Recipe: Cucumber Salad With Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

adapted from A Simple Pantry

For The Dressing

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3/4 teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped

kosher salt to taste

cracked pepper to taste

For The Salad

1 cup dried pearl couscous

1  cucumber sliced thin

4 cups lettuce

1 cup feta

In a small jar add the dressing ingredients, cover with a tight lid and shake vigorously. Adjust seasonings as desired and set aside.

Prepare couscous according to package instructions. While still warm, add 1/2-3/4 of the dressing and toss gently to coat.

Add the cucumbers, arugula, and feta to a large bowl and toss with the remaining dressing. Stir in the couscous, then divide between 6 plates and serve immediately.

Recipe: Berbere Butter Braised Carrots With Polenta

from Naturally Ella

Berbere is a delicious Ethiopian spice mix, but if you don't have any on hand you can try this recipe with Moroccan Ras El Hanout, your favorite curry blend, or even just some ground cumin and coriander! 

Polenta

2 cups water

½ cup dry polenta

Pinch of salt

½ cup grated parmesan

Carrots

2 medium carrots

3 tablespoons butter, divided

1 garlic clove, minced

1 to 2 teaspoons berbere spice blend

Salt, as needed (see note)

Zest from half a lemon (see note)

To start, bring the water to a boil in a pot. Add the polenta, whisking while you pour until the polenta comes together. Add a pinch of salt, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for about 30 minutes. Whisk occasionally until the polenta has thickened and the flavor has mellowed. Remove from heat and whisk in the parmesan cheese.

Prepare the carrots: Peel the carrots and cut into ½” thick slices. Place a pan (with lid available) over medium heat. Add in 1 tablespoon butter and melt. Add in the carrots and cook until the carrots start to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and berbere spice, cooking for another minute.

Cover the bottom of your pan with ¼” worth of water. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, checking the carrots occasionally (the time will depend on how thickly cut your carrots are). When the carrots are just-tender, remove the lid, and increase the heat to burn off remaining liquid. When there’s just a small bit of liquid left, turn off the heat and add in the remaining two tablespoons of butter and lemon zest. Swirl around the pan and let melt.

Garnish with parsley and pistachios (optional) 

Recipe: Spicy Beans With Pork

from Wives With Knives

½ lb. ground pork

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons rice wine

¼ teaspoon peppercorns (szechuan if you have them) freshly ground

¼ cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon spicy garlic black bean sauce

1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

1-1/2 tablespoons garlic chili sauce

1-1/2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon sesame oil

2 teaspoons cornstarch

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half if desired

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and minced

4 green onions, sliced

¼ cup white sesame seeds, lightly toasted

In a small bowl toss the pork with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of rice wine and the ground pepper. Marinate at room temperature while assembling the rest of the ingredients.

In a separate bowl combine the remaining tablespoon of soy sauce, the remaining teaspoon of rice wine, the chicken stock, spicy bean sauce, hoisin, chili garlic sauce, sugar, sesame oil and cornstarch. Set aside.

Heat a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat and add the oil.

When the oil is hot add the beans and stir fry them for 10 minutes, or until they begin to brown and blister. Remove the beans from the pan using a slotted spoon and pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the oil. Return the pan to the heat and add the pork, garlic and ginger. Stir fry for about 3 minutes, or until there is no longer any pink color to the pork. Add the green onions and cook 1 minute. Add the reserved sauce and green beans and mix well. The sauce will begin to thicken and glaze the pork and beans.

To serve, garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with steamed rice or pan fried noodles.

Recipe: Pasta Salad With Tomatoes & Zucchini

adapted from The Kitchn

Try adding in some of your spicy salad mix for extra flavor and texture! 

1 lb of dried pasta

2 Tbs olive oil

1 zucchini, trimmed and cut lengthwise into 1/4in thick slabs

1 pint cherry tomatoes OR a couple slicers

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup of your favorite dressing

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool. Drain well. Meanwhile, heat an outdoor grill to medium-high, direct heat (400 to 450°F).

Drizzle the zucchini  with the oil and season with the salt and pepper.  If using cherry tomatoes, drizzle with oil and thread them onto skewers (8 to 10 per skewer). Place the tomato skewers and zucchini slabs on the grill. Cover and grill until the zucchini is charred and tender, about 5 minutes per side. Grill the tomatoes until the skins begin to split, flipping once, 4 to 5 minutes total.

