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.
Pan-Fried Mushrooms
Crispy, garlicky, and delicious, these mushrooms make an incredible side dish.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 12 ounces mushrooms, such as this week’s blue Oyster and King Trumpet varieties, cut into evenly sized pieces
- 3 garlic cloves smashed
- 5 sprigs of thyme
- 2 tablespoons grass-fed butter
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium high heat.
- Spread the mushrooms out in a single layer in the pan. Cook, undisturbed for 3-5 minutes until they start to brown. Stir the mushrooms and cook for another 3-5 minutes until browned all over.
- Add the butter, garlic, and thyme to the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Cook for another 5-6 minutes, spooning the ghee/butter over the mushrooms until they are dark brown and slightly crispy.
- Remove the thyme springs and season the mushrooms with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
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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.
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.
Buttered Radishes with Poached Eggs
Tender radishes and shallots are topped with a silky poached egg for the perfect finish.
Ingredients:
1 bunch radishes
1 tablespoon butter
2 shallots, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon assorted chopped herbs, such as parsley, chives and thyme
2 large slices of toasted bread
2 eggs
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a skillet, heat butter over medium low heat. Add in the shallots and let cook it begins to soften, 2-3 minutes. Slice radishes in half and add to butter. Season well with salt. Cover and let cook until radishes are tender, 5-6 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
2. While radishes cook, poach the eggs.
3. To serve, place toast on a plate, generously cover with radish mixture, then sprinkle with herbs and top with a poached egg each.
Fennel & Lemon Relish
This crisp slaw from Alice Waters’ The Art of Simple Food II is excellent tossed with roasted vegetables, or even served as part of a charcuterie board.
Ingredients:
2 lemons
2-3 fennel bulbs
1 shallot
2-3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
- Using a box grater or rasp, zest both lemons, then reserve the zest and fruit.
- Peel and finely dice the shallot. Place shallot in a small bowl with the lemon zest, juice of 1 lemon, Champagne vinegar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix well and let sit for a few minutes to macerate. Whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil. Taste for salt and acid and adjust as needed.
- Trim the fronds and dark green stalks from the fennel bulb. Cut the bulb in half lengthwise and then into a fine dice. Toss with salt to taste and stir into the lemon-shallot mixture. Remove all the remaining peel from the remaining lemon and cut the segments from their membranes. Cut segments into a medium dice and gently stir them into the relish. Let relish sit for 5 minutes before serving.
How-To: Reconstitute Dried Mushrooms
Follow these simple steps to reconstitute the beautiful mushrooms found in this week’s box.
Ingredients:
Dried wild mushrooms
Tools:
Medium saucepan
Handheld strainer
2-3 cups warm water, stock or wine
Method:
1. Place mushrooms in a medium saucepan. (Dried mushrooms will reconstitute to 6-8 times their dry weight.)
2. Cover mushrooms with warm water, stock or wine. Bring to a boil, then turn off heat. Allow to soak in liquid for at least 15-20 minutes; gradually the mushrooms will begin to soak in moisture and plump.
3. Drain mushrooms of liquid with the strainer. Reserve the flavorful soaking liquid for use in soup, stocks and more! Briefly sauté the reconstituted mushrooms in a little butter or olive oil, add a splash of white wine if desired, add salt and pepper to taste, and then use according to your recipe.
Rainbow Tomato Salad
Simple to make, but big on taste, this salad is all about the quality of the ingredients, so use the best you have.
Ingredients:
4 ripe rainbow slicing tomatoes
3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
3 tablespoons high-quality olive oil
1 shallot, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh herbs, such as parsley and marjoram
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together red-wine vinegar and olive oil; stir in shallot and herbs.
2. Core tomatoes; cut each into 8 wedges and place in a serving bowl. Drizzle with dressing, and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Pickled Ramps
A lovely way to preserve and enjoy these rare spring ramps for weeks to come.
Ingredients:
8 ounces ramps
2 dried red chiles
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 cup white wine vinegar
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Method:
1. Trim greens from ramps; reserve for another use—like pesto! Pack bulbs into a heatproof 1-pint jar along with dried red chiles, bay leaves, fennel seeds and black peppercorns.
2. Bring white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve. Pour over ramps to cover. Seal jar. Let cool, then chill.
Spring Pasta with Morels, Ramps & Fromage Blanc
Earthy morels, wild ramps, and creamy fromage blanc come together in this springtime pasta that’s as elegant as it is easy.
Ingredients:
8 ounces Lagana Vesuvio pasta (or similar curly shape)
1 cup fresh morel mushrooms, cleaned and halved lengthwise
1 bunch ramps (bulbs and greens), cleaned and chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
â…“ cup dry white wine (optional)
½ cup fromage blanc
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lemon zest, to finish
Fresh herbs like tarragon or parsley, finely chopped, to garnish
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook Vesuvio pasta until just al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain and set aside.
2. In a wide skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add morels and cook for about 5 minutes until they’re tender and lightly browned. Add ramp bulbs and cook for another 2 minutes, then stir in ramp greens and cook just until wilted.
3. Add the white wine to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits. Let it reduce for 1–2 minutes. Lower heat to medium-low and stir in the fromage blanc until it melts into a creamy sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water as needed to thin the sauce slightly.
4. Toss in the cooked pasta and gently fold to coat with the sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of lemon zest for brightness. Serve warm, garnished with chopped herbs.