Sicilian Collard Greens With Pine Nuts And Raisins Food

SAUTéED GREENS WITH PINE NUTS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Toast the pine nuts: Heat a large sauté pan hot on medium-high heat and add the pine nuts. Toast them until they are fragrant and begin to brown. Pay attention as pine nuts burn easily. Stir or toss the nuts frequently. Once they are toasted, remove from pan and set aside.
• Sauté the garlic in olive oil: Add the olive oil to the pan and swirl it around. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds; the pan should already be hot, so it won't take long for the garlic to begin to brown.
• Wilt the greens: Add the greens and mix well. Sauté, stirring often, until the greens wilt and begin to give up some of their water, anywhere from 1 to 2 minutes for spinach to 4 to 5 minutes for collards or kale.
• Add the nuts, raisins, salt, and red pepper flakes: Stir in the nuts and raisins, and sprinkle with salt and red pepper flakes.
• Add the white wine: Use a little more wine if you are cooking collards, and less if you are cooking spinach. Toss to combine and let the liquid boil away. Once the liquid boils off, remove from heat. Add salt and pepper to taste.

SICILIAN COLLARD GREENS WITH PINE NUTS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Use a sharp knife to cut out the central rib and stem from each collard leaf. Rinse the leaves in a sink of cool water, lifting them into a colander to drain a bit (you want some water to remain on the leaves).
• Toast the pine nuts over medium heat in a dry skillet for about 5 minutes or until golden.
• Shake the pan often to keep the pine nuts from burning. Transfer to a plate, and set aside.
• Place the garlic and oil in a large skillet, and saute over medium heat for 1 minute or until the garlic is fragrant.
• Add the damp collards and stir, then cover the pan and cook for 2 minutes longer.
• Add the raisins and pine nuts, and stir. Cover and cook for 2 minutes.
• Stir in the balsamic vinegar, cover, and continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer.

COLLARD GREENS STUFFED WITH RAISINS, NUTS AND RICE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you carefully stem the collard greens, trying to keep the leaves intact. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the collard leaves in batches. Blanch two minutes and transfer to the ice water. Drain, gently squeeze out excess water and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat in a large lidded skillet, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, salt and sugar, and cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about a minute. Add the rice and pine nuts, and stir together until the rice is coated with oil. Stir in the tomatoes, currants, cinnamon, allspice and salt and pepper to taste. Stir together, and add 1 cup water or enough to barely cover the rice. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat. Allow to sit for 10 minutes without disturbing. Stir in the mint and dill.
• Oil a wide, deep, lidded sauté pan or saucepan with olive oil. To fill the leaves, place one on your work surface, vein side up and with the stem end facing you. The leaf may have a big space in the middle where you stemmed it; if so, pull the two sides of the leaf in towards each other and overlap them slightly. Place about 1 level tablespoon of filling on the bottom center of each leaf. Fold the sides over, then roll up tightly, tucking in the sides as you go. Place seam side down in the pan, fitting the stuffed leaves in snug layers. Drizzle on the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and pour on the lemon juice. Barely cover with water, and top with a layer of lemon slices.
• Cover the stuffed leaves with a round of parchment paper, and place a plate over the paper to weight them during cooking. This will keep them from opening. Bring to a simmer, cover and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes to an hour until the leaves are tender. Remove from the heat, and carefully remove the dolmades from the water with a slotted spoon or tongs. Allow to drain on a rack set over a sheet pan. Serve warm or cold.

SICILIAN PEPPERS, RAISINS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Chop whole onions. Saute onions in hot oil in a nonstick pan until soft.
• Meanwhile, slice whole peppers in a food processor, and add to the onions, cooking over medium heat until they begin to soften.
• Stir in raisins, pine nuts, salt and pepper, and continue to cook until peppers are softened.

SAUTEED COLLARD GREENS WITH RAISINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until golden, about 8 minutes. Set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add collard greens and raisins; cook, tossing occasionally, until collards are tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in vinegar. Serve sprinkled with toasted almonds.