Category: Onions

Categories
Garlic Ginger Jalapeno peppers Kale Olive Oil Onions Squash

Simple Summer Vegetable Curry

Words and photos by Amanda Callahan of Callywood Farms

This is a super simple vegetable curry that is endlessly adaptable. If lima beans or field peas aren’t available, you can substitute canned beans (chickpeas would be great). Note that if you go with canned beans, you will need to reduce the stock to ½ cup and cook the beans with the summer squash. By taking this approach you can reduce the cooking time tremendously, and have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.

You can also treat this recipe as a “clean your refrigerator out” kind of dish. Just pay attention to different vegetable cooking times, and adjust as needed (for example, start onions or carrots earlier and finish with squash and softer green beans). 

Ingredients

  • Cooking fat of choice – oil or butter
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, minced
  • 1-inch chunk of ginger, peeled and grated
  • 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt (about 2 teaspoons for the whole dish) & pepper
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder, divided
  • 1 pound lima beans, rinsed and any debris removed
  • 1 cup stock
  • 5 small summer squash/zucchini, sliced (halved if thick)
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 bunch of kale, Swiss chard or spinach, finely sliced
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 lime, juiced

Instructions

  1. In a large sauté pan with a lid, heat oil/butter over medium heat and add onion. Sauté the onion, ginger, and jalapeño until well done and browned in spots — about 8 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic, season with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of curry powder. Stir to combine everything. 
  3. Add lima beans and stock. Cover pan and let cook for about 25 minutes until lima beans are very al dente or not quite done cooking. 
  4. Add the squash and coconut milk to the lima beans and combine everything. Continue cooking uncovered for another 10 minutes. At this point, the lima beans should be done and the squash just starting to cook through. Add the remaining curry powder, adjust to taste with salt and pepper. Add the greens and stir to combine. 
  5. When everything is done cooking, turn off the heat and add the garam masala and lime juice. Stir and taste one last time for additional seasonings. 
  6. Serve with rice. And thinly sliced cucumbers (I didn’t have any for these photos, but they make a marvelous garnish!).
Categories
Beef Cabbage Carrots Celery Olive Oil Onions Tomatoes

Cabbage Rolls

Words and Photos by Amanda Callahan of Callywood Farms

The classic cabbage roll dish that we generally think of is an Eastern European ancestral food, commonly incorporating tender cabbage leaves stuffed with a filling of rice, ground beef and aromatics then gently braised in a simple tomato sauce. However, this comforting combination turns up in many global cuisines like Asia, Europe, and North Africa. 

This is a method recipe and once you have the basics down, it’s infinitely adaptable to seasonal changes and flavor preferences. For instance, in the fall I make one with a filling of roasted sweet potatoes, apples, and quinoa finished with a cinnamon spiced tomato sauce. It is divine. It also doesn’t have to be cabbage! Swap in collards or even Swiss chard. Heck, if greens aren’t your thing, the sauce and filling would be delightful tossed with pasta and baked.

Though the results are worth it, because of the rolling process this recipe does take some time and is best as a weekend cooking project as opposed to a weeknight dinner. However, we love the flavors of cabbage rolls so much that on weeknights we apply the flavors in different ways like in a soup or meatballs. 

Ingredients

  • 1 large head of green cabbage
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small to medium onion, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 small carrots, shredded
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped small
  • 2-4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup uncooked rice
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 to 4 cups of your favorite simple tomato sauce, my favorite is here

Directions

  1. Cut the core out of the cabbage, but leave it whole.  Place the cabbage in a large bowl with the cored part facing up. Boil a small pot of water and pour the water over the cabbage and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
  1. Heat the oil in a sauté pan. Cook the onions until they are soft, and add the carrot and celery. Sauté them for a couple of minutes, until they are soft. Add the minced garlic and season the mixture with salt and pepper. Transfer it to a bowl and let it cool a bit. Mix in the meat, rice and tomato paste and season again with salt and pepper.
  2. In a large Dutch oven (or large pot with a lid), heat your tomato sauce (or make it). 
  3. Drain the head of cabbage. Pull off large leaves, trying not to rip the leaf. Cut out the large vein — if the leaf is very large, you can make two rolls from each, if it is smaller, you can cut the vein out partially and pull the sides to overlap before you roll it into one roll. Pat the leaves dry with towels. 

