Recipe: Grilled Lettuce

Pic From Something New For Dinner

2021 Week 3 Newsletter

Recipe from Something New For Dinner

Fire up that grill and throw on some lettuce! It may sound strange if you have never tried it before but the tender lettuces in your box this week can be utterly transformed by heat. Imagine crisp caramelized edges contrasting with a sweet center- talk about a unique alternative to your average salad! Add some grilled steak or tofu (or even fish) to make this a meal. 

2 T finely chopped shallot

1 T balsamic vinegar

1 T Spanish sherry vinegar

6 T olive oil, plus some for brushing the lettuce

2 small heads of lettuce, sliced in half from stem to stern

3 ounces crumbled feta cheese

1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes

In a small bowl combine shallot and vinegars. Whisk in olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Heat grill to medium and lightly oil the grate. Brush the lettuce with a little olive oil and grill for 1 - 2 minutes on either side until lettuce is lightly charred.

Plate lettuce cut-side up, drizzle with dressing, top with feta cheese and sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes.

Recipe: Radish Sandwiches

Pic from The Splendid Table

Week 3 Newsletter

Recipe from The Splendid Table

Not only is this another wonderful hot weather meal, the butter in the recipe will also tame the spiciness of your radishes (just a tip if you're trying to introduce a picky eater)

1 standard-size baguette

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

1 tsp flaky sea salt

1 bunch radishes, trimmed, washed, and thinly sliced

1 small handful salad greens of choice

Pinch fresh garden herbs such as chives or tarragon (optional)

Slice the baguette lengthwise and crosswise, creating 4 quarters. Place the bread on a cutting board cut sides up. Spread each quarter with softened butter, and sprinkle with salt. Pile sliced radishes onto each quarter, pressing them firmly into the butter. Lay the greens and herbs across the bottom quarters, and top with the corresponding tops. Press down on the halves firmly with your palms. Place the sandwiches on a cutting board and cut into small sandwiches or hors d’oeuvres.

Recipe: Cilantro Stem Green Sauce

2021 Week 2 Newsletter

From Save The Food

We all know that cilantro leaves add a wonderful citrusy herbal fragrance to many dishes, but the stems are also packed with flavor and worth saving! This recipe for a quick green sauce (for nachos, tacos, and more!) can be frozen for later use. I also love poaching chicken breasts with cilantro stems and a couple slices of ginger to add to an entrée salad. 

~Rae

1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1⁄2 cup fresh cilantro stems (from 1 bunch of cilantro)

1⁄2 cup olive oil or neutral oil, such as organic canola or grapeseed

1⁄2 tsp ground cumin

In a blender or the mixing cup of a small food processor or immersion blender, combine the vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper. Swirl a few times to dissolve the salt. Add the stems, olive oil, and cumin — puree. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Pic from Save The Food

Recipe: Collard Wontons

Pic From Two Red Bowls

2021 Week 1 Newsletter

From Two Red Bowls

These are a huge hit in my household (especially with my 5yr old who normally won't eat anything green)! I use one package of wonton wrappers and fry up any leftover filling in little patties to eat as a snack. Try the wontons in the broth recommended in the recipe or serve them with dipping sauce as a side dish to noodles with stir-fried Pac Choi!

~Rae

for the wontons:

½ pound collard greens, roughly chopped

1 pound ground pork

¼ cup thinly sliced scallions (2 to 3 scallions)

1 tablespoon finely grated ginger root

3 tablespoons Shaoxing rice wine, dry sherry, or sake

2 tablespoons sesame oil 2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon sugar (optional)

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon white pepper 70 to 80 wonton wrappers

(15 to 16 ounces, or about 1⅓ packages; keep unused wrappers covered in plastic wrap, sealed

in a Ziploc bag, and frozen for later use)

for the broth:

4 cups water

4 cups chicken broth

1 to 2 teaspoons soy sauce, for serving

½ teaspoon sesame oil, for serving

¼ cup thinly sliced scallions (2 to 3 scallions), for serving

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the greens and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer until the greens are bright green and beginning to turn tender, but still have some bite, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and add to a food processor. Pulse until finely shredded.

