the ripe earth

Grilled Chicken with Fresh Herb Salsa

Posted on August 24, 2016 by nancyduranduran

Smoky grilled chicken is brightened up with a salsa made from fresh picked garden herbs. photo by Nancy Duran

When I haven’t got the time to marinate chicken for the barbecue, I like to serve it with something flavorful drizzled on top. That something usually involves lemon juice, garlic, herbs, and plenty of good olive oil. This fresh salsa was inspired by the abundance of herbs that are growing like weeds in my garden right now. It took me about 5 minutes to blend this salsa together and the result was so tasty it had my kids eating this chicken right down to the bone.

Serves 4 to 6

4 bone-in chicken thighs
6 chicken drumsticks
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Herb Salsa
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons sugar
Handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Handful of fresh basil leaves
Juice of 2 lemons
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and place in a large bowl. Add the 2 tablespoons oil and salt and pepper to taste and toss to coat all over. Set aside at room temperature while you make the salsa.
In the bowl of a small food processor, add the garlic, sugar, parsley, and basil. Pulse until roughly chopped. Add the lemon juice, vinegar, and oil and process until the sauce comes together. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to a serving bowl. Chill in the refrigerator until the chicken is done.
Prepare a grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. When hot, add the chicken (skin-side down for the thighs) and grill for 8-10 minutes, moving the chicken pieces around the grill if flare ups occur so that they are golden and lightly charred. Turn the chicken pieces and grill for a further 5 minutes, again moving them around the grill when flare ups occur.
Serve chicken drizzled with some of the salsa, and pass excess salsa around at the table.

Nutritional analysis based on 6 servings (does not include salt and pepper to taste):
Calories 310, Fat 26g, Sodium 67mg, Carbohydrate 3g, Fiber 0g, Sugar 2g, Protein 15g

Posted in lunch, main | Tagged barbecue, barbecued chicken, basil, chicken, fresh herbs, garden herbs, grill, grilled chicken, herbs, parsley, salsa | Leave a comment

Watermelon and Arugula Salad

Posted on July 21, 2016 by nancyduranduran

Watermelon makes a guest appearance in a savory salad. photo by Nancy Duran

This is a recipe that was part of a summer barbecue cooking class I taught last week. I’m happy to report that my students loved it. They especially loved how easy it was to throw together. I wasn’t going to post it because it’s an update on an older Greek salad I’ve posted here before but I felt it was so beautiful to look at and such an upgrade from the earlier recipe that it demanded a wider audience. Enjoy this celebration of all the tastiest bits of summer.

Serves 4 as a side or 8 as a part of a larger barbecue spread

Salad

1 cup cooked and cooled farro
6 cups arugula
2 cups bite-size watermelon chunks, from about 1/8 medium watermelon
2 mini Lebanese cucumbers, cut into chunks
1 large tomato, cut into chunks
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Dressing
1 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 small garlic clove, grated on a Microplane
2 tablespoons olive oil

In a large serving bowl, combine all salad ingredients.
To make the dressing, combine all ingredients in a screw-top jar. Shake vigorously to combine.
Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine and coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Analysis based on 4 servings (does not include salt and pepper to taste):
Calories 240, Fat 13g, Sodium 341mg, Carbohydrate 27g, Fiber 4g, Sugar 10g, Protein 8g

Posted in lunch, main, salad, side | Tagged arugula, black olives, dijon dressing, Greek salad, salad, side, watermelon | 1 Comment

Spiced Beets with Dill

Posted on June 15, 2016 by nancyduranduran

Spiced beets topped with cooling yogurt are as beautiful as they are tasty. photo by Nancy Duran

I bought my third mortar and pestle recently. And she’s a beauty. I know most people don’t see the need for three mortar and pestles (or even one perhaps) but there’s something about the design of this implement that I just

A mortar and pestle. An essential chef’s tool. photo by Nancy Duran

adore. Apart from its good looks this tool is highly functional. Grinding spices and herbs with garlic and salt releases loads and loads of flavor without the fuss of chopping. In this simple beet dish, the cumin, coriander, and peppercorns combine to create a fragrant, slightly spicy finish on the beets, a perfect complement to their earthy sweetness. If you get yourself a little mortar and pestle like the one pictured here, it’s actually a nice decorative addition to any kitchen countertop. And the culinary benefits are pretty great too.

