Salad for Dinner

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Salad for Dinner Page 22

by Tasha DeSerio


  2 pounds whole, small squid (about

  2 stalks celery, thinly sliced crosswise

  optional)

  3 inches long), or 11⁄

  at a slight angle

  4 pounds cleaned

  small squid, cut into rings

  1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh

  Aioli (p. XX), for serving (optional)

  Kosher salt

  marjoram

  Cooking squid hot and fast is one of my favorite preparations. If you prefer boiled squid, simply drop cleaned squid into a pot of lightly salted water and cook until it turns white, about 1 minute. Then transfer to a bowl and season with the salt, pepper, olive oil, and red pepper flakes called for in the recipe.

  Add about 4 ounces sliced Spanish chorizo to the salad for a bit more heat. When the second batch of squid is almost cooked, add the chorizo to the pan for the last minute of cooking—just enough to warm it and release some of its flavor.

  The toasted breadcrumbs add a welcome crunch, but you can omit them and serve

  the salad with tomato-rubbed crostini. Toast or grill thick slices of rustic bread, lightly rub with a clove of garlic, and then rub with the cut side of a halved tomato. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, and serve alongside the salad.

  ServeS 4

  Drain the chickpeas, put them in a medium pot, and add water to cover

  by 11⁄2 inches. Add the bay leaf and a tablespoon of oil, and bring to a boil.

  Season with a generous pinch of salt, reduce the heat, and simmer gently

  until the chickpeas are tender, about 1 1⁄2 hours. If the chickpeas start to

  peak through the cooking liquid, add a splash more water. Remove from

  the heat, set aside at room temperature, and let the chickpeas to cool

  slowly in their liquid.

  If using whole squid bodies, clean them following the technique on p. XX.

  Heat a large, heavy sauté pan over high heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons

  oil and half the squid. Season with salt and a pinch of pepper flakes.

  Sauté the squid until the bodies are golden and the tentacles are nicely

  continued on page xx

  legume salads 177

  continued from page xx

  caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring once or twice. Be careful as you cook

  the squid as it tends to pop. Transfer the squid to a bowl and return the

  pan to the stovetop over medium heat. Add about 3 tablespoons of the

  chickpea cooking liquid (or water if using canned chickpeas) to the hot

  pan, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the caramelized bits clinging

  to the bottom. Add the liquid to the bowl of squid. Then rinse the pan

  clean and wipe dry, return it to the stovetop over high heat, and repeat the

  process with the remaining squid.

  To make the vinaigrette, combine the garlic, onion, and vinegar in a

  small bowl with a pinch of salt. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Whisk in the

  remaining 1⁄2 cup oil. Set aside.

  Drain the chickpeas and put them in a large work bowl. Add the warm

  squid and its juices, the vinaigrette, celery, marjoram, and parsley. Fold

  gently to combine. Taste for salt and vinegar, and adjust as necessary. If

  you want a little more spice, add cayenne to taste.

  Just before serving, lightly toss the frisée in a small bowl with a squeeze

  of fresh lemon juice (about 1 tablespoon) and a pinch of salt. Taste and

  add more lemon or salt if necessary. Scatter the frisée on a platter or

  individual serving plates and spoon the chickpea and squid on and around

  the greens. Sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs on top, if using. Finish each

  plate with a dollop of aioli, or pass at the table, and serve immediately.

  178 legume salads

  edamame with beets, scallions

  & ginger vinaigrette

  Kosher salt

  Pinch of sugar

  4 ounces, washed and dried

  2 cups frozen shelled edamame

  1⁄4 cup plus 2 tablespoons flavorless oil,

  6 small to medium beets, roasted (see p.

  1 shallot, finely diced

  such as vegetable oil

  XX), peeled, pickled (see p. XX), and cut

  into 1⁄

  1

  4-inch-thick rounds (coins)

  2

  ⁄

  1⁄

  4 cup thinly sliced scallions (white and

  2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger

  green parts only) cut at an angle

  Black sesame seeds, for sprinkling

  31⁄2 tablespoons rice vinegar; more as

  (optional)

  needed

  4 handfuls baby Asian greens, such as

  Mizuna, mustard, and Tat Soi, about

  add SubStance

  We always have edamame in the freezer and pickled beets on hand, so this salad Tuck a few seared scallops here and

  comes together quickly in my house. For a spicy ginger vinaigrette, add finely diced there, or serve with slow-roasted salmon

  jalapeño or sliced Thai chile to the shallot and ginger mixture.

  (see p. XX) or seared tuna (see p. XX).

  Asian greens are fairly common in most supermarkets, so you should be able to

  find a number of varieties. I especially like mizuna, a delicate Japanese mustard green with long, graceful leaves, baby mustard, and Tat soi. If you can’t find Asian greens, arugula is a good substitute.

  ServeS 4

  Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt—it

  should taste almost like seawater. Add the edamame and boil until the

  beans are tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well, and spread the beans out

  on a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool. Set aside at room temperature.

