Milk Street: Cook What You Have: Make a Meal Out of Almost Anything (A Cookbook)

Christopher Kimball, Michelle Locke, Dawn Yanagihara, Wes Martin, Diane Unger, Bianca Borges, Matthew Card, Jennifer Baldino Cox, Ali Zeigler, Connie Miller, Christine Tobin

Stir-Fried Grains with Charred Cabbage and Tomatoes

Start to finish: 30 minutes / Servings: 4

A type of Indian vegetable stir-fry called thoran inspired this mix of grain and vegetables. We like nutty, firm-textured farro, but brown rice also is good. Either way, you’ll need 4 cups of cooked grain; be sure to allow it to cool to room temperature or even chill it before stir-frying. Cabbage is our first choice for this dish, but other lower-moisture vegetables, such as green beans or Brussels sprouts, also are good.

4 tablespoons grapeseed or other neutral oil, divided

8 ounces green cabbage, cored and chopped into rough 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups) OR 8 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths OR 8 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed and shredded OR a combination

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1 small yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 tablespoon cumin seeds OR mustard seeds OR a combination

3 medium garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons curry powder

4 cups cooked and cooled farro OR brown rice

1 pint grape OR cherry tomatoes, halved

1 tablespoon lime juice OR lemon juice

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high, heat 2 tablespoons oil until barely smoking. Add the cabbage, ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring only once or twice, until the cabbage is lightly charred, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the onion and cumin seeds; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are well charred, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the garlic and curry powder. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the farro, breaking up any lumps. Distribute the mixture in an even layer and cook without stirring until you hear sizzling, about 30 seconds. Stir, distribute again in an even layer and cook until you once again hear sizzling, about another 30 seconds.

Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Off heat, stir in the lime juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Optional garnish: Chopped toasted nuts OR plain yogurt OR chopped fresh cilantro OR a combination

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