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The Amazing Rice: Indian Rice With Red Lentils

partysugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:30:43 -0700

Like David Chang, I believe this year is all about rice. It's a delicious and ancient staple consumed by more than half the world's population. There are more than 7,000 varieties of rice and countless cultural preparations, so I've decided it's time to race around the world in the comforts of my own kitchen. Naturally I'm inviting you to join me on my rice adventures as I travel the globe experimenting with risotto, sushi, gumbo, and everything in between. To get things started, let's head to India with this rice and lentils with raita. It's healthy, fast, and delicious. Learn how I made it and read more.

Indian Rice and Lentils with Raita
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
5 whole black peppercorns
5 cardamom pods
5 whole cloves
2 dried red chiles
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup jasmine rice or other long-grain rice, rinsed
1 cup red lentils, rinsed
3 1/2 cups hot water
Kosher salt
1 medium cucumber-peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
1 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
2 jalapeños, seeded and very finely chopped
1 small garlic clove, very finely chopped
Freshly ground pepper

Directions

In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable oil. Add the sliced onions and cook them over high heat, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer half of the onions to a plate.

Add the peppercorns, cardamom, cloves, chiles and cinnamon stick to the onions in the saucepan and cook over moderately high heat for 1 minute, stirring.
Stir in the rice, lentils, water and 2 teaspoons of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to moderately low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the rice and lentils are tender.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the sliced cucumber with the yogurt, jalapeños and garlic and season with salt and pepper.

Gently fluff the rice and lentils with a fork and discard the whole spices. Transfer the rice to a platter, garnish with the reserved onions and serve with the cucumber raita.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Grilled Eggplant Salad

partysugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:45:48 -0700

Although jarred roasted red peppers are readily available in grocery stores, I find the flavor of fresh roasted peppers superior to their supermarket counterparts. During the Summer, take advantage of the grill and char them over the fire. The grill will impart a subtle smokiness that is hard to mimic in mass produced variations. When combined with grilled eggplants, the peppers make a delicious and filling salad.

Packed with plenty of fresh herbs, this vegetarian dish is a wonderful way to use up the bounty of a Summer harvest. To look at the recipe, read more.

Grilled Eggplant Salad
From Vegetarian Times magazine

Ingredients

2 red bell peppers
Extra virgin olive oil for brushing
2 large eggplants, peeled and sliced 3/8-inch thick
2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/3 cup chopped scallions
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbs. chopped fresh mint
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, or to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Prepare medium-hot charcoal fire, or preheat gas grill (or broiler).
Grill whole red peppers, turning occasionally, until completely charred, about 20 minutes. Place in plastic or paper bag to steam 10 minutes to loosen skins. Working over bowl to catch pepper juices, remove skin, seeds and stems, and discard all. Dice peppers, and set aside.
Brush oil onto one side of eggplant slices; place on grill, oiled side down. Cook until tender and grillmarked, 5 to 7 minutes. Oil tops, turn over and grill until tender, another 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to cutting board, and chop.
Combine eggplant, peppers and juices, tomatoes, scallions, parsley, cilantro, mint and garlic in large salad bowl, and toss to mix. Add lemon juice, and season generously with salt and freshly ground pepper.
Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more lemon juice, salt or pepper as needed. Serve at room temperature.

Serves 6.

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Come Party With Me: Vegetarian Thanksgiving - Menu (Part 2)

partysugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:28:33 -0800

No Thanksgiving is complete without a smorgasbord of sides to choose from, and this meat-free menu is no exception. There's no bacon, sausage, or pancetta to be found in these scrumptious side dishes, so vegetarians get your plates ready! All of these dishes pair nicely with the main dish: pumpkin lasagna. Start with a stuffing substitute in the form of a mushroom panzanella. Give mashed potatoes a gourmet makeover with caramelized shallots and fresh sage. Round out the menu with brussels sprouts and cranberry brown butter. Want a taste of these delicious recipes? Just read more

