Epimeles

the Pence family cookbook

All Recipes

Braised Pine Nuts with Butternut Squash

Main Course Italian Squash Untested Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 1 small butternut squash (2 1/4 pounds)
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 cup Italian pine nuts (3 1/2 ounces)
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • Pinch of saffron threads
  • Finely grated orange zest
  • 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350°. Peel and slice the butternut squash 1/2 inch thick; spread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and roast until tender but not browned, 45 minutes. Meanwhile, spread the pine nuts on a baking sheet and toast until golden, 4 minutes.

Transfer the squash to a food processor and puree until smooth. Set aside 1 cup of the puree and reserve the rest for another use.

Heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pressure cooker. Add the shallot and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 4 minutes. Add the pine nuts and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the wine and boil until reduced to 2 tablespoons, 5 minutes. Add the broth. Cover and cook at 15 PSI (see Note) for 7 minutes. Place the pressure cooker in the sink and run cold water over the lid to depressurize it rapidly; remove the lid once it can be released without force.

Return the pressure cooker to medium heat, uncovered, and bring the contents to a boil. Allow the liquid to reduce until the pine nuts are suspended in a thick sauce, about 4 minutes. Stir in the reserved squash puree and saffron and cook until heated through. Stir in a tablespoon of water if the puree is too thick. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture into bowls, garnish with orange zest and the cheese shavings and serve.

Food & Wine


Broiled Fish with Lemon Curry Butter

Main Course Curry Fish Indian

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons minced thyme leaves
  • 1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons grated ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, more as needed
  • ¾ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  • Ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 (6-ounce) blackfish, flounder or hake fillets
  • Fresh lemon juice, for serving
  • Dill fronds or fresh parsley, for serving

Preparation

Heat the broiler. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in garlic, thyme, curry powder, ginger and 1/4 teaspoon salt; heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in lemon zest.

Season fish with salt and pepper and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour sauce over fish and broil until fish is flaky and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Top with a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh dill, and serve.

New York Times


Cauliflower Gratin with Manchego and Almond Sauce

Side Dish Cauliflower Spanish Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup half-and-half
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • One 2-pound head of cauliflower, cut into 1 1/2-inch florets
  • 1/2 cup whole roasted almonds with skin, plus 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped almonds (3 ounces)
  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely shredded Manchego or other mildly nutty semi-aged sheep’s- or cow’s-milk cheese (3 1/2 ounces), such as Gouda
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon Pimentón de la Vera (smoked Spanish paprika)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400°. In a small saucepan, heat the half-and-half until steaming, then transfer it to a food processor or blender. Add the 1/2 cup of whole almonds and process until finely ground. Let stand for 10 minutes. Strain the half-and-half through a fine sieve set over a bowl, pressing on the almonds to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the ground almonds.

In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the flour and whisk over moderately high heat for 1 minute. Add the milk and the half-and-half and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add 3/4 cup of the Manchego and whisk until melted. Whisk in the nutmeg; season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

In a large skillet, bring 1/2 inch of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower, cover and cook over high heat until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain the cauliflower in a colander. Wipe out the skillet.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet. Add the onion and cook over moderately high heat, stirring until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the cauliflower and cook, stirring until lightly golden, about 2 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer the cauliflower to a 7-by-10-inch glass or ceramic baking dish and spread the Manchego sauce on top.

Sprinkle the gratin with the remaining cheese, the 2 tablespoons of chopped almonds and the paprika and bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes, or until bubbling and browned on top. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Food & Wine


Curried Squash Galette

Main Course Pie Squash Untested

Ingredients

For dough:

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • Kosher salt and pepper
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, frozen
  • Ice water

For filling:

  • 1 pound butternut squash—peeled, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • 1 pound kabocha squash—peeled, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • 1 red onion, cut through the core into 1/2-inch wedges
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons Madras curry powder
  • Kosher salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup shredded Manchego, plus more for serving

Preparation

In a large bowl, whisk the flour with 3/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Working over the bowl, grate the frozen butter on the large holes of a box grater. Gently toss the grated butter in the flour. Stir in 1/3 cup of ice water until the dough is evenly moistened. Scrape out onto a work surface, gather up any crumbs and knead gently just until the dough comes together. Pat into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the butternut and kabocha squash and the onion with the olive oil and curry powder. Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until the squash is tender but not falling apart. Let cool.

Increase the oven temperature to 450°. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to a 14-inch round. Carefully transfer to a parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Spread the sour cream over the dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the cheese on top. Arrange the squash and onion over the sour cream and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese on top. Fold the pastry edge up and over the vegetables to create a 1 1/2-inch border.

Bake the squash galette for 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is browned; let cool slightly. Sprinkle with shredded cheese, cut into wedges and serve warm.

Food & Wine


Indian Tomato Mint Salad

Side Dish Indian Mint Salad Tomato

Ingredients

  • 6 large ripe tomatoes, diced about 1/2"
  • 4 spring onions (or yellow onions, shallots), finely chopped
  • 1 large handful fresh mint leaves, finely minced
  • juice of 1 - 2 lemons
  • salt and pepper
  • cayenne pepper

Preparation

Place tomatoes and onions into a bowl. Juice the lemons. Grind salt and pepper to taste into the lemon juice. Add any other spices, such as cayenne. Add the minced mint to the lemon dressing, mix well, then pour over the tomatoes.