Roll about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of filling in each leaf. Place each roll in the pot. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat, letting them simmer covered on the stove on low for about 45 minutes. Serve immediately.

Categories
Cucumber Edible Floers Eggs Garlic Herbs Microgreens Olive Oil Onions Radish Shallots Snap peas

Snap Pea and Radish Salad  

Words and photos by Amanda Callahan of Callywood Farms

This is a true farmer’s lunch — real fast food, if you will! It shines with things you could walk onto a farm, pull from the ground or the coop and be ready to eat in about 10 minutes! It is a delightful spring salad that satisfies my lunch time desires for something fresh, light while adding interest with sweet and tangy notes. Simply put everything in a bowl as you prep, toss with dressing and you’re ready to go.

Because I really wanted a chopped and crunchy salad, I used out-of-season cucumbers (I couldn’t resist!), but you can omit and focus on our gorgeous spring greens instead. You might add some fresh goat cheese, cooked white beans or chickpeas for added depth, hearty layers and extra protein. Make enough for a few meals, and use up within three days to avoid soggy bites, or toss and simply keep the dressing separate until ready to serve.

Right now radishes are in abundance! Help your local farmers out by snagging a couple bunches this week. You need a full bunch for this recipe (more if you love radishes like I do!). Get extra and pickle them alongside some onions for an extra special taco topping. I love pulling one out each day to put on top of whatever salad or sandwich I make for lunch. Yum!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. snap peas
  • 1 bunch radishes
  • 4 Persian cucumbers (optional)
  • 2 spring onions or shallots
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • ¼ cup fresh chopped herbs such as parsley, wild onion/chives and dill
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar 
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • For serving: hard boiled eggs, microgreens, edible flowers

Directions

  1. Prep vegetables for the salad. Lay snap peas down and cut roughly into thirds. The radishes were thinly sliced into half moons, as were the cucumbers. I sliced the shallots into rings and tossed everything in a large bowl. 
  2. Make the dressing right on top of the vegetables: grate the garlic clove, juice the lemon, and add the remaining ingredients. Toss to combine. EAT! 
Categories
Broth/Stock Butter Garlic Onions Parmesan cheese Radicchio

Radicchio Red Wine Risotto Recipe

Words and photos by Amanda Callahan of Callywood Farms

This is a meal you would expect on your plate at a nice restaurant, and I want to show you how EASY it is to prepare it at home! We’ve been fortunate with local radicchio recently, and this recipe is a stellar way to let this cool-weather crop shine. While it is mostly commonly known as that cheerful “red and white crunchy stuff” in salad mixes, radicchio is a delightful green and a lovely addition to meals in its own right. Bitter, yes, but with the right counter-flavors, it is exquisite. It’s great roasted or grilled to bring out the sweetness. For this dish, the bitterness pairs perfectly with creamy risotto. It’s a perfect cook-at-home special occasion meal. Treat yourself or your partner to a delicious, locally sourced fancy dish! 

To serve: We served this with pork chops – recipe here (pan seared instead of grilled), but you could serve with a big steak, roasted chicken, pan seared trout and even some beautiful mushrooms or tofu for my plant based friends. Check out original recipe that inspired my version for some plant based variations you might find helpful, too!

Ingredients

  • 5-6 cups bone broth
  • 1 large head of radicchio, sliced thin
  • 4 tablespoon butter, divided 
  • 1 medium onion or 2 shallots, diced small
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced 
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 ½ cups arborio rice 
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme and rosemary leaves 
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese 

Instructions

– Heat the broth over low heat on a back burner, so that it’s nice and hot to add to your risotto during cooking. 

– In a large sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Add the onions and saute for 5 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and sauté another minute until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper. 

– Pour in the rice and toast the rice by stirring around, about 2-3 minutes. The rice grains should be translucent on the outside and still have a white center. Season the rice with salt and pepper.

