Smoky Bacon, Sweet Onion & Chanterelle Mushroom Crostata
The show-stopping crostata makes for a delicious entrée; just serve with a side salad of summer greens.
Ingredients:
F&L crostata dough, rolled into a 12-inch circle, wrapped in plastic and chilled in the fridge
4 slices bacon
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
½ pound Chanterelle mushrooms, trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 large sweet onion, such as Walla Walla, thinly sliced, rinsed, and patted dry
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
3 tablespoons dry white wine
2 tablespoons heavy cream
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
¼ cup finely grated Parmesan
Leaves from 2 thyme sprigs
Method:
1. To prepare the filling: Place bacon in a heavy skillet and cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crispy and golden brown on both sides. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, let cool and then finely chop. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the skillet and then add the olive oil, before adding the mushrooms, onions and garlic; season lightly with salt. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring and scraping bottom of skillet, until it evaporates, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in cream and cook, stirring, until mostly absorbed. Remove from heat; stir in bacon, pepper (to taste), walnuts, 2 tablespoons cheese and thyme.
2. Remove the dough from the fridge and let stand on counter for a few minutes, until it’s pliable enough to lift and fold without cracking. Preheat oven to 400° with a rack positioned in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment and transfer the crostata dough to the sheet. Scrape filling onto dough using a spatula, spread into a 9-inch circle. Lift the border of the dough and fold over filling, crimping as you go to create a crust.
3. Bake until the crust is deeply golden and then filling is hot, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack and sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons cheese over the filling, and if desired, the crust. Drizzle with oil, if desired. Let cool about 10 minutes or let cool to room temperature, then cut into wedges and serve.
Summer Grilling Recipes
Honey Sweet corn to smoky-spicy peppers, this week’s array of local summer treasures invites you to bust out the barbecue and get to grilling. Highlighted by other summery produce such as zucchini, cucumbers, melon, Walla Walla sweet onions and a plethora of sun-ripened heirloom tomatoes, plus fresh focaccia bread, fragrant herbs and edible flowers, this box is fit for lingering on the patio, all the way down to the gourmet s’mores kit to enjoy at night’s end.
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Grilled Summer Vegetable Focaccia Sandwich
This satisfying sammie is extremely adaptable: Tuck in some grilled chicken, add a little spicy salami or throw in even more veggies.
Lemon-Herb Mayonnaise
In addition to a sandwich spread, this zingy mayo is also fantastic on grilled corn (trust us!).
Grilled Corn & Poblano Salad
Smoky, a little spicy and very summery, this salad with a snap to prepare.
Grilled Potato Salad with Sweet Corn, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Fresh Basil
The combination of sweet corn and grilled potatoes is a hit here.
Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta
A true homage to summer, this salad from The Splendid Table is cool, crisp and juicy.
Zucchini Ribbons with Lemon & Basil
This incredibly fresh side from Alice Waters’ Art of Simple Food II is seasoned with just the right amount of fragrant basil and zesty lemon.
Pear Crostata with Blueberries
This rustic tart is fantastic served for dessert—and then breakfast the next day.
Pear Crostata with Blueberries
This rustic tart is fantastic served for dessert—and then breakfast the next day.
Ingredients:
2 pears
½ cup blueberries
¼ cup all purpose flour plus 1 tablespoon
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 egg white, beaten
1 premade or store-bought pie dough crust
2 tablespoons raw sugar
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Roll pie crust into an 11-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a sheet pan.
2. For the filling, cut pears in wedges and place them in a bowl. Toss them with the flour, sugar and salt. Fan the pears on the dough circle leaving a 1½-inch border.
3. Sprinkle blueberries on top of pears. Fold over in sections. Use egg wash as glue as you work in sections around the dough. Spread remaining egg wash over folded dough. Dot the crostata filling with butter.
Sprinkle raw sugar over the entire tart. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.
