Summer Heirloom Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
This light and lovely pasta makes the best of summer heirlooms; we also recommend adding a dollop of creamy chevre to each serving!
Ingredients:
1 pound semolina pasta of your choice
1 pound Italian sausage
1 pound mixed cherry and heirloom tomatoes, cut in half for the cherry tomatoes, and then in bite-sized chunks for the larger heirlooms
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 tablespoons finely-chopped shallot
1 garlic clove, minced
Pinch red pepper flakes
¼ cup julienned basil leaves
Chevre cheese, for garnish
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large bowl, toss together the tomatoes, 2 tablespoons olive oil, red pepper flakes, shallot and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper to taste, and allow to sit while preparing the rest of the dish so that the flavors meld.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta to the water, stir gently and cook until al dente, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain.
3. In a large skillet, cook the Italian sausage over medium-high heat, crumbling into bite-sized pieces, until cooked through and no longer pink. Add the tomato mixture and the drained pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly to combine. Stir in the basil and season with additional salt if needed. Transfer to individual serving bowls and add a generous dollop of chevre cheese to each and drizzle again with olive oil before serving.
Roasted Apricots with Rosemary
Topped with a honeyed yogurt cream, these baked apricots make for a lovely summer dessert.
Ingredients:
10 apricots, washed and dried
3 large sprigs rosemary
½ vanilla pod (reserve the other half for the serving cream)
Zest of 1 orange
½ cup orange juice (from roughly 2 oranges)
3 tablespoons honey
¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
Honeyed yogurt cream:
1 cup Greek yogurt
½ cup heavy cream
Seeds from ½ vanilla pod
1 tablespoon runny honey
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Cut the apricots in half (leave the pit in – it looks nice and helps to keep the fruit from collapsing completely) and arrange, cut-side up on a baking dish large enough to accommodate them in one layer. Tuck the rosemary sprigs, ½ vanilla pod and the orange peel in and around the apricots, then pour the orange juice all over to moisten the apricots.
2. Drizzle honey all over and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, basting and gently shaking the baking dish from time to time to make sure the fruit doesn’t burn. The apricots are done when they are soft but have not collapsed completely.
3. To make the yogurt honey cream, combine all the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whip until soft waves form. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Transfer the apricots onto serving plates and drizzle over the sticky juices. Dollop a large spoonful of the yogurt honey cream on the side and scatter the toasted almonds on top.
Cabbage-Lime Slaw
This simple, flavorful slaw is wonderful piled on top of tacos!
Ingredients:
4 cups Caraflex cabbage, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 tablespoon lime juice
½ tablespoon honey
¼ teaspoon cayenne
Zest of 1 lime
Sea salt
1-2 tablespoons thinly sliced purple scallions
Method:
1. Combine the olive oil, vinegar, yogurt, lime zest, lime juice, honey and cayenne. Mix well. Gradually stir in the cabbage and season with salt to taste.
2. Set aside in the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve. Garnish with purple scallions.
How-To: Prep Fava Beans
Our quick guide to peeling and prepping fresh fava beans!
Ingredients:
1 pound fava beans
Method:
1. Peel: Pull off the top and “unzip” the seam of the bean pod. Open the pod and remove the beans. (There are usually 4 to 5 beans per pod.) The beans have a waxy outer coating, which you’ll need to remove.
2. Prep: Blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds, and then transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. The waxy coating will slip then right off.
3. Cook: From here, steam the beans until tender in a steamer basket or covered in the microwave, 3-5 minutes.
Heirloom 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.
Salade Niçoise
A classic from the esteemed Julia Child, this colorful salad can be customized to your liking.
Ingredients:
¾ pound green beans, trimmed
1 pound baby red potatoes
½ shallot, chopped
2 heirloom tomatoes, chopped, or 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in halves
4 cups salad greens
2 (6-7 ounce) cans tuna
½ cup Nicoise olives
3 hard-boiled eggs
3 tablespoons chopped herbs, such as parsley, oregano and French tarragon
2-3 teaspoons capers, drained and rinsed
Niçoise vinaigrette (see recipe)
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Add the green beans and cook for 2 minutes. Lift out with tongs and rinse with very cold water.
2. Return the water to a boil. Add the potatoes. Cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a small knife. Drain and transfer to a bowl.
3. As soon as the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel if desired and slice thickly. Add ½ cup of the vinaigrette and the shallot. With a rubber spatula, gently toss the warm potatoes with the Niçoise vinaigrette; set aside to cool. In another bowl, toss the beans with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette to coat them. In a third bowl, toss the tomatoes with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette to coat them.
4. On a large platter, arrange the lettuce. Add the potatoes, beans, and tomatoes. Top with tuna, and olives. Spoon some of the remaining dressing over the salad and sprinkle with the herbs and capers. Peel the eggs, pat them dry, and halve them. Garnish with peeled, hard-boiled eggs.
Variations: This recipe can be modified with an array of seasonal produce, it is especially wonderful with radishes or sweet peppers! You can also try substituting the canned tuna with seared Ahi steaks, or even grilled salmon.
Grilled Peaches with Almond Whipped Cream
Drizzled with honey and topped with toasted almonds, these peaches are simply stunning for dessert.
Ingredients:
4 peaches, halved
1 teaspoon melted butter
3 teaspoons honey, divided
2 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted
â…“ cup whipping cream
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 ½ tablespoons powdered sugar
Method:
1. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat.
2. In a small dish whisk together the melted butter and a teaspoon of honey. Cut the peaches in half and brush the melted honey butter on the cut side.
3. Place the peaches cut-side down onto the heated grill pan. Grill the peaches for about 2-3 minutes until softened and just slightly charred, and then remove and place them cut-side up onto a plate.
4. Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment or a hand mixer, add the whipping cream, almond extract, and powdered sugar and beat the whipped cream until stiff peaks form.
5. To serve, spoon about a tablespoon of the whipped cream on top of each peach half, then sprinkle on the sliced almonds and drizzle on the remaining 2 teaspoons of honey.
Charred Green Bean Salad
This simple, satisfying salad courtesy of chef Michael Symon always gets rave reviews!
Ingredients:
1 pound green beans, ends trimmed
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons fresh oregano, finely chopped
â…“ cup olive oil
â…“ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup sliced toasted almonds
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook at a rapid boil until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the green beans to an ice bath, then dry on a kitchen towel.
3. Add the green beans to a grill basket and place over indirect heat to char them slightly, about 5 minutes. You do not have to cover the grill. When they reach the char level you are looking for, transfer them to a serving platter.
4. Whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, mustard and oregano in a medium bowl. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly, then season with salt and pepper. Pour the oregano vinaigrette over the green beans while still warm, then sprinkle with the feta and almonds. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Grilled Cherry Salsa
This flavorful salsa is excellent on top of pork tenderloin, or served with crackers and whipped ricotta!
Ingredients:
1½ cups cherries, pitted
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup diced shallot
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Method:
1. Heat the grill to high.
2. In a medium bowl, toss the cherries with oil until well coated. Carefully place the cherries onto the grill grates (or use a grilling basket) and grill until lightly charred in spots and tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. Use tongs to return the cherries to the bowl. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. Once the cherries have cooled, add the onion, garlic, vinegar and cilantro. Mix well, then season with salt and pepper.
Niçoise Vinaigrette
Julia Child’s famous vinaigrette, crafted from lemon juice and Dijon mustard.
Ingredients:
1 lemon, zested and juiced (at least 2 tablespoons)
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
1 tablespoon finely minced shallots
1 cup excellent olive oil
Method:
1. Combine lemon zest, juice, mustard and shallots in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking until all ingredients are combined and dressing is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.