  To make the vinaigrette, combine the shallot, ginger, vinegar, sugar, and

  a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk in the

  oil. Taste with a leaf of lettuce and add more salt, vinegar, or a pinch more

  sugar if necessary.

  Just before serving, put the edamame and scallions in a medium work

  bowl. Season with salt and toss with just enough vinaigrette to coat lightly.

  Taste and add more salt if necessary. Put the Asian greens in a separate

  medium work bowl, season with salt, and dress with just enough vinaigrette

  to lightly coat the greens. Taste and add more salt if necessary.

  Dot the beet slices around a platter or individual serving plates. Spoon

  the edamame on and around the beets. Drizzle the remaining vinaigrette

  around the platter or plates, focusing on the beets. Sprinkle with black

  sesame, and top with a handful of greens. Serve immediately.

  legume salads 179

  butter beans with

  chorizo and tomato

  21⁄2 cups dry butter beans, washed, picked

  1 large clove garlic, pounded to a smooth

  1⁄2 cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf

  over, and soaked overnight in cool water

  paste with a pinch of salt

  parsley

  (or 6 cups cooked and drained butter

  3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sherry

  3 tablespoons roughly chopped marjoram

  beans, at room temperature)

  vinegar; more as needed

  8 ounces mild or spicy dry chorizo,

  1 bay leaf

  1 pint ripe cherry tomatoes, such as

  halved lengthwise, and cut into 1⁄4-inch-

  1⁄2 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin

  Sweet 100s, halved

  thick slices

  olive oil; more as needed

  I try keep a stick of dry
chorizo or salami picante in the refrigerator (it comes in handy for all kinds of dishes) and we grow cherry tomatoes in the summer, so I frequently make myself this salad for lunch with leftover cooked beans. It’s simple and satisfying.

  Butter beans are big, plump white beans. In our area we can get them both fresh and freshly dried at the farmer’s market. I use them more than any other bean. If you can’t find butter beans, substitute with cannellini beans or another large white bean.

  You can also use chickpeas or lentils in place of the beans. If your chorizo is mild, add a pinch of cayenne or a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper.

  ServeS 4 to 6

  Drain the beans, put them in a medium pot, and add enough water to cover

  by 1 1⁄2 inches. Add the bay leaf and a tablespoon of oil and bring to a boil.

  Season with a generous pinch of salt, reduce the heat, and simmer gently until the beans are tender, about 11⁄2 hours. If the beans start to peak through the cooking liquid, add a splash more water. Remove from the heat, set aside at

  room temperature, and let the beans to cool slowly in their liquid.

  To make the vinaigrette, combine the garlic and vinegar in a small bowl.

  Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk in 1⁄2 cup oil. Taste and adjust the

  vinaigrette with more salt or vinegar if necessary. Set aside.

  Drain the beans well. (You should have about 6 cups.) Put the beans,

  tomatoes, and herbs in a large work bowl, and season with salt. Drizzle

  the vinaigrette on top and gently toss the salad to combine. Taste and add

  more salt or vinegar if necessary. Set aside.

  Warm a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the remaining

  2 tablespoons oil and the chorizo in a single layer. Quickly brown the

  chorizo on both sides, about 2 minutes, and immediately add it and any

  pan drippings (or as much as you like) to the work bowl. Gently toss to

  combine, and taste once more for salt, vinegar, and oil. Spoon the salad

  onto a platter or individual serving plates and serve immediately.

  180 legume salads

  KS_TP_BtrBean_43.tif

  fresh cranberry bean salad with

  broccoli rabe and warm pancetta

  5 cups shucked fresh shelling beans

  Kosher salt

  3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

  (about 5 pounds in the pod), such as

  1 pound broccoli rabe

  Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

  cranberry beans

  Four 1⁄4-inch-thick slices pancetta

  31⁄2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar;

  1⁄2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin

  (about 6 ounces), cut crosswise into

  more as needed

  olive oil; more as needed

  1⁄4-inch-wide strips

  1 cup toasted breadcrumbs (see p. XX;

  1 bay leaf

  optional)

  add SubStance

  We grow cranberry beans in the garden every year. This past year, when faced with Serve with poached eggs or chicken.

  a huge bowl of shucked beans and no time to cook them, I bagged them raw and put them in the freezer. The beans held up better in the freezer raw than cooked, and it was easy to scoop as much as I needed out of the bag and return the rest to the freezer. Try it—you can enjoy flavor, texture, and convenience (no soaking and quick cooking) of fresh shelling beans for several months.

  ServeS 4

  Put the beans in a heavy medium pot. Add water to cover by 1 inch, add 1

  tablespoon oil and the bay leaf, and season with a generous pinch of salt.

  Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, and cook until the

  beans are tender and creamy, about 30 minutes. If the beans start to peak

  through the cooking liquid, add a splash more water. Taste for salt and set

  aside to cool at room temperature. You can refrigerate the beans for up

  to 2 days at this point; return them to room temperature before finishing

  the salad.

