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Friday, May 29, 2009

Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi


Kohlrabi is a crispy, sweet tasting, delicate flavored member of the Brassica family of vegetables. It’s a distinctive looking vegetable, with a ball-like shape, pale green and purple-tinged, marked by points where the leaf-stems attached. Small kohlrabi bulbs which are young and tender generally do not require peeling. Medium to larger sizes should be peeled to remove the tough outer skin. The bulb can be sliced, cut into quarters, cubes or julienne strips and steamed until crisp-tender or sauté kohlrabi in butter or olive oil, or boil and mash like potatoes. The whole peeled kohlrabi can be added to braised dishes and stews. The crisp flesh can be served raw in salads, as a relish, or as a crunchy accompaniment to dips. The kohlrabi has delicious leaves that are tender and excellent in salads or stir-fried.


With only 36 calories, one cup of raw kohlrabi has nearly 5 grams of fiber and is an excellent source of Vitamin C and a good source of Potassium. Kohlrabi contains important phytochemicals such as indoles, sulforaphane and isothiocynates. Indoles are believed to be potentially significant anti-cancer compounds and are found in other cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. These plant compounds are not destroyed in cooking, and the bioactivity of indoles may actually be increased by cooking.


Avocado and Kohlrabi Salad


Ingredients:

3 medium kohlrabi bulbs
1 ripe avocado, diced
1 lime juiced
1/4 c. chopped green onions
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 feta cheese crumbles (optional)
salt and pepper, to taste

Peel the kohlrabi by cutting off the top and bottom, and peeling with a potato peeler. Shred with the large hole blade in the food processor. Mix together lime juice and diced avocados. Whisk together green onion, balsamic vinegar, oil, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Pour dressing over kohlrabi and mix. Add diced avocados and feta cheese.

Kohlrabi Hash Brown Fritters


4 medium kohlrabi bulbs washed, peeled

1 small onion, chopped

2 eggs slightly beaten

2 Tablespoons dried breadcrumbs

1 teaspoon salt

½ c chopped green onions

1 tsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp olive oil


Shred kohlrabi (a food processor or salad shooter is great for this task); squeeze out excess moisture. Combine all ingredients except oil in a large mixing bowl; stir until well blended. Heat oil in a large skillet. Sauté kohlrabi mixture in batches (I like to use a cookie scoop to portion out the mixture); sautéing until golden, about 4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Serve with a bowl of yogurt or sour cream with chopped chives as a condiment. Serve with: Plain nonfat Greek yogurt or sour cream with chopped chives.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Broccoli Rabe, Swiss Chard, Escarole, and Bok Choy

Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli Rabe (Rapini) and Chickpeas

Orecchiette is the prestigious pasta of Puglia, the heel of the Italian boot. The name means "little ears," and the indentations in the pasta catch the sauce. The rim of the orecchiette, a bit thicker than the depressed center, stays firm when you cook it, creating an interesting textural contrast as you eat.

The traditional Pugliese way to eat orecchiette is with broccoli rabe, also known as rapini, in a simple sauce seasoned with red pepper flakes. You can substitute sliced fresh sage for the crushed red pepper flakes if you would like a milder taste. Makes 3-4 servings.

Ingredients:

10 oz orecchiette pasta (little ear-shaped pasta) or penne
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1- 15 ½ -ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and patted dry
½ tsp of crushed red pepper flakes or 1 Tbsp thinly sliced fresh sage for a milder dish
½ pound bunch broccoli rabe (rapini), trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Squeeze of fresh lemon juice plus salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook orecchiette in large pot of boiling salted water until pasta is tender but still firm to bite, al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in another large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and stir 30 seconds. Add garbanzo beans and sauté until garbanzo beans are beginning to color, about 8 minutes. Add red pepper flakes (or sliced fresh sage) and sauté 1 minute to blend flavors.

Add broccoli rabe, wine, and 1/2 cup reserved cooking liquid to pot. Cover and simmer until broccoli rabe is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Uncover and add pasta and Parmesan cheese; toss to combine. Mix in more of reserved cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if pasta is dry. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Transfer to large bowl and serve.


Swiss Chard and Herb Tart
I have made this tart several times using different types of greens each time. My favorite is swiss chard, but feel free to use any type that you have on hand such as spinach, broccoli greens, kale, collards, etc.

Ingredients:
1 lb swiss chard, stems and ribs removed
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 large egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1/4 tsp minced fresh thyme
1/4 tsp minced fresh oregano
1/8 tsp grated nutmeg
1 (17 oz) pkg frozen puff pastry, thawed (2 sheets)

Directions:

Cook chard in large pot of boiling salted water until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Drain. Squeeze out liquid and chop. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; saute 1 minute. Add chard; sauté until excess liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes. Transfer chard mixture to large bowl. Cool slightly. Mix in ricotta and next 7 ingredients. Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 375°F. Roll out 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface into a 14-inch square. Transfer pastry to 9-inch-diameter tart pan. Trim edges, leaving 1-inch overhang. Fill pastry with chard mixture. Lightly brush pastry overhang with pastry brush dipped into water.Roll out second pastry sheet to 13-inch square. Using tart pan as guide, trim pastry square to 10-inch round. Drape over filling. Seal edges and fold inches. Bake until pastry is golden brown, about 40-45 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.Remove pan sides from tart. Transfer to platter. Cut into wedges and serve.



Escarole alla Romana

The pan will be full with the fresh escarole, but the volume reduces quickly when cooked.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/3 cup golden raisins
2 tablespoons pine nuts
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 pound escarole, coarsely chopped (about 2 heads)
salt, to taste

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add raisins, nuts, pepper, and garlic; sauté 2 minutes or until nuts are golden brown, stirring constantly. Add broth and escarole; cook 3 minutes or until wilted. Season with salt to taste.


Sauteed Bok Choy and Broccoli


Ingredients:
1 pound bok choy
1 pound broccoli
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as canola
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
1 to 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Cut white stalks from bok choy; slice into 1-inch pieces. Coarsely chop green leaves.
Peel stalks from broccoli; slice 1/4 inch thick. Cut florets into bite-size pieces. In a large skillet, boil 1/2 cup water. Add bok choy stalks and broccoli; cover. Simmer over medium-low until broccoli is bright green, 5 to 7 minutes. Uncover; cook on high until water evaporates, 2 to 4 minutes. Add bok choy leaves, oil, ginger, and garlic. Cook, tossing often, until garlic is fragrant, 2 minutes. Stir in soy sauce.