Serves 4 to 6

3 bunches medium to small beets (about 9)
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon cumin seed
1/2 teaspoon coriander seed
1/2 teaspoon white peppercorns
Sea salt to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable or chicken stock
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh dill
Greek yogurt, to serve

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Trim the beet greens from the beets (reserve for another use). Wrap each beet in tin foil, place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, until easily pierced with a paring knife. Unwrap beets and, when cool enough to handle, peel them. Quarter the medium beets, halve the small beets.
In a mortar, place the garlic, cumin, coriander, peppercorns, and a pinch of sea salt. Using the pestle, grind the ingredients to a paste. The sea salt will help to break down the garlic into a pulp.
In a small frying pan, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic paste and cook, stirring, and being careful not to burn, for about 3 minutes, until the garlic is cooked off and the spices are very fragrant. Add the vinegar and stock and cook for 30 seconds more.
In a large bowl, toss the beets with the garlic-vinegar dressing. Let sit for at least an hour covered at room temperature (or up to overnight in the refrigerator) to let the flavors infuse.
When ready to serve, pour the dish out onto a serving platter, sprinkle with fresh dill and sea salt to taste. Serve either at room temperature or chilled with dollops of Greek yogurt over top.

Nutritional analysis based on 6 servings (does not include salt to taste or yogurt):
Calories 106, Fat 5 g, Sodium 104 mg, Carbohydrates 14 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 10 g, Protein 2g

Posted in brunch, lunch, salad, side | Tagged beets, cumin, dill, salad, spices, yogurt | Leave a comment

Wild Rice with Wild Greens

Posted on June 1, 2016 by nancyduranduran

Snow pea shoots and baby lettuces adorn this gorgeous wild rice salad. photo by: Nancy Duran

So, I belong to a neighborhood beach club. It’s rustic and beautiful and a great place to meet up with friends all summer long. Usually, we end up meeting up around dinner time so the kids can have an early evening swim and food and drink can be shared. It’s awesome. But I have to admit, as the summer chugs along, the effort of food planning, preparation, and transportation can become a little onerous. I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently as I’ve actually been asked to teach a class on “quick and easy beach club food prep.” At first glance, it seems easy enough. Just grab some ground meat and hot dogs and throw them on the grill. Slice up a tomato and layer over some mozzarella. But, honestly, after a half dozen weekends of this, it gets a little old. Thus, my search for new, interesting, and easy prep dishes to cart up to the picnic tables and sand. This dish, to my mind, fits the bill perfectly. Firstly, it only involves two steps, and one of those steps is: cook rice. And secondly, it can be served warm if you just get it done as you’re stepping out the door or at room temperature, if you choose to prepare it earlier in the day. Beauty. A wild rice salad, with wild greens, that’s just perfect for enjoying out in the wild on a warm summer evening.

Serves 4

1 cup wild rice
1 3/4 cup water
Salt to taste
2 scallions, trimmed, white parts finely chopped, light and dark green parts thinly sliced
1/3 cup golden raisins
2 cups pea shoots and baby lettuces
Juice of 2 lemons
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

In a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, combine rice, water, and salt to taste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 45 minutes, until rice is tender.
Place rice in medium bowl and add scallions, raisins, greens, lemon juice, and oil. Toss to combine and season with more salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional analysis based on 4 servings (does not include salt and pepper to taste):
Calories 212, Fat 4g, Sodium 12mg, Carbohydrate 46g, Fiber 3g, Sugar 26g, Protein 4g

Posted in appetizer, brunch, lunch, salad, side | Tagged baby lettuce, lemon dressing, pea shoots, rice, salad, side, wild rice | 1 Comment

Spring Celebration Salad

Posted on May 24, 2016 by nancyduranduran

Asparagus, arugula, chives! Oh my! It must be spring. photo by: Nancy Duran

And…. we’re back! Spring seems to be finally springing this week and it’s about time I say. Farmers’ markets all over the county will be opening this weekend, including my local TaSH market in Tarrytown. In honor of what you’re bound to find there, I give you my Spring Celebration Salad. Happy spring everyone!

