spring asparagus galette from smitten kitchen

  • 1 pound asparagus
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup (125 grams) ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup (45 grams) grated gruyere, comte, or gouda cheese
  • 1/4 cup (30 grams) grated parmesan or pecorino cheese
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Red pepper flakes or freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 large egg or egg yolk (optional, for shine)

Make the crust: Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Sprinkle butter over dough and using a pastry blender or your fingertips, work it into the flour until the mixture resembles small peas. Sprinkle sour cream and 3 tablespoons of water over the mixture and stir/mash it together to combine; it should form large clumps; add last tablespoon water if it does not. Use your hands to bring it together into a single mass. Transfer dough to a large square of parchment paper, patting it into a flatter packet, and wrap it tightly. Chilling it in the fridge until firm, 1 to 2 hours or up to 4 days. You can hasten the firming process along in the freezer, for about 20 minutes.

Make the filling: Hold the asparagus by the tough end (no need to snap it off) and cut the tips into 1-inch segments and the rest of the spears into very thin slices on a sharp angle. In a large bowl, toss with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and set aside for 30 minutes. 

In a small bowl, combine ricotta, gruyere, parmesan, garlic, a pinch of salt, and pepper to taste and set aside.

Drain asparagus in a colander and pat it dry on paper towels. Return it to the empty bowl and toss with olive oil, lemon zest, and pepper to taste. (No need to salt because it will be well-seasoned from the salting step.)

Assemble galette: Heat oven to 400°F. Unwrap firm crust dough and line a large baking sheet with the parchment paper that it was wrapped in. On a floured counter, roll the dough out into a large round-ish shape, about 14 inches across. Gently transfer it to the parchment paper in the pan. Spread ricotta mixture over center, leaving a 3-inch border bare. Spoon asparagus over ricotta layer. Fold the border over the filling, pleating the edge to make it fit. The center will be open.

For a darker, glossier crust, beat an egg or just a yolk with 1 teaspoon of water and brush it over the crust. 

Bake galette: For 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is deeply golden. Serve warm, in wedges.

Do ahead: This galette keeps in the fridge for up to one week. It’s good at room temperature but even better warm, so the cheese is all stretchy again.

Zucchini, onion and ricotta pie (sorta salata di zucchine e cipolle) from saver.com

14 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 shallot, thinly sliced
6 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
12 cup grated pecorino
12 cup ricotta
12 cup roughly chopped parsley
4 eggs, beaten
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tbsp. unsalted butter
3 tbsp. bread crumbs

Instructions

Heat oil in a 6-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook garlic and shallot until golden, 4–6 minutes. Add zucchini; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; let cool. Stir in pecorino, ricotta, parsley, eggs, salt, and pepper.
Heat oven to 350°. Grease a 10″ pie plate with butter; coat with bread crumbs. Spread zucchini mixture evenly over top; bake until golden on top and slightly puffed, 40–45 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Caesar dressing from Daphne Oz

  • 2 teaspoons capers (drained and finely chopped)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 lemon (juiced)
  • 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (finely grated)
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • For the Dressing: using a mortar and pestle, mash the capers and garlic together. Add the mustard, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce and oil, and mix to combine. Season with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • To assemble the sandwich, spread 1 tablespoon of dressing on one piece of bread and top with 2 romaine leaves. On the other piece of bread place the turkey. Place the two sandwich halves together and slice in half.
  • Helpful Tip: as an easy appetizer add a tablespoon of dressing into the bottom of a small mason jar and place a romaine lettuce leaf on top!

Kale Salad with Apples and Hazelnuts

  • 5 cups cuFood52rly kale and mustard green leaves, torn into small pieces
  • 2 scallions,trimmed and thinly sliced on the bias
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown rice vinegar
  • Sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1 tart apple
  • 1/4 cup hazelnuts, chopped and toasted
  • 1/4 cup pecorino romano or parmesan, shaved with a vegetable peeler
  1. In a large bowl, combine the kale, mustard greens, scallions, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix with your hands to really blend the dressing and rub it into the greens. Let the salad sit while you prepare the rest.
  2. Core the apple. I like to do this with a melon baller. Thinly — like, super thinly — slice the two halves from stem to flower end. If you have a mandoline, that’s the easiest way to go. Add the apples to the salad and gently fold together so they don’t break in half. Taste and adjust seasonings.
  3. Spread the salad on a platter. Sprinkle with the hazelnuts and cheese shavings.