Poached Eggs With Corn, Chorizo, Basil, and Brioche Croutons

Ingredients

serves Serves 4

• 4 ounces Spanish-style chorizo, cut into 1/2- to 1/4-inch cubes (see note above)
• 1 slice brioche, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper[
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 ears corn, kernels cut off of ears (about 3 cups kernels)
• 1 medium clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced, greens and whites reserved separately
• 1/2 cup homemade or store-bought low sodium chicken or vegetable stock
• 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons chopped basil leaves
• 4 poached eggs (see note above)
• Crunchy sea salt

Procedures

1. Heat chorizo in a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat, tossing and stirring occasionally until crisp and fat has rendered. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, leaving fat in skillet.
   
2. Add brioche cubes to skillet and increase heat to medium high. Season with salt and pepper and cook, tossing and stirring occasionally, until well toasted on all sides, about 4 minutes. Bread will stick to skillet at first and be difficult to toss or stir, but will loosen up as it absorbs fat and cooks. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
   
3. Add oil to now-empty skillet and heat over high heat until lightly smoking. Add corn and toss to coat with oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, tossing occasionally, until corn is charred in spots, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, all of scallion whites, and half of scallion greens. Cook, stirring constantly, until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Add stock and butter and cook, stirring, until emulsified and saucy, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return chorizo to skillet and stir to combine. Stir in basil, reserving some small leaves for garnish.
   
4. Divide 3/4 of the corn mixture between four small warm bowls or cups, leaving a small well on one side for the eggs. Add poached eggs to each cup. Spoon remaining corn mixture over and around eggs, making sure that the liquid gets divided evenly. Divide croutons evenly between each cup. Sprinkle with remaining scallion greens and basil leaves. Sprinkle egg with coarse sea salt. Serve immediately.

Pizza With Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil, and Mozzarella

Special equipment

Wood and metal pizza peels, Baking Steel, pizza cutter (see note above)

Ingredients

serves Makes four 10- to 12-inch pizzas, serving 4, active time 45 minutes, total time 3 hours

• 1 recipe Neapolitan Pizza Dough, or 2 pounds store-bought pizza dough
• 1 (14-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
• Kosher salt
• 1 pound fresh mozzarella, torn into rough chunks and drained
• 8 medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes, split in half
• 4 to 6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
• 24 fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Procedures

1. Divide dough into four even parts and place each in a covered quart-sized deli container or in a zipper-lock freezer bag. Allow to rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours before baking. Transfer tomatoes to a medium bowl and roughly crush by hand. Season to taste with salt and set aside.
   
2. Adjust oven rack to 6 inches under broiler and place stone or steel on rack. Preheat oven to highest possible temperature (500 or 550°F) for at least 45 minutes. Alternatively, use Kettle Pizza and Baking Steel grill insert.
   
3. When ready to bake, turn single dough ball out onto lightly flour surface. Gently press out dough into rough 8-inch circle, leaving outer 1-inch higher than the rest. Gently stretch dough into a 10 to 12-inch circle about 1/4-inch thick by draping over knuckles and gently stretching. Transfer to floured wooden pizza peel.
   
4. Preheat broiler to high. Spread thin layer of sauce over pizza, followed by 1/4 of mozzarella. Spread 1/4 of garlic slices, 1/4 of cherry tomatoes, and 1/4 of Parmesan evenly over pizza. Sprinkle lightly with salt, add 6 basil leaves, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil.
   
5. Transfer pizza to hot stone or steel and broil until edges are puffed and lightly charred and bottom is crisp, rotating regularly for even cooking, 3 to 6 minutes total. Retrieve pizza with a metal peel and transfer to a cutting board. Slice and serve immediately. Meanwhile, switch oven back to 550°F to reheat stone for remaining pizzas.
   
6. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for remaining pizzas.

Spicy Thai Tofu With Spinach, Basil, and Peanuts

Ingredients

serves Serves 4-6, active time 20 minutes, total time 20 minutes

• 2 tablespoons high-heat cooking oil, divided
• One 16-ounce (500 g) block firm tofu, drained, patted dry and cut into 1/2-inch (1.25 cm) cubes
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced galangal or fresh ginger
• 8 ounces (250 g) spinach, washed and trimmed
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla)
• 2 teaspoons cooking sherry
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon palm or brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 teaspoons Asian chili sauce, preferably Sriracha
• 1/2 cup (10 g) finely chopped fresh Thai or Italian basil
• 1/3 cup (50 g) crushed roasted peanuts plus more for garnish
• Fresh Thai or Italian basil leaves for garnish

Procedures

1. Heat half of the oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tofu pieces and stir-fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
   
2. Heat the remaining oil in the wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and galangal and stir-fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the spinach, fish sauce, sherry, oyster sauce, palm sugar, lime juice, and chili sauce; stir-fry until the spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the basil leaves and peanuts and stir-fry for 30 seconds until basil is wilted. Dish out and garnish with basil leaves and peanuts. Serve with jasmine rice.

Pork Chops with Fresh Peaches and Basil

Ingredients

serves Serves 2, active time 20 minutes, total time 20 minutes

• 2 bone-in rib or center-cut chops (4 to 6 ounces each)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 peaches, pits removed, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 teaspoons zest and 2 tablespoons fresh juice from 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Pinch of dried red chili flakes
• 2 cups fresh raw baby spinach
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter

Procedures

1. Season the pork chops generously with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat until lightly smoking. Add the pork chops and cook until first side is nicely browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until the internal temperature registers 145°F on an instant read thermometer, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil. Do not wipe out skillet.
   
2. Lower heat to medium low and add the peaches, lemon zest, sugar, salt, and dried chili flakes. Stir gently until the peaches begin to soften but don’t lose their shape, 2 to 3 minutes.
   
3. Divide the spinach between two plates and put the pork chops on top. Pour any juices from the plate back into the skillet and add butter and lemon juice. Cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan and swirling pan until butter is melted and incorporated into the sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in half of basil. Divide the peaches between the two plates and then pour the pan juices on top and sprinkle with remaining basil. Serve immediately.

Make-Ahead Sweet and Sour Stir-Fried Eggplant with Snap Peas and Basil

Ingredients

serves Serves 2, active time 20 minutes, total time 30 minutes

• 1/2 cup red, brown or white rice
• Kosher salt
• 3/4 cup white or rice wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 2 Japanese eggplants, or 1 large eggplant, cut into 1-inch half-moons (about 3 cups chopped)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar-snap or snow peas, ends trimmed
• 1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves

Procedures

1. Cook rice according to package directions with large pinch salt, then let cool and pack into airtight container. Meanwhile, combine vinegar, soy and honey in small sauce pot. Bring to boil, then simmer over medium-high heat until reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
   
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-hight heat until shimmering, then add eggplant, sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to shrivel and char, 10 to 12 minutes. Add sugar-snap peas and saute until bright green, about 2 minutes longer. Pour in reduced sauce and toss over medium heat until vegetables are well coated, 1 minute. Pour on top of rice in airtight containter. Let cool to room temperature, stir in basil, then refrigerate until ready to eat. Eat cold or microwave covered with damp paper towel to reheat.