Twice Cooked Beets In Chianti Glaze Recipes

GLAZED BEETS WITH CREME FRAICHE AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• For the beets, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Massage each beet with about a teaspoon of oil and season with salt and pepper. Individually wrap each beet in aluminum foil. Place the beets on a baking sheet and bake for about an hour, or until you can easily pierce them with a knife.
• When the beets have cooled enough to handle but are still warm, unwrap them and rub them with a dry kitchen towel or paper towels to remove their skin. Cut the beets into quarters and allow to cool completely.
• Fill a high-sided saute pan with 1/4 cup of water, the honey and butter and place over medium-high heat; stir gently. Once the mixture begins to thicken and form a glaze, turn off the heat, add the cooked beets and toss to coat them in the glaze. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• For the pistachios, toast them in a small saute pan over medium heat just until they're warm and you can smell their "pistachio-ness." Cool and chop or crush them slightly; they should remain chunky to give good crunch to the dish.
• For the creme fraiche, place it in a bowl and mix with the lemon zest and about half the chopped mint. Refrigerate until you're ready to assemble the dish.
• To serve, spoon the creme fraiche mixture over the bottom of a medium serving dish. Place the warm beets (reheat them if necessary) on top of the creme fraiche in a single layer. (Resist the urge to pile these beauties high; you'll want to be getting creme fraiche and beet in every bite.) If there's any glaze leftover in the pan, pour it over the beets. Sprinkle the pistachios over the beets. Tear the parsley leaves with your fingertips and let them fall naturally over the beets. Sprinkle on the rest of the mint, add a few grinds of fresh black pepper and you're good to go.

TWICE FRIED GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Heat 3 cups of the peanut oil in a large pot to deep-fry temperature (350 degrees F), and fry the beans in batches until tender but still crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer beans to paper towels to drain.
• Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a wok or large skillet. Add the scallions and garlic and cook just long enough to release the aromas, about 1 minute. Add the shrimp and green beans and mix well to coat the beans. Stir in the water, soy sauce, sugar, salt and pepper, and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, tossing to heat through. Serve immediately.

RIB-EYE ROAST WITH CHIANTI PAN VEGETABLES AND BALSAMIC GLAZE

Steps:

• Combine vinegar, wine, and sugar in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil until syrupy and reduced to 3/4 cup, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat. (Balsamic glaze can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• Position 1 rack in center and 1 rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 325°F. Toss potatoes, carrots, and onions with oil in large bowl to coat. Scatter vegetables on large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on lower rack and roast 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Set meat on rack set in roasting pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on center rack and roast until thermometer inserted into center registers 125°F; continue roasting vegetables until tender, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Transfer meat to cutting board; tent with foil. Let stand 10 minutes. Mix parsley into vegetables.
• Cut meat into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Divide meat slices and vegetables among 8 plates. Drizzle lightly with balsamic glaze and serve.

GLAZED BEETS

Steps:

• Drain beets, reserving 1/3 cup juice. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Stir in beet juice and vinegar; cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Add beets and butter; heat through.

BALSAMIC-GLAZED BEETS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan cover beets with salted water by 1 inch. Simmer beets, covered, 35 to 45 minutes, or until tender, and drain in a colander. Cool beets until they can be handled and slip off skins and stems. Cut beets lengthwise into wedges. Beets may be prepared up to this point 2 days ahead and chilled, covered. Bring beets to room temperature before proceeding.
• In a large skillet stir together vinegar, syrup or honey, and oil and add beets. Cook beet mixture with salt and pepper to taste over moderate heat, stirring, until heated through and coated well. Sprinkle about half of thyme over beets and toss gently.
• Serve beets sprinkled with remaining thyme.

BEETS WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• 2. Trim the beets, leaving on the skin, an inch of the stem, and the wispy "tail" on the bottom of each, then scrub and drain. Place the beets in a small casserole dish just big enough to hold them. Pour the water and canola oil over the beets then cover tightly with a lid or aluminum foil and bake until tender and easily pierced with a sharp paring knife, about 1 1/2 hours.
• 3. Remove the casserole from the oven and uncover the beets, keeping your face averted from the escaping steam. Allow the beets to cool completely in the casserole.
• 4. Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the salt, and pepper in a medium-size bowl and whisk to blend. Taste and add more olive oil, if desired.
• 5. Peel the cooled beets with the back of a paring knife and cut into 3/8-inch slices. Add to the dressing in the bowl and toss gently but thoroughly to coat. Serve immediately or marinate, in the refrigerator, for up to 24 hours.