THE SPLENDID TABLES

HOW
TO
EAT
WEEKENDS
New recipes, stories
FROM PUBLIC RADIOS
&opinions
AWARD-WINNING FOOD SHOW

LYNNE ROSSETTO KASPER AND SALLY SWIFT

I N T RODUC T ION

We may not have known it at the time,

but the minute we put pen to paper for our last
book, The Splendid Tables How to Eat Supper, we
started writing this one, too. That book was about weeknight cooking,
and though quick, seat-of-the-pants suppers are a staple in both of
our lives, there was a lot we had to leave by the side of the road, like
a bunch of our favorite dishes. We decided those dishes meant for the
other two days of the week needed a book of their own.
What is eating weekends? We think of it as the luxury and the
pleasure of taking the time to make things from scratch because they
taste better than anything found on a supermarket shelf. Its about
spending a lazy afternoon in a new neighborhood where maybe we
dont speak the language, but can find new markets and restaurants.
Its about the excitement of weaving ourselves into other cultures, and
bringing them to our tables with our own hands.

I N T RODUC T ION

viii

One thing that separates Americans from the rest of the world is
that ultimately at our origins most of us are immigrants, a gift for
food lovers and opportunity to learn more about each other.
More people are finding their way to the stove today than in half a
century. As a nation, were rediscovering that cooking is the balm for
much of what ails us: its a way to save on food costs, a way to unwind
from the stresses of the day, a way to reconnect with those we care
about, a way to ensure that the foods we eat nourish us, and its a way
to escape without the expensive plane ticket.
By the time youre reading this, our radio show, The Splendid
Table, will have been on the air for nearly twenty years. You know
the saying about having a front row seat at the revolution? Thats what
we feel like.
We have seen how far Americas relationship with food has evolved.
We Americans know more about food than ever before. Given the
option, were no longer content to eat whatever supermarkets and
chain restaurants offer. Weve become demanding and are changing
the marketplace. We want authentic flavors, sound ingredients, and
foods that feed our minds as well as our bellies.
Cooks and noncooks alike have become more aware and curious
about the dimensions of food that arent obvious. We want to know
where our food comes from, how its grown, who grows it, under what
conditions, and how it arrives in our markets. Were now compelled to
debate the hard topics like school lunch reform, how government food
dollars are spent, and how to be certain that our food is healthily
raised and accessible, no matter where we are on the economic scale.
Terms like local, organic, and sustainable have a permanent place
in our vocabulary. A long-overdue revolution is taking place on
American platesin both what we eat and why.

I N T RODUC T ION

ix

Our American palates have changed as well. As we were working on

several of the more traditional recipes for this book, we noticed a
flatness in some. Were used to such rock-em-sock-em flavors today
that many of those older recipes didnt make the cut. But some did.
We debated for weeks about whether to include Renaissance
Lasagne (page 145). Its a recipe about which were both very sentimental, and its based on the sensuous and little-known tastes of the
Renaissance. Lynne devoted years to researching and studying that
period in Italy. In fact, she is on a first-name basis with Lucrezia
Borgia (the infamous yet beloved Duchess of Ferrara of the sixteenth
century). That research resulted in her masterful (Sallys word) first
book, The Splendid Table. It was that book and, in fact, that recipe,
that drove Sally to call Lynne all those years ago to make a radio
program. So you see the attachment, right?
Our dilemma was that the lasagne is a far cry from the tomato-andcheese-sauced version most of us know. This lasagne is a subtle blend
of cinnamon-scented meat rag and cream, and delicate sheets of
pasta. It should be served simplyalone, as a separate course. We
wondered, will it be too quiet for you? Will you like it?
This book brought us back to a love of quiet dishes. We realized that
simplicity can be just as satisfying as the constant pursuit of exotic
flavors and cutting-edge technique. That said, not everything in this
book is easy. Some of these recipes are projects that require time,
commitment, and patience. We promise you, though, that every one of
the monumental ones here is worth the time. They will pay you back
tenfold for the effort you invest, and we will be there to help with the
tricky parts. Remember that there is a reason these dishes are special.
Theres no reason to waste time, money, and energy on anything less
than extraordinary. We figure you feel the same way.