In a large bowl, combine the greens, pork, scallions, ginger, rice wine, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar (if using), salt, and white pepper. Using chopsticks or a wooden spoon, stir vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and the filling forms a thick paste.

Prepare a small bowl of water for sealing the wrappers. For each wrapper, place 1 teaspoon of filling in the center. Dab a bit of water on one edge and fold the wrapper in half, taking care to seal the wrapper well around the filling. Dab water on one corner of the folded seam and bring the two folded corners together to form a small bundle. Place on a tray and repeat. You should end up with 70 to 80 wontons. To save them for later, freeze on the tray, then place in a Ziploc bag. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.

When you’re ready to cook the wontons, in a large pot, bring the water and chicken broth to a boil. Add about 20 wontons, stirring gently to ensure they don’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Cook until the water comes back to a boil and the wontons float to the surface, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the wontons to plate. Repeat with the remaining wontons until they’re all cooked, or freeze a portion of the uncooked wontons for later. To cook from frozen, use the same method, but boil for 4 to 6 minutes, until the wontons float.

To serve, divide the wontons among several small bowls and ladle a bit of the cooking broth over each bowl. Drizzle lightly with soy sauce and a few drops of sesame oil, and top with scallions. Enjoy immediately.

Recipe: Cream Of Kohlrabi Soup

Pic from The Spruce Eats

From 2021 Week 1 Newsletter

I always had trouble figuring out what to do with Kohlrabi until my best friend (a former Lowlands CSA member) made me this dish and I fell in love! Try serving with toasted bread spread with oregano compound butter or plain butter with a bit of minced green garlic.

- Rae

2 tablespoons butter

1 medium onion (chopped)

1 pound kohlrabi bulbs (peeled and chopped)

2 1/2 cups stock (vegetable)

2 1/2 cups milk

1 bay leaf

Salt (to taste)

Freshly ground pepper (to taste)

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pan with a lid. Add 1 medium chopped onion and cook gently until soft, about 10 minutes.

Add 1 pound kohlrabi bulbs, peeled and chopped, and cook 2 minutes.

Add 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock, 2 1/2 cups milk, and 1 bay leaf to the pan and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 25 minutes or until kohlrabi is tender. Let cool a few minutes and remove bay leaf.

Using an immersion blender, conventional blender or food processor, purée soup until smooth.

You may want to strain the soup through a fine sieve if the kohlrabi is especially fibrous.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

Recipe: Grilled Cabbage With Sausage

Image from Feasting At Home

from Feasting At Home

1 large purple cabbage

olive oil for brushing

salt and pepper

4–6 Andouille Sausages ( I used chicken, feel free to use vegan sausage)

Mustard Seed Vinaigrette:

2 tablespoons whole grain mustard

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 ½ tablespoons honey

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon fresh chives

Pre heat grill on high heat.

With the stem side pointing down, using a sharp chefs knife to slice cabbage into thin slices no thicker than ½ inch thick. Cut the core out, making a “v” —  or keep it in for easier grilling.

Clean and grease the grill well. Brush each side of cabbage with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. lower grill to med-high. Add sausages and cabbage. Grill each side of cabbage for 6-8 minutes, closing grill. You want cabbage slightly soft, but not completely collapsing. You can lower heat further, if slices are thicker, to get them to cook through. Grill the sausages until seared and plumped.

Place cabbage steaks down on a large plater. Spoon half of the dressing over top. Slice the sausages in half and steep diagonal and scatter over cabbage. Spoon remaining dressing over sausage.

Garnish with chopped chives and scatter with chive blossoms.

Recipe: Boiled Daikon

Image from The Woks Of Life

from The Woks Of Life

1 pound daikon radish(about 450 g)

1 slice ginger

1 cup water or stock (235 ml)

1 tablespoon oyster sauce (16 g)

½ teaspoon salt (about 2 g, or to taste)

¼ teaspoon sugar (about 1 g)

¼ teaspoon ground white pepper

1 scallion (chopped)

1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

Cut the daikon into half-inch thick, bite-sized pieces. In a pot, add 1 slice ginger, 1 cup water or stock (235ml), 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (16 g), ½ teaspoon salt (2 g), ¼ teaspoon sugar (1 g), ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper (a large pinch), and stir to combine. Add the daikon.

