Tuscan Kale
Spinach
Rapini
Greens
The fall is the best time to buy greens from a grocery market or farmers’ market. Some leafy greens cook very quickly. Spinach is the best example. But others, like kale, are more hearty and need a longer time to cook. Dark green, leafy vegetables are nutritional powerhouses filled with vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Is is good idea to include them in your recipes, often. Here are some of my favorite ways to cook them.
Kale
Lacinato kale (called cavolo nero, literally “black cabbage”, in Italian and often in English) is a variety of kale with a long tradition in Italian cuisine, especially that of Tuscany. It is also known as Tuscan kale, Tuscan cabbage, Italian kale, dinosaur kale, black kale, flat back cabbage, palm tree kale, or black Tuscan palm. Lacinato kale has been grown in Tuscany for centuries and is one of the traditional ingredients of minestrone and ribollita. It is also readily available in my market.
Tuscan Kale, Roasted Chicken and Lemon Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 large bone-in chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil plus 2 tablespoons
- 1/2 medium onion, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 bunches Tuscan kale, center ribs and stems removed, leaves cut into 1″ strips
- Simple Lemon sauce, recipe below
Directions
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the chicken breasts in a medium baking dish, drizzle with the 1 teaspoon olive oil and sprinkle with the Italian seasoning. Bake for 40 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Place the kale in a large pot, add the 2 tablespoons olive oil, onion, minced garlic and simmer over very low heat until the kale is wilted completely.
Continue to cook until the kale and onions are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Place the kale on a serving platter, top with the roasted chicken and serve the lemon sauce on the side.
Simple Savory Lemon Cream Sauce
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons. flour
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ up. white wine
- Zest of one lemon
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley or other herbs
Directions
Melt the butter over medium heat in a skillet, add the flour and whisk for about a minute. Add the milk and wine. Remove the pan from the heat and add the seasonings, lemon zest and lemon juice.
Return the pan to the heat and whisk until thick and creamy, about another minute or two. Pour over vegetables, chicken or fish.
Rapini (Broccoli rabe)
Pasta With Greens and Ricotta Cheese
Paccheri a type of pasta in the shape of a very large tube that originated from Campania and Calabria, Italy. They are generally smooth, but there is also a ribbed version, paccheri millerighe.
They can be served stuffed or with just a sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 bunches greens, such as chard, kale or broccoli raab (rapini), washed well and cut into 2 inch lengths.
- Salt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, or a mixture of Parmesan and Romano Pecorino
- 1 pound paccheri, pappardelle or orecchiette pasta
Directions
Heat the oil and garlic in a large skillet over very low heat.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. When the water comes to a boil, salt it generously and add the greens. After the water returns to a boil, boil for about 3 minutes until the greens are tender.
Using a deep-fry skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer the rapini to the skillet. Toss in the hot pan for about a minute, just until the greens are lightly coated with oil and fragrant with garlic.
Season with salt and pepper.
Do not drain the hot water in the pot, as you’ll use it to cook the pasta.
Place the ricotta in a large pasta bowl.
Bring the water for the pasta back to a boil, and add the pasta. Cook al dente. Ladle 1/2 cup of the cooking water from the pasta into the ricotta and stir together.
Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl with the ricotta. Add the grated Parmesan and toss with the ricotta and greens. Serve at once.
Spinach
Spinach and Cheese Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 lb pizza dough, at room temperature
- 1 bunch spinach, stemmed and washed well
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for the pizza pan
- Half of a medium onion sliced
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Oil a pizza pan.
Heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium skillet and add the garlic and onions. Cook until the onion is tender. Add the spinach and cook just until it wilts.
Season with salt and pepper. Set the skillet aside.
Press the pizza dough to the edges of the pan.
Top the dough with the sliced mozzarella and spread the ricotta over the mozzarella. Distribute the spinach mixture evenly over the ricotta and sprinkle with feta.
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
I belong to a community group that meets once a month. We have a potluck dinner prior to each meeting and everyone brings a “covered” dish. Until I discovered the Reynolds Pan Carriers, I struggled with how to transport my dish to the meeting. The Reynolds’ pans make the whole process so much easier. You can reheat the food in the aluminum pan, cover it, place in the carrier and then into the car. So much easier to carry it into the meeting also because the pan has handles.
Carriers are available in Lasagna and 13 x 9 inch Cake Pan sizes. These carriers are made with the same sturdy paper board used to carry 6-packs of beverages. Plus, the colorful design on the disposable carrier makes it attractive to place on the table.
Below is a video from the Reynolds Company on how these disposable pans and carriers work. A bonus recipe is included.
Below are some of the recipes that I have made for the potluck dinners and I have been asked to make again and again. Hope you like them.
Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
Ingredients
- One bunch broccoli rabe, washed and trimmed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (chili)
- 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, cut into one inch slices
- 1 lb orecchiette pasta
- Salt
Directions
Cut the broccoli rabe into one inch pieces and place in a large Dutch oven. Fill the pot with cold water and add salt to taste. Bring to a boil and cook the broccoli rabe for about 5 minutes or until just tender. Remove the broccoli rabe with a slotted spoon or spider to a bowl. Return the water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook the pasta al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the garlic and olive oil in a large deep skillet Add the sausage and cook until completely brown. Add the cooked broccoli rabe and red pepper. Heat thoroughly. Add the pasta cooking water and the cooked pasta. Stir and heat for a few minutes before serving.
Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs
Ingredients
- 15 mini fresh mozzarella balls
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 egg
- ½ cup Italian bread crumbs
- ½ onion minced
- Small garlic clove minced
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- 1/3 cup shredded fresh Parmesan cheese
- Marinara Sauce
Directions
Place cheese balls in a plastic freezer container in a single layer and freeze at least 1 hour.
Heat the oven to 375°F. Line 15 x 10 x 1 inch pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray.
In large bowl, mix bread crumbs and 3 tablespoons of pasta sauce. Stir in beef, onion, salt, oregano and egg. Shape mixture into 15 (2-inch) balls.
Press 1 cheese cube into the center of each ball, sealing it inside. Gently place on the prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes. Do not turn off the oven.
Place browned meatballs in an ovenproof casserole dish with a cover and pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs. Place the covered dish in the oven and heat the meatballs in the sauce, about 20 minutes.
Oven Baked Italian Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and Pepper
- One 3 lb chicken, cut into 10 pieces
- 1 pound package Italian pork or chicken sausage each link diagonally cut into fourths
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Juice from 2 lemons (about 4 tablespoons)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 4 medium baking potatoes, cut in fourths
- 2 green and 2 red bell peppers, cut into one inch strips
- 1 large sweet onion, cut into eighths
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Coat the bottom of a roasting pan with the olive oil. Place chicken in the pan, skin side down. Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken pieces and scatter the sausage pieces around the chicken.
Bake 15 minutes; turn chicken pieces over and bake 15 minutes.
Squeeze lemon over the chicken, place the lemon skins in the roasting dish with the chicken and sprinkle the chicken with the minced garlic and oregano.
Add the sliced potatoes, onions and peppers to the pan and sprinkle with salt.
Lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
Cover the pan with foil and bake 1 hour, turning the ingredients after 30 minutes.
Italian Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 lb chuck roast
- All-purpose flour
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 cups dry red wine
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 container crushed tomatoes (26-28 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley leaves, chopped
- 2 tablespoons sage leaves, chopped
Directions
Trim most of the fat from the meat and pat dry with paper towels. Season the roast generously with the salt and pepper and lightly rub with all-purpose flour.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the roast and brown on all sides, 10-12 minutes.
