Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Olive Oil Roasted Leeks

How can only three ingredients create such a sublime dish? We can’t explain it!

Ingredients

  • 6 leeks, white and pale green parts only, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea)

Directions

Step 1

Place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 400°F. Cut 6 leeks, white and pale-green parts only, in half lengthwise. Rinse well and pat completely dry. Toss with 1/2 cup olive oil; season with salt. Arrange the leeks, cut sides down, on the hot baking sheet and cover loosely with foil.

Step 2

Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F. Bake until the leeks are lightly browned on the cut sides and very tender, about 1 1/2 hours.

Step 3

Uncover the leeks and turn cut sides up. Increase the oven temperature to 400°F; roast the leeks until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Reserve any extra oil in the pan for making vinaigrettes or roasting other vegetables. Let the leeks cool, if desired; cover and chill.

Serves 4 — Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit, October 2014

Broccoli Rabe with Pine Nuts and Raisins

The slightly bitter flavor profile of broccoli rabe pairs beautifully with this quarter’s trio of olive oils. And the nuts and raisins give the dish textural contrast.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
  • Two bunches broccoli rabe, woody stems and tough leaves removed
  • 1/3 cup dry Spanish sherry or white wine
  • 1/4 cup golden raisins or currants
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea)
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

In an extra-large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the pine nuts and toast, stirring constantly, until fragrant and just barely golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute more.

Step 2

Add the broccoli rabe, sherry, and golden raisins and cover the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli rabe is tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Serves 4 — Recipe adapted from epicurious.com

Chicken that Fancies Itself Spanish

Don’t let its tongue-in-cheek name fool you. This dish is delicious on a cool evening.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds), cut into parts
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup grated pecorino or manchego
  • 3 teaspoons Spanish smoked paprika (pimentón)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 medium lemons, washed
  • 2 large onions, peeled and sliced
  • 1 large fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, and sliced crosswise
  • 12 whole garlic cloves, peeled
  • 3/4 cup pitted green olives
  • 1 pinch ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
  • 1 cup dry white wine, preferably Spanish
  • 1 bunch cilantro, stemmed and roughly chopped

Directions

Step 1

Heat the oven to 425°F. Combine 1/2 cup of the flour, the pecorino, and 1 teaspoon of the smoked paprika in a large bowl. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot over mediumhigh heat. Dry the chicken pieces thoroughly with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper on all sides. Dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, then place in the pot in batches. Allow the chicken to brown, about 5 minutes per side. Don’t crowd the pan. Transfer the chicken to a plate and repeat until all of the chicken pieces are golden and crispy-looking.

Step 2

Zest one of the lemons, reserving the zest, then quarter all the lemons. Add the onion, quartered lemons, fennel, garlic, green olives, the remaining 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika, and cinnamon to the pot. Cook until softened and golden, about 10 minutes. Taste for salt. Sprinkle the mixture with the remaining tablespoon of flour and stir over the heat for two minutes. Add the tomatoes and wine and bring to a boil for a minute or two. Add the lemon zest.

Step 3

Return the chicken to the pot, skin side up, along with any drippings from the plate. Poke in the onion/fennel/garlic/olive mixture so it surrounds the chicken on all sides. Place in the oven, uncovered, and bake for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with additional olive oil for drizzling.

Serves 4 to 6 — Recipe adapted from food52.com

Steak Salad with Romesco Dressing

Piquillo peppers are unique to Spain and are only sold in jarred form in the US. They can be found in many supermarkets and online. If you can’t find them, substitute one roasted, peeled red bell pepper.

Ingredients

For the marinade and steak:

  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use, plus more for drizzling
  • 4 tablespoons white wine or sherry vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Spanish smoked paprika (pimentón)
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 pounds flank steak
  • 2 red onions, peeled and thickly sliced
  • 3 red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, and sliced into eighths
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper
  • Vegetable oil for the grill or grill pan
  • 1 head red leaf lettuce, washed, dried, and torn into pieces
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and torn into pieces

For the dressing:

  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice, or more as needed
  • 2 tablespoons white wine or sherry vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons dry Spanish sherry
  • 1/4 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika (pimentón)
  • 4 jarred piquillo peppers, drained
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped almonds
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Make the marinade: In a mixing bowl, combine 4 tablespoons of olive oil with the vinegar, sherry, orange juice, paprika, garlic, and oregano. Place the steak in a large resealable plastic bag. Add the marinade. Seal the bag and massage the bag to distribute the marinade. Refrigerate for 4 to 8 hours.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 450°F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the peppers and onions with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread out in a single layer. Roast until the vegetables have softened and the edges are slightly charred. Set aside.

Step 3

Meanwhile, make the dressing: Place the garlic into a blender or food processor. Add the orange juice, vinegar, sherry, paprika, piquillo peppers, and almonds. Puree until smooth. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a thin stream. Season with salt and pepper. If too thick to drizzle, thin with more orange juice.

Step 4

Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Oil with vegetable oil to prevent sticking. Remove the steak from the marinade and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper. Grill the meat to medium-rare, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 2 minutes before slicing the meat thinly across the grain on a diagonal. Drizzle with olive oil.

Step 5

When ready to serve, toss the lettuces and divide between plates or bowls. Top with the roasted peppers, onions, and steak. Drizzle with the romesco dressing.

Serves 6 — Recipe adapted from Good for You (Williams Sonoma) by Dana Jacobi (Weldon Owen, 2013)