Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri (600x395)

Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Chimichurri is a piquant herbed sauce that is often served in Argentina and other Latin American countries as an accompaniment to grilled meats. In this recipe, the tenderloin is marinaded in half of the sauce prior to grilling. The other half of the sauce is reserved to use as a dipping sauce. Chimichurri is also terrific served with chicken, lamb, and fish.

Ingredients

Equipment: Cast Iron Grid, bamboo or metal skewers
Set the EGG for direct cooking with the Cast Iron Grid.
Preheat the EGG to 450 degrees F.

Ingredients

2 pounds beef tenderloin
2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (4 to 5 limes)
4 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
8 cloves garlic
2 cups firmly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 cup firmly packed fresh oregano leaves
2 teaspoons red chile flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Trim the beef and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes. Place in a shallow pan and set aside.

Add the olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, jalapeños, garlic, parsley, oregano, and red chile flakes to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Blend for 30 seconds, season with salt and pepper, then process for another 10 seconds. Pour half of the sauce over the beef, reserving the remainder. Toss the meat in the marinade until completely coated and refrigerate for 4 to 8 hours.

If using bamboo skewers, place the skewers in a pan and cover with water. Soak for 1 hour.

Remove the beef from the marinade and divide it into 4 (8-ounce) portions. Discard the used marinade. Thread the meat on the skewers and then place the skewers on the Grid. Close the lid of the EGG. Turn the skewers every 2 minutes for a total of 8 minutes for medium-rare to medium, making sure to grill the meat on all sides. Transfer the skewers to a platter and let the meat rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with the remaining sauce.

Warm Southwestern Potato Salad (332x298)

Warm Southwestern Potato Salad

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

If ever there were a macho potato salad, this is it! Grilled cactus and chopped jicima add an unexpected twist to this warm, spicy red potato salad. To complete the Southwestern theme, these ingredients are tossed in a dressing of freshly squeezed lime juice and adobo sauce mixed with a heavy dose of chopped cilantro. Though the cactus adds a unique flavor to this salad, if it is not available at your local grocery store, it can be omitted.

Ingredients

Equipment: Cast Iron Grid
Set the EGG for direct cooking with the Cast Iron Grid.
Preheat the EGG to 350 degrees F.

Ingredients
2 pounds red potatoes, halved
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon Red Chile Rub (see recipe)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 large cactus leaf
1 medium red onion, thickly sliced
1 medium jicama, peeled and diced
1 teaspoon sliced pickled red jalapeño, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (2 to 3 limes)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce)
1/2 cupped chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

Toss the potatoes with the olive oil in a medium bowl and add the rub. Season with salt and pepper and blend well. Place the potatoes on the Grid. Close the lid of the EGG and grill, turning occasionally, for 20 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. Transfer the potatoes to a rimmed sheet pan.

Using a paring knife, remove the thorns from the cactus. Place the cactus leaf and the onion slices on the Grid. Close the lid of the EGG and grill for 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the cactus and onion to another rimmed sheet pan.

Cut the potatoes, cactus, and onion into bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl. Add the jicama and jalapeño and mix well.

To make the dressing, mix the lime juice, olive oil, and adobo sauce in a small bowl. Pour the dressing over the potato mixture and add the cilantro and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss to combine. Serve immediately, while the salad is still slightly warm.

Red Chile Rub

Red Chile Rub

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Ancho chiles are the dried version of the poblano pepper. They are also the sweetest of the dried chiles. Here ground ancho chile is mixed with toasted spices to produce a favorite rub. It has even found its way into Red Chile & Lime Shortbread Cookies (see recipe).

Ingredients

Ingredients
1 tablespoon cumin seed
1 tablespoon coriander seed
1 tablespoon red chile flakes
1 tablespoon ancho chile powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Toast the cumin seed, coriander seed, and chile flakes in a small skillet on the stovetop for about 5 minutes, or until fragrant. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Transfer the toasted spices to a spice grinder along with the chile powder, salt, paprika, and garlic powder. Grind for 15 to 20 seconds, until the spices are completely ground. Transfer to an airtight container until ready to use.

Cassoulet de Fruits de Mer (Curried Seafood Stew)

Cassoulet de Fruits de Mer (Curried Seafood Stew)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This Pondicherry favorite is Chef Mody’s southern Indian version of bouillabaisse. You can use any combination of available seafood, but I recommend that mussels and shrimp should always be included. This dish is very quick to make—about 15 minutes. Serve it with or over the Lime Rice recipe included here, or with your favorite version of saffron rice.

Ingredients


The Spice Paste:
4 small hot red chiles, such as santaka or cayenne, stems and seeds removed
1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped fine
4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon powdered turmeric
6 black peppercorns
1 tablespoon malt vinegar

The Cassoulet:
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 sprig fresh curry leaves, or dried curry leaves that have been rehydrated and patted dry
1/2 mild onion, chopped
1 one-pound assortment of seafood, including shrimp, cooked mussels (removed from the shells), scallops, crab meat, lobster meat, and fish of choice
1 cup coconut milk (not sweet coconut cream)
2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice
Salt to taste
Cilantro leaves for garnish

Instructions

To make the paste, combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and grind to a fine paste.  Set aside.

To make the Cassoulet, heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan and add the curry leaves and the onion; stir-fry until the onion is soft. Add the spice paste and sauté for 2 minutes.

Add the seafood except for the fish, lower the heat, and simmer for 2 minutes. Add coconut milk, bring to a boil, add the fish and lower the heat and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes or until you can flake the fish.

Season with the lemon juice and salt, stir gently and serve garnished with the cilantro leaves along with rice.

Heat Scale: Medium

Chicken in a Creamy Red Sauce

Poulet Rouge (Chicken in a Creamy Red Sauce)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Chef Mody calls this easy-to-prepare dish “mild and sinfully rich,” and it’s one of the top sellers at La Porte des Indes. Serve it with naan bread and your favorite chutney.

Ingredients

5 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespooons masala powder
1/4 cup yogurt, Greek preferred
1 cup Onion Sauce (see recipe below)
1 cup whipping cream
4 legs roasted young chicken, meat cut from the bone in strips
Salt to taste

Instructions

Crush the garlic in a mortar with a little water to make a paste. Melt the butter in a large frying pan and lightly brown the garlic paste in it.

Add the masala powder and sauté for a few seconds, then lower the heat and add the yogurt. Simmer the mixture for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally and add the onion sauce, mixing it well. Add the cream, bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the chicken strips and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the meat is heated through. Adjust the salt if needed and serve.

Heat Scale: Mild