Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Chickpea Flatbreads with Burst Tomato Sauce

Chilean merquén, one of our favorite seasonings, is made from sun-dried chiles that are smoked and ground, then blended with other ingredients such as toasted cumin and salt. Professional chefs are just beginning to discover it! Find merquén at amazon.com.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chickpea flour
  • 10 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use, plus more for serving
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved if large
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • One 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained (see Note), rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon sherry or red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon merquén or smoked paprika (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 cup coarsely grated queso fresco or crumbled feta (about 5 oz.)
  • Baby greens, such as arugula, kale, or spinach
  • Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

Step 1

Place a rack in the top third of the oven; preheat to 450°F. Whisk the chickpea flour, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 cup water in a medium bowl or large measuring cup until combined. Let sit at least 10 minutes and up to 1 hour to let the flour hydrate.

Step 2

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Pour in exactly half (3/4 cup) of the chickpea batter and tilt to evenly coat the skillet. Transfer to the oven and bake the flatbread until the edges are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Using a large spatula, transfer the flatbread to a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Step 3

Meanwhile, cook the tomatoes, garlic, 1/4 cup of olive oil, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the whole tomatoes begin to burst, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas, oregano, vinegar, and merquén (if using). Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have formed a fully chunky sauce, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter.

Step 4

Slice the flatbreads in half. Serve with the tomato-chickpea mixture, cheese, greens, and lemon wedges alongside for squeezing and olive oil for drizzling.

Note: The liquid from drained chickpeas is called aquafaba, and is used by many vegans and vegetarians to lighten baked goods or make egg-free meringues.

Serves 4Recipe adapted from epicurious.com, March 2019

Radicchio Grilled with Olive Paste and Anchovies

Colorful Treviso, which resembles Belgian endive in shape and texture, often appears in markets in the spring. Feel free to use the more familiar round radicchio, if Treviso is not available. 

Ingredients

  • 4 Treviso radicchios, halved lengthwise
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, plus more as needed
  • Coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 anchovy fillets, drained if packed in oil
  • 3 tablespoons prepared olive paste or tapenade 

Directions

Step 1

Arrange the radicchios, cut side up, in a baking dish. Drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Marinate for 30 to 60 minutes. 

Step 2

Prepare a grill for direct grilling over medium heat. Brush and oil the grate. Place the anchovies in a small bowl and mash with a fork. Add the olive paste or tapenade, and mix. Arrange the radicchios on the grill, cut side down, slightly on the diagonal to the bars of the grill grate. Grill until lightly browned, 6 to 10 minutes, rotating each radicchio a little halfway through to create a crosshatch of grill marks. Baste with some of the marinade. 

Step 3

Turn the radicchios over. Spread each with a little anchovy and olive paste. Continue grilling and basting until a skewer or knife pierces the radicchio easily, about 3 minutes more. Transfer to plates. Drizzle with a little fresh olive oil and balsamic vinegar. 

Serves 4Recipe by Steven Raichlen, adapted from Le Louis XV, Monte Carlo, Monaco 

Lamb Tagine with Olives and Lemon

My wife, Meghan, and I took advantage of our proximity to Morocco to spend a long weekend there. We fell in love with tagines and ordered several during our visit. If you don’t own a tagine—the large ceramic vessel with a conical top that seems unique to North Africa— use a Dutch oven to cook the stew. 

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • Two 2 1/2-inch strips of lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
  • 4 cups water
  • 6 large carrots, thinly sliced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cups pitted green Picholine olives 
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Pinch of saffron threads, crumbled
  • One 3-inch cinnamon stick
  • Kosher salt
  • 3 1/2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces 
  • 1 cup at-leaf parsley, chopped
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Couscous, for serving 

Directions

Step 1

In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, ginger, paprika, coriander, cumin, black pepper, cayenne, cloves, saffron, cinnamon stick, and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Add the lamb and toss to coat. Refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours. 

Step 2

Tip the lamb and spices into a large tagine or a medium enameled cast-iron casserole; discard the lemon zest. Add the water, carrots, and onion and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat until the lamb is very tender, about 2 hours. 

Step 2

Spoon off any fat from the broth. Stir in the olives, season with salt, and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley, cilantro, and lemon juice. (Discard the cinnamon stick.) Ladle into bowls and serve with couscous and extra olive oil for drizzling. 

Serves 8Recipe from Food and Wine, October 2008

Chicken with Romesco Sauce

Originally concocted by shermen in Tarragona, Catalonia, olive oil- and nut-based romesco sauce is often served with seafood. This dish is perfect for a casual supper with friends. Accompany it with a green salad. 

Ingredients

  • For the chicken:
  • 12 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving
  • 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 
  • For the romesco sauce:
  • 2 whole red peppers, cored and seeded, cut into halves
  • 2 ripe tomatoes, stemmed and roughly chopped
  • 1 to 2 pieces of stale bread, crusts removed, roughly torn
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
  • 12 toasted Marcona almonds, plus extra for serving
  • 12 whole hazelnuts, skinned
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon Spanish sherry vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon
  • Spanish smoked paprika (pimentón)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven’s broiler. Place the pepper halves, skin side up, on a broiler pan and broil until the skins are black, 3 to 5 minutes. Allow the peppers to rest for 10 minutes. Peel off the blackened skin, then coarsely chop the peppers. 

Step 2

Make the romesco sauce. In a food processor or blender, combine the peppers, tomatoes, bread, garlic, almonds, hazelnuts, cumin, and paprika. Slowly add the olive oil and sherry vinegar and blend lightly until you have a chunky paste with the consistency of pesto. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. The sauce is best if made the day before. (Cover and refrigerate if making ahead. Warm to room temperature before serving.) 

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Drizzle the chicken thighs with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. In a large oven-safe skillet, brown the chicken thighs for 3 minutes on each side. Add the thyme and garlic. Place the skillet in the oven and roast the thighs, skin side down, for 30 minutes, or until cooked through. 

Step 4

Serve the roasted chicken thighs on a bed of romesco sauce, topped with some crushed almonds and a drizzle of olive oil. 

Serves 6Recipe adapted from Javier De La Hormaza, basconefoods.com