Summer Aioli Feast Recipes

SUMMER AIOLI FEAST

Steps:

• Fill a bowl with water and add the juice of half a lemon. Cut the tops off the artichokes, about 1 inch from the end, and snip the spiny tops off the remaining leaves. Break off the leaves around the base, and cut away the stem. Rub the cut edges with the other lemon half as you work. Cut the artichokes into quarters, and cut away the chokes. Place the pieces in the bowl of acidulated water as you work. When all of the artichokes are ready, steam them above an inch of simmering water for 30 to 40 minutes, until the leaves pull away easily and the heart can be easily pierced with the tip of a knife. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Steam the carrots above an inch of boiling water for about 10 minutes, or until tender. A pasta pot with an insert is a good pot to do this in. Remove from the steamer and set aside. Steam the potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes. Arrange on the platter or in a separate bowl.
• Steam the squash for 5 minutes, or until just tender. Steam the green beans and asparagus or cook in boiling salted water for about 4 minutes, until just tender. Transfer to a bowl of ice cold water. Let sit for a minute, then drain.
• Arrange all the vegetables, fish and the eggs on platters, the chickpeas in a bowl and the aioli in bowls. Serve the vegetables hot or at room temperature. To serve them hot, bring a large pot of water to a boil. In batches, tip the vegetables into the water for 30 seconds, transfer to platters with a slotted spoon or skimmer, and serve, with generous helpings of aioli and lots of chilled dry rosé.

CRAB TOAST WITH LEMON AIOLI

Steps:

• Lemon Aioli:
• Whisk egg yolk, garlic, lemon zest and juice, mustard, and a large pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in oil, drop by drop at first, until aioli is thickened and smooth; season with salt and more lemon juice, if desired.
• Crab Toast:
• Toss crabmeat, fennel fronds, 1 chile, and 2 tbsp oil in a medium bowl. Season with salt; add more chile, if desired.
• Drizzle both sides of bread with remaining 4 tbsp oil; working in batches, toast in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.
• Spread each piece of toast with 1 tbsp aioli. Top with crabmeat; cut each toast into 4 pieces. Place a small dab of aioli in center of each piece; serve with lemon wedges. (Extra aioli can be used for dressings or dips.)

AIOLI

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, beat eggs well with a wire whisk. Stir in garlic. Gradually add oil in a thin stream, beating constantly until light and creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in lemon juice. Refrigerate.

GRAND AIOLI

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a medium pot; add cold water to cover by 1". Season with salt, bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are fork-tender, 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl of ice water and chill until cold, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and pat dry, reserving bowl of ice water.
• Meanwhile, bring another medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook until crisp-tender, 2-4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer beans to ice water; reserve hot water in pot. Chill beans until cold, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and pat dry, reserving bowl of ice water.
• Return water in green bean pot to a boil, carefully add eggs, and cook 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggs to ice water; reserve hot water in pot. Chill eggs until cold, about 5 minutes. Peel; set aside, reserving bowl of ice water.
• Return water to a boil, add shrimp, and cook just until pink, about 3 minutes. Transfer to ice water and chill until cold, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and pat dry.
• Meanwhile, pulse garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add egg yolks, lemon juice, and mustard; season with salt, then process to combine. With the motor running, slowly pour in grapeseed oil a few drops at a time. After about 1/4 cup has been added, scrape down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula. Continue to add grapeseed oil with the motor running, then add olive oil and process until combined. If sauce is too thick, add water 1 Tbsp. at a time. Taste and add more salt and lemon juice, if needed.
• Transfer aioli to a serving bowl. Arrange potatoes, green beans, shrimp, halved eggs, endive, romaine, radishes, cucumbers, and tomatoes on a platter and serve alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Potatoes, green beans, and eggs can be cooked 2 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill. Aioli can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill.