Cabbage with Pistachio, Anchovy, Citrus

Name: Cabbage with Pistachio, Anchovy, Citrus
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 3 small baby cabbages (blanched twice and then grilled); 1 fennel (sliced); 1 leek (white only sliced); 1 tangerine (zested); 1 1/2 cup tangerine juice; 4 tbsp olive oil; 4 tbsp butter; 3 tbsp cream; 1 salt (to taste); 1 cup pistachios (roasted); 1 cup milk; 1 cup cream; 1/2 cup parsley leaves; 1 tbsp Anchovy paste ((store bought, or make your own)); 1/4 cup cabbage microgreens; 2 tbsp chive blossoms; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp Espelette (or Cayenne Pepper )

2.67 from 3 votes

This is a dish inspired by the salad I ate at Osteria Francescana, a three-Michelin-star restaurant based in Modena, Italy from world famous chef Massimo Bottura. I ate there with my cousins late last year and the meal was really great. The first course after the amuse bouche tastings was a “romaine” salad they might of called it a “Caesar” but it was anything but that.

They placed this salad in front of us and I immediately said ”this is probably the best salad you will ever have, or at least it better be”. Typically if you are eating in one of the worlds best restaurants the last thing you want to eat or order, is a salad. Let me tell you that this was not your ordinary salad. It takes them roughly 20 minutes to plate this salad.

Under each leaf is flavors of anchovy, citrus, cream, pistachio and probably a few other ingredients I have forgotten. They also spray each of the leaves with the dressing. Without a doubt it was the best salad I have ever had and probably ever will have. Visually it looked just like a plain baby romaine salad.

I took that same idea as far as flavors are concerned and used it for some baby cabbage that I bought at the farmers market. I cooked it gently a few different times and then topped it with a fennel-orange puree, pistachio butter, and anchovy puree. JP absolutely loved this and thought it was really amazing. Here is the cabbage recipe I hope you enjoy it! If you like this one try out another cabbage recipe with harrisa here!

Ingredients

6 people

Cabbage

3 small baby cabbages blanched twice and then grilled

Fennel Orange Pureé

1 fennel sliced
1 leek white only sliced
1 tangerine zested
1 1/2 cup tangerine juice
4 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp butter
3 tbsp cream
1 salt to taste

Pistachio Butter

1 cup pistachios roasted
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
1/2 cup parsley leaves

Garnish

1 tbsp Anchovy paste (store bought, or make your own)
1/4 cup cabbage microgreens
2 tbsp chive blossoms
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Espelette or Cayenne Pepper

Nutritional information

Calories: 384kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 9gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 295mgPotassium: 682mgFiber: 4gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1871IUVitamin C: 38mgCalcium: 172mgIron: 2mg

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 5

Servings 6 people

For the Cabbage

Blanch the cabbages whole for 3-4 minutes in pot of salted boil water. Then take out using a skimmer or slotted spoon and cool. Then cut in half and blanch again for 3-4 minutes. Take our and place face down on a plate.
When cooled completely then oil lightly, season with salt, and grill for 2-3 minutes just to give it a little grill and smoky flavor. Set aside to cool.

For the Pistachio Butter

Place pistachios, cream, and milk in a pot. Bring to a boil and then turn down to light simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes and strain out the liquid. Place the pistachios into a blender with the parsley leaves.
Add roughly 1/3 cup of liquid back into the blender. Blend until completely smooth, you might need to add more liquid if it is too thick. Season with salt and place in a squirt bottle.

How to make Fennel Orange Puree

In a small sauce pot on medium heat add 2 tbsp of butter and olive oil. Add the leek, fennel, and 2 pinches of salt to the vegetables. Cover and cook for 10 minutes allow the vegetables to cook but not brown. Then add your zest and tangerine juice.
Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Add the cream and cook for 3 minutes. Then place everything into a vitamix or blender and puree until smooth. I added a little more butter and olive oil to smooth out the sauce and make it a little richer. Season with salt. and set aside to cool. When room temperature pour the sauce into a squirt bottle.

To Finish

Place cabbage in the oven on a sheet pan for 3-5 minutes just to warm up. Take out and add dots of pistachio, fennel puree, and anchovy paste all over the cabbage. The anchovy should just be small amounts because of the strong flavor.
Then drizzle the cabbage with olive oil. Garnish with micro cabbage, chive blossoms, and espelette or cayenne chile powder. Serve and enjoy!