I have a new favorite cookbook! It's called Flavors of Sicily by Ursula Ferrigno and I love it. I've visited the fair island only once but it's really stayed with me. And the extra value of this cookbook is the gorgeous photos and the slices of information, such as the sections Sicilian citrus groves, and the wines of Sicily.
What I've chosen today is a zesty side dish that adds a lot of color to any plate. And, it combines two veggies I thoroughly enjoy -- red peppers and fennel. It's also fairly easy to put together. And, conveniently, it can be made a day ahead and reheated.
Let's get started!
Ingredients
4 tbsp. olive oil
4 fennel bulbs
4 red peppers
2 onions, finely chopped
3 garlic closed, finely chopped
7 oz. ricotta
¾ c. pistachio nuts, shelled and finely
chopped
7 oz. strained or diced tomatoes
1 tbsp. tomato paste
Handful cilantro, finely chopped
Pinch of crushed dried chili peppers
Fennel fronds to garnish
Sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
1. 1. Preheat over to 350F. Line wide baking dish with parchment paper
2.
2. Halve the fennel bulbs lengthwise
and trim, discarding wood cores. Save leafy fronds.
1. 3. Blanch bulb halves for 8
minutes in saucepan of boiling water. Drain and pat dry.
2. 4. Halve peppers lengthways and
remove pith and seeds.
1. 5. Heat 2 tbsp. olive oil in
frying pan. Sauté onions and then add garlic.
2. 6. Transfer onions and garlic to
large bowl; add ricotta. Season with salt and pepper. Place 3-4 spoonfuls of mixture in each pepper half. Place fennel on top then fill in the gaps with cheese mixture.
s
1.
7. Transfer peppers to baking
dish. Mix strained tomatoes with tomato paste; season with cilantro. Pour around
peppers. Drizzle remaining olive oil on peppers; sprinkle pistachios on top.
2. 8. Cover with foil and bake 30
minutes until golden brown and bubbling.
Voila. A colorful addition to my chicken breast, roasted potatoes, and asparagus dinner!
The countdown is on. Just 12 days to go until release day!
TOASTING UP TROUBLE, the first in my new Dinner Club Mystery series (includes recipes)
is coming July 5th!
To pre-order, click here
http://tinyurll.com/oco85lv
Writing as Erika Chase -- the Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery series are available on-line or at your favorite bookstore.
Love to hear from you at my Facebook author page and
on Twitter @LWiken
Also appearing at www.killercharacters.com
Visit Erika at www.erikachase.com
at my Facebook author page
and on Twitter @erika_chase.
I have often wondered what types of recipes to use fennel in. Looking forward to the new book.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, my reply went to the bottom of the comments! See below :)
DeleteA new vegetable recipe is a gem.
ReplyDeleteI so agree, Sue!
DeleteI'm on this case! Sounds like a great recipe. Thanks, Linda.
ReplyDeleteXO
MJ
Yay!
DeleteXO
Linda
Mr. Right and I count the day we discovered how wonderful fennel is a lucky day in the kitchen -- and this looks terrific!
ReplyDeleteHow you both enjoy it, Leslie!
DeleteYum. Isn't fennel amazing? Excited for release day.
ReplyDeleteI'm having fun trying out new fennel recipes! Glad you share in the release day excitement!
DeleteWe discovered fennel at a full out Italian meal with a roast that had been cooked with fennel. A pleasant surprise.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds tasty, Libby. I'll have to try it. Thanks.
DeleteThanks! I hope you enjoy the new book...and the recipe.
ReplyDelete