Summer Love Recipes
Ripe, juicy tomatoes; crisp, sweet corn; and, mild, nutty artichokes—what’s not to love about this box of summer favorites? Enjoy these seasonal all-stars and much more: This week’s super-fresh lineup also includes fennel, cucumber, Tropea onions and a bevy of salad and braising greens, plus farm-fresh eggs, multigrain bread, silky Greek yogurt from Tunawerth Creamery, tahini and a wealth of fragrant herbs. Enjoy!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Carrot Salad with Tahini-Lemon Dressing & Crisped Chickpeas
This crunchy, crisp, and utterly refreshing salad from Smitten Kitchen is a longtime favorite in our kitchen!
Tahini-Lemon Dressing
Nutty, creamy, and a little zippy from the lemon, this dressing is incredibly versatile.
Grilled Eggplant with Lemon & Mint
Tossed with fresh mint for added brightness, this barbecued eggplant boasts a wonderfully-rich and smoky flavor.
Roasted Fennel & Tropea Onions
These tender, broiled vegetables make for a fantastic side dish.
Eggplant Caponata
This traditional Tuscan relish is lovely on toasted bread.
Fragrant Fried Herbs
Crisp-fried herbs are an unexpected (and delicious!) garnish for the likes of pastas, salads, soups and more.
Carrot Salad with Tahini-Lemon Dressing & Crisped Chickpeas
This crunchy, crisp, and utterly refreshing salad from Smitten Kitchen is a longtime favorite in our kitchen!
Ingredients:
1¾ cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-ounce can, drained and patted dry on paper towels
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
1 pound carrots, peeled and coarsely grated
2 cups coarsely chopped parsley
¼ cup shelled, salted pistachios, coarsely chopped
Tahini-Lemon Dressing (see recipe)
Method:
1. Heat oven to 425°. Toss chickpeas with the tablespoon of olive oil, salt and cumin until they’re all coated. Spread them on a baking sheet or pan and roast them in the oven until they’re browned and crisp. (This can take anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size and firmness of your chickpeas.) Toss them occasionally to make sure they’re toasting evenly. Set aside until needed.
2. Place grated carrots in a large bowl and toss with parsley. Mix in ⅔ of the dressing, adding more if desired. Add more salt and pepper if needed. Sprinkle with a large handful of chickpeas and pistachios and dig in.
Summer Splendor Recipes
Green beans to heirloom tomatoes, zucchini to baby artichokes, the summer hits just keep coming! This box celebrates summer with a plethora of locally-grown produce—yellow Romano beans, cucumbers, and Walla Walla bunched onions, as well as crisp Cegolaine lettuces and fragrant garden herbs—all accented by imported Italian pasta, sunflower seed-kissed multigrain bread, peppery edible flowers, farm-fresh eggs and a market bouquet to grace your table. So, slice up an apricot, thumb through the recipes and enjoy these summer gems to the fullest.
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Braised Baby Artichokes
Simmered with white wine and chicken stock, these tender artichokes are melt-in-your-mouth tender. (Try spooning them over pasta with some freshly-grated Grana cheese!)
Carrots Marinated with Garlic & Oregano
This room-temperature dish packs in the flavor and makes for a lovely side dish on a warm day.
Green Bean Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
Tossed with a Dijon mustard and sherry vinaigrette, these beans boast bright, zesty flavor.
Grilled Lemon-Garlic Zucchini
Brushed with a herb-kissed butter mixture, these zucchini slices pair well with grilled chicken, fish or steak.
Fennel & Lemon Relish
This crisp slaw from Alice Waters’ The Art of Simple Food II is excellent tossed with grilled veggies.
Grilled Heirloom Tomato Vinaigrette
In addition to salad greens, this bright and robust dressing is wonderful tossed with pasta, or drizzled over steamed or grilled artichokes.
Heirloom Tomato & Grilled Bread Panzanella
The beauty of this summery salad is in its simplicity: Be sure to use good-quality olive oil and season generously!
Ingredients:
4 cups Pain au Levain bread, cut into large cubes
2-3 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
½ cup good-quality olive oil
¼ cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
¼ cup freshly-crumbled feta or goat cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Toss the bread cubes with about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Grill the bread cubes until lightly charred, turning frequently with tongs. (A grill basket works well for this if you have it; otherwise watch that you don’t lose the croutons down the grate!) Remove from the grill and reserve.
2. On a large platter, arrange the heirloom tomato slices and drizzle with the remaining olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. Garnish with the chopped basil, cheese and grilled bread croutons and drizzle with another swirl of olive oil and, if desired, balsamic vinegar as well.
Variation: If you can find it, this salad is amazing topped with burrata cheese instead of the crumbled soft cheese!
