Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Perfectly Grilled Corn on the Cob

Ingredients
8 ears corn
Kosher salt

Directions
Heat the grill to medium.

Pull the outer husks down the ear to the base. Strip away the silk from each ear of corn by hand. Fold husks back into place, and place the ears of corn in a large bowl of cold water with 1 tablespoon of salt for 10 minutes.

Remove corn from water and shake off excess. Place the corn on the grill, close the cover and grill for 15 to 20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes, or until kernels are tender when pierced with a paring knife. Remove the husks and eat on the cob or remove the kernels. Serve with the BBQ Butter and/or Herb Butter. Spread over the corn while hot.

BBQ Butter
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 small red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons Spanish paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds
1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, slightly softened
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions for BBQ Butter
Heat the oil in a medium saute pan over high heat until almost smoking. Add the onion and cook until soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the paprika, cayenne, cumin and ancho powder and cook for 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup of water and cook until the mixture becomes thickened and the water reduces. Let cool slightly.

Place the butter in a food processor, add the spice mixture and Worcestershire sauce and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, scrape the mixture into a small bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Herb Butter
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (basil, chives or tarragon)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions for Herb Butter
Combine in a food processor and process until smooth.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Slow Smoked Pork Shoulder with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Queso Fresco

Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
4 sprigs fresh thyme
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large white onion, chopped
2 heaping tablespoons ancho chile powder
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1 or 2 chipotle in adobo, finely chopped
1 boneless pork shoulder (about 5 pounds)
Warm corn tortillas

Napa Cabbage Slaw, recipe follows
Hot sauce
Fresh cilantro leaves
1 cup crumbled queso fresco

Directions
Special equipment: 2 cups wood chips (hickory or apple), soaked in water 30 minutes

Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the thyme, garlic, onions, ancho chile powder, brown sugar, cumin, coriander, orange juice, lime juice, 1/2 water and chipotle, and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool. Put the pork in a large pan and pour over the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the pork from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.

Preheat a charcoal grill for indirect heat and place the soaked wood chips on top of the coals.

Place the pork on the grill, cover and let smoke until the temperature inside the grill is 220 degrees F. Add chips as necessary to continue smoking until the internal temperature of the pork reaches140 degrees F. Then just let the pork finish cooking until the internal temperature reaches about 190 degrees F. This can take about 5 hours. Let the pork rest 30 minutes.

Shred the pork and serve in the warm tortillas topped with some Napa Cabbage Slaw, hot sauce, fresh cilantro leaves and queso fresco.

Napa Slaw:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons canola oil1 teaspoon celery seeds
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 green onions, coarsely chopped
2 serrano chiles
1 head Napa cabbage, finely shredded
1 large carrot, julienned
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco

Whisk the mayonnaise, vinegar, oil and celery seeds until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the green onions and serrano chiles. Place the cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. Add the dressing and the queso fresco, and toss to combine.

SOURCE

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Coleslaw with Creamy Cumin Vinaigrette

Ingredients
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon olive oil
Zest of 1 lime, finely grated
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds, crushed in a mortar and pestle
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small head napa cabbage, finely shredded
1 large carrot, grated on the large holes of a box grater
1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 small red bell pepper, julienned
1 small yellow bell pepper, julienned

Directions
Whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, dill, sugar, celery salt and cumin seeds in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cabbage, carrots, onions and peppers, and toss to coat in the dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours before serving.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Smoked Trout Salad with Grilled Fingerlings Potatoes and Mustard-Dill Vinaigrette

Ingredients
2 pounds fingerling potatoes, par-cooked in salted water, drained and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus 1/4 cup fronds for serving
1 teaspoon smoked paprika, plus more for serving
2 to 3 tablespoons canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
1 to 2 teaspoons honey
1/4 cup olive oil
Smoked Trout, recipe follows
1 large bunch watercress, woody stems removed

Directions
Preheat the grill for direct grilling, high heat.

Toss the potatoes with the canola oil, 2 tablespoons chopped dill, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer to a grill basket and grill, tossing occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Combine the mayonnaise, cider vinegar, horseradish, mustard, honey, and salt and pepper to taste, and whisk to combine. Slowly whisk in the olive oil.

Drizzle some of the dressing over the bottom of a large serving platter or shallow bowl. Pour the warm potatoes on top. Scatter the Smoked Trout over the potatoes, then the watercress and dill fronds. Dust with more smoked paprika and drizzle a generous amount of dressing over all.

Smoked Trout:
1/2 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
8 trout fillets, skin on
Special equipment: Alder wood or applewood chips, soaked in cold water for at least 2 hours
Combine the salt, sugar and 4 cups water in a 4-quart container and stir until the salt has dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the trout, making sure they are submerged. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.

Remove the trout from the brine, rinse thoroughly with cold water and pat dry. Place the trout skin-side down onto a rack set in a half sheet pan. Dry in the refrigerator until the skin becomes shiny and somewhat tacky to the touch, 21 to 24 hours.

Prepare the smoker using the alder or applewood chips so that it maintains a temperature of 150 to 160 degrees F.

Place the trout onto the smoking racks, skin-side down, separating them by at least 1/4-inch and place into the smoker. Adjust the heat as needed and cook until the fish has cooked through, darkened in color around the edges and has the desired level of smoke flavor, about 20 minutes. Remove from the smoker and cool. Remove the flesh from the skin and gently break into big chunks.

