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Tag: thyme

Braised Short Ribs with Citrus Gremolata

 

I would highly recommend this dish for the holidays. I served it with polenta and it was an amazing dinner. Oh, and don’t forget a copious amount of red wine…

  • 4 pounds short ribs, excess fat removed
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • Pepper
  • 1 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped

Place the short ribs in a large glass dish and sprinkle the salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary. Refrigerate overnight. Take out an hour before cooking.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 1 cup carrots, chopped
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 fresh bay leaf
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups red wine
  • Salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat a heavy saucepan with the olive oil until smoking. Brown the ribs on both sides for 4 to 5 minutes each in two to three batches. Keep aside. Add the carrots, onions, celery and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and sauté for minute. Add the flour and sauté for another minute. Add the thyme, rosemary and bay leaf. Add the chicken broth and red wine and bring to a boil. Add the ribs back into the liquid and transfer to the oven. Bake for 2 to 3 hours or till the meat is falling off the bone.
Take out of oven and take the ribs out onto a platter. Strain the braising liquid and squeeze all the moisture out of the solids. Discard the solids and return the liquid to the saucepan. Reduce to desired consistency- there should be about a cup and a half to two cups of liquid remaining. Check for seasonings and return the ribs back into the liquid. Top with gremolata and serve.

Citrus Gremolata

  • 1 tablespoon thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped
  • 1/3 cup parsley, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • Zest of one lemon
  • Zest of two clementines or half a navel orange

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl, cover and keep aside.

Bolognese Garlic Bread Sandwiches

I watched Rachel Ray make these on her show and loved the idea. I changed up the recipe a bit and added mushrooms to make the dish healthier. I also jazzed up the ricotta cheese. These sandwiches were absolutely delicious. My daughter gave them two thumbs up!

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup chopped pancetta
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 5 ounces Cremini mushrooms, grated
  • 2 medium shallots, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 small bunch, thyme
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup tomato sauce, preferably home made
  • 2 cups milk
  • Salt

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. Add the pancetta and sauté for a minute or two. Add the ground turkey and separate the meat with the back of a wooden spoon. Saute on high heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms, shallots, garlic and thyme. Saute on high heat for another 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and sauté for a minute. Add the tomato sauce, milk and salt. Bring to a boil and lower to a simmer with the lid on. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes or till the meat is cooked through. Take the lid off and check for seasonings. Keep aside.

Ricotta Topping

  • 1 cup full fat ricotta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Place the olive oil, garlic and parsley in a small frying pan. Heat over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes- just enough time to cook the garlic without browning. Add salt and let cool. Add to the ricotta, mix well and keep aside.

  • 4 ciabatta rolls
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Add the garlic, oil and salt to a small frying pan. Cook on a very low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, making sure the garlic doesn’t get brown. Take off the heat and drizzle the garlic mixture all over the four rolls. Toast in the oven until fragrant and golden brown. Take out and assemble the sandwiches. Place about half a cup of the ground meat. Top with ricotta mixture and serve.

 

Cheesy Turkey Meatballs

Another recipe for our favorite thing to eat in my house- meatballs!! These are absolutely yummy…

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup pancetta, chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

Heat a frying pan with the olive oil. Add the pancetta and cook over medium low heat for 4 to 5 minutes till all the fat is rendered and the pancetta bits are golden brown. Add the onion, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Saute for another 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the heat off and set aside to cool.

  • 1 pound dark meat ground turkey
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • ½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs soaked in ¼ cup milk (let sit for 10 minutes before adding to the turkey)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups tomato sauce

In a large mixing bowl, add the ground turkey, parsley, cheese, egg, soaked breadcrumbs, salt and the cooled pancetta mixture. Mix well and keep aside.

Bring the tomato sauce to a boil in a large saucepan, form the meatballs and gently slide them into the sauce. Cover with lid and lower heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes or once the meatballs are cooked through. Serve warm with spaghetti.

Pancetta and Meyer Lemon Roast Chicken Breast

Meyer lemons are still in season- make use of them! This is a great recipe…

  • 4 to 6 bone-in chicken breasts with skin

Compound Butter

  • ¼ cup good quality butter, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup pancetta, chopped fine
  • Zest of three meyer lemons
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, grated
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

Mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl and carefully insert about a teaspoon of the mixture under the skin of each chicken breast. Rub any leftover mixture on top of the chicken breast and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Marinate chicken for 2 to 3 hours.

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • ½ to ¾ cup chicken broth
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Heat a large frying pan (oven proof) with the olive oil. Brown the chicken pieces with skin side down for 3 to 4 minutes or till golden brown. Transfer to oven and finish cooking till the internal temperature shows 160 degrees F.

