Scarola Recipes

Steps:

• Make lemon-basil oil:
• Mix 1/3 cup olive oil, a strip of lemon zest, 8 torn basil leaves and a pinch of salt; infuse 2 hours. Soak 1/2 thinly sliced red onion in water for 10 minutes to mellow the bite. When ready to serve, toss 1 head chopped escarole, the onion slices, 2 sliced celery stalks, 3/4 cup chopped green olives and a few tablespoons olive juice, 2 segmented lemons and 1/4 cup each toasted pine nuts and golden raisins in a serving bowl. Discard the zest from the infused oil, drizzle over the salad and season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Pour olive oil in a saucepan and heat oil, then add green onions and pancetta. Cook until onions are soft, a few minutes, then add tomatoes, garlic, basil and parsley and cook until tomatoes break down. Add beans, chicken broth and wine, bring to boil and cook about 10 minutes. Season to taste. Add pasta and Romano, mix well and serve.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a rapid boil. Add the escarole and cook until tender but firm, about 5 minutes after the water returns to the boil. Remove the escarole with a slotted spoon, place in a bowl, and set aside. Reserve * cup of the cooking water. Set aside. (The escarole may be parboiled and set aside several hours before proceeding with the recipe.) Warm the olive oil in a large saute pan set over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook to flavor the oil but do not let it brown, about 2 minutes. Add the escarole and the reserved cooking water. Cook, stirring occasionally, to warm through and bring the flavor of the garlic and escarole together, about 4 minutes. Serve immediately.