Grilled Asparagus with Classic Gremolata
This healthy, easy dish is a classic way to serve asparagus in the Italian region of Lombardy—and it only takes a few minutes to put together.
Ingredients:
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
¼ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 teaspoons finely chopped lemon zest
2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Method:
1. To make the gremolata, finely chop the garlic, parsley and lemon zest together on a cutting board until well combined. Transfer to a bowl. (You can prepare the gremolata an hour or two before you cook the asparagus.)
2. Steam or boil the asparagus in salted water until tender, four to five minutes. Remove from the heat, and toss with the gremolata. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix together the lemon juice and olive oil, and drizzle over the asparagus. Serve hot or warm.
Simple Roasted Romanesco Cauliflower
So simple, so stunning: Use this basic roasting method as a jumping off point for enjoying this crunchy, mellow vegetable.
Ingredients:
1 pound romanesco, cut into wedges
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ lemon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Toss romanesco with oil, salt, and pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, turning halfway through, until golden and tender, about 20 minutes. Squeeze over a few tablespoons of juice from the lemon half and season with more salt and pepper as needed.
Baked Delicata Squash
Tossed with cream and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, this beautiful side also from The Glorious Vegetables of Italy enhances the sweet flavor of autumn squash.
Ingredients:
2 Delicata squash, halved, seeded and cut in half crosswise to yield 4 total pieces
¼ cup heavy cream
¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Pinch grated nutmeg
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Arrange the pieces of squash, cut-side up, on a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle cream over squash pieces and use a pastry brush to spread evenly around. Season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle each piece with a little nutmeg and then a sprinkle of the Parmigiano.
3. Bake squash for 30-40 minutes, basting once or twice during cooking. The squash is done when cream is thickened and lightly browned, and flesh is tender. Transfer to platter and serve immediately.
Pepper, Fennel & Onion Relish
Jimmy Nardello peppers lends themselves perfectly to this classic trio—an excellent condiment-style topping for sandwiches, scrambled eggs or even crostini!
Ingredients:
4 Jimmy Nardello peppers, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 fennel bulbs, trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 red onion, or 2-3 Tropea onions, or a combination of the two, peeled and chopped
¼ cup olive oil
Sea salt
Method:
1. Preheat broiler.
2. Toss together all ingredients with ½ teaspoon salt in a large shallow baking pan. Broil 4 inches from heat until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Turn over and stir, then broil 8 to 10 minutes more. Serve sprinkled with fennel fronds.
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.
Polish Sausage, Cabbage & Potato Stew
This dish is perfect for a crisp fall evening, filling the kitchen with its rich, savory aroma!
Ingredients:
1 pound Polish sausage links, poached in water and then sliced into diagonal rounds
1 medium green cabbage, chopped
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional, for extra flavor)
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Method:
1. Heat the olive oil or butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside. In the same pot, add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the cabbage, potatoes, caraway seeds (if using), salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the cabbage starts to soften.
2. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
3. Return the browned sausage to the pot and simmer for another 5-10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy this cozy, savory stew with a slice of crusty bread on the side.
Potato-Leek Soup
This classic Julia Child recipe is always a home run; serve this with slices of this week’s Beecher’s cheese bread.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound baby red potatoes, peeled and cut in half if on the larger side
3 large leeks (1 pound), cleaned and thinly sliced
6 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup crème fraîche
â…“ cup minced parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat the oil in a large (6-plus quart) stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leek and potato. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have begun to soften and brown slightly, about 5-10 minutes (time will vary greatly depending on the surface area of the bottom of your pot).
2. Add the stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
3. Blend until smooth, either using an immersion blender or by carefully transferring to a blender in batches.
4. Add the cream, and season to taste with salt and lemon juice.
5. Ladle into bowls, and garnish with a dollop of crème fraîche and a healthy sprinkling of minced parsley.
Warm Radicchio & Pear Salad with Honey Vinaigrette
This elegant warm salad celebrates fall’s sweetest contrasts: caramelized pears, toasty nuts, and the gentle bite of radicchio drizzled in honey.
Ingredients:
1 head radicchio, cut into 6 wedges through the core
2 ripe pears, cored and sliced into thick wedges
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Bella Luna wildflower honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup toasted walnuts or hazelnuts, roughly chopped
¼ cup shaved Gruyère (or blue cheese, if preferred)
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Arrange radicchio and pear wedges on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 12–15 minutes, turning once, until the edges caramelize and the pears are tender.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, Dijon, and vinegar. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Arrange the warm radicchio and pears on a serving platter. Drizzle generously with the honey vinaigrette, then top with toasted nuts and shaved Gruyère. Serve warm or at room temperature, with a hunk of Gruyère bread or alongside your favorite fall main.
Cranberry-Herb Compound Butter
This festive, jewel-toned spread is an all-star: Melt it over roasted vegetables, rub it on your turkey to give it a beautifully burnished skin, or slather it onto warm English muffins for an instant holiday upgrade.
Cider-Braised Beets
These delightful beets from Rick Rodgers’ The Big Book of Sides are sure to be a new favorite.
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh apple cider
1 bunch beets, green tops removed, peeled and cut into ½-inch-rounds
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons finely-chopped fresh tarragon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine 1½ cups water, the cider and butter in a large, deep, non-reactive skillet. Add the beets and enough water, if needed, to barely cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Reduce the heat to medium and cover the skillet with the lid ajar. Cook at a brisk simmer until the beets are just tender when pierced with the tip of a small, sharp knife, about 20 minutes. Season the beets to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beets to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the tarragon and serve.