Epimeles

the Pence family cookbook

Recipes in Category “Main Course”

Tartiflette

Main Course French Potato

Ingredients

  • 1 Reblochon [1 wheel Reblochon de Savoie]
  • 1 kg de pommes de terre à chair ferme [2 lb firm-flesh potatoes]
  • 200 g de lardons fumés [200g bacon, chopped]
  • 2 gros oignons (200 g environ) [2 large onions, around 200g]
  • 10 cl de vin blanc [1/2 c white wine]
  • Poivre du moulin [fresh-ground pepper]
  • En option : noix de muscade râpée [ground nutmeg (optional)]

Preparation

Préchauffez votre four à 200°C. [Preheat your oven to 400F.]

Épluchez et découpez les pommes de terre en morceaux (environ 5mm). Découpez les oignons en rondelles. [Peel and chop the potatoes into around 1/4" pieces. Slice the onions into rounds.]

Dans une poêle, faites revenir les lardons avec les oignons afin qu’ils commencent à dorer (5-10 min). Ajoutez les pommes de terre et laisser cuire à feu moyen durant 30-45 minutes. Déglacez au vin blanc et laisser cuire 5 minutes. Poivrez (pas besoin de saler avec les lardons), et ajoutez la noix de muscade selon vos goûts. [In a large skillet, cook the bacon and onions until they start to brown (5-10 min). Add the potatoes and let them cook over medium heat for 30-45 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the wine and cook for five minutes. Season with pepper (no need for salt with the bacon), and add nutmeg to taste.]

Découpez votre Reblochon en deux dans le sens de l’épaisseur en conservant la croûte. Conservez une face pour mettre sur le dessus du plat afin de faire gratiner (que vous découperez en 2 ou 4 selon la forme de votre plat), et découpez l’autre face en petits morceaux à intégrer dans la préparation pommes de terre-lardons-oignons. [Cut your Reblochon in half lengthwise, keeping the rind. Keep one of the halves to melt on top of the dish (which you can cut into 2 or 4 depending on the shape of your dish), and cut the other half into small pieces to mix into the potato-onion-bacon mixture.]

Dans un plat allant au four, disposez le mélange pommes de terre-lardons-oignons et les morceaux de reblochon puis déposez sur le dessus le ½ reblochon pour gratiner, croûte vers le haut. [In an oven-safe baking dish, add the potato-bacon-onion mixture and the pieces of Reblochon, then set the half-reblochon on top to melt, rind toward the top.]

Placez au four durant 15 à 20 minutes afin que le Reblochon dore. Servez chaud avec une salade verte. [Put in the oven for 15-20 minutes so that the Reblochon melts. Serve hot with a green salad.]

Reblochon AOP


Dal Makhani

Main Course Indian Bean Lentil Untested

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (7 ounces) whole urad beans with skin
  • 4 cups water, plus more for soaking
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 medium (10 ounces) white onion, cut into chunks
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • One (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut in half
  • 4 tablespoons ghee or unsalted butter, divided (may substitute extra-virgin olive oil)
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream or creme fraiche (may substitute nondairy yogurt)
  • 2 tablespoons loosely packed chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

Pick through the beans and discard any dirt or stones, then transfer to a medium bowl and rinse under running water. Add enough water to cover the beans by 1 inch and soak overnight (8 to 12 hours). Drain.

In a medium saucepan or Dutch oven over high heat, combine the beans with the 4 cups water and baking soda. Bring to a rolling boil, then lower the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook the beans until they are tender and almost falling apart, 30 to 45 minutes. Transfer the beans with their liquid to a large bowl. Rinse the saucepan and wipe it dry.

Combine the onion and garlic in a blender. Chop half the ginger, add it to the blender and pulse until the vegetables form a smooth paste. (If needed, add a bit of the liquid from the dal to the blender to help things move around.)

Return the saucepan or Dutch oven to medium-high heat, and melt 2 tablespoons of the ghee. Add the garam masala and turmeric and cook, stirring, until the spices release their aroma, 30 to 45 seconds. Add the tomato paste and cook until darkened, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the onion mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has cooked away and the ghee has started pooling in spots, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the cooked beans and their liquid and stir in the salt and cayenne. Taste, and add more salt if needed.

Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook at a boil for a few minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the beans from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the cream and remove from the heat.

