Braised Carrots With Dried Plums Prunes Recipes

BRAISED CARROTS

Steps:

• Cut carrots into 1/8 in rounds or 1/4 in dice.
• In a wide, low pot melt butter over medium heat, add carrots and cook about 3 minutes, stirring frequently until carrots have a "glazed" look.
• Add, sugar and cook another minute.
• Add salt and 1/4 cup hot water, cover, reduce heat to medium low and let cook until carrots are done, checking and stirring occasionally. Add a little more water if necessary to prevent sticking. Dish should be almost dry when done.
• I usually cook for 10 minutes but cooking time can vary considerably due to age and sort of carrots as well as your your personal preference.
• When done serve sprinkled with a little parsley or chervil (which is nice with fish).

BRAISED CARROTS WITH DRIED PLUMS (PRUNES)

Steps:

• Cut the prunes in half, and cut the carrots into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• In a 3-qt. saucepan, combine all ingredients. Heat to boiling on high. Reduce heat to medium; simmer, stirring occasionally, 15-20 minutes or until liquid evaporates and carrots are glazed. Serve at once.

BRAISED CARROTS WITH PARMESAN CHEESE

Steps:

• Peel the carrots, wash them in cold water, and slice them into 3/8 inch disks. The thin tapered ends can be cut thicker. Choose a saute pan that can contain the carrot rounds spread in a single snug layer, without overlapping. Put in the carrots and butter, and enough water to come ¼ inch up the sides. If you do not have a single pan large enough, use two smaller ones, dividing the carrots and butter equally between them. Turn on the heat to medium. Do not cover the pan.
• Cook until the water has evaporated, then add salt and the ¼ teaspoon of sugar. Continue cooking, adding from 2 to 3 tablespoons water as needed. Your objective is to end up with well-browned, wrinkled carrot disks, concentrated in flavor and texture. It will take between 1 and 1½ hours, during which time you much watch them, even while you do other things in the kitchen. Stop adding water when they begin to reach the wrinkled, browned stage, because there must be no liquid left at the end. In 30 minutes or a little more, the carrots will become so reduced in bulk that, if you have been using two pans, you will be able to combine them in a single pan.
• When done - they should be very tender - add the grated Parmesan, turn the carrots over completely once or twice, transfer them to a warm platter, and serve at once.

NO-PEEL BRAISED CARROTS

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable stock, then tip the carrots into a deep frying pan. Add the butter, sugar, fennel seeds and the hot stock. Season to taste.
• Simmer, uncovered, over a medium heat for 25-30 mins or until the carrots are cooked through and the liquid is reduced and glossy.

SPICED ITALIAN PLUMS (PRUNES) IN PORT

Steps:

• Cut plums in half and remove pit. Combine sugar, water, orange peel, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer a few minutes. Add plums, a layer at a time to heat through, about 2 minutes. Remove plums from syrup.
• Pack hot plums into hot pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
• Repeat with remaining plums.
• Reheat syrup to a boil. Remove from heat; discard cinnamon sticks. Stir in port.
• Pour over plums, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. (add a few cloves and pieces of orange peel to each jar). Remove air bubbles. Adjust caps.
• Process 20 minutes in boiling water bath.

STOVETOP-BRAISED CARROTS AND PARSNIPS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except lemon juice and garnish in a skillet with a cover; add a quarter cup of water. Bring to a boil, then cover and adjust heat so mixture simmers gently. Check every few minutes and add more water if necessary.
• Cook until the vegetables are tender and the liquid is almost gone, about a half-hour. Uncover and boil off remaining liquid if necessary, then taste and adjust seasoning, adding lemon juice as needed. Garnish and serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

HERB BRAISED CARROTS

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large pan over medium heat until completely melted. Add carrots and shallot to pan; cook and stir until the carrots are coated in butter and shallots are slightly soft, about 5 minutes.
• Stir vegetable stock, thyme, ground nutmeg, and ground sumac into the carrots; cover pan, reduce heat to low, and cook and stir until most of the liquid has disappeared, about 15 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and garnish carrots with rosemary, sage, salt, and white pepper.

BEEF BRISKET BRAISED WITH DRIED FRUIT, YAMS AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat oil in heavy large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until beginning to brown, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon paprika, allspice and crushed red pepper and stir 20 seconds. Add chicken stock, wine and bay leaves. Boil 10 minutes to blend flavors.
• Sprinkle brisket with paprika and rub in. Add brisket to pot, fat side up. Add dried apricots and pitted prunes. Cover and bake 1 1/2 hours.
• Add yams and carrots to pot. Cover and cook until brisket is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours longer. Remove from oven and let stand 20 minutes. Remove brisket from pot and slice thinly across grain. Arrange on platter. Degrease pan juices. Spoon pan juices over meat. Arrange fruit and vegetables around meat. Garnish with minced fresh parsley and serve. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate before slicing meat. To serve, remove meat from pot and slice thinly across grain. Remove any solid fat from sauce. Return sliced meat to pot. Place pot in 325°F oven and bake until brisket is heated through, about 30 minutes.)

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Generously season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Spread flour in a wide, shallow bowl, and dredge chicken until it is well coated. Shake off any excess flour.
• Place a deep sauté pan (just large enough to hold the chicken pieces in a single layer) over medium-high heat for a minute or two. Add olive oil, and heat until oil shimmers. Arrange chicken pieces in pan, skin side down, and allow to sit without being moved until undersides are browned, about 3 minutes. Turn chicken, and allow to sit again until browned, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add vinegar, wine and prunes. Cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer, basting occasionally, until chicken meat is tender and almost falling off the bone, about 30 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken pieces and prunes to a platter, and keep warm. Raise heat under the pan to high, and reduce pan juices for a minute or two. Pour juices over chicken pieces, and serve.