Recipes by their Ingredients

red onion

  • Beer Battered Shrimp Taco with Pineapple Salsa

    Beer Battered Shrimp Taco with Pineapple Salsa
    Beer Battered Shrimp Taco with Pineapple Salsa
    (Serves 4)

    Beer Batter
    ¾ can of beer, (8oz)
    1/3 cup flour, white all purpose
    ½ tblsp garlic, dried granulated
    ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
    ½ tsp black pepper
    1 tsp salt

    32-40 shrimp
    1&rac12; tsp Tony Chachere's Cajun Spice
    1½ - 2 cups of canola oil (or other frying oil)
    ½ Roma tomato, diced very small
    1/3 red onion, diced very small
    1 jalapeno, most of the seeds can be removed, diced very small
    ¼ - 1/3 cup pineapple, diced very small
    ½ carrot, cut into small sticks (julienne) then dice small
    ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, minced
    juice of ½ lime
    5 cabbage leaves, julienne very thin
    8 soft taco shells, corn or flour (I prefer corn in this recipe)
    ½ cup shredded cheese, any variety, I used the mozzarella/provolone blend

    NOTES: I used the 25 per lb shrimp, if you are using smaller shrimp, say the 50 per pound then double the amount of shrimp, on the other end if you're using 12 per pound shrimps, use half as many shrimp, @20.

    In a medium bowl mix the flour, garlic, cayenne, black pepper and salt. Add the beer slowly, mixing with a whisk or fork until the batter resembles glue, then add a little more beer. Keep cold until ready to use.

    Make your salsa right away, so it has time "to marry" inside a bowl. Mix well, the tomato, onion, jalapeno, pineapple, carrot, mint leaves, 1 tsp salt and the juice of ½ lime. Set aside or in the fridge.

    Slice up and set aside your cabbage, set aside or in the fridge

    Get your oil in a small pot and bring it up to 365°F using a hot oil thermometer. Otherwise medium heat but a smidgen more. If the oil smokes too much its too hot. You can test the heat with a drop of batter, it should crisp up alone in 8-10 seconds.

    Coat your shrimp with Tony' Chachere's Cajun spice (or just use salt and pepper). Dip your shrimp in the batter. I do 4-5 at a time. Put the shrimps, one at a time, into the hot oil. Leave in until crispy golden in color, about 1+½ minutes. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.

    All those steps could be done in advance. When guests arrive, pop the shrimps back in the oven on warming temp and start a skillet on medium heat, one by one heat up one side of the tortilla, flip it over, add some cheese, let it melt remove from heat and assemble the taco. Tortilla, cheese, shrimp (4-5 per taco), a small hand-full of shredded cabbage and some delicious pineapple salsa on top, don't be scared, heap it on!

    Repeat three more times for round one!

    Start round two after you've eaten the first one, or just get it over with :) Delicious - enjoy!

  • Chicken Larb

    Chicken Larb

    Chicken Larb


    (Serves 6-8)

    1 Head of Boston Lettuce or similar, separated into individual 'lettuce cups'
    2 large chicken breasts
    2 Thai bird chilies or a Serrano chili, minced
    1 tsp lemon grass (optional)
    2 tblsp toasted rice flour
    2 shallots, minced
    ¼ small red onion, minced
    juice of 3 limes
    2 tsp sambal oelek (chili sauce)
    ½ bunch mint, minced
    ½ bunch of cilantro, minced
    1 tsp salt
    ¼ cup crushed peanuts, garnish (optional)

    NOTES: Serve hot or cold. I used Jasmin rice for the toasted rice powder and after toasting it till golden in a frying pan over low heat, I ground it to powder using a spice grinder.

    Remove any fat from the chicken breast and mince the meat, either use a food processor or a knife and make tiny pieces. In a frying pan on medium heat quickly cook the chicken, don't over cook it.

    If you're making hot larb, continue adding the ingredients to the fry pan, liquids first then chilies and spices and then the toasted rice flour and lastly herbs. Turn off the heat and serve in the lettuce cups.

    If you are making cold larb, remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes. Add the toasted rice powder, stir in well. Add the rest of the ingredients and let sit 10 minutes before serving in lettuce cups.

    Top with crushed nuts if you are using them.

  • Mango Salsa

    Mango Salsa
    Mango Salsa
    4 large Roma tomatoes, small dice
    1 large red onion, small dice
    1 large jalapeno, seeded and small dice
    2 Serrano chilies, seeded and small dice
    1 ripe mango, small dice
    1 bunch cilantro, minced
    1½ tsp salt
    juice of 1 key lime
    1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
    NOTES: Additions to this are wide and varies, try adding some smoked chipotle or some mint!

    Instructions

    Mix all ingredients, let sit for 45 minutes before serving. Taste again, add salt to taste.

  • Salsa (Pico de Gallo)

    Salsa (Pico de Gallo)
    Salsa (Pico de Gallo / Salsa Fresco)
    (Serves 10-12)


    6 Roma Tomatoes, cut very small (1/8th x 1/8th)
    2 jalapeno peppers, cut very small, keep seeds
    1 Serrano chili, cut very small, keep seeds (optional)
    1 red onion, minced
    1 tblsp olive oil
    1 lemon, juiced
    fresh black pepper, to taste
    1 bunch cilantro, minced
    1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
    2 tsp salt


    NOTES:I like mine cut small but if you like larger chunks, feel free! Something I learned recently, raw salsa, aka Salsa Cruda, is not really called a salsa, they call this Pico de Gallo or Salsa Fresco. A cooked salsa, would be one where the tomatoes and chilies have been boiled or roasted and typically blended. Use as a topping for cooked fish, chips and salsa, filling for burritos and tacos. If you threw these ingredients into a blender, you'd have Salsa Roja, less chunky and slightly more watery.
     

