Asian-Style Kirby Pickles

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I don’t know about you, but I like to nibble on sweet, salty, and tangy vegetable pickles with my meals. They help digest food and provide balance during the meal, especially when you are eating starchy foods like noodles. They also whet the appetite, which is probably why they are served the minute you sit down in many Asian restaurants. I call for kirby, Persian, or Japanese cucumbers, all of which are slender when compared to regular cucumbers. Kirby and Persian pickles are 4 to 5 inches long, while Japanese cucumbers are a couple of inches longer. The pickling liquid here is traditionally used for pickling sliced cucumber, carrots, and daikon, so feel free to try these vegetables as well. The amount of pickling liquid may look inadequate, but there will be enough because the cucumbers give up some of their natural water while sitting in the brine.

Ingredients

12 kirby, Persian, or Japanese cucumbers, quartered lengthwise (see Note)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons sugar
1 cup rice vinegar
1 to 2 red Thai chilies, stemmed, seeded, and halved or coarsely chopped (optional)

Asian Pickles

Instructions

In a large bowl, toss the cucumbers with the salt. Let stand for 1 hour. Drain, wipe, and transfer them to a large resealable plastic bag.

In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and rice vinegar until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour into the large plastic bag containing the cucumbers, and add the chiles (if using). Seal the bag, squeezing any air out. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours. The longer the vegetables macerate, the more pickled they will taste.

Note: If you like a milder flavor, pickle these small cucumbers whole.

Udon with Braised Sweet and Spicy Beef Short Ribs

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Beef short ribs are rich, and they make for great winter dishes. Here the short ribs are braised in a caramel sauce spiced with chilies, star anise, and five-spice powder until fork-tender. Green beans are added to the stew and cooked until just tender. The succulent meat and green beans are served over the noodles with some of the braising liquids. If you like, serve Japanese pickled ginger on the side for a delicious counterpoint to the sweet and spicy flavor notes.

The longer it rests, the tastier this dish will be, so braise the ribs the day before you plan to serve them, if possible. I tend to serve less noodles than normal with this hearty dish. The pork butt (shoulder) makes for an equally delicious variation.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup rice vinegar
4 12-ounce bottles amber ale
3/4 cup thin soy sauce
3 ounces ginger, thinly sliced
6 dried whole red chilies or fresh red Thai chilies
8 scallions, trimmed and lightly crushed
1 garlic head, cloves peeled and lightly crushed
6 whole star anise
1 teaspoon five-spice powder
4 pounds beef short ribs, or 4 pounds pork butt, cut into large chunks
1 pound green beans, trimmed
1 pound fresh or 8 to 10 ounces dried udon, or 12 ounces fresh Chinese wheat noodles

Instructions

In a large pot, heat the sugar and vinegar over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar melts and turns into a rich golden color, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the ale and soy sauce and stir to melt the hardened caramel. Add the ginger, chilies, scallions, garlic, star anise, and five-spice powder and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the meat, and simmer partially covered, until the meat is fork-tender or falls off the bones about 4 hours for short ribs and 2 hours for pork butt.

Before you’re ready to serve, scatter the green beans on top of the meat and cook, covered, until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a medium to large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cook the noodles in the boiling water until tender yet firm, about 5 minutes for dried udon, 10 seconds for fresh udon, or 2 minutes for fresh Chinese wheat noodles. Drain. To serve, divide the noodles among individual shallow bowls, and top with the tender braised beef or pork, green beans, and juices.

Cola-marinated Beef Brisket

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Rick Browne, Ph.B., host of the PBS show “Barbecue America” and the author of The Best Barbecue on Earth and nine other books, is supplying articles and recipes to the Fiery Foods& Barbecue SuperSite.

Ingredients

 

Perfectly cooked beef brisket is a joy to behold

Cola Marinade:
2 cans favorite cola soft drink
2 beef bouillon cubes dissolved in 4 oz. water
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
12 ounces Cattlemen’s Authentic Smoke House Barbecue Sauce
Seasoned salt
Fresh ground pepper

Red River Rub:
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
dash of nutmeg
French’s mustard
1 10-12 pound beef brisket, trimmed to 1/4 inch of fat remaining

Instructions

Combine all marinade ingredients. Marinate the brisket for 2 days in refrigerator. Combine all rub ingredients and store in a sealed container.

Drain the marinade and set aside.

Squirt mustard liberally over both sides of the meat and rub it in with you hands. Sprinkle generously with the rub and pat into the meat. Let dry-marinate for 3-4 hrs. if possible, or at least one hour.

Place brisket in a smoker, fat side up, and cook for about 1/ 1/2 hrs. per pound (this usually turns out to be about 16-18 hours) at 225-250 degrees F.

While meat is cooking boil the marinade for 12 minutes then cool and put it into a spray bottle.

After 3 hours of cooking time spray the meat and turn, and repeat every three hours.

When the meat reaches an internal temperature of 185-190 degrees F remove it from the grill, wrap in plastic wrap, and then wrap in aluminum foil and place it in an empty ice chest for 1-2 hrs.

Serve thinly sliced with BBQ sauce on the side.

Molasses-Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Rick Browne, Ph.B., host of the PBS show “Barbecue America” and the author of The Best Barbecue on Earth and nine other books, is supplying articles and recipes to the Fiery Foods & Barbecue SuperSite.

 

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup bourbon
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
Leaves from 5 fresh thyme sprigs

Instructions

Heat oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add vinegar and boil until mixture is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add ketchup, molasses, and 1/4 cup water, then the bourbon; stir to blend. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Stir in salt and white pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes to blend the flavors.

Stir in the thyme leaves. (This sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Tropical Lamb Burgers with Fresh Mango Chutney

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A Recipe From:

300 Big & Bold Barbecue & Grilling Recipes

 

by Karen Adler and Judith Fertig

 

This recipe and others can be found in the Book Excerpt: 300 Big & Bold Barbecue & Grilling Recipes.

Ingredients

2 small red or green hot chile peppers, seeded and finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 egg

1 pound ground lamb (from shoulder or leg)

1/2 cup roasted salted cashews, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

 

Fresh Mango Chutney

 

1/4 cup hot water

1 tbsp tamarind paste or freshly squeezed lime juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 small red or green hot chile peppers, seeded and finely chopped

2 cups thinly sliced ripe mango

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/4 tsp ground turmeric

Instructions

Prepare the chutney: In a small bowl, combine hot water and tamarind paste. Stir to blend, then strain into another bowl. Stir in garlic, chiles, mango, cilantro, cumin, coriander and turmeric. Set aside.


In a large bowl, combine chiles, garlic, egg, lamb, cashews and coconut. Add 1 tsp warm water if mixture is too dry. Form into four 1/2-inch thick patties. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.


Meanwhile, prepare a medium-hot fire in your grill.


Grill burgers for 3 to 4 minutes per side, turning once, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the center of a burger registers 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve each burger topped with chutney.

 

Tropical Lamb Burgers