adapted from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, this light and lovely pasta recipe sings of spring.
Chilled Pea Soup
Cooking the peas briefly retains their vibrant color, while the addition of fresh herbs keeps the finished soup tasting bright.
Shelled Pea Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
This bright salad is beautifully balanced by fresh mint and Marcona almonds.
Butter-Braised Turnips with Greens & Baby Shiitake Mushrooms
Simmered in rich chicken stock, this dish is finished with lemon juice and thyme for fresh appeal.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Buttered Breadcrumbs
Topped with buttery, golden brown breadcrumbs, these Brussels sprouts are the epitome of comfort food.
Arugula Pesto
This bright, flavorful pesto is wonderful drizzled over this week’s chilled pea soup or pea and mint pasta main!
F&L Apple Cake
Moist and incredibly flavorful, this cake comes together in just minutes!
Sautéed Spring Greens with Garlic
Kissed with garlic and red pepper flakes, these greens add fresh, flavorful appeal to this week’s polenta.
Ingredients:
2 large bunches of your choice greens (Swiss chard, collard greens or any other spring greens)
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Pinch red pepper flakes
Sea salt
Method:
1. Rinse greens well. Tear or cut leaves away from stems and discard stems. Coarsely chop.
2. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Cook garlic and pepper flakes in oil briefly, then add greens, a few handfuls at a time, stirring in between.
3. Stir in vinegar and salt. Cover. Cook until just tender, 3-10 minutes, depending on the type of greens and your preference.