Braised Escarole Recipes

BRAISED ESCAROLE

Steps:

• Cut away and discard the white core of the escarole. Cut away and discard any tough stems. Cut the leaves crosswise in half. Drop the leaves in boiling water seasoned with a little salt. Let simmer 5 minutes. Drain well and press to extract moisture. Coarsely chop the greens.
• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet and add the garlic. Cook briefly and add the escarole, salt and pepper. Add the pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, about 4 minutes.

BRAISED ESCAROLE WITH OLIVES AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Heat a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the oil, shallots, garlic and pepper flakes, if using, then season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir with a wooden spoon until the shallots are soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the olives and raisins and stir to combine. Add the chopped escarole and season with the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine and coat the escarole in the flavors. Cover with the lid and allow to steam for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring often, until the liquid has evaporated and the greens are tender, another 3 minutes.

BRAISED ESCAROLE WITH PANCETTA

Steps:

• Cook 8 ounces chopped pancetta in a large pot over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Add 1 sliced onion and 3 sliced garlic cloves to the pot and cook, stirring, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes; add to the pancetta. Increase the heat to high; add 3 heads chopped escarole, press down and cook, undisturbed, 4 minutes. Toss, season with salt and pepper and continue to cook, stirring, until wilted, 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium high; stir in 3/4 cup white wine, then the pancetta mixture. Cook until reduced by half, 4 minutes, then cover and cook until the escarole is tender, 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

BRAISED ESCAROLE WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook 3 sliced garlic cloves in olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until golden. Add 1 large head chopped escarole in batches, season with salt and red pepper flakes and cook until just wilted, 3 minutes. Add one 14-ounce can diced tomatoes; cook until the liquid is reduced, 7 minutes. Stir in 2 teaspoons chopped oregano; season with salt. Drizzle with olive oil and top with grated parmesan.

BRAISED ESCAROLE WITH CURRANTS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-low heat. Add pepper flakes; stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add garlic and almonds; cook until light golden, about 3 minutes. Add anchovies, if using; stir until mashed and well combined with the oil mixture. Add sherry; cook until most of liquid has evaporated. Add stock and sugar; stir until sugar has dissolved.
• Add escarole in batches, tossing and adding more as it wilts until all has been added to the pan. Cover; cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until wilted.
• Add currants; cook until escarole is tender, about 10 minutes more. Serve.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH ESCAROLE AND RADICCHIO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Heat a large braiser pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. Sprinkle the lamb shanks all over with 2 teaspoons salt. When the pan and oil are hot, sear the shanks on all sides until deep brown, rotating often, about 8 minutes. Remove the lamb to a plate.
• To the pan, add the carrots, celery, onions and garlic and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the vegetables are soft and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the oregano, rosemary and tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes to caramelize the paste. Deglaze the pan with the wine and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock, then add the lamb shanks back to the pan. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cover the pan.
• Transfer the pan to the oven and cook until the lamb is fork tender, about 2 hours, turning the shanks halfway through.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the honey, Dijon and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the escarole and radicchio and toss well to coat. Arrange the bitter greens on a large serving platter.
• When the lamb is tender, remove the shanks to the platter with the greens. Simmer the sauce until reduced slightly, an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Spoon some of the sauce over the lamb. Serve the remaining sauce on the side, for guests to help themselves. Finish the platter by grating some fresh horseradish over the lamb.

BRAISED ESCAROLE WITH CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Combine currants and water in small bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. Drain. Transfer currants to medium bowl.
• Cook escarole in batches in large pot of boiling water just until wilted, about 2 minutes. Drain; cool under cold running water. Drain again; squeeze to remove excess water. Combine with currants.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; sauté just until beginning to color, about 2 minutes. Add escarole mixture and pine nuts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until escarole is heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH ESCAROLE AND SICILIAN OLIVES

Steps:

• Trim chicken thighs of excess fat, and dry well on paper towels. Heat 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Place chicken in skillet, skin-side down, and sear until skin is well-browned, about 5 minutes. Turn thighs with tongs, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and sear until second side is golden, about 3 minutes more.
• Pour off fat. Reduce heat to low, add olive oil, and half of the sliced garlic, shallots and the herbs, and sauté until soft and fragrant, about 40 seconds. Add wine and chicken broth, cover, and simmer 7 minutes. Turn chicken, and simmer until meat pulls easily from bone, about 7 minutes more.
• Transfer chicken from skillet to plate. Add remaining garlic, shallots and herbs, olives, escarole and lemon juice to skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, increase heat to medium-high, and cover. Steam escarole until it wilts, about 5 minutes.
• Return chicken to skillet on top of escarole. Add butter, increase heat to high, and simmer until butter melts and sauce has emulsified slightly. (If sauce appears thin, transfer escarole and chicken to warm platter, then boil sauce until it has reached a pleasing consistency.) Taste to correct seasoning. Serve immediately.

BRAISED ESCAROLE WITH CURRANTS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-low heat. Add the red pepper flakes; stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and almonds; cook until light golden, about 3 minutes. Add the anchovies; stir until mashed and well combined with oil mixture. Add the sherry; cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add the stock and sugar; stir until the sugar has dissolved.
• Add the escarole in batches, tossing and adding more as it wilts until all has been added to the pan. Cover; cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until wilted.
• Add the currants, and cook until the escarole is tender, about 10 minutes more. Serve.
• FIT TO EAT RECIPE
• (Per serving)
• Calories: 112
• Fat: 5g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Carbohydrate: 11g
• Sodium: 175mg
• Protein: 4g
• Fiber: 6g

BRAISED ESCAROLE WITH APPLES

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté apple, stirring occasionally, until tender and slightly caramelized, about 2 minutes. Transfer apple to a dish with a slotted spoon.
• Cook shallot in remaining tablespoon butter over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add escarole and toss over moderately high heat until it begins to wilt, about 1 minute. Add vinegar and water and cook, covered, until escarole is tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in apple, pecans, and salt and pepper to taste and cook until just heated through.