Eye for a Recipe

This recipe from the July 2013 issue of Food and Wine doesn’t take long to make and is a great way to use up the season’s bountiful crop of cherry tomatoes. The recipe calls for chorizo, but I used cooked hot Italian sausage instead. Be sure to have crusty bread on the table to sop up the delicious juices!

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Chorizo may contain artificial ingredients, so if you can’t find an all-natural product, substitute cooked hot Italian sausage that contains no additives or preservatives. Look for cannellini or white kidney beans with only salt added, such as PC Blue Menu brand.

Cook chorizo with garlic

Add cherry tomatoes, followed by seasoning, beans and mussels

Mussels with white beans and chorizo

Ingredients:

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced

2 ounces dried chorizo, diced

10 cherry tomatoes, halved

Pinch of crushed red pepper

Salt

Ground black pepper

One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained

2 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded

Chopped parsley and grilled bread, for serving

Preparation:

In a large, deep skillet, combine the olive oil with the garlic and chorizo and cook over high heat for 1 minute. Add the cherry tomatoes and crushed red pepper, season with salt and black pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the cannellini beans, mussels and ½ cup of water, cover and cook over high heat until the mussel shells open, about 3 minutes; discard any mussels that don’t open. Transfer the mussels, beans, tomatoes and chorizo to deep bowls, sprinkle with parsley and serve with grilled bread. Serves 2-4.

From the July 2013 issue of Food and Wine

If you haven’t tried radicchio on the grill, you don’t know what you are missing. When raw, this red leaf chicory is bitter and spicy, making it a great addition to summer salads. When grilled, however, the bitterness mellows and the radicchio becomes tender and smoky. It’s an excellent side dish for most barbecued meats, including this grilled chicken recipe from the July 2013 issue of Canadian Living.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Look for an all-natural grainy mustard, such as President’s Choice Old Fashioned Dijon and a balsamic vinegar with no sulfites added. Make sure the goat cheese does not contain preservatives, and use local honey.

Cut the radicchio into four wedges, keeping root end intact, and drizzle with dressing

Baste the chicken toward the end of its cooking time

Grill the radichio quickly, while the chicken is resting

Grilled chicken with balsamic radicchio

Ingredients:

2 tbsp (30 ml) liquid honey

1 tbsp (15 ml) grainy mustard

¼ tsp (1 ml) salt

¼ tsp (1 ml) pepper

1 lb (454 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 heads radicchio lettuce

2 tbsp (30 ml) balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

1/3 cup (75 ml) crumbled goat cheese

1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh chives

Preparation:

Stir together honey, mustard and half each of the salt and pepper; set aside.

Place chicken on greased grill over medium heat; close lid and grill, turning once, until browned, about 8 minutes. Brush with half of the honey mixture. Grill, covered and turning and brushing frequently with honey mixture, until no longer pink inside, about 7 minutes. Transfer to cutting board and tent with foil; let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

Meanwhile, keeping root end intact, cut each radicchio into 4 wedges. Whisk together vinegar, oil and remaining salt and pepper; drizzle over radicchio.

Add to grill; grill, covered and turning once, until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to platter; top with goat cheese and chives. Serve with sliced chicken. Serves 4.

From the July 2013 issue of Canadian Living

If you want to get dinner on the table in a hurry, you can’t go wrong with grilled shrimp. Marinate peeled and deveined shrimp while you preheat the barbecue, pop them on skewers and grill for about five minutes. This recipe from the Summer 2013 issue of the LCBO’s Food and Drink magazine uses a simple but flavourful marinade of fresh tarragon, lemon juice and olive oil. Serve with rice, greens, a bean salad or, as I did, the season’s first corn on the cob. If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before you thread the shrimp onto them; otherwise they may burn up on the grill.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

I use frozen shrimp, because the ingredients are listed on the bag. Look for a brand with no preservatives except salt. Be sure to use fresh lemon juice.

Ingredients:

1 lb. (500 g) large (21/25 size) uncooked shrimp, peeled

3 tbsp (45 ml) lemon juice

2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh tarragon leaves

1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil

Salt and pepper

Marinate shrimp in lemon juice, tarragon and olive oil

If you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for a half hour first

Grill the shrimp for about five minutes, or until pink and cooked through

Lemon tarragon shrimp with corn on the cob

Preparation:

Grease grill and preheat to medium-high. While barbecue is preheating, place shrimp, lemon juice, tarragon and oil in a bowl and toss to coat.

Just before grilling, remove shrimp from marinade and thread onto skewers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Place shrimp on grill and barbecue until pink, turning occasionally, about five minutes or until done. Serves 4.

