Bulgur Risotto With Spinach And Bacon Food

BULGUR, SPINACH AND TOMATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the bulgur and salt to taste, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat, uncover and place a clean dish towel over the pan, then replace the lid. Allow to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes or longer. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Pulse the tomatoes with their juice in a food processor. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, wide skillet or a shallow 3-quart saucepan and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and add the tomatoes, sugar, salt to taste, and allspice or cinnamon. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the tomatoes have cooked down to a fragrant sauce, about 20 minutes. Taste, adjust salt and add freshly ground pepper.
• Steam the spinach until it wilts, 1 to 2 minutes, rinse briefly with cold water and squeeze out excess water. Do this by the handful to get out all the water. Chop coarsely. Add to the bulgur. Add the mint and the chickpeas if using, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce and toss together.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart gratin or baking dish. Spread the bulgur mixture in the dish in an even layer. Top with the remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle on the cheese. Drizzle on the last tablespoon of olive oil. Bake 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

SPINACH RISOTTO WITH TALEGGIO

Steps:

• Cut the rind off the taleggio and discard. Dice the cheese into 1/2-inch pieces. Set aside at room temperature as you prepare the rice.
• Line a colander with a clean dish towel and place spinach inside. Heat about 8 cups of water until boiling, then pour over spinach; the spinach will wilt. Let spinach sit until cool enough to handle, then use the dish towel to squeeze out the water. Transfer spinach to a food processor and blend with 1 tablespoon butter until smooth. (You'll end up with about 1 cup of purée.) Reserve.
• Melt remaining 5 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion, celery and garlic; cook until translucent, about 7 minutes. Stir in rice and 1 teaspoon salt, and cook until toasted and golden, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in wine and cook until it's absorbed, about 3 minutes. Stir in stock, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring often but not necessarily continuously, until the stock is finished and the rice is cooked through but not mushy, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in spinach purée, then taste and add more salt, if needed. Add taleggio and stir to melt. Serve immediately.

LEMON-MINT BULGUR "RISOTTO" WITH GARLIC SHRIMP AND TOSSED SALAD

Steps:

• To make the risotto: In a medium saucepan, combine the water and salt and bring to a simmer. Keep warm over low heat. In a medium saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the green onions and cook until soft, about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the bulgur and cook until fluffy, about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the warm water, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently until each portion is absorbed before adding the next, about 20 minutes total. Remove from heat. Add the spinach, mint, lemon rind, and lemon juice. Stir until the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Keep the bulgur risotto warm until ready to serve.
• To make the shrimp: In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute until soft, about 30 seconds. Add the salt, pepper, and shrimp, and saute until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• To make the salad: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and toss together. Add oil and vinegar and salt and pepper, to taste.
• Divide the Lemon-Mint Bulgur "Risotto" evenly among 4 small plates and arrange the Garlic Shrimp evenly over the "Risotto". Garnish with lemon wedges, if desired. Serve with Tossed Salad.

BACON AND WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO WITH BABY SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat large dutch oven over medium heat. Add bacon to pan, cook 8 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon from pan with slotted spoon.
• Add shallots, oil, thyme, and garlic to drippings in pan; cook six minutes or until shallots are tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in mushrooms, cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add rice, cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Stir in Madeira, cook 1 minute or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly.
• Stir in 1 c stock, cook 4 minutes or until liquid absorbed, stirring constantly. Add remaining stock, 1/2 c at a time, until each portion of stock is absorbed before adding the next (25 minutes total).
• Stir in spinach, cook 1 minute.
• Remove from heat; stir in cheese, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with bacon, and serve immediately.

SPINACH AND BULGAR SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine bulgur and 1 and a 1/2 cups boiling water. Let stand until bulgur is tender to bite, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stack spinach leaves and cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• Place spinach, onions, dill, and cheese in a wide bowl. Pour bulgur into a fine strainer and press out the excess water. Add bulgur to bowl with spinach.
• Mix vinegar and oil. Add to salad and mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

ACORN SQUASH WITH SPINACH STUFFING

Steps:

• Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place squash, cut side down, in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Fill pan with hot water to a depth of 1/2 in. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40 minutes., Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute celery and onions in oil until tender. Add the spinach and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. , In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs, pecans and remaining salt. Drain water from baking pan. Turn squash cut side up. Stuff with spinach mixture; sprinkle crumb mixture over top. Dot with butter. Bake 15 minutes longer or until the squash is tender.

BULGUR RISOTTO WITH PEAS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Melt 4 tablespoons butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until light golden, about 5 minutes. Mix in bulgur. Add 1/2 cup stock and cook until absorbed, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup stock 2 more times, simmering after each addition and stirring often until liquid is absorbed. Mix in asparagus. Continue adding stock 1/2 cup at a time until bulgur is just tender and mixture is creamy, simmering after each addition and stirring often until stock is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Add peas and cook 3 minutes longer. Stir in 3/4 cup Parmesan, cream, tarragon and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Serve, passing additional grated Parmesan, if desired.