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.
Sweet Corn Fritters
These perfectly-crisp fritters are sure to be a new fall favorite!
Ingredients:
3 cups freshly-shucked corn kernels
2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs of your choice, such as parsley, basil and chives
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
¾ cup heavy cream
Vegetable oil, for frying
Sliced scallions, for serving
Crème fraîche, for serving
Method:
1. In a large bowl, stir together the corn kernels, flour, sugar, baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir in the eggs, herbs and heavy cream until the batter is well-combined.
2. Line a plate with paper towels. Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan with vegetable oil and place it over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, scoop 2- to 3-tablespoon mounds of the corn batter into the pan, spreading it lightly into a flat, circular shape. Cook the fritters for 2 to 3 minutes, then flip them once and cook them an additional 3 minutes until they’re golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the fritters to the paper towel-lined plate, season them immediately with salt and repeat the cooking process with the remaining batter, adding more oil to the pan as needed.
3. Garnish the corn fritters with scallions and a generous dollop of crème fraîche.
Sautéed Summer Squash
So simple, so flavorful: These summer beauties are excellent served over grilled crostini, tossed into pastas, or scattered over pizza.
Ingredients:
6-8 mixed summer squash, washed, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh green garlic
2 tablespoons freshly-chopped herbs of your choice, such as parsley, basil and mint
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil until shimmering, then add in summer squash and green garlic. Cook, tossing frequently until squash is tender and soft, and garlic is fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper, then toss with fresh herbs.
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
⅛ 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.
Purple Kohlrabi & Turnip Slaw
This crisp, zippy slaw is a wonderful accompaniment to grilled meats, or even served atop burgers.
Ingredients:
1 pound kohlrabi (about 2 small heads, leaves included)
1 cup small turnips, peeled and quartered
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon peanut oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Separate the stems from kohlrabi bulbs, trim, and discard the tough bottoms of the stems. Half the leaves lengthwise, then thinly shred crosswise. Trim root end from bulb and peel away tough outer layer; halve lengthwise.
2. Fit a food processor with a shredding blade (or use a box grater) and shred the kohlrabi bulb and turnips.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together lime juice, peanut oil, honey, and sesame oil; season with salt and pepper. Add green onions, kohlrabi leaves and bulb, and radish to bowl; toss to coat. Let stand at least 15 minutes.
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.
Apricot Cobbler
This classic apricot cobbler combines sweet, sun-ripened fruit with a buttery, golden topping for a simple summer dessert that’s best served warm with a scoop of ice cream.
Ingredients:
Filling:
6 cups fresh apricots (about 2½–3 lbs), pitted and sliced
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
½ cup whole milk (or buttermilk for a slight tang)
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apricots, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Toss gently to coat. Pour into a 9×13-inch baking dish or similar-sized casserole.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the milk and stir just until combined; the dough will be thick and slightly sticky.
3. Drop spoonfuls of the topping evenly over the fruit. It doesn’t need to cover it completely—leave some gaps for the fruit to bubble through. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Cool slightly before serving warm, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Grilled Spring Onions with Lemon & Herbs
This recipe elevates green onions from garnish to a stunning side dish.
Bright yet smoky from their time on the grill, these spring onions are excellent atop a pile of pasta!
Ingredients:
4-6 spring onions, trimmed of roots and tough outer ends, and rinsed
1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
- Heat the grill to high. Place onions on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil to coat. Squeeze the juice of half the lemon over the top then sprinkle with the pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Toss again to spread out the seasonings.
Grill onions until the whites are soft and the tops go brown. Remove from the grill and squeeze a little more lemon juice over top and garnish with the thyme.
Roasted Asparagus with Fried Duck Eggs
This easy sheet pan dish is topped with bright lemon juice.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds asparagus, trimmed of tough stems
3 duck eggs
Juice of ½ lemon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Cut the asparagus into 2-inch pieces. Put the oven rack in the center of the oven, about 5 inches below the heat source, and preheat the broiler.
2. Film the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil. Place the asparagus in the pan and season with salt and pepper, tossing to coat asparagus in oil. Spread out evenly and pop the pan in the oven under the broiler, cooking about 3 minutes or until the asparagus just starts to brown.
3. Being careful not to touch the pan’s handle, use the spatula to push the asparagus to the edges of the pan, leaving the center empty. Carefully break the eggs into that space. Broil 1 more minute, until egg whites are set. Remove the pan from the oven.
4. Squeeze the lemon juice over everything in the pan and give the pan another sprinkle of salt. To serve, top a generous helping of asparagus with a duck egg and serve with a side of toasted bread to sop up the excess yolk.
Variation: This dish is also lovely topped with a pat of fresh spring herb butter. To prepare combine, ¼ cup room temperature butter with 2 tablespoons of mixed, chopped herbs and a sprinkle of sea salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
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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