From the Summer 2013 issue of Food and Drink

Chicken cutlets cook in no time at all, so this recipe from the Summer 2013 issue of the LCBO’s Food and Drink is a good choice for a quick weeknight supper. If you can’t find cutlets, slice a skinless, boneless chicken breast in half lengthwise and pound with the smooth side of a meat tenderizer to an even thickness. The cutlets are pan-seared with fresh sage and served with stir-fried green beans, fennel and red onion. I didn’t have fennel and the mélange was fine without it. Orzo or rice with chopped chives is a good accompaniment. It’s best to sear the chicken in two batches; if the pan is too crowded the chicken will steam and won’t develop a brown exterior.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use butter that contains one ingredient: cream. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice, as the concentrates contain sodium benzoate and are bitter.

Pound chicken to an even thickness

Sear chicken in batches, adding sage to second batch

The chicken should develop a nice brown exterior

Stir fry the vegetables in a separate pan

Pan-fried chicken with stir fried green beans and onion

Ingredients:

1 tbsp (15 ml) butter

2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lb. (500 g) thin chicken cutlets or boneless skinless chicken breasts, split in half and pounded thinly

Salt and pepper

6 sage leaves

2 handfuls of green beans

1 small fennel bulb, cored and cut into thin strips

¼ small red onion, cut into thin strips

½ lemon, juiced

Preparation:

Heat butter and half the oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add garlic. Stir just until garlic is golden, remove and discard. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Working in two batches, so as to not crowd the pan, add half the cutlets; cook until a deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes in total. Add sage leaves while cooking the second batch.

Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a large, separate frying pan over medium-high heat. Add green beans, fennel and red onion. Season with salt and pepper. Stir-fry until beans are tender, reducing heat as needed, 5 to 10 minutes.

Return first batch of cutlets to pan and reheat. Squeeze lemon juice over top and swish meat in any juices. Place vegetable mixture on plate. Evenly divide cutlets between plates, placing over vegetables. Serves 4.

From the Summer 2013 issue of Food and Drink

Unlike regular couscous—small grains of durum wheat—Israeli couscous is a toasted pasta shaped in tiny balls, about the size of small peas. The cooking method is different too; to make regular couscous, you usually boil liquid, add the couscous, turn off the heat and let the couscous steam and absorb the liquid. To cook Israeli couscous, which is called Ptitim in Israel, you add the pasta to boiling water, reduce the heat and simmer until the pasta absorbs the liquid. Israel couscous is firmer than the regular kind, so it is an excellent addition to summer salads, such as this one from the early summer issue of the LCBO’s Food and Drink, which also features cherry tomatoes, corn and fresh herbs. Be sure to toss most of the dressing with the cooked couscous while it is still hot, so it can absorb the flavours.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

This recipe uses all-natural ingredients. Be sure to use a real lemon, not lemon concentrate.

Israeli couscous is toasted pasta shaped like peas

Roast cherry or grape tomatoes

You can roast the corn or saute it

Tossing the dressing with hot couscous helps the pasta absorb the flavours

Roasted cherry tomato, corn & Israeli couscous salad

Ingredients:

12 oz (375 g) container multicoloured cherry tomatoes, cut in half, about 1½ cups (375 ml)
¼ cup (60 ml) corn, fresh or frozen
3 tbsp (45 ml) olive oil
½ tsp (2 ml) dried oregano leaves
1¼ cups (310 ml) water
½ tsp (2 ml) salt
¾ cup (175 ml) Israeli couscous
1 lemon
¼ tsp (1 ml) each salt and pepper
¼ cup (60 ml) each coarsely chopped mint and thinly snipped chives

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).

Place tomatoes and corn on baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tsp (10 ml) olive oil then sprinkle with oregano. Roast just until tomatoes begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile bring water and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add couscous, reduce heat and simmer covered until water is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.

Finely grate 1 tsp (5 ml) peel from lemon into a small bowl. Then squeeze out 3 tbsp (45 ml) juice. Whisk in remaining oil, salt and pepper.

Place cooked couscous in a bowl. Add most of the lemon dressing to couscous while it’s still hot. Stir couscous, letting it cool in dressing. Once cool, stir in tomato mixture and fresh herbs. Taste and add remaining lemon dressing if needed.

From the early summer issue of Food and Drink magazine

The salad in this recipe from Real Simple is made with farro, a type of grain in the wheat family. It is also known as emmer and often confused with spelt. But, by any name, it is a great summer salad ingredient because of its nutty taste and chewy texture. In this recipe, chicken thighs are seasoned with lemon zest, salt and pepper, then are quickly seared and placed in the oven to finish cooking. You could also grill them. Meanwhile, you can cook the farro and prepare the other salad ingredients, which include asparagus, radishes, Feta cheese and mint. This salad would be great for a picnic or potluck, because the farro doesn’t get soggy.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Be sure to use fresh lemon juice and look for a brand of Feta cheese with no artificial ingredients.

