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Plus, a recipe for an easy tomato confit and chickpea pasta.
Hi folks -
Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or you’re a new reader, I want to thank you for being a subscriber to on hand. Writing this newsletter is an enjoyable project that I work on outside of my day job (and sometimes during my day job — don’t tell my employers). It’s allowed me to chat with really interesting food and drink people and develop some fun recipes.
This newsletter is reader supported which means that every time you read, like, share, or become a paid subscriber, you help the newsletter grow and reach more readers and new brands. Writing this on top of a full time job can sometimes be chaotic because editing interviews and testing recipes takes a lot of time. But the full time job affords me the funds to test recipes for paid subscribers and do research (buying products from brands to try them, meeting chefs over dinner, etc).
So if you’ve enjoyed this newsletter and are interested in ways to support this work, I’ve got an easy way to do that: shop!
Many writers share links to products and they earn a commission if a purchase is made. Those links usually point to Amazon, which is not a place I shop, so I am excited to work with retailers where I actually spend money. Below are four places where you can shop for cookbooks from featured authors, products for your kitchen, decorations for your home, and spices for your cooking, all while helping out on hand.
Plus, as a thank you for reading and checking out these shops, I’ve got a free recipe for easy tomato confit and chickpea pasta for everyone to enjoy!
One of my favorite parts of writing on hand is the fact that I get to interview so many interesting food and drink folks, over a dozen of whom have written cookbooks. I’m a strong supporter of local bookstores and with Bookshop.org, you can shop from independent shops around the country. I’ve compiled a newsletter collection of cookbooks, and if you’re in the market for new cookbooks, this is a great place to start.
Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods, and I’ve purchased a lot of custom art, furniture, and kitchen tools, like this olive oil cruet, on the site. I cannot overstate how much I love Etsy, so I’ve curated a collection of some of my favorite things.
When I moved to New York City, I got a part-time job at Sur La Table helping with their cooking classes. Working there felt like going to culinary school because I learned so much. I bought a lot of things using my discount, many of which I still own and use frequently. This Zwilling bread knife is the best I’ve ever owned, I am obsessed with these Rösle locking tongs, and my Peugeot pepper mill looks gorgeous on my counter (and works great).
Burlap and Barrel sells single-origin spices sourced directly from small farms around the world, building new spice supply chains that are equitable, transparent, and traceable. Their products are so much more flavorful than any other brand I’ve used, and I’ve been really enjoying their toasted onion powder and purple stripe garlic. I will be buying peppercorns from them the next time I am out.
Tomato confit and chickpea pasta
This recipe came about because I needed an easy meal in the dead of winter. I pulled some of my confit tomatoes out of the freezer and threw them together with some pantry staples to make this stunner of a meal. Confit cooking can rescue boring out of season tomatoes, but it really sings if you have access to peak summer tomatoes.
Serves 4
For the confit
1 lb mixed small tomatoes
A few sprigs of thyme and/or oregano
Cloves from 1 head of garlic, peeled (less if you must)
Salt, to taste
Olive oil
For the pasta
Olive oil
1/2 breadcrumbs
1 clove garlic, grated
1 teaspoon (or more) red chili flakes (optional
Zest of 1 lemon
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 lbs of short noodle pasta
Parmesan cheese, to serve
Parmesan rinds, to toss in (optional)
Remainder of lemon to squeeze over the dish
Start by making the confit. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Put the tomatoes, garlic, and herbs in a shallow baking dish and sprinkle with salt. Cover with enough olive oil to almost completely submerge the tomatoes.
Place in oven and roast for 1-2 hours. This is vague, but at about 1 hour, the tomatoes should be starting to wrinkle and burst a bit. You could pull them out now or let them caramelize more - it’s really up to you! Remove and let cool a bit. Season with more salt if needed.
While the tomatoes are cooking, make the breadcrumbs. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a swirl of olive oil (about 2 tablespoons), and add the garlic and toast for about 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs, and a heavy pinch of salt, and continuously stir while the breadcrumbs toast. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, until the crumbs are a heavy golden brown. Remove from the heat and toss in lemon zest and red pepper flakes if using. Set aside in a separate container.
Wipe out the breadcrumb skillet and set over over medium-high heat. Add a swirl of olive oil and add the chickpeas. Let soften for about 2 minutes. Add the tomato confit and bring to a strong simmer, add the parmesan rinds if you have them, and let cook for at least 15 minutes (it’s ok if it goes longer).
While the tomatoes are simmering, boil a pot of water with two strong pinches of salt. Cook the pasta until just about al dente (reference the package instructions). When the pasta is done, scoop right into the pan with the tomatoes and beans, plus about a 1/4 cup of water. Stir well and bring to a strong simmer for about 1-2 minutes, until the pasta is done. You can add more pasta water if it starts to get too dry.
Divide among four bowls and top with breadcrumbs, parm, and a squeeze of lemon.