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Utica Greens

Prep Time:

35 minutes

Cook Time:

35 minutes

Serves:

4

Level:

Advanced

About the Recipe

A NY Classic! have you had them yet?

Ingredients

  • FOR THE OREGANATO

    • ½cup extra-virgin olive oil

    • 1cup bread crumbs

    • ½cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated

    FOR THE GREENS

    • 1head escarole, about 1¼ pound, bottom removed, leaves separated and washed thoroughly to remove grit

    • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

    • 4slices prosciutto (about 2 ounces), sliced thin and cut into roughly 1-inch squares

    • 4 to 6hot cherry peppers (pickled will do if you can't find fresh), tops and seeds removed, broken by hand or chopped into 4 or 5 chunks

    • 2cloves garlic, minced

    • ½teaspoon kosher salt

    • ¼teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    • ½cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated, plus 2 or more tablespoons for garnish

Preparation

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl and set aside.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, prepare the oreganato: Mix the oil, bread crumbs and cheese until well blended. It should have the texture of moist beach sand. Set aside.

Step 3

When the water is boiling, blanch the greens until they are nearly limp but still a little firm, about 1 to 2 minutes. Plunge them into the ice bath to stop the cooking. Remove and drain them well in a colander or salad spinner, allowing them to remain moist but not dripping wet. Squeeze just a little of the moisture from them, then chop them into 2-inch pieces. Set aside.

Step 4

Heat the broiler. Coat a large pan with the olive oil. Over medium heat, sauté the prosciutto, cherry peppers and garlic until the prosciutto is browned and slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. (Lower heat slightly if garlic begins to brown too quickly.) Add the chopped greens to the pan, season with salt and pepper and stir to mix well.

Step 5

Add ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano and ½ cup of the oreganato. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently to blend, scraping the bottom of the pan to keep the oreganato from burning.

Step 6

Sprinkle another ¼ cup oreganato atop the greens. (Save leftover oreganato for use in another greens dish, or add it to baked chicken or shrimp.) Place the pan under the broiler and broil until the top browns, about 2 minutes. Remove from the broiler and sprinkle a bit more cheese on the dish. Serve immediately.

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