Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Inner Beauty Hot Sauce

From a Q&A in the NYT with Chris Schlesinger


Q. Why can’t we get Inner Beauty Hot Sauce any more? It was my favorite! Can you share a home-brew recipe?

A. For the first time in culinary history, I will release the original recipe for your summer grilling pleasure. Remember to warn your guests. It looks a little like mustard. Recipe will keep two to three weeks in the refrigerator.

1 pint Scotch-bonnet peppers, stemmed and chopped, seeds O.K.
1 cup cheap yellow mustard
1 ripe mango chopped
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon curry
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Purée all ingredients in a food processor.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Sushi Rice

Time: 30 to 40 minutes, plus at least 2 hours’ resting



1 cup rice vinegar

3/8 cup sugar

2 tablespoons salt, plus a pinch

1 piece konbu (kelp), about 3 or 4 inches square

2 cups short-grain white rice

1 teaspoon sake, optional.



1. Combine vinegar, sugar and 2 tablespoons salt in a container and shake or stir until dissolved. Add konbu and let sit about 30 minutes before removing konbu and covering container. Let sit for at least 2 hours and up to several days. (Room temperature is fine.)

2. Wash rice in several changes of water until water runs clear. Combine with sake, a pinch of salt, and 2 1/2 cups water (if you’re using a rice cooker) or 3 cups water (if you’re cooking it on stovetop). Cook until water is absorbed, 38 minutes in a rice cooker, about 25 minutes in a covered pot over medium-low heat.

3. Turn rice into a large bowl, preferably wooden, and let cool for 15 minutes.

4. Using a rubber spatula, a wooden paddle or spoon, gently fold sweetened vinegar into rice, a little at a time. You will probably need about 1/2 cup for this amount of rice, but a little bit less or more is fine. Rice should be glistening and moist but not wet, and sweet but not overly so. Use immediately with sushi toppings of your choice.

Yield: Enough rice for 4 generous or 6 small portions of sushi.

from Mark Bittman, NYT

Monday, May 3, 2010

Ultimate Cheater Pulled Pork

As heard on The Spendid Table Podcast
Reprinted from Cheater BBQ: Barbecue Anytime, Anywhere, In Any Weather

Makes 12 to 14 servings

* One 5- to 6-pound boneless Boston butt pork roast or same weight of boneless country-style pork ribs
* 1/4 cup Cheater Basic Dry Rub (recipe follows)
* 1/2 cup bottled smoke
* Barbecue sauce of your choice

1. Cut the pork butt into medium (2- to 3-inch) chunks (the ribs don't need to be cut up).

2. Put the pieces in a large slow cooker (at least 5 quarts). Sprinkle the meat with the rub, turning the pieces to coat evenly. Add the bottled smoke.

3. Cover and cook on high for 5 to 6 hours or on low for 10 to 12 hours, until the meat is pull-apart tender and reaches an internal temperature of 190 F.

4. Using tongs and a slotted spoon, transfer the meat to a rimmed platter or baking sheet. Let rest until cool enough to handle. Pull the meat into strands. It should shred very easily. Serve the barbecue piled on buns with your favorite barbecue sauce.

5. To serve the barbecue later, cover and refrigerate the meat when it has cooled. Pour the meat juice into a separate container and refrigerate. Before reheating the juice, skim and discard the congealed fat layer on the top.

6. To reheat the barbecue, place it in a saucepan moistened with some of the reserved juice. Gently heat the meat on medium-low, stirring occasionally. Or, place it in a covered casserole with some of the reserved juice and heat in a 350 F oven for 20 to 30 minutes.

7. While the meat warms, combine the barbecue sauce and some of the additional reserved meat juice in a saucepan. Heat through and serve with the barbecue.



Cheater Basic Dry Rub
Makes about 2/3 cup

* 1/4 cup paprika
* 2 tablespoons kosher salt
* 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon garlic powder
* 1 tablespoon dry mustard

Combine all the ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to blend.

Peacamole

- 10 1/2 ounces (2 cups plus 1 tablespoon) shelled green peas, frozen or fresh but not canned
- 1 drop cilantro essential oil for cooking, or a small bunch fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons whole almond butter (like peanut butter but made with unblanched almonds; look for it at natural foods stores)
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 dash Tabasco sauce
- Salt, black pepper

Makes enough for an appetizer for 4.

Steam the peas for 14 minutes, or until tender, and let cool to just above room temperature.

If you're using fresh cilantro, pluck the leaves and set aside.

In the bowl of a food processor or blender, combine the peas, almond butter, cilantro (essential oil or fresh leaves), garlic if using, Tabasco sauce, a little salt and some pepper. Process until smooth. If the mixture is a bit too thick for the blade of the food processor to mix properly, add just a little bit of water, a teaspoon at a time, until soft enough to mix.

Taste and adjust the seasoning. Spread on pieces of multigrain crispbread and serve. The peacamole can be made a day ahead and kept in the fridge in an airtight container; it will keep for 2 to 3 days.

Recipe originally developed for ELLE à table, issue #63, March/April 2009.