Herb-Kissed Farrotto with Shiitake Mushrooms & Crispy Shallots
This truly cozy, risotto-style dish boasts immense flavor, cooked in chicken stock and accented with earthy mushrooms and crackly-crisp shallots.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large shallots, thinly sliced
4 cups chicken stock
3 cups water
1 cup emmer farro, rinsed and dried
¼ cup white wine
2 tablespoons butter
½-1 cup reconstituted (see enclosed method) Porcini mushrooms, sautéed until golden brown in butter
2 cups Shiitake mushrooms, also sautéed until golden brown in butter
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 cup packed parsley leaves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
For the Crispy Shallots:
2 large shallots, extra thinly sliced + layers separated
Olive oil, as needed
Method:
1. For the farrotto, heat a Dutch oven (or heavy-bottomed pot) over medium heat. Add the olive oil. Once hot, add the shallots. Cook for a few minutes until lightly browned. Season with salt & black pepper.
2. Meanwhile, heat the stock and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat until just barely simmering. Keep the liquid warm over low heat.
3. Add the farro to the shallots. Stir well and toast for a minute or so. Pour in the white wine. Stir with a wooden spoon until the liquid has absorbed. Start to ladle the heated liquid into the pot, one ladle (or about a ½ cup measurement) at a time, stirring after each addition until the liquid has been absorbed. Continue until you’ve added all of the liquid. This process should take about 25-30 minutes.
4. To make the crispy shallots, heat a 12” saute pan over medium-low heat. Add enough olive oil to very generously coat the pan, creating a thin layer to shallow-fry the shallots. Add the shallots in one even layer. Fry for about 6-8 minutes until golden brown. Keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the shallots to a plate lined with paper towels. Season with salt and set aside.
5. Stir the butter, mushrooms, parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, and chives into the farrotto. Allow the butter and parmesan to melt. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve in a large bowl with the crispy shallots over top. Garnish with more freshly grated parmesan and any extra herbs.
Garden Herb Vinaigrette
This flavor-packed vinaigrette is fantastic with both grains and greens.
Ingredients:
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 tablespoon, plus 2 teaspoons minced fresh Italian parsley
2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
½ teaspoon fresh lemon zest
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Method:
1. Combine all the dressing ingredients in a pint-sized jar with a tight-fitting lid, cover, and shake vigorously until emulsified, about 30 seconds. Reserve until ready to use.
Shelled Pea, Red Spring Onion & Sweet Red Pepper Salad
A perfect summer side for grilled proteins and veggies, or even tossed with cold pasta!
Ingredients:
1 pound shelled peas
3 red spring onions, trimmed of ends and finely diced
2 sweet red Bell peppers, seed removed and diced
¼ cup combined chopped herbs, such as parsley, salad burnet, chives and basil
2 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Vinaigrette:
1 sweet red Bell pepper, roasted at 400° until blackened, then stripped of seeds and chopped
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons crème fraîche
1 small shallot
½ teaspoon salt
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. To prepare vinaigrette, purée the roasted red pepper in a food processor or blender as much as possible, then add the remaining ingredients and run the machine until the dressing is silky smooth. Adjust the vinegar level and seasonings to taste.
2. In a large bowl, combine shelled peas, diced onions and diced pepper. Toss with vinaigrette, then drizzle with the lemon juice. Garnish with the fresh herbs.
Braised Red Radishes with Shallots
Tender and juicy, these beautiful radishes are accented by fresh parsley and balsamic vinegar.
Ingredients:
1 bunch radishes
3 large shallots
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
½ cup chicken stock or water
½ cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Thoroughly wash radishes. On a cutting board, trim each radish top, leaving about ½-inch of the green stem for color. Slice each radish in half from top to bottom. Peel shallots and slice into thin rings.
2. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once it has melted, add the shallots and cook, stirring, until they begin to brown slightly. Add the radishes, placing each cut-side down in the skillet. Let them cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes or until the bottoms just start to color.
3. Add the balsamic vinegar and the water or stock (the liquid should just come up around the sides of the radishes). Cover, lower heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
4. Remove the cover and continue to simmer for about 3-4 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced into a syrupy sauce. Add the parsley and sauté for about a minute, until wilted.
