Csírkepaprikás (Paprika Chicken)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

My husband is an excellent cook of Hungarian foods. Following is his personal recipe for Paprika Chicken, a very refined version of this classic dish. Serve accompanied by egg noodles, plain rice, or boiled potatoes. In Hungary, this dish is traditionally served with small egg dumplings called galuska.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons corn oil*

  • 2 tablespoons butter*

  • 2-1/2 to 3-pound chicken, cut into serving pieces

  • 2 medium onions, chopped

  • 3 large cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 rounded tablespoon medium-hot paprika

  • 2 tablespoons hot paprika

  • 2 rounded tablespoons mild paprika

  • 2 tablespoons brandy

  • 3/4 cup chicken stock

  • 1/3 to cup sour cream

  • Salt to taste

*(Or substitute a total of 5 tablespoons lard or rendered goose fat, for the entire recipe.)

Instructions

Heat the oil and butter (or lard/goose fat) in a large (4- to 6-quart) heavy stove-top casserole. Brown the chicken pieces over medium-high heat. Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken and set aside. Add the chopped onions to the casserole and saute the onions until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to very low, stir in all the paprika, and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly. Add brandy; stir to deglaze the pan. Add the browned chicken pieces and mix well. Add the chicken stock and stir.

Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 45 to 60 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken to a serving platter and keep warm. Bring the liquid in the casserole to a boil over high heat, and reduce the liquid by about one-third. Turn the heat to low, and slowly stir in the sour cream, until the sauce is smooth. Add salt to taste. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.

Planked Trout with Cayenne and Herbs

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This is a fun recipe for the summer and one that actually requires a wood or charcoal fire because it’s almost impossible with a gas fire. Just remember to remove the nails before serving.

Ingredients

  • 2 large trout fillets or half trouts with skin, boned

  • Olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon each fresh herbs such as rosemary, marjoram, and thyme)

Instructions

Choose two thick, non-resinous planks—no pine. Soak the planks in water for at least 1 hour.

Build fire of wood or charcoal in front of a rock or sand pile to reflect heat towards the fish. Let it burn down to hot coals. Pile the coals in front of the rock, or move them to one side of the kettle grill.

Mix together the pepper, cay-enne, salt, and herbs in a bowl. Center the fillets on the planks, skin side down. Drive a few nails part way into each fillet to hold it in place. Brush with oil and then sprinkle with the cayenne and herb mixture. Cover the ends of boards with foil to catch drippings and to keep boards clean. Stand the planked fish at an angle in front of fire, tail end down. Rotate the plank to provide even cooking. Cook until fish flakes in thickest part, about 20 minutes.

To serve, remove the nails.

New Mexican Three-Chile Wings of Fire

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

These wings are not a traditional New Mexican dish, but since it’s one of our favorites, and we serve it in New Mexico, we have dared to adopt it as one of our hot and spicy favorites. Because of the high sugar content in the sauce, use it toward the end of grilling so it doesn’t burn.

Ingredients

Three-Chile Wings of Fire Sauce:

  • 3 chipotle chiles, stems removed

  • 2 dried red New Mexican chiles, stems and seeds removed

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 4 chiltepins, crushed (or substitute 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne chile)

  • 1/3 cup catsup

  • 3 tablespoons vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 cups water

  • Salt to taste

The Wings:

  • 2 pounds chicken wings

Instructions

New Mexican Three-Chile Wings of Fire

Cover the chipotles and New Mexican chiles with hot water in a bowl and allow to steep for 20 minutes to soften. Drain.

 

Saute the onion in the oil in a saucepan until soft. Add the garlic and saute for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, including the softened chiles, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes to thicken. Remove from the heat, place in a blender and food processor and puree until smooth. Strain if desired.

Grill the wings over a medium fire, turning often, for 10 minutes. Baste with the sauce frequently during the final 10 minutes of cooking, taking care not to burn the wings.

 

Smoked Bluefish with Chipotle Aioli

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Bluefish, readily available along the East coast during the spring, summer and fall, lend themselves well to smoking, as larger bluefish have a strong, oily flavor. The Chipotle Aioli diminishes the strong taste.

Ingredients

  • 4 (10- to 12-ounce) bluefish fillets

  • Fish brine (recipe above)

  • Two cups hickory chips, soaked in water for two hours

For the Aioli:

  • 1/2 cup good-quality mayonnaise

  • 1/2 cup sour cream

  • 1 clove garlic, pressed

  • 1 teaspoon lime juice

  • 1 teaspoon dried Chipotle powder

  • Kosher salt

  • Cracked black pepper

 

Instructions

For the Fish:

Rinse the fillets under cold water and brine, refrigerated, for six to eight hours. Remove fish from brine, lightly rinse under cold water and air dry, skin side down, until a sticky surface forms on the flesh, about one to two hours.

Prepare a smoker for low temperature smoking or a grill for indirect cooking and smoke fillets at 90 degrees F for two hours. Gradually increase the smoker or grill temperature to 175 degrees F and continue cooking for another three to four hours or until the fish begins to flake and has an internal temperature of 140 degrees F.

Serve fillet on field greens and nappe with Chipotle Aioli (see below) or serve aioli on the side.

For the Aioli:

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Tunisian Hot Vegetable Dip (Slata Mechouia)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This recipe is based on the Tunisian grilled salads, as mechouia means roasted. This recipe is easily prepared on the grill and can be served as a relish, dip, or spread. As might be expected, it can also be served with a flat, unleavened bread such as pita. Use a mortar and pestle for a traditional method of grinding the grilled vegetables, or just mash and mix with a fork in a bowl. For a much hotter dip, substitute jalapeño chiles.

Ingredients

  • 1 red or yellow bell pepper, cut in half, seeds removed

  • 2 medium tomatoes

  • 1 small onion, cut in half

  • 4 green New Mexico or poblano chiles

  • 3 whole cloves garlic

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice, fresh preferred

  • 1 tablespoon caraway seeds or 1 tablespoon cumin seeds

  • 1 tablespoon chopped brine cured black olives

  • Chopped parsley for garnish

  • 1 small loaf French bread

Instructions

Place the bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, chiles, and garlic on medium-hot grill, and grill until the skins become charred and blistered. The onions will take longer to cook than the rest of the vegetables. Remove the vegetables from the grill, place in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth to loosen the skins. Remove the skins, but don’t worry–a few charred pieces will add an interesting flavor dimension. Mash the vegetables together and place the mixture in a bowl.

Mix the remaining ingredients, except for the bread, and pour over the vegetables and gently toss. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Serve the dip with the bread and encourage guests to tear the bread into chunks and dip in mixture.