Spanish Potato, Chard, and Bean SoupSpain
Caldo Gallego
Use any medium-small white beans here. This is a pale soup with flecks of dark green. It is served with a little dribble of fruity olive oil. A good crusty bread on the side makes it into a perfect lunch or first course.
This soup may be made in advance and reheated.
1 cup (6 ounces) dried white beans, such as cannellini or navy
5 cups vegetable stock
1 garlic clove, peeled
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano or ½ teaspoon dried
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 smallish onions (7 ounces), peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice
1 medium baking potato (8 ounces), peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice
4 lightly packed cups (8 ounces) chopped chard (both stems and leaves)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
Salt as needed
Extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 teaspoon per serving
Soak the beans overnight as suggested on page 6, or use the Quick-Soak Method on page 6. Drain, discarding any soaking liquid.
In a medium pot, bring the beans and stock to a boil, skimming off the froth that rises to the top. Add the garlic and oregano. Stir and turn the heat down to low. Cover partially and simmer gently for 40 to 60 minutes, or until the beans are tender. (Older beans will take longer to cook.) Crush the garlic clove against the side of the pot and mix well.
Put the oil in a large pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onions and potato. Stir and cook for 4 to 5 minutes so there is a little bit of browning. Add the chard and parsley. Stir for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until the chard has wilted. Now add the cooked beans and their liquid and bring to a boil. Cover partially, turn the heat down to low, and simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring now and then. Mash some of the beans and the potato pieces against the sides of the pan. Taste for salt; you will probably need to add some even if your stock was salted. Mix well.
Ladle into soup plates and dribble a teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil over each serving.
serves 6
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Eggplant with Minty Tomato Sauce and YogurtAfghanistan
Badenjan Boorani
This is a superb party dish from Afghanistan -- rounds of eggplant freshly fried, and topped first with a tomato sauce and then with a dollop of creamy yogurt. Serve rice on the side. You may also serve a single round of eggplant as a first course.
If you wish to use fresh tomatoes, you will need 1½cups of peeled and chopped tomatoes.
The frying of the eggplant slices should be done at the last minute. It takes 6 to 7 minutes for one batch. You might need to do two batches. Allow yourself another couple of minutes to let the oil heat.
1¼ pounds eggplant (the large variety)
1¼ teaspoons salt
For the tomato sauce
¼ cup peanut or canola oil
1 medium onion, very finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled and very finely chopped
8 plum tomatoes from a can, finely chopped, plus ¼ cup of the can liquid
1¼ teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½teaspoon ground coriander
¼ teaspoon cayenne
Freshly ground black pepper
You also need
½cup plain yogurt
Peanut or canola oil for deep-frying
Extra mint sprigs or leaves for garnishing
Trim the very ends of the eggplant and cut it crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Put the slices in a single layer in a large platter or lasagna-type dish. Sprinkle the salt over both sides, rubbing it in well. Set aside for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, make the tomato sauce. Put the oil in a large, nonstick frying pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, put in the onion. Stir and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the onion pieces begin to brown at the edges. Put in the garlic. Stir for a few seconds. Now put in the tomatoes and their liquid as well as all the remaining ingredients for the tomato sauce. Stir to mix. Cover, turn the heat to low, and cook gently for 10 minutes. Set aside in a warm place.
Make the yogurt sauce. Put the yogurt in a small bowl and beat lightly with a fork.
Just before you sit down to eat, put oil to a depth of 2 to 3 inches for deep-frying in a wok or deep-fryer and set over medium heat. Take the eggplant slices from the platter and dry them off well with paper towels.
When the oil is hot, drop in as many slices as the utensil will hold easily and fry, turning now and then, for 6 to 7 minutes, or until both sides are a medium brown color. Drain well on paper towels. Do a second batch, if needed.
To serve, arrange the eggplant slices in a single layer on a large platter. Top each slice with a dollop of the tomato sauce and then with a tablespoon of the yogurt. Garnish with the mint sprigs or leaves. Serve immediately.
serves 3 to 4
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