Slide the tomatoes off of the skewers into the bowl of pasta. If using slicers simply roughly chop and add them right to the pasta.

Cut the zucchini into 1/2-inch pieces and add to the bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the dressing and toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe: Simple Chard, Kohlrabi, & Cucumber Salad

adapted from Serious Eats

From Food 52:  "This is the rescue recipe for all you with a weekly source of vegetables from your CSA. The kohlrabi is nice and crunchy the first few hours then pickles in the days to come."

Dressing

3 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Honey
1 tablespoon Finely minced shallots
 Salt to taste
 Slaw

1 Medium Kohlrabi (about softball size) Julienned
 2 Cucumbers whatever adds up to 2 cups
 2 cups Swiss Chard about 8 stems

Combine the dressing ingredients into a lidded jar and shake, shake, shake.

Dice the chard stems and roll the leaves and cut into thin ribbons. In a medium sized bowl, combine all the ingredients and start with about 2 T of the dressing add more to taste.

Recipe: Sichuan Smashed Cucumber Salad

Recipe & Pic from The Woks Of Life

This is my FAVORITE cucumber recipe (and it is oh so cathartic to give those cukes a smashing haha). I love it paired with a California Roll Rice Bowl: Sushi Rice, Imitation Crab tossed with Sriracha Mayo and sliced Green Onions, sliced Avocado, and a sprinkle of panko for extra crunch.

~Rae

1-2 seedless cucumbers

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons sesame oil

3 teaspoons light soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar

2-4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)

1-2 teaspoons chili oil (optional)

2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

a small handful of chopped cilantro

Note: if you prefer to omit the chili oil, heat up a tablespoon of oil in a pan and drizzle it over the cucumber. Seems weird, but in Chinese cooking, uncooked vs. cooked oil have different flavors and are treated as such!

Wash the cucumbers and pat them dry with a clean towel. Make the salad dressing by combining the salt, sugar, sesame oil, light soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Stir until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved. Set aside.

On a cutting board, lay a large knife flat against the cucumber, and smash it lightly with your other hand. The cucumber should crack open and smash into four sections. Repeat along its full length. Once the whole cucumber is completely open (usually into 4 long sectional pieces), cut it at a 45-degree angle into bite-sized pieces.

In a large bowl, mix the cut cucumber with the prepared dressing, garlic and chili oil (or cooked plain oil), and toss it well. Serve, garnished with sesame seeds and cilantro.

Recipe: Cabbage & Kale Slaw With Mustard Vinaigrette

from The Spruce Eats

For the Salad:

4 to 6 medium leaves kale (lacinato)

1/2 medium head cabbage (green)

1/4 cup walnuts (pecans, or slivered or sliced almonds)

Salt to taste (kosher)

Pepper to taste (freshly ground)

For the Dijon Mustard Dressing:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (grainy, or more, to taste)

1 clove garlic (minced)

3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (or white wine vinegar)

1/3 cup olive oil (good quality extra virgin)

 Prepare the Salad

Toast the nuts, if desired. Arrange the nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake whole, chopped, or slivered nuts in a preheated 350 F oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, checking and turning them frequently. Sliced almonds will take about half the time. Watch closely.

Cut the middle rib out of each lacinato kale leaf. Roll the leaves up into a tight roll and slice them chiffonade-style into thin strips. Put the strips of kale in a large bowl. You should have about 2 to 3 cups.

Cut the core out of the cabbage half and shred or chop the cabbage. Transfer the cabbage to the bowl with the kale.

Toss the chopped nuts with the kale and cabbage.

Prepare the Dressing

In a canning jar or bowl, combine the Dijon mustard, minced garlic, vinegar, and olive oil. Whisk or shake well. Add a dash of salt and some freshly ground black pepper, to taste.

Drizzle 2 to 3 tablespoons of the Dijon mustard vinaigrette over the salad. Toss the salad. Cover and refrigerate until serving time.

Serve with the extra dressing on the side.

