Vegetable Rice Soup with Sweet Ground Chile Pepper
This soup is incredibly hearty and healthy, full of beautiful vegetables, mushrooms and tender greens.
Ingredients:
1 cup F&L rice blend
2 cups chicken stock
5 cups water
2-3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 cup Cipollini onions, peeled and chopped
1 leek, roots and tough green ends removed, then chopped
2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cups French fingerling potatoes, scrubbed and chopped
1 cup dried wild mushrooms, reconstituted and sautéed (see enclosed method)
2 large handfuls combined red baby kale and Swiss chard leaves, torn
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon sweet ground chile pepper
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large stock pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, then add chopped onion and garlic and sauté until onion is soft and translucent and garlic is fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add in chopped carrots, leeks and potatoes and continue to sauté until vegetables are slightly softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add in the rice, chicken stock and water, seasoning with the fresh thyme and sweet ground chile pepper, plus sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
2. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, until rice and vegetables are fully cooked and tender.
3. Turn off heat and add the wild mushrooms and greens to the soup, stirring to combine until greens are slightly wilted. Check for seasoning and add additional salt and pepper as desired.
Rice Pilaf with Roasted Root Vegetables & Wild Mushrooms
This flavorful pilaf is simmered in our rich chicken stock and topped with roasted veggies and sautéed wild mushrooms.
Ingredients:
2 cups F&L rice blend
4 cups chicken stock
2 Cipollini onions, peeled and diced
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon sweet ground chile pepper
2 cups Roasted Root Vegetables (see recipe)
½ cup reconstituted and sautéed dried wild mushrooms (see method)
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. In a medium saucepan fitted with a lid, melt the butter over medium heat, then add diced onion and garlic and sauté until onion is soft and translucent and garlic is fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the rice and the sweet ground chile pepper, plus a healthy pinch each of salt and pepper. Toss together well with a slotted spoon and cook for another 2-3 minutes to toast the rice and spice mixture.
2. Add in the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a light simmer. Cover and simmer until stock has been absorbed and rice is just cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and let the rice sit covered to steam, about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in the parsley. Transfer to a large serving platter and top with the roasted root vegetables and sautéed wild mushrooms.
Roasted Root Vegetables
This simple, satisfying recipe works well with any number of root vegetables—use whatever you have in your crisper!
Ingredients:
2 cups carrots, scrubbed and sliced into 1-inch pieces
2 cups parsnips, scrubbed and sliced into 1-inch pieces
2 cups rutabagas, scrubbed and sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 cup cauliflower, scrubbed and sliced into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. Heat the oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
2. Using your fingers, toss the vegetables with the oil and a large pinch of sea salt in a bowl and then transfer to baking sheet.
3. Put the vegetables in the oven and roast for 20 minutes. Flip them gently with a spatula and continue to roast until the vegetables are browned and crispy, another 10 to 20 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.
Beer-Braised Cabbage & Celery Root
This flavorful recipe from Emeril Lagasse gets an extra kick from a sauté in dark beer.
Ingredients:
½ pound bacon*, chopped
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2½ cups chopped cabbage
1½ cups chicken stock
Heaping ½ cup celery root, peeled and thinly-sliced
1¼ cups dark beer, such as Stout
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large, heavy sauté pan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until golden and the fat is rendered. Add the onions and sauté, stirring, for 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
2. Add the cabbage, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until cabbage begins to soften. Add the chicken stock and beer, and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes, or until liquid has mostly been absorbed. Lastly, add the celery root and cook, stirring, until it is tender. Remove from heat and serve.
*As a substitute for the bacon, sauté the onions and other vegetables in 2 tablespoons butter.
Ricotta Apple Cake
Fresh ricotta adds a light, airy touch to this classic Italian apple cake.
Ingredients:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 large eggs
1¼ cup flour
1 cup fresh ricotta
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
Zest of 1 lemon
2 sweet apples, such as Macintosh, Candy Crisp or Liberty, peeled and grated
Confectioner’s sugar for serving
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Butter and flour a 9 or 10-inch spring form pan.
2. Cream the butter and sugar in a standing mixer until light and fluffy. On the lowest speed, add the eggs one at a time. Slowly add the flour, salt, ricotta, lemon zest, baking powder and apple.
3. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cake is golden brown and the sides start to pull away from the pan. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn the cake out of the pan and cool completely on the rack. Sift powder sugar over top and serve with more freshly-sliced apples.
