ethnic recipes

Smoked Pork Shank



I cooked  this beauty yesterday for two hours, then let it cool in the stock overnight.
Served today for lunch with german potato salad, horseradish, dijon, pickled tomatoes and rustic Italian garlic bread.
Simple, but oh so good 🙂

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

Click here for  German Potato Salad  recipe

Smoked Pork Shank, German Potato Salad, Pickled Tomatoes, Grilled Italian garlic Bread, Dijon Mustard, Fresh Horseradish

Smoked Pork Shank, German Potato Salad, Pickled Tomatoes, Grilled Italian Garlic Bread, Dijon Mustard, Fresh Horseradish



Preparation :

simmer pork shank in salted water with lots of chopped raw garlic, onion and plenty of hot sauce, after two hours, remove from heat and let cool in stock

simmer pork shank in salted water with lots of chopped raw garlic, onion and plenty of hot sauce, after two hours, remove from heat and let cool in stock

grill italian garlic bread

grill italian garlic bread

pickle tomatoes by pricking with toothpick all over, marinade overnight in balsamic vinegar, cayenne pepper and kosher saltsalt

pickle tomatoes by pricking with toothpick all over, marinade overnight in balsamic vinegar, cayenne pepper and kosher salt

Smoked Pork Shank, German Potato Salad, Pickled Tomatoes, Grilled Italian garlic Bread, Dijon Mustard, Fresh Horseradish

Smoked Pork Shank, German Potato Salad, Pickled Tomatoes, Grilled Italian Garlic Bread, Dijon Mustard, Fresh Horseradish

Smoked Pork Shank, German Potato Salad, Pickled Tomatoes, Grilled Italian garlic Bread, Dijon Mustard, Fresh Horseradish

Smoked Pork Shank, German Potato Salad, Pickled Tomatoes, Grilled Italian Garlic Bread, Dijon Mustard, Fresh Horseradish

Smoked Pork Shank

Smoked Pork Shank



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Kare Kare



So,  everybody and their mother have the one, the only, the very best  Kare Kare  recipe. Of course, having lived in the  Philippines  for almost five years, I have my very own “best” recipe.
As for the protein, the most common is ox tail, but of course you can substitute it with any protein you like, even omit it completely and make a vegetarian version. The most important part of  Kare Kare  is the peanut sauce, of which a million of fine variations exist 🙂  (and maybe some not so fine)
Here now is my humble version of this wonderful dish:

Saute beef neck bones, seasoned with kosher salt and black pepper, in peanut oil until browned. Remove bones, reserve. Saute chopped carrots, onions and celery until caramelized, return neck bones to the pot, cover with water. Add lots of garlic paste, a handful of rice, a good amount of turmeric, a few annatto seeds, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook slowly for about two to three hours or until meat is tender. Add a large amount of peanut butter and simmer until sauce has thickened. Add  Patis  and calamansi juice, check /adjust seasoning. While the meat simmers, blanch zucchini batons, eggplant batons, whole chilies and baby bok choy, shock in ice water, drain. When the stew is done, add the vegetables to it and simmer until vegetables have heated through. Serve with white rice.

Mabuting Gana !   Buhay Ay Mabuti !

Kare Kare

Kare Kare

Kare Kare

Kare Kare

Kare Kare

Kare Kare



Preparation :

saute beef neck bones, seasoned with kosher salt and black pepper, in peanut oil until browned

saute beef neck bones, seasoned with kosher salt and black pepper, in peanut oil until browned

remove bones, reserve

remove bones, reserve

saute chopped carrots, onions and celery until caramelized

saute chopped carrots, onions and celery until caramelized

return neck bones to the pot

return neck bones to the pot


cover with water

cover with water

add lots of garlic paste, a handful of rice, a good amount of turmeric, a few anatto seeds, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer

add lots of garlic paste, a handful of rice, a good amount of turmeric, a few anatto seeds, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer

ook slowly for about two to three hours or until meat is tender, add a large amount of peanut butter and simmer until sauce has thickened, add  patis  and calamansi juice, check /adjust seasoning

cook slowly for about two to three hours or until meat is tender, add a large amount of peanut butter and simmer until sauce has thickened, add patis and calamansi juice, check /adjust seasoning

while the meat simmers, blanch zucchini batons, eggplant batons, whole chilies and baby bok choy, schock in ice water, drain. When the stew is done, add the vegetables to it and simmer until vegetables have heated through. Serve with white rice

while the meat simmers, blanch zucchini batons, eggplant batons, whole chilies and baby bok choy, schock in ice water, drain. When the stew is done, add the vegetables to it and simmer until vegetables have heated through. Serve with white rice

this weeks herb bush :  Opal Basil

this weeks herb bush :
Opal Basil

Kare Kare

Kare Kare

Kare Kare

Kare Kare

Kare Kare

Kare Kare



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EASY DOES IT # 15 – Gravlax

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There  are a few compelling reasons to make your own gravelax instead of buying it at a store or online:

– Price – Fresh salmon $ 15.00 per pound versus store bought gravlax at $ 40.00
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 – Ease of preparation – actual preptime about 10 minutes, curing between 3 and 5 day’s
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 – Total control of texture and taste of finished product
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 – The joy of adding another stunner to your cooking repertoire
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My  standard  dry-marinade recipe is as follows :
3/5th  of kosher salt, 2/5th of sugar, fresh chopped dill including stems, white pepper, lemon peel, crushed mustard seeds and dark rum.

In the variation  below, I have changed the dry-marinade recipe a bit as follows:
3/5th  of kosher salt, 2/5th of sugar, freeze dried dill leaves, raw garlic paste,  cayenne pepper, dijon mustard, vodka.
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Mix the marinade ingredients, place half of it in a chemical reaction-free container. Top with salmon filet. Add remaining dry marinade to top of salmon. Cover airtight, place in refrigerator. Flip salmon every twelve hours. After twenty four hours, dry-marinade will have transformed into a thick brine. The salmon will be cured after two to three day’s, depending on the thickness and salt to sugar ratio in your marinade. I usually keep my salmon in the brine another one to two days, again depending on the marinade and thickness of the filet. The extra time will give me a slightly dryer and more opaque product which I prefer. This one took four day’s to be exactly the way I like it.
To serve, remove salmon and wash under running water to clean off excess brine. Slice into thin slices, accompany with dill/mustard sauce and rustic bread of your choice.
(To think, first time I prepared  Gravlax  was in the summer of 1973 at the  Hotel Kattegat,  Torekov,  Sweden.  Good times 🙂

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !
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Note:
Start out the first time by following my standard recipe, the next few times experiment with the marinade and curing time until you find your own sweet spot.
Variations can be, but are not limited to, different salt/sugar ratios, different herbs, different seasonings, different liquors, different curing length’s.
Enjoy your gravlax journey !
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mise en place

mise en place

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Preparation :
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mise en place

mise en place

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sprinkle top of salmon with plenty of dill leaves, mix dry-marinade ingredients

sprinkle top of salmon with plenty of dill leaves, drizzle with vodka,, mix dry-marinade ingredients

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add half of the marinade to chemical-reaction-free vessel

add half of the marinade to chemical-reaction-free vessel

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add salmon filet, top with remaining dry-marinade, cover airtight, store in fridge for 3 - 5 days

add salmon filet, top with remaining dry-marinade, cover airtight, store in fridge for 3 – 5 days

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flip salmon every twelve hours

flip salmon every twelve hours, cover again, back into fridge

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4 day's later - done, rinse under cold running water, carefull not to rinse of the dill

4 day’s later – done, rinse under cold running water, carefull not to rinse of the dill

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Gravlax

the beauty and the beast

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Iced Tomato Soup With Vodka And Tropical Fruit



The  day before yesterday I started to make a tomato bisque for dinner but had to abandon the plan when unanounced visitors arrived. So I put the tomato stock  overnight in the fridge to finish the bisque yesterday after work. However, it was a rough day at work and whenI came home I wanted to spend some time outside on the terrace. Yesterday was a fairly hot day, so a hot tomato soup did not sound like the best of dinner ideas. Instead, I prepared for myself this delicious, refreshing cold soup which hit the culinary nail right on the head 🙂

Bon Appetit !  Life is Good !