Recipe: Lebanese Fattoush Salad

adapted from Serious Eats

Garlic Oil

1 cup pure olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, finely chopped

1 pound pita bread

1 teaspoon salt

Garlic Vinaigrette

2 teaspoons garlic paste

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 cup pure olive oil

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Vegetables

1-2 cups tomatoes, diced

1 cup cucumbers, peeled and cut into small dice

2 cups  lettuce, chopped

2/3 cup mint, torn (optional)

1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped

1/4 cup sweet onion, thinly sliced

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Make the garlic oil: Heat the oil, remove from the heat, and add the garlic. Let steep for several hours.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Split the pita in half. Brush one side of each half with the garlic oil. Sprinkle with salt. Cut each half into eighths and spread (oil side up) on a sheet pan. Place in the oven and bake until golden and crispy. Reserve.

Make the vinaigrette: Combine the garlic paste, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, then whisk in the olive oils.

Combine all of the vegetables and toss with half the vinaigrette; salt and pepper to taste.

Combine the pita, vegetables, and more vinaigrette. Toss. Add more vinaigrette if the fattoush looks dry.

Recipe: Blistered Shishito Peppers

from Cookie & Kate

This recipe calls offers exact amounts of peppers and oil, but you really just need enough peppers to cover the base of your skillet and enough oil to lightly coat the peppers.

8 ounces (3 heaping cups) shishito peppers

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil

Lemon wedge, optional

Salt, preferably flaky sea salt or kosher salt, to taste

Rinse and pat the peppers dry on a clean tea towel. Transfer the peppers to a medium bowl, drizzle in the oil, and toss until the peppers are evenly coated. Set aside.

Preheat a medium skillet over medium heat until it’s hot enough that a drop of water sizzles and evaporates quickly on contact. Add the peppers and let them cook, stirring every minute or so (not too often), until they are tender with charred spots, about 8 to 12 minutes.

Transfer the peppers to a serving plate. Spritz with a lemon wedge, if desired. Sprinkle with salt, to taste (don’t skimp). Serve with a little bowl on the side for the pepper stems.

Recipe: Roasted Carrots With Tahini Sauce

Serve over couscous with a dollop of greek yogurt and crispy chickpeas to turn this side into a meal! 

2 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/8 tsp ground cumin

1/8 tsp garlic powder

pinch of salt

2-3 tbsp water

1 tbsp freshly chopped cilantro (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Clean carrots well and trim most of the green, leaving some still visible. Cut carrots in half and place them on a roasting sheet. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast for 20-25 minutes, turning them half way through.

Meanwhile, add all ingredients under tahini dressing to a blender and blend until smooth.

Remove carrots from oven, arrange on plate, drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with fresh cilantro. 

Recipe: Green Beans & Cucumbers With Miso Dressing

from Bon Appetite

1 large cucumber

Kosher salt

1 pound green beans, trimmed (use your haricots verts!)

1 1½-inch piece ginger, peeled, finely grated

1 serrano or Fresno chile, finely grated

1 garlic clove, finely grated

⅓ cup unseasoned rice vinegar

¼ cup white miso

¼ cup olive oil

½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Toasted sesame seeds and sliced scallions (for serving) - use your tropea onions!

Lightly smash cucumber with a rolling pin, then tear into bite-size pieces. Toss with a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Let sit to allow salt to penetrate.

Meanwhile, place green beans in a large resealable plastic bag, seal, and smash with rolling pin until most of the beans are split open and bruised. Whisk ginger, chile, garlic, vinegar, miso, olive oil, and sesame oil in a medium bowl until smooth. Add dressing to beans and toss around in bag to coat; season with salt.

Drain cucumbers and add to bag with beans. Shake gently to combine. Transfer salad to a platter and top with sesame seeds and scallions.

Recipe: Turnip Salad With Yogurt & Basil

adapted from Dishing Up The Dirt

1 bunch of Japanese turnips, with their tops if they're nice and fresh, trimmed so there's just a nice 1/4 inch of green stems left

1 lemon, halved

1/2 teaspoon dried red chili flakes

kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup plain whole-milk yogurt (not greek yogurt)

about 1/2 cup lightly packed basil, finely chopped

4 scallions, trimmed (including 1/2 inch of the green tops) sliced on a sharp angle, soaked in ice water for 20 minutes and then drained well (use your tropea onions instead!)

extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup poppy seeds

Slice the turnips lengthwise as thin as you can. If you have a mandolin, use it; otherwise a sharp knife and steady hand will do just fine. Soak the sliced turnips in ice water for 15 minutes then drain them very well.

