Haricots Verts And Red Peppers With Almonds Recipes

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS, ALMONDS AND SAUTEED HARICOTS VERTS

Steps:

• Cover the dried porcinis with 2 cups hot water and allow to sit for 30 minutes to reconstitute. Remove from the liquid with a slotted spoon before using.
• Coat a large, wide, deep pan with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Pat the chicken skin dry with paper towels and season generously with salt. Add the chicken, skin side down, to the pan¿you should hear a big sizzle as the thighs hit the pan. Do not try to move the chicken; the skin will stick itself to the bottom of the pan and will unstick itself when it is ready. If the pan is smoking excessively, turn the burner down and continue cooking. When the skin is brown and crispy, turn the chicken over and brown it on the other side. Remove the chicken from the pan and reserve.
• Lower the heat if you have not already done so and ditch most of the excess fat from the pan. Add the pancetta, and brown. When the pancetta has started to get brown and crispy, add the onions. Sprinkle with salt and crushed red pepper, and sweat over medium heat for 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the assorted mushrooms, including the porcinis, season with salt and saute until they release their juices, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the white wine and reduce by half. Return the chicken to the pan. Add the chicken stock to almost cover the chicken. Add the thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer the chicken for 30 to 35 minutes, adding more chicken stock if needed.
• While the chicken is cooking, puree the almonds in a food processor. With the motor running, drizzle in a little olive oil to make a loose paste. Season with salt and reserve.
• Once the chicken has cooked for 30 to 35 minutes, remove it from the pan and reserve. Taste the sauce for seasoning and stir in the almond puree. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer to thicken the sauce if needed; the almond puree will help to thicken the sauce and will make it very rich.
• Serve the chicken over sauteed haricots verts. Spoon the mushroom-almond sauce over the top and garnish with chopped chives.
• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Set up a bowl of well-salted ice water for shocking.
• Add the haricots verts to the boiling water and cook until tender but still toothsome, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the boiling water and immediately plunge into the salted ice water. Once the beans are cool, remove them from the water and set aside until ready to use.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Add the garlic and the crushed red pepper and bring to a medium-high heat. When the garlic has become golden and very aromatic, remove and discard it¿it has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Add the beans to the pan and saute until hot and coated with oil. Season with salt and serve right away.

SAUTEED HARICOTS VERTS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Set up a bowl of well-salted ice water for shocking.
• Add the beans to the boiling water and cook until tender but still have some bite, 5 to 7 minutes. Strain and immediately transfer the beans to the salted ice water. Once cool, strain and set aside until ready to use.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper, and set over medium-high heat. When the garlic becomes golden and very aromatic, remove it and discard. It has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Add the beans to the pan and saute until hot and coated with oil. Transfer the beans to a serving bowl, season with salt and serve right away.

HARICOTS VERTS AND RED PEPPERS WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a baking pan toast almonds in one layer in middle of oven 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly colored. Cut bell peppers into 2-inch-long strips. In a 12-inch heavy skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook half of peppers, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender, about 12 minutes. Transfer cooked peppers to a serving bowl. Cook remaining peppers in remaining tablespoon oil in same manner and transfer to bowl.
• In a 4-quart kettle half filled with boiling salted water cook beans until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes for haricots verts or about 6 minutes for regular green beans. Drain beans in a colander and transfer to bowl. Toss vegetables with almonds and salt and pepper to taste.

HARICOTS VERTS WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Cook beans in medium pot of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain. Rinse under cold running water to cool quickly. Pat beans dry. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and chill.)
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add green beans and half of almonds and toss until heated through, about 3 minutes. Season beans with salt and pepper. Transfer beans to platter. Sprinkle with remaining almonds.

HARICOTS VERTS AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds on a rimmed baking sheet, and place in oven. Toast until they are fragrant and golden, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool. Roughly chop; set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a stockpot of water to a boil, and add salt and haricots verts; cook until color brightens and beans are crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet; let cool, about 5 minutes.
• While still warm, toss beans in a serving bowl with vinegar and olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Add goat cheese, and stir to melt slightly and coat beans. Sprinkle with almonds, and serve.