Whipped Chickpea Spinach And Potato Spread For Crostini Food

PASTA WITH SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water with 2 teaspoons sea salt to a boil. Cook linguine at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes; drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the water.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir garlic in hot oil until fragrant, about 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high and add spinach, tomatoes, and garbanzo beans; cook and stir until spinach begins to wilt, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Season spinach mixture with remaining teaspoon sea salt, marjoram, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low. Stir drained linguine with the spinach mixture to evenly coat. Add extra olive oil or reserved pasta water to achieve your preferred level of moisture in the dish. Top with Pecorino-Romano cheese.

SPINACH WITH CRISPY CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Place chickpeas on a paper-towel-lined plate to allow any excess liquid to be absorbed.
• Place flour in a deep bowl; add chickpeas and toss until completely coated with flour.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat. When oil begins to smoke, add chickpeas, shaking pot to coat chickpeas with oil; chickpeas will begin to snap and pop. Keep shaking or stirring pan occasionally, until chickpeas are golden brown all over, about 4 minutes. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; using a slotted spoon, transfer chickpeas to a plate and set aside.
• Place pot over medium-high heat and add remaining tablespoon oil. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
• Add red pepper and spinach to pot and cook until spinach begins to wilt, about 1 minute; season with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Continue cooking until spinach has completely wilted, about 30 seconds more.
• Transfer spinach to a serving plate and top with chickpeas; serve immediately.

SPINACH-RED PEPPER CROSTINI

Steps:

• Bake bread slices on baking sheet at 375F for 5 minutes.
• Set aside.
• Lower oven to 350F; toast walnuts or pecans on a baking sheet, stirring occasionally, 5-10 minutes.
• Raise heat back to 375°F.
• Drain spinach well, pressing between paper towels.
• Process spinach, Parmesan cheese, and next 6 ingredients in a food processor until mixture is smooth.(This can be made 1 day ahead of time.).
• Spread mixture evenly over bread slices.
• Bake for 5 minutes.
• Top evenly with roasted pepper strips.
• Serve immediately.

CHICKPEAS WITH SPINACH (GREEK)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, over medium heat, saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil until the onions are tender.
• Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, pepper flakes (to suit your taste), and oregano,and paprika.
• Cover and simmer for about 18 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add spinach and cook about 7 minutes longer, or until spinach is cooked.
• Add the lemon juice (I usually like to add the juice of about 1 1/2 lemons. Add the juice of 1 lemon, taste and adjust to your own, personal taste), salt and pepper.

CHICKPEA AND SPINACH SPREAD

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chickpeas and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add spinach, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the red-pepper flakes. Cover; raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring once, until spinach has wilted, about 4 minutes. Uncover; raise heat to high. Cook, stirring, until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Let cool.
• Pulse spinach mixture, tahini paste, remaining teaspoon lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor until slightly chunky.

WHIPPED GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI WITH BALSAMIC-ROASTED GRAPES

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Grease a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil and set aside for the crostini.
• Toss together the grapes and the 2 tablespoons of the olive oil on another rimmed baking sheet; season with kosher salt and pepper. Top with the sprigs of thyme. Roast on the upper oven rack until the grapes blister, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk to combine the 1/4 cup olive oil with half of the chopped thyme, half of the garlic, a pinch of kosher salt and a few grinds pepper in a small bowl. Brush onto the tops of the baguette slices and place on the oiled baking sheet. While the grapes roast, bake the baguette slices on the lower oven rack for 5 minutes.
• Combine the goat cheese with the lemon zest, honey, remaining 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme and grated garlic and a few grinds pepper in a food processor. Process until well combined, about 1 minute. Stream in the heavy cream with the machine running and process until the goat cheese is aerated and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with kosher salt and pepper.
• Remove the grapes and bread from the oven and set the oven to broil. Flip the crostini. Remove and discard the sprigs of thyme from the grapes and carefully toss the grapes with the balsamic vinegar. Return the grapes to the upper oven rack and the crostini to the lower rack and broil until the grapes are caramelized and the bread is toasted, about 5 minutes -- watch closely, as broilers vary.
• To plate, spread the whipped goat cheese in a shallow bowl, top with the grapes and drizzle with any juices from the baking sheet. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, thyme leaves and pepper. Place on a platter with the crostini and enjoy.