Cut the remaining ginger into matchsticks. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of ghee. Add the remaining ginger and fry until the ginger starts to turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Pour the fried ginger and ghee over the dal. Garnish with the cilantro, if using, and serve hot, with plain rice or flatbread, and yogurt or raita on the side.

WaPo


Roast Turkey with Maple Herb Butter

Main Course Turkey

Ingredients

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh marjoram or 2 teaspoons dried
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, room temperature
  • 1 14-pound turkey, neck and giblets reserved
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped celery with leaves
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped carrot
  • 2 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
  • 3 cups (about) canned low-salt chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried
  • 1 small bay leaf
  • 2 tablespoons apple brandy (optional)

Preparation

Make turkey: Boil apple cider and maple syrup in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat until reduces to 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in half of chopped thyme, half of marjoram and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon peel. Add butter and whisk until melted. Season generously with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan. Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen shin. Rub 1/2 cup maple butter over breast under skin. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity. Rub 1/4 cup maple butter over outside of turkey. Reserve remaining maple butter for gravy. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey. Arrange onion, celery, carrot and reserved turkey nick and giblets around turkey in pan. Sprinkle vegetables with remaining 1 tablespoon thyme and remaining 1 tablespoon marjoram. Pour 2 cups broth into pan.

Roast turkey 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Cover entire turkey loosely with heavy-duty foil and roast until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F or until juices rum clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 2 hours 25 minutes for unstuffed turkey (2 hours 55 minutes for stuffed turkey). Transfer turkey to platter. Tent turkey with aluminum foil and let stand 30 minutes; reserve mixture in pan for gravy.

Make gravy: Stain pan juices into large measuring cup, pressing on solids with back of spoon. Spoon fat from pan juices. Add enough chicken broth to pan juices to measure 3 cups. Transfer liquid to heavy medium saucepan and bring to boil. Mix 3 tablespoons reserved maple butter and flour in small bowl to form smooth paste. Whisk paste into broth mixture. Add chopped fresh thyme and bay leaf. Boil until reduces to sauce consistency, whisking occasionally, about 10 minutes. Mix in apple brandy, if desired. Season gravy to taste with salt and pepper.

Brush turkey with any remaining maple butter and serve with gravy.

Bon Appetit, Nov. 1994


Soupe Au Potiron

Main Course Soup Pumpkin Untested

Ingredients

  • 200g de lardons
  • 800g de cubes de potiron (ou courge butternut)
  • 1 oignon
  • 400g de tomates pelées en cubes
  • 1 l d’eau
  • 2 cubes de bouillon de volaille
  • 2 c à s d’huile d’olive
  • 1 gousse d’ail
  • 1 bouquet garni
  • poivre et sel

Preparation

Faites revenir à bon feu les cubes de potiron, l’oignon haché, et l’ail émincé dans une casserole contenant l’huile d’olive. Après 2 min, ajoutez les tomates, l’eau, les cubes de bouillon émiettés et le bouquet garni. Portez à ébullition et laissez mijoter 25 min à feu doux. Laissez reposer 5 min.

Pendant ce temps, faites rissoler les lardons dans une poêle anti-adhésive, sans matière grasse, en débutant la cuisson à feu doux et en l’augmentant quand le gras commence à fondre. Égouttez-les sur du papier absorbant.

Retirez le bouquet garni de la soupe et mixez-la finement. Ajoutez les lardons et rectifiez l’assaisonnement.

Servez bien chaud, avec du pain.

Delhaize


Pork Chops and Cabbage with Mustard Cream Sauce

Main Course German Pork Cabbage

Ingredients

  • 4 thin center-cut boneless pork chops (about 1 pound total)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 cup finely diced onion (about 1/2 large onion)
  • 4 cups rough chopped green cabbage (about 1 pound)
  • 1 tablespoon butter (optional)
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper, or to taste
  • Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Preparation

Pat the pork chops dry and season with salt and pepper.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the chops and cook until browned on one side, about 4 minutes. Turn the chops and cook until browned on the other side, about 3 minutes. (If the chops are browning too quickly, lower the heat.) Transfer the chops to a plate and cover to keep warm.

