Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Costillar de Chanco (Chilean-Style Spareribs)

Grilling is a popular method of cooking in Chile, where families often gather on weekends to enjoy simple but ample meals, often barbecues. St. Louis-style ribs are “squared off” or trimmed and have a flat, meaty shape. Ask your butcher to halve them—this creates more flavorful surface area. Baby back ribs can be substituted for the St. Louis-style ribs and don’t need halving. Multiply quantities as needed.

Ingredients

  • 1 rack of St. Louis-style pork spareribs, halved crosswise, membrane removed
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup beer
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sweet or smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano, preferably Mexican
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Step 1

Place the ribs in a nonreactive baking pan large enough to hold them. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a blender jar and blend until well combined. Pour over the ribs, turning to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Step 2

Set up your grill for indirect grilling and heat
to medium (about 325°F). Drain the ribs and arrange them in a single layer on the grill grate. Cover the grill. After 45 minutes, check on the ribs and reposition them if needed. Close the lid and continue to cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat has receded from the bones by about 1/2 inch and is tender. (A toothpick inserted between the bones should go in easily.)

Serves 2

Chorizo Hash

While hash is often served with fried eggs, this flavorful combination of ingredients can also be used as a filling for omelets. It can be made ahead and rewarmed. Perfect for a festive brunch, lunch, or dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds red-skinned or Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
  • Sea salt
  • 8 ounces cured chorizo, thinly sliced into rounds 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed if frying eggs
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup torn cilantro leaves
  • 4 large eggs (optional)
  • Your favorite salsa, for serving

Directions

Step 1

In a saucepan, cover the potatoes with salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. Cook until tender, up to 10 minutes (test halfway through). Drain well.

Step 2

Sauté the chorizo in a large skillet over medium heat until the fat has rendered, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the cumin toward the end of the cooking time. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.

Step 3

Drizzle the olive oil over the drained potatoes. Transfer to the hot skillet and cook over medium-high heat until nicely browned, turning with a spatula. Fold in the chorizo. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the cilantro. Divide the hash among four plates, topping each with an olive oil-fried egg, if desired. Serve with salsa

Serves 4

Chicken Sausage Skillet Dinner

Parboiling the potatoes cuts the cooking time of this flavorful dish. The recipe makes a delicious dinner, but it’s also great for a picnic since you can enjoy it at room temperature—for safety, remember to consume hot or cold foods within an hour of taking them off the stove or out of the fridge. Note: If you can only find chicken sausage links, simply squeeze them out of their casings and into the hot pan.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fingerling or new red potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1 pound chicken sausage
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon peperoncino (Italian red pepper flakes)
  • 1 cup homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock
  • 1 cup freshly shelled green peas
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, divided use
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1

Parboil the potatoes in salted water for 10 minutes; drain. When cool enough to handle, cut them in half.

Step 2

Heat a large flat-bottom wok over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil and the chicken sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon and stirring until the meat is opaque and cooked through. Add the fennel seeds, peperoncino, and potatoes and sauté with the chicken until the potatoes crisp.

Step 3

Add the stock and use the spoon to release any bits of fond on the bottom of the pan. Raise the heat and cook down the stock until reduced by half. Add the peas and half the Parmigiano-Reggiano, stirring constantly (the sauce will thicken as the cheese melts).

Step 4

Off the heat, add black pepper to taste. Top each portion with more Parmigiano-Reggiano and a drizzle of olive oil.

Yields 4 servings

Smashed Potato Pie

Whether you want to skip the gluten of a typical pie crust or are simply looking for a tasty alternative, using new potatoes is a delicious choice. 

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds new red or small Yukon Gold potatoes, rinsed and left whole
  • 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons sea salt, divided use
  • 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
  • 6 asparagus spears, sliced on the diagonal into 2” pieces
  • 8 large eggs
  • 8 ounces shredded white cheddar cheese 
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 ounces freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • Optional garnish: your choice of fresh herbs

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Add the potatoes and the tablespoon of salt. Boil until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes then drain. 

Step 2

While the potatoes are boiling, heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the onion, bell pepper, asparagus, and 1 teaspoon salt. Sauté until the vegetables are tender then transfer them to a bowl. 

Step 3

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Brush the skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, place them in the skillet. Starting in the center, use a metal measuring cup to flatten them against the bottom of the skillet. Then use the side of the measuring cup to press them halfway up the sides. Check the “crust” to be sure the entire bottom of the skillet is covered. Drizzle the potatoes with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle on 1 teaspoon salt. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until the potatoes are crispy. 

Step 4

While the crust is baking, whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Fold in the shredded cheese, vegetables, remaining teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. 

Step 5

When the crust in done, transfer the skillet to a heat-resistant pad or trivet. Carefully pour in the egg mixture. Sprinkle the Parmigiano-Reggiano evenly across the top and return the skillet to the oven. Continue baking until the eggs are set, about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your oven. Let cool for 10 minutes before garnish with herbs, if desired, and cutting into wedges.

Yields 6 to 8 servings