Rinse, dry and roughly chop the turnip greens. Put the turnips in a large bowl and squeeze half of the lemon. Add the chili flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and plenty of black pepper and toss to blend. Add the yogurt and toss again.  Add the basil, scallions, and 1/4 cup olive oil and toss again. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Scatter about half of the poppy seeds on the bottom of the platter or individual serving plates, top with the turnip salad, and finish the the rest of the poppy seeds. Serve right away.

Recipe: Fresh Cranberry Beans With Olive Oil And Garlic

From May I Have That Recipe

1 lb fresh cranberry beans, shelled ( about 1 1/2 cups shelled)
6 garlic cloves, whole
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp red hot pepper flakes (or to taste)
1/2 tsp fresh thyme
2 cups water
2 bay leaves
1 tsp salt

In a deep skillet, cook garlic in olive oil at medium heat. Tilt the pan so all the oil goes to one side of the pan and the garlic cooks evenly.  Cook for about 3 minutes or until it starts to get a slight golden color (make sure it doesn’t burn!)

Add red hot pepper flakes and thyme and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden.
Add shelled beans, mixing well so the beans get evenly coated with the oil and cook for 3-4 minutes
Add water, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a boil for about 5 minutes uncovered.
Turn down the heat and simmer, covered for about 20 minutes or until beans are tender but not mushy.

These are delicious plain, served over rice or with a nice crusty bread.

Recipe: Lentil, Cabbage, & Fennel Soup

From Honest Cooking


1 Cup Red Lentils
1 Cup Sliced Cabbage
1 Cup Sliced Fennel(including the stems and fronds)
1 Bay Leaf
2tsp Cumin Seeds
1in Ginger (crushed)
2tsp Ground Coriander
1tsp Turmeric
1/3 Cup canned diced Tomato
1 Green chili/jalapeño, chopped
2 Cups Water
Salt to taste
2Tbs Oil


Wash the lentils and keep aside. Prepare the veggies.
In a pot heat oil and the cumin seeds until it crackles. Add the cabbage and fennel,bay leaf and all the spices,tomato and jalapeños. Saute on medium until well mixed.Add the lentils and continue to stir for about a minute.

Add water and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover. Let it cook until the lentils are tender about (15-20 mins). Serve hot!

Roasted Baby Beet Salad With Feta & Shallot Vinaigrette

From A Sweet Pea Chef

1 bunch baby beets
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp shallots minced
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp parsley minced
1 tsp fresh orange juice
1/2 tsp kosher salt to taste
1/4 tsp ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup crumbled feta


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay the baby beets, skin on, down on the baking sheet, with space surrounding each, if possible. Cover baking sheet with another sheet of aluminum foil. (You can bypass this step if you wish to individually wrap each beet, but this is kinda like wrapping them all together at once. Much easier.)
Bake beets in the oven for 35-40 minutes, or until tender when poked with a fork.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all other ingredients (for the vinaigrette). Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Once beets are tender, remove from oven and allow to cool. When cool enough to handle, gently peel off beet skin using a sharp paring knife. Discard peel.
Slice each beet in about 1/4-inch slices. Arrange sliced beets on a plate. Drizzle desired amount of vinaigrette over the beets (you may not need to use it all). Sprinkle crumble feta over the plate.

Recipe: Stuffed Delicata Squash

Adapted From Aggie's Kitchen

2 Delicata squash, cut lengthwise
2 teaspoon olive oil, divided
salt and pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small onion, chopped finely (or substitute your shallot!)
1 15 oz can cannellini or white beans, rinsed and drained
3 handfuls fresh kale, roughly chopped
1/4 cup panko or bread crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
red pepper flakes, for serving

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Scoop seeds out of each half of squash. Place on baking sheet and sprinkle salt, pepper and 1 teaspoon olive oil. Cook for 20-25 minutes. Squash will be soft to the touch.