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Preparation :

simmer water, red wine, garlic paste, kosher salt, sugar, cayenne pepper for two hours, cool overnight

simmer  very ripe tomatoes, water, red wine, garlic paste, kosher salt, sugar, cayenne pepper for two hours, cool overnight

mix in blender until texture is very smooth

mix in blender until texture is very smooth

add wodka, check / adjust seasoning

add vodka, check / adjust seasoning

add fresh pineapple, honey dew melon and passion fruit seeds to serving bowl

add fresh pineapple, honey dew melon and passion fruit seeds to serving bowl

ladle iced tomato soup on top of fruit, sprinkle more fruit, garnish with opal basil

ladle iced tomato soup on top of fruit, sprinkle more fruit, garnish with opal basil

Iced Tomato Soup With Tropical Fruit

Iced Tomato Soup With Vodka And Tropical Fruit

Iced Tomato Soup With Tropical Fruit

Iced Tomato Soup With Vodka And Tropical Fruit

 

Iced Tomato Soup With Tropical Fruit

Iced Tomato Soup With Vodka And Tropical Fruit



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Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup



Usually,  when we think of the combination of shrimp and coconut, Asian food is foremost in our mind. Lately, every publication seems to have a preference for food with an Asian origin or at least an Asian  influence. While I am a huge fan of Asian food, I am also very fond of the food from our closest neighbor, the Caribbean. Here now is a shrimp and coconut soup I had first put on the menu while I was working in Negril, Jamaica in the late 80’s. (How time flies when you look back)

Bon Appetit !   Iree, Mon !

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup



Preparation :

to split the coconut, saw a small inision around the outside of the coco, then crack it with the back of a large chefsknife or machete (I live in Florida where it is normal to have a machete in the house) :-)

to split the coconut, saw a small incision around the outside of the coco, then crack it with the back of a large chef’s knife or machete (I live in Florida where it is normal to have a machete in the house) 🙂

good job

good job

aaute finely diced onions in coco oil

saute finely diced onions in coco oil

season shrimp with sea salt and cayenne pepper, dust lightly with corn starch

season shrimp with sea salt and cayenne pepper, dust lightly with corn starch

add shrimp and garlic paste to pan and saute until shrimp are halfway cooked

add shrimp and garlic paste to pan and saute until shrimp are halfway cooked

remove shrimp, reserve

remove shrimp, reserve

deglaze pan with cocnac (careful, it might ignite)

deglaze pan with dark caribbean rum (careful, it might ignite)

add white wine

add white wine

add coconut water from coco, two small can of coconut milk, one small can of clam juice

add coconut water from coco, two small can of coconut milk, one small can of clam juice

simmer soup until slightly thickened

season with sea salt and cayenne pepper, simmer until slightly thickened

add diced cooked potatoes, corn and shrimp, heat through and remove from heat, dont let it simmer or the shrimp will toughen and get dry

add diced cooked potatoes, corn and shrimp, heat through and remove from heat, don’t let it simmer again or the shrimp will  get dry and tough

spoon shrimp, potato and corn into clean coconut, spoon soup on top and sprinkle with chopped cilantro

spoon shrimp, potato and corn into clean coconut, spoon soup on top and sprinkle with chopped cilantro

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup

my portion :-)

my portion 🙂

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup

Caribbean Shrimp & Coconut Soup







Szechuan Chicken & Fan


Since  breakfast was substantial and relatively late, lunch was late as well and will have to do for both lunch and dinner. Well, maybe there is a midnight snack on the horizon, we’ll see 🙂
The red jalapeno peppers I used here were exceptionally fruity and only mildly hot, so they were perfect for my taste and heat tolerance. Please adjust the amount and heat level to your own taste or eliminate the chilies altogether and replace with mushrooms, water chestnuts, bell peppers, green peas, carrots or whatever else strikes your fancy.