Mushroom Panzanella
From Michael Chiarello

Croutons:
1/4 cup unsalted butter
12 cups crust-free cubed day-old bread (1/2-inch cubes)*
3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
Freshly ground black pepper
Dressing:
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 yellow onion, coarsely chopped
Sea salt, preferably gray salt
Freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons warm water
Salad:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pound fresh wild mushrooms, thickly sliced or quartered
2 tablespoons finely minced fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup thinly sliced celery heart (on the diagonal), plus some chopped leaves
1/4 red onion, very thinly sliced onion-soup style
2 ounces baby arugula or spinach leaves
Grated Parmesan

For the croutons: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large skillet over moderate heat and cook until it foams.
In a large bowl, pour the butter over the 12 cups cubed bread and toss to coat.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Toss to season all of the bread.
Transfer the bread to a baking sheet.
Bake, stirring once or twice, until the croutons are crisp and lightly colored on the outside but still soft within, about 15 minutes.
Let cool. Croutons can be made 1 day ahead and stored in an airtight container.
For the dressing: Melt the butter in a small skillet over moderately low heat.
Add the yellow onion and saute until soft, about 15 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add the vinegar and stir with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits stuck on the bottom of the skillet.
Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. With the machine running, slowly add 1/2 cup of the olive oil, then the water.
Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
For the salad: Heat a large skillet over high heat.
When hot, add 1/4 cup olive oil.
When the oil begins to smoke, sprinkle in the mushrooms. Don't stir! Let them sizzle until they have caramelized on the bottom, about 2 minutes. If you toss them too soon, they will release their liquid and begin to steam. When the bottoms are caramelized, toss the mushrooms, reduce the heat to moderate, and continue to cook until well browned.
Stir in the thyme and garlic and cook for about 1 minute to release their fragrance. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large bowl, combine the croutons, the mushrooms, and the onion dressing. Toss well to coat.
Add the celery, red onion, and arugula or spinach and toss again gently.
Taste and adjust the seasoning. Grate fresh Parmesan on top and serve immediately.

Note: For the croutons: use a serrated knife to remove the crust from day-old bread, then switch to a chef's knife to cut the cubes because it doesn't tear the bread. Grate the parmesan finely so that it will stick to the bread better.

Serves 8-10.

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Caramelized-Shallot and Sage Mashed Potatoes
From Bon Appétit magazine

2 lbs. Yukon Gold or russet potatoes (unpeeled)
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups thinly sliced shallots
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
Salt

Place potatoes in large saucepan; cover with cold water. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oil in heavy medium skillet over high heat. Add shallots; sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low; stir until shallots are golden, about 5 minutes longer.
Add fresh sage, white balsamic vinegar, and sugar; stir until caramelized, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
Drain potatoes well; cool slightly. Peel and mash potatoes; place in large saucepan. Over medium heat, dry out potatoes for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, heat milk in small saucepan until warm. Stir butter into potatoes. Add warm milk and stir until completely absorbed. Stir shallot-sage mixture into potatoes. Season with salt.

Serves 6.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Cranberry Brown Butter
From Food & Wine magazine

4 lbs. Brussels sprouts, halved lengthwise
6 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 pound fresh or thawed frozen cranberries
3 tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 tbsp. finely grated fresh ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
2 sticks (1/2 lb.) unsalted butter
1 large shallot, minced
1 tsp. chopped thyme

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
On two large rimmed baking sheets, toss the Brussels sprouts with the oil and season with salt and pepper.
Roast for about 40 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the sprouts are tender and browned in spots.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the cranberries, maple syrup, ginger, and orange zest. Cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until the cranberries break down and thicken, about 10 minutes.
In a medium skillet, cook the butter over moderately high heat until deep golden, about 4 minutes.
Remove from the heat, add the shallot and thyme and stir into the cranberry sauce.
Transfer the butter to a bowl, add the Brussels sprouts and toss. Season with salt and serve.

Serves 12.

Make ahead: The cranberry brown butter can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Gently reheat the butter before tossing with the Brussels sprouts.

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