Pearled Barley Risotto with Peas, Pecorino, and Prosciutto
Pearled barley yields a creamy, toothsome risotto. And here’s your language lesson for the day: The Italian word for barley is orzo (not to be confused with the rice-shaped pasta of the same name), and risotto made with barley is called orzotto. Yes, we probably should call this orzotto, but most people will think of this as risotto. In any case, it’s delicious by any name. This recipe also would be tasty with pearled farro (labeled farro perlato) if you find it at gourmet markets, in which case, this would be farrotto.
Continue reading » »Spring Vegetable Curry
This recipe transforms fresh spring veggies into a fragrant, satisfying curry. Serve with purple or red rice for a stunning bowl.
Continue reading » »Fragrant Curry Paste
This is a good choice for an all-purpose curry paste. If your fresh chiles are red, it will turn out red in color; if they’re green, it will turn out green. The texture will depend on whether you’re pounding the paste in a mortar and pestle or whizzing it in a food processor (note: if using a food processor, still adhere to the order the ingredients are added, just pulse together instead of pounding). This recipe makes enough curry paste to use for several dishes. Store it, tightly sealed, in the refrigerator for up to two months or in the freezer for up to six.
Continue reading » »Braised Rabbit with Easy Pan Sauce
You’ll want a tender “fryer” or “young” rabbit for this recipe; fryers typically weigh less than 3 pounds. Ask the butcher to cut the rabbit into six serving pieces, which makes this a simple dish you can prepare on a weeknight.
Continue reading » »Spanish Leaning Spinach and Chickpea Dip
I waffled about whether to name this ‘hummus’ or ‘chickpea dip’, but ultimately thought it veered far enough from tradition to go with the latter. It is, in any case, delicious. If you’ve ever had any doubt as to the strength of pounded garlic, this little dish will set you straight.
Continue reading » »Chicken Biryani
Here’s a streamlined version of Amma’s Rice, a beautiful, golden-hued biryani recipe from Pat Tanumihardja’s heartfelt The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook (Sasquatch Books). Any type of chutney is a good condiment with this rice dish; I enjoy it with tamarind.
Continue reading » »Roasted Tomatillo and Chile Sauce
I first encountered this sauce at a remote resort in the Copper Canyon. It’s simple, but deceptively flavorful. Use it as a rustic salsa or as a sauce spooned over grilled chicken.
Continue reading » »Veal Scaloppini with Shallot-Caper Sauce
This dish is a fresh twist on the classic veal piccata. Although it has an air of elegance, this whole dish comes together in less than 15 minutes.
Continue reading » »Roasted Cauliflower with Meyer Lemon Fauxaioli
This is my secret weapon dish for all who say they don’t like cauliflower. High heat roasting encases the florets in a savory crispness while turning the insides creamy and even a touch sweet … enough to win over the most ardent naysayers. I call this a “fauxaioli” because it’s essentially a gussied-up, lightened-up store-bought mayonnaise, but it’s one I turn to again and again when time is short. This whole recipe, as a matter of fact, came about after having cauliflower in a fritto misto in Italy. I wanted to replicate the effect–crunchy, creamy, salty, sweet and pungent–without the hassle (or calories) of a full-blown fried affair with homemade mayo. And, based on the amount of raves this dish has received (I’ll often serve it as an hors d’oeuvres with a jar of toothpicks nearby), I’d have to say it’s a success.
Continue reading » »Spring Soupe au Pistou
Pistou is the Provencal cousin of Italian pesto (difference: the French version doesn’t include pine nuts), and it’s used as a condiment as well as in a soup that bears its name. This spring rendition of the typically summery soup adds a touch of fresh mint to the traditional basil in the pistou (just enough basil to “borrow” from your new seedlings), and substitutes leeks for onions and sugar snaps for haricots verts in the soup itself. As spring turns to summer, adapt the recipe to use whatever produce is available. Add zucchini or other summer squash. Trade the snap peas for green beans, use fresh shell beans instead of canned, and swap canned tomatoes for peeled, seeded summer-fresh tomatoes (you’ll need 1 1/2 cups). Serve with grilled bread.
Continue reading » »WATCH LIA ON RYAN SCOTT’S FOODRUSH!
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