Orecchiette with Swiss Chard, Basil, & Burrata

This wonderful dish was lemony and rich with burrata. I must confess that the “burrata hack” I shared in my last post was not a true match to the real thing.

This recipe was adapted from Bringing it Home: Favorite Recipes from a Life of Adventurous Eating by Gail Simmons with Mindy Fox. I increased the garlic and decreased (gasp!) the burrata.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

• Kosher salt
• 1 pound dried orecchiette (can substitute fusilli, cavatelli, gemelli, or conchiglie)
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 T unsalted butter
• 4 large garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 pound (about 1 large or 2 small bunches) Swiss chard, leaves sliced into 2-inch pieces, ribs and stems thinly sliced crosswise
• freshly grated zest from 3-4 lemons
• 3 T fresh lemon juice
• 3 T freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 8 oz burrata cheese
• 1/2 cup torn or sliced basil leaves
• coarsely ground black pepper

1. In a large saucepan of well-salted boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted.
3. Add the garlic, pepper flakes, and 3/4 tsp salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant and golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Add half of the chard leaves and stems and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the greens are wilted.
5. Add the remaining chard leaves and stems, the lemon zest, and the lemon juice. Cook, stirring, until all of the chard is just wilted. Remove the pan from the heat.
6. Reserving 1 cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta. Return the pasta to the pot.
7. Add the chard to the pasta along with the reserved pasta water; cook over medium heat, stirring, for 30 seconds.
8. Adjust the seasoning, to taste.
9. Place in a serving dish and stir in the Parmesan cheese.
10. Cut the burrata into chunks.
11. Top the pasta with the burrata and sprinkle with the basil leaves. Additional lemon zest can be added as well, if desired. Serve.

Za’atar Chicken Schnitzel with Israeli Salad

I made all of these sautéed chicken dishes months apart, but it seems right to share them at the same time. 🙂

My Austrian sister-in-law has traditional schnitzel with freshly made mayonnaise and cucumber salad for dinner every Christmas Eve. It is absolutely delicious. I loved this Middle Eastern variation.

This recipe was adapted from Bringing it Home: Favorite Recipes from a Life of Adventurous Eating by Gail Simmons with Mindy Fox. I substituted chicken thighs for chicken cutlets and cooked the dish in a 12-inch cast iron skillet. Perfect.

This schnitzel would also be wonderful served as a sandwich in a pita with hummus.

Yield: Serves 4

For the Israeli Salad:

• 1 red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, cut into 1/3-inch cubes
• 1/2 English cucumber, cut into 1/3-inch cubes
• 1/2 small red onion, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
• 2 T extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 T fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp za’atar
• 1 tsp sumac, optional
• Kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper

For the Schnitzel:

• 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• Kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup panko
• 1 1/2 T za’atar
• freshly grated zest of 1/2 lemon
• 5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 4 chicken cutlets, about 1 pound
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• lemon wedges, for serving

To start the salad:

1. In a large bowl, combine the bell pepper, cucumber, onion, tomatoes, parsley, and mint.
2. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

To make the schnitzel:

1. Heat the oven to 200 degrees. Place an ovenproof platter or a baking sheet int he oven to warm.
2. In a wide, shallow bowl, stir together the flour, 1 tsp salt, and a generous pinch of pepper.
3. In another shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and a pinch of salt.
4. In a third shallow bowl, combine the panko, za’atar, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt.
5. Place each piece of chicken between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat pounder or a rolling pin, gently pound each piece of chicken to 1/4-inch thickness.
6. Pat the meat dry and season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
7. Dredge in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess.
8. Dip in the eggs, letting excess drip off, then gently press into the panko mixture to completely coat.
9. Transfer the chicken to a large plate.
10. Heat the 1/2 cup of oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium to medium-high heat, until hot but not smoking. (I used a cast iron skillet over medium heat.)
11. Fry the chicken in 2 batches, turning once, until cooked through and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side.
12. Drain each batch on paper towel-lined plates, season with salt, then transfer to the platter in the oven to keep warm.

