Herby Julep Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to high. Make the dressing: In a small sauté pan, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and add the fresh oregano. Cook until the green color fades and the leaves crisp up, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the oil and oregano into a medium bowl. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and the dried oregano to the bowl. Cut the limes in half and squeeze all the juice into the bowl. Use a citrus reamer or a spoon to scrape the pulp from the limes and add the pulp to the bowl as well. Whisk together. Taste for seasoning.
• Grill the heirloom tomatoes: Oil the grill grates. Arrange the heirloom tomato slices in a single layer on 2 baking sheets. Season them on both sides with salt, pepper and some of the sugar. Put the cherry tomatoes on a separate baking sheet and season them with more salt, pepper and sugar. Use a pair of tongs to transfer the heirloom tomato slices to the grill, arranging them in a single layer. Let them sit until they get nice grill marks on the bottom (and a great charred flavor), 2 to 3 minutes. Turn them over and let them cook for a few minutes longer. Transfer the grilled tomatoes to a serving platter. Top with the cherry tomato halves.
• Finish the salad: Drizzle the tomatoes with the dressing and sprinkle with salt. Taste a piece of tomato to check the seasoning. If it lacks sweetness, a sprinkle of sugar on the tomatoes can make all the difference. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Make the Mint Simple Syrup:
• Combine mint, sugar, and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Using a fine-mesh sieve or a colander lined with cheesecloth, strain mixture into a heatproof container and chill at least 25 minutes.
• Make the cocktail:
• Using your hands, lightly slap mint leaves, being careful not to bruise them, and place in a julep cup. Add 1/3 cup ice, then 2 tsp. Mint Simple Syrup. Pack another 1/3 cup ice on top. Add 1 oz. bourbon and stir. Add another 1/3 cup ice and remaining 1/2 oz. bourbon. Top with remaining 1 cup ice, tightly packing into a dome. Insert a straw into ice and garnish with mint sprigs.
• Do Ahead
• The Mint Simple Syrup can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Arrange the tomatoes cut-side up with space between each on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with the honey and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season with salt. Bake until slightly tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Set aside.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the ginger, vinegar, cumin, scallions and reserved insides of the tomatoes and stir to combine. Add the chickpeas, spinach and arugula and cook until the greens are wilted, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Tear 2 leaves of basil and stir into the filling. Season with salt and pepper.
• Put 1 basil leaf into each tomato base and gently spoon in a liberal amount of filling. Bake until piping hot, 12 to 15 minutes. Top each stuffed tomato with grated Parmesan and a tomato "hat."

Steps:

• The day before serving, or even earlier, put the julep cups in the freezer. Put the water and sugar in a small saucepan, bring to a boil without stirring, and boil for 2 minutes, or until sugar is completely dissolved.
• Put the mint leaves in a glass jar or cup, pour the slightly cooled syrup over them, let cool, then cover and refrigerate for 12 hours or longer. When ready to use, strain out the mint leaves.
• Half an hour before serving, pack the julep cups tightly up to the rim with crushed ice and return them to the freezer.
• For each julep pour 3 ounces of bourbon over the ice, followed by two teaspoons of mint syrup. Do not stir or agitate. Use a cloth to hold each cup by the rim so as not to disturb the frost. Use a short straw or a chopstick to make a hole in the ice on the side of the cup and insert a sprig of mint. Serve immediately, preferably on a silver tray.

Steps:

• Combine water, sugar and chopped mint leaves in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Allow syrup to cool, approximately 1 hour. Pour syrup through a strainer to remove mint leaves
• Fill eight cups or frozen goblets with crushed ice and pour 4 ounces of bourbon and 1/4 cup mint syrup in each. (Proportions can be adjusted depending on each person's sweet tooth). Top each cup with a mint sprig and a straw. Trim straws to just barely protrude from the top of the cups. Serve juleps on a silver platter.