Tag Archives: tomatoes

A Beautiful Nightshade

It sometimes surprises me when a standard recipe hasn’t come up on my radar. I’m one who doesn’t really like ground beef so I’ve never made stuffed peppers. I know, it seems odd to me too; most people eat them with enthusiasm. So when my wife asked me to make them, I wondered what I needed to change so I would be enthusiastic too? I immediately swapped out the ground beef for ground lamb. I also wanted them to be visually appealing, not buried under a bunch of cheese making the pepper unidentifiable. So instead of covering them with cheese I incorporated feta in the meat mixture, giving them a Greek theme. I gave them a little whimsy by standing them up with little hats, instead of cutting them in half and laying them down. The final product turned out so good I will have them on a regular rotation. Who knew? You can teach an old dog new tricks.

GREEK STUFFED PEPPERS

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 pound grass-fed ground lamb
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons Kosher salt, divided
  • 4-6 large colored sweet peppers (I like red & yellow), Cut the tops of at about 3/4 of an inch, removing the stem of each pepper, remove membranes and seeds.
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups tomato sauce, preferably homemade, divided
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup cooked rice, or other grain of choice
  • 8 ounces feta, crumbled

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Set oven rack to middle position.
  2. Depending on the number of peppers you are using, place the peppers cut side up, in a 8×8 or 9×13 baking dish. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place each pepper top on peppers. Cover with foil (shiny side toward peppers), and place in oven for 30 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add onion and saute stirring frequently, until translucent about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more; do not brown. Add ground lamb, salt, pepper and oregano and increase heat to medium-high, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon. Cook until mostly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 of tomato sauce, tomato paste and bring to a boil; reduce the heat to medium low, and cook, uncovered until meat is cooked through, 3-4 minutes. Add the rice, stir to combine. Take off heat and add feta.
  4. Remove peppers from oven and spoon the remaining tomato sauce around the peppers. Fill each pepper with meat mixture, and cover with the tops of each pepper. Bake for an additional 25 minutes.
  5. Spoon tomato sauce in shallow bowl, place a pepper on top of sauce, and spoon additional sauce over pepper. Serve hot.

“Good food & a warm kitchen, are what make a house a home.”

Let Them Eat Cake!

During these cooler autumn days, we often lean into our personal versions of comfort food. For many it’s soups, stews or casseroles. I enjoy casseroles and they can be delicious; but they often look like a blob of melted cheese. I’m someone who requires food to be good tasting, and visually appealing. As the saying goes, “you eat with your eyes.”

I’m a huge fan of Yotam Ottolenghi’s cauliflower cake and have made it several times. What a great way to present and eat vegetables. It covers all the bases. It’s creative, delicious and showy. So the other day when I picked up a beautiful head of savoy cabbage from the farmers market, I wanted to create something that showed off the deep veins in the leaves. Then it occured to me why not riff from the idea of cake, and make a cabbage roll on steroids? Well, it not only worked but will be on a regular rotation as the temperatures drop. Try it and see if you don’t agree!

