Crispy Grain Salad With Peas And Mint Recipes

CRISPY GRAIN SALAD WITH PEAS AND MINT

Steps:

• Spread grains on a paper towel-lined baking sheet; let stand 1 hour. Heat safflower oil in a large pot until a thermometer reaches 350 degrees. Add grains, a cup at a time. Cook until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes. Remove with a fine sieve; transfer to another paper towel-lined sheet. Season with salt. (Return oil to 350 degrees before frying subsequent batches.)
• Prepare an ice-water bath. Cook peas in a pot of salted boiling water until just tender and bright green, about 2 minutes. Transfer to ice-water bath; drain.
• In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, lemon juice, and honey. Slowly drizzle in olive oil. Season with salt and red-pepper flakes.
• In a large serving bowl, combine tender greens, fried grains, peas, mint, and scallions. Drizzle with vinaigrette. Season with salt and serve immediately.

MINT PEA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Blanch peas and snow peas, about 1 minute each, rinsing in ice water so that they remain bright green and crisp. Drain and set aside to dry.
• In a medium bowl, mix yogurt with mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and fold into peas along with mint. Refrigerate covered. To serve, spoon onto individual plates or a serving platter, sprinkle bacon over the top and garnish with mint leaves.

FARRO SALAD WITH CORN AND CRISPY CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Start the chickpeas: Spread drained chickpeas on a rimmed sheet pan lined with a clean dish towel or a double layer of paper towels. Let air-dry for at least 30 minutes while you cook the farro.
• Prepare the farro: Bring a medium pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add farro and bay leaf. Cook until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain well, discarding bay leaf. Put farro in a bowl and, while still warm, stir in 5 tablespoons of the olive oil, the vinegar, 3/4 teaspoon salt and the coriander. Let farro cool to room temperature.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. While the farro cools, roast the crispy chickpeas and the corn in the same oven.
• For the chickpeas, remove towels from the baking sheet and toss chickpeas with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and spices until well coated. Roast, tossing halfway through, until golden and crispy, about 25 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool.
• In a mixing bowl, lightly drizzle kernels with remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and toss to coat. Spread corn in a single even layer on a rimmed sheet pan. Roast, tossing halfway through roasting, until golden brown and fragrant, about 20 minutes.
• Add corn to farro mixture, along with the scallions, fennel and herbs, tossing to combine. Taste, and add more salt and/or vinegar if needed. Just before serving, fold in crispy chickpeas so they remain crunchy. Top with another drizzle of olive oil and flaky sea salt.

SUGAR SNAP PEA SALAD WITH (CRISPY PROSCIUTTO AND) MINT

Steps:

• To blanch the peas, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of well-salted ice water and set it nearby.
• Add the peas to the boiling water, let the water return to a boil, then cook for 2 more minutes. Remove the peas from the boiling water and immediately plunge them into the ice water. When the peas are cold, drain them and lay on paper towels to dry.
• Cut the peas in half lengthwise, then set aside.
• Coat a medium saute pan with olive oil, then add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Set the pan over medium heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add the prosciutto and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until crispy. Add the red wine vinegar. Turn off the heat.
• In a large bowl, combine the arugula, snap peas, onion and garlic.
• Scatter the crispy prosciutto on top and any juices from the pan.
• Add the pecorino and mint.
• Garnish with cracked black pepper.