3851. SAUTEED SPRING GREENS with BACON and MUSTARD SEEDS

Servings: 4


2 ounces thick-cut bacon, finely diced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
1 hot red chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds
1 1/4 pounds mixed young spring greens, such as dandelion, mustard, collards, Tuscan kale and spinach—stems and inner ribs trimmed, leaves cut into ribbons
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

In a large skillet, cook the diced bacon in the olive oil over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Add the shallot, chile and mustard seeds and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the greens, season with salt and pepper and cook, tossing frequently, until wilted and tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and serve.

Make Ahead: The cooked greens can be refrigerated overnight. 


bacon recipe source: Grace Parisi, Food & Wine, June 2013

3818. BUCATINI with BACON, KALE and WINTER SQUASH

Servings: 4


For the fried sage (optional):
1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) olive oil
8 to 10 fresh sage leaves


1 butternut, kabocha or calabaza squash, peeled, seeded and sliced into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
12 oz. (375 g) bucatini
3 oz. (90 g) bacon, diced
1 large shallot, sliced into 1/8-inch (3-mm) rings
1 bunch Tuscan kale, stemmed and leaves cut crosswise into 1/4-inch (3-mm) ribbons
4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) (2 oz./60 g) unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) white wine
2 fresh sage leaves
1 Tbs. heavy cream
2 Tbs. pine nuts, toasted
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for serving

To fry the sage leaves, in a small fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Carefully drop the sage leaves, a few at a time, into the oil. They will sizzle and crisp very quickly, in 15 to 30 seconds. Using a fork or small skimmer, transfer the fried sage leaves to a paper towel–lined plate.



On a baking sheet, toss the squash with the olive oil, 2 tsp. salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Spread the squash in a single layer and roast until tender, about 25 minutes.



While the squash is roasting, bring a large pot three-fourths full of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta.



While the pasta is cooking, in a sauté pan large enough to accommodate the pasta and squash later, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crispy, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate, leaving the bacon fat in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the shallot to the pan and cook until translucent and tender, about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium, add the kale, 1/2 tsp. salt and 2 Tbs. water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale is wilted, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl.



In the same pan, warm the butter until melted. Add the garlic, 1/2 tsp. salt and a few grinds of pepper, and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the wine and fresh sage leaves to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the liquid is slightly thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove the sage leaves from the pan and discard. Stir in the cream and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the squash, bacon, kale mixture and cooked pasta to the pan and toss until well combined, warming the mixture over medium heat if the vegetables are no longer warm.



Transfer the pasta to a serving dish and garnish with the fried sage and pine nuts. Serve immediately, passing the cheese at the table.


bacon recipe source: Williams-Sonoma Test Kitchen, Williams-Sonoma (@WilliamsSonoma)

3167. SAVORY BREAD PUDDING with TUSCAN KALE, BACON, SCALLIONS and MAPLE

serves six


2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
1/2 lb. challah (about 1/2 loaf), cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Kosher salt
1 bunch (about 10 oz.) Tuscan kale, ribs removed and leaves chopped into 1-inch pieces
5 strips bacon, halved to fit in the pan (if necessary)
1 bunch scallions (white and green parts), cut crosswise into thin slices (about 1 cup)
8 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon sherry vinegar
freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup coarsely grated parmigiano-reggiano

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven. Rub a 13x9-inch baking dish all over with a little butter.

Arrange the bread cubes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. (They will be starting to turn golden around the edges). Let the bread cubes cool for a few minutes on the sheet and then transfer them to a large bowl.

In a small saucepan, melt the 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. After the butter has melted, continue to cook it, swirling the pan occasionally, until the milk solids turn nutty brown. (This can take anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes, depending on the pan you're using). Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of the maple syrup. Drizzle the brown butter-maple mixture over the bread cubes, stirring the bread as you drizzle, and toss well. Sprinkle the bread crumbs with a little salt and toss again.