STUFFED CABBAGE CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 large head of savoy cabbage
  • 2 lbs of grass-fed ground lamb
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 4 large cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 cup pecorino cheese, grated
  • 1 cup marinara sauce, or pasada
  • 1 cup cooked jasmine rice
  • 1 large egg
  • Olive oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Core and separate the leaves from the savoy cabbage, by gently lifting them from the bottom of the cabbage, one leaf at a time. Continue until all large leaves have been removed. This should yield approximately 10-14 leaves. Cook the leaves in a large pot of salted, boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain, and place them in an ice bath to cool them down. Drain once again and place on a kitchen towel, pat them dry and set aside.
  2. Grease the bottom and sides of a deep souffle dish. Place a large attractive leaf on the bottom of dish, allowing it to partially curl up the sides of the dish. Then take 4 additional leaves, and place them from the center and up the sides of the souffle dish covering all the sides.
  3. In a large skillet, cook the ground lamb until it’s no longer pink. Drain if necessary and place in large bowl.
  4. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet and saute the onion, garlic, carrots and red pepper until soft, then toss it all together with the meat in the bowl and add the cooked rice. Add the chopped parsley, 1/2 the cheese, tomato sauce, egg and salt and pepper. Stir to thoroughly combine.
  5. Place 1/4 of mixture on top of cabbage in souffle dish. pushing it to the sides of the dish, then cover with 1 or 2 cabbage leaves depending on their size. Repeat, using 1/4 of filling at a time, then covering with 1 or 2 cabbage leaves. You should have 4 individual layers. Top this with 1 or two cabbage leaves, and fold in any additional leaves that are hanging over the sides of the dish.
  6. Cover the cabbage with remaining half of pecorino. Place in a 375 degree oven for 1 hour. Let it rest for 15 minutes, then invert a serving plate over the souffle dish and flip it over. Cut in 6 slices and serve with additional marinara sauce or passata and additional cheese.

“Cabbage: a familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and wise as a man’s head.” —Ambrose Bierce

Flavor Bomb

We just returned from a trip up north, and of course it was off to the races on the farm. Our fall crops are coming in, while the summer crops are slowing down. It was an incredible year for our tomatoes. I’ve been putting up tomato sauce like a crazy woman! I wanted something simple tonight, while using up the last of our cherry tomatoes and newly ripened Carmen peppers. Although this skillet chicken dinner was served and on the table in just 45 minutes, it was NOT lacking flavor. If you have a cast iron skillet, use it. Next time I’ll even sprinkle some feta on the top. Served over rice it really hits the spot and soaks up all those incredible juices. This will definitely remain on rotation.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
  • Salt
  • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 4 Carmen peppers, or 2 bell peppers, seeded and chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup sherry vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon local honey
  • 1 pint red cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or Italian parsley
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
  • Cooked jasmine rice

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. One hour before preparing dish, pat dry your chicken thighs and dry brine by sprinkling generously with kosher salt on both sides. Set aside while you prep the rest of your meal.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet (cast iron if you have one) over medium. Add the onions and peppers and saute until onions are just soft. Add garlic slices and cook, stirring frequently until garlic is fragrant, about 3 minutes. Move cooked vegetables to plate and set aside.
  3. Pat dry chicken thighs, add additional oil to skillet and place chicken thighs skin-side down and sear without moving until the skin is golden brown, 6-8 minutes. Turn and cook the other side until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Pour out all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan.
  4. Add 1/2 water to the skillet stir and scrape to loosen any stuck bits. Stir in the sherry vinegar and honey. Cover with a lid or a piece of foil and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 8 minutes. Uncover, raise heat to medium-high and add the cherry tomatoes. Cook until they begin to split and soften, about 4 minutes. Take a potato masher and crush them to help create a sauce. Return the onion, pepper, garlic mixture to pan and stir to incorporate. Heat until the vegetables are warmed through.
  5. Remove from heat and add feta if using and chopped herbs. Serve in bowls over rice.

Serves: 4

“A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins.” –Laurie Colwin

Rustic Doesn’t Disappoint

Mediterranean and Eastern Europe are full of foods originating from rural areas. These dishes are an important part of their heritage. Each dish emphasizes the ingredients at hand. Creative cooks everywhere placed their imprint on each dish. Moussaka is one of those dishes.

Moussaka is a traditional Greek eggplant casserole made with eggplant (aubergines) and potatoes, a rich, tomatoey beef or lamb sauce, and topped off with a creamy bechamel sauce. In other words the ultimate comfort food. It is considered their national dish. Moussaka is to the Greek what lasagna is to Italians. Eggplant replaces the pasta sheets, so it is lighter than lasagna. The eggplant can be fried, roasted or grilled. I leave the potato out completely (creative license), and find grilling the eggplant provides a wonderful smokeyness to the dish that I prefer. This approach pairs well with ground lamb. Adding pecorino cheese to the bechamel sauce adds a richness that brings the dish together.

RUSTIC EGGPLANT MOUSSAKA

INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 large eggplants (about 1 lb a piece)
  • Kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

TOMATO LAMB SAUCE:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 large cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 lbs ground lamb (or ground beef if you prefer)
  • 1 14-ounce can of diced fired-roasted tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (you may substitute stock)
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced

BECHAMEL SAUCE:

  • 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 3/4 cup shredded Pecorino cheese, divided
  • 1 farm fresh egg, room temp, lightly beaten

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 400 F, or your gas grill on high. Cut eggplant into 1/3-1/2 inch disks and place slices vertically in large colander. Sprinkle liberally with salt and let drain for 1 hour. This step is important so your eggplant is less bitter. Rinse slices and pat dry, then brush each side with olive oil. If using the oven place slices on greased baking sheet (you may have to do this in batches) turning slices half way through. Roast until golden about 15 minutes. If grilling, turn grill down to medium and grill until golden and good grill marks have developed. Turn and repeat on other side. Set aside.
  2. In a medium-large pan with deep sides, saute diced onion in oil on medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes or until translucent. Add garlic, cook for 1-2 minutes (do not burn). Turn heat down to medium and add ground lamb and brown meat, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Drain excess fat. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, white wine, parsley, sugar, cinnamon, kosher salt and pepper. Stir and cover. Let simmer on medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Next in a small pot, heat the butter. Whisk in the flour and let cook on medium heat, while whisking for 3 minutes. It will start to smell nutty. Start adding milk a little at a time, whisking constantly until all two cups are incorporated and sauce is smooth. Continue to whisk and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and add nutmeg, 1/4 cup pecorino cheese, salt and pepper. Set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the egg, but do not add to sauce just yet.
  4. Divide your eggplant slices into three stacks, reserving the largest pieces for the top and bottom of casserole. The small pieces can be used for the middle layer which is concealed. In a greased 8 x 13 baking dish, Place one layer of eggplant, slightly overlapping pieces. Add half of the meat sauce. Add another layer of eggplant using smaller or slightly inconsistent slices. Cover with remaining meat sauce. Add the last layer of eggplant, again slightly overlapping the slices.
  5. Whisk in about 1/4 cup of bechamel sauce into the beaten egg (to temper it) then pour this back into the bechamel sauce, whisking until nice and smooth. Spread the bechamel sauce over the final eggplant layer.
  6. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of pecorino cheese. Place in a 350 F oven for 50-60 minutes, uncovered until beautifully golden. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Serves 6-8

“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.“

– Nikos Kazantzakis

Just Stuff It!

We all enjoy comfort food in the winter, but sometimes we want our dishes to look, well, pretty. Maybe it’s a special event like a birthday or anniversary, and we have a few more mouths to feed and our time is limited. I have the answer! This dish can be made in advance, it’s attractive to serve and will feed 4-6 people. It even freezes well if you want to make a double batch. Even picky eaters seem to enjoy it, and you can sneak a green vegetable in like spinach, to make the filling more interesting. Any guesses? I’m talking about jumbo pasta shells stuffed with spinach, ricotta and pecorino cheese.

Those of you who have followed this blog for a while know I’m keen on putting up tomato sauce during our growing season on the farm. However, you can save time by using a good quality marinara sauce of your choice. Make sure to read your labels and make sure that it doesn’t have a lot of added sugar. You want savory not sweet sauce. If you want more heat, add a few red pepper flakes and/or minced garlic to your sauce, or maybe some fresh basil or parsley. There are many ways to amp these commercial sauces to suit your personal preferences. You can also fill each shell easily by putting your filling in a sandwich bag and snip a corner. That way you can simply pipe in the filling in each shell without making a mess of it.

