Seared Scallops over Risotto

An easy and fast dinner for a weeknight. I prepared the chopped onion and garlic in the morning, so I just had to add it to the Risotto as I was cooking it. I took some frozen peas out of the freezer and had some fresh broccoli in the refrigerator left over from Farmers Market, so cut it up and got it ready.

Risotto is an easy dish, but you do have to watch and stir and watch and add more liquid. I took a bottle of wine out of the refrigerator and put it on the counter to bring to room temperature. Most people tell you to add everything “hot” to the pan, once you add the rice and EVOO, but I add at room temperature, mostly because I am a little lazy. I almost always have frozen chicken stock, so throw it in the microwave to warm, while I am cutting up veggies.

Garlic Parmesan Risotto

Risotto in 17-25 minutes?! I’m in! Garlic Parmesan Risotto may be the star of the show we call “dinner” in this easy side – it’s sure to please the whole family!CourseSide DishCuisineItalianPrep Time5 minutesCook Time20 minutesTotal Time25 minutesServings4Calories367kcalAuthorKylee Cooks

Ingredients

  • 1/2 medium onion diced finely
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tb s EVOO
  • 2 Tbs butter
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  •  dry white wine ( I use whatever is left over in the refrigerator, so maybe half a bottle). Cheap wine gives you cheap flavor.
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for serving ( I only use Reggiano Parmigiano, so the flavor is the best it can be)
  • 3 Tbs freshly chopped parsley ( I pick it from my garden, and be sure to remove all the stems, as they are bitter)
  • Peas and Broccoli or what ever veggie you want to add.

Instructions

  • Add butter and oil to a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the onions and cook until just tender, then add the garlic. Cook 1 minute longer.
  • Add the rice and toss to coat, (making sure oil gets onto every grain of rice if you can). Remember I did mine ahead of time.
  • Add the wine and stir until it is absorbed.
  • Add 1 ladle of stock and stir until it absorbs.
  • Repeat this until you have used almost all of the stock -(It should take about 17-25 minutes). Taste to make sure it is the texture you want to eat it. Not mushy, but not too al dente.
  • After adding the last ladle of stock, add the parsley, and promptly add the cheese.
  • Let it absorb until it is creamy and thick, but not soupy.
  • Serve, adding extra parmesan if desired.

Seared Scallops

  • Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
  • In the meantime, pat the scallops very dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle the scallops with salt and pepper, to season.
  • When the pan is hot, add EVOO, then drop in your scallops, giving them enough room in between so they don’t steam each other. The scallops should make a sizzling noise when you put them in the pan.
  • Cook the scallops for 2 minutes, or untill you can see a little brown on the edges, making sure not to move them or touch them at all.
  • Flip the scallops over with a pair of tongs, and add the butter to the pan. Let the scallops cook for 1 more minute, basting the scallops with the butter.
  • Remove the scallops from the pan and serve over Risotto!

We served this with a Bennett Lane Pinot and loved the dinner. My granddaughter, age ten had joined us for dinner and ate two huge helpings, more that my male friend. She is quite slight, but can really eat if she loves it! Enjoy!

Seared Scallops over Risotto

 Difference Between Broccoli, Broccolini, Broccoli Rabe, and Chinese Broccoli?

I was reading a new recipe that called for Broccoli Rabe and I wasn’t sure if I had ever used it in a recipe, so went online (of course) to see what I could find out about it.  It was interesting to me the differences and similarities between them.

The Difference Between Broccoli, Broccolini, Broccoli Rabe, and Chinese Broccoli

What sets these winter veggies apart is the plant family from which they come. While broccoli, Broccolini, and Chinese broccoli are closely related to cabbage, the closest kin to broccoli rabe is the turnip. Taking a closer look at the size of their stalks, along with their leaves and florets, shows the differences.

broccoli
 Broccoli

Broccoli, a member of the cabbage family has thick, crisp stalks topped by rounded green florets. It is mildly bitter has a grassy, earthy flavor. Most people only eat florets, but  the whole plant is edible. I peel the stalk and slice in to 1/2 inch slices and cook all together.  Being an artist I like the look it gives, adding variety to the little trees.

You can steam, sauté, roast, stir-fry, or even purée into a sauce. It is just too simple, so try them all and decide how you prefer to eat it.  It makes a good side dish when cooked, but it can easily be incorporated raw in salads and crudités.