Transfer the meat to a platter.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the carrots, celery, mushrooms and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10-12 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste and stir about 1 minute.
Add the wine and stir to incorporate the vegetables. Add the beef stock, the tomatoes, half the parsley, the sage, the bay leaf and the roast with any juices accumulated on the plate. Bring to a boil.
Cover the pot, reduce the heat and simmer on very low, turning and basting the meat every half hour or so, until the meat is very tender, about 4 hours.
(You can also put the pot into a 300°F oven and turn the roast every hour.)
Remove the meat from the pot and place it on a cutting board, covered loosely with aluminum foil to rest for 10 minutes.
Taste and adjust the sauce for seasoning, remove the bay leaf and stir in the remaining chopped parsley.
Cut the meat into thick slices and place in a deep serving dish. Spoon the hot sauce over the meat to serve.
Lasagna
Ingredients
Cheese Filling:
- 32 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Lasagna:
- 16 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced thin
- 4 cups spaghetti sauce
- 16 lasagna noodles, parboiled
Directions
For the filling:
Mix all the filling ingredients together until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to assemble the lasagna.
Completing the Lasagna:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Oil a 13 x 9 inch glass baking dish.
Spread about 1 cup of sauce on the bottom of the dish and place a layer of parboiled noodles on top.
Spread one-third of the sliced mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta and then one-third of the ricotta cheese mixture over the mozzarella; top with another 1 cup of sauce.
Repeat the layers twice, then top with a layer of noodles. Spread 1 cup of sauce over the top layer of pasta.
Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 15 minutes longer. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
I make pizza just about every week at our house because I think my husband loves pizza more than any other food. It is also an economical dish and usually healthy. Between the two of us, we get 3 meals out of one pizza: two dinners and one lunch. I usually try to make our pizzas with seasonal vegetables because they make the most tasty pizzas, in my opinion. Once in awhile, we will splurge and go for the deep-dish Chicago style sausage pizza. Over the past two months, I have made the following pizzas with veggies I had on hand and I am sharing those recipes with you. The sausage pizza was a treat for my husband’s birthday.
Use your favorite pizza dough or use my easy to make no knead dough. The recipe makes enough for three pizzas and the dough stores beautifully in the freezer. I like this recipe more than any other I have tried. The overnight refrigeration adds to the dough’s great flavor and makes a crunchy but tender crust.
Easy No Knead Pizza Dough
Ingredients for the dough
- 3 cups warm water (about 100 degrees F)
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
- 8 cups 00 Italian Style flour or 7 ½ cups bread flour
Directions for making the pizza dough:
Pour the water into a 5 quart bowl or lidded food container. Add yeast and salt to the water.
Measure the flour with the “scoop and sweep” method. (Dip cup into flour and scoop it up. Level the cup with the back of a knife.)
Add all the flour and mix with a wooden spoon. You only need to mix it until all ingredients are combined. No kneading is necessary. (The dough will be very moist and will actually conform to the shape of the container you put it in.)
Cover, but don’t seal the lid tightly, and let the dough rise at room temperature until it begins to flatten on the top (about 2 hours).
DO NOT PUNCH DOWN THE DOUGH! This method is designed to retain as much gas in the dough as possible. After rising, refrigerate the dough in the container and use the dough over the next 14 days. Once it’s refrigerated the dough will collapse slightly and it will not rise again in the container — that’s normal.
Directions for making pizza:
Pull up and cut off a 1 1/3 pound piece of dough from the container of refrigerated pizza dough. My pizza pans are large, so I usually get 3 pizzas from a batch of dough.
Extra dough may also be frozen. I freeze two portions of dough, individually, in freezer ziplock bags. To use, defrost the dough overnight in the refrigerator.
Hold the dough in your hands and dust your hands with flour to keep the dough from sticking to your fingers.
Form a ball, by stretching the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all four sides and rotating the dough a quarter-turn as you go.
Place the ball in an oiled pizza pan and press and stretch the dough to the edges of the pan.
Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
Place an oven rack on the bottom shelf of the oven and preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
After the dough has rested, add the toppings as indicated below.
Roasted Broccoli Rabe and Tomato Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 large bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 shallots, sliced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Mix the broccoli rabe, tomatoes and shallots with the olive oil to thoroughly coat. Sprinkle lightly with some salt and pepper.
Spread the vegetables onto 2 large baking sheets.
Roast until the tomatoes have deflated and the broccoli rabe is brown around the edges and cooked through, about 25 minutes.
Divide the mixture in half. Use one half of the roasted vegetables for the pizza and the other half as a side dish for another dinner.
For the Pizza:
Ingredients
- 1 lb pizza dough at room temperature
- Half of the roasted vegetables
- 8 oz mozzarella, sliced
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- ½ cup pitted black olives, cut in half
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Place the sliced mozzarella on top of the dough. Arrange the roasted vegetables evenly over the cheese. Do the same with the sliced olives.
Drop tablespoons of ricotta cheese over the vegetables.
Place the pizza pan on the bottom rack in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before cutting.
Pizza with Artichoke Hearts, Fontina Cheese and Tomato
Ingredients
- 1 lb pizza dough at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 package frozen artichoke hearts, defrosted (or use canned if frozen are not available)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, sliced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 3 thinly sliced plum tomatoes
- 8 oz sliced Italian Fontina cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Cook the defrosted artichokes in the olive oil with the garlic, onion and the juice of one lemon until softened and the onions are caramelized. Add the oregano and black pepper.
Place the sliced Fontina on top of the dough. cover the Fontina layer with the shredded mozzarella cheese and then the Parmesan cheese.
Arrange the artichoke mixture evenly over the cheese. Do the same with the sliced tomatoes.
Place the pizza pan on the bottom rack in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before cutting.
Deep-Dish Sausage Onion Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 lb of pizza dough at room temperature
- Yellow cornmeal
- 8 ounces Italian fennel sausage, casing removed
- 1 cup chopped onion
- One 14 1/2 ounce can diced Italian tomatoes, drained
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- 8 ounces thinly sliced mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino-Romano cheese
Directions
Generously grease a 10-inch springform pan with oil. Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with cornmeal.
Place the pizza dough in the prepared pan. Using oiled hands, press and spread the dough evenly over the bottom and 1 1/2 inches up the sides of the pan.
Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly double in size (30 to 35 minutes).
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
For the filling:
In a medium skillet cook sausage and onions over medium-high heat until brown, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it cooks.
Drain in a mesh (or one with small holes) colander. Using paper towels, pat sausage and, then, wipe out the skillet to remove additional fat.
Return the sausage and onions to the skillet and stir in tomatoes and basil. Cook and stir until heated through.
To assemble the pizza:
Arrange the mozzarella cheese slices over the bottom of the dough lined pan.
Spoon the filling over the cheese and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the edge of the crust is crisp and golden and the filling is bubbly.
Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove the side of the springform pan and cut the pizza into wedges.
The Province of Campobasso is a province in the Molise region of Italy and is situated in eastern Italy on the Adriatic coast. It is bordered in the north by Abruzzo, in the southeast by Apulia and in the south by Campania. The terrain is varied and extends from the mountainous Apennines, down through hills, lakes and inland rivers to the Adriatic coast.
The province’s mountains offer beautiful views and the forests are a natural habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including wolves and rare birds of prey. The province is also known as the perfect location for mountain climbing and for exploring a network of caves that have been carved into the limestone. Among the province’s most renowned places is Campitello Matese, part of the Municipality of San Massimo and a leading ski resort with outstanding courses and modern lifts.
