Swiss Chard & Ricotta Galette

I kept waiting for Swiss chard to appear in my CSA box so that I could make this savory galette. 🙂

This recipe was adapted from Martha Stewart. We ate it for dinner but it would be perfect for a special lunch or brunch. It was a surprisingly hearty meal served with a green salad. (I will confess that I served it with leftover pizza to please the rest of my crowd.) 🙂

The crust was particularly amazing. It is made with rolled oats and cream cheese which resulted in wonderful texture.

Yield: One 10 to 11-inch tart

For the Crust:

• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 1 large egg yolk

For the Filling & Egg Wash:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 12 ounces Swiss chard, leaves sliced in half through the center rib, stems separated and sliced into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 large onion, sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons golden raisins
• 3 anchovy fillets, coarsely chopped (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• 6 ounces ricotta, room temperature
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 large egg yolk

To Make the Crust:

1. Pulse flour, oats, and salt in a food processor to combine.
2. Add butter, cream cheese, and egg yolk; pulse until dough just holds together, 15 to 20 seconds.
3. Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap and flatten into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

To Make the Filling:

1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Add chard stems, onion, and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until stems are soft and slightly brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Add vinegar and cook, stirring, until liquid is almost evaporated, about 2 minutes.
3. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in raisins. Transfer mixture to a nonreactive bowl.
4. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in same skillet over medium-high. Add anchovies, if using; cook, stirring frequently, 1 minute. Stir in thyme. (I incorporated the anchovies.)
5. Add chard leaves and cook until slightly wilted, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
6. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat both cheeses with 2 tablespoons cream until smooth, about 1 minute.
7. Stir in nutmeg; season with salt and pepper.

To Make the Galette:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees, preferably on convection.
2. On a large sheet of parchment, roll out dough to a 1/8-inch-thick round, about 13 to 14-inches in diameter.
3. Arrange onion mixture evenly over dough, leaving a 3-inch border.
4. Spread ricotta mixture over onion mixture; top with chard mixture.
5. Fold edges of dough over and gently press down to seal.
6. Transfer tart (still on parchment) to a baking sheet. Refrigerate 15 minutes.
7. In a small bowl, beat together egg yolk and remaining 1 tablespoon cream. Brush exposed dough with egg wash.
8. Bake until crust is golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Braised Harissa Eggplant

I must admit that we have been a little bit frazzled lately during our adjustment to the “back to school” schedule. Especially me.

This is the first of several quick weeknight dinners (aka “back to school dinners”) that will hopefully help others in the same situation out there. This recipe was adapted from Mediterranean Every Day by Sheela Prakash, via Food 52.com. I modified the proportions. It gobbled up my CSA box! 🙂

My husband and son ate it over grilled chicken thighs and rice to make it a little bit more hearty. I absolutely loved it served simply over rice.

Yield: Serves 2 to 4 (4 with grilled chicken)

• 2 tablespoons (45 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 (about 3/4 to 1 pound, or 340 to 454 grams, total) eggplant cut into 1/2-inch (1-centimeter) cubes
• Kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 large yellow onion or 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tablespoon (7.5 grams) harissa, plus more as needed
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3/4 to 1 pound (340 to 454 grams) plum tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes, chopped (I used a large (3/4 pound) CSA tomato)
• 1/2 (7.5-ounce, or 212.5 grams) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 bunch (about 4 ounces, or 114 grams) lacinato kale, stemmed, leaves torn into bite-size pieces
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• rice, couscous, quinoa, or bread, for serving, as desired
• grilled chicken thighs, for serving, as desired

1. Heat 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add the eggplant, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned in spots but not completely tender. Transfer the eggplant to a large bowl and set aside.
3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil to the pot.
4. Add the onion and sauté until softened and translucent,3 to 5 minutes.
5. Add the garlic, harissa, cumin, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
6. Stir in the tomatoes, chickpeas, and eggplant and bring the mixture to a simmer.
7. Simmer, uncovered, until the eggplant is meltingly tender and the tomatoes have broken down into a thick, chunky sauce, 25 to 30 minutes.
8. Stir in the kale and cook until the leaves are bright green and tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
9. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
10. Taste and season with additional salt and harissa, as needed.
11. Serve over rice, couscous, quinoa, or bread with or without grilled chicken, as desired.

