Sweet Corn & Roasted Potato Salad with Fresh Basil
This room temperature salad will be a hit at your next barbecue. (Plus, it’s a snap to prep ahead!)
Ingredients:
3 pounds fingerling potatoes, scrubbed and halved or quartered if large
¼ cup minced parsley
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups sweet corn kernels, cut from the cob
½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 bunch fresh basil leaves, chopped
¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
For dressing:
½ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Place the potatoes in a heavy roasting pan, drizzle with olive oil, stir to coat. Salt and pepper generously and add chopped parsley. Roast the potatoes until tender and starting to brown, turning once or twice, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.
2. When potatoes have cooled, combine together with the corn kernels and sun-dried tomatoes.
3. For the dressing, combine the ½ cup of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Toss the potato mixture enough dressing to coat lightly. Stir in the basil and feta cheese gently, season with salt and pepper and garnish with toasted pine nuts. Serve at room temperature.
Stewed Romano Beans with Tomatoes
Braising the beans lends them a beautiful texture without sacrificing any of their gorgeous color!
Ingredients:
1½ pounds Romano beans, trimmed and cut in 2- to 3-inch lengths
1 cup grated or chopped peeled tomatoes (about 3/4 pound)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large red onion, finely chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup chopped fresh dill
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Feta cheese for topping
Cooked pasta or grains, such as bulgur, quinoa, polenta or brown rice (optional)
Method:
1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a wide, lidded skillet or Dutch oven and add onion and a pinch of salt. Cook gently without browning, stirring often, until tender and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for another minute, until fragrant.
2. Stir in Romano beans, tomatoes and half the dill. Add ½ cup water, bring to a simmer, season with salt and pepper, cover and simmer 20 minutes, until beans are tender. Stir in remaining dill and olive oil and simmer another 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.
3. Serve hot, warm or room temperature, with feta sprinkled over the top. If serving as a main dish, serve over cooked grains such as bulgur, quinoa, polenta or brown rice, or toss with pasta.
Cucumber Melon Salad with Feta
A true homage to summer, this salad from The Splendid Table is cool, crisp and juicy.
Ingredients:
2 medium cucumbers, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1½ cups ripe summer melon, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
¼ cup mint leaves, torn
1 heaping tablespoon finely-chopped scallion tops
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon high-quality olive oil
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Sprinkle the cucumber with salt, roll up the pieces in a double thickness of paper towel and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Unwrap and pat dry.
2. Rub a serving bowl with the garlic. Add the cucumber, melon, mint, scallions, vinegar and 1 tablespoon of oil. Gently combine. Season to taste with more oil or vinegar, salt and pepper.
3. Top with the crumbled cheese and eat immediately.
Summery September Recipes
We might have turned over the page to the month of September, but the gardens continue to ripen with an abundance of late-summer gems, from luscious heirloom and cherry tomatoes to ripe, juicy melons and peaches. Also including zucchini, sweet peppers, cucumbers and Patty Pan squash, plus a beautiful bounty of herbs and greens, this week’s lineup is accented by such provisions as Pain au Levain bread, Italian olive oil and flaky sea salt, Harmony Field’s sheep’s milk feta and chicken eggs. Enjoy!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Baked Feta with Honey
A kick of honey lends a sweet touch to the salty cheese; serve with grilled bread crostini!
Summer Peach & Heirloom Tomato Salad
Incredibly fresh and light, this colorful salad is accented by a robust heirloom tomato vinaigrette.
Grilled Heirloom Tomato Vinaigrette
In addition to this week’s salad, this bright and robust dressing is wonderful tossed with pasta, or drizzled over steamed or grilled vegetables.
Cucumber & Melon Salad with Basil
Juicy and incredibly crisp, this salad always receives rave reviews.
Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone, Pistachios & Balsamic Glaze
Peaches off the grill are a true summer delight—we particularly love this salty, sticky-sweet topping.
