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.
Ingredients:
2 heirloom tomatoes, thickly-sliced into rings
2 zucchini, sliced into long, thick wedges
1 Walla Walla sweet onions, peeled and thickly-sliced into rings
2 fennel bulbs, trimmed of green ends and thickly-sliced into rings
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Focaccia bread loaf
Lemon-Herb Mayonnaise (see recipe)
Method:
1. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Spread the vegetables out on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
2. Arrange the vegetables on the grill grate and cook 3-4 minutes per side, until all the veggies are softened and slightly charred. Remove and set aside.
3. Cut a loaf of focaccia in half lengthwise, and spread both sides with the Lemon-Herb Mayonnaise. Layer on the tomatoes, zucchini slices, fennel and onions rings on one side, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then top with the other bread half. Cut into wedges and serve.
Summering in France Recipes
Cool, crisp and colorful, Salade Niçoise is the hallmark of summer in France, layered with fresh produce like green beans, cherry tomatoes and fingerling potatoes, plus creamy hard-boiled eggs and accents like briny black olives and protein-rich tuna. Thus, your box this week includes both Northwest and Provençal provisions to create your own version of the famous salad, plus a Pain au Levain baguette, farm-fresh eggs, a stunning summer bouquet, and beautiful seasonal stone fruit like cherries and apricots. Cheers!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Salade Niçoise
A classic from the esteemed Julia Child, this colorful salad can be customized to your liking.
Niçoise Vinaigrette
Julia Child’s famous vinaigrette, crafted from lemon juice and Dijon mustard!
Charred Green Bean Salad
This simple, satisfying salad courtesy of chef Michael Symon always gets rave reviews!
Sautéed Broccolini
Tangy lemon zest, fresh garlic and creamy butter enhance the natural sweet flavor of broccolini in this recipe from Barefoot Contessa’s Ina Garten.
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.
Cherry Clafoutis
This rustic French dessert combines fresh, juicy berries and creamy, custardy batter, all baked to golden-brown perfection.
Paella Party Recipes
Cucumbers! Zucchini! Fava Beans! Yes, summer—and some of its most treasured crops—truly has arrived here in the Northwest, especially after this past week’s (intense!) heat. This week, put these gorgeous offerings to delicious use in a traditional Spanish-style paella crafted with traditional Valenciano rice and spicy chorizo sausage. Also featuring cinnamon-raisin bread, Fairhaven Mills cornmeal, Marcona almonds and farm-fresh eggs, this summery lineup is fit for a 4th of July crowd—gather ‘round the paella pan, uncork a bottle of wine and enjoy!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Summer Vegetable Paella
This recipe is so versatile: Try it with different vegetables, add in protein like this week’s chorizo sausage, or even cook it on the grill!
How-To: Prep Fava Beans
Our quick guide to peeling and prepping fresh fava beans for this week’s risotto and dip recipes.
Fava Bean Dip
This simple, fresh dip enhances the inherent nutty flavor of fresh fava beans.
Marinated Cucumber Salad
Super simple and healthy, this salad is perfect for casual summer feasting.
Grilled Lemon-Garlic Zucchini
Brushed with a herb-kissed butter mixture, these zucchini slices pair well with grilled chicken, fish or steak.
Red Cabbage-Fennel Slaw with Cilantro
This light, fresh dish is fantastic on tacos, pulled pork sandwiches or simply served as a summery side.
Summer Vegetable Paella
This recipe is so versatile: Try it with different vegetables, add in protein like this week’s chorizo sausage, or even cook it on the grill!
Ingredients:
2 cups paella rice
4 cups chicken stock
¼ cup olive oil
3 large garlic cloves
1 sweet onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 pound tomatoes, seeded and cut into wedges
2 bell peppers, preferably 1 orange and 1 yellow, seeded and thinly sliced
2 zucchini, quartered and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons pimentón
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Put the tomato wedges in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let sit while the rest of the paella is prepared.
2. In a large paella pan, skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic to the pot and sauté for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
3. Add the onions, peppers and zucchini to the pot, along with a pinch of salt. Sauté for 5-6 minutes, or until veggies are just tender. Add the pimentón and rice to the pot. Sauté for a minute and then add 1 teaspoon salt and the stock to the pot, plus more water to cover, as necessary. Bring to a boil and let cook for 3 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once most of the stock is absorbed, turn off the heat and add the tomatoes. Cover and allow to stand for 10-15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve warm.
Variations: Traditional paella is often served with cubed chicken, chorizo or even shellfish mixed in; pick your favorites and add the protein alongside with the vegetables in step 3 above (if using shellfish, add during the last 5 minutes of simmering in step 4). Feel free to substitute or add in any other summer vegetable, such as eggplant or this week’s broccolini. Also, if it’s too hot to stand over the stove, cook your paella in a skillet on the grill!
