Epimeles

the Pence family cookbook

Recipes in Category “Main Course”

Sugar Snap Pea Pesto

Main Course Pasta Peas

Ingredients

  • 4 cups sugar snap peas
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 cup parmeggiano reggiano (parmesan) cheese
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 pound penne rigate
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup pignoli nuts
  • 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon fresh spearmint
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

Prep the sugar snap peas, pulling the string off the side. Then blanch them in salted boiling water for a minute (basically, you get the water boiling, you add the peas to the water, once it starts boiling again, you can fish them out). Refresh them in a bowl of salted ice water. Cut them up in halves or thirds, depending on their size (1/2" size is good). Reserve 1.5 cups of the prepped peas. The rest will go in the pesto.

Put a large pot of salted water on high heat on the stove for the pasta.

Heat the butter and 1 tbsp of the olive oil together in a heavy bottomed pan. Add the garlic clove to the heated butter and oil until it gets a nice lightly toasted color. You can pull it out now and reserve it. Add the sliced onions and the crushed red pepper and cook on medium heat until they are caramelized. This takes a little while (as much as 20 min) so be patient, young grasshopper.

While you are waiting on the onions to caramelize, you can start work on your pesto. If you have a hunk of parmesan, cut it into smaller pieces and blitz it in the food processor. Make sure you have a cup. Next you can blitz the pine nuts.

Once the onions are finished caramelizing, you can pull them off the heat so they cool slightly. Then you can add the onions, the cooked garlic clove, and the non-reserved peas (i.e., the majority of them) to the food processor with the pine nuts. Go ahead and add in stages if the food processor is getting too full. Pulse for the first few times to get it started and then hold down the button. You can add the olive oil through the hole in the top to keep the mixture wet and moving. When all the ingredients are processed, it should be grainy and wet, but will never be totally smooth. That’s ok.

Once the water is boiling, drop the pasta and cook according to package directions.

Do a chiffonade of the mint – this means you stack the mint leaves together and roll them up like a little cigar. Then you cut them up cross-wise as thinly as possible.

When the pasta is ready, reserve a ladleful of pasta water. Drain the pasta and put it back in the pot you cooked it in. Add the pesto, a few tablespoons at a time, tossing to combine. If it is too dry, add the reserved pasta water, a little at a time. Once you have the right pesto-pasta ratio (this is up to you), taste to see if it needs more salt and pepper and add as necessary. Toss in the reserved peas and the mint. This is good at room temperature too, so you can make it ahead of time.

JORJ, Food52


Italian Sausage and Mustard Greens

Main Course Greens Italian Sausage

Ingredients

  • 2 bunches mustard greens
  • 6 italian sausages
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed
  • grated parmesan
  • lemon

Preparation

Rinse and chop the mustard greens. Brown the sausages, very thoroughly, with a tiny bit of olive oil over medium-high heat. They do not, however, need to be fully cooked. Add the garlic and sautee for around 30 seconds. Add the greens in batches, cooking them down. Add around 1/2 cup of water (if the greens haven’t produced enough of their own liquid) and reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for around ten minutes, until the greens are fully cooked. Serve with parmesan and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Epicurious, modified


Barbacoa Goat or Lamb

Main Course Goat Lamb Mexican

Ingredients

  • 4 guajillo chiles
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 10 allspice berries
  • 1/3 cup Mexican oregano
  • 12 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 1 onion, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 (12-pound) goat, quartered or 1 (6 to 8-pound) lamb shoulder
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 (2-pound) package dried avocado leaves (we substituted banana leaves)

Preparation

Toast chiles, cover with boiling water in a deep bowl, and set aside for 20 minutes. Grind cumin, cloves, allspice, and oregano in coffee grinder. Drain soaked chiles, puree in blender the chiles, ground spices, thyme, garlic, onion, vinegar, and 1/2 cup of water. Process until smooth Push mixture through a sieve, season goat with salt and pepper. Rub paste all over the meat. Arrange in a bowl and allow to marinate for 4 hours, refrigerated. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a deep roaster pan scatter half of the avocado leaves on the bottom, place meat on top of the avocado leaves and scatter the remaining leaves over the meat. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Cook the goat 6 to 7 hours until meat is falling off the bone. If using lamb shoulder cook for 4 hours.

