Braised Spring Vegetables Recipes

BRAISED SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large skillet over high heat until sizzling.
• Add radishes and cook on one side until dappled golden brown (about 5 minutes).
• Turn radishes a sear for 3 minutes more - transfer to a bowl.
• Add oil to pan and stir in onions, thyme, sugar, and salt. Cook until onions are golden brown - stir occasionnally (about 10 minutes).
• Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
• Add scallions (cut side down), cook until light golden (about 2 minutes).
• Pour in wine and boil (about 2 minutes).
• Toss in asparagus, chard stems, snap peas, and broth.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Toss in chard, peas, and lettuce; season with more salt and pepper.
• Cover and cook until wilted (about 3 minutes).
• Stir in cheese.
• Serve with dumplings, polenta, or noodles.

BRAISED SPRING LEGUMES

Steps:

• In a large, heavy casserole with a tight-fitting lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the scallions and onions and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 4 minutes. Add the peas, fava beans, zucchini, and peperoncino and season lightly with salt. Stir well, reduce the heat to low, and cover the casserole tightly. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the romaine and mint, cover the casserole, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very tender, about 25 minutes more. (The vegetables should give off enough moisture during cooking to prevent sticking or burning. If you find they are sticking, you can add a few tablespoons of water. Make sure the heat is very low and the pot is tightly covered before continuing to cook. It is fine, however, if the vegetables do brown a little.) Season to taste with salt and serve hot.

THREE-IN-ONE BRAISED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Tip the sprouts and carrots into a pan and cover with boiling water. Sprinkle in the stock cube, add the butter and bring to the boil.
• Simmer for 8-10 mins until the veg are tender. Add peas and cook a few mins more.
• Rest the veg in the stock until you want to make the gravy, then drain over the roasting tin.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH SPRING VEGETABLES AND SPRING GREMOLATA

Steps:

• For lamb:
• Sprinkle lamb shanks generously with salt and pepper; dust with flour. Heat oil in heavy large deep pot over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, if necessary, add lamb to pot and cook until browned on all sides, turning often, about 10 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb to large bowl. Add onions, carrots, and celery to same pot; sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste; stir 1 minute. Stir in broth, wine, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. Return lamb to pot; bring to boil (liquid may not cover lamb completely). Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until lamb is very tender and begins to fall off bones, turning occasionally, about 3 hours.
• Using tongs, transfer lamb to platter. Discard bay leaves and parsley sprigs. Spoon off fat from surface of pan juices; discard. Using immersion blender, puree pan juices until almost smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Return lamb shanks to pan juices. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled.
• For gremolata:
• Mix all ingredients in small bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• For vegetables:
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender, about 18 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to medium bowl. Add carrots to same pot; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer carrots to bowl with potatoes. Add sugar snap peas to same pot; cook 1 minute. Drain. Add to bowl with potatoes and carrots. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Bring lamb and pan juices to simmer over medium heat until heated through.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add all vegetables; sauté about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer lamb and pan juices to large platter or bowl. Surround with vegetables; scatter pea tendrils over vegetables. Sprinkle lamb with gremolata and serve.
• Ingredient tip:
• Green garlic has a more delicate flavor than mature garlic. The tops of green garlic look like green onions; the root ends are white and light purple. Look for green garlic at farmers' markets during the spring months.

DOUBLE VEAL CHOPS WITH BRAISED SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet large enough to hold the veal chops in one layer, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Add the veal trimmings. Over medium-high heat, brown for 5 minutes, stirring. Add the veal chops and garlic. Season well with sea salt and pepper. Cook the veal chops for about 10 minutes a side, moving the chops around the pan periodically. Remove the veal chops, leaving the garlic and the veal trimming in the pan. Drain all fat from the skillet.
• Add the chicken broth to the pan. Deglaze over high heat, reducing by half. Check seasonings. Return the veal chops to the pan with any of their accumulated juices. Remove from the heat, and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, brown the pancetta over medium heat in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, and add the potatoes, carrots, onions, salsify and scallions. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring, for 30 minutes.
• Bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus, sugar snap peas and broccoli rabe. Return to a boil, and cook for 1 minute. Drain well.
• Add remaining butter to the vegetable skillet. Add the drained vegetables. Check for seasonings.
• Slice the veal thinly and serve with vegetables and reduced pan juices. Include garlic cloves if desired.