Salads of Summer - Asparagus & Rainbow Carrot Salad

Summer is right around the corner and there's no season that inspires me more. That's why it's always about this time each year that the warmer weather gets me primed to try out new and different recipes that highlight the best produce of my favorite season. One theme that has always been on my radar - salads that push the envelope by going beyond humdrum, bland greens. Today's colorful and crunchy spring-into summer salad does just that. And it will equally delight as a hit barbecue offering or family side dish to a simple grilled fish. Made with Rainbow Carrots, raw Asparagus peeled into ribbons, sweet Pears and shavings of salty Pecorino Cheese, this dish is as tasty as it is pretty. The crispy, (mostly) raw greens really give it character.

The secret to this recipe is beautiful Rainbow Carrots. You can even find them pre-shredded if you're lucky. Add to them shaved raw Asparagus that has been sliced into thin lengths using a vegetable peeler. 

Asparagus, Carrot and Pear Salad with Shaved Pecorino, Photo: NK 

Finished Asparagus and Rainbow Carrot Salad, Photo: NK 

Shaved Asparagus, Pear & Rainbow Carrot Salad 
Serves 4

Ingredients:
Medium Bunch Thin Asparagus Spears
Rainbow Carrots, cut into a julienne or purchased pre-cut (about 2 Cups) 
1 small, ripe Pear, cored and sliced into half moons
2 Ounces shaved Pecorino Romano Cheese (use a vegetable peeler)
1 Tablespoon Salted Butter
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1.5 teaspoons fresh Lemon Juice 
Salt 
Pepper 

Method:

Shave the Asparagus. The best way to do this is to lay the Asparagus veritically on a flat surface. Take vegetable peeler and shave from the base to the top, using strokes that go in the opposite direction from you. Repeat until all the Asparagus has been shaved. Add to a large salad bowl. 

Melt Butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the shredded Carrots and cook, for 3 to 4 minutes, until they wilt slightly but remain crunchy. Toss a few times throughout. Remove carrots to the bowl with the Asparagus.*You can skip the warming the Carrots step but I feel it sweetens them a bit and adds texture complexity of the dish.
Next, add the Pear. In a small bowl, combine Olive Oil and Lemon Juice. Add a generous amount of Pepper and a few pinches of Salt. Stir.

Dress the salad and toss (you can do this up to a half hour in advance). Taste for seasoning and add Salt if needed (keep in mind the Pecorino will be salty).

To serve, plate salad and top with generous Pecorino shavings. Enjoy! 

In Season: Fava Beans - Gemelli With Fava & Frisee

Meatless Monday is here again and we are using it as an excuse to check out a seasonal specialty, the delicious Fava Bean. Also known as Broad Beans, Favas are a favorite in many corners of the world, but they are notably well loved by my ancestral people, the Italians. Since we often enjoy Meatless Monday with the help of vegetarian pasta preparations, it only seemed right that these herby, firm, green beans be served atop our favorite starch. We were very happy with the result - a garlicky, spicy and lemony mix of flavors that play off the more delicate Fava flavor. Gemelli Is a fun pasta shape with great texture, but any short, curly pasta will do. 

Gemelli With Fava Beans, Frisee, Chili & Lemon, Photo: NK

Some folks describe prepping Favas as a labor of love. They aren't entirely wrong either. Favas are easy to handle but they definitely they take a little time and doing. Never seen a Fava before? Well they look like this when you buy them: 

Fava Beans, before preparation, Photo: NK 

To prepare, pop the Fava Beans out of their pods (as pictured below) and blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds. Drain Beans immediately

Shelled Favas with waxy skin still on, Photo: NK

under cold water. Taking each individual bean in your hand, carefully slit the waxy outer skin and pop the inside of it out, trying to keep the interior bright green bean whole. Discard the waxy layer. 

Alternately you can actually eat the waxy outer skin, as it doesn't taste badly at all, but when I have the time, I prefer to unsheath the bright green inside, time consuming though it may be! 

It's also worth it to note that this dish tastes fantastic at room temperature and would make a great, innovative pasta salad for your next summer get-together if you so choose. 

Let's get down to the business of building today's satisfying meatless meal. 


Gemelli With Fava Beans & Frisee
Serves 4 

Ingredients: 
1 Pound Fava Bean Pods, shelled and waxy skin optionally removed (read above)
1 Pound Gemelli or other short, textured pasta
1 medium-sized, moderately spicy Red Chili, (or hot pepper or your choice) minced. (*I like to leave the seeds in but you can omit if you are spice averse)
2 large Cloves of minced Garlic

Frisee, Photo: NK 

Zest of 1 Lemon
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 small head of Frisee Lettuce, chopped
15 Kalamata Olives, pitted and chopped 
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, divided
1 Tablespoon Salted Butter
Salt 
Black Pepper
Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese

Method: 

1. Prep and chop all ingredients above. 

2. Meanwhile, set a pot of salted water to boil for the pasta. Prepare pasta according to package instructions. Once it is in the boiling water, begin step 3. 

3. In a large skillet over medium low flame, melt one Tablespoon of Butter with 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil. Add the Garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant. Add the Chili and sauté another minute. Add the chopped Frisee to the skillet and stir as it wilts a bit, just 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat. 

4. Season the Frisee with a few turns of Black Pepper and about 3 generous pinches of Salt. Stir. Add the Lemon Zest and Lemon Juice to the Frisee and stir. 

5. By this time, your pasta should be close to done. When it is finish, drain it through a colander and add the Gemelli to the skillet with the Frisee. Sprinkle with chopped Olives and toss Pasta together gently with the vegetables, add add the remaining Tablespoon of Olive Oil. Taste for seasoning and add about 1/4 teaspoon of Salt if you feel it is needed.

6. To serve, plate pasta and sprinkle with Fava Beans and optional Pecorino Romano Cheese. Enjoy!