– Turn the heat to medium-high. Deglaze the pan with the cup of wine, turning the heat down to low after the initial alcohol bubbles off. 

– Once the wine has been absorbed, you will start the process of adding broth. Using a ladle, add 2 scoops of broth to the pan and continue stirring to incorporate all the liquid into the rice. If you’re cooking on gas, you can manipulate the heat to keep a constant simmer, increasing when you add stock and decreasing as it simmers, like a dance. When the liquid has been absorbed, add another few more ladles full of broth. 

– After 3-4 rounds of broth additions, it’s time to add your radicchio and fresh herbs by folding it into the rice

– Continue adding broth. You will need between 5-6 cups. So, you have to keep your eyes on it. You will know it’s done as the rice will slow it’s absorbency of the broth and the grains become nice and plump. I keep a tasting spoon close by and taste as it gets close (this also helps you keep an eye on salt level, too). Some people prefer more al dente, some like it done well. However, I caution you from overcooking too soon. The rice will become sticky and mushy, so err on the side of undercooking. – When it’s just about done, turn off the heat. Add the cheese, remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, adjust seasonings, and one more ladle full of broth and stir to combine. 

Categories
Beets Garlic Olive Oil Onions Thyme

Beet and Black Bean Burgers

Words and photos by Amanda Callahan of Callywood Farms

As the last of the beets come out of the winter fields, grab some this week and try your hand at some veggie burgers! Beets in burgers? You read it right! I’ve made many veggie burger recipes over the years, and from endless combinations of beans, greens, mushrooms and other produce. In my former life as a dedicated vegetarian, I was always in search of a vegetable-centered recipe to replace those frozen dishes at the store with mile-long ingredient lists. After experimenting through my share of blends, this by far is my favorite combination that results in a moist, earthy, flavorful “burger” patty. 

This recipe is very versatile, provided you ensure everything is well cooked, and I have modified the recipe many different ways over the years. You can roast the beets, use leftover rice, etc. and still be pretty much guaranteed a winning result. Pair with some fresh roasted potato fries and a seasonal salad or fruit for a complete, nutritious and delicious meal.     

Adapted from this recipe 

Ingredients
1/2 cup rice 

1 onion, diced small

3 large red beets, peeled and diced small

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

Juice from 1/2 lemon

4 tablespoons oil, divided 

1 teaspoon coriander

1/2 teaspoon thyme

2 tablespoons flour

Salt and pepper to taste

For serving: cheese slices, sauerkraut, pickled jalapeños, condiments of choice

Directions

  1. Bring a large amount of water to a boil. Add a handful of salt and the rice, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the rice until it’s a little beyond al dente. You want it a little over-cooked, but still firm. This should take about 25-30 minutes. Drain the rice and set it aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the onions are translucent and softened. Stir in the beets. Cover the pot and cook until the beets are completely tender, stirring occasionally. Depending on the size of the beets, this can take anywhere from 10-20 minutes. Smaller is better! Add the garlic and cook until it is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Deglaze the pan using the cider vinegar.
  3. Empty the black beans into a large bowl and use a fork to mash them up a bit. Add the cooked rice, the beet and onion mixture, the lemon juice, and all the spices. Stir to combine and then taste for seasonings. Add salt and pepper to taste. Once it tastes the way you like it, add the flour and stir until you see no more dry flour.
  4. Using your hands, scoop up about a cup of the burger mixture and shape it into a patty between your palms. Place on a plate and repeat until all the mixture has been used. This should make 6 large-sized burgers. We made some smaller ones for lunch portions the next day. 
  5. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add a few tablespoons of oil – enough to completely coat the bottom of the pan.
  6. Once the oil is hot, place burgers in the pan. Once all the patties are in the pan, reduce the heat to medium-high.
  7. Cook the patties for 2-4 minutes, then flip them to the other side. You should see a nice crust on the cooked side. If they break apart a little when you flipped them, just reshape them with the spatula – they’ll hold together once the second side is cooked. 
  8. If you’re adding cheese, lay a slice over the burgers now. Cook the second side for another 2 minutes. Remove and serve how you’d like: with buns or without!
Categories
Eggs Kale Onions Rutabaga Sweet Potatoes Turnips

