Recipes
Scallion Pancakes
This same formula can be used to make pancakes with other members of the onion family, especially shallots and spring onions. Try using peanut oil for this recipe. If you omit the soy -– making these pancakes a perfect accompaniment to braised foods that use European seasonings -- you can use any vegetable oil or even a good olive oil. Recipe from The New York Times.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Big bunch of scallions or spring onions, about 1 pound (you could even try replacing these with green garlic)
1 egg
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 cup flour
Peanut, canola or olive oil as needed
Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil while you trim the scallions. Roughly chop three bunches, and mince the fourth. Add the larger portion of scallions to the water, and cook about 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Puree the cooked scallions in a blender, adding just enough of the cooking liquid to allow the machine to do its work.
Mix the puree with the egg and soy, then gently stir in the flour until blended. Add pepper to taste, then the reserved minced scallions. Film a nonstick or well-seasoned skillet with oil, and turn the heat to medium-high. Drop the batter into the pan by the tablespoon or quarter cup, and cook about 2 minutes to a side, or until lightly browned. If necessary, the pancakes can be kept warm in a 200-degree oven for about 30 minutes.
Potato, Scallion and Goat Cheese Frittata
Frittatas are one of the easiest things you can make. They make a filling and healthy dinner and you can use any veggies you've got on hand. You can also throw some meat in there to bulk it up a bit- ham, bacon and turkey are all great additions, and cheese of all sorts is welcome as well.
10 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 scallions, thinly sliced crosswise on the bias
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/2 cup crumbled soft goat cheese (4 ounces)
Garnish: green garlic or scallions, thinly sliced lengthwise and cut crosswise into 3-inch ribbons
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together eggs, cream, scallions, and thyme in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 10-inch nonstick, ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and softened, about 6 minutes.
Pour egg mixture into skillet, and distribute evenly using a rubber spatula. Stir to combine with potatoes. Bake until set but still loose in the center, about 10 minutes.
Remove from oven. Sprinkle goat cheese over top. Bake until cheese melts and eggs are cooked through, about 10 minutes. Slide frittata onto a serving plate. Garnish with scallion ribbons, and cut into wedges.
Braised Mustard Greens
Mustard greens can be included in almost anything you would use spinach, chard, kale or collards in. They are quite versatile. Here is a basic recipe that can be used with any type of green but is typical for mustards.
1/4 cup thinly sliced onions or scallions
1 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 Tbs olive oil
1 bunch mustard greens, washed and torn into large pieces
2-3 Tbs chicken broth or vegetable broth
1/8 tsp dark sesame oil (or bacon fat if you're into it!)
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large sauté pan, sauté onions in olive oil over medium heat until the onions begin to brown and caramelize, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook a minute more, until fragrant. Add the mustard greens and broth and cook until the mustard greens are just barely wilted. Toss with sesame oil (or bacon fat). Season with salt and pepper.
Creamy Braising Greens
One of our previous CSA managers included this recipe a few years ago! She made it up, which is why the not-so-precise measurements.
2 T butter
1/4 cup of finely chopped onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T flour
3/4 cup (or more) of cream or half n half, room temp or even warmed up (helps prevent lumpiness)
a generous pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
a generous pinch of freshly ground black pepper
a generous pinch of salt
Bag of Pete's Braising Mix (of course!), blanched and roughly chopped
Over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the onions and garlic until just soft and fragrant.
Lower the heat! With a whisk, add the flour and cook/stir for 2 minutes. All the while whisking, add the cream, getting out all the lumps before they can cook hard, and continue to whisk and cook over low heat until the cream gets thick, about 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat, stir in the seasonings to taste and then stir in the greens. Serves 2 or 3 grown ups.
Sauteed Braising Greens with Blue Cheese and Pan Roasted Garlic
2 T sunflower oil
handful of minced onions
4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced in halves
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Bag of Braising Greens, rinsed
Blue cheese to taste
Heat oil in a large skillet over a medium high flame. Add garlic halves, tossing and cooking for several minutes. Add minced onions and continue to toss until the onions are fragrant and the cloves are soft. With the water still clinging to the leaves, toss in the greens in 2 or 3 parts, cooking until just wilted. Add blue cheese and serve. Serves about 2 or 3 folks.
Variation: Add oven or pan roasted potatoes or parsnips and/or eggs for a hearty breakfast or supper.
Greek Spiced Shepard's Pie
Inspired from a recipe at Epicurious.com. Serves 4.
For the lamb mixture
1 TB sunflower oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 large cloves minced garlic
1 lb. parsnips, peeled and chopped
1 lb. carrots, peeled and chopped
1 lb. ground lamb
3/4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tsp crumbled dried mint
1 tsp crumbled dried oregano
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1 lb can plum tomatoes, drained, reserving 1/2 cup of the juice, and chopped
1 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 lb. crumbled feta cheese
For the topping
1.5 lbs potatoes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup milk or cream
1/4 lb. crumbled feta cheese
Make the lamb mixture
In a large skillet heat the oil over moderate heat, add the onion and cook, stirring, for two minutes. Add the garlic and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the parsnips and carrots, lower heat slightly and allow to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the lamb, increase heat slightly and cook the mixture, stirring and breaking up any lumps, until the lamb is no longer pink. Pour off any excess fat from the skillet, add the cinnamon, the mint, the oregano, and the allspice, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes with the reserved juice, the tomato paste, and salt and pepper to taste and cook the mixture, stirring, for 15 minutes, or until it is thickened. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir in the feta. The lamb mixture improves in flavor if made up to this point and kept, covered and chilled, overnight. Bring to room temperature before continuing. Spread the mixture in a buttered 8x8 baking dish, or small casserole.
Make the topping
In a large saucepan combine the potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces, with enough cold water to cover them by 1 inch, and some salt. Bring the water to a boil, and simmer the potatoes for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are tender. Drain the potatoes, return them to the pan, and cook them over moderate heat, shaking the pan, for 30 seconds to evaporate any excess liquid. Force the potatoes through a ricer or the medium disk of a food mill into a bowl, add the butter, the milk or cream, the feta, and salt and pepper to taste, and stir the mixture until it is combined well and butter is melted.
Spoon the topping over the lamb mixture, spreading it to cover the lamb mixture completely. Bake the potpie in the middle of a preheated 400°F. oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until it is browned lightly.
Charmoula Lamb Burgers
Charmoula is a North African spice mixture, but there are many variations. Usually the first two ingredients are garlic and coriander, but cumin is featured in many, as is lemon juice and herbs. Don't worry if you don't have all of these spices and things in your pantry. Use this recipe as and inspiration and guide. From August 2007 issue of Gourmet.
3 garlic cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon paprika (not hot)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro
1 1/2 pound ground lamb (not lean)
4 (6- to 7-inch) pita pockets
1/4 cup tapenade (black-olive paste)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
4 thick tomato slices
Mince garlic and mash to a paste with 3/4 teaspoon salt using side of a large heavy knife. Stir together garlic paste, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, and cilantro. Sprinkle evenly over lamb and mix with your hands until combined (do not overmix). Form lamb mixture into 4 (3/4-inch-thick) patties (4 inches in diameter).
Cut off enough from one side of each pita to leave a 5-inch opening and open pockets. Stir together tapenade, oil, and lemon juice.
Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium heat for gas).
Oil grill rack, then grill patties, covered only if using a gas grill, turning over once, 6 to 7 minutes total for medium-rare. Grill pitas, turning over once, until lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes total.
Spread patties with tapenade mixture and slide into pita pockets with tomato slices.
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