Serves 4 as an appetizer or light lunch

Salad
1 bunch asparagus, woody ends snapped off
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
4 extra large eggs
4 large handfuls of baby arugula
1/3 cup pistachios, toasted

Honey, Lemon, Chive Vinaigrette
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons finely snipped fresh chives
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Place the trimmed asparagus on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with oil. Toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 5 to 7 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears, until tender.

Place the eggs in a medium saucepan and fill with enough water to just cover the eggs. Place over high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat slightly to simmer for 4 minutes; drain. To stop the eggs from cooking and keep them at the soft boil stage, peel immediately under cold running water.

Meanwhile, make the Honey, Lemon, Chive Vinaigrette: In a screw-top jar, combine all the ingredients and shake vigorously to combine.

To assemble the salad, divide the asparagus between 4 plates, top each plate with a large handful of arugula. Split the eggs in half widthwise and place two halves on each plate. Scatter over pistachios and drizzle with Honey, Lemon, Chive Vinaigrette. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Nutritional analysis based on 4 servings (does not include salt and pepper to taste):
Calories 365, Fat 32g, Sodium 87mg, Carbohydrate 12g, Fiber 4g, Sugar 7g, Protein 12g

Posted in appetizer, brunch, lunch | Tagged appetizer, arugula, asparagus, chives, eggs, honey, lemon, salad, spring, starter, vinaigrette | 1 Comment

Quick Hoisin Beef

Posted on February 24, 2016 by nancyduranduran

Hoisin beef makes for a quick and cost effective midweek meal. photo Nancy Duran

When it comes to ground beef, Italian or Mexican-inspired dishes usually win the day. You’ve got your meatballs, you’ve got your ziti with meat sauce, and, of course, you’ve got tacos. I’m not knocking these comforting go-to dishes, but sometimes it’s nice to break out of a rut and try something a little new. In that spirit, here’s a quick and easy Asian twist on this economical midweek mainstay. This dish is packed with flavor, can be served in a variety of different ways, and can be thrown together in minutes.

My kids love lettuce wraps so that’s usually how I end up serving this quick beef stir-fry, but as you can see from the photo above, I didn’t have any big lettuce leaves on hand today. Luckily, it’s also delicious served over rice or noodles. I usually serve an Asian flavored veggie on the side, something along the lines of my Sesame and Soy Baby Bok Choy. That’s a great option if you don’t go the lettuce wrap route, because you can still get some green into the mix.

Oh, and this recipe calls for an optional addition of sambal oelek (my favorite source of heat in Asian style cooking) but I usually leave it out until the end. That way my kids can enjoy a non-spicy version and I can add in as much as I like (a lot) in the end.

Serves 4

1/3 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sambal oelek, optional
1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
3 scallions, white and light green parts finely chopped, dark green parts thinly sliced and separated out
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
Rice, noodles, or lettuce leaves to serve
Fresh cilantro to garnish

In a small bowl, mix together the hoisin, soy, and vinegar. Add in the sambal now if you like.
In a large frying pan, heat the oils over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and the white and light green parts of the scallion. Cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the beef. Cook until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Drain off any excess fat and then add in the hoisin mixture. Stir to coat and combine and cook for a further minute. Sprinkle over the dark green parts of the scallion and serve over rice, noodles, or in lettuce wraps. Garnish with cilantro.

Recipe Analysis based on 4 servings (does not include samba oelek or cilantro)
Calories 397, Fat 22g, Sodium 961, Carbohydrate 12g, Fiber 1g, Sugar 6g, Protein 36g

Posted in main | Tagged Asian, ginger, ground beef, hoisin, midweek meal, noodle dish, rice dish, scallion | Leave a comment

A Winter’s Salad

Posted on January 10, 2016 by nancyduranduran

A hearty steak and bean salad with beets and winter greens. photo: Nancy Duran

No matter how cold it gets (let’s face it that’s not too bloody cold this winter!), my body still craves salads, and while they may look a little different from their warm weather cousins, winter salads can be just as interesting and satisfying. For me, they are driven by the ingredients that are freshest at this time of year, ingredients like kale greens and beets. Beans also play a large part in my diet this time of year. It’s just so easy to reach for a can of beans and transform it into something beautiful and fulfilling.