  Trim the stems of the broccoli rabe. The stems should be tender and

  crisp, so trim off as much as necessary. Cut the remaining stems crosswise

  into 1⁄2-inch segments, and slice the leafy greens into about 1-inch-wide

  ribbons. Wash and drain the broccoli rabe, but leave a good amount of

  water clinging to the leaves.

  Warm a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons

  oil, swirl to coat the pan, and add the broccoli rabe in large handfuls.

  When the broccoli rabe has wilted, season it with salt, reduce the heat to

  medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender. The residual water

  from washing should be enough to cook the broccoli rabe, but if the pan

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  182 legume salads

  KS_TP_CrnBryBn_82.tif

  continued from page xx

  gets dry and begins to scorch, add a splash more water. The cooking time will

  vary depending on the texture of the greens; tender broccoli rabe will cook

  in about 4 minutes, more fibrous rabe can take up to 12 minutes. When the

  broccoli rabe is done (be sure to cook off any excess water), transfer it to a large work bowl. Set aside at room temperature to cool briefly.

  Remove the bay leaf from the beans, drain the beans well, and add them to

  the broccoli rabe; gently toss to combine.

  Put 1⁄4 cup water in a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the pancetta.

  When it starts to sizzle, reduce the heat to medium low (you want it to render slowly), and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pancetta is golden and

  lightly crisp, about 12 minutes. Remove the pancetta with a slotted spoon

  and transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Set aside.

  You should have about 2 tablespoons fat in the pan. Return the pan to

  the stovetop over medium heat and add the remaining 6 tablespoons oil.

  (You want a total of 1⁄2 cup of fat; add more oil if needed.) When the oil is

  warm, add the garlic and a generous pinch of pepper flakes, and cook just

  until you smell the garlic, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat, whisk

  in the vinegar, and season with salt. Pour the vinaigrette over the beans

  and broccoli rabe, add the pancetta, and gently fold to combine. Taste and

  add more salt, vinegar, or oil if needed. Spoon the salad onto a platter

  or individual plates. Finish the salad with a drizzle of olive oil. Scatter the breadcrumbs on top, if desired, and serve immediately.

  184 legume salads

  lentil salad with

  gypsy peppers and feta

  1 1⁄2 cups green lentils, picked over

  1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne

  1 small red onion, finely diced

  1 bay leaf

  1⁄4 cup red-wine vinegar; more if needed

  1⁄2 cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf

  Kosher salt

  parsley

  1⁄2 cup extra-virgin olive oil; more for

  1 large clove garlic, pounded to a

  drizzling

  2 tablespoons roughly chopped

  smooth paste with a pinch of salt

  3 medium Gypsy peppers or 2 red bell

  fresh oregano

  1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted

  peppers (about 15 ounces), seeded and

  2 to 4 ounces feta, preferably

  and coarsely ground

  cut into 1⁄4-inch dice

  French goat’s milk

  add SubStance

  This salad benefits from being prepared in advance so the flavors have time to Serve with grilled chicken or lamb.

  mingle and the peppers and onions soften a bit. Be sure to add the herbs and feta just before serving.

>   Any type of feta will do, but French goat’s milk feta is particularly creamy and delicious. Barrel-aged Greek feta has a more assertive flavor, but it’s very good as wel .

  ServeS 4

  Put the lentils and bay leaf in a medium pot and cover with water by

  2 inches. Bring to a boil and season with a generous pinch of salt. Reduce

  the heat, and simmer gently until the lentils are tender but not mushy

  (you want them to retain their shape), 20 to 30 minutes, depending

  on the age of the lentils. If the lentils start to peak through the cooking

  liquid, add a splash more water. When done, pour the lentils and their

  cooking liquid into a large, shallow container. Taste and add more salt if

  necessary. Set aside at room temperature, and let the lentils cool slowly in

  their liquid. You can refrigerate the lentils for up to 2 days at this point;

  return them to room temperature before serving.

  To make the vinaigrette, combine the garlic, cumin, cayenne, vinegar, and

  a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk in the oil.

  Taste and add more salt or vinegar if necessary.

  Drain the lentils well. Put the lentils, peppers, and onion in a large work

  bowl. Season with salt, drizzle the vinaigrette on top, and toss gently to

  combine. Taste and add more salt or vinegar if necessary. Let sit for at

  least 20 to 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.

  Just before serving, add the herbs, toss gently to combine, and taste

  once more for salt and acid. Spoon the salad onto a platter or individual

  serving plates. Crumble the feta on top, and finish with a thin drizzle of

  oil. Serve immediately.

  legume salads 185

  KS_TP_CnlniFva_22.tif

  cannellini and fava beans

  with spring onions

  2 cups dry cannellini beans, washed,

  2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar;

  2 stalks celery, thinly sliced crosswise

  picked over, and soaked overnight in

  more as needed

  at a slight angle

  cool water (or 41⁄2 cups drained cooked

  2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon

  1⁄2 cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf

  cannellini beans, at room temperature)

  juice

  parsley

  1 bay leaf

  1⁄2 teaspoon finely chopped lemon zest

  1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh

  1⁄2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin

  1

  marjoram

  1⁄2 cups shelled fava beans, blanched and

 

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