Meatless grilling series: Argentinian skewers

1 cup long-grain brown rice or brown basmati rice, rinsed

1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained

2 avocados, halved and pitted

2 cups lightly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley

½ cup lightly packed fresh cilantro

2 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or lime juice

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons water

8 ounces cremini (baby bella) mushrooms, washed and patted dry

2 red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch squares

1 red onion, cut into ½-inch-wide wedges

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Fine sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

¼ cup raw pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)

To prepare the rice and beans: Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Pour in the rice and drop in the bay leaf. Give the mixture a brief stir and let it boil for 30 minutes, reducing the heat if necessary to prevent overflow. Drain the rice, return it to the pot, cover, and let it rest for 10 minutes off the heat. Discard the bay leaf and fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and salt. Add the black beans and gently stir to combine. Cover until you’re ready to serve. 

To make the chimichurri sauce: Using a spoon, scoop the flesh of the avocados into a food processor. Add the parsley, cilantro, garlic, vinegar, pepper flakes, salt, and a few twists of black pepper. Process, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container once or twice. With the machine running, slowly stream in the olive oil and water. Add another tablespoon or so of water if you’re having trouble blending the mixture. Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Set aside. 

To grill the veggies: Preheat your grill to medium heat. To prepare the mushrooms for grilling, slice them so they are evenly sized—use a sharp knife to quarter the large mushrooms, halve the medium mushrooms, and leave small mushrooms whole. Combine the prepared mushrooms, bell peppers, and onion in a medium bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss until the pieces are lightly coated in oil, then thread the mushrooms, peppers, and chunks of onion onto skewers, alternating the vegetables as you go. You should have enough for 8 skewers. 

Meanwhile, in a small skillet, toast the pepitas over medium heat, stirring often, until they turn golden on the edges and make little popping noises, about 5 minutes.

When you’re ready to assemble, spoon the rice and beans onto 4 plates. Top each plate with 2 skewers, a generous drizzle of avocado chimichurri sauce, and a sprinkle of pepitas. Serve immediately.