I N T RODUC T ION

And then theres realityshare the work if you can; lighten the load.
Look for the camaraderie of four or six hands together at the stove
and in the sink. Make a trip to the Indian market a weekend family
outing rather than a last-minute, solo, end-of-the-day scramble. Slow
down, take two days to prepare a meal, invite friends, and revel. Its
the weekend: let loose.
One of the reasons weve worked so happily together for so many
years is that both of us look for the intersections between food and
life. Were always looking to understand how what goes into our
mouths transcends taste. Its the driving force behind the radio show
and has brought about interviews with a fascinating mix of people
from every imaginable dimension of this force we call food.
With their stories and our own, we take you inside the bigger picture behind many of our recipes, including how, when, and why these
dishes are eaten on their home turf. Youll find history, lore, serving
and shopping guides, and menus celebrating the cuisines we Americans have come to yearn for.
Heres hoping that what you find on the following pages will make
you hungry, and bring new ideas and possibilities for new adventures.
But mostly, we hope it will inspire you to rediscover the simple joys
of cooking. The two of us take so much pleasure in it. And nothing
would make us happier than for the recipes weve assembled here to
help you do the same.

Lynne and Sally

I N T RODUC T ION

xi

We asked wine writer Michael Franz, editor and co-creator of Wine

Review Online (and Sallys husband), if he might come up with the
proper wines to set off some of these dishes. In a moment of uninformed generosity, Michael accepted. Now, after eighteen months of
tasting every dish in these pages, sometimes twice, and dealing with
our penchant for acidic flavors, spices, and chiles of all sorts (all usually
wines dire enemies), Michael offered us this introduction. And that
was before he got our profound thanks.

UNDERSTANDING
THE WINES IN THIS
BOOK
Testing wine pairings for the dishes in
this book was an interesting process
and also a bit of a workout.Many trips to
the basement for additionalbottles were
required after encountering flavors that
made me wonder whether my intuitive
picks could be bested by other wines.
Youll find a lot of complex dishes in
these pages, including a fair number
with tart, sweet, or spicy elements
that will stretch your palate while also
providing plenty of surprises on the
wine side of the equation. For example,
Chardonnay has become the whippingboy wine for many foodies in recent

years, and yet it matched beautifully

withfar more of these dishes than I
would have guessed.
Since the spirit of Lynne and Sallys
book is all about culinary adventure
and discovery, Ive tried to leave room
for you to experiment by offering
wine advice in general stylistic terms,
though Ive often provided a specific
wine as an example for those seeking
more precise guidance.
Cheers,

Michael Franz

I N T RODUC T ION

xii

SHOPPERS
Manifesto
Its no longer about just us. Buy food today and you might as well have
dropped a pebble in a pondthat purchase reverberates in the world.
Some of us believe were healthier for eating from local, organic, and
sustainable farmers and producers. Hopefully thats true, but eating
today touches the environment, the ethical treatment of people and
animals, the vitality of communities and their lands, and the value of
the small and unique. And yes, how we eat directly touches the people
we care about.
These days were all doing the best with what we have, but if at all
possible, please try to prepare these dishes with organic ingredients.
That USDA Certified Organic sticker isnt the perfect solution. But
for now, though, it is a better option than most.
In the best of all possible worlds, shop as close to the source as
possible. When we can, we get a lift from handing our money over to
the farmer who actually grew the lettuce.

Cucumber & Melon Salad

with Mint
| S erves 2 as a main dish and
4 as a first course or side dish

| 1 0 minutes prep time; 30 minutes rest time; 5 minutes

assembly time

Melons and cucumbers are naturals togethertheyre

practically siblings in the botanical worldbut cooks
rarely pair them. Here, they get Mediterranean attitude
with mint and garlic, making them into the coolest
possible essence of summer-in-a-bowl.
Partner this salad with anything pulled from the grill,
or have it as a light lunch on a bed of tender greens.
Obviously, the better the melon, the better the salad, but
dont be afraid to sweeten not-so-perfect melon with a
sprinkle of sugar.

