Showing posts with label Dried Chili Flakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dried Chili Flakes. Show all posts

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Puttanesca Deviled Eggs

 Puttanesca Deviled Eggs
This recipe turns the deviled egg on its head—literally—by serving it whole and upside down rather than halved on its side. It’s filled with a punchy emulsion inspired by the bold flavours of pasta puttanesca—tomato, capers, olives and garlic. A final garnish of anchovies and mustard sprouts will make these eggs the stars of any cocktail party. Makes 12
Ingredients
12 free range organic eggs
2 tbsp (30 mL) julienned sun-dried tomatoes with their 
   oil
1 tbsp (15 mL) capers, drained
6 Kalamata olives, pitted
1 medium garlic clove, roughly chopped
1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried chili flakes
2 tbsp (30 mL) Greek yogurt
1 tbsp (15 mL) sherry vinegar
Salt to taste
3 anchovy fillets in oil, each cut in four even pieces
Spicy mustard green sprouts or other sprouts to garnish

Directions:
Place eggs in a medium pot. Pour in enough water to cover by at least 1 inch (2.5 cm). Place over high heat. As soon as it comes to a boil, cover and remove from heat. Let stand 10 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to cool.

When eggs are cool enough to handle, peel shells, then use a sharp paring knife to cut a small slice off tops of eggs, so they can stand upright. Cut a slice off each bottom end that’s large enough to expose the yolk, about 1/4 inch (5 mm) in diameter. Place the trimmed egg pieces in a food processor. With a small spoon or melon baller, gently remove yolks and add to food processor. Refrigerate hollowed-out eggs to keep them cold.

Add sun-dried tomatoes, capers, olives, garlic and chili flakes to food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add yogurt and vinegar, and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down bowl as necessary. Taste and season with salt, if necessary.

Transfer egg mixture to a piping bag fitted with star attachment. (Or use a freezer bag with a corner snipped off). Place in refrigerator to firm up, at least 30 minutes.

Pipe mixture into hollowed egg whites, filling each cavity generously. (At this point, eggs can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 hours.) To serve, garnish with anchovies and sprouts.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Spaghettini With Ginger-Tomato Sauce & Ricotta Salata

Spaghettini with Ginger-Tomato 
Sauce & Ricotta Salata
Fresh ginger is rare in Italian cooking; however, it can be found in a few dishes from the south, like this punchy pasta adapted from River Cafe Cookbook Green by Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray (Ebury Press, 2000). Ricotta salata is a mild, firm sheep’s milk cheese, which is available at select cheesemongers and Italian food shops like eataly.ca.
Serves 4 to 6 
Ingredients:
1 can (798 mL) whole Italian plum tomatoes
4 tbsp (60 mL) extra virgin olive oil, divided
2 tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped garlic
2 tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped ginger
1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried chili flakes, or more to taste
Salt, freshly ground pepper and sugar to taste
1 lb (455 g) Italian dried spaghettini
3/4 cup (175 mL) freshly grated ricotta salata, plus more for serving
1/4 cup (60 mL) chopped mint, plus more for serving

Directions:
Empty contents of tomato can into a mixing bowl. Gently crush tomatoes with hands, removing any stray bits of skin and tough core. Set aside

In a large, heavy-bottom pot, heat 2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger. Cook, stirring often, so it sizzles but doesn’t brown, for 2 minutes. Add chili flakes. Cook 10 seconds. Stir in tomatoes. Raise heat to medium-high. When it starts bubbling, adjust heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thick and delicious, about 30 minutes. Season lightly with salt and generously with pepper. If it’s tart, add enough sugar to soften. Keep warm over low heat.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to instructions on package. Drain and add to sauce. Add remaining 2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil, cheese and mint. Mix thoroughly. Taste for salt.

Serve in warmed bowls sprinkled with more cheese and mint.
Serves 4 to 6

Friday, November 4, 2022

Braised Chicken Thighs With Cider, Celeriac & Chard

Braised Chicken Thighs With Cider, Celeriac & Chard            
This dish is an inviting one-pot meal for a cool autumn evening. Broiling the chicken for a moment at the end gives you perfectly crispy skin alongside tender braised meat. Serve with simply cooked grains or crusty bread. Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 lbs (905 g) bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, about 6 to 8 
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
4 cups (1 L) peeled and diced celeriac, cut into 1 1/2- to 2-inch (4- to 5-cm) chunks
1 can (473 mL) Thornbury Village Craft Apple Cider
6 large cloves garlic, unpeeled
2 sprigs thyme
1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried chili flakes   
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp (15 mL) grainy Dijon mustard
1 small bunch Swiss chard, stems  removed, leaves torn into large pieces, about 4 cups (1 L)

Directions:
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place a large skillet or sauté pan on medium-high heat. Add oil to pan and swirl to coat. Add chicken and sear, skin side down, until deeply golden, about 8 minutes. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate.
 
Pour off all but 2 tbsp (30 mL) fat from pan. Add celeriac and sauté until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
 
Return chicken to pan, skin side up. Carefully pour in cider— liquid should come up the sides of chicken but not cover it. Add garlic, thyme, chili flakes and bay leaf. Bring liquid to a simmer and cover pan most of the way. Cook until chicken is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a foil-lined baking sheet, skin side up.
 
Stir mustard into braising liquid, turn up heat to medium-high. Simmer until sauce has reduced slightly, about 4 minutes. Add chard. Cook, tossing chard occasionally with tongs, until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
 
While sauce is reducing, set a rack 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) from top element in oven. Preheat broiler to high. Broil chicken, watching carefully to avoid burning, until skin has re-crisped, 2 to 3 minutes. Return chicken to sauce, and serve.  





























































































1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place a large skillet or sauté pan on medium-high heat. Add oil to pan and swirl to coat. Add chicken and sear, skin side down, until deeply golden, about 8 minutes. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate.

2. Pour off all but 2 tbsp (30 mL) fat from pan. Add celeriac and sauté until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes.

3. Return chicken to pan, skin side up. Carefully pour in cider— liquid should come up the sides of chicken but not cover it. Add garlic, thyme, chili flakes and bay leaf. Bring liquid to a simmer and cover pan most of the way. Cook until chicken is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a foil-lined baking sheet, skin side up.

4. Stir mustard into braising liquid, turn up heat to medium-high. Simmer until sauce has reduced slightly, about 4 minutes. Add chard. Cook, tossing chard occasionally with tongs, until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

5. While sauce is reducing, set a rack 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) from top element in oven. Preheat broiler to high. Broil chicken, watching carefully to avoid burning, until skin has re-crisped, 2 to 3 minutes. Return chicken to sauce, and serve.