Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Graziella’s Pizza di Scarola

This escarole-stuffed pizza is one of the many delicious dishes that Graziella Di Mercurio cooked for us after our visit to the family mill, Frantoio Mercurius. I’ve included her dough recipe, but the results are just as flavorful when prepared with refrigerated store-bought pizza dough—you’ll need about 2 pounds.

Ingredients

For homemade dough:

  • 1 1/2 cups warm water, about 110°F
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
  • 4 cups 00 pizza flour or bread flour
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt

For the filling:

  • 1 1/2 pounds escarole, about two heads
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts
  • 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
  • 4 shallots, thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 anchovies or 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
  • 4 ounces black olives, halved
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 1 teaspoon pepperoncini (crushed red pepper flakes)

Directions

Step 1

To make homemade dough, place the water, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the kneading attachment and wait for the yeast to bloom (become foamy), about 5 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, the flour, and salt, and turn the mixer on low to combine the ingredients and form a ball. If the dough looks shaggy, add water, just 1/2 tablespoon at a time to avoid its getting too wet. Once a ball forms, raise the speed one notch and knead for 5 minutes.

Step 2

Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil in a clean bowl, add the dough ball, and roll it to coat it with the oil. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and place in a draft-free spot to rise until double in volume, between 60 and 75 minutes.

Step 3

While the dough is rising, prepare the escarole filling. Trim the heads and rinse the leaves. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1 teaspoon salt and the escarole and boil for 5 minutes. Transfer the escarole to a colander, drain, and squeeze
out any excess moisture with your hands or in a kitchen cloth.

Step 4

Heat a large sauté pan. When hot, dry-toast the pine nuts for 2 minutes until they turn golden, then transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Add
3 tablespoons olive oil to the pan along with
the shallots and garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes. Whisk in the anchovies, then add the escarole, and slow-cook over medium high heat for 10 minutes to extract more liquid. When the greens stop releasing liquid, fold in the pine nuts, olives, capers, and pepperoncini, then remove from the heat.

Step 5

When the dough has risen, pour 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 9×13 or 12-inch round baking pan and spread it over the bottom and sides with a pastry brush or clean fingers. Use a pastry cutter or sharp knife to cut the dough in two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. Use your hands to stretch out the larger half to a size slightly larger than your baking pan—the thinner the better (make two fists and use your knuckles on the underside of the dough). Press the dough into the bottom of the pan and about 1 inch up the sides. Add the escarole mixture, leaving a 1-inch border. Stretch out the rest of the dough and place it over the escarole to form the top crust. Press together the edges of the two dough sheets to seal them. Note: If any holes form in the dough, just pinch them together with your fingers.

Step 6

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is crusty and golden or an instant-read thermometer registers between 200° and 210°F. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 8 to 10

Porchetta Spread

Legend has it that porchetta, a highly seasoned and rather large pork roast, originated more than two thousand years ago in the town of Ariccia in Lazio. This zesty spread lets you savor the taste without having to make the roast—serve it with roasted chicken, pork, or vegetables. For a fabulous sandwich, lavish it on ciabatta bread and add slices of ham, turkey, or your favorite meat, arugula for a hint of spiciness, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Ingredients

  • Heaping 1/2 cup chopped fennel fronds
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary needles
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
  • 5 garlic cloves, grated on a microplane grater or mashed to a paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon pepperoncini (crushed red pepper flakes)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice 
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Add the fennel fronds and seeds, herbs, garlic, salt, both peppers, and zest to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the lemon juice and olive oil and process until well combined.

Yields enough to season 4 to 6 sandwiches

Filetto di Pesce in Crosta di Patate

Potato-crusted fish is a specialty in the Puglia region, where it’s made with locally caught sea bream. Red snapper makes a wonderful alternative.

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces Yukon gold potatoes, preferably on the narrow side
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use, plus more for the fish
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary needles
  • Coarse sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Two 8-ounce red snapper fillets

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Use a mandoline or a 2-mm food processor blade to thinly and evenly slice the potatoes (if you only have a 4-mm blade, add up to 10 more minutes to the roasting time below). Place the potatoes in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, the garlic, parsley, rosemary, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.

Step 2

Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper and add 1 tablespoon olive oil, spreading it
out with a pastry brush or clean fingers. Place the fillets skin side down on the parchment
and sprinkle them with a pinch of salt and pepper. Shingle the potato slices over the fillets to cover them in a fish-scale pattern (arrange any leftover potato slices around the fish) and drizzle liberally with more oil.

Step 3

Roast for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through, brown, and crispy. Use a large spatula to help plate the fish. 

Serves 2

Swedish Meatballs

A rich cream sauce, enhanced with freshly ground black peppercorns and nutmeg, defines the Swedish take on meatballs. Serve over noodles or mashed potatoes with a helping of lingonberry jam (whole cranberry sauce makes a tasty alternative). These meatballs also make a terrific passed hors d’oeuvre for holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs or panko
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half
  • 1 pound​ lean ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly groundnutmeg, plus more for serving
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 small yellow onion, minced
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose or white whole wheat flour
  • 3 cups homemade or low-sodium store-bought beef stock
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Step 1

In a very large bowl, soak the breadcrumbs in the half-and-half. When the breadcrumbs have fully absorbed the liquid, add in the ground meats, eggs, garlic powder, nutmeg, allspice, onions, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to completely mix all the ingredients, then form 1-inch meatballs. 

Step 2

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil and brown the meatballs on all sides (you may need to do this in batches to avoid cramming them). Transfer the meatballs to a clean dish. Add the butter to the skillet; when melted, sprinkle on the flour and whisk constantly until the roux browns, about 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in the stock, about a cup at a time, bringing it back to a boil to thicken before adding the next cup. Stir in the heavy cream, then add back the meatballs. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer reaches 165°F in a few meatballs. Top with more nutmeg and, if desired, the parsley.

Yields 6 to 8 servings