Category: Sides

Servings: 8
Preheat: 0
Prep Time: 
Source: Fine Cooking, Issue #131

Lime and pistachios add brightness and crunch to crisp-tender carrots. This recipe is designed so that you can do most of the work well in advance, making it perfect for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Then all you need to do is cook the carrots and toss them with their seasonings. See the Make-Ahead Tips for details.

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup salted, roasted, shelled pistachios
1/2 cup lightly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 Tbs. packed fresh mint leaves
2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 oz. finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1/2 cup)
1 tsp. packed finely grated lime zest
4 to 6 drops hot sauce, such as Sriracha
Kosher salt
3 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into pieces about 2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.
2 tsp. fresh lime juice; more as needed

Directions: 

Make the pistachio butter

Coarsely chop the pistachios in a food processor. Set aside half of the nuts. Pulse the remaining nuts until they are quite fine but not pasty. Add the parsley and mint, and pulse again until the herbs are finely chopped. Add the butter, cheese, zest, hot sauce, and 1 tsp. salt; pulse until well blended. If working ahead, scrape the butter onto plastic wrap, shape into a log, wrap, and freeze. Seal the reserved pistachios in a small zip-top freezer bag or other airtight container and freeze.

Cook and finish the carrots

Take the butter out of the refrigerator if made ahead. Combine the carrots and 1 tsp. salt in a 4-quart saucepan and add enough water to just cover. Cover the pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook to your liking, about 5 minutes for crisp-tender.

Reserve about 1/4 cup of the cooking water, drain the carrots, and then return them to the pan. Add the butter in pieces and toss to melt and coat the carrots. Add the lime juice and some of the reserved water, if necessary. Season to taste with salt and more lime juice. Serve topped with the reserved pistachios.

Make Ahead Tips

The butter can be made up to one month ahead and frozen (along with the reserved pistachios). Thaw the butter in the refrigerator for one day and the pistachios at room temperature.

The carrots can be peeled and cut up to two days ahead. Seal in a zip-top bag or other airtight container and refrigerate.

Servings: —
Source: Coke Farms

Ingredients
2-3 burdock roots
1TB peanut oil
1TB sesame seeds
1-2 TB soy sauce
1 pinch of chili flakes
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
Dash of sake (optional)

Directions
Scrub roots and scrape skin with a sharp knife under running water. Keep burdock in water to keep from turning brown. Cut into 2″” sections and cut into match sticks. Keep cut pieces in water as you cut.

Heat peanut oil in wok on medium heat. When a bead of water evaporates on contact, add cut burdock, and stir-fry for about 5 minutes or until tender, but still firm. Add sesame seeds and chili flakes. Continue cooking for another minute, then add sesame oil and soy sauce.

Burdock is commonly used in Japanese cuisine and macrobiotic cooking. Burdock is very nutritious and has an earthy, nutty flavor. May also be used as an addition in soups and stews.

Servings: 6
Source: Fine Cooking August/September 2001 pg 39
Use baby spinach when it’s available; it’s sweeter, less gritty, easier to clean, and there’s no need to trim the stems.

Ingredients
2½ lb. fresh spinach, stems trimmed, leaves rinsed
½ tsp. coarse salt or sea salt
½ cup water
¼ cup fruity extra-virgin olive oil; more to taste
½ medium onion, finely chopped
3 Tbs. golden raisins
3 Tbs. pine nuts
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Put the spinach leaves in a large pot with a tight fitting lid (if all the spinach doesn’t fit, add the rest once it starts cooking and collapsing). Add the salt and water and cook, covered, on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is wilted, 2 or 3 min. Drain in a colander, let cool, and squeeze out the liquid with your hands. You’ll end up with about 2 cups cooked spinach.

Heat 3 Tbs. of the olive oil in a large sauté pan set over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until it begins to turn golden, about 5 min. Stir in the raisins and cook for another 3 to 4 min. Stir in the pine nuts and sauté until they’re lightly toasted, about 3 min. add the spinach and cook until any excess liquid has evaporated. Season generously with salt and pepper and drizzle each serving (or the whole serving platter) with the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil.

Servings: —
Source: New Orleans Cook Book

Ingredients
3 Tbs lard
2 C thinly sliced onions
2 lbs fresh okra, stems and tips removed, sliced ½ inch thick
1½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground pepper
? tsp cayenne
½ tsp mace
¼ tsp sugar
¼ tsp chili powder
1-lb can whole peeled tomatoes, drained
¼ tsp dried mustard
2 tsp Creole mustard
dried thyme

Directions
Sauté lard over medium heat. Sauté the onion until light brown (15 min). Add the sliced okra and Sauté for 15 min more, gradually adding the salt, pepper, cayenne, mace, sugar, and chili powder.

Add the drained tomatoes and thyme and continue to sauté. Break up the tomatoes with stirring spoon as the mixture cooks. Add mustard. Cover and cook for 30 minutes longer. Stir from time to time.

Serve hot or chilled as a salad.
“

Servings: 4
Source: Gourmet
March 1997
Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
1/4 cup garlic cloves (about 6), unpeeled
Make the following recipe

Ingredients
BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
2 pounds russet (baking) or red potatoes

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 to 1 cup milk

Directions
Peel potatoes and cut into 2-inch pieces. (If using red potatoes, it is not necessary to peel them). In a large heavy saucepan
simmer potatoes in salted water to cover by 1 inch 10 minutes, or until tender, and drain in a colander. In pan or bowl
combine potatoes, butter, and 3/4 cup milk. With a potato masher mash potatoes until smooth, adding more milk if
necessary to make creamy. In pan reheat potatoes over moderately low heat, stirring, and season with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Arrange garlic in one layer on a double thickness of foil and wrap tightly. Roast garlic in middle of oven 45 minutes, or until
very soft. Unwrap garlic and cool slightly. Peel cloves and with a potato masher mash into potatoes until creamy.

Servings: 8
Preheat: 375°
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 1 hr
Source: Gourmet
November 1999

Ingredients
3 lb large sweet potatoes, peeled and halved crosswise (garnet “”yams”” work best)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/3 cup bourbon

Directions
Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Cut each potato half lengthwise into fourths. Steam potatoes on a steamer rack set over boiling water, covered, until just tender, 10 to 15 minutes, then cool, uncovered. Transfer to a buttered 3-quart shallow baking dish.

Simmer brown sugar, butter, water, and salt, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and syrup is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in bourbon to taste. Drizzle syrup over potatoes and bake in middle of oven, basting occasionally, until syrup is thickened, about 1 1/4 hours.

Cooks’ note:
• Sweet potatoes may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat before serving.