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.
Meyer Lemon-Lime Curd
Serve this classic curd from Gourmet magazine with sliced pound cake or sugar cookies for an easy and elegant dessert!
Ingredients:
1½ cups sugar
4 whole eggs, beaten lightly
4 additional egg yolks, beaten lightly
⅔ cup fresh lime juice
⅓ cup fresh Meyer lemon juice
3 tablespoons freshly grated Meyer lemon zest
2 tablespoons freshly grated lime zest
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Method:
1. In a heavy saucepan whisk together the sugar, the whole eggs, the yolks, the juices and the zests and cook the mixture over moderately low heat, whisking, until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Add the butter, cook the mixture over low heat, whisking, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until it registers 160°F on a candy thermometer, and transfer it to glass jars. The curd will keep, covered and chilled, for up to 2 weeks.
Grilled Corn & Poblano Salad
Smoky, a little spicy and very summery, this salad with a snap to prepare.
Ingredients:
4 ears of corn, in husks
2 Poblano chiles
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 scallions, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
¾ teaspoon hot sauce (such as Frank’s)
Sea salt
Vegetable oil (for grill)
Method:
1. Prepare a grill for medium heat; oil grate. Whisk lime juice and hot sauce in a medium bowl; season with salt. Set dressing aside.
2. Grill corn (still in husks) and chiles, turning occasionally, until corn is charred all over (husks will be nicely blackened and some of the kernels will become deeply browned in spots) and chiles are blackened in spots and crisp-tender, 10–12 minutes for corn and 8–10 minutes for chiles. Transfer to a platter and let cool slightly before shucking corn.
3. Slather corn with butter, then cut kernels from cobs into bowl with reserved dressing. Remove seeds from chiles and chop. Add to corn along with scallions. Toss to combine; season corn salad with salt.
Watermelon with Fresh Mint & Lime Syrup
Try this sweet-tart syrup with your favorite summer melon.
Ingredients:
1 watermelon
½ cup sugar
¼ cup thinly sliced mint leaves
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
Method:
1. Stir the sugar, 2 tablespoons of water, lime zest, and 1½ tablespoons of the lime juice in a small heavy saucepan over high heat until the sugar dissolves and the syrup comes to a boil. Let the syrup cool completely, and then refrigerate it until cold.
2. Strain the chilled syrup into a small bowl and stir in the mint. Allow the mint to infuse into the syrup for at least 5 minutes.
3. Set the melon on a work surface and with a sharp knife trim away the rind and cut the melon into 2-inch chunks. Transfer melon to a large serving platter and pour the cold syrup over the melon, and serve.
