Green Olive And Almond Spread Food

GREEN OLIVE AND ALMOND SPREAD

Steps:

• In a small food processor or powerful blender, combine the olives, almonds, lemon juice and tarragon. Pulse until roughly chopped. Add the oil in a steady stream and process just until the oil is absorbed.
• The spread should have a coarse but easily spoonable texture. Let stand for about 30 minutes for the flavor to develop before serving.

GREEN OLIVE AND ALMOND TAPENADE

Steps:

• Blend olives, parsley, almonds, and lemon juice in bowl of a food processor, scraping down side occasionally, until finely chopped. Add oil in a stream with motor running to form a paste.

OLIVE --SAUTEED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Blanch the almonds 1 1/2 minutes in boiling water; drain. Plunge into cold water, then slip off the skins. Spread the almonds out on several thicknesses of paper toweling and pat dry. Transfer to fresh paper toweling and let dry 24 hours. Heat the oil in a 10-inch iron skillet over moderate heat about 2 minutes or until an almond, dropped into the oil, sizzles gently. Add half of the almonds to the oil and saute, stirring often, 4 to 5 minutes over moderately low heat until the color of light caramel. Dump the almonds into a colander set over a heatproof bowl; shake to drain off as much oil as possible, then drain on paper toweling. Return the oil to the skillet and fry and drain the remaining almonds the same way. Sprinkle with salt and cayenne and toss well; store in an airtight canister. Note: the sauteeing oil can be used to dress vegetables or salads.

GREEN OLIVE SPREAD

Steps:

• Put all ingredients in a food processor.
• Use on/off pulses about 5 times just so everything holds together, but is not pureed.
• Serve with pita bread wedges.

ALMOND-STUFFED GREEN OLIVES

Steps:

• Stuff olives with almonds and in a glass bowl combine with remaining ingredients. Marinate olives, covered and chilled, at least 3 days and up to 1 week. Let olives stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

GREEN OLIVE, BASIL AND ALMOND TAPENADE

Steps:

• Put the olives, almonds, garlic, lemon juice, and capers in the bowl of a food processor. (David Lebovitz suggests not using a mortar and pestle for this because he desires the slightly chunky bits of almonds in the finished tapenade.).
• Coarsely chop the basil leaves, add them to the processor and pulse the machine a few times to start breaking them down.
• Add the olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Pulse the food processor until the mixture forms a coarse paste, one that still has a little texture provided by the not-entirely-broken-down almonds.
• The tapenade will keep for up to one week in the refrigerator.

CHICKEN WITH ALMONDS AND GREEN OLIVES

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large braising pan. Add the almonds, bread and garlic. Cook over medium heat so the garlic softens and the bread toasts but nothing burns. Scrape into a food processor and let cool for 5 minutes. Add the saffron and parsley and pulse to a coarse paste.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Season the chicken with salt and dust with flour. Add 2 tablespoons oil to the braiser and place over medium-high heat. Add chicken and brown all sides, then remove to a plate. Wipe out the pan. Add remaining oil, the chili and onions and cook until softened. Discard the chili. Nestle chicken in the pan, pour in the wine and reduce by half.
• Add the almond mixture and the broth, bring to a simmer, cover the pan and braise in the oven until the chicken is almost tender, about 40 minutes. Stir in the olives and cook until the chicken is very tender, 10 minutes more. Serve from the pan.