Fontina ‘Fonduta’ with Duck Eggs
Serve this classic Italian-style fondue with crudité and warm crostini for an enticing appetizer.
Ingredients:
1/3 pound Fontina-style cheese, cut into ½-inch pieces
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-size pieces
2 duck egg yolks
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Toasted bread crostini, for dipping
Assorted sliced vegetable crudité, for dipping
Optional:
Poached duck eggs
Thinly shaved fresh truffle
Method:
1. In a large saucepan, combine the Fontina, milk and cream and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the cheese starts to melt, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the butter and egg yolks and cook over low heat, stirring, until very smooth, 3 minutes longer. Remove from the heat and season lightly with salt and pepper.
2. Transfer the fonduta to a warmed serving bowl or fondue pot and sprinkle with additional sea salt, if desired. Serve immediately with the toasted ciabatta. Also delicious served in individual bowls with a poached duck egg in the center of each. Optional: add thinly shaved fresh truffles on top.
Duxelles Pasta with Olive Oil-Fried Duck Eggs
This light, creamy pasta is a show-stopper, topped with mushrooms duxelles and fried duck eggs.
Ingredients:
1 pound pasta
4 duck eggs
¾ cup F&L duxelles
2-3 tablespoons butter
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 tablespoons freshly-chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Freshly-grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of heavily-salted water to a boil. Drop in pasta and cook according to package directions, or until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon each of butter and olive oil. Set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat additional 2 tablespoons olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmery. Carefully crack 1 duck egg and drop into the pan, seasoning generously with salt and pepper. Fry until whites are set and crispy around the edges, but yolk is still runny, about 3-4 minutes. Repeat with remaining eggs.
3. Toss pasta with remaining tablespoon of butter, duxelles and fresh parsley. Pile pasta into 4 individual serving bowls and top each with a fried duck egg. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Kale & Potato Soup
This rich, traditional Portuguese soup—called caldo verde (green broth)—would be a lovely starter to this week’s Italian pasta supper.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Lacinato kale
2 pounds baking potatoes
2 quarts water
Olive oil
Salt
Method:
1. Remove stems from the kale, wash the leaves and cut them into a chiffonade. (You should have about 6-8 cups of kale). Peel potatoes and chop very fine.
2. Bring water to a boil in a heavy sauce pan and add salt. Add chopped potatoes, return to a boil and cook for 2 minutes, covered. Add the kale and cook 2 minutes more. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and needed. If desired, top hot soup with a splash of olive oil.
Variations: You can pass this soup through a food mill and serve it as a purée; moisten it with chicken stock instead of water; or enrich it with additional vegetables. One excellent variation is to stew sliced shallots and garlic until very soft and caramelized, then purée with the kale and potatoes.
Sautéed Kale with Garlic and Vinegar
Tossed with just a hint of garlic and vinegar, this Vitamin K-rich dish is sublime served with pasta. (Hint: This basic method works equally well for all leafy greens!)
Ingredients:
1 bunch kale
2 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. Strip kale leaves off their stems and cut away and discard the tough midribs. Chop kale coarsely and wash in water. Drain well, but do not spin dry.
2. Heat a large sauté pan and add olive and enough kale to cover the bottom of the pan. Allow greens to wilt down before adding more. When all the kale has been added, season with salt and pepper, stir in the garlic, and cover the pan. (The greens will take anywhere from a few to 15 minutes to cook, depending on their maturity.)
Celeriac Mash
This simple method from Jamie Oliver allows celeriac to shine; this hearty winter vegetable is a wonderful substitute for potatoes in recipes.
Ingredients:
1 celeriac, peeled
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup fresh thyme, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3-4 tablespoons water or chicken stock
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Trim celeriac by slicing about ½-inch off bottom end. Slice remaining root into ½-inch pieces.
2. Place medium-sized sauce pan over medium-high heat, then add olive oil to heat. Add celeriac, garlic, thyme and salt and pepper, stirring to coat in oil. Pan fry for about 5 minutes to give celeriac a little color.
3. Turn heat down to low, then add water or chicken stock, place lid on top and cook for about 25 minutes, until celeriac is tender and liquid is absorbed. Season to taste, then stir roughly with wooden spoon to slightly smash the celeriac into rustic chunks. Serve warm.