Zucchini Ragout Food

WEEKNIGHT ZUCCHINI AND BEEF RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoons salt and garlic powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Drain all but 1 tablespoon fat or oil from the pan. Alternatively, if the pan is dry add 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Add the onions, zucchini, carrots, and ¼ teaspoons salt and garlic powder. Cook over medium heat until vegetables are soft, about 5-10 minutes.
• Add the cooked beef back to the pan along with the tomatoes and ½ teaspoons salt and garlic powder. Turn the heat to high and bring the sauce to a strong bubble. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. The sauce can simmer longer if you have more time, but 10 minutes is all that's necessary.
• Serve over cooked pasta (whole wheat or gluten-free) or zoodles.

SPRING VEGETABLE RAGOûT WITH BROWN BUTTER COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups water to a rapid boil. Add salt and couscous, stirring as water returns to boil. Turn down heat to a bare simmer, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and leave covered for 10 minutes. Dump couscous on a baking sheet or large platter, and spread out. Taste for salt and add more if necessary. Fluff, smash any large clumps and leave to cool, uncovered.
• Set up a steamer with a fine mesh basket, with water simmering on low heat, for eventual steaming of couscous. About 30 minutes before serving, put couscous in the steamer basket and raise heat to maintain a rapid simmer. Do not cover. (This extra steaming step produces lighter, fluffier couscous.)
• Make the green sauce: Put cilantro, salt, Serrano chile and olive oil in a blender or food processor. Pulse briefly, then purée into a paste. Add 1/4 cup water, and purée again. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in lime juice.
• Make the ragoût: Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a deep, wide skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add coriander and cumin. Let sizzle for a few seconds, then onions and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add leeks and season well with salt and pepper. Stir and cook onion-leek mixture until leeks are soft but still bright green, about 5 minutes.
• Add zucchini, season with salt and stir to coat. Add 3 cups water, raise heat to a boil, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Add asparagus and peas, cover and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add favas, if using, and spinach, cover and cook 1 minute. Turn off heat. (Spinach will continue to cook.)
• Finish the couscous: Set a wide skillet over high heat. When pan is hot, add cold butter and let it sizzle and foam, turning rust-brown but no darker. Add preserved lemon and the saffron and its water to stop the browning. Turn off heat. Add hot couscous to pan and stir to incorporate all elements. Transfer to a warm serving bowl.
• Gently fold vegetables together, then lift from pot and transfer to a deep serving platter, using tongs or slotted spoon. Stir 2 tablespoons green sauce into liquid remaining in pot, then spoon liquid over vegetables. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Pass remaining green sauce at the table.

BAKED EGGS WITH ZUCCHINI RAGOûT

Steps:

• Heat oil in large nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; sauté 5 minutes. Add zucchini; cover and cook until tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices and red pepper; boil uncovered until mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in basil. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover; let stand at room temperature.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Make 4 shallow indentations in ragout, spacing apart. Crack 1 egg into each indentation. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until eggs are softly set, about 10 minutes.
• Place 1 toast slice on each of 4 plates. Divide egg-topped ragout on top of toast.

MASHED POTATOES WITH ZUCCHINI RAGOUT

Steps:

• To make the potatoes: place potatoes in a big pan; cover with water; bring to a boil.
• Decrease heat; simmer 15 minutes or until tender; drain.
• Return potatoes to pan; add 2 tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
• Mash potato mixture with a potato masher to desired consistency; cover and keep warm.
• Heat milk over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet to 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil); stir in spinach, cook 1 minute or until spinach melts.
• Add milk mixture and green onions to potato mixture, stirring to combine.
• To make ragout: wipe skillet with paper towels; heat 2 tablespoons oil in skillet over medium heat.
• Add in sliced onion, oregano, and garlic; cook 5 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring often.
• Add in mushrooms; cook 7 minutes or until mushrooms are tender, stirring often.
• Add in zucchini; cook 2 minutes, stirring often.
• Stir in water and the next 5 ingredients; simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Serve ragout over potatoes; sprinkle with cheese.

ZUCCHINI CAKES WITH MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly coat 12 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with cooking spray; set aside.
• In mixing bowl combine zucchini, muffin mix, cheese, milk, egg, and cayenne pepper; spoon evenly into prepared muffin cups. Bake for 11-14 minutes or until golden.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; cook 4-5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper. Place roasted peppers in blender. Cover; blend until nearly smooth.
• Arrange 3 zucchini cakes on each plate with some of the mushroom and pepper sauce.

VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy stew pot. Saute the onions, garlic, carrots, celery and green beans for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the bay leaves, thyme and red wine and boil, uncovered for 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the zucchini and mushrooms.
• Combine the sauce ingredients and then stir the sauce into the vegetables.
• Simmer about 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
• While the vegetables are stewing, cook the potatoes separately in salted boiling water until they are tender.
• Drain and add them to the ragout a few minutes before serving.