Brown Rice With Fennel And Asparagus Food

GRILLED FENNEL AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high.
• For the vinaigrette: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the garlic paste, lemon juice and zest, vinegar, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Cover and set aside.
• For the salad: Add the asparagus and fennel to the vinaigrette and toss to coat well. Brush the grill with some canola oil. Place the vegetables on the grill and cook until just caramelized and charred on all sides, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool briefly.
• Heat a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and the pine nuts; toast until just golden brown, about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool in the pan.
• Slice the asparagus on the bias into 1-inch pieces. Core the fennel halves, then slice them 1/8- inch-thick. Add the asparagus and fennel back to the vinaigrette. Add the currants, olives, toasted pine nuts, arugula, salt and pepper. Toss well. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow the salad to absorb the vinaigrette. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with the shaved Pecorino.

SLOW-ROASTED HALIBUT WITH SHAVED ASPARAGUS AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• For salad:
• Whisk lemon juice and mustard in small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil, then add capers. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature and rewhisk before using.
• Place 1 asparagus spear flat on work surface. Using vegetable peeler, shave asparagus into long thin strips. Place asparagus strips in medium bowl with shaved fennel. DO AHEAD: Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• For fish:
• Coat rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, herbs, and lemon peel in another medium bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle melted butter over. Using fork, toss to incorporate evenly.
• Place halibut fillets on prepared baking sheet, spacing apart. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Divide breadcrumbs among fillets to cover top (about 1/3 cup each), pressing to adhere. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 hour ahead. Cover and chill.
• Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake halibut until opaque in center, about 20 minutes. Turn on broiler. Broil halibut just until breadcrumbs start to brown, about 1 minute.
• Place 1 halibut fillet on each of 6 plates. Pour dressing over asparagus and fennel mixture; toss to coat. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper. Divide salad among plates and serve.

SUPER-QUICK BROWN RICE WITH ASPARAGUS, CHICKPEAS, AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Pop Trader Joe's frozen brown rice in the microwave, or make a batch of rice the traditional way.
• While rice is cooking, make the dressing by whisking together half of the chopped garlic, tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 3 tbs. olive oil.
• Add the hot water to thin a bit, and then 2 teaspoons salt. Set aside.
• Add 3 tbs. olive oil to a big skillet over medium-high heat, swirling to coat the pan.
• Be sure the chickpeas are completely dry, or they'll spit at you during this next step!
• Add the chickpeas and a sprinkling of salt. Let the beans saute for a couple minutes, until they get a toasty little crust on them.
• Add remaining garlic and onions. Stir for a minute.
• Stir in the asparagus with another pinch or two of salt, then cover with a lid for a minute to steam until the asparagus softens a touch.
• Uncover and stir in the rice and almond slivers, reserving a few almonds for garnish.
• Adjust seasonings, adding more salt if needed.
• Serve family-style in a big bowl drizzled with a few tablespoons of the tahini dressing, letting each person add more dressing to their tastes.
• Watch as this magical concoction disappears before your eyes!

BROWN RICE WITH FENNEL AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy two- to three-quart saucepan. Add fennel, onion and garlic and cook very slowly until vegetables are tender and translucent. Stir in rice and cook, stirring, another two to three minutes.
• Add the stock or water, bring to a boil and cook uncovered for three minutes. Lower the heat, season the stock to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer covered about 40 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed.
• Gently stir in the asparagus, cover the saucepan and set aside for 15 minutes before serving. Serve with a dusting of Parmesan cheese on top.

RICE WITH HERBES DE PROVENCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan stir together rice, chicken stock, herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper. Set over high heat, and bring to a simmer; cover, and cook 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork, and serve.

CHICKEN PAILLARD WITH ARUGULA, ASPARAGUS AND FENNEL SALAD WITH SHAVED PARM

Steps:

• Place chicken breasts on a gel board and halve horizontally but not all the way through, then open like a book and evenly pound to 1/8 inch thick. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Combine fennel pollen, granulated garlic, granulated onion and zest and use to season both sides of chicken.
• Pour 3 turns of the pan of EVOO into a large skillet.
• Fill a medium-sized mixing bowl with ice water. Use a vegetable peeler to thinly slice the asparagus lengthwise; place in ice water.
• Place the arugula in bowl. Drain asparagus. Top the greens with asparagus, fennel and red onion. Use a vegetable peeler to shave and curl the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and add to bowl. Add the celery stalks and leaves.
• Heat the EVOO in skillet over medium-high heat and have a transfer tray or platter on hand. Add 2 paillards at a time. Cook over medium-high heat for 6 to 7 minutes per batch, turning occasionally.
• Dress the salad with lemon juice and 2 to 3 tablespoons EVOO and season with salt. Serve the paillards on platters topped with a pile of the citrusy, peppery salad. Garnish with fennel fronds.

CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Separate the fennel fronds from the bulb and stems. Finely mince the fronds to yield ½ cup. Slice the fennel bulb and stems.
• Cut off 1 ½ inches of the asparagus tips and set aside. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the tough skin off the asparagus stalks, then cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sliced fennel stems, asparagus stalks, and onion and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the rice or barley and broth, cover, and simmer over low heat 30 to 40 minutes, or until the rice or barley is very tender.
• Transfer saucepan contents to a blender or food processor and puree to the desired consistency in several batches if necessary. Return the puree to the pan and stir in 1 cup of the milk, the reserved fennel fronds, the asparagus tips, salt, and pepper. IF the soup seems too thick, stir in additional milk. Heat until the asparagus tips are crisp-tender, about 1 ½ minutes.

GREEN SALAD WITH ORANGE, FENNEL, AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In small bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in oil, then zest.
• In large sauté pan, bring 1 inch water to boil. Add asparagus and simmer until bright green, about 1 minute. Drain in colander, then rinse under cold running water until cool. Thinly slice on diagonal and transfer to large bowl.
• Cut peel and white pith from oranges. Working over medium bowl, cut between membranes to release segments. Add segments and any juice in medium bowl to large bowl with asparagus; squeeze juice from membranes into dressing and whisk to combine.
• Add fennel and then salad greens to large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently. Sprinkle chives on top and serve immediately.