Freekeh Salad with Roasted Cauliflower and Green Olives

Freekeh is a whole-grain wheat product popular in parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa. It is produced by harvesting green wheat, sun-drying, then roasting the grains. Freekeh has a unique taste all its own, with nutritional value superior to mature wheat.

Once virtually unheard of in American kitchens, freekeh is gaining in popularity as cooks look to world cuisine for less-processed (whole) grain options. Continue reading

Barley Salad with Roasted Mushrooms and Greens

This dish was adapted from Melissa Clark’s A Good Appetite column in the New York Times. Clark is a terrific writer and her recipes are always straightforward and spot-on. The original featured roasted celery root — I’ve substituted sautéed greens instead (or try roasted sunchokes, turnips, parsnips or carrots per Clark’s suggestion). Vary the greens as you wish — add a handful of those zippy mustard leaves included in last week’s delivery along with whatever else is in the fridge like broccoli, spinach or chard — just about any would be nice. I used a mix of chard, dandelion and arugula. The barley is nutty tasting with a pleasant chew — just right for a hearty dinner salad. Continue reading

French Lentil Salad with Arugula and Goat Cheese

This salad riffs on a classic French bite — every cook can offer their own variation on the theme. Flavored with salty capers, Dijon mustard and spicy arugula, you can adapt the ingredients to the seasons. In summer add sweet tomatoes, bell peppers or grilled eggplant — in winter toss in roasted squash or carrots. Substitute basil or parsley for the cilantro. Continue reading

White Bean Salad with Celery and Olives

We create lots of salads with cannellini beans — they’re ultra-creamy and marry well with a variety of flavors. In summer we toss juicy, sweet tomato chunks and fresh basil into the mix. This wintery version features the citrus, crunchy celery and peppery arugula. Let the produce of the season guide this versatile dish in one delicious way or another. You can’t go wrong. Continue reading