Spicy Slaw with Radicchio & Green Mango

If you like crunchy slaw, serve this right away. If you prefer a softer cabbage texture, let the slaw rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

• 2-1/2 Tbs. rice vinegar
• 2 Tbs. mayonnaise
• 1-1/2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbs. soy sauce
• 1 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 1 Tbs. peeled and finely grated fresh ginger
• 1 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2-1/2 cups thinly sliced radicchio (about one-half head)
• 2-1/2 cups thinly sliced Savoy cabbage (about one-quarter head)
• 2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (about one-quarter small head)
• 1 heaping cup matchstick-cut green (unripe) mango (about one-half mango)
• 2 medium scallions (white and light-green parts only), thinly sliced on the diagonal

In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar, mayonnaise, olive oil, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and serrano. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Put the radicchio, both types of cabbage, mango, and scallions in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Red Potato, Cabbage, Bacon & Gruyère Gratin

Serve this hearty gratin with roasted chicken, sausages, or pork.

For the topping:

• 4 strips thick-cut bacon, diced
• 1-1/2 cups fresh coarse breadcrumbs (from an airy, crusty loaf like ciabatta)
• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
• Kosher salt

For the gratin:

• 3 Tbs. unsalted butter, plus 1/2 tsp. for the dish
• 10 oz. Savoy cabbage, chopped (about 5 cups of roughly 3/4-inch pieces)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 heaping Tbs. minced garlic
• 3/4 cup homemade or low-salt chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1-1/4 lb. red potatoes (4 medium), unpeeled
• 3 oz. grated Gruyère

Make the topping:

In a large saucepan, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until very crisp. With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Pour the fat out of the skillet and reserve the skillet (don’t clean it). Mix the breadcrumbs with the melted butter until well combined; add a pinch of salt and the bacon bits and set aside.

Prepare the gratin:

Heat the oven to 350°F. Rub a shallow 2-qt. gratin dish with 1/2 tsp. of the butter.

Over medium-low heat, melt the remaining 3 Tbs. butter in the pan in which the bacon was cooked. Scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan as the butter melts. Add the cabbage and season with about 1/4 tsp. salt and some pepper. Turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is wilted and beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and the cream, stir and scrape the pan, and remove from the heat.

Assemble and bake the gratin:

Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and slice the halves thinly. Put the potatoes in a large bowl with a scant 2 tsp. kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add the cabbage mixture, scraping the pan well. Add the Gruyère and, using a rubber spatula, mix gently and thoroughly. Scrape the mixture into the prepared gratin dish, smoothing and pressing until evenly distributed. Cover with the breadcrumb topping and bake until the topping is well browned and the potatoes pull away from the edges and are just tender enough to poke through with a fork, about 1 hour. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Caramelized Cabbage on Creamy Polenta

A good-quality aged cheese is wonderful in this dish. Taste the cheese before you use it to be sure it isn’t too salty. If you’re doubling the recipe, double the cooking time. You can keep the “pie” hot over simmering water for up to half an hour, but it doesn’t reheat well.

• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 lb. chopped pancetta
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small sprig rosemary, chopped
• 2 lb. green, white, or Savoy cabbage, cored and thinly shredded
• 2 tsp. salt; more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• About 3 Tbs. dry white wine (or water); more if needed
• A few drops balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup medium-coarse cornmeal, preferably organic stone-ground
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbs. butter
• 2 oz. finely grated Asiago or Pecorino Romano

Prepare the cabbage:

Heat the 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil in a wide, deep saucepan over medium heat. Add the pancetta, garlic, and rosemary and sauté until the pancetta and garlic soften, about 4 minutes. Add the cabbage, 1/2 tsp. of the salt, the pepper, wine, and 1/4 cup water; toss to coat thoroughly. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 1 hour, adding a little more water or white wine whenever the cabbage seems too dry or begins to brown too fast, checking about every 5 minutes (the cabbage should stew slowly and brown lightly). After about 1 hour, uncover and cook, stirring, until the cabbage is meltingly tender, lightly caramelized, medium brown, and somewhat dry to the touch, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar, taste, and adjust seasonings.

Meanwhile, prepare the polenta:

Heat the oven to 350°F. In an oiled 3-qt. nonstick ovenproof skillet, combine the cornmeal, 4 cups water, the 1/2 tsp. olive oil, and the remaining 1-1/2 tsp. salt; stir briefly. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, give the polenta a good stir, and return the pan to the oven to bake another 5 minutes. Stir in the butter and half of the cheese. Pour the polenta into a greased 9-inch heatproof dish, cover evenly with the cabbage, and scatter the remaining cheese on top. Bake until the tips of the cabbage are brown and crisp, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Red Potato, Cabbage, Bacon & Gruyère Gratin

Serve this hearty gratin with roasted chicken, sausages, or pork.

