Spring Vegetable Orzo With Broad Beans Peas Artichokes Ricotta Food

BAKED ORZO WITH ARTICHOKES AND PEAS

Steps:

• Make the béchamel and set aside.
• Prepare the artichokes. Fill a bowl with water and add the lemon juice. Cut away the stem and the top third of each artichoke, break off the leaves and trim them down to the bottoms, placing them in the water as you go along. Quarter them and slice large quarters about 1/4 inch thick. Save the leaves and steam them; serve them as a first course or a side dish.
• Drain the artichoke hearts and dry on a clean dish towel. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the sliced artichoke hearts and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn down the heat and add the garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the orzo. Cook 5 minutes, add the peas and continue to boil for another 4 minutes, until the orzo is just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add the artichokes, herbs, béchamel and Parmesan and stir together until the sauce coats all of the other ingredients. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Place in the oven and bake 30 minutes, until lightly colored on top.

ROASTED ARTICHOKES WITH RICOTTA AND PEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Squeeze one lemon half into a large bowl of cold water. Pluck off all tough leaves from one artichoke, until you reach leaves that are pale and soft. Using a vegetable peeler or paring knife, peel stem and trim base of artichoke, then dunk it in lemon water to keep it from browning. Cut off the top 1/3 of artichoke and discard. Slice artichoke lengthwise into quarters; remove any inner purple leaves and scoop out the fuzzy choke if there is one. Put the quarters in the lemon water and leave them there as you cut remaining artichokes.
• Drain the artichokes, shaking them well to remove excess water. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss artichokes with oil and salt. Roast until golden and tender, 25 to 35 minutes, tossing them halfway through.
• Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Slip in peas; cook for 1 to 2 minutes until tender, then drain.
• In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, lemon zest and kosher salt to taste. Spread out on a plate, and top with peas, artichokes, mint, flaky sea salt and lemon juice to taste. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Serve with crostini if desired.

QUICK AND EASY SPRING VEGETABLE ORZO

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan.
• Sauté onions and mushrooms until tender but not browned.
• Add orzo and stir to coat.
• Add carrots, peas and broth. Bring to boil and cook until orzo is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan and cover.
• Let rest 5-8 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and season with salt and pepper.

ROMAN SPRING VEGETABLE CASSEROLE WITH ARTICHOKES, PEAS, FAVA BEANS, AND ROMAINE LETTUCE OR ALA VIGNAROLA

Steps:

• Squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon into a bowl of cold water. Prepare the artichokes by trimming away all the tough, inedible portions. Cut the trimmed artichokes lengthwise into wedges about 1/2-inch thick. Drop the wedges into the bowl containing the water and lemon juice.
• If any shelled fava bean is more than 1-inch in length, cut away the thick green skin that sheaths it.
• Detach the leaves from the lettuce head, discarding any bruised, wilted, or discolored ones. Soak the leaves in two or three changes of water, drain, and shred them fine. You should have approximately 4 cups, but a bit more or less won=t matter too much.
• If using fresh spring onions, cut off all the green tops and the root ends, then slice them very thin.
• Choose a saucepan that can subsequently accommodate all the ingredients. Put in the sliced onions, the olive oil, and a large pinch of salt, and turn on the heat to low. Cook the onions, turning them over from time to time, until they have become completely wilted.
• Drain the artichokes, rinse them in cold water, and put them in the pot, together with the shelled peas, fava beans, and shredded romaine lettuce. Sprinkle liberally with salt and turn over all ingredients several times to coat them well.
• Put a lid on the pot and cook, always at low heat, turning the contents of the pot over from time to time, until the artichokes, peas, and beans are tender. It may take up to 2 hours, depending on the freshness and youth of the vegetables. Add 1/3 cup water whenever the cooking juices appear to be insufficient to keep the vegetables from sticking to the pot. You should need no more than 2 cups of water all together.
• Taste and correct for salt, and serve warm, but not piping hot, from a shallow bowl or deep platter.
• Ahead of time note: You may cook the dish 2 or 3 days in advance, refrigerating it in an airtight container. Reheat gently but thoroughly before serving, adding a tablespoon or two of water if necessary.

ROASTED VEGETABLE ORZO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Place the zucchini, squash, onion, asparagus, and mushrooms in a large bowl; add in garlic, olive oil and sugar, and stir gently to coat vegetables. Spread vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Roast vegetables until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Add bouillon cubes, wine, and orzo, and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain. Stir in roasted vegetables and Parmesan cheese, and serve warm.