Black Olive Aïoli Food

AIOLI

Steps:

• Place garlic and salt in a food processor fitted with a metal blade, or in a blender. Pulse for 2 seconds. Add the egg yolk and lemon juice, and pulse on and off until blended. Turn on and begin adding the olive oil (pure first, then extra-virgin) in a thin stream. If it becomes too thick, thin it out with some room-temperature water and continue adding oil until you've used it all. Finish with pepper and (if necessary) a bit more salt.
• The reason for using 2/3 pure olive oil is to keep the flavor of the oil from becoming overpowering. This is a perfect example of how by using a fully-flavored extra virgin oil you can use much less, thereby saving money and getting better flavor.

AïOLI

Steps:

• In a small bowl pour 1 tbsp of boiling water over the saffron and set aside. Put the garlic, egg yolks and mustard into a food processor or blender. Blitz into a paste and very slowly dribble in the olive oil to make a thick mayonnaise-style sauce. When everything's come together add the saffron, saffron water and lemon juice, then season to taste. The aïoli will keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days.

BLACK OLIVE AïOLI

Steps:

• Place the egg yolk in a stainless-steel bowl. Begin whisking in the grape-seed oil drop by drop, as slowly as you can bear. Continue in this manner, following with the olive oil, as the mixture thickens. Once the mayonnaise has emulsified, add the remaining oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking all the time. If the mixture gets too thick and is difficult to whisk, add a drop or two of water.
• Pound the garlic with 1/4 teaspoon salt with a mortar and pestle. Add half the olives, and pound to a paste. Roughly chop the remaining olives. Fold the garlic-olive paste and the chopped olives into the mayonnaise. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, a squeeze of lemon juice, and the cayenne pepper. Taste for balance and seasoning. If the aïoli seems thick and gloppy, thin it with a little water; this will also make it creamier.

GRILLED SKIRT STEAK WITH ARTICHOKE-POTATO HASH AND BLACK OLIVE AïOLI

Steps:

• Trim the skirt steak of excess fat and sinew, if any (it doesn't usually need much trimming). Season the skirt steak with the sliced chiles, cracked black pepper, rosemary, and thyme leaves. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Toss the potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, the garlic cloves, thyme sprigs, bay leaf, and 1 teaspoon salt. Place in a roasting pan, cover with aluminum foil, and roast about 45 minutes, until tender when pierced. (Depending on the size, age, and variety of potatoes, cooking time will vary.)
• While the potatoes are roasting, prepare the artichokes. Cut off the top third of the artichokes, and remove the tough outer leaves, down to the pale yellowgreen leaves. Using a paring knife, trim the bottom of the stem and the stalks. Cut each artichoke in half and remove the fuzzy choke if there is one. (If you clean the artichokes ahead of time, immerse them in a bowl of cold water with the juice of one lemon added, to prevent them from turning brown. Be sure to drain and dry them well before cooking.)
• Heat a large sauté pan over high heat for 2 minutes. Pour a cup olive oil into the pan, and wait a minute. Add the artichokes, and season with 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Turn the heat to medium, and sauté about 10 minutes, tossing often, until the artichokes are golden brown. (If the pan seems dry, add another tablespoon or two of olive oil.)
• When the potatoes have cooled, crumble them into chunky pieces. Squeeze the roasted garlic out of its skin and set aside.
• Wipe out the artichoke pan and return it to the stove over high heat, for 2 minutes. (To get the potatoes nicely browned and crisp, don't overcrowd them. You may have to use two pans or do it in batches.) Swirl in the remaining a cup olive oil and wait a minute. Add the crumbled potatoes, and season with the remaining 2 teaspoons thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Cook until the potatoes are crispy on one side. (Don't try to move them or turn them if they are stuck to the pan; they will eventually release themselves, just be patient.) After about 8 minutes, when they've browned nicely on the first side, turn the potatoes in the oil, letting them color on all sides.
• When the potatoes are golden brown, turn the heat down to medium and add the shallots, artichokes, and roasted garlic. Toss well, and sauté the hash together 5 to 6 minutes, until the artichokes are hot and the shallots are translucent. Toss in the chopped parsley just before serving.
• Light the grill 30 to 40 minutes before cooking, and remove the steak from the refrigerator so it reaches room temperature by the time you're ready to grill it.
• When the coals are broken down, red, and glowing, season the steak generously with salt, and brush it lightly with olive oil. Place the meat on the hottest part of the grill, to get a nice sear on the outside. Cook about 2 minutes, turn the meat a quarter-turn, and cook another minute. Turn the meat over, and move it to a cooler spot on the grill. Cook another minute or two for medium-rare. Rest the steak on a wire rack set over a baking sheet for a few minutes.
• Arrange the artichoke-potato hash on a large warm platter, and scatter the arugula leaves over the top. Slice the steak against the grain, and lay the slices over the potatoes and artichokes. Spoon some of the black olive aïoli over the meat, and pass the rest at the table.
• Place the egg yolk in a stainless steel bowl. Begin whisking in the grapeseed oil drop by drop, as slowly as you can bear. Continue in this manner, following with the olive oil, as the mixture thickens. Once the mayonnaise has emulsified, add the remaining oil in a slow steady stream, whisking all the time. If the mixture gets too thick and is difficult to whisk, add a drop or two of water.
• Pound the garlic with 1/4 teaspoon salt in a mortar. Add half the olives and pound to a paste. Roughly chop the remaining olives.
• Fold the garlic-olive paste and the chopped olives into the mayonnaise. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, a squeeze of lemon juice, and the cayenne pepper. Taste for balance and seasoning. If the aïoli seems thick and gloppy, thin it with a little water; this will also make it creamier.
• Season the steak with the chiles, pepper, and herbs the night before cooking. You can roast the potatoes and sauté the artichokes ahead of time. Sauté them together to make the hash just before serving; the hash can sit in the pan while you finish the steaks. You can make the aïoli a few hours ahead as well.

BLACK GARLIC AÏOLI RECIPE

Steps:

• 1. In a blender add the black garlic and egg yolk, blending just enough to blend. 3. With the machine running add the oil very slowly. The aioli becomes thicker the more oil you add. Add the oil until it is thick and stands up in soft peaks. Pour in the lemon juice and sherry wine vinegar and blend a few more seconds. Taste if it is too thick you can lighten it up with a teaspoon or so of hot water and add more salt if you like. (If it breaks and the oil separates out and looks like a vinaigrette, don't throw it out. In a new bowl add a tablespoon of Dijon mustard and very slowly whisk the broken mixture to the mustard. Whisk until it is all incorporated. I'm not sure why but this breaks more than any other aioli or mayonnaise. Just keep trying until it is emulsified and you will have a wonderful taste experience. ) Transfer to a serving bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Yields about 1 1/2 cups

AIOLI WITH BLACK GARLIC AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Combine black garlic, preserved lemon (make sure all seeds are removed), balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce in a high capacity blender (such as a Vitamix®) until black garlic and preserved lemon are pulverized into a smooth mixture. Add olive oil and blend until aioli thickens.