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BBQ Pork – Char Siu

BBQ Pork – Char Siu

Yield: 4 Servings

Adapted from Woks of Life

Char Siu (叉烧) is a type of Cantonese roast meat. To make Char Sui, pork is marinated in a sweet BBQ sauce and then roasted.

  • 3lb boneless pork shoulder/pork butt (select a piece with some good fat on it)
  • ¼cup granulated white sugar
  • 2tsp salt
  • ½tsp five spice powder
  • ¼tsp white pepper
  • ½tsp sesame oil
  • 1TBS Shaoxing rice wine
  • 1TBS soy sauce
  • 1TBS hoisin sauce
  • 2tsp molasses
  • 3cloves finely minced garlic
  • 2TBS honey
  • 1TBS hot water


Prep pork:

Cut the pork into long strips or chunks about 2 to 3 inches thick. Don’t trim any excess fat, as it will render off and add flavor.

Make marinade:

Combine the sugar, salt, five spice powder, white pepper, sesame oil, wine, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, molasses, food coloring (if using), and garlic in a bowl to make the marinade (i.e., the BBQ sauce).

Marinate pork:

Reserve about 2 TBS of marinade and set it aside. Rub the pork with the rest of the marinade in a large bowl or baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or at least 8 hours. Cover and store the reserved marinade in the fridge as well.

Roast Char Sui:

Preheat your oven to ‘bake’ at 475°F with a rack positioned in the upper third of the oven.

It’s amazing how oven temperatures can vary—from model to model, in different spots in the oven, and in how ovens pre-heat and maintain heat. Using an oven thermometer to double-check the actual oven temperature is a great safeguard to monitor your food (I say double-check because even oven thermostat calibrations vary and can sometimes be incorrect).

Regardless, be sure to check your Char Sui every 10 minutes, reducing or increasing the temperature as needed.

Line a sheet pan with foil and place a metal rack on top. Using the metal rack keeps the pork off the pan and allows it to roast more evenly, like it does in commercial ovens described above. Place the pork on the rack, leaving as much space as possible between pieces. Pour 1½ cups water into the pan below the rack. This prevents any drippings from burning or smoking.

Transfer the pork to your preheated oven. Roast for 25 minutes, keeping the oven setting at 475°F for the first 10 minutes of roasting, and then reduce your oven temperature to 375°F.

After 25 minutes, flip the pork. If the bottom of the pan is dry, add another cup of water. Turn the pan 180 degrees to ensure even roasting. Roast another 15 minutes. Throughout the roasting time, check your Char Siu often (every 10 minutes) and reduce the oven temperature if it looks like it is burning!

Meanwhile, combine the reserved marinade with the maltose or honey (maltose is very viscous––you can heat it up in the microwave to make it easier to work with) and 1 TBS hot water. This will be the sauce you’ll use for basting the pork.

After 40 minutes of total roasting time, baste the pork, flip it, and baste the other side as well. Roast for a final 10 minutes.

By now, the pork has cooked for 50 minutes total. It should be cooked through and caramelized on top. If it’s not caramelized to your liking, you can turn the broiler on for a couple minutes to crisp the outside and add some color/flavor. Be sure not to walk away during this process, since the sweet Char Sui BBQ sauce can burn if left unattended. You can also use a meat thermometer to check if the internal temperature of the pork has reached 160°F. (Update: USDA recommends that pork should be cooked to 145°F with a 3-minute resting time)

Remove from the oven and baste with the last bit of reserved BBQ sauce. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing and enjoy!

Special Fried Rice

Special Fried Rice

Yield: 2 to 3 Servings
Adapted from Sue & Gambo

For Chicken

  • 4oz sliced chicken
  • 1pinch of salt
  • 1tsp sesame seed oil
  • ½egg white
  • 1TBS corn starch
  • 4TBS of oil

Main dish

  • 4oz baby shrimp
  • 4oz BBQ pork (See BBQ Pork / Char Sui)
  • 2eggs
  • 1cup bean sprouts
  • ½cup green onions
  • ½cup white onions
  • 2cups cooked white rice
  • 1TBS oyster sauce
  • 2pinch white pepper
  • 2TBS of soy sauce
  • ¼cup green onions

Marinating the Meats

Marinate the chicken with salt, sesame seed oil, 1/2 egg white, corn starch and 1 tablespoon of oil

Cook the Chicken

In a wok add 1 tablespoon of oil and add the chicken and cook for on high heat until chicken is fully cooked all the way through.

