Tasty Monthly Cherry Recipes
Every month we will showcase new seasonal recipes featuring Wisconsin cherries. You can also view an archive of our past recipes.
August
This month's recipes include Multi-Grain Cherry Pilaf and Pineapple Seafood Salad.
Multi-Grain Cherry Pilaf
Rice and wheat berries team up with cherries for a fiber-rich side dish that could help reduce the risk of cancer.
Makes 6 (2/3 cup) servings
- 1/3 cup wild rice
- 1/3 cup wheat berries
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons dry rubbed sage
- 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
- 1/3 cup brown rice
- 1 cup dried tart cherries
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted (see below)
Instructions:
Rinse wild rice and wheat berries under cold running water. Drain well. In a medium saucepan, cook onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat about 4 minutes or until tender. Stir in drained wild rice and wheat berries, chicken broth, sage and pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes.
Stir brown rice into wild rice mixture. Return to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 45 minutes, or until grains are tender. (If excess liquid remains in saucepan after grains are tender, remove lid and simmer until liquid evaporates.)
Stir cherries and toasted pecans into rice mixture. Serve warm.
To toast pecans: Spread pecans in an ungreased pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until brown.
Pineapple Seafood Salad
Makes 6 servings
- 2 (6 oz.) packages frozen crab meat, thawed & drained
- 1 1/2 cups celery, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- dash of Tabasco
- 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/2 cup salad dressing
- 3/4 cup frozen red tart cherries, partially defrosted
- 1 fresh pineapple, chilled
Instructions:
Cut pineapple in half lengthwise, right through the green top. Remove inside of pineapple; throw away the core and cut rest into chunks.
Combine pineapple chunks and rest of ingredients and heap into 2 pineapple halves.
