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Lemon Zest

Dinner, Dressing, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Vegetarian, Veggies

Kale Caesar Salad with Lemony Breadcrumbs

March 31, 2022

Kale Caesar Salad with Lemony Breadcrumbs

The Caesar salad is iconic and one of the best salads ever created.  A simple combination of crispy greens, a creamy dressing with a hint of anchovies, and crunchy croutons make it the perfect salad.  In this version, kale replaces the romaine and toasted panko replaces the croutons.  If you are fond of kale, you will love this salad.  If you are on the fence about kale, you will still love this salad.  

Kale Caesar Salad with Lemony Breadcrumbs Ingredients

The dressing does not include an egg but you won’t miss it.  With the flavorful anchovies, Parmesan, garlic and other ingredients, it makes a very tasty dressing that is perfect for the nooks and crannies of the curly kale leaves.

Lemony Breadcrumbs Ingredients

Having crunchy breadcrumbs with every bite of the salad is an additional plus.

Torn Kale, Caesar Dressing

Kale is a hardy green that keeps well.  If you are serving the salad for fewer than four people, store the remaining freshly torn kale in an airtight bag in your refrigerator until you are ready to make another salad.  The dressing will keep for several days, as will the panko bread crumbs.

Kale Caesar Salad with Lemony Breadcrumbs

Kale Caesar Salad with Lemony Breadcrumbs
 
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Adapted from Bon Appetit Magazine
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons Buttery Sticks or regular butter
  • ½ cup panko
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest, divided
  • 4 cups packed curly kale (1 large bunch with ribs and stems removed, leaves torn into 1-inch pieces)
  • 2 tablespoons plus ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 oil-packed anchovy fillets
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (3 tablespoons if you prefer a less tangy dressing)
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, finely grated (Microplane works great)
  • ½ ounce Parmesan, finely grated (about ½ cup) plus more for serving
Preparation
  1. Melt Buttery Sticks or butter in medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add panko, ⅛ teaspoon salt (1/4 teaspoon if using unsalted butter), and a few grinds of pepper. Cook panko, stirring often, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in half of the lemon zest.
  2. Place torn kale into a very large bowl and drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over the greens. Massage kale with your hands until dark green and very soft, about 4 minutes.
  3. Using the flat side of a chef's knife, smash the anchovy fillets on a cutting board to a fine paste. Transfer the paste to a medium bowl. Whisk in lemon juice, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic,1/2 ounce grated Parmesan, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Gradually stream in remaining ¼ cup olive oil, whisking constantly until dressing is smooth and creamy.
  4. Add half of the dressing to bowl with kale and toss evening to coat. Taste and add more dressing by the tablespoon until salad is well dressed. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
  5. Mound salad onto a platter or divide among plates. Drizzle any remaining dressing over the top with more Parmesan, reserved panko, and lemon zest. Serve immediately.

 

 

Dinner, Grill, Italian, Lactose Free, Pork, Recipes, Sandwiches

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

January 7, 2022

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

I posted this pork tenderloin recipe in 2015 and it’s been one of our favorites ever since.  In that recipe, the pork was cut into medallions and grilled then served with a side of asparagus and potatoes or spinach and frites.  We always had enough leftover pork to use in a sandwich which turned out to be a real winner.  We finally realized that this pork tenderloin recipe was worthy of making just for sandwiches alone.  It is delicious sliced and served with the tangy dressing on a kaiser roll or sourdough, and topped with lots of peppery arugula. 

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Thin Sliced Prosciutto

Most markets carry thinly sliced prosciutto which works best for this recipe.  I bought this packet at Whole Foods.

Dressing Ingredients

The fresh herbs, lemon, garlic and red pepper flakes combined with olive oil make a delicious marinade and dressing for the pork.

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

The pork tenderloin is seasoned with the marinade then wrapped with prosciutto.  It’s best to tie the tenderloin so the prosciutto stays in place as you cook the pork.  

Grilling Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

It doesn’t take long for the pork to cook as it is a small cut of meat that should be cooked to just the right temperature (145F degrees).

