Braised Red Radishes with Shallots
Tender and juicy, these beautiful radishes are accented by fresh parsley and balsamic vinegar.
Ingredients:
1 bunch radishes
3 large shallots
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
½ cup chicken stock or water
½ cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Thoroughly wash radishes. On a cutting board, trim each radish top, leaving about ½-inch of the green stem for color. Slice each radish in half from top to bottom. Peel shallots and slice into thin rings.
2. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once it has melted, add the shallots and cook, stirring, until they begin to brown slightly. Add the radishes, placing each cut-side down in the skillet. Let them cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes or until the bottoms just start to color.
3. Add the balsamic vinegar and the water or stock (the liquid should just come up around the sides of the radishes). Cover, lower heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
4. Remove the cover and continue to simmer for about 3-4 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced into a syrupy sauce. Add the parsley and sauté for about a minute, until wilted.
Warm Beet Salad with Cara Cara Oranges & Chevre
Topped with tangy goat cheese and juicy orange slices, this colorful salad is a true springtime pick-me-up.
Ingredients:
Roasted beets, sliced and still warm from the oven
1 Cara Cara Orange
½ cup crumbled fresh chevre
¼ cup toasted hazelnuts or pecans, chopped
Fresh-cracked pepper
For the dressing:
½ cup high-quality olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
A large pinch of this week’s La Boîte spice blend
1 clove garlic, crushed
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Whisk together all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl, then toss about half of the dressing with the warm beets.
2. Using a sharp paring knife, cut the tops and bottoms off the orange. Stand the orange up and slice to remove the peel and membrane. Then, slice it crosswise into thin wheels.
3. On a serving platter, arrange the beet slices and then top with the orange slices. Drizzle with additional vinaigrette as desired, then top the salad with the crumbled chevre and toasted nuts.
Variation: This salad is also lovely served atop a bed of baby spinach greens.
Roasted Beet Salad with Mesclun Greens & Crumbled Chevre
Topped with a light vinaigrette and roasted pumpkin seeds, this salad is both colorful and satisfying.
Ingredients:
Roasted beets, sliced and still warm from the oven (see recipe)
2-3 cups Mesclun greens, washed and dried
½ cup crumbled chevre cheese
½ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
½ cup high-quality olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 small clove garlic, crushed
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. To prepare vinaigrette: Whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic together, seasoning with fresh ground pepper to taste.
2. To assemble the salad: Arrange Mesclun greens on a large platter and then top with beet slices. Top with roasted pumpkin seeds and crumbled chevre, then drizzle with the vinaigrette. Top with additional ground pepper to taste.
Roasted Balsamic Radicchio
This incredibly-simple method produces tender, flavorful wedges fit for serving alongside your favorite protein.
Ingredients:
2 large heads of radicchio (about 1 pound total), halved through core end, each half cut into large wedges
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
Balsamic vinegar (for drizzling)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 450°. Rinse radicchio wedges in cold water; gently shake off excess water (do not dry completely). Place radicchio in large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with thyme, salt, and pepper; toss to coat.
2. Arrange radicchio wedges, cut side up, on rimmed baking sheet. Roast until wilted, about 12 minutes. Turn over and roast until tender, about 8 minutes longer.
3. Arrange radicchio on platter, drizzle with balsamic vinegar, and serve.