Campobasso boasts two nature reserves, the LIPU Oasis in Casacalenda and the WWF Oasis of Guardiaregia-Campochiaro. Those who love the seaside will appreciate the 24 miles of Adriatic coastline with its host of resorts.
Beans, potatoes, grapes and olives are primary crops of the region. Durum wheat is also important to the region, so pastas are both hearty and abundant. Polenta dishes are common throughout the region. Because animals have been generally raised for sale, recipes are often vegetarian or use very small amounts of meat. Most dishes are prepared simply and use few ingredients.
Campobasso kitchen
Appetizers include soups made with legumes grown in the area, such as lentils, pearl barley and beans, especially fava.
Caponata is the dish that best characterizes Campobasso’s cuisine. It is made with wheat (tarallo) dampened with water and vinegar and flavored with tomatoes, celery, peppers, anchovies, black olives and boiled eggs.
Crioli con le noci is another specialty, dried cod cooked with chopped nuts, as is tacozze e fagioli, homemade pasta sauce with beans and pork rind.
Campobasso is also home to delicious sausages and cured meats: capicola or seasoned pork, ciccioli pork rinds, ham, pork sausage, salami, torcinelli (roulade, essentially of the “rest of the pig”), and pork belly.
The area’s woodlands are ideal for producing a variety of mushrooms, among them porcini, field mushrooms, gallinaccio and, of course, the renowned truffle.
Cheeses include caciocavallo, burrino, mozzarella and pecorino. Among the province’s most famous wines are Biferno (white, red and rosé) and Moscato.
Bread with Broccoli Rabe
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz (400g) stale durum wheat bread
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 ¼ lbs (1000 g) rapini or broccoli rabe
- Pinch salt
- Black pepper or chili pepper
Directions
Slice the bread into ¼ inch (0.5 cm) thick slices.
Wash and clean the broccoli rabe.
Boil for 3 minutes in water to cover, add the bread and drain immediately.
Arrange the bread in layers along with the broccoli rabe. Dress with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper (or red chili flakes).
Bean Soup
12 servings
Ingredients
- 1 ham bone
- 1 cup bite-sized ham pieces
- 2 large onions, halved
- 1 whole large garlic, skinned and cloves smashed with the side of knife
- Fresh or dried basil or both (to taste)
- 5 large bay leaves
- 5 large carrots, sliced
- 2 whole celery stalks and 4 stalks sliced
- 3 medium potatoes, cubed
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 lb dried navy or great northern beans, soaked overnight
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- Salt & Pepper
Directions
Simmer in large soup pot approximately 1 1/2 hours: the ham bone with enough water to cover, onions, garlic, basil, bay leaves, 2 whole celery stalks, salt & pepper to taste.
Drain beans and place in a large pot covered with water by three inches. Add the baking soda. Simmer for 45 minutes, then drain and change the water. Simmer for 45 minutes. Add more water if necessary. When the beans are almost cooked add 1 teaspoon of salt, drain and set aside.
Strain the ham broth and discard the bone and vegetables. Add the broth to the cooked beans, ham pieces and all the remaining ingredients. Simmer for approximately one hour.
Season with salt and pepper.
Campobasso-style Tagliolini
Pork is preferred in the mountains, while the coastal areas are mainly characterized by seafood dishes.
4 servings
- 10 ½ oz (300g) fresh egg pasta, Tagliolini
- 3 oz (80g) ham, julienne or peeled medium shrimp
- 1 hot chili pepper, minced
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 ¾ oz (50g) olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
Directions
Cook the pasta al dente and reserve some of the pasta cooking water. Drain
In a skillet, heat the oil and fry the chili with the onion. Cook at moderate heat till soft, stirring often with a wooden spoon.
Add the ham or the shrimp and heat it quickly.
Add a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water, the minced parsley and a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper.
Add the cooked pasta and mix well. Serve.
Old Style Ricotta Pie
2 pies
Ingredients
Pie Filling:
- 12 eggs
- 2 cups white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 pounds ricotta cheese
Sweet Crust:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup shortening plus 1 tablespoon shortening, chilled
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk
Directions
For the filling:
Beat the 12 eggs, the 2 cups sugar and vanilla extract together in a large bowl. Stir in the ricotta cheese. Set aside.
For the crust:
Combine the flour, baking powder and the 1 cup sugar together. Cut in the chilled shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Mix in the 4 beaten eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Divide dough into 4 balls, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease two deep-dish 9 inch pie plates.
Roll out 2 of the balls to fit into the pie pans. Do not make the crust too thick, as it will expand during cooking. Do not flute the edges of the dough.
Roll out the other 2 balls of dough and cut each into 8 narrow strips for the top of the crust.
Pour the ricotta filling evenly into the two pie crusts. Top each pie with 8 narrow strips of dough. Brush the top of the pie with milk. Place foil on the edge of the crust.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes; remove foil. Rotate pies on the rack so they will bake evenly. Continue to bake until a knife inserted in the center of each pie comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes more.
Cool completely on wire racks. Refrigerate until serving.
Once you determine your holiday main course, the next decision focuses on side dishes to accompany your meal. As we sift through family favorites and long forgotten recipe books, we mentally calculate how long each dish will take to prepare and do we have enough oven, stove and refrigerator space to cook and store everything. Delicious side dishes do not need to be complicated or expensive. In fact, with a little planning, most side dishes can be made with 5 or 6 common ingredients and prepared in a short amount of time.
Choose recipes that call for in season fruits and vegetables. These generally cost less than out of season produce. Winter favorites include: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, rapini, collard greens, spinach, fennel, cabbage, sweet potato, squash, yams, parsnips, kale, spinach, pomegranates, pears, clementine oranges, cranberries and apples. This way your side dishes will taste fresh.
Don’t select side dish recipes that require an oven, if you are also roasting meat at the same time. If oven space is limited, choose recipes that can be prepared on the stove top.
Create dishes that mix red, green, yellow and orange-colored fruits or vegetables to form a medley of vibrant colors. You don’t need lots of ingredients to create delicious side dishes. You need ingredients that combine well together and offer a variety of flavors such as sweet, salty, spicy and sour. Try adding fruit to bitter greens for an interesting taste sensation, or spicy chilies to sweet squash. Often, one or two different spices or herbs are all you need to bring out the flavors in your dish. If you plan to have several side dishes available, try to select dishes that are different from one another in flavor, texture and overall presentation. Create one sweet, one spicy, one sour. Your guests will love the variety.
All these side dishes will be good accompaniments for the main dishes from Monday’s post.
Chunky Sweet Potatoes
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled
- 1/2 of a small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Heat a pan with a lid or cover on medium; add diced onion and garlic; simmer until onions have turned slightly transparent (about 5 minutes). Meanwhile chop sweet potatoes into approximately 1 x 1 x 1 inch/cm chunks; add to the pan when the onions are ready, as well as the salt and cover the pan.
Allow potatoes to cook covered, for 20-30 minutes on medium heat until the potatoes are soft. Uncover and mix every 5-10 minutes in between. Add rosemary, cumin and cinnamon to the pan 10 minutes after adding potatoes.
Sautéed Broccoli Rabe with Tomatoes
Serves 6
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Broccoli Rabe
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 10 cloves garlic, lightly smashed, or to taste
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup fresh plum (Roma) tomatoes, peeled, seeded & cut into ½-inch dice
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper (chili) flakes
- Salt
- 1/4 cup fresh basil or Italian parsley, chopped
Directions
Wash broccoli rabe and dry on paper towels. Remove the large tough leaves, leaving just the tender leaves and flower buds. Cut off and discard the lower part of the stems, leaving the broccoli about 8-inches long and slice into 3 or 4-inch lengths.