This dish was inspired by a product a friend of mine passed along. Sandra Spiro runs a wonderfully informative site for culinary professionals called FlashPepper. She now offers fun little Pepper Paks for chefs to play around with new and interesting ingredients. In a recent Pepper Pak I received a bottled red wine reduction by a company that is aptly named Reduction Ready. That led to playing around in the kitchen, which led to this deeply flavored Red Wine Reduction Vinaigrette. You can always do it with red wine reduction you make yourself but when there’s a good quality product out there, no harm in taking the shortcut! This full-bodied dressing proved the perfect match for my hearty winter salad, helping me make it through another dark day of winter, and bringing me one step closer to the light of spring…

Serves 4

Red Wine Reduction Vinaigrette

1 small shallot, very finely chopped
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon red wine reduction
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salad

2 large beets, roasted, peeled, and cut into chunks
5 ounces baby spinach and baby kale greens
1 cup loosely packed fresh flat leaf parsley leaves
1 can (151/2 ounces) Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
heaping 3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and broken into chunks
2 New York strip steaks (about 6 ounces each), seared medium rare and sliced
1/2 cup shredded pecorino Romano cheese
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

First make the dressing: In a screw-top jar, combine all ingredients and shake to combine. If you have the time, let the dressing sit for an hour or two to lightly pickle the shallots. If you don’t, no big deal.
Assemble the salad: In a medium bowl, toss the beets with 1 teaspoon of the dressing. In a large serving bowl, toss the remaining ingredients with the remaining dressing. Top with the dressed beets. (I like to prepare the salad this way so that the beets don’t turn the whole thing red. But if you prefer, toss the whole lot together in one bowl.) Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Nutritional analysis based on 4 servings (does not include salt and pepper to taste):
Calories 696, Fat 46g, Sodium 512 mg, Carbohydrate 35g, Fiber 10g, Sugar 5g, Protein 40g

Posted in appetizer, lunch, main, salad, side | Tagged baby kale, baby spinach, beans, beets, dressing, Great Northern beans, red wine reduction, roasted beets, salad, vinaigrette, walnuts, white beans, winter greens | Leave a comment

Latest Article in Westchester Magazine

Posted on November 9, 2015 by nancyduranduran

Check out my recent Thanksgiving recipe round-up in Westchester Magazine!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Celeriac and Apple Soup with Parmesan Frico

Posted on November 4, 2015 by nancyduranduran

A homey autumn soup is made special with the addition of lacy Parmesan frico. photo by Nancy Duran

Celeriac (otherwise known as celery root) is one ugly vegetable. Luckily, it doesn’t have to get by on looks alone because its flavor is sublimely beautiful. I think its taste can best be described as lying somewhere between parsley and celery. And that is what makes it perfect for soup making. Here, I’ve paired it up with another star of the autumn harvest: crisp sweet apple.

This soup is very quick work to assemble. I prepared it on a weeknight while helping my kids with homework. Seriously, it’s that easy. At its heart it’s homey, comforting fare perfect for slurping by the fire. But if you want to amp up the sophistication level just a bit, serve the soup with these beautiful lacy Parmesan crackers called frico. In Italy, you’ll frequently see them as a garnish in soups and stews. They also couldn’t be easier to make, just grate and bake. They add a nice saltiness to the slightly sweet soup and their delicate, lacy appearance is beautiful on the plate. Now that’s a perfect dish in my books, one that brings inner beauty and outer beauty into perfect harmony.

