Recipe Swap Box--BBQ edition

I'm participating in Randi's Recipe Box Swap. July's theme is "BBQ-main dishes and sides". I think I was actually supposed to post this yesterday, but maybe this will help someone who isn't barbecuing until tomorrow...

This recipe comes from the Recipe Box of...Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks. I hope this isn't cheating because it's not an old family recipe of mine, but I visit Heidi's blog so often and she was gracious enough to accept my friendship on Facebook, so she almost feels like family--maybe she could be my really cool cousin who brings the best food to any family gathering?

Spring Wild Rice Salad Recipe
You can use tahini or experiment with other nut butters here. Also, If you like a bit more texture you can pan-fry the split peas for a minute or so - don't go too far or that get overly crunchy. You can easily make this vegan by omitting the goat cheese.

Almond Dressing:
1 garlic clove, smashed and chopped
1/4 cup almond butter
zest of one lemon
scant 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
scant 1/4 cup hot water
scant 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch segments
4 cups cooked wild rice*
1 cup cooked yellow split peas**
1 bunch chives, chopped
1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled (optional)

Whisk together the garlic, almond butter, lemon zest and juice, and olive oil. Add the hot water to thin a bit and then the salt. Set aside.

Bring a saucepan full of water to a boil. Salt the water and add the asparagus. Cook for just a minute - until the asparagus is just bright and tender. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking.

In a large bowl combine the wild rice, yellow split peas, asparagus, and abot half of the almond dressing. Give it a good toss. Add more dressing if needed. Taste, and add more salt if needed. Serve topped with chives and crumbled goat cheese.

Serves 8.

Comments

[jessica]

what a great recipe for summer

as far as I'm concerned pretty much anything with goat cheese tastes good

[Alexis]

Stew's has provided many a fine barbecue for us Knot-Sew-Crafties. In fact, as soon as we have a back yard, we'll have you guys over for a Stew's feast!

[Khaite]

Mmmm. That sounds seriously good. I am supposed to bring a salady-grainy-type dish to a barbeque later on today. Maybe I will make the Wild Rice salad! Either that, or we'll go to Stew Leonard's where I can feed the kids lunch from the sample tables and we can buy something ready-made. Hmmm. I wonder which it will be.
xo
Khaite