Cover and bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 20 minutes until the daikon is fork tender, stirring occasionally.

Right before serving, add in the chopped scallion, and a few drops of sesame oil (optional). Mix well and serve!

Recipe: Spinach Rice Gratin from 101 Cookbooks

Image from 101 Cookbooks

2 1/2 cups leftover/pre-cooked brown rice, room temp
1 1/2 cups cups well finely chopped spinach
4 ounces firm organic tofu, crumbled
10 black olives, chopped
1/2 medium red onion, diced
1/3 cup pine nuts or almonds, toasted
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup shredded Manchego cheese (or Parm, or Gruyere)
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Rack in the top third. Grease a 10-inch round baking dish (or equivalent) with a bit of olive oil.

In a large bowl combine the rice, spinach, and tofu. Now, reserving a bit of each for garnish, stir in the olives, and red onion, pine nuts and olive oil. Now stir in 1/4 cup of the cheese. In a small bowl whisk together the eggs, and salt. Fold the eggs into the rice mixture, pour into the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for 30 minutes or until the casserole is set, and the top toasty and golden. Remove from the oven, and sprinkle with remaining onions, olives, and nuts. Sprinkle with a bit more salt before serving - or taste and get a sense of whether you need any.

Recipe: Collards & Bok Choy

from Chef Marcus Samuelsson

6 bacon slices

1/2 cup coconut milk

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon grainy mustard

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

4 cloves garlic, peeled and halved

4 cups (about 2 bunches) collard greens, very thinly sliced

4 cups (about 2 heads) bok choy, very thinly sliced

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Drain on paper towels, and crumble into small pieces. Set aside.

In small saucepan, bring the coconut milk and soy sauce to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the mustard and crumbled bacon. Set aside.

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large straight-sided pan over low heat. Add the garlic, and slowly toast until pale golden brown, about 10 minutes (be careful not to let it burn). Lift the garlic out of the oil with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add the collard greens and cook, stirring frequently, until the greens start to wilt. Stir in the coconut milk mixture and cook for about 20 minutes, until the greens are tender and the sauce has thickened.

Recipe: Slow Braised Greens Over Pepper Jack Grits

Adapted From Darius Cooks

1 bunches of your favorite cooking greens, be sure to clean them and cut them into small pieces. 
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon of non-salted Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika
4 cups of vegetable stock

Put a large stock pot on medium heat and saute the onion and garlic for about 5 minutes until the onions start to turn translucent. Add all the greens to the pot and let them cook down. If they all don’t fit in the pot, don’t worry. Stir them every few minutes and they’ll begin to wilt. Then, keep adding until all the greens are in the pot. Add the lid and let the greens cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Then, lower the heat to just above a simmer, add the salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning, and smoked paprika. Then add about 4 cups of vegetable stock. Reserve the rest and add more if you find the liquid is getting too low. You definitely don’t want the greens to scorch or burn.

Cook the greens for 1 hour on low heat. Enjoy the aroma they make and eat them while they’re hot.

Pepper Jack Grits 
2 cups of quick cooking grits
4 cups of vegetable stock
4 tablespoons of butter
1 cup of light cream
1 cup of shredded light pepper jack cheese
salt and pepper, to taste

In a pot, bring the vegetable stock to a boil. Lower the heat and whisk in the grits. For this recipe, never stop stirring. If you do, the grits could stick to the bottom of the pot and burn. Cook the grits on low heat for about 10-12 minutes. The grits should be super thick. Stir in the light cream, butter spread, and light cheese. Taste, and if necessary, add salt and pepper.

Serve the braised greens over your grits and try adding a poached or fried egg to make an even heartier meal! 

Recipe: Thai Roasted Carrot & Golden Beet Soup

From Floating Kitchen

1 lb golden beets, trimmed and peeled
1 lb carrots, trimmed and peeled
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tsp. salt, divided
1 tsp. black pepper, divided
1 cup diced yellow onion
2-3 tablespoons red curry paste
4 cups vegetable broth
1 (13.5-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees.
Roughly chop the beets and carrots into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Toss them on a large rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and 1/2 tsp. each of the salt and black pepper. Transfer to your pre-heated oven and roast until softened, about 30-40 minutes, stirring once halfway through the cooking time. Remove and set aside.

