Eggplant Caponata
This traditional Tuscan relish is lovely on toasted bread.
Ingredients:
1 sweet onion or 2 Tropea onions, peeled and minced
1 eggplant, chopped into ½-inch chunks
1 sweet Italian pepper, seeded and chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved, or 1 summer tomato, seeded and chopped
2 celery stalks, thinly-sliced
¼ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons golden raisins
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon capers
Sea salt and pepper
Fresh basil leaves, torn
Method:
1. Add chopped onion to a skillet with the olive oil, and sauté for about 3 minutes. Add chopped celery stalk, peppers and eggplant and cook for an additional 4-6 minutes until vegetables are tender.
2. Add golden raisins, chopped oregano and about ½ cup water. Bring mixture to a simmer, and allow water to evaporate, cooking about 8-10 minutes
3. Add cherry tomatoes and cider vinegar and capers; cook for about 5 minutes, until mixture is uniform and tomatoes are beginning to burst. Season with salt and pepper and top with torn basil.
Flavors of Morocco Recipes
Light, bright and spiced with alluring fragrance, Moroccan cuisine is defined by robust flavors and textured dishes, all of which we bring to you in this week’s box. With our own rich and savory shakshuka, gorgeous preserved lemons, peppery extra virgin olive-oil, plump sultanas, pitted green olives, and a sweet, floral spice blend that channels traditional ras el hanout, this delivery is sure to perk up your taste buds, also featuring red radishes, golden beets, leeks and a bevy of spring greens like crunchy pea shoots and colorful rainbow Swiss chard.
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Preserved-Lemon Rice Pilaf with Moroccan Spices
An excellent side for grilled chicken or fish!
Moroccan Beet Salad
Kissed with freshly-squeezed orange juice, cilantro and mint, this salad will brighten up any spread.
Frizzled Leeks
These crispy leeks are a wonderful garnish for salads, soups or main dish proteins like beef, pork or salmon.
Rainbow Swiss Chard with Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette
A light, lemony dressing adds bright appeal to tender Swiss chard.
Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette
Fantastic drizzled over salad greens or this week’s rainbow Swiss chard.
Preserved-Lemon Rice Pilaf with Moroccan Spices
An excellent side for grilled chicken or fish!
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ preserved lemon, rinsed, flesh removed and finely diced
4 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon La Boîte Tangier N.23 Spice Blend
2 cups uncooked white rice
2 cups cooked chickpeas
½ cup sultanas
¼ cup fresh parsley, minced
Method:
1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté the onion, and garlic for a few minutes until the onion begins to sweat.
2. Add the preserved lemon and chicken broth. Bring to a boil and add the bay leaf, spice blend, and chickpeas. Simmer, covered, over medium or medium low heat until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Fluff and add the sultanas and fresh parsley; serve warm or at room temperature.
Raisin Bread Crostini
With plump, juicy raisins throughout, this week’s loaf makes excellent crostini to pair with our apple butter, plus maybe even a few bacon bits on top!
Ingredients:
Raisin loaf
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Thinly slice the raisin loaf into ¼-inch-thick pieces with a serrated knife and place slices on a baking sheet.
2. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, then slip pan into a 375º oven and bake crostini for 10-15 minutes, until bread is golden brown and slightly crisp. Remove from oven, and serve warm or at room temperature. (Can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container.)