Broccolini-Pictures

Broccolini

While it might look like it, Broccolini is not baby broccoli. This lanky vegetable is a hybrid; first created in 1993, it’s a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. It has small florets, long stalks, and a few small leaves which are edible.

Compared to the bitter flavor of regular broccoli, Broccolini is more mild, with a sweet, earthy taste. It can be eaten raw, but Broccolini is best when cooked. Sauté, steam, roast, or grill it.  I always thought they were related and did not know why I liked Broccoli so much better than Broccolini.

broccoli rabeBroccoli Rabe

Broccoli rabe isn’t really related to broccoli. It’s closely related to the turnip. Approach it is just as you would with bitter leafy greens, like mustard greens or turnip greens.

This long, slender vegetable,  often referred to as broccoli raab and is similar to rapini, has thin stalks with deep-green leaves and small buds that resemble broccoli florets. Broccoli rabe is sold fresh in grocery stores and farmers markets at its peak in the cold  of winter.

The flavor mellows to some extent as it cooks, but broccoli rabe still has a bitter taste that’s a bit earthy and nutty as well as the others. It’s particularly popular in Italian cuisine, and when sautéed or blanched to soften the stalks and leaves it is at its best.

chinese-broccoli-

Chinese Broccoli

Chinese broccoli, known as kai-lan, gai-lan, and Chinese kale is a leafy green vegetable closely related to thick-stemmed broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts with leaves, thick stems, and tiny florets.

Widely eaten in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisine, Chinese broccoli has a slightly bitter and earthy taste, and tastes best after a quick steam or sauté, or in a stir-fry. It might prove tough to find Chinese broccoli in large grocery stores. Asian markets are more likely to carry it. Our wonderful Central Market in Poulsbo has all four kinds.  But of course they have the best produce always!

Used Interchangeably?

Yes, but there are a few caveats.

Because they vary in size and shape, certain swaps work better than others. If you’re focused on florets, broccoli and Broccolini can easily be used interchangeably. If you’re cooking with the broccoli stalk, Chinese broccoli also has a thick stem and makes a good substitute. And if the leafy greens are what you’re after, broccoli rabe and Chinese broccoli can be used for one another. Do keep in mind that you may have to adjust the cook time to account for the swap.  Happy Cooking!

Here is the recipe from Cooking Light Magazine that captured my attention and I am going to try tomorrow.

Roasted Pork Loin Stuffed with Prosciutto and Broccoli Rabe

Prep Time
30 Mins
Total Time
1 Hour 50 Mins
Yield
Serves 8 (serving size: about 3 oz. pork and 2 Tbsp. jus)

How to Make It

Step 1

Cook rabe in boiling water 3 minutes; plunge into an ice bath for 1 minute. Drain well. Wrap rabe in paper towels; squeeze dry. Chop rabe into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Place in bowl with 1 tablespoon oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, and garlic; stir well.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Step 3

Cut into pork loin lengthwise from right to left, 3/4 inch from bottom, keeping knife parallel with cutting board; do not cut through the other side. Continue slicing lengthwise from right to left, unrolling loin as you slice, to form a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Season with remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt.

Step 4

Arrange prosciutto in layers to cover inside of loin. Spread rabe mixture on top, leaving a 1-inch border. Roll pork up left to right. Tie with twine in surgeon’s knots at 2-inch intervals.

Step 5

Combine stock, wine, and Marmite in a roasting pan. Place pan over medium heat; cook until Marmite dissolves, stirring. Set a roasting rack in pan.

Step 6

Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Place loin in pan; cook 12 minutes or until browned. Place loin on rack; cover loosely with foil. Roast at 325°F for 50 minutes or until meat registers 150°F. Remove pork from pan; let pork stand 20 minutes. Swirl butter into pan juices until butter melts. Cut pork into 3/4-inch slices; serve with jus.

 Served with this Water Chestnut and Pea Salad
Pork loin
Ingredients

  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 1 package (16 ounces) frozen peas, thawed
  • 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup prepared ranch salad dressing
  • 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

  • 1. Cook carrots in a small amount of water until crisp-tender; drain and rinse in cold water. Place in a serving bowl; add the peas, water chestnuts, onions and cheese. In a small bowl, combine the salad dressing, bacon and pepper; mix well. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Chill until serving. Yield: 6 servings.

   

 Difference Between Broccoli, Broccolini, Broccoli Rabe, and Chinese Broccoli?