Add olive oil and garlic cloves to a large heavy frying pan. Over low heat, slowly sauté garlic until golden on all sides. This can take about 10 minutes.
Add the broccoli rabe to the pan, tossing to coat with garlic and oil. Add tomatoes and toss for a minute or so to remove excess water from the tomatoes. Add chicken stock and cook for a couple of minutes.
Add lemon juice, nutmeg, red pepper flakes, fresh herbs, salt & pepper.Taste for seasoning; adjust if necessary.
Italian Rice & Savoy Cabbage
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups (250 g) Vialone Nano or other short-grained rice, e.g. Arborio
- 1 pound (450 g) Savoy cabbage
- 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup (40 g) freshly grated Parmigiano
- Salt & white pepper to taste
- 4 cups (1 liter) beef broth, stock, or water, simmering
- ¾ cup crushed Italian tomatoes
Directions
Strip off and discard any blemished outer leaves the cabbage may have. Separate the rest, rinse them and shred them.
Heat the olive oil and butter in a pot and sauté the chopped onion and celery. Add the cabbage leaves and continue cooking, stirring them about with a spoon, until they have wilted. Add a cup of hot broth to the pot, cover and simmer over a low flame for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the rice, add the remaining hot broth and crushed tomatoes, add seasoning and simmer until the rice reaches the al dente stage and the broth is absorbed, about 30-40 minutes.
Stir the cheese into the rice and check the seasoning.
Leeks & Spinach Saute
4-6 servings
Ingredients
- 6 medium leeks, white and lightest green parts
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus a large pinch
- 4 cups (packed) washed and stemmed fresh spinach leaves, torn into smaller pieces
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Directions
Trim the ends from the leeks. Slice the leeks across into thin rings (about 1/8-inch thick), discarding any woody stem in the center. Put the sliced leeks in a bowl and cover them with tepid water. Swish them around a bit and let them sit. Lift the leeks out of the bowl and transfer to a colander. Drain and rinse the sand from the bowl, return the leeks to the bowl and cover again with tepid water. Lift, drain and repeat one more time, leaving the leeks in the water with the last wash.
Heat the butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Lift the leeks out of the water and add them to the pan with whatever water is clinging to them. Season with the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are limp and all of the liquid has evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes.
Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the leeks are very lightly golden brown, another 3 to 5 minutes. Add the spinach leaves and a pinch of salt and fold or gently stir them in with the leeks until they are wilted, about 1 minute. Add the fresh thyme and the cream and remove the pan from the heat.
Gently stir until the cream is mostly absorbed into the dish and the thyme is well-distributed. Stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Taste for salt and serve.
Creamy Fettuccine With Mushrooms
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fettuccine
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 pound cremini or shiitake mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 1/2 cup half & half or light cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat, add salt and the spaghetti. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Prior to draining the pasta reserve one cup of the cooking liquid and set aside.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat and add the oil and butter. When the butter melts add the onion, mushrooms, garlic and salt and pepper to taste; sauté 20 minutes or until the mushrooms are browned and have released their liquid. Add wine and thyme and cook for a few minutes until the liquid evaporates.
Remove the pan the from heat. Add the hot cooked pasta, half & half and cheese to the skillet, tossing to combine. Add cooking pasta cooking liquid until needed for moistness and continue to toss. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
The Province of Bari is in the Puglia region of Italy. It is attractive to tourists and has a large commercial harbor and airport and an excellent university. It is also the second most important economic center in Southern Italy after Naples.
Piazza del Ferrarese, Bari
The large, fertile plains of Bari stretch inland from the coast where olives, grapes and almonds are grown. Bari is among the largest and most populated province in Italy. Apart from the plains area around the city of Bari, the territory is mainly high hills, called “murge” that is partly occupied by the recently established National Park of Alta Murgia.
The old houses in this region are interesting, ranging from the ancient masserie (old fortified farmhouses) and the very popular, much photographed conical houses called trulli.
The area is famous for its olive oil. Italy is the second biggest producer, after Spain, and Puglia provides around 40 percent of the country’s extra virgin olive oil.
Durum wheat grows in abundance here and is used for making pasta and bread. The pasta from Puglia is made without eggs as they were once considered to be a luxury. The most famous pasta made in Puglia is ‘orecchiette’ (meaning little ears). The bread in Puglia, which accompanies all meals, is more diverse than many other regions in Italy and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is cooked in a traditional wood burning.
Vegetables grow well in the warm climate and are used frequently in Bari’s cuisine. Tomatoes are used for making sauces to go with the local pasta and eggplant, peppers and squash are roasted and grilled as an accompaniment to meat.
The province is a good area to raise sheep and goats. They are bred for their meat, as well as their milk, which is used for a variety of cheeses. Lamb is the most popular meat, followed by pork.
Local cheeses include, Burrata which is made from mozzarella and cream, Cacioricotta – a seasonal ricotta cheese made from unpasteurized ewes’ milk and Canestrato – a hard cheese which is a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk.
Fish plays a large part in the cuisine because the long coastline offers a large array of fresh fish on a daily basis. Sea bass, red mullet, anchovies, mussels and cuttlefish are among the favorites.
The daily cuisine, as in the other southern regions of Italy, tends to be simple, fresh and unprocessed with most locals growing, rearing and making enough food for their individual needs.
Eggplant Rollatini
Ingredients
- 1 large eggplant, peeled and cut into 8 lengthwise slices (You may also choose to leave the skin on)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon each of finely chopped fresh oregano, thyme and basil ( or ¼ teaspoon each of dried herbs)
- ¼ teaspoon each salt and black pepper
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese
- 1 1/2 cups Marinara (tomato) sauce
Directions
Combine the ricotta, mozzarella cheese, herbs, salt and pepper in a small bowl and refrigerate while you prepare the eggplant.
Heat a grill pan or the broiler. Brush eggplant slices with olive oil. Grill or broil eggplant slices three minutes on each side or until lightly brown.
Spread about 3 tablespoons of the filling on each eggplant slice. Roll up tightly, jelly roll style. Place the eggplant rolls in an oiled baking dish and cover with the marinara sauce.
Bake in a 400-degree F oven for about 20 minutes. Makes 8 appetizer or 4 main dish servings.
Focaccia Bari Style
Ingredients
- 2 cups (500 grams) 00-type flour {substitute all-purpose if you don’t have the Italian flour}
- 2 large baking potatoes, peeled and quartered, boiled until fork tender, drained and cooled.
- 1 1/2 tablespoons instant yeast (1/2 oz.)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
- 1 cup (250 ml) lukewarm water
- 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 10 kalamata olives, halves
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Parmesan cheese
Directions
Place flour in a large mixing bowl and whisk in the yeast. Using a ricer, add the cooked potatoes.
Add the water and a small pinch of salt to the flour and begin kneading to obtain a sticky, firm ball.
You can also make the dough in an electric mixer or a food processor.
Place the dough in a bowl sprayed with olive oil. Cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise until double in a warm, dry place. About 1 hour — depending on the warmth of your kitchen it may take longer.
Preheat oven to 430 degrees F.
Use olive oil to generously grease a large baking pan (about 12 inches). Don’t use anything smaller or the dough will creep over the edge. Stretch the dough to evenly fill the pan.
