Tuna Milanese With Wilted Spinach Prosciutto Mushrooms And Pine Nuts Recipes

ZUCCHINI STUFFED WITH WILD MUSHROOM AND PINE NUT QUICHE

Steps:

• Wash and slice zucchini into 1-inch thick rounds. Scoop out the center with melon baller, trying to remove as much flesh as possible without puncturing the bottom. Set the hollow zucchini on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Sauté onions in butter until light brown. Add sliced mushrooms, and cook over medium high flame until soft. Add wine, chicken stock, if using, salt, and pepper and cook until liquid is evaporated and set aside.
• Whisk eggs and milk until smooth. Fill zucchini with a little mushroom mixture, pine nuts, and fill to top with egg and milk mixture. Top with cheese and bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes, until the cheese browns.

MUSHROOM AND NUT PATE

Steps:

• Put seeds and nuts in a medium bowl and cover with water. Soak the nuts for about 6 hours. Drain, rinse, and drain again.
• Reduce vinegar in a small, heavy bottom of saucepan, on medium heat, until syrupy, about 30 minutes.
• In a saute pan, heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil over high heat. Add in the onions, lower to medium high and saute for about 2 to 3 minutes. Add in the mushrooms and continue to saute. Once the onions and mushrooms are browned, remove from heat.
• Rehydrate the figs in the Marsala on low heat in a small pan for about 10 minutes. Strain, reserving figs and Marsala and set aside.
• In food processor, add in the nuts, remaining oil, mushrooms, onions, basil, scallions, salt, pepper, and the Marsala drained from the figs. Blend well and adjust seasoning. Make sure the mixture is smooth.
• Spoon mixture onto a chip, place a fig on top and drizzle with balsamic syrup.

MEDITERRANEAN SWORDFISH WRAPPED IN PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lightly oil the swordfish all over and season generously with salt and pepper. Lay 15 pieces of prosciutto out flat on waxed paper, overlapping a bit, and place the swordfish loin on top. Roll the prosciutto around the circumference of the fish, to wrap it. Remove the waxed paper. Secure the swordfish ?roast? with butcher?s twine. Thread the thyme sprigs under the pieces of string. Coat a roasting pan with olive oil and set on 2 burners over high heat until almost smoking. Sear the swordfish on all sides until the prosciutto begins to crisp up, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the fish is opaque and feels springy-firm when poked.
• Using a paring knife, peel the oranges, removing all the white pith. Place a mixing bowl under the orange to catch the juice and cut between the membranes to release the segments; add to the bowl. Add the raisins to the oranges so they plump while preparing the rest of the dish. Trim the stalks from the fennel bulbs, reserving the fronds for garnish, and remove tough outer leaves. Cut the bulb in half lengthwise, trim the base, and cut out the core. Slice fennel into strips as thin as possible. Put the fennel slices in the bowl and add the olives, anchovies, vinegar, oil, basil, and fennel seeds. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper; toss gently to mix.
• To serve, spoon the fennel salad down the length of a serving platter. Remove twine from the swordfish and slice into 1 1/2-inch steaks, lay the swordfish in the center, and drizzle platter with olive oil. Garnish with arugula, cherry tomatoes, and reserved fennel tops.

PAN ROASTED HALIBUT WITH WILTED BUTTER LETTUCE, FRESH SPRING PEAS, AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• For the pine nut sauce: Drain the stale bread of any excess water but do not squeeze. In a blender combine bread, 1/2 cup pine nuts, 1/2 cup olive oil, lemon juice, 1/2 clove garlic, and 2 pinches salt. Place the blended mixture in a fry pan and hold over a low flame to warm.
• For the bagna cauda: Over medium heat, warm 1 cup olive oil with the remaining 1 1/2 cloves garlic until just bubbling. Add the remaining 1/2 cup pine nuts and the reserved lemon zest. Remove from the heat and let stand.
• Season the halibut fillets generously with salt and pat dry. In a large fry pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over a high flame until it begins to smoke. Momentarily remove the pan from the heat to avoid splattering and gently place fillets into the pan. Immediately return the pan to the heat and let cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Place the pan in the oven to continue cooking for 3 to 4 minutes. In the meantime, heat another large pan with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil until a drop of water sizzles. Add the butter lettuce, peas, and a pinch of salt. Fry quickly until wilted, about 2 minutes.
• Distribute the vegetables evenly in the center of 4 plates. Ladle the pine nut sauce around. Remove the fish from the oven and carefully flip each fillet, golden side up, onto the center of the plate. Generously spoon the bagna cauda over the fish and around the plate.

SAUTEED SPINACH WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Pick over the spinach leaves and remove the large stems. Wash and drain well. Remove all the moisture by placing between paper towels and patting dry.
• In a large skillet over high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and half the spinach, half the nutmeg and half the pine nuts. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook and toss very quickly until the spinach is just wilted. Drain. Repeat the procedure with the remaining ingredients and serve hot.