STUFFED PASTA SHELLS WITH SPINACH AND RICOTTA

INGREDIENTS:

  • 20-22 jumbo pasta shells
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • 1 16 ounce bag of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and excess moisture squeezed out
  • 16 ounces whole milk ricotta
  • 1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese, plus more for sprinkling
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Lemon zest from 1/2 fresh lemon
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for pasta water
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 16 ounce (2 cups) jar marinara sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Chopped parsley or basil, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. In a large pot of heavily salted boiling water, cook the pasta shells for 10 minutes, until al dente. Drain and drizzle a little olive oil to keep them from sticking together.
  3. Place the drained and squeezed spinach in a medium bowl. Combine with the ricotta, pecorino, garlic, oregano, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, egg, sea salt and several grinds of fresh black pepper. Spoon into a plastic sandwich bag (I put the bag in a quart canning jar to hold it upright). Cut the corner of the bag when ready to pipe filling into shells.
  4. Spread 3/4 (1 1/2 cups) of marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Pipe the filling into each shell and place in baking dish. Repeat until all your shells are filled. Spoon a little marinara sauce over each shell and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes.
  5. Let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with basil or parsley.

Serves 4-6

“Sometimes a little comfort food can go a long way.” –Benjamin Bratt

Old Is New Again

I love grain salads. They are visually appealing, nutritious, and satisfying. We eat a lot of tabbouleh, and salads made of wild rice, and quinoa. I discovered a new grain recently called Einkorn. It is the oldest known grain on earth. Einkorn is easier to digest and contains more protein and antioxidants than modern wheat. It can also be used by individuals that are gluten free. I say it’s a win, win. Personally, I love the chew and texture of this ancient grain. Although I enjoy this particular salad with Einkorn grain, you can also use spelt, kamut, regular wheat berries or quinoa. The choice is completely up to you, but you owe yourself the chance to enjoy this delicious ancient grain.

GREEK EINKORN SALAD

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups raw einkorn berries, soaked overnight, rinsed, drained and simmered in salted water for 30 minutes or until soft but still chewy. Let cool completely.
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1 medium red onion, chopped
  • 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 1 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, halved
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup capers, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

FOR THE GREEK VINAIGRETTE:

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons dark balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons local honey
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. To make the vinaigrette, place all the ingredients in a pint jar and shake vigorously. You can also place all the ingredients except your oil in a bowl, and slowly whisk in oil until emulsified.
  2. Place all your salad ingredients in a large bowl, except for the feta cheese. Pour vinaigrette over ingredients and stir to combine. Refrigerate a couple of hours.
  3. Place grain salad in attractive bowl and top with feta cheese.

Serves 6-8

“In the end, the world returns to a grain.”
― Dejan Stojanovic

Feeling A Little Spicy?

Can you tell that it’s pepper season here? I know there have been several posts showing their delicious versatility, so I’m hoping you can stand just one more. This week we’re doing Stuffed Poblano Peppers. These stuffed peppers are a hearty and satisfying Mexican style meal that is family friendly. The filling may make more than you will initially need. I usually freeze the remainder for future use in sweet bell peppers that are easy to come by later in the season. Either way, it’s sure to please.

The poblano pepper is a mild chili pepper, originating in the state of Puebla, Mexico. They are not as hot as a jalapeño, so they are perfect for Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking. Roasting them really brings out their great flavor. Poblanos are dark green in color, wide at the stem and narrow along the length of the pepper.

Traditionally, these stuffed peppers use ground beef, however I enjoy using Mexican chorizo in this dish. It adds a richness that compliments the poblanos. I have also tried a chicken-chorizo that was lower in fat than its pork counterpart that worked well. There is even a vegan chorizo by Friedas called “soyrizo”; all are viable options.

