Cilantro-Lime Rice
A fantastic side to tacos, enchiladas and more.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1½ cups basmati long grain white rice
1 clove garlic, minced
2¼ cups water
1 teaspoon salt
Zest of one lime
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 cup lightly packed chopped cilantro, leaves and tender stems
Method:
1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan on medium high heat. Add the raw rice and stir to coat with the olive oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice has started to brown. Add the garlic and cook a minute more.
2. Add water, salt, and lime zest to the rice. Bring to a rolling boil, then cover and lower the heat to low to maintain a very low simmer. Cook undisturbed for 15 minutes (check your rice package instructions), then remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes.
Fluff the rice with a fork.
3. Transfer the rice to a serving bowl. Pour lime juice over the rice and toss with the chopped cilantro.
Rice Pilaf with Roasted Root Vegetables & Wild Mushrooms
This flavorful pilaf is simmered in our rich chicken stock and topped with roasted veggies and sautéed wild mushrooms.
Ingredients:
2 cups F&L rice blend
4 cups chicken stock
2 Cipollini onions, peeled and diced
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon sweet ground chile pepper
2 cups Roasted Root Vegetables (see recipe)
½ cup reconstituted and sautéed dried wild mushrooms (see method)
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. In a medium saucepan fitted with a lid, melt the butter over medium heat, then add diced onion and garlic and sauté until onion is soft and translucent and garlic is fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the rice and the sweet ground chile pepper, plus a healthy pinch each of salt and pepper. Toss together well with a slotted spoon and cook for another 2-3 minutes to toast the rice and spice mixture.
2. Add in the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a light simmer. Cover and simmer until stock has been absorbed and rice is just cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and let the rice sit covered to steam, about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in the parsley. Transfer to a large serving platter and top with the roasted root vegetables and sautéed wild mushrooms.
Chili-Lime Sweet Corn Salad
Crunchy, spicy, tangy and sweet, this salad is bursting with flavor.
Ingredients:
4 ears sweet corn, shucked
1 red Bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 jalapeno or Anaheim pepper, seeded and diced
½ Walla Walla sweet onion, minced
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
2 limes
1 teaspoon chili powder
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat grill to medium-high and grill corn, rotating every few minutes, until entire husk is slightly charred. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
2. In a large bowl, set each piece of corn stem end down and using a sharp knife, cut kernels from the cob. Add chopped peppers, onions and cilantro or parsley to bowl.
3. In a small bowl, prepare the dressing by zesting the limes into a bowl, then juicing. (You’ll need about ¼ cup lime juice for reference.) Whisk in chili powder and salt and pepper to taste. Toss dressing into corn salad to coat and check for seasoning again before serving.
Classic Spanish Paella
This classic paella recipe from The Spanish Table is a summer favorite at the Farm. Full of fresh seafood and spicy chorizo, the caramelized crispy rice crust known as the socarrat is still our favorite part!
Ingredients:
½ cup uncooked Valencian Rice per person
1 cup chicken stock per person
5 threads saffron per person dissolved in a little white wine
Olive oil, to cover bottom of pan
1 piece of chicken, such as a thigh, per person
½ to 1 soft chorizo sausage per person
½ teaspoon Spanish sweet paprika per person
1 clove garlic per person, minced
¼ cup chopped onion per person
1/8 cup grated tomato (cut in half, grate and discard the skin) per person
2 shrimp or prawns per person
2-4 small clams and/or mussels per person
Red piquillo peppers cut in strips
Artichoke hearts, green beans or peas
Cooked white Spanish beans such as alubias de la granja or judion
Lemon wedges for garnish
Salt to taste
Method:
1. Heat stock in a separate stock pot. Crush saffron and add it to stock or a little bit of white wine. Heat paella pan over medium heat, add olive oil and fry chicken until it begins to brown.
2. Next add garlic and onions and saute until translucent. Add chorizo and cook until heated. Add the rice, stirring until well coated with oil. Add the paprika and grated tomato. Stir while cooking for a few minutes. Add saffron flavored wine and hot stock. Bring to a boil while scraping the bottom of pan. Now the rice should be level and you will not need to stir from this point on. Adjust heat to maintain a nice simmer.
3. When the rice has absorbed a good amount of liquid but still has a soupy appearance add the mussels or clams. Once the rice is cooked add the shrimp or prawns tucking them down into the rice, then the piquillo peppers, artichoke hearts, green beans, beans and peas. During this time the rice should be caramelizing on the bottom of the pan. It will make a faint crackling sound and smell toasty sweet but not burnt. Set aside to rest for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, garnish with lemon wedges and serve.