The Anatomy Of A Breakfast Hash

Words and Photos by Amanda Callahan of Callywood Farms

I’m a big fan of breakfast. I’m especially a big fan of breakfast when I’m not running the morning school/work routine marathon. So, when I have the time, I LOVE putting in the extra effort for a big, hearty breakfast. On the weekends, we like having a super late breakfast around 10 a.m. The animals have been fed, and we can settle in as a family to enjoy a table loaded with yummy food. (It’s also a perfect time to shore up sustenance for a weekend full of to-do lists and commitments.)

Our go-to options are frittatas or a sheet pan hash made with delicious, roasted local vegetables accompanied by fresh eggs and savory meats. The beauty of both of these dishes is that you can spice them any way you like, creating a truly customized meal based on the seasons and whomever is sharing your table that morning (actually, these make great last-minute brunch-for-dinner nights too!). Dress them with hot sauce and microgreens for extra pizazz and nutrition.

Here’s a breakdown of combinations to try. Play around and experiment! You really can’t go wrong — this is basically a fail-proof meal guaranteed to taste delicious.

Vegetables: potato, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, turnip, carrots, parsnips, squash (winter and summer), radish

Optional meat: Break up ground sausage, slice up bacon, or add leftover meat from the night before (see recipe on when to add)

Greens: kale, Brussels sprouts, spinach

Seasoning profile: Mexican (chili powder, cumin, garlic), Moroccan (cumin, coriander, cinnamon), herbaceous (garlic and a mix of herbs)

Serving: hot sauce, microgreens, cheese or go vegan and sprinkle some hemp hearts for added protein!

Ingredients as pictured

2 rutabagas, peeled and diced
1 turnip, peeled and diced
3 sweet potatoes, diced
1 onion, diced
Salt and pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika
½ bag/bunch lacinato kale
Fried eggs
Hot sauce and microgreens for serving
Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

On a large sheet pan that has been greased or covered (parchment, Silpat, foil), heap your vegetables in the middle. Coat with about two tablespoons of the oil, and sprinkle with seasonings. If you’re going to include any uncooked meat, like sausage or bacon, add now. Toss all ingredients and spread out into a single layer.

Roast in the oven for about 30 minutes, flipping the mixture when it’s a little more than halfway done.

When it looks like the vegetables are just about done (good browning on the edges and cooked through), remove the sheet pan. Add the shredded kale (if you were going to add any leftover or previously cooked meat as noted in the rundown above, you would add now). Toss together lightly and roast for an additional 5-7 minutes until the kale is browned.

Serve as desired!

Categories
Dill Microgreens Mushrooms Onions Recipes Stock Thyme

Hungarian Mushroom Soup

Words and photos by Casey Certain from the Reid Homestead

If there’s something I love doing in the kitchen, it usually involves simplicity. In my vocabulary, soup = simplicity. And what better time than fall and winter to pull out the Dutch oven and turn some farm goodies into something yummy?

I tweaked this amazing Hungarian mushroom soup to leave out the dairy and flour that’s found in similar recipes, but adding it can give more body and a creamy texture. Another selling point for this soup? It’s cold and flu season, so the chicken stock and antiretroviral properties of oyster mushrooms are great for when you’re feeling yucky.

Why Whole30?
Once all the holiday fun is over, David and I like to go back to our Whole30 recipes so that our bodies can reset and find balance. My digestion thanks me every time! If you’re unfamiliar with Whole30, and are looking to cut down bloating, gas, indigestion and general digestive woes, you might consider researching it. 

INGREDIENTS
4 tbsp coconut oil
2 cups onions, chopped
1 lb oyster mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tsp dried dill
2 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves
2 tsp Hungarian paprika
2 tbsp coconut aminos
2 tbsp lemon juice
Fresh microgreens of your choice for topping

1 – Sauté the onions and mushrooms in coconut oil over medium heat until onions are soft and translucent, about 15 minutes.

