Roasted Beet & Carrot Dip
This vibrant spread is delicious slathered on toasted bread or crackers.
Ingredients:
4-6 baby beets, trimmed and peeled
6 carrots, trimmed and peeled
1 medium-sized head of garlic, with the end cut off
3 tablespoons plus ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons minced Italian parsley
Sea salt
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Quarter the beets and halve the carrots, then toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet, and slide into the oven. Roast 25-30 minutes or until vegetables are tender and edges are a light golden brown, flipping vegetables halfway through.
2. Meanwhile, set out a 10-inch rectangle of foil. Set the head of garlic in the center, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap the foil packet tightly around the garlic, set in a small ovenproof baking dish, and roast for about 15 minutes, or until cloves are soft and cooked through. Carefully open the foil packet, and set garlic aside until cool enough to handle. Squeeze the soft cloves out of the papery skin and set aside.
3. Place the roasted beets, carrots, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until broken down a bit. Then, with the food processor running, drizzle in the ½ cup olive oil, honey and a large pinch of salt. Taste for seasoning and add more salt as needed. Top dip with minced parsley and serve at room temperature.
Roasted Carrot & Cherry Tomato Agrodolce
A sweet-sour Sicilian-inspired side dish with roasted roots and juicy summer tomatoes.
Ingredients:
1 bunch baby carrots, scrubbed and halved lengthwise
1 cup mixed cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
For the agrodolce glaze:
1½ tablespoons red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 small garlic clove, finely grated
1 tablespoon olive oil
Optional: 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh herbs like thyme or basil
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Toss the carrots and cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast for 20–25 minutes, until the carrots are tender and beginning to caramelize, and the tomatoes are blistered.
2. Meanwhile, whisk together the vinegar, honey, grated garlic, and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small bowl. Remove the vegetables from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle with the agrodolce glaze and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with fresh herbs if using. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Breton Coco Shelling Beans with Lemon & Olive Oil
A lovely supper side, these beautiful beans are also tossed with fresh herbs.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds fresh Breton Coco shelling beans in pod
2 tablespoons salt
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, to taste
2 tablespoons combined chopped basil and parsley
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Method:
1. Shell beans. In a large saucepan of boiling water, cook beans with salt until tender and no longer mealy, 10 to 20 minutes. Drain beans and transfer to a bowl.
2. While beans are still warm, toss with remaining ingredients and season with salt. Serve salad warm or at room temperature.
Sunflower Shoot Salad with Radishes & Hazelnuts
This stellar salad from Food & Wine is beautifully balanced with peppery greens and radishes and sweet pea shoots.
Ingredients:
½ cup hazelnuts
1½ tablespoons Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon minced shallot
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cups peppery greens, such as arugula or shiso
2 cups sunflower shoots
2-3 Pink radishes, trimmed and very thinly sliced on a mandoline
1 fennel bulb, halved lengthwise, cored and very thinly sliced on a mandoline
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the hazelnuts in a pie plate and toast until they are fragrant and the skins blister, about 14 minutes. Transfer the toasted hazelnuts to a kitchen towel and let cool slightly, then vigorously rub the nuts together to remove the skins. Coarsely chop the nuts.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the Champagne vinegar with the Dijon mustard, honey and minced shallot. Add the extra-virgin olive oil and whisk until blended. Season the vinaigrette with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the arugula, sunflower shoots, radishes, fennel and chopped hazelnuts and toss well. Season with salt and pepper and serve right away.
Creamy Polenta Breakfast Bowls with Italian Sausage & Poached Eggs
A comforting, savory breakfast (or any-time meal) that celebrates the rustic flavors of the season.
Ingredients:
1 cup cornmeal or polenta
3 cups water
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons grey sea salt butter, plus more for serving
1 pound Italian sausage
4 large eggs
1 small onion, finely diced
1 carrot, finely diced (optional)
Sea Salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, or chives
Bella Luna wildflower honey, for drizzling
Method:
1. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Slowly whisk in the polenta and reduce heat to low. Stir often until thickened and tender, about 30–40 minutes. Stir in the buttermilk, butter, and a generous pinch of salt. Keep warm over low heat, adding more water as needed for a creamy consistency.