Shakshuka with Feta

As in my last post, this recipe was re-published in a New York Times special section called One Pot/Pan/Skillet: 24 Brilliant Recipes for Everyone Who Hates Doing the Dishes. My dream. 🙂

During this time of self-quarantine, I have made or plan to make several other dishes from this collection including past favorites like One-Pan Shrimp Scampi with Orzo and Mustard Chicken with Shallots and White Wine.

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Melissa Clark. We ate it for dinner with a crusty sourdough baguette and a giant green salad. This quick and tasty dish can be served any meal of the day.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
• 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1/8 tsp ground cayenne, or to taste
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes with their juices, coarsely chopped (I used San Marzano)
  
• 3/4 tsp kosher salt, plus more as needed
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, plus more as needed
• 5 ounces feta, crumbled (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 6 to 8 large eggs (I used 7)
• chopped cilantro, for serving
• hot sauce, for serving
• warm pita or crusty bread, for serving

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees, preferably on convection.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low. (I used a large enameled cast iron pot.)
3. Add the onion and bell pepper. Cook gently until very soft, about 20 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook until tender, 1 to 2 minutes; stir in cumin, paprika and cayenne, and cook 1 minute.
5. Pour in tomatoes and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; simmer until tomatoes have thickened, about 10 minutes.
6. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed. Stir in crumbled feta.
7. Gently crack eggs into skillet over tomatoes. Season eggs with salt and pepper.
8. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until eggs are just set, 7 to 10 minutes.
9. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with hot sauce and warm bread.

Spiced Chickpea Stew with Coconut Milk & Turmeric

This creamy and indulgent vegetarian stew was hearty and delicious. The dish is based on Southern Indian chickpea stews and some stews found in the Caribbean. I loved how it was loaded with greens (I used Swiss chard) and toppings. An added bonus is that the stew and toppings are made in one pot.

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Alison Roman. I doubled the onions and garlic, used rainbow chard, and substituted parsley for mint. We ate it over Basmati rice with warm naan on the side. Wonderful!

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

• ¼ cup olive oil, plus more for serving
• 4 to 8 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 to 2 large yellow onions, chopped
• 1 (2-inch) piece ginger, finely chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric, plus more for serving
• 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving
• ground coriander and/or ground cinnamon, to taste, if desired
• 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 2 (15-ounce) cans full-fat coconut milk
• 2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
• 1 bunch Swiss chard, spinach, kale or collard greens, stems removed, torn into bite-size pieces (I used rainbow chard)
• 1/2 to 1 cup flat-leaf parsley, cilantro, or mint leaves, for serving
• yogurt, for serving, optional (I used 2% Greek yogurt)
• toasted naan, pita, lavash or other flatbread, for serving, optional
• Basmati rice, for serving, optional

1. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large pot over medium. Add garlic, onion and ginger. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally until onion is translucent and starts to brown a little at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric, 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, (ground coriander and/or ground cinnamon- as desired) and the chickpeas, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, so the chickpeas sizzle and fry a bit in the spices and oil, until they’ve started to break down and get a little browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove about a cup of chickpeas and set aside for garnish.
3. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, further crush the remaining chickpeas slightly to release their starchy insides. (This will help thicken the stew.) Add coconut milk and stock, and season with salt and pepper.
4. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any bits that have formed on the bottom of the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until stew has thickened, 30 to 35 minutes. (Taste a chickpea or two, not just the liquid, to make sure they have simmered long enough to be as delicious as possible.) If after 30 to 35 minutes, you want the stew a bit thicker, keep simmering until you’ve reached your desired consistency. Determining perfect stew thickness is a personal journey! (I continued to cook the stew to a thicker consistency.)
5. Add greens and stir, making sure they’re submerged in the liquid. Cook until they wilt and soften, 3 to 7 minutes, depending on what you’re using. (Swiss chard and spinach will wilt and soften much faster than kale or collard greens.) Season again with salt and pepper.
6. Divide among bowls, over rice (if desired) and top with mint/parsley, reserved chickpeas, a sprinkle of red-pepper flakes and a good drizzle of olive oil.
7. Serve alongside yogurt and toasted pita or naan, if using; dust the yogurt with turmeric if you’d like.

