Monday, July 20, 2009

Recipe - Beet and Fennel Salad

From: http://www.yumsugar.com/1028850

Beet and Fennel Salad with Fried Capers
From Sunset, January 2004

1 1/2 pounds beets (greens trimmed), rinsed
2 tablespoons salt-cured or brined capers (see notes)
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
Salt
1 head fennel (about 1 lb.)

  1. Place beets in an 8-inch square baking pan. Add 1/2 inch water. Cover with foil and bake in a 375° regular or convection oven until tender when pierced, 45 to 60 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel beets and cut into wedges; place in a bowl.
  2. Meanwhile, in a fine wire strainer under cold running water, rinse capers well, then pat dry with paper towels. Pour olive oil into a narrow 1- to 1 1/2-quart pan over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add capers and fry, gently shaking pan occasionally, until buds unfurl slightly and edges turn pale brown and crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour into a fine strainer set over a 1-cup glass measure; transfer capers to paper towels to drain.
  3. Measure 3 tablespoons of the reserved oil into a small bowl and stir in the vinegar and salt to taste. Pour over beet wedges and mix gently to coat.
  4. Rinse fennel; chop and reserve a few of the feathery green leaves. Trim off and discard stalks, root end, and any discolored bits from head. Cut head in half lengthwise, then cut halves crosswise into thin, crescent-shaped slices. Reserve 1/4 cup sliced fennel; add remainder to beets and mix to coat.
  5. Mix reserved fennel slices with remaining tablespoon oil. Arrange over beet mixture and sprinkle salad with fried capers and reserved chopped fennel leaves (see notes).

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Recipe - Pasta w/Fennel, Garlic Scapes and Zucchini

Roast Fennel in Olive oil until tender (to prep fennel, chop off the stalks and cut the bulb in half lengthwise - rinse out dirt). Trim end but not so far as to make the bulb fall apart. Save the stalks and some fronds.

Saute in olive oil - garlic scapes chopped, chopped zucchini and/or summer squash, and some fennel stalks until all is tender. Put over pasta (such as bowtie), add chopped roasted fennel bulbs, sprinkle on some fresh parsley and grated romano cheese.

Sprinkle on some chopped fronds (the leafy part of the fennel) if you want!