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

The prosciutto becomes crispy once grilled. It adds a flavorful punch that enhances the pork tenderloin.

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Cut thin slices of the pork tenderloin and drizzle some of the reserved dressing over it then stack it on your favorite bread.  Arugula is a really nice addition for this sandwich, however, if you are not a fan of arugula any other greens such as romaine or butter lettuce would be a good substitute.

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

This is a delightful sandwich that is easy to prepare.  Pork tenderloin is lean and the prosciutto adds a little umami flavor that is most welcome.

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
 
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Author:
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • For the dressing:
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 2 scant teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • For the pork:
  • 1¼ pound pork tenderloin, trimmed well
  • kosher salt
  • black pepper
  • 2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
  • To serve:
  • Rolls or bread of your choice, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Swiss cheese (optional), arugula
Preparation
  1. Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside
  2. Lightly season pork tenderloin with kosher salt and pepper. Rub some of the sauce onto the tenderloin coating well. Reserve the rest of the sauce for serving. Wrap the prosciutto slices around the pork tenderloin. Tie the tenderloin so the prosciutto stays in place while cooking.
  3. Preheat gas grill or prepare charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Clean grill grates and brush well with oil.
  4. Grill the tenderloin covered, turning occasionally to ensure the prosciutto is browned and crisp. Check for doneness with an instant read thermometer. The internal temperature should register 145 degrees.
  5. Let pork cool before slicing into thin pieces. This will make it easier to slice the pork. You may refrigerate the pork and cut it once it has chilled a bit. Serve on your favorite roll or bread with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, reserved dressing, arugula and Swiss cheese if you like.

 

Beans, Dinner, Italian, Lactose Free, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Cauliflower Piccata

December 9, 2021

Cauliflower Piccata

We all need to take an occasional break from all of the rich holiday meals that begin in November with Thanksgiving, and continue through the New Year.  This cauliflower piccata from NYT Cooking fills the bill for a satisfying meal that also happens to be vegetarian.  There is no skimping on flavor thanks to the roasted cauliflower, fresh lemon juice, lemon rind and briny capers.  It’s a recipe that can be made with or without several ingredients to fit your taste.  The chickpeas can be left out if you don’t fancy them, or you can substitute another type of bean in its place.  The pasta is also optional if you prefer a lighter dish.  

Cauliflower

It all starts out with a humble head of cauliflower that gets roasted in the oven until nicely browned and full of flavor.  

Cauliflower with Olive Oil, Kosher Salt, Pepper

Roasted Cauliflower

The cauliflower takes on a beautiful color and flavor when roasted on a fairly high heat.  It’s seasoned with olive oil, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper before going into the oven.

Lemon, Shallot, Garlic, Lemon Zest, Capers & Barilotti Pasta

I have used spaghetti and this short pasta named barilotti.  I tend to favor the short pasta as it holds up well when you have leftovers and the nooks and crannies trap the delicious sauce.  I found this pasta shape at our local Mana Foods.  Another good option and more readily available would be orecchiette.

Lemon, Shallot, Garlic, Lemon Zest

Fresh lemon juice and zest can’t be beat.  It really adds a zing to this dish.

Capers

Cauliflower Piccata Sauce

The sauce is divine.  It’s tangy from the lemon juice, zest, and capers and velvety rich from the butter.

Cauliflower Piccata

The cauliflower piccata is delicious on its own, however, good sourdough bread with a drizzle of olive oil or a pat of butter is a tasty accompaniment. If you prefer to serve it with more vegetables on the side, grilled asparagus, or charred broccolini are good options.