Press the halved tomatoes into the dough, cut side down and do the same with the olives. Sprinkle with oregano and sea salt.
Drizzle the surface with more olive oil and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the surface appears evenly browned and the tomatoes are caramelized.
Lightly dust with Parmesan cheese when the focaccia is finished baking. Let cool on a cooling rack before cutting.
Broccoli Rabe and Italian Sausage
Serves 4
- 1 lb (500 grams) spicy Italian sausage links
- 1 bunch broccoli rabe (sometimes called turnip greens in Italy)
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 oz.(100 ml) white wine
- 1 hot pepper, chopped fine
- 2 cloves garlic
- Salt to taste
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Directions
To prepare the broccoli rabe:
Wash the broccoli rabe well and cut off the bottom tough part of the stem. Cut the stalks into one inch pieces.
Blanch the broccoli rabe for 5 minutes in boiling salted water and drain well.
Place the garlic, oil, chopped chili and bay leaves in a large skillet with a cover; heat and saute for a few minutes.
Add the sausage links and cook until brown, about 5 minutes, add the white wine and allow it to evaporate. Add the blanched broccoli and season with salt and pepper, cover the pan and continue cooking over medium heat for about 30 minutes . Uncover and cook for 5 minutes to allow the liquids to evaporate. Remove the bay leaves and serve hot.
Cartellate (Honey Pinwheels)
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup water
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup honey or fig syrup
Directions:
In a large bowl of an electric mixer, combine the flour, oil, salt and cinnamon.
Slowly add the water and beat until the dough comes together.
Add additional water, if necessary, so the dough holds together.
Shape the dough into a ball.
Wrap in plastic and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Dust each piece with flour.
Pass the dough through a pasta machine set at the widest opening.
Pass each piece through successive settings until thin.
On a manual pasta machine, stop at setting #6.
Place each pasta strip on a lightly floured surface.
With a fluted pastry cutter, cut the dough into strips 10 x 1-1/4 inches.
Fold each strip in half lengthwise but do not press it together.
With the wavy edges pointing up, roll the strips into loose spirals about 2 inches wide.
Pinch the edges to seal. Place on an oiled baking sheet.
Let the pinwheels dry at room temperature for 2 hours.
Heat oil in a deep fryer or Dutch Oven to 370 degrees F.
Carefully add a few pinwheels at a time to the oil.
Fry until evenly golden, about 1 minute.
Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel lined plate.
Heat honey in a small saucepan until it thins.
Arrange the cartellate on a large platter. Drizzle with the warm honey.
Best served immediately or within a few hours.
With the weather getting cooler in many parts of the country, we may find ourselves entertaining friends for dinner rather than hosting casual, warm weather BBQs. There are so many good choices in the fall for your menu that it is difficult to know where to begin. Chicken is always a good choice but for a dinner party, the chicken recipe should be something a little different; something your guests may not have had before – just to keep things interesting. Choose vegetables in season, a side of potatoes, noodles or rice and a great appetizer.
Please find below one of my fall dinner party menu suggestions and the recipes to go with it.
Entertaining Menu
Antipasto Stromboli
Wine: Pinot Grigio or Prosecco
Vinegar Braised Chicken with Pappardelle Noodles
Olive Oil Braised Broccoli Rabe
Wine: Barbera from Emilia-Romagna or a Chianti from Tuscany
Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti and Cherry Pistachio Biscotti
Fresh Fruit
Espresso
First Course
Antipasto Stromboli
Ingredients
- 2 (one pound) pizza dough balls, at room temperature
- Olive oil
- 1/4 pound thinly sliced Genoa Salami
- 1/4 Pound thinly sliced Pepperoni
- 1/2 pound thinly sliced Provolone Cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced pickled cherry peppers
- 1 egg lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. and line two baking sheets with parchment.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one of the dough balls to a 15 x 10 inch rectangle. Brush the dough lightly with olive oil.
Use half the meat, cheese and peppers, and cover the dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border.
Roll the dough up into a log and brush the seam edges with beaten egg.
Leaving the seam at the bottom and pinching the ends closed, place the roll on one of the baking sheets. Complete the other roll in the same manner.
Brush the rolls with the beaten egg mixture and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool 10 minutes before slicing.
Second Course
Vinegar-Braised Chicken
Ingredients
- 8-10 pieces of chicken – combination of bone-in breasts cut in half if large and thighs (skin on or off; your choice)
- Salt and pepper
- Flour
- Freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 bunch scallions (green onions), sliced thin
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 8 oz pappardelle noodles
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F and position a rack in the upper third.
Coat the chicken in flour and season generously with salt and pepper.
In a Dutch Oven or large ovenproof skillet heat half of the butter and half of the oil. Add half the chicken, skin side up, and cook over high heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook the chicken for 1 minute. Remove to a large platter. Repeat with the remaining butter, oil and chicken. When brown place on the platter with the first batch of chicken.
Add the scallions and garlic to the skillet and cook until the onions begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the broth and vinegar and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper.
Place the chicken on top, skin side up and roast for about 25 minutes, until it is cooked through.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pappardelle and cook until the al dente stage. Drain. Place the noodles on a large serving platter.
Place the Dutch Oven on top of the the stove and transfer the chicken with a slotted spoon to the platter with the noodles, arranging the chicken attractively over the noodles.
Bring the mixture in the pot to a boil over high heat and cook until the liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add a little of the sauce to the sour cream, mix well and whisk the sour cream into the mixture in the pot. Simmer until the sauce is hot and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Do not boil or the sour cream will curdle. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve.
Olive-Oil-Braised Broccoli Rabe
Look for broccoli rabe with vibrant green leaves and plump stems.
Serves 8
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 6 medium garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
- 2 bunches (1 1/4 pounds each) broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut crosswise into 3-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon julienned lemon zest, plus fresh lemon juice for serving
- Coarse salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 2 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock
Directions
Heat the oil and garlic in a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until garlic is sizzling and aromatic, but not browned, about 2 minutes.
Add the broccoli rabe, zest and 3/4 teaspoon salt, then use tongs to toss and coat in oil. Add the stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until broccoli rabe is tender, 7 to 10 minutes.
Transfer contents of pan (including liquid) to a serving bowl. Grind pepper over top and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.
Dessert Course
Cherry Pistachio Biscotti
Makes about 36 biscotti
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted pistachio nuts
- 1 cup dried tart cherries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs, plus 1 egg, lightly beaten, for brushing the tops of the dough
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
Directions
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Reserve one baking sheet for later when you bake the biscotti slices.
Place pistachios in a single layer on a third baking sheet and toast the nuts in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until just golden. Remove the nuts from the pan and set aside to cool.
In a large bowl, mix toasted pistachios, cherries, sugars, baking powder and flour.
In a small bowl, whisk eggs and vanilla extract until well blended. Add to the flour mixture. Stir a few times.
Work the batter together with lightly floured hands. The mixture will be sticky, but persevere. Keep squeezing the batter with your hands, until a dough starts to form. Once the dough is firm, form a ball. Divide the ball into 2 equal pieces.
On a lightly floured surface, place one piece of dough and, using your hands, roll into a log shape that is approximately 8 inches long and 2 inches wide. If it’s sticky, simply dust your palms with more flour. Repeat with the remaining piece of dough. Place the two logs on one baking sheet. Brush the loaves all over with 1 lightly beaten egg.
Bake for 40 minutes, turning the pan around halfway through, or until the tops of the loaves are shiny and deep golden. Cool on a rack for about 20 minutes before slicing.
