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Cooking & Entertaining

Recipe: Simple Harvest Grains

Written by Sally Charette

Are you ready to put that counter top steamer to work? Try this recipe as a tasty way to incorporate grains and vegetables into any meal. Make it as a side dish while you’re preparing chicken or pork for an evening meal or a day or two ahead as a colorful addition to a potluck. It travels well, making it a great option for microwavable lunches, especially when paired with extra vegetables or fresh fruit.

Yields about eight 1/2-cup servings or four 1-cup lunch servings.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup brown jasmine rice
  • 1/4 cup wild rice
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup sliced baby carrots
  • 1/2 cup broccoli crowns
  • 1/3 cup walnuts or pine nuts
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Combine jasmine and wild rice and rinse well. Transfer to the bowl of a countertop steamer and add the broth or water. Set the timer for 45 minutes.
  • When the timer goes off, allow the rice to stand while you microwave the carrots and broccoli in a microwave proof bowl with a sprinkle of water for 1-2 minutes. (You may opt to place the vegetables on top of the rice for the last 10-15 minutes of steaming, but be sure to use two kitchen mitts if you decide to remove the lid during cooking, as the vapors will be very hot.)
  • Fluff rice with a fork and transfer to a mixing bowl. Stir in cooked carrots, broccoli, walnuts or pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Serve immediately or cool to serve later. If you’re cooking ahead, wait to add the nuts at the last minute for maximum crunch.

For an especially nice presentation, reserve 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top and place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and browns slightly.

About the author

Sally Charette

Sally Charette often scribbles away the predawn hours in coffee houses and all-night diners, which simultaneously satisfies her love of hot beverages, writing and eavesdropping.

Originally from Indiana, Sally is now fully integrated into California life. She works as a script researcher, helping CSI:Miami, Army Wives, Switched at Birth and the occasional feature film stay out of trouble. She regularly travels Southern California and beyond in her pursuit of photography subjects, good food, music and art.

Her blog, Any Given Sundry, reflects her many interests and maybe reveals a little too much about her constant search for novelty. She was a PEN Center/West Emerging Voices fellow and has been in writing workshops, groups or critiquing relationships most of her adult life. The best she's ever felt about being runner-up was the year her first published short story was named "One of 100 Other Distinguished Short Stories" in Best American Short Stories.

Sally lives in the high desert mountains outside of Los Angeles with her husband and a small, deeply devoted flock of birds.