5 Spice Root Vegetable Ragout Food

ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLE RAGU WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F. Cut all the vegetables for the ragout into pieces you'd want to eat with polenta: bite-sized or whatever. Coat with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Put the veggies into a roasting pan and roast in the oven until they are nicely browned, about 30 to 40 minutes. Turn them occasionally.
• Meanwhile, make the polenta. Bring the water to a boil in a medium pot and add a healthy pinch of salt. Sprinkle the polenta into the boiling water with one hand while you stir the water with another. This helps prevent lumps. Turn the heat to medium-low until the polenta bubbles gently. Cook, stirring every few minutes, until the polenta is creamy, about 30 minutes. When it's creamy, turn the heat as low as it will go for now.
• When the vegetables are ready, move them into a large, wide pot, like a high-sided frying pan. Pour the white wine into the roasting pan and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Pour all that into the pot with the vegetables.
• Crush the canned tomatoes by hand into the pot and pour in all the juices from the can. Add the bay leaves and thyme. Stew this over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Add the butter and cheese to the polenta, stirring well. If the polenta is too thick, stir in a little water. The polenta should be smooth and be able to flow a little in a bowl.
• Add the chard and parsley to the ragout and cook until the chard has wilted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Serve in bowls over the polenta.

ROASTED PORK LOIN WITH ALMOND PESTO 5 SPICE ROOT VEGETABLE POT PIE

Steps:

• In a food processor, place almonds, chilies, lime juice, garlic and ginger and mix well. Add the basil and mint leaves. Slowly drizzle in the oil to achieve a thick puree. Check for seasoning. Season the pork and spread the pesto on each pork escalope. Save a little pesto for garnishing. Roll the pork escalopes and tie each one with string. In a hot saute pan coated with oil, sear the pork roulades on all sides. Place pork in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. An internal temperature of 155 to 160 degrees is ideal. I love my pork pink. Let loin rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
• Add a little oil to thin out the remaining pesto.
• For the 5 Spice Root Vegetable Ragout: In a 2 quart saucepan on medium heat, add the butter, onions and 5 spice powder. Saute for 3 minutes then add carrots, celery, celery root and parsnips. Saute for 10 minutes then add chicken stock. Reduce stock by 30 percent until the vegetables are soft but not mushy. Stir in the cornstarch slurry to thicken. Check for seasoning.
• For the Pastry Cups: In a food processor with the blade, add flour, butter, salt and 5-spice. Pulse until butter ends up in very small, tiny pieces. Add the egg mixture and pulse until a ball is formed. If ball is too dry, add a little water or, if too wet, add a little flour. In either case, pulse to incorporate. Wrap ball in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick and dock dough (make small holes). Cut out circles or squares and place on an upside down muffin pan. Place a sheet of parchment on top then weigh down with a sheet tray. Bake at 425 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• PLATING: Zigzag pesto oil on white plate. Place one pastry cup in the center of a plate and generously over fill with vegetable ragout. Slice thick slices of pork and surround cup. Garnish with toasted almonds and sliced scallions.
• Wine Suggestion: Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir 1996

TEA-SMOKED DUCK LEGS WITH MUSHROOM AND ORZO RAGOUT

Steps:

• Mix salt and peppercorns and season duck legs, place in sealed container and let brine overnight. Set up a steamer with a large bamboo basket and cover. In a bowl, mix together molasses, vinegar and five-spice. Brush the glaze on the legs and place in the steamer. Steam for 1 to 1 1/2 hours on low steam, occasionally brushing on more glaze and checking water level. Legs should be tender. Remove steamer and dump out remaining water and wipe clean. Line with foil and add the rice, sugar and tea. Mix well and turn wok on medium heat. When mixture starts to smolder, place bamboo steamer on top and seal with wet cloths around the steamer. Turn wok down to low and smoke for 15 minutes. Turn wok off and let smoke another 15 minutes. Legs may be served directly form the steamer, or if you wish, pan sear or deep fry in oil to bring out the golden brown color.
• For the ragout: In a large, hot skillet coated lightly with oil, brown garlic and onions, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, soy sauce and season. Add orzo and thyme and stir. Deglaze with wine and reduce by 50 percent. Reduce heat to medium and slowly add stock one ladle at a time. Stock should be completely absorbed before adding more. Continue adding stock until a creamy texture is achieved (like risotto). Check for seasoning and whisk in the truffle oil.
• Plating: In a large paste bowl, mound some ragout. Place 2 legs on top, criss-crossed and garnish with thyme sprig and chives.
• Plating: In a large bowl, whisk together Dijon, sambal and limes. Mix with duck, onions and mango. Check for seasoning. Roll in lavash with lettuce and tomato. Slice on the bias. Yield: 2 servings Wine Recommendation: Dutton Ranch, Pinot Noir, Sebastopol Vineyards, Russian River Valley,1995;
• This recipe utilizes the leftovers from above.

BASIC VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a large hot saucepan heat oil. Add onion, 1/3 of garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme and saute until onions and garlic are fragrant. Stir in zucchini, 1/3 garlic and tarragon, partially cover pan and cook for approximately 3 minutes or until zucchini has begun to soften. Stir in plum tomatoes with juice, 1/3 garlic and basil, partially cover pan and cook for 7 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender. Serve over rice. Top with Parmesan.

ROOT VEGETABLE RAGOûT

Steps:

• Have ready a bowl of ice and cold water. Cook onions in boiling water 3 minutes and drain in a colander. Transfer onions to ice water to stop cooking. When onions are cool enough to handle, peel and reserve. Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Peel remaining vegetables and cut enough into 1/2-inch cubes to measure 3/4 cup each. In a shallow roasting pan toss vegetables (except onions) with oil and roast in middle of oven until tender and golden, about 20 minutes.
• In a large skillet heat butter over moderate heat until foam subsides and cook onions, stirring, until tender and pale golden. Add roasted vegetables, stock, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer until stock is slightly thickened and coats vegetables, about 2 minutes.
• Serve ragout garnished with parsley and zest.

FIVE-SPICE BLEND

Steps:

• Toast the peppercorns in a hot pan until they are aromatic, about 1 minute. Put into an electric spice grinder along with the star anise, cloves and fennel seeds and process into a powder. Add the cinnamon and process for a few seconds to combine. Store in an airtight jar.

ROOT VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Peel the carrots, parsnips, rutabaga, turnip, and potato and cut them into 1/2-inch dice. Combine them on a half sheet pan, toss with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and season with salt. Spread the vegetables in a single layer.
• Roast, stirring and rotating the pan occasionally, until tender and golden, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a larger skillet over medium heat. Heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the butter until it melts, then stir in the roasted vegetables. Add the chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Simmer until the stock thickens and coats the vegetables, about 3 minutes. Stir in the parsley, thyme, and lemon zest. Serve hot or warm.

ROOT VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Cut the carrots, turnips, and parsnips into pieces of about the same size and shape, preferably a medium-sized dice.
• Blanch the cut carrots, turnips, parsnips, and onions together, in a pot of boiling salted water, until tender, about 5 minutes or less. Carefully remove from the blanching water with a slotted spoon and place into an ice water bath. Allow vegetables to cool; reserve in refrigerator until you are ready to serve them.
• To serve, put the vegetables in a small skillet along with sherry vinegar, butter, and chopped tarragon. Place the skillet over a medium-low flame and warm just moments before serving. Season with salt and pepper.