2 – Add the dill, thyme, paprika, broth, coconut aminos and apple cider vinegar. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook until the liquid reduces by half.

3 – Turn the heat down to low and slowly stir in lemon juice.

4 – Garnish the soup with your favorite microgreens and serve hot.

Categories
Baked Food Beef Eggs Garlic Onions Pork Recipes Ricotta Rosemary

Ricotta Meatballs

Words and photos by Amanda Callahan of Callywood Farms
Adapted from this recipe. 

I’ve been making this recipe for years, and it has become a beloved standby. It simplifies making meatballs by multiple steps and ingredients, and the results are still tender and delicious with endless possibilities. Serve them over spaghetti with tomato sauce, glazed in jam for an appetizer, or with a side of Romesco such as this one. I used ground pork here, but you can use any meat you like including ground chicken as in the original recipe linked above. In the summertime, I swap the rosemary for basil — use what speaks to you and the seasons. You really can’t go wrong. My family prefers straight up meatballs without the bread, but you can certainly add in breadcrumbs if desired.

Ingredients
1 small onion, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound ground meat
8 oz. ricotta cheese
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, minced
1 egg, whisked
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly cracked black pepper

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. 
2. In a small sauté pan, sauté the onion until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for another minute. Set aside to cool down. 
3. Set up a sheet pan and line with a Silpat mat, parchment paper or tin foil. 
4. In a large mixing bowl combine the meat, cheese, rosemary, cooled onion/garlic, egg, salt and pepper. Mix with your hands until combined. 
5. Form the mixture into meatballs and arrange on the sheet pan. 
6. Bake for about 25 minutes, turning the meatballs and pan after the first 15 minutes. They should get nice and brown with some darker brown spots. 

Categories
Cilantro Garlic Jalapeno peppers lettuce Onions Radish

Thai Pork Larb


Words and photos by Amanda Callahan of Callywood Farms
Inspired by: NYTimes and here

If you’ve been to a Thai restaurant, chances are you’ve seen this iconic dish on the menu — and for good reason! It combines the best of sweet and savory elements with textures that run the gamut from soft to crunchy. At its core, larb is a Laos-based meat salad that is then spiked with all sorts of ingredients making it a cinch to prepare — and to customize to your preferences. I used pork, but you can also incorporate beef, chicken, turkey, tofu, or even mushrooms. Add-ins are flexible too, such as lime juice, cilantro, peanuts, chile peppers, fish sauce and other condiments. The more variety you add, the more the resulting flavors will mingle and meld into a truly palate-pleasing experience.

For me, the distinguishing characteristics of larb are the combination of lime juice, fish sauce, and ground toasted rice. The toasted, ground rice can be difficult to make without the right tools – a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder will do. If not, skip the step! It won’t be as authentic of an experience, but will still produce a tasty dish! 

Ingredients

  • 1 large red onion or 3 shallots, divided per instructions below
  • Hot water – between ½ cup – 1 cup
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons jasmine, basmati or long grain white rice 
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup lime juice (2-3 limes, juiced)
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Crushed red pepper or fresh chilis, sliced, quantity to taste
  • 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

For serving

  • Butterhead lettuce, outer/large leaves removed for cups
  • Radishes, chopped
  • Pickled jalapeños/peppers and the onions 

Instructions
1. With the onion/shallots – you want half of it sliced for pickles and the other half finely minced to cook with the meat. Prep as so.  

2. For the pickles: put the sliced half of the onion in a large bowl. Add the red wine vinegar and salt, and cover with hot water. Set aside. 

3. For the larb: place a large cast iron skillet over medium heat and add the rice, swirling to coat it with oil and allow to toast. It should only take a few minutes for the rice to take on a golden, almost brown hue. Remove and grind using a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder. You’re aiming for a textured powder-like consistency. Be careful not to over do it with the coffee grinder. Set aside.