Cauliflower Piccata

Cauliflower Piccata
 
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Adapted from NYT Cooking
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 cauliflower (about 1½ pounds) cut into large 2-inch florets
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 ounces pasta of your choice (optional)
  • 1 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed (optional)
  • 1 medium shallot, finely diced
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 cup vegetable or chicken stock or broth
  • 4 tablespoons Earth Balance Buttery Sticks or regular unsalted butter
  • 2 heaping tablespoons capers, drained
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • parsley, chopped for garnish
Preparation
  1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place cauliflower florets on a sheet pan and drizzle with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Season with kosher salt and pepper. Toss well. Roast for 20 - 25 minutes until the cauliflower is golden and tender. (I sometimes flip the cauliflower florets towards the end of the baking time). Remove the pan from the oven, add chickpeas if using, and toss to combine. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package if using. Drain and add to the bowl of cauliflower and chickpeas.
  3. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the shallot and sauté until soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Pour stock into the pan and simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, then stir in the butter, capers, lemon zest and juice. Season with ¼ - ½ teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  4. To serve, reheat the bowl of cauliflower in the microwave until warm. Transfer to a serving platter or wide, low-sided bowl. Top with the lemon caper sauce. Sprinkle parsley over the top before serving.

 

Bread, Dinner, Eggs, Fish, Italian, Lactose Free, Recipes, Sandwiches

Italian-Style Tuna Sandwich

August 29, 2021

Italian-Style Tuna Sandwich

We love all types of sandwiches but tuna is one of our favorites.  Whether it is tuna salad with mayonnaise, celery, onion and a dash of dried dill, or tuna in olive oil on John’s toasted sourdough, we enjoy all of them.  This particular version is a real treat.  A salsa verde made with Italian parsley, rich olives, briny capers and anchovy fillets plus zesty lemon and olive oil make this sandwich very special.  The salsa verde is refreshing and pairs well with the tuna and hard-boiled eggs.  This is truly a sandwich “to die for.”

Italian-Style Tuna Sandwich

Tuna in Olive Oil Selection

We buy all sorts of tuna in olive oil.  One of my favorites is As do Mar.  You can find this brand on line or in specialty stores, but I have never seen it in Hawaii markets.  Genova tuna is available at Costco for a very fair price.  Ortiz is another high-end tuna.  The small cans are perfect for two.  We used Ortiz tuna in the jar, above right, for this sandwich.  Beautiful thin tuna steaks are delicious.  You can find this item at Whole Foods in Kahului.  You will pay a dear price for this luxury item, but think of it as a treat that you deserve now and then.  

Italian Parsley from the Garden

We always have Italian parsley growing in the garden.  It is the herb I use most.  It’s great to be able to snip a few sprigs off the plant when you need them.  

Anchovies, Garlic, Lemon Zest, Olives & Capers

Ortiz tuna is top notch and so are their anchovies.  There is no comparison to the ones you might find at the grocery stores.  You can find Ortiz anchovies in the    R. Fields section at Foodland Farms in Wailuku.

Salsa Verde

The salsa verde is delicious and gorgeous.  If you have leftovers, mix it up with pasta shells to make a delicious salad.  Toss some good feta into the salad and you’re all set.

Italian-Style Tuna Sandwich

Be sure to serve the sandwich on good bread.

Italian-Style Tuna Sandwich

Italian-Style Tuna Sandwich
 
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Adapted from NYT Cooking
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • Salsa Verde: 1 cup lightly packed Italian parsley leaves, washed and dried
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium-large garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tablespoons roughly chopped green olives
  • 2 large anchovy fillets, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon capers, drained
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • pinch of crushed red pepper
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • Sandwiches: 2 ciabatta rolls or 1 small baguette
  • lettuce leaves or arugula
  • 6 ounces best quality tuna in olive oil, drained
  • 2 hard boiled eggs, halved
Preparation
  1. Whiz parsley leaves and ½ cup olive oil in a food processor or blender to a pesto-like consistency, then transfer to a small bowl. Add garlic, chopped olives, anchovies, capers, lemon zest and red pepper to parsley mixture. Stir well. Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste. The olives, anchovies and capers are quite salty on their own so additional salt may not be needed.
  2. Split ciabatta rolls or baguette with a serrated knife. Spread cut sides with salsa verde. Put a few lettuce leaves on the bottom piece of the bread and arrange tuna evenly over the lettuce. Top with sliced hard-boiled eggs (salt and pepper each piece). Drizzle with more salsa verde then press sandwich closed. Cut baguette into two even portions and serve.

