Saras Sweetbread Fricassee Recipes

SPRING VEGETABLE FRICASSéE WITH SAFFRON CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 1-quart baking dish. Cook carrots in large pot of boiling salted water 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer carrots to bowl of ice water to cool. Using slotted spoon, transfer carrots to medium bowl. If using fresh peas, cook in same pan of boiling water 2 minutes; drain and transfer to bowl of ice water to cool. Using slotted spoon, transfer peas to small bowl.
• Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté 1 minute. Add shallots; sauté 1 minute. Add leek and sauté until vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes longer (do not brown). Stir in saffron. Add carrots, mushrooms, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Add wine and simmer until almost dry, about 3 minutes. Add broth and simmer 4 minutes. Add cream and bring to simmer. Stir in peas, asparagus, and spinach. Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake until edges are bubbling and top begins to brown, about 30 minutes.

SWEET BREAD STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut each roll into 8 cubes. Spread onto a baking sheet in a single layer.
• Bake in the preheated oven until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Layer toasted bread cubes in a 1 1/2-quart baking pan. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Swiss cheese, 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese, 1/2 the bacon, and 2 green onions on top of the bread. Shake to settle the toppings into the bread.
• Beat eggs together with half-and-half, milk, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Pour over the bread cubes, pressing cubes down into the mixture. Sprinkle the remaining Swiss cheese, Cheddar cheese, bacon, green onions, and Parmesan cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until strata is hot in the center, about 30 minutes.

VEAL SHANK FRICASSEE

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour and seasonings. Add veal shanks; seal and turn to coat. , In a Dutch oven or large skillet, brown veal in oil over medium heat. Pour 1-1/4 cups water into pan; add the onion, celery and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour., Add carrots and potatoes; cover and cook 30 minutes longer or until meat and vegetables are tender. Remove meat and vegetables to a serving platter and keep warm. Pour drippings and loosened browned bits into a measuring cup. Skim fat and discard bay leaf., In a small saucepan, combine cornstarch and the remaining water until smooth. Gradually stir in the drippings. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with meat and vegetables.

SARA'S SWEETBREAD FRICASSEE

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil and add sweetbreads. Simmer for 10 minutes. Drain, cool sweetbreads in a bowl of cold water, remove and peel away any membrane. Cut into 1-inch-thick slices.
• Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Salt the sweetbread pieces and dredge in flour, shaking off excess. Add to skillet when the butter has melted. Cook, turning once, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes per side. Add the carrots, onion, scallions and garlic, shaking the skillet occasionally, until the vegetables are just tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the stock, tomato paste, Pickapeppa sauce and nutmeg to the skillet. Tie the thyme, whole chili, allspice berries, clove and bay leaf in a square of cheesecloth and add to the skillet. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the liquid is thickened and reduced by about 1/2, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove skillet from the heat. Discard cheesecloth bundle. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

SALT FISH FRICASSEE

Steps:

• In a large skillet over high heat put 1/2 cup olive oil, add the onions garlic, and thyme. Allow the onions to cook for 6 minutes.
• Cut the salt fish into 1-inch pieces, and add them to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes, add the tomatoes, and the rest of the oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and let simmer for 15 minutes more. Garnish with sliced scallions.

SQUIRREL FRICASSEE

Steps:

• Wash squirrel thoroughly inside and out in warm water.
• Drain well and cut into serving pieces.
• Never wash after cutting up.
• Combine salt, pepper, and flour.
• Dredge meat in mixture and coat well.
• Heat shortening in a heavy skillet.
• Brown meat slowly on all sides to a rich brown, about 15 minutes.
• Add 1/4 cup of water, cover tightly.
• Reduce heat and simmer gently until tender, approx about 30 minutes.
• Add remaining water as needed.
• Squirrel should be very tender when done.
• Remove squirrel to a hot platter, cover and keep warm.
• Blend leftover seasoned flour into the fat remaining in skillet.
• Add milk gradually and cook until gravy boils and thickens, stirring constantly.
• Serve at once with squirrel.
• Add the minced onion for additional flavor, if desired.

BEAN FRICASSEE

Steps:

• Prepare an ice bath; set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a large pinch of salt, and the Romano and wax beans. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the haricot verts, and cook until the beans are tender, 5 to 7 minutes more. Drain, and transfer to the ice bath to stop cooking. Drain well; set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Add onions and cook, stirring, until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add stock, and cook until reduced by half. Add the beans, garlic, and butter. Cook until beans are lightly glazed. Add tomato, basil, parsley, lemon, olives, and almonds, and heat through. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

HARVEST VEGETABLE FRICASSéE

Steps:

• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add next 6 ingredients; sauté 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook until vegetables are almost tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes.
• Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add flour; whisk 1 minute. Gradually add broth; bring to boil, whisking until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
• Add vegetables to skillet. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer gently until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Discard bay leaf.

MEXICAN BEEF FRICASSEE

Steps:

• In large skillet, heat olive oil over high heat, add diced potatoes and fry until golden.
• Add onions fry for two more minutes, add ground beef fry until golden brown and cooked through.
• Add celery, green pepper and cabbage, cook for a few minutes.
• Add seasoning, salsa, water, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Incorporate sour cream.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream and chopped chives.

TRADITIONAL LAMB FRICASSéE WITH AVGOLEMONO SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim most of the visible fat from the lamb then cut the meat into 1½" - 2" chunks. Pat down the lamb to remove any excess moisture then brown it on all sides over medium-high heat in the olive oil in a large Dutch oven.
• Add the leeks, onions, and celery to the pot and sauté until the vegetables soften. Add the chicken stock to cover the mixture and season it generously with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on medium heat for about 40 minutes.
• Mince the dill, reserving some for garnish. Chop the lettuce and add it to the pot, along with the dill. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, or, until the lamb is fork-tender and a small amount of liquid (about a cup or so) remains in the pot. Turn off the heat.
• Prepare the egg-lemon (avgolemono) sauce. In a small bowl whisk the egg whites with the teaspoon of cold water and a little corn flour until very frothy. Whisk in the egg yolks and lemon juice (start with only one lemon if you do not like the acidity of the lemon too much). Temper the avgolemono sauce by slowly adding one ladleful of the hot liquid from the pot to the small bowl with the eggs, while whisking the whole time. Continue with a second ladleful of the hot liquid and whisk again. Now add the avgolemono to the pot and stir gently to incorporate. Shake the pot a few times to make sure everything is thoroughly mixed together.
• If you need to reheat the lamb fricassée before serving, do so very gently, making sure the stew does not come to a boil. Place on a serving platter, topped with the reserved minced dill, a drizzle of olive oil and a few wedges of lemon. Good, crusty bread is a must and a Greek salad on the side is always a good idea.