Set the cooked chicken aside

Stir-Fry

Add 2 tablespoons of oil, egg, the 3 different type of meats and all of the vegetables, white rice and stir-fry

Next add the oyster sauce, white pepper, soy sauce and stir-fry

Once the fried rice is evenly mixed together, add it to a plate and place a few green onions on top.

Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie

Yield: 4 to 6 Servings
Food Wishes

24-Oct-16 – You can substitute beef for lamb, if you must, but then it’s Cottage Pie.

For lamb/beef mixture:

  • 1TBS butter
  • 1TBS olive oil
  • 1diced onion
  • 2lb lean ground lamb/lamb
  • cup flour
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1tsp paprika
  • 1/8tsp cinnamon
  • 2tsp minced fresh rosemary
  • 3cloves minced garlic
  • 1TBS ketchup
  • cups water or broth (use more or less to adjust thickness as needed)
  • 12oz bag frozen peas and carrots, thawed, drained well

For the potato topping:

  • lb Yukon gold potatoes
  • 1TBS butter
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • pinch of cayenne
  • ¼cup cream cheese
  • ¼lb Irish cheddar like Dubliner.
  • 1egg yolk beaten with 2 TBS milk


Preheat
oven to 375°F.

Add olive oil and onion to Dutch oven over medium heat. Add meat, break up with wooden spoon while it cooks. Cook and stir for about 10 minutes to develop fond on bottom of pan.

Sprinkle on flour. Mix and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. While it’s cooking add salt and pepper, paprika, cinnamon, rosemary, garlic and ketchup. Stir in.

Add water, stir until quite thick. Cook for about 5-6 minutes.

Add the frozen peas and carrots, stir, cook. Add to baking dish, tap down and spread smooth.

Boil potatoes and cook until tender. Drain, add butter, salt and pepper, cayenne, cream cheese, cheddar. Mash until thoroughly incorporated.

Beat egg yolk with milk and stir into mashed potatoes.

Top meat in big spoonful’s of mashed potato. If you use fork to smooth, it will help crisp the surface.

Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.

Veal Saltimbocca

Veal Saltimbocca

Yield: 4 Servings
Saveur

A mainstay at trattorias throughout Rome, this quick and elegant dish calls for just three main ingredients: veal cutlets, prosciutto, and fresh sage. Served with a simple sauce made by de-glazing the pan with Marsala, it’s slightly salty, slightly woodsy, and entirely sumptuous. Saltimbocca means “jump in the mouth”.

  • 8(2-oz) veal cutlets, preferably from the veal top round
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 16–24thin slices of prosciutto
  • 16–24fresh sage leaves
  • ½cup flour
  • 8TBS extra-virgin olive oil
  • 12TBS unsalted butter
  • ¼cup dry Marsala
  • 1cup chicken stock


U
sing a meat mallet, pound the veal cutlets, one at a time, between 2 sheets of plastic wrap until each piece is about 1⁄8 inch thick. Lightly season with salt (little is needed, as prosciutto is salty) and pepper to taste.

Lay 2–3 slices of prosciutto atop each piece of veal, gently pressing prosciutto against veal to adhere. Place 2–3 sage leaves on top of the prosciutto and stitch them into the veal with toothpicks. Place the flour on a large plate. Dredge each piece of veal in the flour, shake off any excess, and set aside.

In a 12-inch skillet, heat 2 TBS of the oil and 2 TBS of the butter over medium-high. Add 2 pieces of veal and cook, turning once, until the prosciutto side is crisp and the veal side is lightly browned, about 1 minute per side. Transfer the meat to a paper towel-lined plate; drain and discard the oil and butter from the skillet. Repeat this process with more oil, butter, and the remaining meat. Remove and discard the toothpicks.

Drain and discard the oil and butter from the skillet; place over high heat. Add the Marsala; cook, scraping up browned bits, until reduced by half, 1–2 minutes. Add the stock; reduce by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining 4 TBS of butter; reduce heat to medium. Return meat to skillet; cook, turning occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly, 1–2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve. (Alternatively, drizzle the pan sauce over the meat and serve.)

Veal Oscar (Home Version)

Veal Oscar (Home Version)

Yield: 4 Servings
Sarah Larson / Escoffier OnLine

Talk about a luxurious dish. Veal Oscar is about as indulgent as you can get when it comes to a classic French dish. Tender veal cutlets, crab meat, blanched asparagus are smothered in a rich béarnaise sauce for a meal like you’ve never had before. Veal Oscar is the definition of fine cuisine.

