Olive Oil Fried Eggs
Olive oil adds extra flavor to these sunny side-up eggs.
Ingredients:
Eggs
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmery. Carefully crack 1 egg and drop into the pan, seasoning generously with salt and pepper.
2. Fry until whites are set and crispy around the edges, but yolk is still runny, about 3-4 minutes. Repeat with as many eggs as you please, adding in additional olive oil as needed.
Garlic & Ginger Green Beans
This zingy preparation will soon be a new favorite.
Ingredients:
1 pound green beans
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon water
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Method:
1. Blanch green beans in a large pot of boiling water for 5 minutes until just tender and then drain and cool the beans with a rinse of cold water.
2. In a large sauté pan heat the sesame and olive oils over medium heat until shimmering. Add the ginger root and garlic and sauté for 1 minute until both are soft and fragrant. Add in beans, soy sauce, water and red pepper flakes and cook until the liquid is dissolved. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Grilled Halloumi Kabobs with Sweet Red Peppers
The perfect accompaniment to this week’s baked orzo.
Ingredients:
5 ounces halloumi cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 sweet red peppers, seeded and sliced into 2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Wood or metal skewers
Method:
1. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high. (If using wooden skewers, place in a sheet pan and cover with water, and allow to soak while preparing the other ingredients.)
2. Thread cheese cubes onto the skewers, alternating with the red pepper slices. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon olive oil with a dash of salt and pepper, then brush each kabob on both sides with the mixture.
3. Grill each kabob, flipping occasionally, until the cheese is golden and the sweet peppers are softened and slightly charred.
4. Remove kabobs from the grill and transfer to a platter. Drizzle the entire dish with the additional 1 tablespoon olive oil and then sprinkle with the parsley.
Late Summer Vegetable Frittata
Packed with fingerling potatoes, frying peppers and leeks, this easy frittata boasts incredibly fresh flavor.
Ingredients:
8 eggs
1 pint fingerling potatoes, washed and thinly-sliced
4 frying peppers, washed, seeded and chopped
2 leeks, trimmed and thinly-sliced
1 cup spinach leaves, torn into bite-sized pieces
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced potatoes to the skillet and sauté for about 6 to 8 minutes, until tender but firm. Remove from skillet. Add another tablespoon oil, then add the peppers, leeks, spinach and garlic. Sauté for an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until the greens are just wilted. Season vegetables with salt and pepper. Remove from skillet.
3. In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs and thyme with a pinch of salt and pepper. Return the potatoes to the skillet, arranging in an even layer. Top with vegetable mixture and then pour eggs evenly over the vegetables. Drizzle olive oil around the edge of the pan to ensure easy removal.
4. Transfer to oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the eggs have completely set in the center. Serve straight out of the skillet, cut into wedges, or flip onto a serving plate.
Hard-Boiled Quail Eggs
Our no-fail method for perfectly hard-boiled quail eggs.
Tools:
Small saucepan
Water
Slotted spoon
Method:
1. Fill a small saucepan two-thirds full with water and bring to a boil. Add the eggs using a spoon. Do not overcrowd the pan.
2. Boil for 2½ to 5 minutes depending on your preference; at 2½ minutes, the yolks will still be runny and by 5 minutes they will be fully hard-boiled.
3. Remove eggs with a slotted spoon and cool down under cold running water or in a bowl filled with ice water. Peel very carefully.
Minted Cucumber Salad
Tossed with extra virgin olive oil and fresh mint, this cool salad is an easy summertime side.
Ingredients:
1-2 English cucumbers, sliced
½-1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
¼ cup chopped fresh mint
Method:
1. In a medium bowl, combine the cucumbers, salt, olive oil, ground pepper and mint. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Cover and let stand for at least 20 minutes. Serve at room temperature.
Spinach & Cheese Strata
Put this week’s bread loaf to good use with this spinach-kissed breakfast strata.
Ingredients:
10 ounces spinach, washed
1½ cups finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
8 cups cubed Pain au Levain bread
2 cups grated Gruyère cheese
1 cup finely grated Grana-style cheese
2¾ cups milk
9 large eggs
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Method:
1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add the spinach and cook, stirring constantly, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a colander and drain, pressing with a rubber spatula to release as much liquid as possible.
2. Cook onion in butter in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in spinach, then remove from heat.
3. Spread one third of bread cubes in a buttered 3-quart gratin dish or other shallow ceramic baking dish and top evenly with one third of spinach mixture. Sprinkle with one third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice (ending with cheeses).
4. Whisk together milk, eggs, mustard, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl and pour evenly over strata. Chill strata, covered with plastic wrap, at least 8 hours (for bread to absorb custard).
5. Preheat oven to 350°F. Let strata stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Bake strata, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Delicata Squash & Kale Salad
This hearty salad is also excellent topped with fresh apples!
Ingredients:
½ cup cubed Delicata squash
1 bunch Lacinato kale, ribs removed and finely sliced
¼ cup almonds, chopped
¼ cup crumbled Westward blue cheese
Extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Fresh lemon juice
Grana cheese, for shaving
Method:
1. Heat oven to 425°. Toss squash cubes in just enough olive oil to coat, and season with salt and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet, leaving space between the cubes. Roast in the oven until tender and caramelized, about 40 minutes, tossing with a spatula every 10-15 minutes. Toast the almonds on a baking sheet in the same oven until they start to smell nutty, tossing once, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
2. In a large mixing bowl, toss the kale with the almonds, blue cheese and squash. Season to taste with lemon juice and olive oil (approximately 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Place salad greens in large serving bowl. Garnish with shaved Grana cheese, if desired, and serve.
Pickled Quail Eggs
These stunning beauties are wonderful atop a stir-fry or served as a fun appetizer (just sprinkle with sea salt!).
Ingredients:
12 quail eggs
½ cup cider vinegar
½ cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon pickling spice
Method:
1. Combine the vinegar, water, sugar, measured salt, and pickling spice in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove the pan from the heat and let sit until the mixture cools to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place the eggs in a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Immediately remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let sit 3 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare an ice water bath by filling a 1 ½ quart sized bowl halfway with ice and water.
3. When the three minutes are up, transfer the eggs with a slotted spoon to the ice water bath. Let sit until the eggs are cold, about 5 minutes. Carefully crack and peel each egg and gently rinse under cold water to remove any residual shell pieces. Pat the eggs dry with a paper towel and transfer them to a glass pint jar with a tight-fitting lid; set aside.
4. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a 1- or 2-cup measuring cup with a spout. Pour the cooled pickling liquid into the strainer and discard the contents of the strainer. Pour the pickling liquid over the eggs and seal the jar. Refrigerate at least 24 hours and up to 1 week. Slice in half lengthwise to serve.