Catfish BBQ Sauce (Marinade)

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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

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1/2 cup red wine

1 tablespoon dry mustard

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl, then pour over catfish pieces in a plastic sealable bag and marinate 30 minutes.  Drain and put the fish on a grill.  Boil the marinade for 10 minutes, then you can use it to brush on the fish during cooking.


Almost Dreamland’s BBQ Sauce

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Here is my approximation of Dreamland’s dreamy sauce.

Ingredients

1 can (28 oz.) tomato puree
1/3 cup yellow mustard
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground red pepper
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

In large saucepan, whisk together the tomato puree and mustard until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve warm.

Steak Stew with Rice (Jollof Rice)

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Variations on this famous Nigerian dish appear all over West Africa, including versions with game, fish, chicken, and vegtables.

Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 pounds sirloin steak cut into 12 pieces
  • 5 tablespoons vegetable oil, preferably peanut oil
  • 1 1/4 cups chopped onion
  • 2 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 teaspoons crushed red chile or red caribe
  • 1 cup rice

Instructions

Heat 1/2 cup of the water and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in a barge, heavy skillet.  Add the steak pieces and simmer, turning the meat once or twice, until the water is evaporated.  Add 3 tablespoons of the oil and brown the meat.  Set the meat aside.

Place the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 cups of water, 1 cup of the onion, 2 cups of the tomatoes, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, and chile in a large, heavy saucepan and bring to a boil.  Add the reserved meat, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally.

Heat the remaining 2 cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a saucepan.  When the water is boiling, add the rice and the remaining onion, tomatoes, and the remaining 1 tablespoon tomato paste.  Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

To serve, spoon the rice over the meat.

Beef Groundnut Chop

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“Chop” is an Afican Slang word for food or meal, and this recipe fits that term because it is a big meal!  It contains some of the most basic ingredients of West Africa with garnishes similar to curry dishes–another food influence in Africa.  In West Africa, the beef would probably be substituted with wild game, buffalo, antelope, etc.  Use your imagination here in North America–elk, venison, antelope, or lamb.  Serve the huge pot of stew and incredible condiments buffet style.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 5 pounds of beef or game, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 4 cups coarsely chopped onions
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons chile caribe (crushed dried red chile)
  • * Hot water
  • 1/2 pound peanut butter
  • 28 0r 32 ounce can stewed tomatoes
  • 6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • Hot cooked rice
  • * Condiments – see below

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large, heavy Dutch oven or stockpot, add the meat in batches to brown and when almost all of the meat is browned, add 2 cups of the onions and saute until the onion are wilted, about 2 mintues.  Stir in the salt, black peppe, and red chile caribe.  Add 2 cups of hot water and bring the mixture to a boil.  Reduce the heat to a medium heat, and, stirring a few times, allowing the water to reduce by half.

Add the remaining onions, and enough hot water to cover the meat over 1/2 inch and simmer for 25 minutes, covered.  Scoop out about 2 cups of the broth and place it in a smaller bowl; add the peanut butter and whisk the mixture until it is smooth.  Gradually add this mixture to the simmering meat, strring to keep the sauce smooth, adding more hot water if the mixture is too thick.

Then add the tomatoes and chopped eggs, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer for 45 minutes, or until the meat is tender.  Stir the mixture occasionlly and add more hot water if it starts getting too thick.

* Serve the dish with hot, cooked rice, and any or all of the suggested condiments: fried plantain pieces, chopped tomatoes, chpped bell pepper, chopped oranges, toasted coconut, fried onion rings, chopped roasted peanuts, mango chutney, crushed pepper, diced papaya, grated ginger root, fried okra, chopped boiled eggplant.

Mary Jane’s Green Chile Meatloaf

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Take a meatloaf recipe from the Midwest, transfer it to New Mexico, add some green chile (El Pinto brand bottled, flame-roasted works great), and bingo, a spiced-up old standard made even more delicious. Serve with baked potatoes, vegetable, salad. It makes great sandwiches the next day.

Ingredients

1 egg beaten in a large bowl
1 to 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (I get mine at a store that has hormone free meats)
1/2 cup finely chopped white onion or shallots
1/4 to 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs (start with 1/4 cup-if the mixture looks too moist, mix in more)
1/4 cup catsup or more depending on the mixture
1/2 cup well drained green chiles, or green chile salsa drained very well and squeezed in a paper towel
Ground black pepper and a little salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F
Slap  on the latex gloves and gently mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. This is when you need to determine whether to add more bread crumbs or more catsup.
Shape into a rectangular loaf and place the mixture in a bread pan. Bake for 1 hour for a one pound loaf. Bake 1 and 1/4 hours for a 1 1/2 pound loaf
Place several paper towels on a heat proof plate( to absorb excess grease) and  place the meatloaf on them. I use 2 spatulas at each end of the loaf  to remove it, so it doesn’t break in the middle.