There's something intoxicating about the first zucchini of the season. It's
sweet and oozes lovely clear juice that reeks of summer. It's a harbinger of the
fabulous bounty yet to come. And it's damned tasty.
I could've called this "Chicken with Green Vegetables" but I like the Asian-flavored
backward-syntax description better, even though the flavor of this dish will
most probably evoke the Italian cuisine for most people. And there're
mushrooms; they're not green. Suffice it to say, however, that it's important to
resist the temptation to add carrot slices or a few pieces of red pepper.
I made this last night and am now compelled to share the insane simplicity
and utter deliciousness of this dish with you...
Green Vegetables Chicken
A zucchini squash, washed, halved, seeded and sliced very thinly cross-wise
to make little crescent-shaped pieces
A big fat sweet onion, cut up in your favorite size
4 ribs of celery, washed thoroughly and sliced into 1/2" chunks
Mushrooms; white, cut-up. No need for exotic nor fragrant varieties...
A handful of baby spinach leaves, washed thoroughly and shaken of excess
water
Chicken (I used white meat but you can certainly use thighs or legs; the
flavor will be better with dark meat)
2 Tbs. Colman's dry mustard reconstituted with a Tbs. of plain, white
vinegar
At least four (but better eight) cloves of garlic, peeled and minced (or
smooshed with your knife)
1/2 Cup white wine (I used Pinot Grigio)
Basil flakes (or fresh leaves of the herb, sliced into chiffonnade)
Olive oil (not extra-virgin) for sauteeing
Method:
Fire up a frying pan until olive oil placed in it smokes a bit (but not
violently).
Add all the veggies and stir-fry rapidly. Season with salt and pepper.
After you've put a burn on some of the vegetables, take 'em out (use a slotted spoon so as to
leave the veggie-scented oil in the pan) and set them
aside on a plate. Don't wash the pan.
In a bowl large enough to hold the chicken place the chicken, mustard,
garlic, wine and basil. Season with salt and pepper. If you have time let the
chicken sit in this mixture a while before putting it in the frying pan.
Fire up the frying pan again and slop the chicken mixture in there and cook
at a very high level of heat, so that the chicken is seared on the outside
(light amber color) and yet not too well-done inside. The chicken should brown
very slightly at the same time the wine's sizzling away into vapor. Try not to
blacken the garlic, however; this will render it bitter. Right before you think
the chicken's done, add the plate of vegetables and stir to heat through. Serve
this all by itself, with rice or with the pasta of your choice.
I tried to gild the lily by adding some shredded Pecorino (Romano) cheese to
some of it. The dish is far more summery if you can resist the temptation to add
cheese, or butter for that matter.