Variation: This recipe can also be made using the oven or barbecue—see The Spanish Table for details on how!
Mojito Cocktail
The ultimate summer refresher, crafted with fresh mint and lime.
Ingredients:
10 fresh mint leaves
½ lime, cut into 4 wedges
2 tablespoons sugar
1½ ounces white rum
½ cup club soda
1 cup ice cubes
Method:
1. Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge. Serves 1.
Purple Carrot-Cabbage Slaw with Cilantro
This light, fresh slaw adds great flavor and texture to this week’s fish tacos.
Ingredients:
½-1 head green cabbage, cored and very thinly sliced
2-3 purple carrots, coarsely grated
1 Jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced
¾ cup freshly-chopped cilantro
½ cup sour cream or crème fraîche
Juice from 2 limes
Fresh ground pepper and salt to taste
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream or crème fraîche with the lime juice. Season to taste with fresh ground pepper.
2. In a separate bowl, combine cabbage, Jalapeño pepper, carrots and cilantro. Drizzle with dressing, tossing to coat. Season with more pepper as desired and salt to taste.
Matsutake Mushroom Stir-Fry with Black Rice
Topped with quail egg and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds, this delicious recipe comes courtesy of Wei Kitchen.
Ingredients:
1 cup Venere black rice
1 pint Matsutake mushrooms, cleaned and sliced into quarters
1 bunch green onion, diced, with white and green parts separated
2-4 tablespoons shallot oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cups F&L chicken stock
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Pickled or soft-boiled quail eggs (see recipe and method)
Toasted black sesame seeds
Method:
1. Pour shallot oil into a large, hot sauté pan on high heat. Add mushrooms to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened and beginning to brown. Add in the white pieces of green onion, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Mix well and distribute mixture evenly across bottom of pan.
2. Carefully spoon rice evenly over your layer of vegetables Pour chicken stock into pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover, turn heat down to low and let simmer for 25 minutes or until rice is completely cooked and all stock has been absorbed by the rice. (Check the rice after 15 minutes to make sure bottom of rice is not burning and to mix evenly.)
3. Add the remaining green onion (diced green stalks) and mix well. Top each serving with your choice of pickled, or soft-boiled quail egg and a generous sprinkling of toasted black sesame seeds. If desired, drizzle lightly with Wei Kitchen shallot oil.
Grated Cauliflower Salad with Ginger-Lime Dressing
Tossed with a bright, zesty dressing, raw cauliflower shines in this simple salad.
Ingredients:
3 cups grated cauliflower*
½ finely diced carrot
½ cup finely diced red bell pepper
â…“ cup finely diced scallions
¼ cup minced cilantro
Dressing:
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons agave nectar or honey
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon minced jalapeño pepper
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, ginger, jalapeño and agave nectar or honey. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the cauliflower, carrot, red bell pepper, scallions and cilantro. Toss with the dressing and serve immediately or cover and chill under ready to serve.
*Tip: To grate the cauliflower, simply grate large sections against a box or cheese grater, or in a food processor using the grating blade.
Red Cabbage-Fennel Slaw with Cilantro
This light, fresh dish is fantastic on tacos, pulled pork sandwiches or simply served as a summery side.
Ingredients:
1 small head green cabbage, cored and very thinly sliced
2 baby fennel bulbs, trimmed of fronds, cored and very thinly sliced
2-3 carrots, coarsely grated
¾ cup freshly-chopped cilantro
½ cup sour cream or crème fraîche
½ cup milk
Juice from 1 lime or lemon
Fresh ground pepper and salt to taste
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream or crème fraîche with milk and lime juice. Season to taste with fresh ground pepper.
2. In a separate bowl, combine cabbage, fennel, carrots and cilantro. Drizzle with dressing, tossing to coat. Season with more pepper as desired and salt to taste.
Avocado-Radish Slaw
This creamy-yet-crunchy slaw would be fantastic layered into your taco this week.
Ingredients:
½ bunch radishes, washed and trimmed of green tops, a thinly sliced into matchsticks
1 medium, ripe avocado, pitted
¼ cup water
1 lime, juiced
½ cup cilantro leaves
Sea salt and pepper
Method:
1. In a blender, mix the avocado, water, lime juice, cilantro and a healthy pinch of salt. Blend until completely smooth, adding more water as needed to achieve the consistency of a pourable dressing.
2. Add the radishes to a bowl, and toss with dressing. Season with salt and pepper, and an extra squeeze of lime, as needed. Set aside until ready to use.