Shakshuka With Chickpeas And Swiss Chard Food

SHAKSHUKA WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chickpeas, cumin and a pinch each of salt and pepper; stir well to coat. Add the tomatoes and 1/3 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes.
• Make 8 wells in the sauce and crack an egg into each; run the edge of a spatula through the whites to distribute them, being careful not to break the yolks. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the egg whites are just set, 8 to 10 minutes. (The eggs will continue cooking after you remove them from the oven.) Meanwhile, wrap the pita bread in foil and warm in the oven, about 5 minutes; cut into wedges.
• Combine the yogurt, hummus and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle the herbs over the eggs; season with salt and pepper. Serve with the pita bread and hummus sauce.

GREEN SHAKSHUKA WITH AVOCADO AND LIME

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook until softening, 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 5 minutes more.
• Raise the heat to medium-high, add the chard stems, and cook to release some liquid, 5 minutes. Add the chard leaves, in batches, adding more as they wilt, and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until completely wilted, 3 to 5 minutes more. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, pour in the half-and-half and stir loosely together.
• Make eight small hollows in the cooked chard with the back of a spoon. Gently crack an egg into each hollow. Cover with a lid or foil and cook on medium-low until the eggs are just set, but still soft, about 7 to 9 minutes. Remove the lid, sprinkle with salt, pepper, cotija, avocado, jalapeño and cilantro. Serve with smoked hot sauce, toasted tortillas and lime wedges.

CHICKPEAS WITH CHARD

Steps:

• Chop 1 bunch Swiss chard. Saute the stems with 1 each chopped onion and red jalapeno in olive oil over medium-high heat until softened, 3 minutes; season with salt. Add one 15-ounce can chickpeas (drained, liquid reserved); cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add 2 minced garlic cloves; cook 30 seconds. Add the chard leaves along with the chickpea liquid and 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; simmer until the chard wilts. Stir in the juice of 1/2 lemon.

SPICED CHICKPEAS AND GREENS FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk eggs, herbs, sour cream, red pepper flakes, and 1 tsp. salt in a bowl until no streaks remain.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium cast-iron or ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add chickpeas and curry powder and season with salt. Cook, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 6-8 minutes. Transfer 1 cup chickpeas to a bowl; set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium, add onion, sliced garlic, and remaining 2 Tbsp. oil to chickpeas in skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and starting to brown, 7-9 minutes.
• Add a handful of greens and 2 Tbsp. water and cook until slightly wilted. Continue adding greens a handful at a time, letting them wilt slightly before adding more, until all greens are wilted, about 5 minutes total; season with salt. Let cool 3 minutes.
• Return pan to medium-low, pour in egg mixture, and cook, stirring eggs and swirling pan often, until edges are just set (texture should be like a very soft scramble), about 6 minutes. Transfer to oven and bake frittata until puffed slightly and center is barely set, 10-15 minutes. Let cool 5-10 minutes.
• Place mayonnaise in a small bowl and grate in remaining garlic clove; mix well. Season with salt.
• Serve frittata with garlic mayo and reserved chickpeas.

SHAKSHUKA WITH SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees. In a large oven-proof skillet (I used cast-iron), heat the olive oil. Add the bacon, if using, and onion garlic and chard stems and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the stems are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, dried basil and crushed red pepper and simmer until the sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• 2. Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water, blanch the chard leaves for 3 minutes. Drain and let cook slightly. Squeeze out the excess water. Form the chard leaves into 8 small piles and arrange them in the sauce around the side of the skillet. (I blanched and dried the chard in advance to make things easier--it'll keep for at least 30mins/1 hr).
• 3. Crack the eggs into the skillet between the piles of chard. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake the eggs for 12 to 15 minutes, until the egg whites are just set and the yolks are slightly runny.
• 4. Transfer the skillet to a rack and sprinkle the cheese on top. Let stand for 5 minutes. Garnish with basil and serve immediately.
• Note: I served with crusty bread which was great for dipping and making sure no sauce went to waste! You can use plain marinara but the arrabiata gave this a nice little kick--highly recommend it. I made without bacon and didn't miss it.