Spicy Roasted Carrot & Red Lentil Ragout

When a family friend posted a link to this “tried and true” recipe on Facebook, I knew that I was going to make it for sure. Not only is she a wonderful cook, but she also endorsed it by saying that she’s been making it for ten years!

This hearty and healthy stew-like soup is really another wonderful variation of vegetarian chili. The recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Molly O’Neill. I increased the amount of carrots, omitted the cayenne pepper, and cut the carrots prior to roasting in order to decrease the preparation time.

We ate it as a stew served over brown Basmati rice and topped it with Greek yogurt (others with sour cream) to temper the heat. The author suggested extending the ragout with either coconut milk or stock to give it a soup-like consistency, if desired. Yum!

Yield: 6 servings

• 2 pounds carrots, peeled, cut in half and quartered
• 5 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 medium onion, sliced thin
• ¾ teaspoon ancho chili powder
• ¾ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
• 1 cup red lentils
• 5 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• brown Basmati rice, for serving, optional
• plain Greek yogurt or sour cream, for serving, optional

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees, preferably on convection roast.
2. Lay the carrots in a roasting pan and toss with 3 tablespoons oil. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast for 12 minutes.
3. Turn the carrots, add the onion and roast an additional 15 minutes, until the carrots are brown and tender.
4. When carrots are cool enough, cut them in 1/4-inch dice.
5. Warm 2 tablespoons oil in a saucepan. Add the carrot-and-onion mixture, the chili powders and the cayenne pepper, if using. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
6. Stir in the lentils. Add the stock and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, until the lentils are falling apart.
7. Season with remaining salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve with rice, or as a thick soup. Garnish with yogurt or sour cream to temper the heat.

Two Years Ago: 

• Pasta with Yogurt & Caramelized Onions

Three Years Ago: 

• Panko-Crusted Mustard Salmon
• Green Smoothies!

Four Years Ago:

• Roasted Potato Leek Soup with Arugula & Creme Fraiche

Five Years Ago:

• Buckwheat Crepes with Mix & Match Creamy Mushroom, Caramelized Sweet Onion, Sautéed Greens, & Citrus Shrimp Fillings
• Roasted Acorn Squash

Turkish-Spiced Halibut Skewers With Yogurt Sauce

Many people grill year-round, but our grill hibernates during the winter. 😦 Thankfully, it is unseasonably warm here this week (Yay!), so I am going to share a couple of belated grilling recipes.

This first recipe is an adaptation of a Turkish dish typically made with local swordfish and fresh bay leaves. This version, from David Tanis of The New York Times, uses firm-fleshed halibut with thinly sliced lemons and onions. The fish is only marinated for an hour, grilled, and served with a wonderful and fresh cucumber-yogurt sauce.

We ate the skewers with hummus, warm naan, Israeli couscous, and steamed spinach on the side. If grilling season is over for you, this dish can easily be replicated using a broiler. Great!

• 1 ½ pounds boneless halibut or other firm-fleshed fish
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and coarsely ground
• ½ teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted and coarsely ground
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 small lemon, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced, plus 1 garlic clove, grated or smashed to a paste
• 8 bay leaves
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 cup plain yogurt (I used Greek yogurt)
• pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 small cucumber, about 2 ounces, peeled and diced
• 1 tablespoon chopped mint
• 1 tablespoon chopped dill
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1. Cut halibut into large chunks of equal size and thread onto skewers. You should have 4 kebabs weighing about 6 ounces each.
2. Lay them in a shallow dish. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
3. In a mixing bowl, put cumin, coriander, paprika, red pepper flakes, onion, lemon, minced garlic and bay leaves. Add olive oil and stir together.
4. Spoon mixture over fish skewers and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour.
5. Put yogurt in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then add garlic paste, cayenne and cucumber.
6. Mix mint, dill and parsley together, add half to yogurt mixture, and reserve the rest. Stir to combine. Set aside.
7. Heat a grill or broiler. When it is hot, cook skewers for about 2 minutes per side, until just opaque. (Leave some lemon, onion and bay leaf clinging to fish, so they char a bit.)
8. Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with remaining herb mixture, if desired. Serve with yogurt sauce on the side.

