Spring Vegetable Rice Recipes

Steps:

• Combine rice, tomatoes and asparagus in medium bowl.
• Mix remaining ingredients until well blended.
• Add to rice mixture; toss to coat.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rice, stir, and adjust heat to maintain a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent any grains from sticking to the pot, until the rice is just barely done, about 15 minutes. It will continue to cook as it cools. Drain the rice well and spread it out on a tray to cool quickly.
• Bring another large pot of salted water to a boil. Holding an asparagus spear in both hands, bend the spear until it breaks naturally at the point where it becomes tough. Repeat with the remaining spears. Discard the tough ends and cut the tender part into 1/3-inch lengths. Blanch asparagus and peas together in the boiling water for 1 minute and 30 seconds, then lift out with a strainer and transfer to a paper towel lined baking sheet to cool.
• Shell the fava beans, then blanch the unpeeled beans in the same boiling water for about 3 minutes. Drain, transfer them to a paper towel lined baking sheet to cool. Peel the fava beans by pinching open the loose skin; the peeled bean should slip out easily.
• Put the lemon juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the olive oil.
• In a large bowl, combine the cooled rice, asparagus, peas, fava beans, basil, parsley, lemon zest, ham and cheese. Toss with your hands to blend. Pour the dressing over the salad (you may not need it all) and toss gently. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Steps:

• 1. Rinse the rice well, put it in a glass jar or bowl, and cover with fresh, pure water. Let soak on the countertop overnight.
• 2. In the morning, drain and rinse the rice; then cover it again with fresh water and put the jar in the fridge. Drain and rinse the rice at least twice per day for 2 to 3 days, until it has "bloomed"-some or all of the grains will have split open, and it should be tender enough to eat. Drain and rinse the sprouted rice and put it in a large bowl.
• 3. Whisk the olive oil, mustard, lemon zest and juice, and maple syrup together in a small bowl, adding a few pinches of sea salt. Pour half of the dressing over the rice and fold to coat. Stir the peas, chickpeas, carrots, and herbs into the rice.
• 4. In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the pistachios until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes (be careful not to burn them!). Add the toasted nuts to the salad. Pour the remaining dressing over and fold to combine.
• Serve.

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add asparagus; sprinkle with salt & pepper.
• Saute until asparagus begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Bring broth to simmer in medium saucepan over low heat. Cover; keep warm.
• Heat remaining 3 tbsp olive oil in large heavy pot over medium-high heat.
• Add leeks and garlic.
• Saute until leeks begin to soften, about 3-4 minutes.
• Add rice, stir until rice is translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium.
• Add 1/2 cup broth; stir until liquid is absorbed.
• Add broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each addition is absorbed before adding next 1/2 cup, until there is only 1 cup broth remaining.
• Add cheese, peas and remaining broth.
• Simmer until vegetables are just tender and risotto is creamy.
• Season with salt & pepper.
• ENJOY!

Steps:

• Tip the rice into a pan of boiling, lightly salted water. Boil gently for 6 minutes then drain in a sieve. There should still be a white core in the centre of the grains. Spread the part-cooked rice on a clean tray, cool, then chill until you are ready to finish the risotto. If covered with cling film, the rice can be kept for up to 24 hours. Shave about 25g off the parmesan wedge and set aside for later. Finely grate the rest and save for use in Step 8.
• Blanch the broad beans for 1 minute in boiling water then drain and rinse them in a colander under cold water. Using your fingers, pop each bean from its skin. (Thawed frozen beans can be popped without blanching.)
• Trim the asparagus and cut the spears at an angle into lozenge shapes. Bring 1 litre of water to the boil in a large pan, add 1 tsp of sea salt, then the asparagus, shelled peas and beans. Return to a gentle boil and cook for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, put lots of ice cubes into a large bowl half filled with cold water.
• Drain the vegetables in a colander set over a bowl to catch and save the cooking water, then tip them straight into the bowl of iced water. When cold, drain again and set aside.
• Pour the saved vegetable water into a pan and whisk in the stock powder. When ready to finish the risotto, bring the stock to the boil and keep it on a simmer.
• In another large pan, gently sauté the shallot, spring onions and garlic in the 2 tablespoons of oil and half the butter for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the wine and cook until reduced by half.
• Tip in the rice. Now add a ladle of boiling stock and stir until it is absorbed. Add the remaining stock, a ladle at a time, stirring until absorbed before you add more. This takes about 8 minutes, by which time the mixture should be slightly sloppy, not dry. You may not need all the stock. The rice is cooked when it is just softened and has a nice shiny glaze. Remove the garlic clove.
• Gently stir in the vegetables and remaining chives and return to a gentle simmer, adding a little extra stock if needed. Stir in the last of the butter, the grated parmesan and the mascarpone. Check the seasoning. Divide immediately between four warmed shallow bowls, drizzle over a little oil and scatter the parmesan shavings onto each serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss fennel bulbs, carrots, turnips, potatoes, and 1/4 cup oil in large bowl. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Transfer to large rimmed baking sheet. Roast until tender and brown around edges, about 1 hour.
• Finely mince 1/4 cup parsley and garlic together. Transfer to small bowl. Stir in paprika, saffron and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saut�� until soft, about 8 minutes. Add tomatoes; sauté 2 minutes. Add rice and parsley mixture; stir 2 minutes. Stir in broth, water, and wine; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in asparagus, garbanzo beans, and roasted vegetables. Increase heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Season paella with salt and pepper. Transfer to large platter. Sprinkle with fennel fronds and remaining parsley.

Steps:

• Toast orzo in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until deep brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty pot until shimmering. Cook asparagus until lightly browned and nearly tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to plate.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat remaining oil in now-empty pot until just smoking. Cook chicken until lightly browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to plate, leaving fat in pan. Add rice, onion, and 3/4 teaspoon salt to pot and cook until rice is sizzling and toasted, about 3 minutes. Add three-quarters garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in toasted orzo, broth, and wine and bring to simmer. Nestle chicken into rice and pour in any juices accumulated on plate. Cover pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 12 minutes.
• Working quickly, transfer chicken to plate and cover loosely with foil. Stir rice, replace cover, and continue cooking until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Off heat, gently fold in peas, basil, zest, remaining garlic, and reserved asparagus. Cover and let sit until heated through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to serving platter and top with chicken. Serve.
• *note The rice will cook unevenly if the pot is uncovered for too long, so work quickly in step 3.