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Lamb Shanks Braised with Swiss Chard
Lamb Shanks Braised with Swiss Chard
Adapted from The Sultan's Kitchen; A Turkish Cookbook. I made this for my family on Sunday, the lamb was meltingly delicious and the chard soaked up all of tomato and lamb flavors. Serve this with some cooked pearled barley that has been seasoned with salt and pepper and tossed with fresh cilantro, parsley or chives. Serves 4.
4 lamb shanks, total weight about 4 pounds
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
2 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup sunflower or olive oil
3 TB unsalted butter
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 bunch scallions, trimmed and chopped, including some green parts
4 tsp tomato paste
3 medium frozen tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 tsp dried crumbled thyme
1 quart water, chicken stock or lamb stock
3 parsnips, diced
1 pound swiss chard, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
Mix the flour with the salt and pepper. Dust the shanks with the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. In a large, deep, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil over high heat, and sear the lamb shanks for about 5 minutes, until they're lightly browned on all sides. Pour off any excess oil. Melt the butter in the same pan and cook the garlic and scallions for 1 minutes, stirring them with a wooden spoon, until they're softened but not brown. Add the tomato paste, tomatoes and thyme.
Pour the water, or stock, over the lamb shanks and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and continue to simmer for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the lamb is tender. Skim the surface to remove any scum and excess fat from time to time. Thirty minutes before the end of cooking, add the parsnips. 15 minutes later, add the chopped chard.
After 15 minutes, remove the chard and parsnips with a slotted spoon and arrnge them in the center of a warmed platter. Place the lamb shanks over the vegetables. Bring the cooking liquid to a rapid boil, and reduce until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir cilantro or parsley into gravy and sprinkle over platter. Serve immediately with cooked barley on the side.
Parsnip Puree
Parsnip Puree
This makes a great stand-in for mashed potatoes. It's lighter, sweeter and would go perfectly paired with the Grilled Chicken and Braised Greens below. Serves 4.
2 lbs. parsnips, peeled and cut into 1 pieces
1 TB salt
1/2 cup milk or cream
3 TB butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
salt & pepper to taste
chopped fresh parsley
Place parsnips in a large pot of cold, salted water. Bring to boil over high-heat. Partially cover, reduce heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until parsnips are very tender but not yet mushy. While parsnips are cooking, heat milk and butter together until butter melts. Add vanilla and keep warm. Drain parsnips, return to pan, and add heated milk mixture, salt and pepper. Mash until smooth. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Remove puree to bowl and garnish with chopped parsley.
Spring Radish Salad
Spring Radish Salad
Serves 2.
radishes from one bunch, thinly sliced
1 parsnip, shredded
1 bunch greens (or lettuce)
salt & pepper
2Tbsp sunflower oil
1 Tbsp vinegar or lemon juice
some “crumbles†of chevre
Cut a bunch of greens, such as the mizuna, into bite sized pieces. Arrange greens on 2 plates, sprinkling with grated parsnips and sliced radishes. Season with salt, pepper, oil, lemon, and sprinkle with the chevre.
Mushroom Barley Soup
Mushroom Barley Soup
Adapted from Epicurious.com. Serves 8.
1/3 cup pearled barley, soaked 6 hrs. in cold water
1/4 oz dried porcini (1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 parsnips, peeled and choppped
2 carrots, chopped
1/2 lb fresh oyster mushrooms thinly sliced, or shiitakes-stems discarded and caps thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup medium-dry Sherry
3 cups low-salt beef or rich vegetable stock
soy sauce to taste
chopped fresh parsley
Simmer barley in 3 1/2 cups water in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot, uncovered, until almost tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain in a colander. While barley is cooking, soak porcini in 1/2 cup water in a small bowl until softened, about 20 minutes. Drain in a sieve lined with a dampened paper towel set over a bowl, reserving liquid. Rinse porcini to remove any grit, then coarsely chop.
Heat oil in cleaned pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Add carrots, parsnips, shiitakes, porcini, salt and pepper and sauté, stirring frequently, until liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated and mushrooms are golden, 4 to 6 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste, bay leaf, sherry, stock, mushroom soaking liquid, barley, salt and pepper. If soup looks too thick, add a cup or so of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables and barley are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper and soy sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Roasted Root Vegetables with Chermoula
Roasted Root Vegetables with Chermoula
Carolyn Malcoun contributed this Eating Well recipe a couple of weeks back. I've modified it to better represent the vegetables in this week's share. If you don't still have any winter squash on hand, you can any other root vegetables you have. The vegetables are roasted with chermoula (also spelled charmoula), a quintessential Moroccan spice combination. (Any combination will work in this dish; start with about 12 cups of peeled vegetable pieces.) Serves 6.
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons paprika, preferably sweet Hungarian
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
2 medium baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 medium rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch slices
8 ounces peeled and seeded winter squash, cut into 1-inch chunks
Preheat oven to 425°F. Place oil, garlic, paprika, cumin and salt in a food processor or blender and pulse or blend until smooth. Place all the vegetables in a roasting pan large enough to accommodate the pieces in a single layer. Toss with the spiced oil mixture until well combined. Roast the vegetables, stirring once or twice, until tender, 45 to 50 minutes.
Carolyn suggests serving the delicious roots with a dollop of plain yogurt.
Greek Spiced Shepard's Pie
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.
Maple Syrup-Roasted Parsnip Bisque
Maple Syrup-Roasted Parsnip Bisque
My friends Lisa and Eric Friedman were recently highlighted in Yankee Magazine. Lisa is a phenomenal cook and entertainer, running her own catering company The Wooden Spoon she also conducts fun cooking classes out of her house. When I saw this recipe for the Parsnip Bisque, I knew that it would be a winner! Try substituting the Sweet Chai syrup for half of the maple for a more exotic taste. You could also use the creme fraiche in place of the cream. Serves 8.
2-1/2 pounds parsnips, peeled and quartered
1/4 cup canola or sunflower oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra to taste
1/2 cup pure maple syrup, divided
8 cups water
1 large carrot, cut into thirds
1/2 medium-size onion
1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon white pepper, plus extra to taste
2 to 2-1/2 cups heavy cream
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, toss parsnips with oil, salt, and 1/4 cup maple syrup. Spread on a baking sheet and roast about 30 minutes, or until parsnips are golden brown and softened. As parsnips are roasting, bring water to a boil. Place carrot, onion, parsley, bay leaves, and peppercorns on a double layer of cheesecloth. Wrap and tie securely, and add to water. Bring to a boil; then lower to simmer 30 minutes.
Remove parsnips from oven and add to vegetable-infused water. Add remaining maple syrup, white pepper, and salt to taste. Simmer 20-30 minutes. Discard cheesecloth bundle. Using a food processor or immersion blender, puree parsnips and broth. Add cream and simmer another 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
Honey-Glazed Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
Honey-Glazed Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
From Epicurious.com. Serves 8.
2 pounds carrots (1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter), peeled, halved lengthwise
2 pounds parsnips (1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter), peeled, halved lengthwise
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Position 1 rack in center and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil. Divide carrots and parsnips between prepared sheets. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, then drizzle 3 tablespoons oil over vegetables on each sheet; toss to coat.
Roast vegetables 10 minutes; stir. Roast vegetables 10 minutes longer, stir, and reverse sheets. Continue roasting until vegetables are tender and slightly charred, about 15 minutes longer. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Tent with foil and let stand at room temperature. Rewarm uncovered in 350°F oven 10 minutes.)
Melt butter in heavy small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in honey and vinegar. Drizzle honey glaze over vegetables and serve.
Parsnip, Shoot and Chevre Salad
Parsnip, Shoot and Chevre Salad
There are so many excellent cooking blogs on the web these days. I find myself getting more and more ideas from these independent publishers. Today I found UK based Mostly Eating. It has a tasty sounding recipe for parsnip salad that I modified for today's newsletter. Serves 2.
2 small parsnips, peeled and julienned (or cut into very fine strips)
2 cups shoots
1 TB pine nuts
1.5 oz chevre
For the dressing:
2 TB sunflower oil
1 TB cider vinegar
1 tsp grain mustard
1 tsp minced shallot
2 tsp honey
pinch, dried crumbled thyme
Put the julienned parsnips and shoots together in a large bowl. Place a small pan over low heat. Put the pine nuts into a pan and toast over low heat until golden brown. Add the pine nuts to the other ingredients and finally add the crumbled goats cheese. Mix the dressing ingredients together with a fork. Pour dressing over salad and toss.
Skillet-Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
Skillet-Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
This recipe is adapted from CooksCountry.com. Parsnips wider than 1 inch may have tough, fibrous cores that are best trimmed and discarded. Using warm water helps the sugar to dissolve more readily. Any combination of carrots and parsnips with a combined weight of 3 pounds can be used in this recipe. Serves 6-8.
3 TB sunflower oil
1 1/2 lbs. carrots , peeled and cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick pieces
1 1/2 lbs. parsnips , peeled and cut diagonally into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup warm water
1 1/2 tsp honey
Salt and pepper
1 TB finely chopped fresh parsley
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook carrots and parsnips, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes.
Whisk water, honey, and 1 teaspoon salt in small bowl until sugar dissolves. Add water mixture to skillet and cook covered, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat until vegetables are tender and liquid has evaporated, 12 to 14 minutes. Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper. Serve.
