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Warm Fava Beans, Green Garlic, Bacon on Polenta
Sautéed Sole with Browned Butter and Capers
Barley with Feta and
Greek Olives
Asparagus with Lemon Sauce
Menu Plan for the week of March 29, 2013: Friday's Recipes
Warm Fava Beans and Green Garlic on Polenta
Sautéed Sole with Browned Butter and Capers
Barley with Feta and Black Olives
Asparagus with
Lemon Sauce
Cooking time: 40 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for instructions
When peeling the favas, if the outer skin is tough pierce it with a fingernail. It's a fine line between blanching long enough to peel easily and not so long as to get the bean mushy. As we're not using the oven for anything else, cook the fish before having the starter and keep warm in a barely warm oven.
Warm Fava Beans, Green Garlic and Bacon on Polenta Time: 30 minutes
Fava beans are one of the first spring vegetables to appear at the local markets. They are a bit of work to prepare, but not at all difficult, much like fresh peas. If you can't get them substitute edamame or white kidney beans.
3/4 cup peeled fava beans
4 slices streaky bacon
8 green garlic substitute 4 green onion and 2 cloves garlic
2 tbs polenta
1/2 cup (4oz, 120ml) chicken stock
1 tsp olive oil
1 tbs truffle oil
Peel fava beans: Break open the pod and take the beans out. Don't bother with any really tiny ones. Blanch in rapidly boiling water for 30 seconds. Drain and put into cold water.
After blanching they will have a whitish outer shell. Just squeeze lightly and the inner, bright green bean will pop out. It may split in half... that's okay.
Make polenta: Heat chicken stock in a small saucepan until simmering. Add polenta, stirring constantly until thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover to keep warm.
The rest: Trim green garlic and slice, using as much of the green tops as reasonable or trim and slice green onion and mince garlic.
Cut bacon into small pieces.
Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a medium skillet. Add the bacon and fry until light brown and crisp. Drain off all but 2 tsp fat. Add the green garlic (or onion and garlic) and stir-fry 1 minute. Add the fava beans and heat through.
To finish: Spoon polenta into 2 flattish soup plates. Spoon fava and green garlic on top, drizzle with truffle oil and serve.
Sole is a delicate fish with a mild flavor that pairs well with lemon and capers. It's normally served with the tail and bones intact: just skinned and cleaned but not filleted. They cook very fast and if you are not careful when you take them by the tail to turn them over the skeleton will come away in your hand. The flesh comes away easily with a fork to eat. Or, even better, buy them skinned and filleted.
2 whole sole or 4 filets, 10oz (300gr) total ask your fishmonger to clean and skin them
1/3 cup flour
1 tsp paprika
4 tbs butter
1/4 cup capers
1 tbs fresh lemon juice
2 tbs white wine
1 lemon, quartered
Put the flour and paprika on a plate large enough for the fish to fit. Mix with a fork until combined. Over medium-high heat melt the butter in a nonstick skillet large enough to hold both fish. Rinse fish and pat dry. When butter is sizzling dip both sides of fish (hold it by the tail) in flour and add to pan. Sauté 1 - 2 minutes on each side depending on size of fish. When lightly browned and done remove to plates. Add capers, wine and lemon juice to skillet. Quickly stir, loosening and browned bits. Pour over each fish. Serve with 2 lemon quarters to squeeze over top.
Note 1: You can cook them slightly underdone, to this point, then put them on a platter, cover them loosely with foil and put in a 200F (100C) oven to keep warm.
Note 2: If you get sole filets, they will cook even faster. Use a long spatula to turn them carefully.
Barley with Feta, Greek Olives and Browned Shallots Time: 25 minutes
Barley is a healthy alternative to rice. With the feta, shallots and olives, this is a flavorful side dish.
1/2 cup quick-cooking barley
1 cup (8oz, 240ml) chicken broth
2 shallots
2oz (60gr) feta cheese
1/4 cup Greek, dry-cured black olives
2 tsp olive oil
Cook barley in stock until tender and stock is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
While it cooks: Slice shallots. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender and starting to brown. Reduce heat and let brown slowly until barley is done. Cut feta into small cubes. Pit and chop olives. When barley is done, add shallots, feta and olives. Stir well to combine and serve.
The Lemon Sauce is surprisingly similar in taste and consistency to Hollandaise.... Needless to say, much lower in fat and calories. Lay white asparagus on the counter while peeling to prevent them from breaking.
10oz (300gr) asparagus, green or white
Lemon Sauce
Snap off ends of asparagus. If white use vegetable peeler and peel the bottom half of stalk. Put into a skillet big enough to hold them without cutting, add water to cover bottom by 1/4 inch, cover and bring to boil. Lower heat and cook just until done, 6 - 8 minutes, longer for white. When done drain and put into a serving dish, drizzle with Lemon Sauce and serve, hot or cold.
Lemon Sauce
3 tbs plain yogurt
2 tbs fresh lemon juice
2 tsp Dijon-style mustard
1 tbs good olive oil
Whisk together yogurt, lemon juice and mustard. Drizzle in oil, whisking.
Cooking Schedule: 40 minutes for menu |
Cube feta if needed |
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