Escarole With Pine Nuts Food

ITALIAN SAUTéED ESCAROLE RECIPE

Steps:

• Place your raisins in a small bowl of water to plump. Fill a tall, 8-quart pot about 2/3 full with salted water, enough to cover the escarole when you add it later. Put the pot on the stove over high heat to boil. Fill your sink about halfway with cold water.
• Cut off the root end of the escarole. With the bunch horizontally in front of you, hold the leaves closed and slice the escarole into three equal sections (or two, if the bunch is small). Place the escarole leaves in the water-filled sink and swirl them around to remove the dirt.
• When the water on the stove is boiling, add the cleaned escarole to the pot. When the water returns to boiling, let the escarole cook for one more minute.
• Drain the escarole in a colander in the sink and rinse with cold water to cool it off. While the escarole is draining, peel and slice the garlic. Drain the raisins.
• When the escarole is cooled, use tongs to place the greens in a lint-free kitchen towel. Wrap the towel around the escarole and squeeze out the liquid. You also could use paper towels, but be careful if the greens are still really warm.
• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a 12-inch skillet. Add the garlic, and when it becomes fragrant, add the escarole to the pan, tossing to mix. Add the salt and pepper. Sauté the greens for about three minutes, then add the raisins and pine nuts, stirring to combine. Sauté for another three minutes, or to your liking. Taste again for seasonings.
• Either serve immediately or let the escarole come to room temperature first. Refrigerate the leftovers for up to five days. Leftovers should be served at room temperature or just slightly heated in the microwave.

WILTED ESCAROLE WITH PINE NUTS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and toss in the garlic and crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat. When the garlic is golden and very aromatic, remove it from the pan and ditch it.
• Add the pine nuts, raisins, vinegar and 2 tablespoons water to the pan. Bring the liquid to a boil, lower the heat and toss in the escarole. Toss the escarole to coat with the oil and vinegar mixture and season with salt. Remove the pan from the heat and cover for 1 minute.
• Remove the lid from the pan, toss again and taste. Adjust the seasonings, if needed.

ESCAROLE WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Wash escarole well in a sinkful of cold water, agitating it, then lift out and drain in a colander. Cook escarole in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 5 to 10 minutes, then drain well in colander.
• Dry pot, then add oil and heat over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Add pine nuts to hot oil and cook, stirring, until pale golden, about 1 minute. Add garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until garlic and pine nuts are golden, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add escarole, stirring to coat with oil, then increase heat to moderately high and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Season escarole with salt and pepper.

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.

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.

ESCAROLE SALAD WITH CELERY AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Whisk together vinegar, mustard, and shallot in a small bowl. Gradually add oil in a steady stream and whisk until combined thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper.
• Combine celery stalks and leaves, escarole, and pine nuts in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons vinaigrette; toss to combine. Vinaigrette can be made 2 days ahead and stored in refrigerator.