Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club
Explore Recipes Entrees Page 4

Farfalle with Creamy Tomato Ricotta Sauce

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

While there’s a place for slowly simmered red sauce, I love how quickly this version comes together, enriched with extra virgin olive oil and ricotta cheese. 

Ingredients

  • Coarse sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1/2 cup grated yellow onions 
  • 4 cups cherry tomatoes 
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 fresh basil sprigs
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, more to taste
  • 1 pound farfalle or another pasta of similar size
  • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water and a tablespoon of salt to a boil just before you start the sauce. 

Step 2

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the olive oil, onions, and a sprinkling of salt. Cook until the onions become translucent. Add the cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil, sugar, and crushed red pepper, and sauté until the tomatoes burst, stirring constantly. Put the pasta in the boiling water at this point and cook until al dente, according to package directions. 

Step 3

Continue cooking the tomatoes for a few more minutes, just until their liquid starts to reduce. Allow to cool slightly, then transfer to a high-speed blender and process to a smooth sauce, about 30 seconds (start at a low speed and increase gradually to avoid splatter). Pour the sauce back in the skillet and, over medium heat, stir in the ricotta. 

Step 4

Use a large Chinese strainer to transfer the pasta to the skillet and coat with the sauce. Ladle into deep bowls, sprinkle with the Parmigiano-Reggiano, and drizzle with olive oil.

Yields 4 to 6 servings

Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Za’atar

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

This lamb dish benefits from a za’atar dry rub, which infuses the meat with rich spices, and an olive oil marinade to keep it extra moist. Both create exceptional pan juices to drizzle over the finished slices.

Ingredients

For the za’atar:

  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon sumac
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

For the lamb:

  • 4-pound boneless or butterflied leg of lamb
  • 4 tablespoons za’atar
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

Directions

Step 1

Heat a small frying pan and, when hot, dry toast the cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a nut or coffee bean grinder along with the thyme and pulverize, then place in a small bowl. Next, dry toast the sesame seeds for just 1 minute, then add to the bowl along with the sumac, chili powder, and salt and whisk to blend.

Step 2

Place the lamb on an oiled rimmed sheet pan (if you bought a rolled boneless leg of lamb held together by mesh, unwrap it and flatten it). Make a few deep slashes in the thickest parts of the lamb and rub with the za’atar, getting into all the crevices. Let sit on the counter for 1 hour.2 tablespoons olive oil into a small food processor and blitz to a rough paste; set aside.

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice and pour over the lamb. Roast the lamb
for about 35 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 130°F for medium rare (it will continue cooking once out of the oven).

Step 4

Place the sheet pan on a heat-safe pad and let the lamb rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Drizzle with pan juices and more olive oil.

Serves 6

Chicken and Vegetable Sheet Pan “Stir Fry”

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Flavorful chicken thighs anchor this easy weeknight dish, which pays homage to Australia’s vibrant Asian community. It has the delicious sauce of a stir fry with the ease of a sheet pan dinner. Feel free to mix up the vegetables depending on what you harvest from your garden or find at the farmers’ market. Broccoli rabe, carrots (sliced into thin coins), brussels sprouts (halved), and zucchini are all worthy candidates.

Ingredients

For the sauce:

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce or tamari
  • 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • Zest and juice of one lime
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

For the chicken and vegetables:

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
  • Extra virgin olive oil for the sheet pan
  • 3 cups bite-size broccoli florets
  • 2 bell peppers, seeded, cut into strips
  • 1 small eggplant, trimmed and cut into cubes or rounds, depending on size
  • 1 small red onion, trimmed and thinly sliced
  • 1/4 pound mushrooms, trimmed and quartered

Directions

Step 1

Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients except the cornstarch. Set aside half of the sauce. Marinate the chicken, covered and refrigerated, in the remaining half of the sauce for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.

Step 2

Brush a rimmed sheet pan with olive oil. Heat the oven to 400°F. Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water, then stir into the remaining sauce. In a large bowl, toss the vegetables with the sauce until well coated.

Step 3

Arrange the vegetables in a single layer on the prepared pan and cook for 10 minutes. Use a spatula to push the vegetables to one side, then add the chicken. Cook for an additional 7 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are browned in spots and are tender-crisp. Transfer to a serving bowl or plates.

Serves 4

Melissa’s Prawn and Pork Dumplings with Dipping Sauce

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

My longtime friend and colleague Melissa Wong, a consummate foodie from Melbourne, shared this flavorful recipe with me—see the Pressing Report for all the fun we had preparing it. Dumplings are surprisingly easy to make at home with either square or round dumpling wrappers. The pinching technique isn’t complicated, but a dumpling press makes quick work of it. (See a vegetarian version from The Olive Oil Hunter Newsletter.)

Ingredients

For the dipping sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 2 teaspoons ground Sichuan red pepper
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 1 small fresh chile, chopped, such as banana or Anaheim (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons black vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced

For the filling:

  • Piece fresh ginger, 1 1/2 inches, peeled
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
  • 8 ounces prawns
  • 2 teaspoons white pepper
  • 2 heads bok choy
  • 1 pound finely ground pork
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 package dumpling wrappers (about 50)

Directions

Step 1

For the dipping sauce, dry toast the sesame seeds until fragrant, about 2 minutes; transfer to a small dish and set aside. In the same pan, dry toast the ground pepper, about 2 minutes. Off the heat, swirl in the olive oil, garlic, ginger, chile (if using), cilantro, and sugar. Whisk in the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, scallions, and the reserved sesame seeds. Pour into a serving bowl and set aside.

Step 2

For the dumplings, place the ginger, garlic, and
2 tablespoons olive oil into a small food processor and blitz to a rough paste; set aside.

Step 3

Peel the prawns and finely dice them. Marinate in a bowl with the remaining tablespoon olive oil and the white pepper.

Step 4

Separate the bok choy leaves, rinse, and trim the ends, if needed. Bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch the bok choy. Once the leaves are wilted, drain in a colander and rinse with cold water
to stop the cooking. Squeeze as much water as possible from the leaves and chop them finely.

Step 5

Place the pork in a large bowl and add the ginger-garlic paste, soy sauce, salt, sesame oil, and bok choy. Mix thoroughly, then add the marinated prawn pieces and cornstarch and mix again.

Step 6

Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Place a bowl of water next to your work area. Open the package of wrappers and cover with a damp kitchen towel so they won’t dry out.

Step 7

Place a generous teaspoon of filling in the center of a wrapper (don’t overfill or the dumplings won’t stay closed). Dip a fingertip in the water bowl and moisten the outer edges of the wrapper, then fold it and press the edges together to seal them. For round wrappers, crimp the edges together with
7 or 8 folds to make a crescent shape. For square wrappers, use your fingertip to wet the two bottom corners, then overlap them slightly and press together to form a shape like a bishop’s hat. As you finish each dumpling, place it on the sheet pan under the towel. There should be enough filling to make about 50 dumplings.

Step 8

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop in 12 to 16 dumplings at a time and cook for 7 minutes (they will float to the surface). Use a Chinese strainer to transfer them to a large bowl; cover with a pot lid to keep them warm. Repeat until all the dumplings have been cooked. Serve with the dipping sauce.

Serves 8 to 10