Herbed Grain Salad With Mushrooms Hazelnuts And Pears Food

HAZELNUT AND PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• For dressing, place 1/3 cup hazelnuts, 2 tablespoons onion, water, vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic and paprika in a food processor; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. , In a large bowl, combine salad greens and remaining onion; add 1/2 cup dressing and toss to coat. Divide among six salad plates., Top each salad with pear, cheese, cherries and remaining hazelnuts; drizzle with the remaining dressing.

HERB SALAD

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, combine the vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until well mixed. With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil until the dressing is smooth and creamy. Set aside.
• In a large bowl combine the herbs, arugula, and fennel. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss the salad with enough dressing to coat. Sprinkle with edible flowers and serve.

HERBED GRAIN SALAD WITH MUSHROOMS, HAZELNUTS AND PEARS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in barley and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook at a gentle boil until tender but not mushy, 30 to 40 minutes. (Different grains will cook at different rates.)
• Make the dressing: In a food processor, combine the greens, dill and garlic and process until finely chopped, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the whole nuts and pulse a few times to coarsely chop. While the motor is running, add the 3/4 cup oil gradually in a slow stream and process until smooth. Add the vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper (12 to 16 grinds), and mix. Taste and adjust the seasonings with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. It should taste bright and rich.
• Cook the mushrooms: In a wide, medium-size pot, combine the mushrooms and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Stir in the 2 tablespoons oil and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are completely cooked through and well browned, 5 to 10 minutes more. (The mushrooms will shrink quite a bit.) Remove from the heat and sprinkle with salt.
• When the barley is cooked, drain it well and return to the pot. Let cool until warm, stirring occasionally. (If the dressing is added when the grains are too hot, it will turn brown and taste "cooked.") Stir in a little oil if needed to prevent sticking. Stir in dressing and set aside, stirring occasionally, to let the grains absorb the dressing, at least 10 minutes.
• When ready to serve, taste the barley and season again. Gently mix in mushrooms, pear and chopped nuts. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with lots of dill, and serve warm or at room temperature.

WILTED ROMAINE SALAD WITH ROASTED PEARS, TALEGGIO AND HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the pears with olive oil and roast for 30 minutes. Turn the pears over halfway through cooking.
• Roast the hazelnuts with the pears for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the oven and coarsely chop.
• Place the Taleggio in a heatproof dish or pan and toss into the oven for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Heat the flat side of a grill pan to medium-high heat. If you don't have a grill pan and are using a regular grill, put foil on the grill grates. Toss the romaine quarters in olive oil and salt. Grill the romaine until slightly charred and wilted, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
• Place one romaine wedge on each plate. Thinly slice each pear half and fan over the romaine wedges. Spoon some melted Taleggio on top and sprinkle with hazelnuts.
• Whisk together the champagne vinegar and ¼ cup olive oil and season with salt. Drizzle each salad with a little vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

BIG SALAD WITH GRAINS

Steps:

• Place greens in bottom of serving bowl. Add grains in an even layer over greens. Repeat with the roasted vegetables, then the raw vegetables.
• Top with dressing, and toss gently. Fan out avocado on top on one side of bowl.
• Place hard-boiled egg pieces on the side opposite the avocado. Top with chives and nuts. Serve with whole-grain bread.

GRAIN SALAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in barley and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook at a gentle boil until tender but not mushy, 30 to 40 minutes. (Different grains will cook at different rates.) Make the dressing: In a food processor, combine the greens, dill and garlic and process until finely chopped, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the whole nuts and pulse a few times to coarsely chop. While the motor is running, add the 3/4 cup oil gradually in a slow stream and process until smooth. Add the vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper (12 to 16 grinds), and mix. Taste and adjust the seasonings with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. It should taste bright and rich. Cook the mushrooms: In a wide, medium-size pot, combine the mushrooms and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Stir in the 2 tablespoons oil and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are completely cooked through and well browned, 5 to 10 minutes more. (The mushrooms will shrink quite a bit.) Remove from the heat and sprinkle with salt. When the barley is cooked, drain it well and return to the pot. Let cool until warm, stirring occasionally. (If the dressing is added when the grains are too hot, it will turn brown and taste "cooked.") Stir in a little oil if needed to prevent sticking. Stir in dressing and set aside, stirring occasionally, to let the grains absorb the dressing, at least 10 minutes. When ready to serve, taste the barley and season again. Gently mix in mushrooms, pear and chopped nuts. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with lots of dill, and serve warm or at room temperature.

SOFT HERB SALAD

Steps:

• Up to a day before serving, wash the herbs and greens: Fill a large bowl or clean sink with plenty of cold water. Immerse the leaves, swish around to loosen any dirt, then gently lift out. Dry in a salad spinner or by spreading them on clean kitchen towels. (If working ahead, refrigerate the dry leaves in sealed plastic bags or containers. Add a paper towel to each bag to absorb excess water.)
• Melt butter in a frying pan until it sizzles. Add almonds. Sauté over low heat, until the almonds are golden and the butter is browned. Lift out almonds and drain on paper towels, reserving butter. (Butter can be kept for 1 day. Melt and cool again before assembling salad.)
• When ready to serve, place greens in a large bowl. Add salt, pepper, chile flakes, almonds, cooking butter, lemon juice and olive oil. Toss gently and season to taste, then serve immediately.