Kamut Berry Pilaf
Martha and Russell Simmons prepare a vegan side dish of kamut berry pilaf with squash and cauliflower.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place kamut berries in a small sieve and rinse under cold running water. Transfer kamut berries to a medium saucepan and add enough water to cover by 2 inches; generously salt water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until tender, adding more water as necessary, about 2 hours. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
Meanwhile, place cauliflower and squash on two separate rimmed baking sheets; drizzle each with 2 tablespoons olive oil and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven and roast until golden and slightly crisp, about 15 minutes for cauliflower and 30 minutes for squash.
Heat remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onions and shallots; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, but not browned, about 15 minutes.
Increase heat to medium-high and add mustard seeds, curry powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper; continue cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add sherry vinegar, stirring from bottom of pan to deglaze, and cook 2 minutes more.
Remove from heat and add to bowl with kamut berries along with the lemon juice; stir to combine. Add cauliflower and squash; toss to combine. Just before serving, add parsley leaves and almonds; gently toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper; serve warm or at room temperature.
Yum. I just made this again, with twice the kamut berries, and that was definitely sufficient. I would not triple the kamut, as I first suggested. It was deliciously warm and spicy with 1/2 tsp cayenne, but not too spicy!
This was VERY delicious. Not having kamut, I substituted wheat berries. I liked the contrast between the creamy butternut squash, crispy baked cauliflower, tangy spiced onion mix, tart lemon, and fresh parsley. I would triple the kamut berries (or wheat berries) because they were so dispersed as not to be much of a presence once mixed in. The dish also didn't taste at all spicy, so next time I make it I will use at least a half teaspoon of cayenne instead of a pinch.
Love this recipe! I'll definitely make this one for Thanksgiving dinner. Love to see more Vegan meals/recipes on future shows. Thanks for sharing.
Ally
NC
http://www.allisonreeceart.com/