Béarnaise Sauce:

  • 3large egg yolks
  • 3TBS Champagne or white vinegar
  • 1TBS white wine
  • 1TBS finely chopped shallots
  • 1TBS finely chopped fresh tarragon
  • 1stick of butter melted
  • 1tsp lemon juice
  • 2TBS water
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Veal Oscar Ingredients:

  • 1lb veal cutlets lb
  • ¼cup all-purpose flour
  • ½lb lump crab meat
  • 2TBS whole butter
  • ½TBS vegetable oil
  • 12fresh asparagus spears
  • Salt and pepper to taste


Bearnaise Sauce:

Melt stick of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat keep warm to about 125° F. In a small sauce pan combine half the vinegar, white wine, shallots, and tarragon over medium heat and reduce until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

In a sauce pan add about ½ gallon of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Place egg yolks in a metal bowl and add 2 TBS of water and 1 TBS vinegar. Cook quickly over a double boiler until yolks are lighter in color and a ribbon consistency. Remove from heat.

Slowly add the clarified butter to the yolks, whisking constantly. Add a few drops of water if the sauce becomes too thick. Add the tarragon reduction, season with salt and pepper to taste. Hold the sauce hot at 125°F for a maximum of 1.5 hours.

Veal Oscar:

Season veal cutlets with salt and pepper, dredge in flour and shake excess flour, in a large skillet add 1 TBS each butter and oil; heat over medium heat until butter melts. Add veal pieces; cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside. Cook asparagus spears in salted boiling water until tender, about 5 minutes.

Melt the remaining butter in the same pan over medium heat, add crab to warm up.

To serve:

Arrange veal, crab and asparagus on warm serving plates; top with béarnaise sauce.

Classical Veal Oscar (Pro)

Classical Veal Oscar (Pro)

Yield: 4 Servings
Sizzle, Summer 2015

This is a professional recipe. Nothing in it is particularly difficult but it is somewhat time consuming. In a restaurant the tasks would  be divided between 3 or 4 line cooks and a chef or sous chef to do final assembly on the plate.

Rösti:

  • 8oz all-purpose potatoes
  • 4oz onion
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Clarified butter or lard

Asparagus:

  • 20medium-size asparagus (approximately 2 bunches)
  • 1oz clarified butter
  • Kosher salt and white pepper, to taste

Crab meat:

  • 1oz unsalted butter, split
  • 1TBS shallot, fine diced
  • 8oz lump crab
  • Salt and white pepper, to taste
  • 2oz white wine
  • 2tsp tarragon, minced
  • 2tsp parsley, minced
  • 2tsp chervil, minced
  • 2tsp chives, minced

Seared veal cutlets:

  • 8(2.5 oz) veal cutlets
  • 2oz flour, seasoned with kosher salt and pepper
  • 3oz clarified butter, divided

Tarragon reduction:

  • 2oz tarragon vinegar
  • 4oz white wine
  • 4TBS shallot, fine diced
  • 2TBS dried tarragon leaves
  • 1tsp white pepper, fresh ground
  • 4TBS fresh tarragon, chopped

Béarnaise sauce:

  • ¼cup white wine vinegar
  • 1bay leaf
  • 2sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1tsp whole white peppercorns
  • 2egg yolks
  • 8oz clarified butter
  • 1TBS Tarragon reduction


For Röstis:

In stockpot, parboil potatoes in salted water. Drain; cool. With cheese grater, coarsely grate potatoes.

Peel onion; coarsely grate. Wrap grated onion in cheesecloth, squeezing out liquid. Mix onion and potato; season with salt and pepper.

In large skillet, heat butter or lard (if using saute pan, increase amount and lower heat). Place 4-inch metal round-form cutter in pan; fill with potato/onion mixture to desired thickness. Pack down. Slowly remove cutter, twisting gently. Repeat.

Cook röstis over medium-high heat until each side is brown and crusty, approximately 10 minutes each side. Smooth edges as needed with spatula.

For asparagus:

Trim asparagus to desired length. Prepare ice bath.

In salt water, blanch asparagus for 30 seconds or until slightly tender. Place asparagus in ice bath. Keep in ice bath until ready to saute.

In saute pan, lightly saute asparagus in butter over medium to high heat. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

For crabmeat:

Heat butter in saute pan, add shallot; sweat. Add crab; season with salt and white pepper.

Deglaze with white wine; adding remaining butter, emulsify. Remove pan from heat; add tarragon, parsley, chervil and chives. Set aside.

For seared veal cutlets:

Cut/trim veal cutlets. Pound veal cutlets to ½-inch thickness; dust with seasoned flour.