Soup serves 6 (makes about 8 cups)/Makes 12 frico

Celeriac and Apple Soup
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, roughly chopped
2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
1 medium Russet potato, peeled and chopped
2 medium celeriac (about 1 pound), peeled and chopped
2 medium apples (such as Fuji), peeled, cored and chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
A couple thyme sprigs, leaves picked
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Parmesan Frico
1 heaping cup grated aged Parmesan cheese
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

To make the soup: In a large soup pot, heat the butter and oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, potato, and celeriac and cook gently until onion is tender, about 10 minutes. Add the apple, garlic, and thyme and continue to cook a more few minutes to soften the garlic and apple.
Pour in the stock and 4 cups of water and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, until all the vegetables are very tender. Uncover, increase the heat slightly to keep the soup simmering and continue to cook a further 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, make the Parmesan frico: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with baking paper (or silpat). Place heaping tablespoons of the grated cheese on the baking paper, pressing to flatten into about 3-inch circles. Season with pepper and bake for about 5 minutes, until browned and bubbling. Let cool then carefully lift off the tray using a spatula. Place on a cooling rack until ready to use.
Let the soup cool slightly before adding, in batches, to a blender and puree until smooth. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend the soup right in the pot. Check for seasoning again. Serve soup with Parmesan frico.

Nutritional analysis of soup based on 6 servings (does not include salt and pepper to taste):
Calories 193, Fat 8g, Sodium 301mg, Carbohydrate 26g, Fiber 3g, Sugar 10g, Protein 6g

Nutritional analysis per frico:
Calories 36, Fat2g, Sodium 127mg, Carbohydrate 0g, Fiber 0g, Sugar 0g, Protein 3g

Posted in appetizer, lunch, main, side, soup | Tagged apple, celeriac, crackers, frico, Parmesan, puree, soup | Leave a comment

Frangipane Pear and Ginger Tart

Posted on October 23, 2015 by nancyduranduran

Right about now many of you are probably asking yourselves, “What the heck is frangipane?!” For some reason, this exquisite filling has a pretty low profile in the States. Hailing from either Belgium or France (it’s up for debate), frangipane is essentially a filling derived from nuts (usually almonds), eggs, sugar, and butter. It’s basically a custard (thanks to the egg) but with the addition of flour, it takes on a more cake-like texture. The more flour you add, the more cakey it will be.

When used in a tart case, frangipane can be paired with any seasonal fruit of your liking. To my mind, pear works especially well with the nutty earthy flavor of frangipane. I like to add ginger to just about anything with pears and this tart is no exception. The floral, fragrant ginger provides a wonderful high note to the whole affair.

Keep this tart in your back pocket if you’ve got holiday entertaining coming up. Its sophisticated flavor belies the fact that it is very simple to whip up.

Serves 8 to 10

Shortcrust Pastry
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Frangipane Filling
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 teaspoon for sprinkling
1 large egg and 1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon spiced rum
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup almond meal (ground almonds)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
5 Seckel pears, peeled, halved and cored

First, make the pastry: In the bowl of a food processor, add the flour, salt, and butter. Pulse just until the ingredients come together and resemble coarse meal. Add the sugar, egg yolk, zest, and 2 tablespoons of the water and process to combine. Add more water, a tablespoon at a time, just until the dough comes together into a ball. Be careful not to over-process or your dough will become tough.
Turn the dough out onto a surface that has been lightly dusted with flour and give it a turn through the flour. Using the balls of your fingers, gently press the dough into a 9-inch round removable-base fluted tart tin. Press up the sides and around the entire base of the tin to create an evenly covered surface with no holes in the dough. Place on a baking tray in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Remove the pastry from the fridge to blind bake it. This will set the crust so that it doesn’t become soggy when you add the filling. Cover the crust with parchment paper and line the top of the parchment paper with pie weights (or if you don’t have pie weights use dried beans). This will weigh down the crust and decrease shrinking and puffing. Bake, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and remove parchment and pie weights.
Meanwhile, make the filling: In the bowl of an electric mixture, on medium-high speed, cream the butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and add the egg, egg yolk, rum, and extract. Mix until combined then add the almond meal, flour, and ginger and mix just until combined.
Scrape the filling into the tart crust and spread out to evenly cover the crust. Gently push the pear halves into the filling in a decorative design. Sprinkle the pears with the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar. Bake about 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the side of the tart tin and let cool completely on a rack before slicing and serving.