Delishably


Layered Eggplant, Zucchini and Tomato Casserole

Main Course Side Dish Casserole Eggplant Tomato Untested Zucchini

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing and brushing
  • 3 medium zucchini (1 1/2 pounds), sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
  • 2 long, narrow eggplants (1 1/2 pounds), peeled and sliced lengthwise 1/3 inch thick
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 1 pound plum tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (3/4 cup)
  • 1/4 cup chopped basil
  • 1/3 cup panko or coarse dry bread crumbs

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 425°. Oil 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Put the zucchini slices on one sheet and the eggplant on the other. Brush the slices all over with oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the slices on each sheet in a slightly overlapping layer. Bake for 15 minutes, until tender.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the shallot and cook over moderate heat until softened, 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook over high heat until slightly softened and bubbling, 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

Oil a large, shallow baking dish (about 10 by 15 inches). Lay half of the eggplant in the dish and spread one-fourth of the tomatoes on top. Scatter with half of the feta and basil. Layer half of the zucchini on top, followed by another one-fourth of the tomato and the remaining basil, eggplant and zucchini. Top with the remaining tomato and feta. Mix the panko with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and sprinkle over the casserole. Bake in the upper third of the oven for 20 minutes, until bubbling and crisp. Let stand for 5 minutes, then serve hot or warm.

Food & Wine


Roasted Kohlrabi

Side Dish

Ingredients

  • 6 kohlrabi
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 3/4 tsp. salt
  • cayenne pepper
  • 3 tbsp. parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp. parsley, chopped

Preparation

Peel kohlrabi and cut into 1-inch wedges; toss with olive oil, salt and a pinch of cayenne on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast at 450 degrees F, stirring every 10 minutes, until tender and golden, about 30 minutes. Toss with parmesan and parsley.

Food Network


Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder with Homemade Harissa

Main Course Chile French Lamb Mediterranean

Ingredients

  • 1/4 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 ounces ancho chiles (about 4) stemmed and seeded
  • 1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 3 large garlic cloves, 1 clove mashed to a paste
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • One 3-pound lamb shoulder roast on the bone
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • Lettuce leaves and warm naan, for serving

Preparation

In a spice grinder, finely grind the caraway, coriander and cumin seeds. In a microwave-safe bowl, cover the ancho chiles with water and microwave at high power for 2 minutes. Let cool slightly, then transfer the softened chiles and 2 tablespoons of the soaking liquid to a blender. Add the ground spices, paprika, lemon juice, the 2 whole garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of salt. Puree the harissa until smooth.

Set the lamb in a medium roasting pan and rub 1/2 cup of the harissa all over the meat; let stand at room temperature for 2 hours or refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 325°. Add 1/2 cup of water to the roasting pan and cover the pan loosely with foil. Roast the lamb for 2 1/2 hours, adding water to the pan a few times to prevent scorching. Remove the foil and roast for about 2 1/2 hours longer, until the lamb is very brown and tender; occasionally spoon the pan juices on top. Let stand for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt with the cilantro, mashed garlic clove and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Using forks or tongs, pull the lamb off the bone in large chunks. Using your fingers, pull the meat into smaller shreds and serve with the yogurt sauce, lettuce leaves, naan and the remaining harissa.

Food & Wine


Sweet Potato Stir Fry

Main Course Side Dish Chinese Pork Sweetpotato Untested

Ingredients

  • 2 or 3 large cloves garlic
  • 2-inch piece fresh ginger root
  • 3 scallions
  • 1 pound sweet potato
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
  • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 6 ounces ground pork
  • 1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
  • Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

Preparation

Mince enough of the garlic to yield 1 tablespoon. Peel and mince the ginger to yield 1 tablespoon. Separate the scallion whites and greens; chop each. Peel the sweet potato, and either grate it in a food processor (cut into chunks first), cut it into matchsticks or use a spiralizer.

Whisk together the wine or dry sherry, the soy sauce or tamari, the Worcestershire sauce and sugar in a medium bowl. Add the pork and stir with a fork to incorporate.

Heat a wok or large, well­-seasoned cast-iron skillet over high heat. Drizzle in the oil so that it coats the sides of the wok. Working quickly, add the garlic, ginger and scallion whites; stir-fry for 5 seconds, then add the pork mixture and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, until the pork is cooked through.

Add the sweet potato; stir-fry for about 6 minutes and try to create some crisped edges on it, if possible. Some of the sweet potato pieces will still be somewhat firm. Remove from the heat.

Divide among individual bowls. Garnish each portion with the scallion greens. Serve hot.

Washington Post


Vinegar-Glazed Butternut Squash Pasta Salad

Side Dish Pasta Salad Squash

Ingredients

  • One 2-pound butternut squash—peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch pieces (6 cups)
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • Kosher salt
  • Pepper
  • 3/4 pound whole-wheat fusilli
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon unrefined hazelnut oil
  • 1 head of Treviso or 1/2 a small head of radicchio, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup packed parsley leaves
  • Shaved Pecorino Tuscano or Romano, for serving

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 425°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the squash with 1/4 cup of the vinegar, the olive oil and honey and spread evenly on the baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 35 minutes, tossing halfway through, until browned and glazed.

Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain. Toss with 3 tablespoons of the hazelnut oil.

In a large bowl, whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons each of vinegar and hazelnut oil. Stir in the squash, Treviso and parsley, then fold in the pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature with shaved pecorino.

Food & Wine

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