STUFFED POBLANO PEPPERS

INGREDIENTS:

  • 6 large poblano peppers
  • 1 pound Mexican chorizo, casings removed
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 cup cooked white rice
  • 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
  • 15 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
  • 15 ounce can tomato sauce (I use my homemade roasted tomato sauce)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Cut a slice off lengthwise in each pepper. Remove seeds and membranes. Place peppers in a single layer.
  2. Bake the peppers for 15-20 minutes, or until softened.
  3. Heat a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add the chorizo and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the chorizo is cooked through and no longer pink.
  4. Add the garlic and cumin, cook for 1 minute.
  5. Add the rice, beans, corn, tomatoes and 3/4 of the cheese to the pan. Remove the pan from the heat and stir to combine. Coat the bottom of a 13×9 pan with tomato sauce. Place pepper halves on top. Fill each half with filling. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  6. Return the peppers to the oven. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melted. Place 2 pepper halves in individual bowls, then top with tomato sauce and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Serves 6

“Mexican food is one of the best culinary experiences that people can have.” ~ Karla Souza

Skillet Chili Rellenos

As a vegetable farmer, I can or freeze a fair amount of food for our winter consumption. When the tomatoes and peppers are on, you will find me doing something for future use. Currently we are bombarded with peppers of all kinds. Poblanos, Hatch, jalapeños, pepperoncini and serranos. This week as I was grilling some poblano peppers for using in chili this winter, I thought why not use all this produce for something savory that won’t take a lot of time, yet has all the ingredients of one of my favorites, Chili Rellenos. Peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, we had it all on hand. I’ve been using the cast iron skillet that was handed down from my wife’s grandmother quite a bit lately. I love how it can go from stovetop, to oven to table (less dishes!). Bingo! I had our dinner plans.

Although I prefer to grill my peppers, you can also broil them in the oven on a sheet pan. Simply cut your peppers in half lengthwise and place them on a lightly oiled sheet pan, skin side up. Broil the poblanos about 15 minutes, until the skins char and blacken. They should puff up. Remove, place them in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap until they cool slightly. Then peel off the skins and discard along with the seeds and stem.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 6 roasted poblano peppers, peeled and seeded; cut into strips
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 jalapeños, minced
  • 1 medium white onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 fresh roma tomatoes, chopped or one 15 oz can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 6 large eggs
  • 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese or a combination of Monterey Jack and cheddar
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish
  • Sour cream for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Heat a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion and jalapeño and saute them for about 5-6 minutes to soften.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the tomatoes, oregano, ancho powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes on medium-low, until the tomatoes soften up and the mixture becomes saucy. Scoop half of the sauce into a bowl.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  5. In the same 12-inch skillet, layer half of the poblano strips and half of the cheese. Add the remaining sauce, then the remaining poblano strips, then half of the remaining cheese.
  6. Next, beat the eggs and pour the eggs over the mixture over the top of the skillet. Add the remaining cheese.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the eggs set and the cheeses are melted.
  8. Remove and let set for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

Serves 4-6

My favorite time of day is to get up and eat leftovers from dinner, especially spicy food. — David Byrne

A Big Bowl of Yummy

When we’re busy on the farm in the summer, it’s good to have some go-to salads that can be made in advance, and eaten over several days if need be. This a riff on tabbouleh, a Lebanese salad from the Middle East, made primary with bulgur and parsley. Bulgur is made from parboiled or steamed wheat kernels/berries that are then dried, partially stripped of their outer bran layer, and coarsely ground. The result of this process is a highly nutritious grain that cooks relatively quickly. There might be as many recipes for tabbouleh as their are cooks. The ratio of fresh parsley to bulgur is one of the reasons.

