Olive Branch Smoked Beef Tenderloin Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes Roasted Chili And Olive Ragout Recipes

OLIVE BRANCH SMOKED BEEF TENDERLOIN, OLIVE OIL MASHED POTATOES, ROASTED CHILI AND OLIVE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Prepare a smoker using olive branches. Place the beef tenderloin in the smoker and smoke for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Pat the beef dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat the butter and oil in a roasting pan over moderately-high heat until the foam subsides. Then brown the beef well on all sides, about 10 minutes. Put the roasting pan with the beef in the middle of the oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted diagonally 2 inches into the center registers 130 degrees F for medium-rare, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 10 minutes. Then cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• To serve, first place the Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes on a plate. Then lean 2 slices beef tenderloin on the potatoes. Place a large spoonful of the Roasted Chili and Olive Ragout around or on top. Garnish with watercress.
• Peel and quarter the potatoes. Put the potatoes and 1 tablespoon salt in a 3-quart pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, covered with the lid, and then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are very tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes in a colander and return to the pot. Add the olive oil and olives, and season with salt and pepper. Mash with a potato masher until smooth.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a saute pan. Add the red onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden brown, about 6 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the rest of the olive oil and the olives, parsley and all the roasted peppers. Season with salt and pepper.

OLIVE OIL MASHED POTATOES (LIDIA BASTIANICH)

Steps:

• Pour enough water over the potatoes in a large pot to cover them by three fingers.
• Season the water with salt; bring to a boil.
• Cook until the potatoes are tender but still hold their shape, 15-30 minutes, depending on the size and shape of the potatoes.
• Drain potatoes and let stand until cool enough to handle.
• Peel potatoes and pass them through a ricer or food mill fitted with the fine disk.
• Gently stir in the olive oil and season them to taste with salt and pepper; serve hot.
• *Garlic Mashed Potatoes: heat the olive oil in a small skillet over med-low heat; slice three peeled garlic cloves, scatter them over the oil and cook, shaking the pan, until light brown, about 2 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and cool to room temperature before adding to the riced potatoes.
• *Anchovy Mashed Potatoes: heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a small skillet over med-low heat; add 2 anchovy fillets and cook, breaking them up, until they are dissolved.
• Remove from heat, pour in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and cool to room temperature; beat the anchovy oil into the mashed potatoes.

CHILI MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the cut potatoes into a pot filled with the cold water, bring to a boil, and cook for about 20 minutes, or until a fork or knife pierces the potato chunks easily.
• While the potatoes are cooking, put the cream, butter, salt, pepper, and chili paste into a saucepan. Heat the cream until the butter melts, but do not allow the mixture to boil. Keep the mixture warm until you are ready to add it to the potatoes.
• When the potatoes are fully cooked, drain in a colander for 5 minutes to remove all excess moisture. It is important to rice the potatoes while they are still hot, because cold potatoes will become rubbery and starchy. Fill the ricer no more than half full. Squeeze the hot potatoes through the ricer and into a stainless steel bowl, being careful that the potatoes do not squeeze out the top of the ricer, which would cause lumps in the mashed potatoes. When all of the potatoes have been riced, stir in the hot cream and butter mixture with a wooden spoon and fully incorporate the seasoning, cream, and butter into the potatoes. Add the chopped chives and serve promptly. If the mashed potatoes must be held a few minutes, keep warm in a double boiler or in a bowl covered with plastic wrap and placed over hot water.