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Tag: Herb

Miner’s Lettuce Salad with Blood Oranges, Avocado, Mint & Feta

Miner’s Lettuce Salad with Blood Oranges, Avocado, Mint & Feta

Miner’s Lettuce Salad with Blood Oranges, Avocado, Mint & Feta

 

Wild Miner’s lettuce

2 green onions, tops and stalks sliced

1/8 cup chopped fresh mint (or to taste)

2 blood oranges, peel and pith removed, sliced into rounds

1/2 ripe avocado, diced

goat or cow’s milk feta cheese

champagne vinegar

olive oil

Directions:

 

Gently rinse and spin dry the Miner’s lettuce. Place in a large bowl with the green onion and mint. Drizzle in equal amounts of champagne vinegar and olive oil (about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons each). Toss lightly, taking care not to crush the tender leaves.  Plate the greens. Top with avocado, blood oranges, and feta cheese. *Add additional protein if desired. Smoked salmon is divine!

Chicken and Haloumi Skewers with Crispy Oregano and Lemon

Chicken and Haloumi Skewers with Crispy Oregano and Lemon

Chicken and haloumi skewers with crispy oregano and lemon

 

1 pound chicken breast fillets, cut into ¾” pieces

1 T. lemon juice

sea salt and cracked black pepper

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

8oz. haloumi, cut into 16 ¾” pieces

6 sprigs oregano

lemon wedges, to serve

natural Greek-style (thick) yogurt, to serve

 

Place the chicken, lemon juice, salt, pepper and half the oil in a large bowl and toss to combine. Thread the chicken and haloumi onto skewers. Heat 1 tsp. of the remaining oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add the oregano and cook for 30 seconds or until crisp. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the remaining oil to the pan, reduce heat to medium and add the skewers, in 2 batches, and cook, turning, for 6–8 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with the crispy oregano, lemon wedges and yogurt.

Halibut With Sorrel Butter Sauce

Halibut With Sorrel Butter Sauce

Halibut With Sorrel Butter Sauce

 

1/2 cup common sorrel leaves, stems discarded

2-1/2 cups fish fumet or stock

2/3 cup heavy cream, divided

1/4 cup white vermouth or dry white wine

6 T. unsalted butter, room temperature

2 tsp. lemon juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Four (6-ounce) skinless halibut fillets (about 1-3/4-inches thick)

1 T. canola oil

 

Line a broiler pan with tin foil and spray with cooking spray, set aside. Stack the sorrel leaves, roll them up tightly into a cigar shape, and slice crosswise into thin ribbons. In a large saucepan, bring the fish fumet, half of the cream, and the vermouth or wine to a boil over medium high heat. Boil until the mixture is reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 15-20 minutes over medium-high heat. Add the remaining cream, butter, and lemon juice to the sauce and cook over medium low heat until the butter has melted, about 2 minutes. Set aside a few pinches of the sorrel for garnish. Add the rest of the sorrel ribbons to the sauce, stir, season to taste with salt and pepper, and keep warm over very low heat. Adjust the oven rack so that it is 4 to 6 inches from the broiling element. Place the fish on the prepared broiler pan, brush with the oil, and season with salt and pepper. Broil until opaque in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve with the sorrel sauce and garnish with reserved sorrel leaves.

Leek and Fish Stew with Herb Salad

Leek and Fish Stew with Herb Salad

Leek and Fish Stew with Herb Salad

 

2 T. olive oil

2 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut lengthwise, then into ½-inch semi-circles (see note below*)

2 cloves garlic, minced

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

½ C. dry white wine or white vermouth

4 C. fish stock (see note at top of recipe)

2 C. small baby potatoes (white or red), cleaned and cut into ½-inch slices

1 pound white fish, such as cod, haddock, or monkfish, silvery skin removed

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon, divided (saving ½ for the herb salad)

 

HERB SALAD

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil

Finely grated zest and fresh juice from ½ lemon (reserved from the stew’s ingredients)

1 tsp. honey

1 tsp.  Old Bay seasoning

1 C. mixed fresh herb leaves (choose any combo of parsley, cilantro, dill, chervil, tarragon, chives)

 

Your fanciest olive oil for drizzling

Crusty baguette for mopping up the broth

 

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepot over medium heat; add leeks and garlic and season with salt and pepper. When the leeks are translucent but not browned, add wine or vermouth. Bring to a boil and add fish stock. Return to a boil, add potatoes and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook 10 to 12 minutes, until potatoes are fork tender. Add fish fillets, cover pot and turn off heat. The fish will cook through in the hot broth. Smaller fillets like sC. will cook in 5 minutes; larger pieces like cod or monkfish will take 10 to 12 minutes. While the stew rests, make the herb salad: Combine olive oil, lemon juice and zest, honey and seasoning in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Chop and then add fresh herbs, tossing gently to coat. Taste for seasoning. When the fish is cooked, add the lemon juice and zest to the stew. Gently break the fillets into large pieces, ladle the stew into warm bowls and garnish with herb salad. Drizzle with your fanciest olive oil, serve with hot crusty bread and take heart in the fact that sunnier days await. *Note: Leeks are notorious for hiding dirt or sand in their many layers. Once you’ve sliced your leeks, soak them in a bowl full of cold water, then drain and rinse.