Sprinkle chicken thighs with lemon zest, salt and pepper

The farro takes about 30 minutes to cook

Saute the asparagus in the same skillet you used to sear the chicken

Radishes add colour and crunch to the farro salad

Lemon-pepper chicken thighs with farro salad

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 ml) whole-grain farro

Kosher salt and black pepper

2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil

8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice

1 bunch asparagus (about 1 pound or 454 g), trimmed and cut into 1½ -inch pieces (3.8 cm)

4 radishes, cut into wedges

3 ounces (85 g) Feta, crumbled

¼ cup (60 ml) torn mint leaves

Preparation:

Heat oven to 400° F. Cook the farro in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with the lemon zest and ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) each salt and pepper. Brown the chicken in batches, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet; reserve the skillet. Roast the chicken until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a thigh registers 165° F, (75° C) 18 to 22 minutes.

Add the asparagus to the drippings in the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, tossing occasionally, until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the asparagus to the bowl with the farro, along with the radishes, Feta, lemon juice, mint leaves, the remaining tablespoon of oil, and ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) each salt and pepper; toss to combine. Serve the chicken with the farro salad. Serves 4.

From the May 2013 issue of Real Simple magazine

I’ve been missing the herbs from my garden, so I did the next best thing and bought a bunch at the grocery store to make this fabulous steak salad from the June 2013 issue of Bon Appetit. Dill, mint, basil, cilantro and chives all work well in this dish. Grilled eggplant and corn are added to the greens, making this a substantial side dish for grilled meat. I grilled the eggplant and the steak in a ridged cast iron pan to get nice marks. I cut the kernels from the corn cobs and sautéed them in a little butter.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Look for a red wine vinegar with no sulfites added; I used Eden Organic brand.

I grilled the eggplant in a ridged cast iron pan

Grill the corn or saute the kernels in a little butter

Toss the eggplant and corn with the herbs and mixed greens

Steak salad with herbs

Ingredients:

1 shallot, thinly sliced crosswise, separated into rings

¼ cup red wine vinegar

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

1 medium eggplant, cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges, wedges halved crosswise

2 ears of corn, husked

1 pound hanger or skirt steak

2 cups baby arugula

2 cups (packed) assorted fresh tender herb leaves (such as basil, cilantro, and mint)

Preparation:

Toss shallot and vinegar in a small bowl; let sit 5 minutes. Whisk in ½ cup oil. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper; set aside.

Prepare grill for medium-high heat. Brush eggplant and corn with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning often, until tender and charred in spots, 10–15 minutes; let cool. Cut kernels from cobs.

Meanwhile, season steak with salt and pepper and grill until medium-rare, 5–7 minutes per side for hanger steak, about 2 minutes per side for skirt steak. Let rest, then thinly slice against the grain.

Toss arugula, herbs, eggplant, corn, steak, and reserved vinaigrette in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Serves 4.

From the June 2013 issue of Bon Appetit

This salad from the April 2013 issue of Bon Appetit is a delicious and beautiful spring dish that would pair well with grilled meat, poultry or fish. You could omit the bacon to make it a vegetarian main or side dish. I used frozen edamame (shelled soybeans) instead of fava beans, which can be hard to find and difficult to peel. The dressing for this salad is good, but a little bland. Next time I will try it with a balsamic vinegar-based dressing.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Look for cheese with no added colour, bacon without nitrites and use freshly squeezed lemon juice.

I used edamame instead of fava beans

Boil the shallot rings in oil until crisp

Blanch the asparagus, peas and edamame

Crisp shallots and bacon are used to garnish this salad

Pea, asparagus and edamame salad

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon finely grated Pecorino or Parmesan

1 tablespoon (or more) fresh lemon juice

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

2 cups fresh fava beans (from about 2 pounds pods) or frozen fava beans, thawed, or frozen edamame

2 bunches asparagus, trimmed, stalks peeled if thick

1 cup shelled fresh peas (from about 1 pound pods) or frozen peas, thawed

½ cup vegetable oil

1 shallot, thinly sliced

4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Preparation:

Whisk olive oil, Pecorino, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a medium bowl to blend. Season with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice, if desired. Set dressing aside.

If using fresh fava beans or frozen edamame, cook in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a colander set in a bowl of ice water (do not cook frozen fava beans). Drain and peel; place in a large bowl.

Return water in saucepan to a boil; add asparagus and cook until just tender, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, transfer to colander in ice water.

If using fresh peas, return water in saucepan to a boil; add peas and cook until tender, about 3 minutes (do not cook frozen peas). Drain; transfer to colander in ice water. Drain vegetables. Add to bowl with fava beans.

Combine vegetable oil and shallot in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until shallot is golden brown and crisp, 10-12 minutes. Transfer shallot to a paper towel-lined plate.

Add dressing to bowl with vegetables, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.

Transfer salad to a serving platter and top with shallot and bacon. Serves 6. Dressing and vegetables can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill.

From the April 2013 issue of Bon Appetit