In a large heavy-bottom pot, warm the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add the diced onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the red curry paste and the remaining salt and black pepper and cook, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes.

Add the vegetable broth and the roasted beets and carrots. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 20 minutes, or until all the vegetables are very soft. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the soup to cool slightly. Then carefully purée the soup using an immersion blender, blender or food processor with the blade attachment. Work in batches as necessary and be careful when transferring hot liquids.

Return the puréed soup to your pot and re-warm it over low-medium heat. Stir in the coconut milk. Taste and adjust for salt and black pepper.

Recipe: Kale Salad With Radishes & Dijon Tahini Dressing

Adapted from Dishing Up The Dirt

Dressing
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup water
1 1//2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon capers, drained
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons dijon style mustard
1 teaspoon honey
salt and pepper to taste

Salad
1 large bunch of kale, tough stems trimmed and torn into bite size pieces
1 grilled chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces (optional)
3-4 radishes, thinly sliced
1/2 of a small onion, diced
1/2 cup toasted raw almonds, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Use a blender or small food processor to whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing. Taste test and adjust seasonings as needed. Set aside.

Place the chopped kale in a large bowl, drizzle with 2 Tablespoons of the dressing and use your hands to massage the dressing into the leaves until they become tender and turn bright green. Toss in the remainder of the ingredients and drizzle with more dressing. Serve.

Recipe: Moroccan Carrot & Lentil Soup

From A Cedar Spoon

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium sweet onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 cups peeled and chopped carrots
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups red lentils, rinsed until water runs clear
1-15 oz can diced tomatoes
4 cups vegetable broth
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until soft, about 2 minutes then add the spices and continue to sauté about 4 minutes. Add the carrots and sauté until carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.

Add the vegetable broth, diced tomatoes and lentils and stir to combine. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, or until lentils are tender.

You can eat the soup as is with the chunks of carrots, lentils and tomatoes or you can use a handheld immersion blender or regular blender to create a creamy soup. Sometimes I blend half and keep half chunky.

Recipe: Swiss Chard Fritters from Ottolenghi’s Jerusalem

You can also substitute other hearty leafy greens if you want to try this recipe again in the future!

1 bunch chard, thick middle stems removed, leaves chopped
2 eggs
1 tsp of nutmeg
3 tbsp of flour
1 small handful chopped fresh herbs of your choice (dill, cilantro, parsley, etc)
2 cloves garlic
salt & pepper
3 oz. of feta cheese
4 tbsp. olive oil

Cook the chard leaves in boiling water for 5 minutes until wilted.
Drain and squeeze all the liquid out. Add to a food processor and add in the rest of the ingredients, except for the feta Whiz a few times until pureed. Mix in the feta cheese by hand.

Add olive oil to a large skillet (I find nonstick pans are best for fritters) and heat on high. When oil is hot, drop in heaping tablespoons of the batter. It cooks quickly, so after about a minute, carefully flip the fritters over and cook another minute or two.

You will need to do this in 2 batches.

Drain on paper towels and serve with lemon wedges.

Recipe: Leek & Goat Cheese Frittata

From Fine Cooking

3 Tbs. unsalted butter
2 Tbs. olive oil
3 large leeks (white and light-green parts only), halved lengthwise, sliced on the diagonal 1/2-inch thick, and rinsed
Kosher salt
6 large eggs
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
3 oz. goat cheese, crumbled

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.
Heat 2 Tbs. of the butter and 1 Tbs. of the olive oil in a 10-inch, ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, add the leeks and a generous pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until the leeks are tender and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate, spread in an even layer, and let cool briefly.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with 1 tsp. salt and several grinds of pepper. Add the leeks, thyme, and goat cheese and gently stir to combine.
Wipe the skillet clean and heat the remaining 1 Tbs. each butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. When the butter has melted, add the egg mixture and gently shake the pan to evenly distribute the leeks and cheese. Cook until the eggs begin to set around the edges, about 5 minutes. Gently shake the pan to be sure the frittata isn’t sticking (if necessary, slide a spatula around the perimeter to release it). Transfer the pan to the oven and continue to cook until the frittata is set in the center, about 5 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let sit for about 2 minutes. Carefully slide the frittata onto a serving plate, cut into wedges, and serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe: Sauteed Kale & Goat Cheese Crostini with Balsamic Reduction

From Adventures in Cooking

Balsamic Reduction

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Kale Crostini

5 large leaves of kale torn into pieces with the thick center veins removed and discarded
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
8 slices French bread
8 ounces goat's cheese can be feta, chèvre...any kind of goat or sheep's cheese
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
freshly ground black pepper

Simmer ingredients for the Balsamic Reduction in a small saucepan over low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until it coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature to thicken.