Place a loaf on a cutting board. Using a large serrated knife, cut 1/2-inch-thick slices, either straight or on the diagonal. Use a sawing motion to prevent crumbling. If the cookie is crumbling, then let it cool a few more minutes. Don’t let it rest too long, however, or it could become too hard to slice.
Place slices on their sides on the baking sheets. Reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees F and bake the biscotti for 20 minutes, until toasted and crisp. Turn the biscotti slices over and rotate the pans after ten minutes.
Remove the pans from the oven and cool the biscotti completely before storing in an airtight container.
Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti
Makes about 36 biscotti (3/4-inch-wide cookies)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups toasted hazelnuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons espresso powder
- 4 large eggs, plus 1 egg, lightly beaten, for brushing the tops of the dough
- 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur
Directions
Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Reserve one baking sheet for later when you bake the biscotti slices.
Place hazelnuts in a single layer on a third baking sheet and toast the nuts in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until just golden. Remove the nuts from the pan and set aside to cool. Chop the nuts into large pieces.
In a large bowl, mix toasted hazelnuts, chocolate chips, sugars, baking powder, cocoa, flour, cinnamon and espresso powder.
In a small bowl, whisk eggs and coffee liqueur. Add to the flour mixture. Stir a few times.
Work the batter together with lightly floured hands. The mixture will be sticky, but persevere. Keep squeezing the batter with your hands, until a dough starts to form. Once the dough is firm, form a ball. Divide the ball into 2 equal pieces.
On a lightly floured surface, place one piece of dough and, using your hands, roll into a log shape that is approximately 8 inches long and 2 inches wide. If it’s sticky, simply dust your palms with more flour. Repeat with the remaining piece of dough. Place the two logs on one baking sheet. Brush loaves all over with 1 lightly beaten egg.
Bake for 40 minutes, turning the pan around halfway through, or until the tops of the loaves are shiny and deep golden. Cool on a rack for about 20 minutes before slicing.
Place a loaf on a cutting board. Using a large serrated knife, cut 1/2-inch-thick slices, either straight or on the diagonal. Use a sawing motion to prevent crumbling. If the cookie is crumbling, then let it cool a few more minutes. Don’t let it rest too long, however, or it could become too hard to slice.
Place slices on their sides on the baking sheets. Reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees F and bake the biscotti for 20 minutes, until toasted and crisp. Turn the biscotti slices over and rotate the pans after ten minutes.
Remove the pans from the oven and cool the biscotti completely before storing in an airtight container.
The province of Caserta is in the Campania region of Italy located 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Naples. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial area. The Roccamonfina Regional Park is the location of an extinct volcano whose eruptions shaped this region long ago. It is an ideal habitat for the chestnut forests, vineyards and olive groves that are found in the area.
Festivals and fairs that marry both the sacred and the pagan recall the history, culture and traditions of Caserta Province – in particular, the Sagra delle Pallottole, a food festival held every year in San Leucio. The event features a historic procession in which participants wear traditional clothing and the local women prepare and serve potato croquettes. Exhibits, events, concerts and the famous float parade all enliven the streets in celebration of one of the most colorful times of the year, Carnevale.
The cuisine of Caserta is made of simple recipes using local products.
Buffalo mozzarella is produced with craftsmanship in this province. It is often made into different shapes: round, braided, knotted or small balls. The water buffalo milk is also used to make butter and other cheeses such as, burrino, burrata, smoked provola and fresh or dried ricotta. Salaprese is a sheep’s milk cheese that is not matured but eaten right after having absorbed the salt. It tastes fresh and sweet, with a strong hint of sheep’s milk.
Local farms supply meat used to prepare cold cuts such as capicollo, prosciutto di Monte, pancetta tesa and the filet, Vairano Patenora. The province is also famous for its salsiccia, a sausage seasoned in special terra-cotta vases.
The Campanella artichoke, porcini mushroom, the many varieties of apple, the golden plum and the chestnut are all delicacies that distinguish the local cuisine.
Desserts consist of honey and walnut biscuits; pigne are glazed sweets and a pastry called serpentone that is stuffed with honey and walnuts.
The wine list is long as well and includes Asprinio di Aversa, Falerno del Massico and Galluccio, all labeled DOC.
Culinary Specialties of Caserta
Mozzarella di Bufala Salad
Ingredients
- Buffalo mozzarella (1 large ball for every 2 servings)
- Breadcrumbs
- All purpose flour
- Salt & pepper
- 2 eggs
- Olive oil for frying
- Mixed salad greens
Sauce
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 small chili pepper
- Handful of basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
Directions
Make the sauce first.
Grill the red pepper, turning it often until it starts to char evenly on all sides. When cool enough to handle, peel away the skin, cut open the pepper and clean out the seeds and any pulp. Cut the flesh into smaller pieces and place in a food processor along with the oil, chili pepper, garlic, basil, salt and mascarpone. Process until smooth. Taste and correct for salt. Place in the refrigerator to thicken while you prepare the other ingredients. Remove the sauce about 5 minutes before serving and give it a good stir.
Tip: You can make the sauce in advance to save time. It will keep for a few days. If you want a thicker sauce, leave out the olive oil.
Prep the mozzarella.
Set out a plate for flour and another for the breadcrumbs. Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl. Drain the mozzarella and slice each ball in half. Gently pat both sides of the slices dry with a paper towel. Dredge each piece of cheese in the flour, then the egg and then the breadcrumbs, making sure to cover the cheese entirely; set aside on waxed paper. Repeat until all the cheese is breaded. Depending on how many cheeses you are using, you may need more breading ingredients.
You can serve all the cheese on one platter with the salad or as individually plated servings. Arrange the salad greens accordingly.
Heat the olive oil. You want at least an inch of cooking oil, so use a small pan and fry the cheese in batches. Gently slide the slices into the oil. They are ready to turn over after about 3 minutes, or when the bottom has turned golden brown and firm. Gently turn them and cook for another 3 minutes. When golden and crunchy on all sides, transfer the cheese to paper towels to drain and lightly salt them.
Let them cool slightly, but be sure to serve them warm-hot. You can also slice them in half. Drizzle the pepper cream sauce directly over the cheese and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
Linguine with Colatura di Alici and Erbe di Campo
Ingredients
- 1 lb (500 gr) linguine
- 1 ½ lbs (700 gr) wild greens or broccoli rabe
- 3-4 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon colatura di alici (Italian anchovy sauce)
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
Directions
Wash and clean the broccoli rabe and cut them into 2-inch pieces; set aside.
In a large pan, sauté the garlic in the olive oil until lightly golden, add the broccoli and season with salt. Cook over medium heat until the broccoli is tender, then remove the pan from the heat.
Place a pot of salted water on the stove and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it to the pan with the broccoli. Toss the mixture over low heat, add the colatura and chili; toss again to coat the pasta evenly.
Add a couple of ladles of pasta cooking water to create a creamier sauce. Serve hot.
Salt Cod Baked in Spicy Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (900 g) thick salt cod fillets
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (chili)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cans (each 12 ounces; 340 g) Italian plum tomatoes, pureed
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- Vegetable oil for frying
- All-purpose flour for dredging
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
Salt cod must be soaked overnight before cooking to remove the salt. Place it in a bowl with cold water to cover and soak for 24 hours, changing the water three or four times.
If you’re in a hurry, try the quick-soak method. Rinse the cod under cold running water for 15 minutes. Place it in a pan with cold water to cover and gradually bring to a boil. Drain the fish and rinse in cold water. Repeat the boiling and rinsing process two or three times.