2 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and cut into

1-inch pieces (about 1 cups)
Salt
1 garlic clove, halved
1 cups ripe cantaloupe or watermelon, seeded

and cut into 1-inch chunks

tightly-packed cup fresh spearmint leaves, torn
1 heaping tablespoon finely snipped chives or scallions
(green parts only)
1 tablespoon white wine, or to taste
1 tablespoon good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil, or to
taste
Freshly ground black pepper
to teaspoon sugar (optional)
cup crumbled young sheep cheese (Ricotta Salata,
Cacio di Roma, Pecorino, or feta)

T H E SPL EN DI D TA BL E

80

Cucumbers have a
shifty habit of giving off
liquid exactly when you
dont want them to. You
can beat them at their
own game by giving
them a 30-minute
salted rest in the fridge
before assembling this
salad (see recipe).

1. Sprinkle the cucumbers with salt, roll up the pieces in a double thickness of
paper towel, and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Unwrap and pat dry.
2. Rub a serving bowl with the garlic. Add the cucumbers, melon, spearmint,
chives, 1 tablespoon wine, and 1 tablespoon oil. Gently combine. Add wine, oil,
salt, pepper, and sugar (if using) to taste.
3. Serve topped with spoonfuls of crumbled cheese and eat immediately.

Watermelon: a good fruit.

You eat, you drink,
you wash your face.
Enrico Caruso

SOU P S A N D S A L A DS

81

Wedding Lamb Biriyani

| Serves 6 to 8

| 1 hours prep time;

1 hours stove time;
1 hour oven time

| T he lamb is at its best made at a leisurely

pace, with parts of the recipe done over a
couple of days (maybe by friends), and
then on the day you want to eat, you bake
the biriyani with the rice.

If the test of a great dish is that you taste something new and delicious with each
mouthful, then this northern Indian masterpiece is in the first ranks. Its specialoccasion food there and it should be for us, too.
Biriyani is a wonderful lesson in how to tease out unimaginable flavors from our
spices. Slow sauting as you add one ingredient after another keeps building flavor
upon flavor, which is what makes Indian food so glorious.

LAMB
Canola oil

3 to 4 medium to large onions, thinly sliced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 to 3 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed of
excess fat and cut into 1-inch cubes
Biriyani Spice Blend (recipe follows)
1 cups plain low-fat yogurt (not nonfat)
2 cups whole canned tomatoes with their liquid, crushed
Ginger-Garlic-Nut Pure (recipe follows)
RICE
4 cups basmati or other long-grain rice
4 tablespoons salt
teaspoon saffron threads, or a generous
teaspoon ground turmeric
cup milk
Unsalted butter for the baking dish

(recipe continues)
M A I N DISH E S

245

GARNISHES
cup canola oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium to large onion, thinly sliced
Salt

Carefully frying down

cup raisins
cup roasted cashews or almonds
1 recipe Yogurt Raita (recipe follows)

the ginger and garlic

pure as instructed in
step 1 is very important
to the balance of this

1. Make the lamb: One or 2 days before serving, place

a 12-inch straight-sided saut pan over medium-high
heat, coat it with a thin film of oil, and add the sliced
onions with a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper.
Saut the onions over medium-high to high heat until
they turn golden with lots of dark, crisp edges, about 6
minutes.
Push the onions to the edges of the pan and spread out
the lamb in the center. Reduce the heat to medium. Sear
the lamb on all sides. It will throw off some liquid; let it
cook away. Adjust the heat so the onions dont burn.
Once the meat is seared, stir in the spice blend and cook
until it is aromatic, about 3 minutes.
2. Add the yogurt to the lamb, cup at a time,
simmering each addition for 2 minutes, or until it
disappears into the saut. Stir in the tomatoes, the
ginger pure, and enough water to barely cover the
meat. Adjust the heat so the sauce simmers very slowly
and cook, uncovered, for 1 to 1 hours, or until the meat
is tender and the sauce is reduced and rich tasting.
There will be a generous amount of it.
3. Make the rice: The day the biriyani is served, rinse
the rice in several changes of water, until the water is
clear. Then soak the rice in enough water to cover (with
1 tablespoon of the salt added) for 30 minutes to 6 hours.
Drain.

dish. The paste, when

treated this way,
becomes thoroughly
caramelized and
ultraconcentrated, both
of which mean bigger,
bolder flavors.
Feel free to put your
imagination to work on
this biriyani. Substitute
vegetables or poultry
for the lamb, and use
whatever spices, nuts,
and fruits youd like.
Using the techniques
outlined here will
ensure youll have
flavor by the truckload.
For a complete menu,
you only need serve the
biriyani with Yogurt
Raita (page 250).

