WILTED ESCAROLE WITH COUNTRY HAM AND CHILES

Wilted Escarole with Country Ham and Chiles image

Provided by Edward Lee

Yield Makes 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

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1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
2 ounces country ham or prosciutto, cut into matchstick-size pieces (about 1/2 cup)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 heads of escarole (about 2 pounds), leaves torn into medium pieces (16 packed cups)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
Ingredient info: Country ham can be found at specialty foods stores and virginiatraditions.com.

Steps:

Working over a small bowl, finely grate enough zest from lemon to measure 2 teaspoons. Cut lemon in half; squeeze juice into another small bowl. Set zest and juice aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring often, until garlic is beginning to turn golden at edges, about 2 minutes. Add ham; cook, spreading out ham with tongs to keep pieces from sticking together, until crisp, about 2 minutes. Add red pepper flakes; stir for 30 seconds, then add escarole. Cook, tossing escarole to coat in sauce, until wilted but not overcooked, 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Using tongs, transfer escarole to a serving dish. Add butter, lemon zest, and lemon juice to taste to pan. Cook, whisking, until a sauce forms. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle sauce over escarole.