Cut the cod into 4 x 1 1/2-inch (10 X 4-cm) pieces, then pat dry with paper towels and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 C).
Sauté the garlic in the olive oil until golden. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the hot pepper flakes and parsley. Stir, then replace the skillet on the stove. Add the tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper and oregano. Simmer 5 minutes and set aside. Remove and discard the garlic.
Heat the vegetable oil in another skillet over moderate heat. When a cube of bread browns in about 1 minute, the oil is ready for frying. Flour the cod fillets lightly and fry until golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels.
Arrange the cod fillets in a bake-and-serve dish and cover with the tomato sauce. Bake for 20 minutes.
Limoncello Sorbet Cups
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup limoncello
- Lemon zest from two lemons
- 1 pinch salt
- Lemon cups (1 hollowed out lemon per serving)
Directions
Bring the water and sugar just to a boil in a sauce pan, stirring frequently, until you have a thick, clear syrup. Turn off the heat and let cool.
Transfer the syrup to a bowl and add the lemon juice, lemon zest, limoncello and salt. Stir well and transfer to a ceramic baking dish or plastic container, cover and freeze for at least 3 hours.
Check the sorbet periodically and move it around with a fork. When ready, scrape the sorbet with a fork; then use an ice cream scoop to serve.
To make the lemon cups:
Slice ¾ of an inch off the stem side of the lemons. Using a paring knife and teaspoon, carefully cut and scoop out the lemon pulp. Do this over a bowl so you can save the juice. Slice about ¼ inch from the bottom of the lemons, so they will stand.
Freeze the cups along with the sorbet. When the sorbet is ready, fill the cups and place them back in the freezer until serving. You can make a batch of several sorbet cups in advance.
Tips on grilling fish:
- A hot fire is key. You want to cook seafood quickly to retain the natural juices and flavor.
- A clean grill rack is equally important. Fish will stick to a dirty rack and make turning the fish difficult.
- Oil the rack when the barbecue grill is hot, just before you’re ready to cook. Also, oil the fish whenever possible. Use a high-temperature oil, such as grape seed, peanut or plain olive oil.
- Skin side up or down? Conventional wisdom says to cook the skin side first, but doing the opposite gives a nicer, crusted surface on the non-skin side and the skin helps the fillet hold together for turning. The result is a moist, more appealing fillet.
- Fish will hold together better and be less likely to stick if you leave it alone during grilling. Cook it for the estimated time, then try lifting it carefully. If it pulls away easily, it is ready to turn.
- A wide, thin spatula is essential for turning and removing fish from the grill.
- If you’re grilling thin fillets, you can place them in a double-sided, long-handled grilling rack used for hamburgers and steaks. There are also specially shaped ones made for grilling whole fish.
- A good rule of thumb is to grill fish for a total of 10 minutes per inch of thickness (measured at the thickest point.) So if you have a half-inch thick fillet, grill it for about 3 minutes on one side, then turn and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Avoid sugary marinades or glazes, especially with thick fillets or whole fish, as the sugars can burn and turn bitter before the fish is fully cooked.
- As with other methods, fish is fully cooked when it begins to flake and is opaque at the center. Some fish, like salmon and tuna, are often served while still somewhat ‘rare’, like steak.
- Tuna, salmon, swordfish, halibut, mahi mahi, barramundi, trout, mackerel, yellowtail and sea bass are some of the best fish to grill.
When most of us think of swordfish, we think…well, isn’t it endangered? The answer — at least for American swordfish — is no. It is true that swordfish stocks were hurt in the 1980s and early 1990s, but a nationwide movement to give swordfish a break worked. Now, North Atlantic stocks are on the rebound and environmental watchdog groups list them as a “good alternative.”
Grilled Swordfish With Caponata
Swordfish is made for the grill. It is firm, like steak, and many non-fish eaters will readily eat swordfish over other types of fish. Its texture also helps prevent the steaks from falling apart on the grill, a huge plus. Note: Halibut steaks or firm white fish fillets, such as red snapper, tilapia, cod or orange roughy, can be used in place of swordfish.
Serves 4
Ingredients
Marinade
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 swordfish steaks (see note above)
Caponata
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 each Italian frying pepper and orange and yellow bell peppers
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 medium eggplant, peeled or unpeeled according to taste
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed
Directions
Marinade:
Mix ingredients in a large ziptop bag. Add fish, seal; turn to coat. Leave at room temperature while preparing the caponata.
Caponata:
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and peppers; sauté 2 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic; stir 30 seconds and add eggplant, cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in marinara sauce, cover; reduce heat and simmer, stirring twice, 12 minutes or until the eggplant is very tender.
Add vinegar and capers to the caponata. Cover and simmer 5 minutes to develop flavors.
Meanwhile, heat an outdoor grill or a stove-top ridged grill pan. Remove fish from the bag; discard bag with the marinade.
Grill fish 4 to 6 inches from the heat source on an outdoor grill or in a grill pan, turning once, 10 to 12 minutes until cooked through.
Serve fish over the caponata.
Healthy sides to go with your delicious grilled fish.
Spinach & Rice-Stuffed Tomatoes
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 4 large vine-ripe tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus extra for the tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
Directions
Heat the oven to 450°F.
Rub the inside of a 1 1/2-quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the oil and set aside.
Using a serrated knife, cut off the top fourth of each tomato and discard the tops. Cut 1/8th off the bottom of each tomato, so that they’ll sit upright in the baking dish; discard bottoms.
Using a small spoon (a grapefruit spoon works the best), scoop out the seeds and pulp from each tomato and discard. Sprinkle the insides of each tomato with a little salt. Place the tomatoes upside down on a plate layered with paper towels and let them sit for 30 minutes to extract excess tomato juice, which may make the filling soggy.
Heat the remaining oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and yellow pepper and cook 5 minutes. Stir in spinach and Italian seasoning. Cook 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in rice, salt and lemon rind. Cook 4 minutes or until heated through.
Spoon rice mixture into the tomatoes and cover dish tightly with foil. Bake 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
Braised Spring Vegetables
Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 1 spring onion or 4 green onions, trimmed and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons chicken broth or water
- 8 oz asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 cup fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved crosswise
- 1 cup shelled fresh peas (from about 1 pound of peas in the pod) or frozen peas (thawed)
- 1/2 head escarole, torn into bite-size pieces (about 2 cups)
- 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
- 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
Directions
In heavy 12-inch skillet, combine spring onion, garlic, oil and broth; heat to simmering on medium heat. Cover; cook about 2 minutes, or until onion softens slightly.
Add asparagus, sugar snap peas and peas and sauté 2 to 3 minutes, or until beans and peas are heated through. Add escarole and basil; sauté 2 to 3 minutes, or until escarole wilts and asparagus is crisp-tender.
Stir in lemon peel and juice. Season to taste with kosher salt.
Transfer to serving platter; sprinkle with chives and grated Parmesan. Serve immediately.
Spaghettini with Lemon and Ricotta
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghettini (thin spaghetti)
- 3/4 cup good-quality fresh whole-milk ricotta
- 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 lemons
Directions
Heat a large saucepan of salted water to boiling on high. Add spaghettini; cook 6 minutes or until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix ricotta, oil and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. Finely grate the peel of 1 lemon and stir it into ricotta. Season with kosher salt.
Add cooked spaghettini to ricotta mixture; stir well, adding reserved cooking water, if needed to make a sauce that coats the pasta. Season to taste.
