Pancetta Wrapped Leek Gratin Food

PANCETTA-WRAPPED LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Wrap each leek half in pancetta.
• Drizzle olive into a baking dish and use a pastry brush to spread oil over the bottom of the dish and partway up the sides. Season dish with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Place leeks close together cut-side down into the prepared baking dish. Pour chicken broth and wine over leeks. Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and set it on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until just tender, about 45 minutes. Uncover the baking dish, pour cream over the top, and spread Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top. Return to oven and bake until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes more. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring leeks to a deep plate; ladle wine-cream sauce over the top and garnish with chives.

ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST WITH PANCETTA, LEEKS AND THYME

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Put 1 chicken breast, skin removed, in a bowl. Trim and wash a large leek, remove the outer leaves, then slice it into 0.5cm/¼ inch pieces. Add these to the bowl with the leaves of a few sprigs of fresh thyme, a good lug of olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and a small swig of white wine and toss together. Place your leek and flavourings from the bowl into the tray, then wrap the chicken breast in 4 slices of pancetta. This will not only flavour the chicken but also protect it while it cooks. Try and bend the sides of the tray in towards the chicken so the leeks don't burn during cooking. Drizzle with olive oil, place a couple of whole thyme sprigs on top and cook in the middle of the oven for 25 to 35 minutes.

PANCETTA-WRAPPED PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Blend the garlic, rosemary, thyme, and oil in a small food processor, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the garlic is minced.
• Sprinkle the pork roast generously with salt and pepper. Arrange the pancetta slices on a work surface, overlapping slightly and forming a rectangle. Spread half of the garlic mixture over 1 side of the pork and between the 2 loins that meet in the center of the tied pork roast. Place the pork, garlic mixture side down, in the center of the pancetta rectangle. Spread the remaining garlic mixture over the remaining pork. Wrap the pancetta slices around the pork. Place the pork in a roasting pan. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pour 1/2 cup of broth and 1/2 cup of wine into the roasting pan. Add more broth and wine to the pan juices every 20 minutes. Roast the pork until a meat thermometer inserted into the center registers 145 degrees F for medium-rare, about 1 hour. Transfer the pork to a cutting board. Tent with aluminum foil and let stand for 10 minutes. Pour the pan drippings into a glass measuring cup and spoon off any fat that rises to the top.
• Using a large sharp carving knife, cut the pork into 1/4-inch-thick slices and serve with the pan juices.

POTATO LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 2-quart gratin dish. Wash the leeks to remove any grit and slice thinly crosswise.
• Using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice the potatoes into rounds, 1/8-inch thick. Toss with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Layer the rounds in the gratin dish.
• Melt the 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, remaining salt and pepper, and thyme. Cook, stirring, until leeks are tender and golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Discard thyme and scatter the leeks over the potatoes.
• Add cream, garlic and bay leaf to the skillet, scraping up browned bits of leeks from the bottom of the pan. Simmer gently for 5 minutes. Stir in nutmeg.
• Pour the cream over the leeks and potatoes and top with the Gruyère. Cover with aluminum foil and transfer to the oven. Bake for 40 minutes, uncover and bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Let cool slightly before serving.

PANCETTA-WRAPPED LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Wrap each leek half in pancetta.
• Drizzle olive into a baking dish and use a pastry brush to spread oil over the bottom of the dish and partway up the sides. Season dish with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Place leeks close together cut-side down into the prepared baking dish. Pour chicken broth and wine over leeks. Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and set it on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until just tender, about 45 minutes. Uncover the baking dish, pour cream over the top, and spread Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top. Return to oven and bake until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes more. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring leeks to a deep plate; ladle wine-cream sauce over the top and garnish with chives.