csa week 6, part 2

The challenge of purchasing a share in a CSA box (community sustained agriculture) is finding recipes for produce that you never have eaten before; this week, Swiss chard, was one of them. As I still had zucchini left from a prior box, I needed a meal that would utilize both vegetables. I found a recipe on the New York Times Cooking webpage from Martha Rose Shulman, Provençal Zucchini with Swiss Chard Tart. For those of you who may have never heard of Ms. Schulman, she writes cookbooks that focus on eating healthy with inspiration from the Mediterranean and Mexico. Her recipes focus on produce that is both fresh and seasonal. In looking through the index of my copy of her book Mediterranean Light, I noticed her recipes featured chicken, fish and vegetables. 

For the recipe you’ll need Swiss chard, extra virgin olive oil, an onion, zucchini, garlic cloves, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, Gruyere cheese, eggs, freshly ground pepper. For the tart shell whole wheat flour, unbleached all-purpose flour, salt, extra virgin olive oil, water and red wine vinegar (can use strained lemon juice). To make the complete recipe (tart shell and filling) allow 1 hour and 45 minutes. Two comments left by other cooks said they used a prepared pie crust and the results were fine. As I was only making one tart, I halved the tart dough recipe. In hindsight I shouldn’t have done that as you’ll need 2/3 of the dough for the tart. The tart is baked in a pan with a removable bottom; I used a glass tart pan.
This recipe does take time to prepare as you must clean, prep, chop and cook the vegetables and herbs for the filling. Although the dough for the tart is made in approximately 15 minutes, it must rest for an hour before rolling out.
Despite the work involved, the tart was quite tasty. The addition of thyme (sharp, almost minty flavor) and rosemary (slight minty, sage-like and peppery) enhanced the vegetables in the filling. The crust was quite firm and held up to the liquids from the vegetable and egg. Overall, we enjoyed the dish and I would definitely tray Swiss chard again.
My husband and I just enjoyed a tossed salad dressed with the Garlic Scape Salad dressing from the website The Spruce Eats. I must say the dressing had delightful subtle garlic flavor that wasn’t overpowering and the combination of ingredients made for a light and refreshing taste. I was going share the extra salad dressing with our children, but I may just keep it all for myself.

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Garlic Scape Dressing
Written by Diana Rattray/The Spruce Eats
Updated May 13, 2021
 
Prep: 10 minutes
Servings: 8
 
Ingredients
 
2 garlic scapes (coarsely chopped)
2 green onions (coarsely chopped)
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (or similar brown mustard)
¼ cup red wine vinegar
Dash of salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
 
Directions

1. Gather the ingredients. 
2. In a blender, combine the garlic scapes, onions, honey, mustard, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
   
3. With the blender on low, slowly add the olive oil until well blended. 
   
4. Enjoy. 

Store in an airtight container for up to one week. Shake well before using. To make a creamy version, add plain yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream or feta cheese.
 
Green Goddess Garlic Scape Dressing: Add 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste, and either 1 cup mayonnaise or 1/2 of ripe avocado.
 
Garlic Scape Dressing With Herbs: Add a handful of fresh herbs, such as parsley or tarragon.

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Provençal Zucchini and Swiss Chard Tart
By Martha Rose Shulman
From New York Times Cooking
 
 
Yield: One 10-inch tart, serves 8-10
Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
 
 
1 recipe whole wheat yeasted olive oil pie pastry (recipe follows)
1-pound Swiss chard
Salt to taste 
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 pounds zucchini, cut in small dice (1/4 to 1/3 inch)
2 to 3 large garlic cloves (to taste), minced
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
1 to 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary (to taste)
2 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated (1/2 cup, tightly packed)
3 large eggs, beaten
Freshly ground pepper
 
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem the greens, and wash them thoroughly in several rinses of water. If the ribs are wide, wash and dice them, then set aside. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water reaches a rolling boil, add a generous amount of salt and the chard leaves. Blanch for one minute, until just tender. Using a slotted spoon or deep-fry skimmer, transfer to the ice water, then drain. Squeeze out excess water and chop. Set aside.
 
2. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet, and add the onion and diced chard stems, if using. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Stir in the zucchini. Season to taste with salt, and cook, stirring, until just tender and still bright green, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme and rosemary, and cook with the zucchini and onion until the garlic is fragrant, about one or two minutes. Stir in the greens, toss everything together, and remove from the heat. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
 
3. Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste), the zucchini mixture, and the Gruyère. Mix everything together, add pepper, taste once more and adjust seasoning.
 
4. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 10-inch tart pan. Roll out two-thirds of the dough and line the pan, with the edges of the dough overhanging. Freeze the remaining dough. Fill the lined pan with the zucchini mixture. Pinch the edges of the dough along the rim of the pan. Place in the oven and bake 50 minutes, until set and beginning to color. Allow to rest for at least 15 minutes before serving (preferably longer). This can also be served at room temperature.
 
Yield: One 10-inch tart, serving eight to ten.
 
Advance preparation: The blanched greens will keep for three or four days in the refrigerator in a covered bowl. The finished tart keeps for a few days in the refrigerator. Reheat gently at 275 degrees to re-crisp the crust.
 
Whole Wheat Yeasted Olive Oil Pastry
Yeasted crusts are more rustic than French-style short crusts. They’re also easier to manipulate they don’t crack and tear. Remember to roll this out thinly so that it doesn’t become too bready.
 
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature, beaten
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached flour (more as needed)
3/4 teaspoon salt
 
1. Dissolve the yeast in the water, add the sugar, and allow to sit until the mixture is creamy, about five minutes. Beat in the egg and the olive oil. Combine the flours and salt, and stir into the yeast mixture. You can use a bowl and wooden spoon for this, or a mixer — combine the ingredients using the paddle. Work the dough until it comes together in a coherent mass, adding flour as necessary. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead gently for a few minutes, adding flour as necessary, just until the dough is smooth — do not overwork it. Shape into a ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap, and allow to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled in size, about one hour.
2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gently knead a couple of times, and cut into two equal pieces (or as directed in each of this week’s recipes). Shape each piece into a ball without kneading it. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap, and let rest for five minutes. Then roll out into thin rounds, as directed in each recipe, and line pans. If not using right away, freeze the dough to prevent it from rising and becoming too bready. The dough can be transferred directly from the freezer to the oven.
 
Yield: Makes enough for one 10- or 11-inch double-crusted torte or galette, or two 10-inch tarts.
 
Advance preparation: You can make the dough a day ahead and refrigerate. Once rolled out, the dough will keep for a month in the freezer if it’s well wrapped.