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

Click here for  FAN  (chinese steamed rice ) recipe

 

Szechuan Style Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan



Preparation :

season sliced chicken with salt, five spice powder and soy sauce, dust with cornstarch and stir fry in peanut oil

season sliced chicken with salt, five spice powder and soy sauce, dust with cornstarch and stir fry in peanut oil

remove chicken from wok, reserve

remove chicken from wok, reserve

saute chilies and scallions, remove from wok, reserve

saute chilies and scallions, remove from wok, reserve

saute onions and garlic paste in garlic oil

saute onions and garlic paste in garlic oil

add soy sauce, oyster sauce, chicken stock, sesame oil and sugar, simmer until slightly thickened

add soy sauce, oyster sauce, chicken stock, sesame oil and sugar, simmer until slightly thickened

return chicken, chilies and scallions to sauce, remove from heat, check/adjust seasoning

return chicken, chilies and scallions to sauce, remove from heat, check/adjust seasoning

Szechuan Style Chicken & Fan

to serve, sprinkle chicken with white sesame seeds, rice with black sesame seeds

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Fan (Chinese Steamed Rice)

Fan (Chinese Steamed Rice)



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Breakfast Of Champions # 36 – Naanwich

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A great  way to start a relaxing saturday at home with a couple of good movies, some good reading and lots of great food is to have a hearty breakfast of bubbly and a wonderful sandwich.
Here is what I fancied for a late breakfast by the lake this morning (besides a glass of veuveclicquot):

Naan with eggs, spicy chorizo, shrimp, chilies and arugula. Life is Good !

Bon Appetit & Cheers !   Have A Great Weekend !

 

Naanwitch

Naanwich

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cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking

cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking

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Preparation :
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bake naan until golden, brush with butter and sprinkle with sea salt

bake naan until golden, brush with butter and sprinkle with sea salt

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saute diced chorizo in plenty of butter

saute diced chorizo in plenty of butter


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whisk whole eggs with chili sauce, sea salt and garlic paste

whisk whole eggs with chili sauce, sea salt and garlic paste

 

add to chorizo, add finely sliced chilies and butterflied cooked shrimp

add to chorizo, add finely sliced chilies and butterflied cooked shrimp

cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking

cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking


Naan

Naan


 

top naan with eggs, top eggs with arugula in lime vinaigrette

top naan with eggs, top eggs with arugula in lime vinaigrette

Naanwitch

Naanwich

Naanwitch

Naanwich



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Croque Madam



I am  trying to vindicate the Croque Madame, who has been so brutally mistreated in so many kitchens lately that her true identity has been all but forgotten 😦
During the past couple of years I have ordered a croque monsieur (without fried egg)  or croque madam (with fried egg) on several occasions late at night, usually in a hotel lobby or nightclub. What I have been served on every occasion has been less than stellar, to say the least. Typically what is being served nowadays is a grilled cheese sandwich wich has been stuffed with a few thin slices of ham and american sliced cheddar, topped with more sliced cheddar and then finished under the broiler. This is no doubt a fine ham and cheese sandwich but that’s where the similarities with a croque mensieur or croque madame end.
Both croques in it’s original form should be prepared in the following way:
Toast slices of rustic bread, top with bechamel to which a fine mustard has been added. Top first slice with cooked ham and lot’s of shredded  Gruyere Cheese , top with a second slice of bread, cover with mustard-bechamel and plenty more shredded gruyere. Sprinkle with herbs de province or other herbs of your choice. Bake at 425 F until the bechamel/cheese bubbles.
There you have it – Croque Monsieur ! Top with fried egg for Croque Madame !