 

Dinner, Fish, Italian, Lactose Free, Recipes

Tuna Spaghetti with Green Olive Pesto

May 26, 2021

Tuna Spaghetti with Green Olive Pesto

This is a very tasty dish for those who enjoy a different style of pasta.  It is loaded with flavor thanks to the tuna in olive oil and green olive pesto.  It’s very easy to prepare, and you can even make the pesto in advance and freeze it.  This pesto is dairy free which is a plus for those of us who are lactose intolerant.  

Italian Parsley, Lemon, Almonds, Green Olives, Tuna in Olive Oil

Our local Costco now sells Genova tuna in olive oil so we stock up on it because it’s an excellent price to quality ratio.

Green Olive Pesto, Genova Tuna

The pesto ingredients get a quick whirl in the food processor and voila!  You’ll have a tasty olive pesto that is a nice change from a typical basil pesto.  Even if you choose not to use the tuna, the pesto is wonderful on pasta or slathered on grilled bread.   

Green Olive Pesto

Tuna Spaghetti with Green Olive Pesto

I used spaghetti for this recipe however you can use whatever pasta shape that suits you. 
Tuna Spaghetti with Green Olive Pesto

Tuna Spaghetti with Green Olive Pesto
 
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Adapted from Genova Seafood Recipe
Author:
Serves: 2 - 4
Ingredients
  • 2 cups lightly packed Italian parsley leaves
  • ½ cup pitted green olives (I use olives from Whole Foods olive bar)
  • ¼ (heaping) cup roasted unsalted or lightly salted almonds
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest (more for serving, optional)
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • ½ teaspoon chili pepper flakes
  • ½ pound dried spaghetti
  • 1 7-ounce can Genova yellowfin tuna in olive oil, drained
Preparation
  1. Pesto: Place the parsley, olives, almonds, olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, chili flakes in a food processor. Process until a chunky paste forms, 15-20 seconds.
  2. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a serving bowl. Add tuna to pasta. Toss in olive pesto until noodles are well coated. Serve warm or at room temperature with more lemon zest.

 

Dinner, Italian, Pasta, Recipes, Side Dishes

Lemon Orzo with Feta & Dill

February 4, 2021

Lemon Orzo with Feta & Dill

I came upon this dish at Food52, one of my favorite foodie sites.  It sounded so delicious and perfect as a side for the fresh fish I just bought.  And knowing that it was an Ina Garten creation sealed the deal.

Orzo, Olive Oil, Lemon, Feta & Dill

There is just handful of ingredients needed to bring this dish together.  What makes it so inviting is that each ingredient is full of flavor and they all unite in a tasty bowl of orzo.

Orzo

Although its shape is similar to long grain rice, orzo won’t be found where rice is stocked at the market.  Make your way to the pasta aisle and you’ll find it there.  Orzo, Italian for barley (named for its similar shape), can be found in many soup and broth recipes as well as pasta salads and side dishes like this one.

Mt. Vikos Feta

My very favorite feta is Mt. Vikos made from sheep and goat’s milk.  It is creamy and not too salty. Many people who are lactose intolerant find this cheese easier to digest than cow’s milk feta.

Lemon Orzo with Feta & Dill, Vichy Carrots & Pepper Crusted Ahi

The original recipe calls for serving the orzo hot.  However, I have served it cold and at room temperature as a side dish for a sandwich or as an addition to a green salad.  It is very versatile.

Lemon Orzo with Feta & Dill

Orzo with Feta, Lemon & Dill
 
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Adapted from Ina Garten's recipe
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 cup orzo
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2-3 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup feta, small dice
Preparation
  1. Bring 2 quarts of water water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of fine sea salt and the orzo to the pot. Bring water back to a boil, then reduce heat to a lively simmer. Cook orzo for 9 minutes or until just al dente. Drain well and transfer to a wide bowl.
  2. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, dill, olive oil, salt and pepper. Fold in diced feta. To serve, transfer to a bowl or platter. Sliced tomatoes are a nice accompaniment to the orzo if serving it at room temperature or chilled as a side dish.

 

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