Traditionally tabbouleh is made with bulgur, tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, parsley and mint. Since we are vegetable farmers, I like to load mine up with additional ingredients like radish, grated carrot, and chickpeas. I also like to use a little more bulgur than they might use in the Middle East, making it packed with fiber rich whole grain, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

Although most recipes call for a medium-coarse, or #2 bulgur, I like to use a fine bulgur or #1 for my tabbouleh. If you enjoy a more chewy grain, use the #2 medium-coarse. Either way, 1 cup dried bulgur will yield 4 cups cooked bulgur. I buy my fine bulgur from a Middle Eastern grocery store. At any rate you can adjust proportions and ingredients to your personal preferences, however non-traditional it may be. Just don’t omit the bulgur or fresh parsley altogether. Tabbouleh, although best when fresh, will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

BRICKYARD FARMS TABBOULEH

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup bulgur, #1 or #2
  • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, sliced 1/4 inch, then quarter slices
  • 4 green onions, sliced using both white and green parts
  • 6-8 radishes, sliced
  • 2-3 carrots, peeled and shredded on large holes of box grater
  • 1 large bunch curly parsley, chopped
  • 6-8 large mint leaves, chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil (quality matters here)
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. If you are using fine or #1 bulgur: Place 1 cup bulgur in large bowl. Boil 2 cups of water and pour in over the bulgur. Let rest for 10-12 minutes. Fluff with a fork. I like to place it in the refrigerator for about an hour to cool it down. You can also just let it cool in the bowl.
  2. If you are using medium-coarse #2, place 1 cup bulgur in a heavy pot and add 2 cups water, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (optional). Bring to a boil, then turn down to low and cover. Cook for 12 minutes. Take of heat and let stand for 10 minutes more. Fluff with a fork. Let cool to room temperature or place in refrigerator for one hour.
  3. To the cooled bulgur add your halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber, green onions. radishes, chickpeas, grated carrots, chopped parsley and mint.
  4. In a separate bowl or pint mason jar, mix together the lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil. Mix with a whisk, or shake vigorously to emulsify. Pour 1/2 of dressing over tabbouleh. Mix thoroughly. Add additional dressing just before serving.

Serves 6-8

“What is more refreshing than a salad, when your appetite seems to have deserted you?” –Alexis Soyer

A Leg Up On Legumes

When it comes to food that is inexpensive, versatile, nutrient rich and a pantry staple, nothing can beat beans and legumes. They can be a base for anything from bowls, to entrees, to salads and soups. The two I use the most are chickpeas and lentils. They are cousins and their history dates back to 6000 B.C. Both chickpeas and lentils are still a staple in the Middle Eastern and Indian diets, and are featured in many cuisines throughout the world. They are considered a superfood as they are rich in protein, and are often used as a meat replacement in vegetarian diets. If paired with brown rice or a whole grain they are a complete protein.

Lentils come in a variety of colors, such as brown, green (lentils du Puy), gold, red and even black. Used in French bistro cuisine, they became a favored ingredient. Red lentils cook the fastest and break down quickly, while brown are typically used for soups. Green du Puy hold their shape and are favored for salads. Before using lentils, it is prudent to sort through them for unwanted pebbles or debris. I simply pour them onto a sheet pan and look them over, then transfer them to a wire colander and give them a rinse. The following recipe is beautifully earthy and comes together quickly, making it perfect for a week night. I usually make a large batch, since it freezes well. That way I can thaw a quart and have it on the table without much notice.

COUNTRY LENTIL SOUP

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 pound bag of brown lentils, picked over and rinsed
  • 8 cups vegetable stock (homemade if possible) or water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1-1/2 cup celery, sliced
  • 1-1/2 cup carrots, cut into small cubes
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend
  • 1 15.5 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes (I like Muir Glenn)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil on medium-high. Add celery, carrots and onions to pot and sauté until onions are soft, about 8-10 minutes. Add Italian seasoning and mix.
  2. Next add the rinsed lentils, and mix thoroughly. Add the vegetable stock or water and mix again. Bring to a boil, then cover slightly ajar and simmer on low for 40-50 minutes. Taste lentils to seen if they are soft. If not continue to simmer an additional 10-15 minutes or until done.
  3. Add the tomatoes and their juice. Mix, then heat about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Off heat, add red wine vinegar. Ladle into bowls.

Serves: 8-10

“Kindness is like snow—it beautifies everything it covers.” –Kahlil Gibran

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