Swiss Chard And Crisp Shallot Rolls With Cilantro Raita Recipes

SWISS CHARD WITH CRISPY SHALLOTS

Steps:

• In a medium pot, heat 2 cups oil to 325 degrees F.
• In a bowl, toss the shallot slices with the flour. Test a shallot slice to assure the oil is sufficiently hot enough to fry the shallots. Fry them in small batches until golden brown, removing them with a slotted spoon and drain them on a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Heat a large skillet, and add 1 tablespoon of oil. When the oil begins to smoke, add the Swiss chard stalks and season with salt and pepper. Cook until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl. Heat the remaining oil and quickly saute the leaves until they "wilt", 1 to 2 minutes. Combine in the bowl with the stalks. Stir in the olive oil and sherry vinegar. Top with the shallots.

MOROCCAN-INSPIRED SWISS CHARD ROLLS

Steps:

• For the rice: Combine the vegetable broth and ginger slices in a medium saucepan; bring to boil. Add the brown and wild rice and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until the rice is just tender, 50 to 55 minutes. Drain if necessary. Discard the ginger slices. Set the rice aside.
• Meanwhile, position the oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a 13- by 9- by 2-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil; set aside.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the green onions, carrots, onions, garlic, ginger, curry powder, cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the golden raisins, tofu and cooked rice mixture. Add the coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Cook for 1 minute until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
• Remove from the heat and let cool while preparing the chard leaves.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Using a sharp knife, cut away the thick stems from the center of each leaf; discard the stems. Cut each leaf in half lengthwise. Trim the wide ends from the leaves to make each leaf half about 10 inches long. Using tongs and working with 1 leaf half at a time, dip the leaf half into the pot of boiling salted water for 10 seconds. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Place about 1/3 cup of the rice filling onto the end of one Swiss chard leaf half. Roll up the leaf, enclosing the filling completely. Repeat with the remaining leaf halves and rice filling for a total of 12 rolls.
• Spread 1 cup of the sauce onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Place the filled rolls, seam-side down, in a single layer atop the sauce in the dish. Spoon the remaining tomato sauce over the rolls. Bake until the rolls are heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.

SWISS CHARD AND CRISP SHALLOT ROLLS WITH CILANTRO RAITA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 1-quart saucepan over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking (365°F on deep-fat thermometer), then fry shallots in 3 batches, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer as fried with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, spreading evenly, then cool.
• Cook chard leaves in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer with tongs to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels.
• Halve each leaf lengthwise, discarding rib. Place 1 tablespoon shallots at 1 end of a chard strip and firmly roll up, forming a cigar shape. Make 15 more rolls in same manner.
• Mash garlic to a paste with sea salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a large heavy knife). Purée cilantro with garlic paste and 1/4 cup yogurt in a blender, scraping down sides occasionally. Transfer to a bowl and stir in remaining 3/4 cup yogurt. Serve chard rolls with raita.