Cast Iron Skillet Cooking

For years, I'd heard others gush over the joys of cast iron skillet, and wondered what all the fuss was about. Then, about a year or so ago, I broke down and bought one. Wow! If you're cooking anything that you might want a little bit of a crust on – veggie burgers (or hamburgers, if you're so inclined), corn bread, what-have-you – then nothing beats a cast iron skillet.

While wandering through TheKitchn's website, I found two extremely helpful articles dealing with cast iron skillets. The first one, titled “How To Season a Cast Iron Skillet”, shows how to season your cast iron skillet before using it. The second article, which is also extremely helpful, is titled “How to Restore a Rusty Cast Iron Skillet”.

There's also a third article to read through if you're wondering whether to buy a cast iron skillet, especially if you're worried about using one. I'd wondered if I could cook certain foods in a cast iron skillet, or how to use one. Check out “5 Myths of Cast Iron Cookware”. Finally, one last link to check out from The Kitchn: 35 Ways to Love Your Cast Iron Skillet. Tips and recipes for using your cast iron skillet.

And now for today's six vegetarian recipes, including Cheddar-Tarragon Cornbread and Deep-Dish Skillet Pizza. Enjoy!

WHOLE ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH ALMOND-HERB SAUCE

This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This striking dish has become a modern classic, as chefs around the world are working out new ways to push vegetables into the center of the plate. It makes a lovely vegetarian main course after a pasta intro, or a gorgeous side dish for lamb or fish. Omit the anchovies [see Note] in the sauce, and it becomes entirely vegetarian; replace the butter with more olive oil, and it turns vegan. Try using pale orange, green or purple cauliflower, or a head of spiky, psychedelic Romanesco. Carve it at the table, just like a roast, for maximum impact.”

Note: I've omitted the anchovies in the ingredient list...Never liked 'em, before I was a vegetarian. Since they were listed as optional, I've left them out. If you want to check out the recipe with the anchovies included, you can follow the link (posted in just a minute...) and view it there.

Time for this recipe is about 2 hours; makes 2 main course servings, or 4 to 6 side dish servings. To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

FOR THE CAULIFLOWER:

1 large cauliflower

Olive oil

Salt

FOR THE SAUCE:

1/3 cup blanched almonds

2 garlic cloves, peeled

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for basting

2 teaspoons wine vinegar (white or red), more to taste

1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley, mint, tarragon, cilantro or a combination

1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Salt and ground black pepper

Preparation

Heat the oven while you prepare the cauliflower: Place a heavy oven-proof skillet (a cast-iron skillet looks very nice) or a baking sheet in the oven and turn the heat to 375 degrees. Place a small pan of hot water on the floor of the oven, to create steam.

Break off and discard the outer leaves from the cauliflower. Cut off the bottom of the stem, and then use the tip of a small, sharp knife to cut off the leaves close to the stem. Carefully cut out the hard core of the cauliflower, near the bottom. Leave the main stem intact and make sure not to cut through any of the florets.

Rinse the cauliflower (leave the water clinging to the outside) and place on a work surface, core side up. Drizzle with olive oil and use your hands to rub over the cauliflower until evenly coated. Sprinkle with salt.

Place the cauliflower on the hot pan in the oven, core side down, and cook until very tender all the way through when pierced with a knife, at least 1 hour or up to 2 hours. During the cooking, baste 2 or 3 times with more olive oil. It should brown nicely. If you have a convection feature, use it toward the end of baking to brown the crust.

Make the sauce: In a small frying pan, toast nuts over low heat, shaking often, just until golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool.

In a food processor, combine almonds, garlic and butter and pulse until smooth. Mix in oil, then vinegar. Mix in herbs and red pepper flakes, if using. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

When cauliflower is tender, remove from the oven. (If desired, run it briefly under the broiler first to brown the surface; there is no need to do this if you used convection.)

Serve cauliflower in the skillet or from a serving plate. Cut into wedges and spoon sauce around each wedge.

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN SPICE CAKE

This comes from the February 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 37. It begins, “This moist spice cake is a great alternative to the butter-laden upside-down cakes of yesteryear.” Serves 8.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pineapple-upside-down-spice-cake/.

Topping

2 Tbs. butter

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 20-oz. can juice-packed sliced pineapple rings, drained, 1/4 cup juice reserved

3/4 cup dried cranberries, divided

Batter

2 large eggs

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened apple butter

1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk

3 Tbs. vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. ground allspice

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 12-inch cast iron skillet with cooking spray.

To make Topping: Melt butter in skillet, add sugar, and cook 2 minutes, or until sugar is bubbly, stirring constantly. Stir in reserved pineapple juice.

Arrange pineapple rings on bottom of skillet, and place 2 dried cranberries in center of each ring.