Add the onion to the skillet and stir, cooking until the onion is softened and nearly translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the cabbage and cook until the cabbage is tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the butter, if using, and toss to coat the cabbage. (If the chops are lean, butter will enhance the flavor.) Transfer the cabbage mixture to a serving platter and cover to keep warm.

Lower the heat to medium. Add the cream and mustard to the skillet and stir until the mustard is fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and white pepper; stir to combine.

Add the chops back to the skillet. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes, basting the chops with the sauce.

Place the chops on top of the cabbage on the serving platter. Drizzle the chops and cabbage with the remaining sauce, garnish with the parsley and serve.

WaPo


Pollo Ligure

Main Course Chicken Lemon Italian

Ingredients

  • olive oil, 80 ml/ 2.7 fl oz
  • onion, 1 large chopped
  • fennel seeds, a good pinch
  • chicken thighs, 8
  • white wine, 200ml/ 6.8 fl oz (Vermentino is the local grape)
  • fresh herbs, 2 tbsp roughly chopped – sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary and a few whole sprigs
  • pine nuts, 25g/1oz
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • olives, 60g/ 2.5oz preferably Taggiasca, the local Ligurian cultivar
  • sea salt and freshly milled pepper

Preparation

  1. Pour a good glug of olive oil into a good-sized pan. Sauté the onion in the oil until it is translucent and then add the garlic and fennel seeds being careful not to let them catch.
  2. Next, in a separate pan, heat a little olive oil and sear the chicken all over until it is golden brown. Then add the chicken to the onion pan.
  3. Next add the wine and cook letting the wine evaporate a little.
  4. Add the herbs, zest of the lemon, olives, pine nuts and salt and pepper and cover and cook on a low heat for 40 minutes.
  5. When the chicken is cooked add the fresh juice of the lemon and serve with a small jug of freshly squeezed lemon juice on the side for those who like it extra tangy.

Nudo


Seared Cod with Spicy Mussel Aioli

Main Course Fish Mussels Untested

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup dry white wine
  • 2 dozen mussels
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Four 6-ounce skinless cod fillets
  • 1 roasted red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

Preparation

  1. Bring the wine to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the mussels, cover and cook over high heat, shaking the pan a few times, until they open, 3 minutes; transfer to a large bowl. Shell the mussels and reserve. Rinse out the pan. Pour the mussel liquid into the pan, stopping before you reach the grit at the bottom.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise with the garlic, parsley and lemon juice. Season with cayenne, salt and pepper.
  3. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Season the cod with salt and black pepper and cook over moderate heat until lightly browned, about 4 minutes per side.
  4. Bring the mussel liquid to a boil and remove from the heat. Whisk in the mayonnaise, then stir in the mussels. Transfer the cod to shallow bowls and spoon the mussels and sauce around it. Garnish with the red pepper strips and serve.

Food and Wine


Caramelized Shallot Pasta

Main Course Pasta

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c. olive oil
  • 6 large shallots, very thinly sliced
  • 5 garlic cloves, 4 thinly sliced, 1 finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. red-pepper flakes (or more)
  • 1 2-oz. can achovy fillets (about 12, drained)
  • 1 4.5-oz. tube or 6-oz. can tomato paste (1/2 to 3/4 c.)
  • 10 oz. pasta
  • 1 c. parsley, leaves and tender stems, finely chopped

Preparation

  1. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium high. Add shallots and thinly sliced garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots have become totally softened and caramelized with golden-brown fried edges, 15 to 20 minutes.
  2. Add red-pepper flakes and anchovies. (No need to chop the anchovies; they will dissolve on their own.) Stir to melt the anchovies into the shallots, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add tomato paste and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly to prevent any scorching, until the tomato paste has started to cook in the oil a bit, caramelizing at the edges and going from bright red to a deeper brick red color, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer about half the mixture to a resealable container, leaving the rest behind. (These are your leftovers to be used elsewhere: in another batch of pasta or smeared onto roasted vegetables, spooned over fried eggs or spread underneath crispy chicken thighs.)
  4. To serve, cook pasta according to package instructions in a large pot of salted boiling water until very al dente (perhaps more al dente than usual). Transfer to Dutch oven with remaining shallot mixture (or a skillet if you are using the leftover portion) and 1 cup pasta water. Cook over medium-high heat, swirling the skillet to coat each piece of pasta, using a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any bits on the bottom, until pasta is thick and sauce has reduced and is sticky, but not saucy, 3 to 5 minutes.
  5. In a small bowl, combine parsley and finely chopped garlic clove, and season with flaky salt and pepper. Divide pasta among bowls, or transfer to one large serving bowl, and top with parsley mixture and a bit more red-pepper flakes, if you like.