WINE Both red and white

work with this dish. Try a
Pinot Gris or a Pinot Noir
from New Zealand.
(recipe continues)

M A I N DISH E S

247

4. Lightly toast the saffron for 30 seconds to 1 minute in a small, dry saucepan
over medium heat. Immediately add the milk. Pull the pan from the heat and
set aside to steep for a minimum of 20 minutes.
5. Fill a 6-quart pot two thirds full of water. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons
salt and bring the water to a boil. Drop in the rice and cook it like pasta for
about 5 minutes, or until its tender but with a slight firmness. Drain in a sieve
immediately and spread the rice out on a towel or cookie sheet so it cools quickly.
6. Assemble the biriyani: Take the lamb out of the refrigerator and preheat the
oven to 325F. You are going to dome the lamb, covered with the rice, in a baking
dish; tent it with foil; and bake until its heated through.
Butter the inside of a shallow 3- to 3-quart baking dish. Mound the lamb in
the center and cover it with the rice, patting it with a spatula into a smooth dome.
Drizzle the rice with the saffron milk.
7. Tent foil over the dome so that it does not touch the rice. Seal it around the
edges of the dish, then bake the biriyani for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until it is hot
at its center.
8. Make the garnishes: While the biriyani bakes, prepare several layers of
paper towels on a baking sheet next to the stove. In a 10-inch skillet over
medium-high heat, warm the oil and butter and fry the onion until crisp. Lift the
onion out with a slotted spoon, spread on the paper towels, and sprinkle with salt
to taste. In the same oil, fry the raisins until they puff, and scoop them out onto
the towels. Finally, briefly fry the nuts until golden, then cool them on the towels.
You are done!
To serve the biriyani, remove it from the oven, lift off the foil, and scatter the
garnishes over the top. Serve it hot, making sure each helping has some of the
garnishes. Pass the yogurt raita.

T H E SPL EN DI D TA BL E

248

Biriyani Spice Blend

| Makes about 3 cups

| 10 minutes prep time

| C
 an be made a day ahead, covered,
and kept at room temperature.

8 whole cloves
8 whole green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
4-inch cinnamon stick, broken
1 generous tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Blend all of the ingredients in a small bowl.

Ginger-Garlic-Nut Pure
| Makes about 23 cup

| 1 5 minutes prep time; | This can be made up to 2 days ahead

20 minutes stove time
and refrigerated.

medium onion, cut into chunks

6 large garlic cloves
2-inch piece fresh ginger, cut into pieces
cup salted broken cashews
1 fresh serrano chile, or to taste
Canola oil
1. Make the pure by combining the onion, garlic, ginger, cashews, and chile in
a food processor and pureing to a paste. Generously coat the bottom of a 12-inch,
straight-sided saut pan with oil.

(recipe continues)
M A I N DISH E S

249

2. Heat the pan over medium heat, stir in the ginger-garlic-nut paste, and saut,
stirring and scraping up any brown bits that are sticking to the pan for about
18 minutes. Watch carefully that the paste doesnt burn. You want it to become
dark golden brown and have a rich, spicy aroma. Adjust the heat as needed, and
stir often. Scrape the paste from the pan, adding a little water to collect all the
glaze and browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Set the paste aside or
refrigerate it for up to 2 days.

Yogurt Raita
| S erves 6 to 8;
doubles easily

| 10 minutes prep time

| Keeps refrigerated, covered, up to 4 days

2 cups plain yogurt, whisked

1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and shredded
2 fresh green or red chiles, seeded and minced
1 garlic clove, minced
firmly packed cup mint leaves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
In a medium serving bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Serve chilled or at
room temperature.

T H E SPL EN DI D TA BL E

250