Provençal Veal Breast Stuffed With Swiss Chard Recipes

PROVENçAL VEAL BREAST STUFFED WITH SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Make the filling: In a large skillet, heat 4 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onions, season with salt and pepper and sauté until softened. Mix in the chopped garlic, thyme and rosemary. A few handfuls at a time, stir in the chard and, using tongs to toss, cook with the onion mixture until all the greens are soft, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and use a slotted spoon to transfer chard mixture to a large bowl. Stir in tomatoes, egg and matzo pieces, mixing well. You will have at least 5 cups cooked filling.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lay the meat flat on a clean work surface, season the top with salt and pepper and spread a thin layer of the filling (about half) evenly over the surface of the meat, leaving a 1-inch border. Reserve and refrigerate the remaining stuffing. Tightly roll the meat and secure it with kitchen twine, making a knot every 1 1/2 inches and tucking the meat in to enclose the ends. Season the outside of the roll with salt and pepper.
• Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet, turn the heat to medium-high and brown the stuffed veal on all sides. Transfer to a large roasting pan with a lid. (If your skillet isn't large enough, brown veal directly in the roasting pan, laid over 2 burners of your stovetop.) To the pan where you browned the meat, add wine and simmer for about a minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Spoon liquid over the meat. Scatter the carrots, large onion pieces and whole garlic cloves around the veal, place the bones, and pour in about 8 cups of water or enough to come halfway up the meat.
• Reduce oven to 325 degrees and cook, covered, 2 1/2 hours, basting every 20 minutes or so, until veal is cooked through and tender, 165 degrees on a meat thermometer.
• Remove the meat from the pan, set aside to cool, then refrigerate overnight. Strain the sauce, reserving the carrots and discarding the bones and the onions. Refrigerate sauce and carrots.
• The next day (or when ready to serve), remove and discard the fat from the sauce and simmer sauce in a small pot until reduced by 1/3. Season with salt and pepper. Using a long sharp knife, slice the veal into 1-inch portions. (Pull out kitchen twine as necessary). Carefully transfer slices to a large ovenproof serving dish or roasting pan, scatter the reserved stuffing around the veal and pour the braising liquid and carrots over the top. (You can refrigerate the whole dish at this point, to be reheated just before serving, or proceed to reheat the meat now.)
• Just before serving, reheat in a 350-degree oven, covered with foil, about 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve in individual portions or on a platter, with a little chard stuffing and carrots on top of each slice for color, and drizzled with some of the braising liquid.

PROVENçAL ROASTED GARLIC-BRAISED BREAST OF VEAL WITH SPRINGTIME STUFFING

Steps:

• Prepare the stuffing:
• Bring a large pot full of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the chard and spinach, bring the water back to a boil, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until thoroughly wilted. Drain and squeeze out as much moisture as possible, pressing the greens against a colander with a wooden spoon. Or for a more thorough job, use your hands when the greens have cooled somewhat. Finely chop, either by hand or by pulsing in a food processor.
• In a large skillet, sauté the minced garlic in 3 tablespoons of the oil over moderate heat until pale gold, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chard and spinach. Cook, stirring, over medium heat, until the liquid is evaporated and the garlic is thoroughly distributed, 5 to 7 minutes. The greens should be very tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Sauté the onion in a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat in 3 tablespoons of the oil until softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with the onions. In another saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer. Add the broth to the rice a few spoonfuls at a time, as if making risotto. Keep the heat medium-low, and stir, waiting until the broth is nearly absorbed before adding another spoonful. Cook the rice until just tender, 15 to 20 minutes in all. If you finish adding the broth and the rice is not yet tender, add a tablespoon or two of hot water, as needed. Season the rice with salt and pepper (taking in to account the saltiness of the broth you are using), add it to the chard and spinach, and set aside to cool.
• Prepare the garlic head:
• Break the head into single cloves and put them, unpeeled, into a small baking dish in which they fit snugly (I use a 5-inch-square porcelain ramekin). Drizzle with 2 teaspoons of the oil and 1 teaspoon of the thyme. Cover tightly (use foil if you don't have a lid), and roast for 30 to 45 minutes, until a soft puree is formed when you squeeze a clove. Avoid overcooking, which turns the garlic bitter. Squeeze the puree out by hand or run the unpeeled cloves through a food mill to trap the peels. Put the roasted garlic puree in a small bowl and add 1 tablespoon of the rosemary and the lemon juice. Stir well and set aside. Turn off the oven-you will be pan-braising the meat.
• While the garlic is roasting, finish the stuffing:
• In a food processor, pulse the remaining 1 tablespoon each of rosemary and thyme, the parsley, mint, and lemon zest until finely chopped. Add to the rice mixture. Stir in the egg until well combined.
• Trim the veal of gristle and as much fat as possible. Sprinkle salt and pepper all over, including the inside pocket. Fill the pocket with the stuffing, pushing the mixture as far in as possible, but don't overfill-it will expand somewhat while cooking. Sew the pocket closed. (A large embroidery needle and strong cotton thread or unwaxed dental floss work very well here. Or use a trussing needle and kitchen twine. I find skewering not as successful here-the stuffing is more likely to ooze out into the pan gravy.)
• In a 6-quart Dutch oven or heavy casserole just large enough to accommodate the veal, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil until hot, but not smoking. Add the veal and brown it slowly on all sides, turning carefully with wooden spoons so you don't piece the meat. When it is thoroughly browned, arrange the meat so that the fat side is up. Spread the roasted garlic mixtue all over the top. Add the wine and bring to a slow bubble. Place the lid slightly askew, and braise at a slow simmer over very low heat for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or longer, if necessary, until the meat is very tender. Use a flame tamer (blech) or stack two stove burner grates , if you must to keep the flame very low. Every 20 minutes or so, baste with the pan juices. If possible, turn the meat a few times; don't worry about losing the roasted garlic coating on top-it will add delicious flavor to the cooking juices.
• Transfer the veal to a platter, and let it stand for 10 minutes, tented with foil to keep warm. Boil up the cooking juices for a few minutes to concentrate the flavors, taste for seasoning, then transfer to a sauce boat.
• Slice the veal about 1/2-inch thick, making sure that the slices enclose some of the filling. Nap with some of the juices. Pass remaining sauce separately.
• Ashkenazi Mashed Potato Stuffing Variation:
• Don't pass by this fabulous veal because your family refrains from eating rice on Passover. When my agent Elise Goodman wanted to prepare it for her seder, we came up with a wonderful alternative mashed potato stuffing.
• Prepare the stuffing according to the directions above, omitting rice and broth. Sauté the onion until rice gold and set aside. Simmer 3 1/2 cups russet or Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cubed, in cold, salted water to cover, until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash the potatoes until smooth. Stir in the reserved sautéed onion (along with any oil remaining in the pan), and 1 additional tablespoon olive oil, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the potato mixture to the chard and spinach, set aside to cool, and continue with the recipe.

PROVENçAL HAROSETH FOR PASSOVER

Steps:

• Place the almonds, raisins, apricots, figs, walnuts, apple, and chestnuts in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until you reach the consistency of your choice.
• Add the pine nuts and stir in the cinnamon, ginger and wine vinegar. Pulse once more, adding enough sweet wine to bind the ingredients.
• Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

CHARD AND MUSHROOM-STUFFED BREAST OF VEAL

Steps:

• For Stuffing:
• Place dried porcini in a 2-cup measuring cup. Add boiling water to cover. Let soak for 30 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to a work surface. Reserve soaking liquid. Chop mushrooms; reserve.
• Cook the chard in a large pot of boiling salted water for 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl of ice water to cool. Drain; squeeze out liquid.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, onions, garlic, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add chopped crimini mushrooms, sage, and half of chopped porcini. Cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until crimini are soft, about 5 minutes.
• Place bread cubes in a large bowl. Add mushroom mixture with any liquid from pan and chard; stir to combine. Stir in Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill stuffing, remaining porcini, and soaking liquid. Add eggs and mix well to moisten bread, adding some of reserved porcini soaking liquid to moisten if necessary (leave any sediment behind).
• For Roast:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Combine 6 teapoons paprika, 2 tablespoons salt, 4 teaspoons sage, 4 teaspoons pepper, and cardamom in a small bowl. Place veal breasts on a work surface and pound thickest part of veal with a meat mallet into even thickness. Rub spice mix all over. Spread 1 1/2 cups stuffing over each, leaving a 1" border on all sides. (Place remaining stuffing in a small baking dish; bake with veal during last 30 minutes of roasting). Roll veal into cylinders and tie crosswise with kitchen twine at 1" intervals.
• Heat oil in a heavy pot large enough to hold both veal breasts over medium-high heat. Add veal to pot and cook until browned on all sides, 5-7 minutes. Transfer veal to a large plate.
• Add remaining reserved porcini from stuffing, leeks, carrots, celery, and onion to pot. Add remaining 2 teaspoons paprika and 1 teaspoon sage; season with salt and pepper and stir to coat. Add wine, broth, and any remaining porcini soaking liquid. Boil for 2 minutes. Add veal. (Liquid should come halfway up sides of veal; add more broth if necessary).
• Cover, transfer to oven, and cook, basting and rotating veal every hour, until very tender, 2 1/2-3 hours, depending on thickness of veal. Transfer veal breasts to a carving board; tent loosely with foil.
• Meanwhile, spoon fat from surface of sauce. Strain sauce into a saucepan. Transfer vegetables to a blender; purée until smooth, adding some sauce as necessary. Add 2 cups puréed vegetables to sauce in pan. Simmer over medium-high heat until reduced to 4 cups, 8-10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside 3 cups for veal and reserve the remaining 1 cup sauce for another use.
• Slice veal into 3/4"-1"-thick slices and serve with sauce.

BRAISED STUFFED BREAST OF VEAL

Steps:

• Heat an oven to 450 degrees. Rub the garlic with a little olive oil, wrap in foil and roast until soft, about 30 minutes. Remove the garlic and reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan, add the Swiss chard leaves, sprinkle with a little salt, and cook a few minutes, turning with tongs, until wilted. Place in a colander and press out as much liquid as possible.
• Coarsely chop the Swiss chard. Shred the prosciutto and scatter over the chard. Dust with the cheese and chop ingredients together until the chard is finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper.
• Use a sharp knife to remove excess fat from the surface of the veal. With boned side up, lightly score surface of veal in crisscross pattern. Season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the garlic out of cloves and mash. Spread on the meat. Spread with an even layer of chard mixture. Strew with the thyme and parsley. Tightly roll the slab of veal the long way. Use a butcher's cord to tie the veal at 1 1/2-inch intervals, tucking in any stuffing that oozes out.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large, deep casserole over medium heat. Cut the roast in half or thirds if necessary to fit in the casserole, and lightly brown on all sides, one section at a time. If the pan blackens, wash the casserole after browning the veal.
• Scatter carrots, onions, leek and celery over the veal in the casserole. Add enough liquid to nearly cover the meat. Bring to simmer on top of stove. Place in the oven and cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours, basting frequently, until the meat is fork-tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in liquid to room temperature.
• Remove veal from cooking liquid, reserving liquid. Wrap veal in foil; refrigerate overnight.
• Reduce cooking liquid by half and skim off fat. Strain and freeze for another use.
• To serve, snip and remove cord from veal. Slice veal. Arrange on platter with vinaigrette, salsa verde or aioli alongside.

MOROCCAN SHAD WITH FAVA BEANS

Steps:

• Heat 1/3 cup of oil in wide pan with cover. Add garlic and red peppers. Sauté slowly for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 2 cups water and bring to boil. Reduce to medium-low heat, add half the cilantro, and continue cooking, covered, for about 30 minutes, adding a little more water if necessary.
• While peppers are cooking, remove fava beans from pods. Bring 6 cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a pot. Cook fava beans for about 4 minutes or until beans are al dente. Drain, plunge beans in iced water and slip skins off beans.
• Add fava beans to peppers with 1 teaspoon paprika, remaining salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper, if using, along with shad and roe. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of olive oil, remaining 1/2 teaspoon paprika and all but 2 tablespoons of remaining cilantro on top of fish. Simmer, covered, until shad is cooked through, about 7 to 10 minutes, adding more water if necessary. Remove fish, vegetables and sauce to a serving plate, and sprinkle remaining cilantro on top.