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

Croque Madam

Croque Madam

Croque Madam

Croque Madam



Preparation :

mise en place

mise en place

toast thick slices of sour dough bread on bothe sides, mix bechamel with grey poupon mustard

toast thick slices of sour dough bread on both sides, mix bechamel with grey poupon mustard

top bread with mustard-bechamel

top bread with mustard-bechamel

top with grated gruyere

top with grated gruyere

saute thick slice of ham on both sides

saute thick slice of ham on both sides

top first bread with ham, sprinkle with grated cheese and scallions or herbs of your choice

top first bread with ham, sprinkle with grated cheese and scallions or herbs of your choice

top with second slice of bread, sprinkle with scallions or herbs of your choice

top with second slice of bread, sprinkle with scallions or herbs of your choice

bake until cheese and sauce bubble

bake until cheese and sauce bubble

almost.....

almost…..

meanwhile, fry eggs, season with cosher salt and chili flakes

meanwhile, fry eggs, season with cosher salt and chili flakes

Croque Madam

Croque Madam

Croque Madam

Croque Madam

 

Croque Madam

Croque Madam

Croque Madam

Croque Madam






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The Well Travelled Hot Dog



Tonight’s  hot dog took a long, imaginary jouney from being a simple German veal bratwurst (kalbsbratwurst to “The Well Travelled Hot Dog”.
Born in Germany, it went to  France where it was joined by garlic aioli. On to Mexico for some ensalada de repollo con chipotle and from there to India to pick up freshly baked naan. From there to it’s final stop in the USA, where it became “The Well Travelled Hot Dog” 🙂

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

For  Garlic Aioli  recipe click here

For  Chipotle Coleslaw recipe click here

For  Naan  recipe click here

For more about  German Bratwurst  click here

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog & Chipotle Cole Slaw

The Well Travelled Hot Dog & Chipotle Cole Slaw

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog

The Well Travelled Hot Dog



PREPARATION :

saute bratwurst

saute bratwurst

prepare chipotle cole slaw

prepare chipotle cole slaw

chipotle cole slaw

chipotle cole slaw

top naan with bratwurst

top naan with bratwurst

add cole slaw, sprinkle with pickled jalapenos, drizzle with garlic aioli

add cole slaw, drizzle with garlic aioli, sprinkle with pickled jalapenos

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog & Chipotle Cole Slaw

The Well Travelled Hot Dog & Chipotle Cole Slaw

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog

The Well Travelled Hot Dog

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog

The Well Travelled Hot Dog

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog

The Well Travelled Hot Dog



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Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream



Living  in Florida does not necessarily lend itself to be inspired to cooking with mushrooms, but thankfully the markets around here carry small offerings of fresh mushrooms which I like to enrich by adding some good quality dried mushrooms. Today I got some fresh baby bellas, oyster mushrooms and botton mushrooms, to which I added dry shiitakes and porcini’s. To intensify the mushroom flavor even more, I added some porcini powder to the sauce as well.
And voilà  –  Mushrooms Galore 🙂

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream



Preparation :

boil fusilli al buco until al dente, strain, reserve some of the cooking liquid

boil fusilli al buco until al dente, strain, reserve some of the cooking liquid

saute diced onions and fresh mushrooms in butteruntil onions are opaque

saute diced onions and fresh mushrooms in butteruntil onions are opaque

add garlic paste and re-hydrated mushrooms, saute until dry

add garlic paste and re-hydrated mushrooms, saute until dry

almost....

almost….

add heavy cream, demi glace, merlot, sliced chives, porcini powder, kosher salt and cayenne pepper

add heavy cream, demi glace, merlot, sliced chives, porcini powder, kosher salt and cayenne pepper

simmer until nape texture is reached, check / ajust seasoning

simmer until nape texture is reached, check / ajust seasoning

add pasta and a small amount of fresh grated asiago cheese, blend well, if too thick, add a bit of the reserved cooking liquid

add pasta and a small amount of fresh grated asiago cheese, blend well, if too thick, add a bit of the reserved cooking liquid

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream



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