Brown Rice With Fennel And Asparagus Recipes

RICE, ASPARAGUS AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Combine rice and 1 1/2 cups water in heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until rice is cooked and water has been absorbed, a total of 17 minutes.
• Wash asparagus, and trim by breaking the stem at the point where the tender part meets the woody part. Discard woody part. Cut the asparagus just below the heads, and then cut the remainder of the stem on the diagonal into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Wash and trim fennel, and cut into small pieces.
• Heat oil in nonstick pan, and saute asparagus and fennel until it is tender, 5 to 7 minutes, depending on size of asparagus.
• Wash, dry and chop chives; mince garlic; add chives and garlic to asparagus. When ingredients are tender, stir into rice as it cooks.
• Season with salt and pepper, 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!

FENNEL RICE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a deep, lidded skillet or a wide, lidded saucepan. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in fennel, add a generous pinch of salt, and cook, stirring often, until fennel has wilted and softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in rice or bulgur and stir to coat with olive oil.
• Add water, salt, pepper, parsley and dill and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 to 30 minutes, until rice or bulgur is soft and liquid absorbed. Remove from heat, uncover and place a towel across the top of the pan. Return lid and let sit for 10 minutes. Serve hot, with the remaining olive oil drizzled over the top.

BROWN AND WILD RICE WITH SAUSAGE AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Simmer water and wild rice in small saucepan 20 minutes. Drain.
• Heat heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Fry sausage until cooked through, breaking up sausage with fork, about 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer sausage to large bowl.
• Add 2 tablespoons oil to same saucepan. Mix in fennel, bell pepper and fennel seeds and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add to sausage. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in same saucepan. Add leeks and garlic and sauté until tender and golden, about 8 minutes. Add brown rice and stir 1 minute. Mix in broth and wild rice. Season with pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 40 minutes. Add hot rice to sausage mixture and toss well. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.) Serve hot.

RICE WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Trim off the stems of the fennel bulb and cut the bulb into 1/4-inch cubes. There should be about 1 cup.
• Cut away and discard the core and veins of the pepper. Discard the seeds. Cut the pepper into 1/4-inch pieces. There should be about 1 cup.
• Heat one tablespoon of the butter in a saucepan and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until wilted. Add the fennel and sweet pepper cubes and stir. Cook, stirring, about two minutes.
• Add the rice, bay leaf and pepper flakes. Add the water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cover. Let simmer 17 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and stir in the one remaining tablespoon of butter.