2. While the polenta cooks, crumble and brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Once golden, add onion (and carrot, if using) and cook until softened, 5–7 minutes. Season with pepper.
3. Bring a pot of water to a gentle simmer and add a splash of vinegar. Crack each egg into a small cup, then carefully slide it into the water. Cook for 3–4 minutes for soft yolks, or longer for firmer eggs.
4. Spoon warm polenta into bowls. Top with sausage and vegetable mixture, a poached egg, and a sprinkle of herbs. Finish with a small pat of butter and a light drizzle of wildflower honey.
Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta
A true homage to summer, this salad from The Splendid Table is cool, crisp and juicy.
Ingredients:
2 medium cucumbers, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1½ cups ripe summer melon, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
¼ cup mint leaves, torn
1 heaping tablespoon finely-chopped scallion tops
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon high-quality olive oil
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Sprinkle the cucumber with salt, roll up the pieces in a double thickness of paper towel and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Unwrap and pat dry.
2. Rub a serving bowl with the garlic. Add the cucumber, melon, mint, scallions, vinegar and 1 tablespoon of oil. Gently combine. Season to taste with more oil or vinegar, salt and pepper.
3. Top with the crumbled cheese and eat immediately.
Lavender-Infused Lemonade
This cool beverage is fragrant with summer lavender.
Ingredients:
Small handful lavender flowers, rinsed and cut from stem
1 cup sugar
2 cups boiling water
2-3 cups ice water
1½ cups freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Method:
1. Place lavender flowers in a medium bowl. Pour the sugar over the flowers and use your fingers to gently rub the flowers into the sugar. Pour the boiling water over the lavender sugar and stir with a spoon until the sugar has melted. Cover and let infuse for 30 minutes (or up to several hours).
2. Strain the lavender-infused simple syrup and pour into a serving carafe or pitcher. Stir in the lemon juice. Add another two cups of water. Taste and adjust for tartness. Add more lemon juice if too sweet, or add more sugar if too tart. Add ice and more water to desired level of concentration.
Cherry Tomato Salsa with Fresh Herbs
A pico de gallo-style salsa bright in flavor and combined with spring onions and mint.
Ingredients:
1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, washed and cut in half
2-3 spring onions, trimmed and finely diced
½-1 jalapeño pepper, depending on taste, seeds removed and finely chopped
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Sea salt
Method:
1. Combine tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno pepper in a medium bowl. Add herbs, then drizzle lime juice over the salsa. Season generously with sea salt, to taste. Allow to sit 10-20 minutes on the countertop for flavors to fully combine.
Bok Choy with Garlic & Ginger
Fresh ginger and fragrant garlic lend big flavor to sautéed bok choy greens.
Ingredients:
1 bunch bok choy
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
â…› cup dry white wine
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Start by trimming the stem off, just the end, to ensure that the bok choy cooks evenly. Separate out the leaves, keep the tender center intact and clean under running water. Drain.
2. Finely mince garlic. Heat olive oil in wok or frying pan. Add garlic and ginger to heated pan.
3. Turn the heat to medium-high. Let the ginger and garlic gently sizzle in the oil. When the aromatics become fragrant and light golden brown, add the bok choy leaves.
4. Toss very well to coat each leaf with the flavored oil for approximately 15 seconds. Pour in broth, water or wine. Immediately cover and let cook for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Polenta Cake with Stanley Prune Plums
This luscious cake is kissed with juicy plums and citrus peel.
Ingredients:
4 Stanley prune plums, pitted and cut into wedges
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup polenta or yellow cornmeal
1½ teaspoons baking powder
â…› teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
4 egg yolks, plus 2 full eggs
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon or orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
Crème fraîche for serving (optional)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease and flour bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan; line bottom with a 9-inch circle of parchment paper. Arrange plums on parchment in pan. Sprinkle brown sugar over the plums. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and beat until light. Add egg yolks and eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add lemon peel and vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in the flour mixture. Spoon batter over plums in pan and spread evenly.
4. Bake about 50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove sides of pan; cool cake completely. Invert cake onto serving platter; remove bottom of pan and parchment. If desired, serve with crème fraîche.