Sauté the kale with the olive oil and balsamic in a medium-sized frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat until the kale cooks down, shrinks, and becomes wrinkly, about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Brush both side of each slide of bread with a tablespoon of the butter and toast them on a grill or griddle until lightly golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
Sprinkle or spread 1 ounce of cheese onto each toast, sprinkle each with a pinch of black pepper, and place a few pieces of kale over the cheese. Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the crostinis and serve immediately.

Recipe: Egg Sandwich With Mustard Greens & Avocado

From Delish

2 tbsp. safflower oil
1 lb. mustard greens
Sea salt
1 large Hass avocado
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
4 large eggs
8 slice whole-grain bread
Hot sauce

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil until shimmering. Add the greens and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until tender, 1 1/2 minutes; season with salt. Transfer the greens to a bowl and keep warm.
In a small bowl, mash the avocado. Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Crack the eggs into the pan and season with salt. Cook over moderate heat until the whites are crisp, about 1 minute. Flip the eggs and cook until the whites are firm and the yolks are runny, 2 minutes longer.

Spread the avocado on 4 of the toast slices. Top with the greens and fried eggs and sprinkle with the hot sauce. Close the sandwiches, cut in half and serve right away.

Recipe: Easy Shortcut Green Onion Pancakes

from The Woks Of Life

6-8 scallions

salt (to taste)

vegetable, canola, or light olive oil (for brushing and cooking your scallion pancakes)

1 pack store-bought round, white dumpling wrappers (14 oz. or 400g)

Take the dumpling wrappers out of the refrigerator, and let them warm up a bit (they don't necessarily have to be at room temperature, but they shouldn't be cold). Wash the scallions and pat them thoroughly dry with a clean kitchen towel. Slice the scallions in half lengthwise and finely chop them.

Prepare a small dish of salt and a dish of oil, along with a pastry brush.

On a clean work surface, take a dumpling wrapper, brush it with a thin layer of oil, and lightly sprinkle with salt. Then cover with a layer of scallions. Top it with another dumpling wrapper, and lightly press it down. Repeat the process until you have 4-7 layers of dumpling wrappers.

Use a rolling pin to roll the layered dumpling skins into a pancake––however thick or thin you like. Rotate the scallion pancake as you roll to get a perfect round shape.

Heat a flat-bottomed non-stick or cast iron pan over medium heat. Spread 1 tablespoon oil around in the pan, and add the scallion pancake. Cook each side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. (Avoid using high heat, as it will burn the pancake without cooking it through).

If the pan looks dry after flipping the pancake, you can add another tablespoon of oil.

Enjoy these plain or with a dipping sauce! 

Recipe: Carrot Top Pesto

from Our Crew Member Allie!

Per Allie: “This can work for any greens really. I also like to switch around the nuts also to play with flavors (and what my pantry has)” 

1lb carrot tops (about 2 very full cups mashed down - sometimes the stems can be really woody, if this is the case, cut them higher up so its more leafy - it can mess with your food processor and creates a not so great texture) 

1/2 - 1 cup of oil ( I like to use a mix of olive oil and avocado oil - for me full olive oil is too strong)

2 -3 cloves of garlic, peeled

1/2 cup almonds (walnuts would also be good)

salt (to taste but probably 1 - 2 tsp depending on if your nuts are salted or not)

Add garlic, almonds, and greens to food processor. Turn on and drizzle in oil. After it starts to get pasty. Stop, mix and taste. Add salt and more oil as needed. Continue processing until it's smooth and everything is blended. Tastes delicious right out of the processor but even better after having a chance to mingle. Use for dressings, toss in pasta, spread on toast. Honestly it makes every dish a little happier!

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)