Chive Oil & Chive Blossom Vinegar

Chive Oil & Chive Blossom Vinegar

Chive Oil & Chive Blossom Vinegar

 

Clip blossoming chives near the base of the stem, trimming off brown or dried parts. Pick off blossoms. Chop stems into 1/2″ lengths.

 

For vinegar, pack blossoms into pint jar (or jars, depending on how many blossoms you have and how much vinegar you’ll use). Fill jar with vinegar to within 1/2″ of top. I used white wine vinegar, but some recipes call for white vinegar, which to my taste would be too strong; others call for white balsamic vinegar. Seal with lid, but not too tightly, to allow vinegar to breathe. Store in cool, dark place for two weeks. Strain into clean jar(s) and seal with lid(s). Keep up to six months in a cupboard away from heat or light.

 

For oil, place chopped chives, a few blossoms and enough oil to cover in a blender. Blend on high until completely pulverized then add more oil to thin it. Pour into lidded container and place in refrigerator for four days. Bring to room temperature, strain through fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into medium bowl or pint measuring C., then pour strained oil into ice cube tray and freeze. Pop frozen cubes out of trays and place in zip-lock bag. Store in freezer and thaw as needed.

Chimichurri Herb Mash

Chimichurri Herb Mash

Chimichurri Herb Mash

 

1 C. parsley, finely chopped

1 C. mint, finely chopped

1 C. basil, finely chopped

2 T. apple cider vinegar

2 T. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/4 C. olive oil

Salt & white pepper, to taste

 

Mix all of the above ingredients until well combined. Let sit for 30 minutes so that the flavors blend. Use to season mashed potatoes.

Preserved Lemon Cilantro- & Scallion Pesto

Preserved Lemon Cilantro- & Scallion Pesto

Preserved Lemon Cilantro- & Scallion Pesto

 

⅓ cup pepita (pumpkin) seeds or sesame seeds

1 T. chopped preserved lemon, seeds removed

1 T. fresh lime juice

1 T. chopped garlic

¼ tsp. fine sea salt, plus more

2 bunches scallions, cut into 1-inch lengths (2 C.)

1 bunch cilantro including stems, cut into 1-inch lengths (2 C.)

6 T. vegetable oil

2 T. soy sauce, plus more

 

Heat the seeds in a small pan over medium-low heat and toss every couple of minutes until toasted and light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes for pepitas. Transfer to a shallow dish to cool. If using a mortar and pestle, pound the preserved lemon with the pepitas, garlic and salt until roughly smashed. Add the scallions and cilantro and pound into a coarse paste, then stir in the oil and soy sauce. If using a food processor, pulse the pepitas, garlic and salt to coarsely grind. Add the scallion and cilantro and pulse into a coarse paste, scraping the bowl as needed. With the machine running, add the oil and soy sauce. Stir in more oil for a runnier sauce if desired, then season to taste with soy and salt.

Champagne Chicken

Champagne Chicken

Champagne Chicken

 

1 C. champagne

12 sprigs fresh thyme, minced

3 T. fresh lime juice

4 cloves garlic, chopped

2 large sprigs fresh rosemary, minced

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper

Fresh rosemary sprigs

 

Combine champagne, thyme, lime juice, garlic, and rosemary in a large bowl. Add chicken breasts. Season with salt and pepper. Cover bowl and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove chicken from marinade and place in a small roasting pan. Reserve marinade. Roast chicken 20 to 30 minutes, basting occasionally with marinade. Place chicken on a platter and cover to keep warm. Pour pan juices into a saucepan. Add remaining marinade. Cook mixture over medium-high heat until reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. Spoon sauce over chicken and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs. Serves 2.

Tomato, Camembert & Gruyere Tart

Tomato, Camembert & Gruyere Tart

Tomato, Camembert & Gruyere Tart

 

1 1/2 C. all purpose flour

6 T. cold unsalted butter (3/4 stick), cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. coarsely ground pepper

2–3 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 T. water

1 T. Dijon mustard

1/2 C. Gruyere, grated

4 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch slices and seeds removed

6 ounces Camembert, sliced into 1/8-inch strips

1/3 C. extra virgin olive oil

1/4 C. fresh parsley, chopped

1/4 C. fresh basil, chopped

1 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped

1 T. fresh thyme leaves

1 clove garlic, minced

 

Make the tart dough: Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, combine the flour, butter, salt, and pepper until mixture resembles coarse meal. Using a fork, mix in 2 T. of the oil and the water just until the bottom of the mixture begins to cling together. If necessary, add an additional T. of oil. Gather into a ball, flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Roll out the chilled dough into a 14-inch circle and place it into a tart pan. Spread the mustard over the bottom of the tart shell. Sprinkle the Gruyere evenly over the mustard and alternately place the tomato slices and the Camembert over the Gruyere. In a small bowl, mix the extra virgin olive oil, all of the herbs and the garlic together and brush two-thirds of the mixture over the tart. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 35 minutes. Remove the tart and brush it with the remaining oil. Serve warm.