Preheat large saute pan over medium to high heat, adding 1.5 oz. clarified butter.

Place dusted veal cutlets in pan. Sear until golden-brown, about 2 minutes each side. Cook in batches, if necessary. Use remaining clarified butter as needed.

Tarragon reduction:

Simmer tarragon vinegar, white wine, shallot, tarragon leaves and white pepper to au sec.

Remove from heat. Cool slightly; add fresh tarragon.

For Béarnaise sauce:

In nonreactive saucepan over medium heat, combine white wine, vinegar, bay leaf, fresh thyme and white peppercorns; reduce by half.

Strain mixture. Place 2 TBS of mixture into stainless-steel bowl; whisk in egg yolks. Place bowl over double boiler; whisk until mixture reaches ribbon stage.

Remove from boiler; whisk 20 seconds. Slowly whisk in clarified butter, emulsify. When desired consistency is reached, mix in tarragon reduction to taste.

For plating:

Place potato/onion rösti on plate.

Place veal cutlet on top of rösti.

Layer asparagus.

Layer crab meat.

Top with béarnaise sauce.

Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Boulangere Potatoes

Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Boulangere Potatoes

Yield: 6 servings
Recipe courtesy of Tom Kerridge

This is a great dish to cook when you have guests for Sunday lunch – just stick it in the oven and forget about it. The slow cook allows the meat to tenderize slowly and evenly, and you could cook it for even longer than the recipe states if you prefer.

  • 1whole lamb shoulder
  • 1head garlic, separated into cloves and peeled
  • 6large waxy potatoes (such as white boiling potatoes or red potatoes), peeled and thinly sliced
  • 3medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1bunch thyme, leaves picked off from stems
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2cups chicken stock


Preheat
the oven to 275°F.

Prep lamb:

Place the lamb on a cutting board and make a small slit in the top using the tip of a paring knife. Insert a garlic clove into the slit, pushing it down so it is completely tucked in to prevent it from burning while the meat cooks. Repeat with the remaining garlic cloves.

Prep veg:
Place the potatoes, onions and thyme leaves in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Shingle the potatoes and onions in the bottom of a roasting pan, overlapping them slightly so you fill the pan with an even layer. Set the lamb on top, skin-side up. Pour the chicken stock over the lamb.

Roast:

Roast until the potatoes are crisp on top and soft inside, 4 to 5 hours.
Remove the lamb from the roasting pan and set it on a cutting board. Loosely tent with foil and set it aside to rest for 20 minutes before slicing into pieces.

Serve the lamb, onions, and potatoes with French beans (or any green vegetable of your choice).

Bacon Candy

Bacon Candy

Yield: 20 Strips
Food & Wine

Crispy, sweet and salty, this three-ingredient snack is the ultimate cocktail party hors d’oeuvre.

  • ½cup packed light brown sugar
  • tsp chili powder
  • -or-ground black pepper to taste
  • 20slices of thick-cut bacon (1 ½ lb)


Preheat
the oven to 400°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil. In a small bowl, whisk the brown sugar with the chili powder. Arrange the bacon strips on the foil and coat the tops with the chili sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until caramelized and almost crisp. Transfer the bacon to a rack set over a sheet of foil to cool completely; serve.

Make Ahead

The bacon candy can be made earlier in the day; store at room temperature.

Italian Winter Greens with Pear-Walnut Dressing

Italian Winter Greens with Pear-Walnut Dressing

Yield: 4 Servings
Tyler Florence / Food Network
  • 2medium shallots, finely sliced
  • ½cup grapeseed oil, plus more for pan
  • 1Bosc pear, cored (¾ diced and ¼ thinly sliced, for garnish
  • 2TBS verjus or ½ lemon, juiced
  • 2TBS honey
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1bunch kale
  • 1bunch rainbow chard
  • 1bunch beet greens
  • ½cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 1cup toasted walnut pieces

In a medium-sized sauté pan add the sliced shallots with a drizzle of oil and slowly cook over medium heat until well caramelized, about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the diced pear and cook down until pulpy.

Carefully add the pear mixture to a blender along with the verjus, honey, 1/2 cup grapeseed oil, salt and pepper, to taste. Puree until smooth adding a little water to thin if necessary; it should be the consistency of a thick vinaigrette. Set aside in the refrigerator to cool.

Wash all the greens and remove the stems. Tear the leaves into bite-size pieces and dry well. In a large bowl or platter add the leaves and toss. Pour the dressing over the salad, and toss gently. Garnish with Parmesan, toasted walnuts and pear slices

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