Month: June 2016

Beef Paillard And Chili Cheese Fries (Boss Level)

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Beef Paillard – when was the last time (if ever) you have seen that on a restaurant menu? (Or chicken paillard or veal paillard ???)
Chili cheese fries, on the other hand, can be found everywhere, at least here in America, although mostly and sadly in less than stellar variations of that beloved junk-food. Starting out with crappy fries, covered with an even crappier mountain of questionable “cheese” just does not do it for me.
On the other hand, if you follow this recipe, you will be spoiled forever and any less marvelous version of chili cheese fries will fail to accomplish the nearly impossible task to measure-up to these delicious beauties.
Here now a dish which combines both a great beef paillard and the best chili cheese fries ever 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Click here for more Paillard on ChefsOpinionon
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Click here for more Tonkatsu and Donkatsu on ChefsOpinion
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Hans’Special Fries Recipe :
What makes these fries “special” is the fact that I fry them only once instead of the usual required two times. I start them in cold duck fat or goose fat (if you must, substitute with peanut oil) and let the temperature slowly rise to 385 F. By the time the oil is hot and the fries are golden brown, they will be creamy on the inside and very crisp on the outside. Season them with both fine salt and sea salt. The fine salt adheres better to the fries while the sea salt add’s the superb taste and crunchiness associated with sea salt.
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P.S.
Please make the effort to serve this dish with tonkatsu sauce instead of ketchup – I promise the effort will be worth the extra few minutes prep-time 🙂
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Tonkatsu sauce (my way) :
Mix 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tblsp soy sauce, 1 tsp garlic paste, 1 tsp mustard, 1 tblsp white wine (or sherry), 1 tsp sriracha and a few drops of maggi seasoning.
Note: I love this dipping sauce and use it for lot’s of other fried, grilled and sautéed dishes.
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Beef Paillard And Chili-Cheese Fries (Boss Level)

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Beef Paillard And Chili-Cheese Fries (Boss Level)

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: mix 1/3 cup grated parmesan, 1/3 cup grated cheddar, 1/3 cup grated mozzarella with 2 stalk finely sliced scallions and 1 tsp chili flakes

: chili/cheese mixture

: 3 large baking potatoes

: peel potatoes

: cut potatoes into lardons, pat dry

: fry potatoes in fat of your choice

: meanwhile, trim a 10 oz tenderloin of all silver-skin

: place fillet between twoo sheets of plastic, pound to a thin scallop

: season beef scallop with kosher salt and cayenne pepper, dredge in corn starch and saute in garlic oil to desired doneness

: cut paillard in half, place on serving dish

: remove crisp-fried potatoes to absorbent paper

: season with salt of your choice (see recipe)

: add 1/2 of cheese mixture, mix well

: top paillard with the fries

: sprinkle second-half of cheese-mixture and 1 tblsp of sliced scallions on top, put under broiler until cheese has melted, about 2 minutes, serve with lime and tonkatsu sauce

: Beef Paillard And Chili-Cheese Fries (Boss Level)

: Beef Paillard And Chili-Cheese Fries (Boss Level)

: Beef Paillard And Chili-Cheese Fries (Boss Level)

: Beef Paillard And Chili-Cheese Fries (Boss Level)

: Beef Paillard And Chili-Cheese Fries (Boss Level)

: Beef Paillard And Chili-Cheese Fries (Boss Level)

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Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetables Soup – Recipe # 3731

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Another chicken soup post you say? – well, why not I say – there can never be enough of that beacon of traditional comfort food 🙂
On a rainy day; on a sunny day; on a sad day; on a happy day: Chicken soup, when prepared with love, will make you feel better, no matter what.
So there you have it . Enjoy !
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Click here for more Matzo Balls on ChefsOpinion
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Click here for more Chicken Soup on ChefsOpinion
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Matzo Balls Recipe:

1 cup matzo meal
3 eggs

3 tblsp oil or rendered chicken fat

1/4 cup seltzer (exact amount depends on the size of the eggs and the coarseness of the matzo meal)
3 tblsp finely chopped parsley (optional)
Kosher salt and white pepper to taste

Mix all wet ingredients together, then stir in matzo meal, salt and pepper and place in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Shape into golf ball sized balls, drop into boiling water, cover, turn down to a slow simmer and cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until fully cooked (cut one in half to check if it’s done).
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Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetable Soup – Recipe # 3731

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: To a pot with 2 qt water, add 5 chicken thighs, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, 1 tsp garlic paste and 1/3 tsp grated ginger; bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer and cook until chicken is tender but not falling apart, about 45 minutes

: meanwhile, blanch 8 oz bok choy, shock in ice water, finely slice 3 stalks of scallions, 1 large carrot and 2 medium tomatoes as pictured

: when the chicken is tender, remove from broth, remove and discard bones, cut meat into bite-size pieces

: add carrots to broth, simmer until carrots are tender, about 4 minutes, remove from heat, check/adjust seasoning

: prepare matzo balls according to recipe (pictured is triple the recipe )

: cook matzo balls according to recipe (pls note that in the picture you see triple the recipe; I prepared triple the recipe because my neighbor requested that I prepare some for her families lunch)

: divide the chicken and vegetables into 4 serving plates, add one matzo ball to each plate

: add the hot chicken soup

: Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetable Soup – Recipe # 3731

: Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetable Soup – Recipe # 3731

: Chicken, Matzo Ball And Vegetable Soup – Recipe # 3731

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Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

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When you decide to make tostadas, the biggest decision will be if you want to prepare your own tortillas and fry them to a flat crisp or buy packaged tostada shells, which you can buy in any supermarket nowadays’, most of excellent quality. After that, the most sensible thing is to put the tostadas on a platter in the center of the table, arrange all the toppings in bowls around them and let everybody assemble their own favorite. Traditionally, refried beans, cotija cheese, a simple salsa and sometimes seafood are the main ingredients/toppings.
But, as you can imagine, tostadas, like most other dishes with a long culinary history, have evolved and advanced to be more adventurous and varied. Anything you fancy is allowed to grace your tostada, as long as it is delicious and makes you smile 🙂
Refried beans, shredded lettuce, sour cream, any cheese, any seafood, sausage, meat, grilled vegetables, any salsa, guacamole, etc, etc.
I happened to have some fresh Swai fillets at hand as well as white cabbage for a tasty cabbage slaw. Added some guacamole, salsa Mexicana and a bit of sour cream and BINGO ! – exiting lunch served in a snap 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Click here for more Swai on Chefsopinion
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Click here for more Tostadas on Chefsopinion
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Click here for Guacamole Recipe on ChefsOpinion
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Salsa Mexicana Recipe:
2 medium tomatoes- diced; 1 med white onion- diced, 3 jalapeños- chopped, 1/3 cup cilantro- chopped; lime juice and kosher salt- to taste; combine, check/adjust seasoning.
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Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: combine 3 cups finely sliced white cabbage, 1/2 cup sliced red onion, 1/4 cup sliced scallion, sliced red chillies to taste with1/2 cup sour cream, 1 tblsp lemon juice, 1 tsp garlic paste, kosher salt to taste