For the topping:

• 4 strips thick-cut bacon, diced
• 1-1/2 cups fresh coarse breadcrumbs (from an airy, crusty loaf like ciabatta)
• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
• Kosher salt

For the gratin:

• 3 Tbs. unsalted butter, plus 1/2 tsp. for the dish
• 10 oz. Savoy cabbage, chopped (about 5 cups of roughly 3/4-inch pieces)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 heaping Tbs. minced garlic
• 3/4 cup homemade or low-salt chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1-1/4 lb. red potatoes (4 medium), unpeeled
• 3 oz. grated Gruyère

Make the topping:

In a large saucepan, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until very crisp. With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Pour the fat out of the skillet and reserve the skillet (don’t clean it). Mix the breadcrumbs with the melted butter until well combined; add a pinch of salt and the bacon bits and set aside.

Prepare the gratin:

Heat the oven to 350°F. Rub a shallow 2-qt. gratin dish with 1/2 tsp. of the butter.

Over medium-low heat, melt the remaining 3 Tbs. butter in the pan in which the bacon was cooked. Scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan as the butter melts. Add the cabbage and season with about 1/4 tsp. salt and some pepper. Turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is wilted and beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and the cream, stir and scrape the pan, and remove from the heat.

Assemble and bake the gratin:

Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and slice the halves thinly. Put the potatoes in a large bowl with a scant 2 tsp. kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add the cabbage mixture, scraping the pan well. Add the Gruyère and, using a rubber spatula, mix gently and thoroughly. Scrape the mixture into the prepared gratin dish, smoothing and pressing until evenly distributed. Cover with the breadcrumb topping and bake until the topping is well browned and the potatoes pull away from the edges and are just tender enough to poke through with a fork, about 1 hour. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Tuscan Peasant Soup with Rosemary & Pancetta

• 5 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1-1/4 cups small-diced pancetta (about 6 oz. or 6 thick slices)
• 4 cups large-diced Savoy cabbage (about ½ small head)
• 2 cups medium-diced onion (10 to 12 oz. or 2 small)
• 1-1/2 cups medium-diced carrot (about 4 medium carrots)
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt; more as needed
• 2 Tbs. minced garlic
• 1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. minced fresh rosemary
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
• 7 cups homemade or low-salt canned chicken broth
• 2 15-1/2-oz. cans small white beans, rinsed and drained (about 2-1/2 cups, drained)
• 1 to 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs, toasted
• 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Heat 2 Tbs. of the olive oil in a 4- to 5-qt. Dutch oven over medium heat. When hot, add the pancetta and cook, stirring frequently, until quite shrunken, golden brown, and crisp (the oil will also be golden brown), about 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and with a slotted spoon or strainer carefully transfer the pancetta to a paper-towel-lined plate. Pour off and discard all but 2 Tbs. of the fat from the pan.

Return the pot to medium-high heat and add the chopped cabbage. Cook the cabbage, stirring occasionally, until limp and browned around the edges, about 3 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat again and transfer the cabbage to another plate.

Put the pot back over medium heat and add 2 Tbs. more of the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions, carrots, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and the vegetables are browned around the edges and beginning to stick to the bottom of the pan, 8 to 9 minutes. Add the last 1 Tbs. of olive oil, the garlic, 1 Tbs. of the fresh rosemary, and the ground coriander and cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, stir together, and cook the mixture 2 to 3 more minutes.

Return the cabbage to the pan and add the chicken broth. Stir well, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes to infuse the broth with the flavor of the vegetables. Add the beans, bring back to a simmer, and cook for a minute or two. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the remaining 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, and let rest a few minutes.

Taste the soup and add lemon juice to brighten it—you’ll want at least 1 tsp. Season with more salt if necessary and a few grinds of fresh pepper. Serve the soup hot, garnished with the reserved pancetta crisps, the toasted breadcrumbs, and the grated Parmigiano.

Red Potato, Cabbage, Bacon & Gruyère Gratin

Serve this hearty gratin with roasted chicken, sausages, or pork.

For the topping:

• 4 strips thick-cut bacon, diced
• 1-1/2 cups fresh coarse breadcrumbs (from an airy, crusty loaf like ciabatta)
• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
• Kosher salt

For the gratin:

• 3 Tbs. unsalted butter, plus 1/2 tsp. for the dish
• 10 oz. Savoy cabbage, chopped (about 5 cups of roughly 3/4-inch pieces)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 heaping Tbs. minced garlic
• 3/4 cup homemade or low-salt chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1-1/4 lb. red potatoes (4 medium), unpeeled
• 3 oz. grated Gruyère

Make the topping:

In a large saucepan, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until very crisp. With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Pour the fat out of the skillet and reserve the skillet (don’t clean it). Mix the breadcrumbs with the melted butter until well combined; add a pinch of salt and the bacon bits and set aside.