Food Network


Vietnamese-Style Pork Chops with Fresh Herb Salad

Main Course Pork Vietnamese

Ingredients

  • 1 large shallot, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/3 c. light brown sugar
  • 1/4 c. fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp. pepper
  • 4 1/4"-1/2" thick bone-in pork chops
  • 3 firm red plums, cut into 1/2" wedges
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 small chile (pref. red), thinly sliced
  • 2 c. mixed herbs (basil, cilantro, mint, etc.)
  • 1/2 c. bean sprouts
  • 2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
  • lime wedges

Preparation

Blend shallots, garlic, brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, oil, and pepper in a blender. Pour into a ziploc bag with the pork. Toss and refrigerate for at least one hour and up to 12 hours. Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Remove pork chops, season both sides with salt, and grill until lightly charred (about 2 min. per side). Meanwhile, toss plums, scallions, chile, herbs, bean sprouts, and vinegar in a bowl. Season with salt. Serve pork with salad and lime wedges.

Bon Appetit, June 2016


Orecchiette al Cavolfiore

Main Course Side Dish Cauliflower Italian Pasta

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cauliflower
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 chili (red?)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 500g (just over 1 lb) orecchiette pasta
  • 3 anchovy fillets, roughly chopped
  • salt
  • parmesan, for serving, grated

Preparation

Cut the cauliflower into little florets, cook in salted boiling water for 5 minutes, drain. Peel the garlic and deseed and chop the chili. Heat the oil and gently cook both for a few minutes. Add anchovies, cook two more minutes. Add cauliflower, cook until it just begins to brown on the edges. Meanwhile, cook pasta to package directions. Drain and toss with the cauliflower. Serve with generous parmesan and more olive oil.

Nudo


Broiled Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri

Main Course Lamb Mint

Ingredients

  • 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 4 (1" thick) lamb shoulder chops
  • 1 to 2 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 2 c. flat-leaf parsley including trimmed stems
  • 2 c. mint including trimmed stems
  • 1/3 c. distilled white vinegar
  • 1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small package frozen peas
  • 3 tbsp. water
  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter

Preparation

Add sauce ingredients and 1/2 teaspoon salt and pulse until herbs are finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Cook peas in water and butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, covered, stirring once or twice, until just tender, about 3 minutes.

Preheat broiler. Stir together cinnamon and 1 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a bowl, then rub over chops. Broil in a 4-sided sheet pan 3 to 4 inches from heat, turning once or twice, 8 to 10 minutes total for medium-rare.

Serve chops drizzled with a little chimichurri and serve peas and remaining chimichurri on the side.

Gourmet, November 2009


Rabbit Curry

Main Course Curry Rabbit

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tsp. ghee or butter
  • 1 rabbit, cut into serving pieces
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. minced or grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tbsp. pressed garlic
  • 1 sm. Anaheim or serrano chile
  • 1 tbsp. curry powder
  • 1 tsp. garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp. turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 1 c. low-sodium chicken broth (or as needed)
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 lime
  • fresh cilantro, chopped rice, for serving

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large dutch oven over medium high heat, melt the ghee and oil. Sprinkle the rabbit with salt and pepper. When the oil is hot, brown the rabbit on all sides, about 10-15 minutes.

2. While the rabbit is browning, pulse half of the onion, ginger, and garlic together in a food processor until finely minced.

3. Reduce the heat under the rabbit and add the rest of the onion. Cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the mix from the food processor, sautee for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the curry powder, garam masala, turmeric, and cayenne. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, then stir in coconut milk, chicken stock, and the juice and hull of 1/2 of the lime. Bring to a simmer. Cover and place in the oven to cook for 90 minutes.

4. Remove the pot from the oven. Stir in the juice of the other 1/2 lime and the cilantro. Taste and adjust for seasoning, possibly adjusting thickness with more broth. Serve over rice.

Lindy’s Fusion, extensively modified by Mom


Braised Halibut with Fennel and Tarragon

Main Course Fennel Fish

Ingredients

  • 4 (6-8 oz) halibut fillets, ¾ to 1 inch thick
  • Salt and pepper
  • 6 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 2 fennel bulbs, halved, cored, and sliced thin
  • 4 shallots, halved and sliced thin
  • ¾ c. white wine
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh tarragon

Preparation

1. Sprinkle fish with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Melt butter in 12-inch skillet over low heat. Place fish in skillet, skinned side up, increase heat to medium, and cook, shaking pan occasionally, until butter begins to brown (fish should not brown), 3 to 4 minutes. Using spatula, carefully transfer fish to large plate, raw side down.