To finish the salad:

1. Add the 2 T oil, lemon juice, za’atar, sumac, and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper to the vegetable mixture.
2. Toss to combine.

To serve:

1. Serve the schnitzel with the salad piled on top (or vice versa!) with lemon wedges on the side.

Bucatini with Burst Cherry Tomatoes & Basil

My kids are back in school! I can get back to sharing dishes that we enjoyed this summer (and probably last spring as well). I have quite a few to share. 🙂

This is a fabulous, restaurant-indulgent, late summer pasta dish. The real beauty of it is that it could be made in any season to bring back the taste of summer. It was also quick and easy to prepare- the best combination. The cheese adds creaminess to the finished dish but can easily be omitted for a vegan version.

This recipe was adapted from Bringing it Home: Favorite Recipes from a Life of Adventurous Eating by Gail Simmons with Mindy Fox. I used grape instead of cherry tomatoes, bucatini instead of spaghettini, and modified the proportions. I am definitely going to make this dish year round. Great.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

• 1 pound bucatini, spaghettini, spaghetti, or angel hair pasta
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup olive oil, plus more for serving
• 1 small red onion or 1/2 large red onion, thinly sliced, about 1 cup
• 4 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 pounds (about 3 pints) grape or cherry tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups loosely packed torn basil leaves, plus more for garnish
• 2-4 T finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 3/4 cup (6 oz) fresh whole-milk ricotta cheese
• freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for serving
• coarsely ground black pepper

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted boiling water until al dente. (Simmons recommends 2 T of kosher or fine sea salt in 4 quarts of water.)
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a 12- or 14-inch skillet or wide, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat.
3. Add the onion, garlic, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the red pepper flakes, then stir in the tomatoes and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until most of the tomatoes have burst, 6 to 8 minutes.
5. Reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid, drain the pasta.
6. Add the pasta, along with the reserved pasta cooking water, to the pan with the sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the pasta is coated, about 30 seconds, then stir in the basil and parsley.
7. Divide the pasta among serving plates. Dollop with the ricotta and sprinkle with Parmesan and black pepper to taste. Drizzle with olive oil, if desired, and serve immediately.

Spaghetti Pie with Wild Mushrooms & Spinach

This is a cheesy and delicious vegetarian comfort food dish. The pie was inspired by roadside diner spaghetti sandwiches in New Zealand! 🙂

This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by Gail Simmons. I increased the amount of garlic and spinach and modified the baking time for a convection oven. I used a combination of cremini and shiitake mushrooms. Wonderful.

Yield: serves 8 to 10

• unsalted butter, softened, for brushing the pan or cooking oil spray
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, minced
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 pound mixed wild mushrooms, such as cremini, porcini and stemmed shiitakes, cut into 1-inch pieces
• coarse salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 6 ounces baby spinach
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 3 cups shredded Fontina cheese (10 ounces)
• 1 cup fresh ricotta cheese
• 1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped sage
• 1 tablespoon thyme leaves

1. Preheat the oven to 425°, preferably on convection. Tightly wrap the outside of 
a 9-inch springform pan with foil and brush the inside with butter or spray with cooking oil.
2. In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the spaghetti 
until barely al dente; drain.
3. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until sizzling, about 1 minute.
4. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Scrape into a bowl.
5. In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the spinach, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Incorporate all of the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
6. Scrape spinach into the mushrooms and let cool slightly.
7. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the milk.
8. Add the spaghetti, mushroom mixture, 3 cheeses, sage, thyme, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper; mix well.
9. Scrape into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
10. Set the pan on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes in a convection oven or 35 minutes in a standard oven, until bubbling and the top 
is golden.
11. Let stand for 15 minutes. Remove the ring, cut 
the pie into wedges and serve.

I’m sharing my pie at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #196, co-hosted by Jhuls @The Not So Creative Cook and Antonia @ Zoale.com. Enjoy!

One Year Ago:

• Curried Squash Galette

Two Years Ago:

• Green-Lentil Curry

Three Years Ago:

• Pad See Ew #2

Four Years Ago:

• Baked Orzo, Bacon, Feta, & Spinach Custard