Chive Infused Oil Food

CHIVE BLOSSOM INFUSED VINEGAR

Steps:

• Wash chive blossoms by holding them upside down from the stem and plunging them into a deep bowl of cold water. Swish them around to dislodge any soil. Pour out the water and repeat 2 or 3 times.
• Snip or pinch off each blossom where it meets the stem. Dry blossoms gently but thoroughly with paper towels or in a salad spinner. Pack canning jar with blossoms loosely.
• Heat vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until hot but not boiling, 2 to 4 minutes. Pour hot vinegar over blossoms in canning jar, screw on lid, and store in the refrigerator until desired flavor intensity is reached, 1 to 2 weeks. Strain out blossoms and store vinegar in a sterilized glass container.

GRILLED CHICKPEA POLENTA CAKES WITH CHIVE OIL AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan on the grates of the grill. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add chickpeas, stock and salt and pepper and cook until chickpeas are very soft. *Transfer mixture carefully, in batches, to a blender and blend until smooth. Return the mixture to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Slowly whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly, and continue whisking until mixture begins to bubble. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking, stirring with a wooden spoon until the mixture is thickened and cooked, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Spread the mixture into a baking sheet, cover with plastic and place in the refrigerator until cold and very firm, about 4 hours. When the polenta is firm, remove from the refrigerator and, using a 2-inch ring mold, cut out circles of the polenta.
• Preheat a grill to medium-high.
• Season the polenta circles with salt and pepper on both sides, brush with oil and grill on both sides until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from grill, drizzle with chive oil and garnish with lemon zest and chives.
• Combine ingredients in a blender and blend for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

CHIVE -FLOWER OIL

Steps:

• Add flowers to oil in a jar with tight fitting lid, let sit for a week.
• After a week, oil will turn lilac and take on fragrance of chive flowers.
• Use the oil on salads or in cooking- refrigerate when not in use.
• The flowers have a milder taste than the leaves and add a decorative touch to salads, oils and other side dishes.

INFUSED OILS

Steps:

• Place herb or spice in a heavy saucepan; add one cup canola oil (canola oil has no flavor and stays liquid in the refrigerator making it perfect for infusing).
• Warm over low heat, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Cool overnight.
• Pour through a fine wire-mesh strainer, discarding solids. Cover and refrigerate up to two weeks.
• Basil Oil: Use 1 cup chopped fresh basil.
• Mint Oil: Use 1 cup chopped fresh mint.
• Dill Oil: Use 1 cup chopped fresh dill.
• Oregano Oil: Use 1 cup chopped fresh oregano.
• Thyme Oil: Use 1 cup chopped fresh thyme leaves.
• Chive Oil: Use 1 cup chopped fresh chives; reduce oil to 3/4 cup.
• Sage Oil: Use 1/2 cup chopped fresh sage.
• Rosemary Oil: Use 1/2 cup chopped fresh rosemary.
• Black Pepper Oil: Use 1/2 cup coarsely ground black pepper.
• Ginger Oil: Place 1/3 cup chopped fresh ginger in a heat-proof container. Heat oil, and pour over ginger.
• Chile Pepper Oil: Crumble 2 dried red chile peppers, and place in a heatproof container.Heat oil, and pour over chiles.

CHIVE OIL

Steps:

• Cook chives in a small pot of boiling water until bright green, about 10 seconds. Drain; run under cold water. Pat dry.
• Put chives in a blender. With machine running, add oil in a slow stream; puree. Let stand 1 hour. Strain through a damp cheese-cloth-lined sieve; discard solids.

CHIVE-INFUSED OIL

Steps:

• Blanch minced chives in boiling water just until bright green, 1 minute. Drain, and rinse in cold water; squeeze chives in a kitchen towel to dry. Transfer to a blender; puree with 1/4 cup oil, scrape down sides of blender, and blend until smooth. Add remaining 1/4 cup oil; blend again.

QUINOA, CORN, AND TOMATO SALAD WITH CHIVE-INFUSED OIL

Steps:

• Combine water and quinoa in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork to separate and let cool a bit if time.
• While quinoa is cooking, combine corn, tomatoes, and parsley in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together oil and remaining ingredients.
• After quinoa has stood for 10 min., add to vegetable mixture, toss to combine, then drizzle dressing over it. Toss well to coat. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

CHILI OIL

Steps:

• Combine the oil and crushed red pepper flakes in a heavy small saucepan. Cook over low heat until a thermometer inserted into the oil registers 180 degrees F, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Transfer the oil and pepper flakes to a 4-ounce bottle. Seal the lid. Refrigerate up to 1 month.