2. Add fennel, shallots, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to soften, 2 to 4 minutes. Add wine and bring to gentle simmer. Place fish, raw side down, on top of vegetables. Cover skillet and cook, adjusting heat to maintain gentle simmer, until fish registers 135 to 140 degrees, 10 to 14 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using 2 spatulas, transfer fish and vegetables to serving platter or individual plates. Tent loosely with aluminum foil.

3. Return skillet to high heat and cook until sauce is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir in lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over fish and sprinkle with tarragon. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

CI


Brennan’s Shrimp Remoulade

Main Course Side Dish Cajun Dressing Salad Shrimp

Ingredients

  • 1⁄4 cup ketchup
  • 1⁄4 cup prepared horseradish
  • 1⁄4 cup creole mustard
  • 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1⁄2 lemon, juice of
  • 1⁄2 cup finely chopped green onion
  • 1⁄4 cup finely chopped celery
  • 1⁄4 cup finely chopped parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne peppe
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 dash Tabasco sauce
  • 1 fresh egg (or pasteurized equivalent)
  • 3⁄4 cup vegetable oil

Preparation

Put ketchup, horseradish, Creole and prepared mustards, vinegar, lemon juice, onion, celery, parsley, garlic, paprika, pepper, salt, Tabasco and egg into blender container or food processor. Cover and mix at high speed until well blended. Remove cover and gradually add oil in a slow steady stream. Sauce will thicken to a pourable, creamy consistency.

Store in covered container in refrigerator up to 3 days. Serving suggestion: toss boiled shrimp in remoulade sauce. Spoon onto a bed of thinly sliced cucumbers, radishes and frisee which were drizzled with a simple vinaigrette dressing.

Food.com


Moroccan Kefta-Stuffed Rolls

Main Course Beef Moroccan Untested

Ingredients

For filling

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 to 2 tbsp. vegetable oil or olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 bell pepper (any color), finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • cayenne or black pepper, to taste
  • 1 generous tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 to 2 handfuls pitted green olives, chopped or sliced

For the dough

  • 1 tablespoon yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups (236 ml) warm milk
  • 4 1/2 cups (or 600g) flour
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons butter, very soft or melted
  • vegetable oil, for brushing the tops of the baked rolls

Preparation

Make the Filling

  1. In a large frying pan or skillet, saute the onion and pepper in the oil over medium heat for several minutes.

  2. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, stirring frequently and breaking up any large pieces of meat with your spoon.

  3. Stir in the spices, then thoroughly blend in the tomato paste. Stir in the olives, remove the filling from the heat and set aside to cool.

Make the Dough

  1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and set aside.

  2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Add the butter and milk with yeast, and stir the mixture to form a sticky dough barely firm enough for kneading. (Use small additions of flour or milk if necessary to achieve this consistency.)

  3. Knead the dough by hand for 10 minutes, or in a mixer with a dough hook for 5 minutes, until very smooth but still a bit sticky. (The dough will lose its tacky quality after rising.)

  4. Transfer the kneaded dough to an oiled bowl, turning the dough over once to coat it with oil. Cover the bowl with a towel and leave the dough to rise in a warm, draft free area for an hour or longer, until doubled in bulk.

Shape and Stuff the Rolls

  1. After the dough has risen, turn it out onto your work surface. Divide the dough into smooth 1 1/2" balls.

    [CAP: The recipe says that it makes 20–24 appetizer-sized buns. You can make twelve instead, and they come out hamburger-bun size.]

  2. Take a ball of dough and pat it out into a flat circle (approx. 3" in diameter) which is thinner around the edges and a little thicker to the touch in the middle.

  3. Add a generous tablespoon of filling to the middle of the dough, then gather the edges up around the filling, pinching to seal and fully enclose the dough. Turn the stuffed ball of dough over and gently roll it under your palm against your work surface to smooth its appearance.

  4. Transfer the stuffed dough to an oiled baking sheet (or pan lined with oiled parchment paper) and repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

  5. When all of the rolls have been shaped, cover the tray with a towel and leave the stuffed dough to rest for 30 to 60 minutes, until light and puffy.

Bake the Stuffed Rolls

  1. Preheat your oven to 425° F (220° C).

  2. Bake the rolls in the middle of the oven for about 20 minutes, or until medium golden brown.

  3. Remove the pan from the oven and, if desired, lightly brush the tops of the hot rolls with vegetable oil or butter. (This is an optional step if a soft crust is desired.) Transfer the rolls to a rack, cover loosely with a towel and allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

About Food, Christine Benlafquih