Divide pasta among 4 plates. Finely grate the peel of the remaining lemon over the pasta and serve.
Tomato & Fennel Salad
4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar or white-wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 pound tomatoes, cut into wedges
- 2 cups thinly sliced fennel bulb
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
Directions
Toast pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside to cool
Whisk oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in a large bowl until combined.
Add tomatoes, fennel, parsley and pine nuts; toss to coat. Serve.
Broccoli Rabe with Garlic & Anchovies
6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds broccoli rabe, stem ends trimmed and chopped
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 6 anchovy fillets, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions
Bring a large pot or Dutch oven of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli rabe and cook until tender when pierced with a fork, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain well.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, anchovies and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, until the garlic is very light brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the broccoli rabe, toss to coat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes more. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
Cotoletta Alla Milanese
Cotoletta is most likely an adaptation of the southern Italian word costoletta, meaning ribs or cutlet, or it may come from the French côtelette. Though the origin and the spelling of the name are uncertain, the dish itself is not. It is a portion of meat, usually veal, fried in breadcrumbs and in its most famous form, it is called cotoletta alla milanese. Today, the technique extends to chicken, turkey and even vegetables. In dishes like these, the name describes the manner of preparation and simply means that the food has been fried with bread crumbs.
The origin of the dish is as obscure as that of the name and its spelling, with both Austrians and the Italians claiming to have invented it. Proof that cotoletta alla milanese is a Milanese invention is in fact provided by two historical documents. The first is a “menu” from 1134, for a meal given by an abbot to the choristers of Sant’ Ambrogio. The list of dishes includes “lumbulos con panito”, sliced loin in breadcrumbs.
This evidence of a Lombard specialty is quoted in Pietro Verri’s, Storia di Milano. A second item of proof is a letter written by the Austrian general, Field Marshal Radetzky, to the Imperial Staff Officer, Baron Attems. After various comments and pieces of information, the general writes of the cotoletta and describes the method of preparation, speaking of it as a new discovery. Perhaps it was the Austrians who learned the dish from south of the Alps – the Milanese certainly believe so. You probably do not want to get into the middle of that argument.
In any case this is a delicious dish to make and the only decision you need to make is what to serve with the pork. I have given you a number of choices that I think go well with a milanese recipe. Choose one.
Pork Chops Milanese
(Adapted from chef, Jonathan Waxman)
4 servings
Ingredients
- Four 10-ounce bone-in pork rib chops
- 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus extra for drizzling over the pork
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 loaf fresh Italian country bread, crust removed and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 lemons, juiced (about ¼ cup)
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Place each pork chop in a separate large resealable plastic bag and, using a rolling-pin, gently pound each chop until it is about 8 inches in diameter and about 3/4-inch thick.
Remove each chop from the bag and coat with a drizzle of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
In a food processor, pulse the bread cubes into fine crumbs (you should end up with about 3 cups of crumbs). Place the crumbs into a large paper bag.
Place the flour in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
In another large bowl, beat the eggs with 1 teaspoon of sea salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Place the pork chops in the flour, coat them well and then dip each one into the egg mixture. Transfer the chops to a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with the remaining egg mixture, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Transfer the chops, one at a time, to the bag with the bread crumbs. Close the bag and shake well to coat each chop thoroughly.
Preheat a skillet large enough to hold 2 chops in a single layer. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter and heat over medium heat until the butter is golden brown. Place two chops in the pan and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on one side. Using a spatula, gently turn each chop. Cook for 3-4 minutes longer.
Remove from the heat and transfer the chops to a platter. Add 2 tablespoons lemon juice to the pan, stir to deglaze and pour the juices over the cooked chops.
Wipe out the pan and repeat this process with the remaining chops, oil, butter and lemon juice. Sprinkle the chops with the Parmesan cheese. serve with one of the side dishes below
Contorno (Side Dishes)
Mascarpone Polenta with Wild Mushrooms
(Adapted from the Cuoco Pazzo Restaurant, Scottsdale, AZ)
Polenta comes in three types of grinds: fine (which has a consistency similar to wheat flour), semi coarse and coarse.
4 servings
Ingredients
- 1½ cups polenta or ground cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup fresh or frozen sweet corn kernels
- 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
- Kosher salt
- White pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 cups thinly sliced mixed mushrooms
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
- ½ tablespoon finely chopped chives, plus additional for garnish
- ½ tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- White truffle oil
- 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
Directions
In a large saucepan, bring 5 cups of salted water to a boil. Slowly add the polenta and whisk constantly until tender, about 7 to 10 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the butter, corn and mascarpone cheese. Season with salt and white pepper. Set aside.
In a large skillet set over medium heat, heat the olive oil and add the mushrooms. Cook until they soften slightly, about 7 to 10 minutes. Add the shallot and garlic and cook until translucent. Season with salt to taste.
Stir the herbs and Parmesan cheese into the polenta and spread the polenta onto a serving platter. Spoon the mushrooms onto the center of the polenta and drizzle lightly with truffle oil. Sprinkle with chives and serve as a side to the grilled pork chops.
Olive-Oil-Braised Broccoli Rabe
Look for broccoli rabe with vibrant green leaves and plump stems. Small-leaved plants are young and therefore mild-tasting.
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 3 medium garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
- 1 bunch (1 1/4 pounds) broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut crosswise into 3-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons julienned lemon zest, plus fresh lemon juice for serving
- Coarse salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1 cup homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock
Directions
Heat the oil and garlic in a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until garlic is sizzling and aromatic, but not browned, about 2 minutes.
Add the broccoli rabe, zest and 3/4 teaspoon salt, then use tongs to toss and coat in oil. Add the stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until broccoli rabe is tender, 7 to 10 minutes.
Transfer contents of pan (including liquid) to a serving bowl. Grind pepper over top and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Spinach Salad with Roasted Fennel and Grapefruit
(Adapted from A Good Food Day: Reboot Your Health with Food That Tastes Great.)
4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 large fennel bulb, halved lengthwise, then sliced lengthwise ½ inch thick
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 pink grapefruit
- One 5-ounce container or bag of baby spinach
- ½ cup pitted oil-cured black olives, halved
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
Place the fennel on the prepared baking sheet and toss the wedges with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and roast until tender and the edges are browned and crispy, 30 to 35 minutes.
Grate the zest of the grapefruit into a bowl. Using a sharp knife, trim ¼ inch to ½ inch off the top and bottom of the grapefruit so it stand flat on a cutting board. Following the curve of the fruit, remove the white pith and the membrane covering the fruit. Cut in between the membranes to remove the fruit and place them in the bowl with the zest. Squeeze what remains of the grapefruit over a small bowl or measuring cup to release any juice still left in the grapefruit.
In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, olives and grapefruit segments. Add the roasted fennel along with 2 tablespoons of the reserved grapefruit juice and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Serve as a side to the pork.
Greens and Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 quarts water
- Salt for the water
- 3 baking potatoes, peeled and quartered crosswise
- 2 pounds Swiss chard or spinach or kale, cleaned and cut into 1/2-inch strips
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
In a large stock pot over high heat, add the water and salt; bring to a boil. Add the potatoes and boil for 10 minutes. Add the Swiss chard. Boil until the potatoes and chard stems are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain in a colander.
In a large sauté pan or skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, divided. Add the garlic and cook until brown. Add the chard and potatoes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté, stirring and mashing the potatoes, until the liquid has evaporated and the potatoes are coarsely mashed. If the potatoes begin to brown, reduce the heat.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix well. Serve as a side with the pork.