4. In the same pan, add the oil. Once it is heated, add the remaining diced onion. Sauté for a few minutes to soften, add the garlic, sauté another minute until fragrant, and season with salt and pepper. Add the meat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until the meat is no longer pink and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Add additional heat, if desired, with crushed red pepper or fresh chilis. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

5. To a small bowl, add the lime juice, fish sauce, and honey. Stir to combine. 

6. Set up with lettuce cups and toppings.

7. When the meat has cooled a bit, pour the reserved lime juice/fish sauce on top, combine with chopped cilantro and taste to adjust seasonings. Add more salt, pepper, or heat as needed!

8. Scoop large spoonfuls of larb into lettuce cups, top with pickled onions, radish or other toppings you desire. Serve with steamed rice if you’d like.

Categories
Bacon Carrots Celery Garlic Olive Oil Onions Potatoes Recipes Turnips

Roasted Winter Vegetable Soup with Guanciale and Celery Salad Topping

Words and photos by Amanda Callahan of Callywood Farms

Ready for another super easy, super versatile and super delicious recipe? Keep on reading! I love roasted turnips: the cooking process brings out the sweetness of this misunderstood root veggie and makes them approachable for those who shy away. That said, turnips do tend to have a “love ‘em or hate ‘em” reputation, so I wanted to make something that would be appealing to fans and could-be fans alike. Soup seemed a natural place to start with its cozy vibe well-suited for our current cold temperatures.

But, how could I make unconvinced turnip eaters more interested? Enter the ever-popular garden darlings: potatoes and carrots. By pureeing and blending the turnips with these beloved add-ins, you get the best of both worlds: full, rich flavor without the pronounced turnip twang. Win!

If you’re still unsure, let me give you a little firm-but-polite nudge. Put your support-the-farmers-money-where-your-mouth-is, step outside your comfort zone and bring a variety of vegetables and meat cuts into your home. Buy the turnips, grab and cure the pork jowl and let’s get these overlooked items onto your plate! 

Pro tip: Save all your resulting veggie peelings to make stock. Keep a freezer bag in your freezer and add onion, carrot and celery peelings/ends until it’s full. Mushroom stems, some potato peelings and herbs stems are other great additions, but steer clear of brassica items (cabbage, kale, broccoli, etc.). Once the bag is full, add to a large pot or stock pot with leftover bones, cover with water, bring to a boil and simmer on low for three to four hours (or longer if you wish). Add water as needed to keep ingredients covered while they cook. Strain and enjoy!

INGREDIENTS
2 turnips, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 pounds carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 large onion or several small, coarsely chopped
2 stalks celery, leaves removed and saved, cut into large chunks
2 heads of garlic
1 handful of roasting blend of fresh herbs, chopped (or more to taste)
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 slices guanciale or thick-cut bacon, sliced into lardons (small strips or cubes)
6 cups stock
½ lemon, juiced

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 425.
  2. On a large rimmed sheet pan, layer all the vegetables in a single layer, using two pans if you must (you won’t get the charred edges with an overcrowded pan). Drizzle with oil, season aggressively with salt, pepper, and herbs. Toss to coat. Roast in the oven for about 30 minutes until charred in spots, flipping and rotating pan halfway through cooking time.
  3. While the vegetables cook, mince the celery leaves and place in a small bowl. Add lemon juice and cracked black pepper. Mix thoroughly, set aside.
  4. In a large soup pot set over medium heat, crisp the jowl or bacon pieces. Remove from heat, set aside. Remove all but 1-2 tablespoons of the fat from the pot. 
  5. When the vegetables are done, place in a high-power blender with 2 cups of stock and puree until smooth. Alternatively, put vegetables and stock into the soup pot and use an immersion blender to puree.
  6. Pour the puree into the soup pot and set to low heat. Add the rest of the stock and simmer over low heat for 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to come together. Adjust seasoning to your liking.

To serve: ladle soup into bowls. Top each with crispy guanciale or bacon pieces and a scoop of the celery leaf salad. I also was thinking a chili oil would perk it up nicely as well. Enjoy!

Substitutions: The vegetables are pretty interchangeable here. Try rutabaga, squash — whatever you’ve got in the fridge that needs to be used. If you’re vegetarian/vegan, replace the pork with chickpeas roasted in a hot oven until crispy and browned.