    In a large bowl combine everything. Easy.

    Mix well.

    Now comes the waiting part. The salt will need time to break down the tomatoes and produce that yummy liquid in salsa. You can come back and stir it every half hour until a taste test reveals, deliciousness. For best results let sit covered in the fridge for 1 hour or more.

    Stores a week in the fridge.

  • Turkish Fritters

    Turkish Fritters
    Turkish Fritters
    (Serves 6-8)


    1 egg
    1 tblsp sugar
    1 packet of dry active yeast (10 grams)
    1 tsp salt
    warm water .85 cup (200 ml)
    warm milk .85 cup (200 ml)
    4½ flour cups (540 grams)
    sweet green pepper, diced small, optional deseed
    sweet red pepper, diced small, optional deseed
    1 red onion, diced small
    1 small bunch Italian parsley
    1 potato, shredded
    about 3 oz. of Tulur cheese (80 grams), (or any hard sheep or goats milk cheese), shredded or in thin slivers


    NOTES:The water and milk should be between 100 - 115°F. Also, if you're using bell peppers you can use ½ of each, If your using the long skinny kind, use the whole pepper.
     

    Add the egg to a large bowl, mix well, now add the sugar, add the yeast, add the salt, now add the warm water and warm milk, mix well.

    Add the flour, mix together well. This dough should be wet. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.

    Prepare all of your vegetables.

    Mix the vegetables and cheese into the bread dough.

    Place the wet dough into a piping bag or a large sandwich baggie, cut the end off when ready to pipe into your oil for frying.

    Heat up 1-2 cups frying oil, 350-365°F. like canola or vegetable oil, in a large fry pan or sauce pot.

    Cut the plastic corner out of the piping bag or baggie, pipe in 1½ inch long lengths into the hot oil.

    Don't over crowd your pan, fry in batches. Flip fritters until golden on both sides, about 4-5 minutes.

  • Vegetables, Wild Rice and Sausage

    Vegetables, Wild Rice and Sausage
    Vegetables, Wild Rice and Sausage
    1 Cup Wild Rice (I used Lundbergs)
    2 Cups and 2 oz. Water
    1+¾ tsp chicken stock concentrate (bouillon), (low sodium, no MSG), OR substitute the water above with chicken stock.
    1-2 Cups Butternut squash in ½" squares, (seeded and skin cut off)
    ½ Cup Frozen Petite Peas
    ½ Cup Frozen Corn Niblets
    ½ tsp butter
    ½ tsp garam masala
    1 zucchini, split lengthwise and sliced thin
    1 Tomato, (Vine Ripe), diced small
    1 Red Onion, diced small
    1 Small head of broccoli, cut into small Florentines
    ½ tsp Olive Oil
    3 hot link sausages, cut into small squares

    Spice Blend: Makes enough for a few recipes
    3 peppercorns, ground fresh
    1 clove, ground fresh
    1 green cardamom seed, (insides only)
    1 black cardamom seed, (insides only)
    ¼ tsp whole cumin, ground fresh
    1/8 tsp whole black cumin, ground fresh
    ¼ tsp ginger powder, (or fresh minced)
    ¼ tsp garlic powder, (or fresh minced)
    ¼ tsp coriander
    ¼ tsp cinnamon
    chili powder
    ¼ tsp salt
    1/8 tsp mace
    1/8 tsp turmeric
    pinch saffron (about 3 or 4 strands)

    Once the spices are ground mix them all together and set aside, lets call it: Biryani Spice Blend
    NOTES: Instead of the sausage, you can substitute chicken, shrimp, beef or pork. (Bacon is great in this dish!) Just keep the meat portions down to equal a deck of cards in size for each serving in order to keep this a very healthy meal. My go to chicken stock is "Better then Bouillon" brand.

    Instructions

    In a saucepan with a tight fitting lid, add the water and wild rice and 1½ tsp chicken concentrate. Bring to a boil, over heat to lowest setting and let simmer 55 minutes. When done remove from heat and let sit with cover on for 5 minutes.

    In the meantime, get a small saucepan and fill with 2-3" of water, depending on how much butternut squash you are using. Salt the water (1 tsp salt). Add the cubed and seeded butternut squash and boil until tender. Strain and give a small sprinkle of ground pepper and salt (¼ tsp each), set aside when done.

    Using the same technique, boil the corn and peas until warmed through, drain and set aside. Add 1/2 tsp butter to the corn/peas mix along with a sprinkle of garam masala (about ¼ tsp).

    For the broccoli and zucchini, I use a technique called dry frying, similar to stir frying in a wok. High heat, relatively little or no oil and some spices. So get a heavy duty frying pan and turn up the heat to high. Add 1/2 tsp olive oil, just to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the zucchini and broccoli pieces, sprinkle with the spice blend (try a small amount at first ½ tsp) and taste after a few minutes. Toss them around every 45 seconds, until they all start getting a small char on (Charring occurs usually on a BBQ Grill, its that blackened look). Taste and add another sprinkle of the spice blend if needed. After about 5 minutes add about 2 oz. of water mixed with ¼ tsp chicken concentrate, pour over broccoli and zucchini, stir once, wait until the stock boils out, mix the broccoli and zucchini into the peas and corn blend, set aside.

    Now warm up those sausage pieces, if you use a precooked sausage, that is all you need to do, warm them up, if, however, you are using a raw sausage, you need to cook it thorougly. Drain any grease from the sausages. Now mix all the vegetables together with the sausage in the large fry pan, add the rice, sprinkle with some of the spice blend, add salt to taste (1/2 tsp??). Finish with another sprinkle of garam masala (about ¼ tsp). Enjoy!