Corn and Farro Risotto
Alright, can anyone argue that Patrick Swayze was not a total bad ass in Roadhouse? I didn’t think so. I mean come on, Dalton not only single-handedly cleaned up the Double Deuce but he also took on Brad Wesley and his entire gang of thugs. I mean anybody that can beat up a dude with a knife in the toe of his boot is a total bad ass in my book. But the real lesson to be learned from this cinematic masterpiece is that contrary to popular belief, “size doesn’t matter.”
Dalton is often told “you know, for that line of work (bar bouncer) I thought you would be bigger.” But, you don’t have to be big and strong to pack a punch. In fact, in his infinite wisdom, Dalton states, “take the biggest guy in the world, shatter his knee and he’ll drop like a stone.” And if you don’t believe me, then look at Goliath. Not to go all biblical on you, but Goliath thought he was the toughest guy around until little old David smote him with a single rock.
So where am I going with all this you might ask? Well, just like Patrick Swayze was small but packed a mean punch, our main ingredient in this next dish is small but packs a mean nutritional punch. The ancient grain we are about to use was once a staple food source in the Roman Legion. It has six grams of protein and five grams of fiber per serving. It has two milligrams of iron and contains niacin, magnesium, and zinc. And to top it all off, this grain is chock full of antioxidants and lignans. Now I am not sure what lignans are, but I am fairly confident I want them in my diet.
Yes, the fuel that helped an army conquer the known world can be combined with the summer time favorite, corn, to produce a great vegan dish. And with that, I give you my version of ROASTED CORN AND FARRO RISOTTO. So if you are planning to invade your neighboring country or have a long night ahead of you kicking hooligans out of a bar, go ahead and fire up this dish. Otherwise, just make it for the family and enjoy the lignan goodness.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Farro
- 6 Cups Vegetable Broth
- ½ Cup White Wine
- 4 Garlic Cloves (minced)
- 1 Onion (diced)
- ½ Cup Tempeh Bacon (cooked and chopped)
- 4 Ears of Fresh Corn
- 2 Tbs. Fresh Thyme (chopped)
- 1 Tbs. Flat Leaf Parsley (chopped)
- 1 Tbs. Nutritional Yeast
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 2 Tbs. Rice Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
While your legionnaires sharpen their swords and polish their shields, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Individually wrap your ears of corn (husk and all) in aluminum foil with about a tablespoon of water per package. Set these aside until your oven heats up. Then you want to roast them for 20-25 minutes. Once they are cool enough to shuck, remove the husks and all the silk. At this point, I like to give my corn a quick go on the grill. This last step is optional, but it is well worth it. 3-5 minutes on a hot grill, turning frequently, give the corn a nice smoky flavor. Also, the sugars in the corn will intensify and some will caramelize giving the corn some nice brown bits. Remove from the grill and cut the corn off the cob and place in a small bowl.
After cooking the corn, perform a little Tai Chi like Dalton does in the movie (shirt is optional). This will help limber you up for the final phase of this dish. Not to mention it will help you fight off anyone coming to the door with a knife in his boot. Once maximum flexibility has been reached, place a large skillet on the stove over medium heat. Add in your onions, garlic, and about ½ cup of the vegetable broth. Bring this to a simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender (about 3-5 minutes). Now you can add your farro and white wine. Cook the farro at a low simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, then add a cup of broth at a time allowing the liquid to be absorbed before adding more broth.
This low, slow method of cooking will allow the grains of farro to soften. It will take about 30-45 minutes, but it will be so worth it, I promise. Once the grains are soft and chewy, and most of your liquid is gone, add in your bacon and corn. Cook for another 3-5 minutes and allow the bacon and corn flavors to combine. Finally, mix in your herbs and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Finish the dish with a sprinkle of rice parmesan. Plate and serve immediately as your troops will be hungry before going into battle.
Notes
Most of the time in this recipe comes from simmering the farro.
Roasted Corn
Now, I understand that size doesn’t matter. At least that is what I took away from Roadhouse (along with many other valuable life lessons). So, feel confident that you can be small and still pack a mean punch. Hey, it works for farro and worked for Dalton. If that doesn’t work, just aim for the knees. But as always, make sure you use your powers for good and not evil. Longer Letter Later.
Love, Bob aka The Grassfed Carnivore
What? No picture of the Tai Chi to get a full sense of the process of the dish?!