Tender Spinach And Crisp Shallots Recipes

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Stir in shallots and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, sprinkle with salt and pepper; cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes until leaves are wilted and reduced.

Steps:

• Put the oil in a small to medium saucepan or narrow skillet at least an inch deep. Turn the heat to high and wait a few minutes; the oil should reach 350°F. (If you do not have a frying thermometer, just put a couple of slices of shallot in there; when the oil around them bubbles vigorously, it's ready.)
• Add the shallots and cook, adjusting the heat so that the bubbling is vigorous but not explosive. Cook, stirring, until the shallots begin to darken, 8 to 12 minutes. As soon as they turn golden brown, remove them immediately with a slotted spoon-be careful, because overcooking at this point will burn the shallots. Drain the shallots on paper towels and sprinkle with salt and pepper; they'll keep for a couple of hours this way.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. When it is ready, add the spinach and cook until it wilts, about 1 minute. Remove the spinach with a strainer or slotted spoon and plunge it into a large bowl filled with ice water to stop the cooking. When it's cool, drain and chop. (You can store the spinach, covered and refrigerated, for up to a couple of days if you like.)
• Take 1 tablespoon of the shallot oil and place it in a skillet; turn the heat to medium-high. Turn the spinach into this skillet and cook, stirring frequently and breaking up any clumps, until the spinach is hot, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve, topped with the crisp shallots.

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium. Add shallots and season with salt and pepper. Cook until soft, 4 to 6 minutes. Add spinach and cook, tossing, just until wilted. Stir in lemon juice. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer spinach to a serving dish.

Steps:

• In a small skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it fry the shallots, stirring, until they are browned and crisp. Transfer the shallots with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, discarding the oil from the skillet, and sprinkle them with salt to taste. The fried shallots may be made 2 days in advance and kept wrapped in the paper towels at room temperature.
• In a kettle cook the spinach in the water clinging to the leaves with the fennel seeds, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes, or until it is wilted. In a colander drain the spinach mixture and press out the excess liquid. In a food processor purée the spinach mixture with 2 tablespoons of the butter and salt and pepper to taste and transfer the purée to a small bowl. In the small skillet cook the fennel bulb in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is just tender and stir it into the spinach purée. The spinach fennel purée may be made 1 day in advance and kept, its surface covered with plastic wrap, chilled.
• Arrange the oysters in the reserved shells in a jelly-roll pan filled with some of the coarse salt (to balance the shells), divide the spinach fennel purée among them, and bake the oysters in a preheated 400°F. oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are just cooked through. Top the oysters with the fried shallots, garnish them with the fennel sprigs, and arrange them on a platter filled with more of the coarse salt.
• To shuck oysters:
• Scrub the oysters thoroughly with a stiff brush under running cold water. Hold each oyster flat side up on a work surface with the hinged end away from you, insert an oyster knife between the shells at the hinged end, twisting the knife to pop open the shell, and slide the blade against the flat upper shell to cut the large muscle and free upper shell. If the shell crumbles and cannot be opened at the hinge, insert the knife between the shells at the curved end of the oyster, pry the shells open, and sever the large muscle. Break off and discard the upper shell and slide the knife under the oyster to release it from the bottom shell.

Steps:

• In a large salad bowl, whisk together shallots, garlic, vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk in 1/3 cup olive oil and set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add 1/2 tablespoon oil. Add pancetta and sauté until browned and crisp at the edges, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to the salad bowl with the dressing. Do not wipe out the skillet.
• Add scallions and a pinch of salt to remaining fat in skillet. Sauté until tender and pale golden, 2 minutes. Crack in eggs. Fry eggs, spooning some of the olive oil over whites to crisp them at the edges, until just set, 1 to 2 minutes. Add more oil to the pan if needed to be able to spoon some over the eggs.
• Toss spinach and herbs with the dressing and pancetta. Divide onto plates. Top each with a scallion-laced fried egg.

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Meanwhile, put the flour in a bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge shallot rings in flour all at once. When the oil is hot (a shallot ring will sizzle on contact), fry rings in batches, shaking off excess flour before transferring them to skillet. Fry until golden brown and crisp, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer shallot rings with tongs or a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a Dutch oven or shallow stockpot over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add spinach (if it doesn't fit all at once, wait to add more until some of it cooks down, or cook in two batches). Season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook, uncovering occasionally to toss, until spinach is wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer spinach to a serving bowl with tongs or a slotted spoon, leaving any excess liquid in pot. Sprinkle with shallot rings, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Meanwhile, put the flour in a bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the shallot rings in the flour all at once. When the oil is hot (a shallot ring will sizzle on contact), fry the rings in batches, shaking off excess flour before transferring them to the skillet. Fry until golden brown and crisp, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer the shallot rings with tongs or a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a Dutch oven or shallow stockpot over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add the spinach (if it doesn't fit all at once, wait to add more until some of it cooks down, or cook in two batches). Season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook, uncovering occasionally to toss, until the spinach is wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer the spinach to a serving bowl with tongs or a slotted spoon, leaving any excess liquid in pot. Sprinkle with the shallot rings; serve immediately.