Mediterranean Grain Stuffing Recipes

MIXED-GRAIN STUFFING

Steps:

• Soak wheatberries in cold water overnight in the refrigerator (or place in a pot, cover with water by 1 inch, and bring to a boil; then remove from heat and let stand 1 hour). Drain; set aside.
• Heat oil in a large straight-sided skillet over high. Add onion, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent and golden around the edges, 5 to 6 minutes. Add cumin and coriander and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until liquid evaporates and mushrooms begin to brown, 7 to 9 minutes. Add wheatberries; toss to coat.
• Add broth, 1 cup water, and saffron; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until wheatberries are tender but retain some bite, about 1 hour. Stir in millet (if pan seems dry, add 1/2 cup water) and cook, covered, until grains are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in raisins, lemon and orange zests and juices, and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Stuffing can be made ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days.

MEDITERRANEAN SKILLET SUPPER

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the cracked wheat and saute until toasty brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the broth, cover and cook until the wheat is tender, about 20 minutes. If the wheat is tender but has not absorbed all of the water, remove the cover and cook for another few minutes, stirring occasionally until the excess moisture has evaporated. Add the sundried tomatoes and pesto; season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the chick peas, cover and cook for about 5 minutes or until the chick peas are heated through. Adjust seasoning. Serve with sour cream or plain yogurt as a topping.

MEDITERRANEAN INSPIRED STUFFED AND ROLLED FLANK STEAK

Steps:

• Combine all the stuffing ingredients in a food processor and process until they form a smooth paste, about 45 to 60 seconds.
• Prepare the flank steak by placing between plastic and pounding to a thickness of 1/3 inch; score on one side in a criss-cross pattern.
• Turn steak over and season well with salt and pepper.
• Smooth all but 1 tablespoon of the stuffing over the entire steak; reserved stuffing will be used later in a sauce.
• Roll steak up and tie with kitchen twine in about 3 places.
• Place the steak, uncovered, in the refrigerator for at least two hours up to overnight (you want the outside to dry a bit and the inside to marinate).
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and bring the steak to room temperature.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat; season steak on all sides generously with salt and pepper and sear well, in a little oil, on all sides.
• Meanwhile combine reserved stuffing, water, mustard, garlic, rosemary, and oils in a roasting pan or baking dish; place a rack for the meat on top.
• Place meat on rack, brush with pan juices, and roast to an internal temperature of 120 degrees F, about 15 minutes.
• Let rest about 15 minutes, then slice into 1/4 inch slices; drizzle with pan sauce and more extra virgin olive oil if desired.

VENISON ROAST WITH MEDITERRANEAN STUFFING

Steps:

• With sharp knife, make deep slits in roast and place garlic strips into slits.
• Mix marinade ingredients and marinate roast for 3 days in refrigerator, turning frequently.
• Soak sundried tomatoes in balsamic vinegar until soft and all vinegar has been absorbed. (Can be prepared beforehand and kept in refrigerator).
• Mix stuffing ingredients.
• Remove roast from marinade and stuff envelope with mediterranean stuffing. Save marinade.
• Wrap bacon strips around stuffed roast and tie with string to keep everything together.
• Preheat oven to 180c.
• Heat oil in large heavy-bottomed skillet and quickly brown roast on all sides.
• Remove roast to ovenproof dish with lid. Pour reserved marinade and beef stock over roast, replace lid and cook in oven at 180c for 1h. Turn and baste at 15min. intervals.
• Remove lid and roast for further 1/2 hour, basting, until sauce is thickened and meat is tender.

MEDITERRANEAN GRAIN SALAD

Steps:

• In a heatproof bowl, mix bulgur with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 cup boiling water. Cover, and let stand until tender but slightly chewy, about 30 minutes.
• Drain bulgur in a fine-mesh sieve, pressing to remove liquid; return to bowl. Add tomatoes, parsley, shallot, vinegar, and oil. Season with salt and pepper, and toss. Top with cheese.

TRADITIONAL RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add water, dill weed, poultry seasoning, parsley, ground black pepper, chicken bouillon, and rice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed and rice is just slightly undercooked, 12 to 14 minutes. Stir, taste, and adjust seasonings if desired. Cool completely before using to stuff a chicken.