Kosher Remoulade

Linguini with Uncooked Sauce

Makes 6 servings as a first course.

Makes 4 servings as a main course.

Summertime is when this pasta is especially appealing because tomatoes are at their best. I serve it is at room temperature and leftovers are good as well.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (½ pound)
  • 3 garlic cloves, very finely chopped
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper, approx
  • 20 pitted Kalamata olives, halved
  • 2 tablespoons capers
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 ounces baby arugula, torn into pieces
  • 1 pound imported linguini
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

PREPARATION:

  1. Rinse the tomatoes, dry and cut in half. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Let stand while you are preparing the rest.
  2. Add the garlic, crushed red pepper, olives, capers, olive oil and arugula to the tomatoes.
  3. In a large covered pot, bring 5 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add 2 tablespoons salt and all the pasta at once, stir. Boil briskly, uncovered for 7-8 minutes; the pasta should be al dente.
  4. Toss with the tomatoes.
  5. Season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice.
 
 

Celery Root Remoulade

Makes 6-8 servings as a first course.

Despite the name, this vegetable has nothing to do with celery. It may appear as an ugly, knobby beige globe but it is crispy, with a delicate flavor of celery, parsley and a slight nuttiness. It is also full of vitamins and minerals.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 medium celery roots, about 2 pounds
  • 3 tablespoons homemade mayonnaise (recipe follows)
  • 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ cup loosely packed flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper 

PREPARATION:

  1. Drop celery root into boiling water. Cover and boil for 3 minutes. Drain and cool.
  2. Peel the root quite thickly to remove all the dark embedded spots (this rough looking vegetable is a bit tricky to peel).
  3. Cut the celery root into pieces that will fit into the feeding tube of a food processor fitted with the medium grating attachment. Press hard to try to obtain long, even matchsticks.
  4. Empty into large bowl.
  5. In a small dish, whisk mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
  6. Combine with grated celery root. Add the parsley and season to taste. Before serving adjust the taste and the texture, once again, as the dressing becomes absorbed.  

INGREDIENTS FOR MAYONNAISE:

This is a lightly seasoned mayonnaise which makes a good base for other dressings.

  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • ¼ teaspoon powdered mustard
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

PREPARING THE MAYONNAISE:

  1. Combine the olive oil and vegetable oil in measuring cup (the spout of the cup makes it easier to control the slow pouring).
  2. Place the egg, mustard and salt in a blender. Remove the plastic knob from the cover of the blender. Turn on the blender and after a second, add the vinegar.
  3. Pour the oil in a very slow stream. As the mixture begins to thicken, add the oil more quickly.

One word of caution: keep the blender running from the beginning of the process to the end, when all the oil has been added. When finished, transfer the mayonnaise to an airtight container and refrigerate.