One Year Ago:

• Thai Pork Tenderloin Salad with Napa Cabbage

Two Years Ago:

• Rick Bayless’ Classic Ensenada Fish Tacos

Three Years Ago:

• Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa
• Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Sauce

Four Years Ago:

• Pad See Ew

Falafel-Spiced Heirloom Tomatoes & Chickpeas on Flatbread

I am bringing you this wonderful dish as a guest post of sorts. I had my eye on this recipe, and my friend brought it to share at a dinner at my house. It was so pretty and tasty, we decided I had to share it! 🙂

This recipe was adapted from Bon Appétit. My friend doubled the heirloom tomatoes and cut them slightly thicker. She also used lemon zest as well as sumac in the seasonings. Warm naan was substituted for the flatbread in the original recipe (although I included the instructions below). My mistake was suggesting that we should warm the naan in the oven. Next time, grilling or toasting the naan until crispy before assembly would allow it to hold up a little better to the slathering of delicious toppings. 🙂

The beautiful summer tomatoes really shine in this dish!

Yield: 4 as a vegetarian main course or 8 to 10 as an appetizer

For the Tomatoes & Chickpeas:

• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon sumac (and/or lemon zest)
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon ground coriander
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt, plus more
• 2 to 4 large heirloom tomatoes, any color, thinly sliced
• 1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 small shallot, thinly sliced
• ½ cup parsley leaves with tender stems
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

For the Yogurt Sauce:

• 1 Persian cucumber, peeled, chopped
• ¾ cup plain yogurt
• ½ cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
• ½ cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
• hot sauce, such as Cholula
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Flatbread & Assembly:

• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• Freshly ground black pepper

To Make the Tomatoes And Chickpeas:

1. Combine garlic, sumac (& lemon zest, if using), red pepper flakes, coriander, cumin, and 1 tsp. salt in a small bowl.
2. Arrange tomato slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle garlic mixture evenly over top. Let sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
3. Toss chickpeas and vinegar in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Mash chickpeas with a fork until about half are smashed. Add shallot, parsley, and oil and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

To Make the Yogurt Sauce:

1. Combine cucumber, yogurt, mint, and parsley in a medium bowl; season with hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Let sit at room temperature at least 15 minutes.
   Do Ahead: Yogurt sauce can be made 1 hour ahead. Cover and chill.

To Make the Flatbread: (Alternatively, substitute 4 pieces of full-size naan, grilled or toasted until crisp.)

1. Whisk baking powder, sugar, 2 cups flour, and 2 tsp. salt in a large bowl. Add yogurt and stir to combine (the yogurt’s acidity ensures a tender texture).
2. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until mostly smooth, about 1 minute. Divide into 4 pieces, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest 15 minutes (this will make dough easier to roll).
3. Working one at a time, roll out each piece of dough into a round about ⅛” thick. (Don’t stress: They don’t need to be perfect.)
4. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium. Working one at a time, cook rounds of dough until underside is golden brown and flatbread is beginning to puff, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until other side is golden brown, about 1 minute longer; transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining oil and rounds of dough. Let cool slightly.

To Assemble:

1. Top each flatbread with yogurt sauce, chickpea mixture, and tomatoes. Drizzle with more oil and season well with salt and pepper.
2. Cut into wedges and serve.

One Year Ago:

• Rick Bayless’ Roasted Poblano Gazpacho

Two Years Ago:

• Panzanella with Ricotta
• Roasted Cauliflower & White Bean Dip
• Baba Ganouj