While squash is baking, make stuffing for squash:
Heat 1 teaspoons of olive oil in a non stick skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and chopped onion to pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Add kale to pan and cook until wilted. Add rinsed beans to pan and stir, cook until warmed through.
Spoon stuffing into each squash half.

In a small bowl, combine panko and Parmesan. Sprinkle evenly over each squash. Place into oven for about 15 minutes until heated through and breadcrumbs and cheese are golden brown.
Serve immediately with red pepper flakes and extra Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Recipe: Green Beans With Almond Pesto

From Smitten Kitchen

2 pounds green (or purple and yellow!) beans
1 cup (5 ounces or 140 grams) almonds, toasted and cooled
1 1/4 ounces (about 1/3 cup grated) parmesan or aged pecorino cheese, but no need to grate if using a food processor
1 small garlic clove, peeled and crushed
Leaves from a sprig or two of thyme
Pinches of red pepper flakes, to taste
1/4 teaspoon coarse sea or kosher salt
2 to 3 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Trim green beans — I find using kitchen shears the quickest way — and cook beans in boiling water until crisp tender, about 3 to 4 minutes for regular green beans or 2 to 3 minutes for the skinnier “haricot vert” variety. Plunge in an ice water bath to fully cool. Drain and pat dry. (If you have no patience for the precision of ice water baths, take the green beans out a full minute early as they will continue cooking as they cool.)

In food processor, grind almonds, cheese, garlic, thyme, pepper and salt to a coarse paste. Add vinegar, and pulse again. Stir in oil and adjust seasonings to taste.

Toss cooled green beans with almond pesto. Drizzling with extra olive oil for a fresh glisten. Dig in.

Serving suggestions: a mix of cherry tomatoes, grilled bread drizzled with olive oil and rubbed with a halved garlic clove or even grilled sausages.

Recipe: Pickled Hot Pepper Strips

from Summer In A Jar

1 cup white vinegar 
1/2 cup water 
1 garlic clove 
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds 
1/2 teaspoon pickling salt 
2 cups hot peppers, seeded and cut into strips

In a nonaluminum saucepan, heat 1 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup water for each pint of peppers. Into each hot, sterilized pint jar, place 1 garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, 1/2 teaspoon pickling salt, and 2 cups hot pepper strips, leaving about 1/2 inch head space. Fill with the hot brine, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Be sure to remove any air bubbles that are trapped inside the jar. Seal. Process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes. Adjust seals if necessary. Let cool undisturbed for 12 hours. Store in a cool, dry place. If 

*be sure to reserach and follow canning safety procedure if you've never canned before!

Recipe: Lentil Salad With Carrots, Tomatoes, & Peppers

Adapted from Epicurious

1/2 lb brown lentils, rinsed
2 bay leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bell peppers, cored, seeded and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup diced carrot
1/2 cup chopped tomato
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced kalamata olives
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Place lentils, bay leaves, and garlic in a large saucepan. Add water to cover and bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until lentils are tender. Drain, discarding bay leaves. Transfer to a bowl. Add peppers, carrot, tomato, feta, olives, onion, and parsley. Toss to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, salt, and black pepper. Pour over lentil mixture and toss.

Recipe: Roasted Peppers with Capers and Mozzarella

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

3 bell peppers 
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons capers, drained
2 tablespoons basil, chopped
1/2 pound ball of mozzarella, sliced (this is a great place to use the really fresh stuff, if you can get it)

Roast the peppers: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line peppers on a large baking sheet and roast them for 45 minutes to 1 hour, using tongs to rotate them 1/4 of the way, rotisserie-style, every 15 minutes. It’s safer to extend the cooking time than shorten it, as the skins will only come off easily if they’re fully cooked.

Once they’re fully roasted, cover the pepper tray with another piece of foil and let the peppers cool. When they’re cool enough to handle, remove the skins. Remove seeds and slice sections of pepper into 1/4-inch wide strips.

Toss peppers with red wine vinegar, garlic and a few pinches of salt. Cover and let marinate for an hour or overnight (and up to 4 days) in the fridge.

To serve, arrange peppers on a plate. Adjust seasonings, adding salt, freshly ground black pepper or additional vinegar, to taste. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with capers and basil and arrange mozzarella over salad.

Eat with some crusty bread and a glass of wine, preferably al fresco.