Braised Escarole With Olives And Raisins Food

BEEF BRACIOLE WITH OLIVES AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Pound beef with the tenderizing side of a meat mallet to 1/8-inch thickness; season with salt and pepper. In a bowl, stir together olives, raisins, 1/2 cup each parsley and cheese, and 1 tablespoon oil.
• Divide olive mixture evenly among beef slices, patting it down to an even thickness and leaving a 1/4-inch border all around. Starting at one short end, roll each piece into a tight log; secure with twine or a wooden skewer.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a braiser pan or a wide, shallow ovenproof pot over medium-high. Add beef in a single layer (in two batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding pan) and cook, turning a few times, until browned all over, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add garlic and oregano to pan; cook until sizzling and fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add wine and boil, scraping up any browned bits, until mostly evaporated. Return beef and any accumulated juices to pan. Add broth and tomato sauce; bring to a boil.
• Cover pan and transfer to oven. Cook, spooning sauce over beef a few times, until beef is fork-tender and sauce has reduced to a gravy, 1 1/2 to 2 hours (if gravy reduces and thickens too quickly, stir in more broth).
• Stir together orange zest, remaining 1/4 cup parsley and 2 tablespoons cheese, and pine nuts. Sprinkle over braciole and gravy before serving.

BRAISED ESCAROLE

Steps:

• Cut away and discard the white core of the escarole. Cut away and discard any tough stems. Cut the leaves crosswise in half. Drop the leaves in boiling water seasoned with a little salt. Let simmer 5 minutes. Drain well and press to extract moisture. Coarsely chop the greens.
• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet and add the garlic. Cook briefly and add the escarole, salt and pepper. Add the pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, about 4 minutes.

ESCAROLE WITH OLIVES AND TOMATO

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add garlic, olives, and tomatoes; cook until tomatoes are soft, about 2 minutes; transfer to a plate. Add escarole to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until escarole is wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, return olive mixture to skillet, and stir in vinegar to taste. Serve immediately.

ESCAROLE WITH OLIVES, RAISINS, AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In a large skillet sauté the garlic in the oil over moderately high heat, stirring, until it is golden and discard it. To the skillet add the escarole, the olives, the raisins, and salt and pepper to taste and sauté the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Cook the mixture, covered, over moderately low heat for 4 minutes, or until the escarole is tender, stir in the pine nuts, and boil the mixture for 1 minute, or until the liquid is evaporated.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH ESCAROLE AND SICILIAN OLIVES

Steps:

• Trim chicken thighs of excess fat, and dry well on paper towels. Heat 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Place chicken in skillet, skin-side down, and sear until skin is well-browned, about 5 minutes. Turn thighs with tongs, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and sear until second side is golden, about 3 minutes more.
• Pour off fat. Reduce heat to low, add olive oil, and half of the sliced garlic, shallots and the herbs, and sauté until soft and fragrant, about 40 seconds. Add wine and chicken broth, cover, and simmer 7 minutes. Turn chicken, and simmer until meat pulls easily from bone, about 7 minutes more.
• Transfer chicken from skillet to plate. Add remaining garlic, shallots and herbs, olives, escarole and lemon juice to skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, increase heat to medium-high, and cover. Steam escarole until it wilts, about 5 minutes.
• Return chicken to skillet on top of escarole. Add butter, increase heat to high, and simmer until butter melts and sauce has emulsified slightly. (If sauce appears thin, transfer escarole and chicken to warm platter, then boil sauce until it has reached a pleasing consistency.) Taste to correct seasoning. Serve immediately.

BRAISED ESCAROLE WITH CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Combine currants and water in small bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. Drain. Transfer currants to medium bowl.
• Cook escarole in batches in large pot of boiling water just until wilted, about 2 minutes. Drain; cool under cold running water. Drain again; squeeze to remove excess water. Combine with currants.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; sauté just until beginning to color, about 2 minutes. Add escarole mixture and pine nuts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until escarole is heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

SAUTEED ESCAROLE

Steps:

• Discard or trim any tough outer leaves.
• Tear into bite sized pieces, wash and spin dry.
• Soak the raisins in 2 tbsp warm water until soft, about 20 minutes.
• Chop the anchovies into a paste.
• Heat the olive oil and saute the garlic until it turns pale brown, about 2 minutes.
• Add in beans, It's OK if they get mashed while stirring.
• Stir in the escarole until it wilts.
• Stir in all of the other ingredients and saute for about a minute.
• Serve hot topped with grated cheese.