Braised carrots with carrot-top sauce

Total time: 50 minutes, plus drying time for orange zest

Servings: 4

Note: Adapted from “Happy in the Kitchen” by Michel Richard

1 orange

8 carrots about 9 inches long and 3/4-inch in diameter (about 3/4 pound), with their greens

1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1 tablespoon sugar

Fine sea salt

Pinch of ground coriander

1/2 cup chicken stock

Finely ground black pepper

1 cup mâche, packed

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

Pinch granulated sugar

Freshly ground black pepper

1. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. With a vegetable peeler, peel the zest in strips from the orange, avoiding the white pith. Finely chop the zest, place in a small strainer and dip into the boiling water to blanch for 1 minute. Rinse the zest under cold water and drain it on a paper towel.

2. Spread the zest on a plate and allow it to dry at room temperature for 24 hours or in the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside. Squeeze one-half cup juice from the orange. Set aside.

3. Cut off the carrot greens and reserve. Peel and trim the carrots. In a sauté pan large enough to hold the carrots in a single layer, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the orange juice, sugar, a pinch of salt, the coriander and carrots. Bring to a simmer, then cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Add the chicken stock and simmer until the carrots are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 15 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of water to a boil and fill a medium bowl with ice water. Pick the leaves from the carrot greens and discard the stems. Break the leaves into 1- to 2-inch pieces. There should be about 1 cup of loosely packed greens. Blanch the greens in the boiling water for about 15 seconds. Drain in a strainer and immediately plunge the strainer into the ice water to stop the cooking. When the greens are cold, lift the strainer, drain well, and dry the greens on paper towels.

6. When the carrots are tender, transfer them to a plate and cover loosely to keep warm. If there is more than one-half cup of liquid remaining in the pan, return the pan to the burner and simmer to reduce it to one-half cup. Combine the cooking liquid and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a blender, add the carrot greens, and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (There will be about one-half-cup sauce.)

7. Gently toss the mâche with the oil, vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Serve the carrots family-style on a platter, arranging them in a bunch with the mâche at the top and the sauce poured along one side. Or serve two carrots per plate with a small mound of mâche and the sauce spooned onto the side. Sprinkle the carrots with the orange zest.

Each serving: 216 calories; 3 grams protein; 22 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams fiber; 14 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 30 mg. cholesterol; 133 mg. sodium.