Prepare the gratin:

Heat the oven to 350°F. Rub a shallow 2-qt. gratin dish with 1/2 tsp. of the butter.

Over medium-low heat, melt the remaining 3 Tbs. butter in the pan in which the bacon was cooked. Scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan as the butter melts. Add the cabbage and season with about 1/4 tsp. salt and some pepper. Turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is wilted and beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and the cream, stir and scrape the pan, and remove from the heat.

Assemble and bake the gratin:

Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and slice the halves thinly. Put the potatoes in a large bowl with a scant 2 tsp. kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add the cabbage mixture, scraping the pan well. Add the Gruyère and, using a rubber spatula, mix gently and thoroughly. Scrape the mixture into the prepared gratin dish, smoothing and pressing until evenly distributed. Cover with the breadcrumb topping and bake until the topping is well browned and the potatoes pull away from the edges and are just tender enough to poke through with a fork, about 1 hour. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Caramelized Cabbage on Creamy Polenta

A good-quality aged cheese is wonderful in this dish. Taste the cheese before you use it to be sure it isn’t too salty. If you’re doubling the recipe, double the cooking time. You can keep the “pie” hot over simmering water for up to half an hour, but it doesn’t reheat well.

• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 lb. chopped pancetta
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small sprig rosemary, chopped
• 2 lb. green, white, or Savoy cabbage, cored and thinly shredded
• 2 tsp. salt; more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• About 3 Tbs. dry white wine (or water); more if needed
• A few drops balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup medium-coarse cornmeal, preferably organic stone-ground
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbs. butter
• 2 oz. finely grated Asiago or Pecorino Romano

Prepare the cabbage:

Heat the 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil in a wide, deep saucepan over medium heat. Add the pancetta, garlic, and rosemary and sauté until the pancetta and garlic soften, about 4 minutes. Add the cabbage, 1/2 tsp. of the salt, the pepper, wine, and 1/4 cup water; toss to coat thoroughly. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 1 hour, adding a little more water or white wine whenever the cabbage seems too dry or begins to brown too fast, checking about every 5 minutes (the cabbage should stew slowly and brown lightly). After about 1 hour, uncover and cook, stirring, until the cabbage is meltingly tender, lightly caramelized, medium brown, and somewhat dry to the touch, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar, taste, and adjust seasonings.

Meanwhile, prepare the polenta:

Heat the oven to 350°F. In an oiled 3-qt. nonstick ovenproof skillet, combine the cornmeal, 4 cups water, the 1/2 tsp. olive oil, and the remaining 1-1/2 tsp. salt; stir briefly. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, give the polenta a good stir, and return the pan to the oven to bake another 5 minutes. Stir in the butter and half of the cheese. Pour the polenta into a greased 9-inch heatproof dish, cover evenly with the cabbage, and scatter the remaining cheese on top. Bake until the tips of the cabbage are brown and crisp, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Red Potato, Cabbage, Bacon & Gruyère Gratin

Serve this hearty gratin with roasted chicken, sausages, or pork.

For the topping:

• 4 strips thick-cut bacon, diced
• 1-1/2 cups fresh coarse breadcrumbs (from an airy, crusty loaf like ciabatta)
• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted
• Kosher salt

For the gratin:

• 3 Tbs. unsalted butter, plus 1/2 tsp. for the dish
• 10 oz. Savoy cabbage, chopped (about 5 cups of roughly 3/4-inch pieces)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 heaping Tbs. minced garlic
• 3/4 cup homemade or low-salt chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1-1/4 lb. red potatoes (4 medium), unpeeled
• 3 oz. grated Gruyère

Make the topping:

In a large saucepan, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until very crisp. With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Pour the fat out of the skillet and reserve the skillet (don’t clean it). Mix the breadcrumbs with the melted butter until well combined; add a pinch of salt and the bacon bits and set aside.

Prepare the gratin:

Heat the oven to 350°F. Rub a shallow 2-qt. gratin dish with 1/2 tsp. of the butter.

Over medium-low heat, melt the remaining 3 Tbs. butter in the pan in which the bacon was cooked. Scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan as the butter melts. Add the cabbage and season with about 1/4 tsp. salt and some pepper. Turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is wilted and beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and the cream, stir and scrape the pan, and remove from the heat.

Assemble and bake the gratin:

Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and slice the halves thinly. Put the potatoes in a large bowl with a scant 2 tsp. kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add the cabbage mixture, scraping the pan well. Add the Gruyère and, using a rubber spatula, mix gently and thoroughly. Scrape the mixture into the prepared gratin dish, smoothing and pressing until evenly distributed. Cover with the breadcrumb topping and bake until the topping is well browned and the potatoes pull away from the edges and are just tender enough to poke through with a fork, about 1 hour. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.