Take out of oven and take the chicken pieces out of the pan. On a medium heat, add the flour to the bottom of the pan and stir, taking off all the bits and pieces from the roasted chicken. Slowly add the broth, whisking to avoid any lumps. Mix well, bring to a boil and check for salt and pepper. Serve chicken with gravy.

 

Lasagna with Meat Sauce

Meat Lasagna 1Delicious lasagna… for the weeknights or a holiday meal!

  • 3 ½ cups fresh or store bought tomato sauce, divided
  • ½ pound ground turkey
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup shallots, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh sage, chopped
  • Salt
  • 6 no-boil lasagna sheets
  • ½ cup shredded fontina
  • ½ cup shredded pecorino romano

Heat oven at 350 degrees F.

In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil. Add the ground turkey and break the meat with the back of a wooden spatula while sautéing for 4-5 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes on medium high heat. Add the thyme, rosemary and sage. Add 2 cups tomato sauce and salt. Cook on medium low heat for 20 minutes and check for seasonings. Mix the 2 cheeses together and keep aside.
In an 8X8 pan, add ½ cup tomato sauce at the bottom. Add 2 sheets on top and add 1 cup meat sauce. Sprinkle ¼ cup cheese. Add 2 sheets on top and add 1 cup meat sauce once more. Sprinkle ¼ cup cheese. Add the last 2 sheets and top with 1 cup tomato sauce and sprinkle with ½ cup cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 50 to 60 minutes till bubbly on top.

Meat Lasagna

Chicken and Mushroom Ragu on Herb Polenta

Delicious chicken stew over polenta…

  • 1 pound chicken thighs, skinned
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup pancetta, chopped
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Heat a saucepan with the olive oil on high. Add the pancetta and sauté for a minute. Brown the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes of each side. Sprinkle salt while browning. Take the chicken pieces out and keep aside.

  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 large shallot, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • Salt

Add the herbs in the pancetta mixture with the mushrooms. Saute on high heat till the mushrooms have cooked down including the excess liquid. Add the shallot and garlic. Saute for a minute and add the flour. Cook the flour for a minute and add the red wine. Scrape all the brown bits off the bottom and add the chicken broth. Add the chicken pieces and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes with the lid on. Take the lid off and make sure the chicken is tender and juicy. Turn the heat up and bring to a boil and cook till the dish reaches desired consistency.

Herb Polenta with Gruyere

  • 1 cup fine polenta
  • 1½ cups milk
  • 1½ cups chicken broth
  • 1 sprig thyme
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup aged Gruyere cheese, grated

Bring the milk and broth. Add the herbs and salt. Slowly add the polenta whisking at the same time, stirring till it thickens. Turn the heat off and add the cheese. Mix well and check for seasonings. Serve with the chicken and mushroom ragu.

Julia Child’s Coq Au Vin- My Version

My take on Julia Child’s classic… try it…

  • 2-3 pound whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces and skin removed
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 1/3 cup bacon, cut into a small dice
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 (10 oz) packs of cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced thin
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¼ cup cognac
  • 2 cups red wine (pinot noir, zinfandel- any light red wine)
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Heat a large Dutch oven with one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Add the bacon bits and sauté on medium heat till the bits are golden brown. Take the bacon out and keep aside. Add the chicken pieces in two batches and brown on both side, sprinkling salt and pepper. Take the chicken pieces out and keep aside.
Reheat the pan and add one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Add the mushrooms and sauté on high heat till they are golden brown- about 7 to 8 minutes. Take the mushrooms out and keep aside. Add the onions and garlic. Saute on medium high heat till the onions are soft and translucent- about 3-4 minutes. Add the fresh thyme and tomato paste. Saute for a minute and add the cognac. Scrape all the bits off the bottom and mix for 30 seconds and add the red wine and the chicken broth. Bring to a boil on high heat and add the chicken pieces. Bring back to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and cover with lid. Take out the two breast pieces after about 20 minutes and keep aside. Continue to cook the rest for another 30 minutes. Take out the chicken pieces with the breast pieces. Bring the sauce to a boil and reduce to about 2½ cups. In the meantime add the flour and oil to a small bowl. Mix well and add to the simmering sauce, whisking it in to avoid lumps. Bring to a boil. Taste for seasonings and add salt if needed. Add the mushrooms and chicken pieces. Top with the bacon bits and chopped parsley.
Serve on top of toasted baguette slices rubbed with fresh garlic. Serve with the same red wine you used for the sauce.