Pearled Barley Risotto with Peas, Pecorino & Prosciutto

barley-risotto
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.

Spring Vegetable Curry

vegetable-curry
This recipe transforms fresh spring veggies into a fragrant, satisfying curry. Serve with purple or red rice for a stunning bowl.

Fragrant Curry Paste

curry-paste
This is a good choice for an all-purpose curry paste recipe to add zip to Asian dishes. The delightfully complex flavor is superior to jarred curry paste.

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.

Spanish-Leaning Spinach and Chickpea Dip

Spinach Hummus
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.

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.

Roasted Tomatillo and Chile Sauce

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.

Spring Soupe au Pistou

soupe au pistou
This simple Provencal-style soupe au pistou is the Provencal Is a delicious way to showcase delicate spring leeks and sugar snap peas.