Fill a wide, large pot two-thirds full of water. Add 2 teaspoons salt and bring to a boil. Add the kale to the boiling water and start timing immediately. Taste a leaf after 4 minutes. It should not be tough or rubbery. If it is, cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer. Drain the kale very thoroughly in a fine-mesh colander in the sink. Rinse with cool water until cool enough to handle. Squeeze handfuls of the kale to remove as much excess liquid as possible and then use your fingers to loosen and separate the kale so that it isn't clumped together.

In a medium heavy nonstick skillet, cook the bacon over medium-low heat until crisp and browned, 10 to 14 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool. When the bacon is cool enough to handle, break it up into smaller pieces. Pour off half of the bacon fat. Add the scallions to the skillet and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the kale, stir well to coat the kale with the scallions and pan dripping, and remove the pan from the heat.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, remaining 1 tablespoon maple syrup, sherry vinegar, several grinds of pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt until well combined.

Arrange half of the bread cubes in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the bacon (including any crumbs), half of the kale and scallion mixture, and one-third of the Parmigiano. Repeat with the remaining bread, bacon, and veggies, and another third of the cheese. Pour the egg mixture evenly over everything. (Start at one end and pour slowly back and forth). Using your hands, gently press down on the bread and veggies to force the custard to evenly surround everything. Top with the remaining Parmigiano. Let sit for about 20 minutes and gently press down again.

Bake in the preheated oven until the bread pudding has risen and is set and dry in the middle (it will be golden all over), 40 to 45 minutes. Let settle for a few minutes and serve hot or very warm.


bacon recipe courtesy of: The Fresh & Green Table: Delicious Ideas for Bringing Vegetables Into Every Meal, by Susie Middleton; San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2012; pp. 92-93

2581. FLAGEOLETS with AUTUMN GREENS and FRESH BACON

serves six


1/4 pound fresh bacon
2 cups kosher salt mixed with 2 cups sugar
2 cups dried flageolet beans, soaked overnight and drained
1 carrot, halved
1 onion, quartered
1 whole head garlic, halved widthwise
1/4 cup dried apricots, roughly chopped
2 bay leaves
1 dried ancho chile
About 2 tablespoons fino sherry vinegar
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
A few leaves Tuscan kale
A few leaves black kale
A few leaves mustard greens
Good olive oil for drizzling

Pack the fresh bacon in the salt and sugar mixture, cover, and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Rinse and pat dry, then cut into 1/2-inch cubes.

Combine the bacon, beans, carrot, onion, garlic, apricots, bay leaves, and chile in a pressure cooker and add cold water to come an inch above the beans. Fit the pressure cooker with the lid and raise the temperature to high until it starts to whistle. Reduce to the lowest setting and cook until the beans are creamy and cooked through, roughly 25 minutes. Remove the lid and adjust the seasoning with vinegar, salt, and pepper. Alternately, bring the ingredients to a boil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot and immediately reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, covered, until the beans are thoroughly cooked through and creamy, roughly 1 3/4 hours. 

Remove the large aromatic vegetables, garlic, chile, and bay leaves from the pot and discard. They've done their flavoring job. Coarsely chop the greens or tear with your hands, then fold them into the beans. Simmer for another 5 minutes, or until the greens are tender.

Serve with warm crusty bread and a healthy dose of olive oil.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Seamus Mullen's Hero Food: How Cooking with Delicious Things Can Make Us Feel Better by Seamus Mullen

2147. BACON and KALE MINESTRA

yields four servings


1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 pound smoky bacon (about 6 slices), chopped
1/2 pound red potatoes, cut into small cubes
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 pound kale or tuscan kale (lacinato), stemmed and shredded or chopped
6 cups chicken stock
One 15.5-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Salt and pepper
Grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese, for serving

In a soup pot, heat the extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the potatoes, onion and garlic, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add the kale, cover and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the chicken stock, beans and nutmeg; season with salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve in shallow bowls with the cheese on top.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Rachael Ray, "30-Minute Meals," Everyday with Rachael Ray, December/January 2010