Skip to main content

Warm Sorghum Salad With Pickled Beets

Image may contain Plant Bush Vegetation Food Produce Dish Meal and Vegetable

“Sorghum is an ancient African grain that came here through the transatlantic slave trade; Gullah farmers in South Carolina have continued its legacy,” notes chefMaricela Vega, the chef at Atlanta restaurant8ARMand founder ofChicomecoatl, an organization centering the foodways of Indigenous diaspora. “It’s nutty and chewy and good for agroecology—providing positive benefits to soil and ultimately helping to reverse the effects of climate change. In colder months I pair it with hardy greens for their high mineral content. Spicy guajillo oil, zestypickled beets, and lushsesame crèmeround out a perfect winter grain bowl. No sorghum? Sub wheat berries or even brown rice in a pinch.”

Ingredients

4 Servings

Sorghum

2 cups sorghum, soaked overnight, drained
2 sprigs thyme, marjoram, or oregano
2 bay leaves
8 cups vegetable stock or water
2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. plus ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt

Guajillo石油

4 dried guajillo chiles, halved, seeds removed
1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
4 whole black peppercorns
1 cup oil fromAllium Confit
¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Assembly

2 Tbsp. (or more) grapeseed oil
1 large bunch mustard greens (about 1 lb.), coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp. cilantro leaves with tender stems
1½ cups mixed tender herb leaves (such as parsley, mint, and/or dill), plus more for serving
1 cup drainedPickled Beets
  1. Sorghum

    Step 1

    Bring sorghum, thyme, bay leaves, stock, and salt to a boil in a large pot over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer until sorghum is tender, 80–90 minutes. Drain and transfer sorghum to a large bowl. Pick out and discard thyme and bay leaves.

  2. Guajillo石油

    Step 2

    Place chiles and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a medium bowl. Pour 2 cups hot water over chiles and cover; let sit 15 minutes to soften.

    Step 3

    Drain chiles and transfer to a blender; add peppercorns, allium oil, and vinegar. Blend on high speed until smooth and bright red; season with salt. Pour over sorghum, tossing to coat. Taste and season with more salt if needed.

  3. Assembly

    Step 4

    Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add mustard greens a handful at a time, letting wilt slightly before adding more. Cook, stirring occasionally and adding more oil if needed, until wilted and charred in spots, about 4 minutes. Add greens to sorghum and toss to combine, then toss in cilantro and 1½ cups tender herbs.

    Step 5

    SmearSesame Crèmein shallow bowls, dividing evenly; mound sorghum salad over and top withPickled Beetsand more tender herbs.

Sign InorSubscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Warm Sorghum Salad With Pickled Beets?

Leave a Review

Read More
Citrusy, Peanutty Pork With Rice Noodles
Inspired by salsa de cacahuate, this delightful sauce is spicy, rich, and velvety.
Tofu and Green Pea Curry
A heavily spiced sauce and pops of green peas makes bland tofu a distant memory. Easy to veganize (just skip the butter), this curry is an excellent make-ahead meal.
Peanut-Butter-Braised Chicken and Greens
Peanut butter lends its nutty, creamy texture to this hearty one-pot chicken and greens dish with an irresistible sauce you’ll want to serve over plenty of rice.
Cote de Bœuf au Poivre
For this bone-in ribeye steak recipe (a.k.a. côte de bœuf), you’ll encrust the meat with three types of peppercorns and make a silky cream sauce with the drippings.
Pork Chop Schnitzel
Extra juicy and very crunchy, these thick-cut breaded pork chops are an impressive dinner option served with a crisp pickled-fennel salad.
Tuna Carnitas
This crispy-but-tender fried tuna is reminiscent of its porky namesake—particularly when paired with rich refried beans and bright pickled onions.
Chicken Fajitas
The marinade for this chicken fajitas recipe packs a big citrusy punch, which means you don’t have to let the chicken marinate for very long.
Pork Chops With Fiery Raspberry Chimichurri
The classic Argentine condiment gets reimagined with tart-sweet raspberries and spicy Calabrian chiles for a burst of summertime flavor.