SOURCE

Grilled White Fish with Chermoula

Ingredients
Chermoula:
Pinch saffron threads
1/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon canola oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chile de arbol
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Juice of 1 lemon
2 red bell peppers, grilled, peeled, seeded and sliced
2 ripe beefsteak tomatoes, diced and seeded
20 fresh mint leaves, torn
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
Grilled White Fish:
2 pound halibut fillet (1 1/2-to-2-inches thick)
Canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
For the chermoula: Combine the saffron and hot water in a small bowl and let sit for 10 minutes to bloom. Heat the canola oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Cook the ancho, coriander, cumin and chile de arbol for 1 minute. Add the saffron and its soaking water. Remove from the heat.

Whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice and garlic-saffron mixture in a medium bowl. Mix in the bell peppers, tomatoes, mint leaves and cilantro. Cover the bowl and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld, or refrigerate overnight. Bring to room temperature before serving.

For the grilled white fish: Heat a charcoal grill for direct grilling at medium-high heat. Brush both sides of the halibut with the canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the halibut until golden brown and charred on both sides and cooked to medium or well done, about 10 minutes each side.

Carefully transfer the halibut to a platter and top with the chermoula immediately. Let the halibut rest for 5 minutes before serving, to allow flavors to sink in.

Red Curry Marinated Skirt Steak Fajitas

Ingredients
1/4 cup red curry paste
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 pounds skirt steak, cut in half or thirds crosswise
1/4 cup clover honey
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sixteen 6-inch flour tortillas, wrapped in foil and warmed on the grill for 5 minutes
Pickled Roasted Peppers, recipe follows
Barbecued Onions, recipe follows
Avocado Crema, recipe follows

Directions
Whisk the curry paste, canola oil and 1/4 cup lime juice in a mixing bowl. Place the steaks in a large baking dish and coat both sides in half the curry mixture. Cover the steaks and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 8 hours.

Whisk the honey and remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice in a bowl; set aside half the mixture for dressing the cooked steaks.

Heat a grill to high, or heat a cast-iron pan or griddle over high heat. Remove the steaks from the curry mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill the steaks until golden brown and slightly charred on both sides, brushing with the honey-lime mixture a few times. Cook the steaks to medium-rare, about 12 minutes. Remove the steaks from the grill and let sit for 10 minutes before slicing across the grain into thin slices.

Place the meat on a platter and immediately drizzle with the reserved honey-lime mixture. Lay the tortillas on a flat surface and place the steak slices in the center. Top with the Pickled Roasted Peppers, Barbecued Onions and a dollop of Avocado Cream. Roll and eat.

Pickled Roasted Peppers:
1 cup white wine or rice vinegar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
2 roasted red bell peppers, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
2 roasted yellow bell peppers, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
For the peppers: Combine the white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt and garlic in a small saucepan over high heat. Boil until the sugar dissolves. Remove the saucepan from the heat and cool to room temperature.

Put the red and yellow bell peppers and oregano in a medium bowl and add the vinegar mixture. Stir to combine. Cover the peppers and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days before serving. Yield: about 3 cups.

Barbecued Onions:
2 Vidalia onion, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
Canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
BBQ rub, such as Bobby Flay BBQ Rub
BBQ sauce, such as Bobby Flay BBQ Sauce
Heat a grill to medium heat. Brush the onions with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Season one side of the onions with BBQ rub and place on the grill, rub-side down. Grill the onions until lightly golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Flip the onions over and brush with BBQ sauce. Grill the onions until just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Separate into rings.

Avocado Crema:
2 ripe Hass avocados, peeled, pitted and chopped
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the crema: Blend 1/4 cup water, the avocados, rice vinegar and lime juice in a blender until smooth. Add the cilantro, salt and pepper and blend for a few seconds until incorporated. Yield: about 1 1/2 cups.

SOURCE

Cornell Chicken with Grilled Steak Fries

Ingredients
Brine:
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
8 whole cloves
8 black peppercorns
8 sprigs fresh rosemary
8 fresh sage leaves
8 sprigs fresh thyme
Two 3 1/2-pound chickens, halved, keel bones and wing tips removed
Canola oil, for brushing

Spice Mixture:
3 tablespoons dried sage
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground celery seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Sauce:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
5 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons clover honey
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Grilled Steak Fries, for serving, recipe follows

Directions
For the brine: Whisk 8 cups cold water, the vinegar, salt, sugar, cloves, peppercorns, rosemary, sage and thyme until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Add the chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. Do not brine any longer than 2 hours or the chicken will start to break down.

For the spice mixture: Stir the sage, marjoram, pepper, rosemary, thyme, celery seeds and ground cloves in a small bowl.

For the sauce: Whisk the vinegar, mustard, honey, rosemary, thyme and sage in a bowl until smooth.

Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling. Rinse under cold water and pat dry. Brush the chicken with canola oil. Sprinkle the skin side of the chicken with half the spice mixture and some salt and pepper.

Prepare a charcoal grill for direct and indirect cooking. On the direct side, have the coals at medium-high heat. Arrange the chicken skin side down on the grill, over direct heat. Rub the bottom of the chicken with the remaining half the spice mixture. Grill the chicken until well browned, about 10 minutes. Flip the chicken skin side up and baste 1/3 cup of the sauce.

Move the chicken to indirect heat, cover, and cook until the thigh meat registers 165 degrees F, about 40 minutes longer. Baste with 1/3 cup of the sauce every few minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Brush with the remaining 1/3 cup of the sauce and sprinkle with parsley. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Arrange on a platter with the Grilled Steak Fries.

Grilled Steak Fries:
5 large Yukon gold or russet potatoes, par cooked in salted water
Canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
Finely chopped fresh chives
Heat the grill to medium heat. Cut each potato into eighths. Brush the potatoes with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the potatoes until lightly golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, about 4 minutes each side. Transfer to a platter and immediately drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with more salt and chives.

SOURCE