Salads

Panzanella (Bread Salad With Fresh Tomatoes)

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 1 baguette, 24 inches long, preferably 2 days old 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup chopped garlic 2 pounds medium tomatoes 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons salt, plus more as needed 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, […]

Cakes

Pear Skillet Cake

Makes 12 servings Ingredients 2 cups cake flour 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground mace 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 2 Bartlett pears, peeled and cored 2 egg […]

Side Dishes

Potato Purée

Makes 6 servings Variations: Fried Garlic and Asiago Cheese Mashed Potatoes: While the potatoes are boiling, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add 6 tablespoons roughly chopped garlic and fry until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the cream and milk and allow the flavors to blend together. Add […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Pre-Salt Meat for Perfect Results Every Time

If may sound a little basic, but today’s lesson is about seasoning meat before you cook it. Revolutionary, right? Sure, of course, we all know how important adequately seasoning food with salt is. Salt, in all of its varieties, primes our taste buds to enjoy food. But salt also primes […]

Salads

Red Pepper Orzo

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 1/2 pound orzo 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste 1/4 cup olive oil 1 red onion, diced 1 red pepper, diced 1 green pepper, diced 1 fennel bulb, finely diced 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon thyme, chopped 1/2 cup tomato juice 1/4 cup parsley, chopped […]

Salads

Roasted Beet and Orange Salad

Serves 8 Ingredients 8 beets, green tops trimmed 5 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp salt, or to taste Pinch cayenne pepper 40 orange segments (skin removed, see note below) 1/2 cup red onion julienne 1/2 cup shelled walnut halves 1 cup […]

Soups and Stews

Stracciatella

Makes 4 to 6 servings Ingredients 4 large eggs 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1 oz) 2 tablespoons plain dry bread crumbs (optional) 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest Pinch of salt 4 cups Brodo (made with chicken) Directions Whisk together the eggs, cheese, bread crumbs, lemon zest, and salt in a medium […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Makes 2 cups Ingredients 6 garlic cloves Salt, as needed 1/3 cup pine nuts 2 cups sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed 1 cup basil leaves, plus as needed for garnish 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Directions Mash the garlic and salt together […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Types of Salt for Cooking and Baking

It doesn’t get much attention, but salt is one of the most important ingredients in everyday cooking and baking. It primes our palates to identify and enjoy flavors and textures, and it works to amplify and balance what we taste. Different types of salts have varying textures and levels of […]