NYT


Sheet Pan Chicken with Roasted Plums and Onions

Main Course Chicken Plum

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon or orange zest
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely grated
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • Large pinch red-pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 1 chicken (about 3 1/2 pounds), cut into parts
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 2 cups ripe, soft plums, pitted and cut into 3/4-inch thick slices
  • 6 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1 medium red onion, peeled and sliced from root to stem in 1/2-inch wedges
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • ⅔ cup torn mint, basil or cilantro leaves (or a combination)
  • Flaky sea salt, for serving

Preparation

Toast the fennel seeds in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Pour seeds into a mortar and pound with a pestle until coarsely crushed (or lay seeds on a cutting board and pound them with a can or jar).

Put the seeds into a large bowl and stir in lemon juice, zest, garlic, honey, allspice and red-pepper flakes.

Season chicken generously all over with salt and pepper and add to the bowl, turning the pieces to coat them with marinade. Mix in plums and thyme sprigs. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

When ready to cook, heat the oven to 425 degrees. Put the chicken pieces, plums, and thyme sprigs on a rimmed baking pan. Add onions, spreading them out around the chicken and plums. Season plums and onions lightly with salt. Drizzle everything with olive oil.

Roast until chicken is golden and cooked through, 30 to 45 minutes, removing the white meat if it’s done before the dark meat.

Transfer chicken pieces as they are done to a platter. Spoon the plums and onions around the chicken. Drizzle a little of the pan drippings over the chicken and serve, garnished with the herbs and flaky salt.

NYT


Bœuf Bourgignon

Main Course Beef French Stew

Ingredients

  • 150 gr lardons fumés [150 g. bacon, chopped]
  • 800 gr carbonnades de boeuf [800 g. beef stew meat]
  • 3 gousses d’ail [3 cloves garlic]
  • 1 oignon ciselé [1 onion, chopped]
  • 2 échalotes ciselées [2 shallots, chopped]
  • 2 carottes en rondelles [2 carrots, sliced in rounds]
  • 500 ml vin rouge [500 mL red wine]
  • Un bouquet de thym [a bouquet of thyme]
  • 250 gr champignons de Paris [250 g. white mushrooms]
  • 2 cuil. à soupe persil haché [2 tbsp. chopped parsley]
  • 2 cuil. à soupe concentré de tomates [2 tbsp. tomato paste]
  • 1 cuil. à soupe farine [1 tbsp. flour]
  • Pastis
  • Beurre
  • Sel
  • Poivre

Preparation

Faites dorer les lardons dans le beurre, puis retirez-les de la poêle. Faites dorer les carbonnades de tous côtés dans la graisse des lardons. Saupoudrez de farine et remuez. Ajoutez l’ail pressé, l’oignon, les échalotes, les carottes et le concentré de tomates. Faites cuire 2 minutes en remuant.

[Brown the bacon in some butter, then take it out of the pan. Brown the stew meat on all sides in the bacon fat. Sprinkle with flour, and mix. Add the garlic (pressed), the onion, the shallots, the carrots, and the tomato paste. Cook for two minutes, stirring.]

Déglacez la poêle avec le vin. Ajoutez les lardons, le bouquet de thym et une goutte de Pastis, puis remuez. Laissez mijoter à couvert (CP: partiellement vers la fin) et à feu doux pendant environ 3 heures. Versez éventuellement un peu de vin s’il n’y a pas assez de jus. Ajoutez les champignons pendant les 10 dernières minutes de cuisson. Salez et poivrez. Garnissez le bœuf bourguignon de persil avant de servir. Servez avec une purée de pommes de terre crémeuse et une salade verte.

[Deglaze the pan with the wine. Add the bacon, the thyme, and a splash of pastis, then mix. Let simmer, covered (CP: partially covered near the end to let it thicken), over low heat for around 3 hours. Add a bit more wine if there isn’t enough juice. Add the mushrooms during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley, and serve with mashed potatoes and a green salad.]

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