To make Batter: Whisk together eggs, brown sugar, apple butter, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla in bowl. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and allspice in separate bowl. Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, and stir in remaining dried cranberries.

Spread Batter in skillet, and bake 30 minutes, or until top is set and brown. Cool 10 minutes. Place large plate over skillet, and invert cake onto plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 441; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 85 g; Cholesterol: 61 mg; Sodium: 595 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 56 g

DEEP-DISH SKILLET PIZZA

This also comes from page 37 of the February 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Try this homemade pizza technique with your favorite toppings as well.” Serves 6.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/deep-dish-skillet-pizza/.

Dough

1 tsp. light brown sugar

1/2 pkg. dry yeast (1/4 oz.)

3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 Tbs. flax meal or ground flaxseed

2 tsp. olive oil

3/4 tsp. salt

Topping

2 Tbs. olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

8 cups loosely packed kale

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 tsp. ground fennel seed

2 Tbs. Neufchâtel cheese (2 oz.)

1 cup crumbled feta cheese (4 oz.)

12 cherry tomatoes, halved

2 Tbs. chopped fresh oregano or basil

To make Dough: Dissolve brown sugar in 1/2 cup warm water in large bowl. Stir in yeast, and let stand 5 minutes, or until liquid is cloudy and bubbly. Stir in whole-wheat flour, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, flax meal, oil, and salt. Knead 2 minutes while adding 1/4 cup flour. Oil separate bowl, and turn dough in oil to coat. Cover, and let rise in warm spot until dough doubles in size, about 45 minutes.

To make Topping: Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add garlic, and sauté 2 minutes. Add kale, cover, and cook 15 minutes, or until kale is softened, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms and fennel seed, and cook 7 to 10 minutes more, or until all liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat, and stir in Neufchâtel cheese.

Preheat oven to 475°F. Oil bottom and sides of 12-inch cast iron skillet. With floured hands, pat and stretch Dough over bottom and halfway up sides of skillet. Let dough rest 5 minutes. Spread kale mixture on dough; scatter feta cheese, tomatoes, and oregano on top. Place skillet directly on oven floor, and bake 15 minutes. Remove carefully from oven, and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 274; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 14 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Cholesterol: 24 mg; Sodium: 566 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 4 g

CHEDDAR-TARRAGON CORNBREAD

This comes from Country Living, and begins, “Use your cast-iron skillet to make this Cheddar cheese- and tarragon-laced cornbread.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Moderate: Yield: 6 slices.

To view this online, go to http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/recipes/a3349/cheddar-tarragon-cornbread-recipe/.

Ingredients

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. yellow cornmeal

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3 tbsp. sugar

1 stick unsalted butter

1 c. Buttermilk

2 large eggs

4 oz. sharp Cheddar

1 tsp. chopped fresh tarragon

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and sugar; set aside.

Place butter in a 9-inch cast-iron skillet; set in oven until butter melts and begins to brown. In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk and eggs. Remove skillet from oven and pour melted butter into buttermilk mixture; whisk to combine and add in Cheddar and tarragon.

Stir buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients until just combined. Pour into hot skillet and return to oven. Bake until skewer inserted into center tests clean, about 20 minutes.

JASON'S HOME FRIES

This is one of my oldest son's inventions. He fixed this on one of his many trips back home. This can also be found in my e-cookbook, Off The Wall Cooking.

3-4 potatoes, scrubbed, not peeled

3-4 T butter or oil (or both)

1 pepper (red, green or yellow), diced

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced (optional)

Cut potatoes across (not length-wise). Heat oil or butter. Add potatoes, onions, pepper & garlic. Cover, cook over medium heat, turning occasionally with a spatula, until brown & crusty.

SPINACH FRITTA

I fixed this one evening when I wanted something quick, easy and filling. You can use any veggies and cheese you like, but I'm adding the ones I like. This is enough for two people.

4 eggs

2-4 Tablespoons milk

1 onion, chopped

1 pepper, chopped

1 potato, peeled and diced

1/2 bag of spinach (10-16 ounce bag), rinced

1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese

margarine for pan

salt and pepper to taste

Melt margarine in an oven-proof pan over medium heat on the stove. Add veggies, cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently. Crack eggs in bowl, add milk, and beat. Pour eggs over veggies. Do NOT stir all the way through like you would with scrambled eggs, but do occasionally stir the top layer of liquid-y eggs, letting the bottom layer set. Add the shredded cheese and salt and pepper, then place a lid to help the eggs cook more evenly, lifting the lid only to stir the top layer so that it cooks evenly. When the eggs are almost completely done cooking, turn the oven's broiler on and place the pan--WITHOUT THE LID!--under the broiler, and broil for 1-2 minutes. Take out of oven, using care, as the handle will be very hot. Cut the frittata in half, place on plates, and enjoy!