Epimeles

the Pence family cookbook

Recipes in Category “Main Course”

Olive Oil Poached Shrimp with Soba Noodles

Main Course Japanese Shrimp Untested

Ingredients

  • 12 jumbo (11-15 count) shrimp
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha
  • 1 pound asparagus, tough ends trimmed
  • 1/3 cup, plus 5 teaspoons olive oil
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms
  • 8 ounces soba noodles
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 green onions, whites and greens thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Preparation

Rub the shrimp with half of the garlic and ginger, and the sriracha. Cover and let the shrimp marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Spread the asparagus out on a baking sheet and brush it with 2 1/2 teaspoons of the oil. Roast just until the asparagus is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove, season with salt and pepper, and set aside to cool.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F. Toss the shiitakes with another 2 1/2 teaspoons of oil, spread them out on a baking sheet, and transfer to the oven. Roast just until the mushrooms begin to shrivel, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside to cool.

Put the shrimp in a small baking dish or ovenproof sauté pan, cover with the remaining 1/3 cup oil and season lightly with salt. Cover the dish with foil and poach the shrimp in the oven just until the exteriors are bright orange and if you slice into one, the interior is still opaque, about 15 minutes (don’t worry that it doesn’t look completely done as it will carry-over cook a bit). Remove the shrimp from the oil and reserve the oil, allowing it to cool.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Rinse with cold water and set aside to cool.

Cut the asparagus into 1-inch pieces and the shiitakes into thin strips. Toss the vegetables with the cooled noodles.

Whisk together the remaining ginger and garlic with the soy sauce, honey, and mustard. Slowly whisk in the reserved poaching oil. Pour the dressing over the noodles and toss well to combine. Top with the shrimp, green onions, and sesame seeds before serving.

Girl in the Kitchen, via HuffPo


Red Chili Peanut Salmon

Main Course Fish Thai Untested

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • juice from 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
  • 1 heaping tablespoon Sriracha, or other red chili sauce
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 6 6-ounce salmon filets

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients and cilantro.

Line a baking sheet with foil, then place salmon filets (flesh-side up) on the foil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Spoon the glaze over the fish so it’s fully coated.

Bake at 450° for 12-15 minutes, or until fish feels semi-firm with you press it with your finger. If it’s not done when you initially check it, put it back in the oven at 2 minute intervals until cooked to desired level. Fish easily overcooks, so keep a close eye on it. Remove from oven, let cool 1-2 minutes, then serve each filet over a pile of rice mixed with green onions, lime zest, and cilantro.

Amelia Winslow, HuffPo


Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Ginger Cream

Main Course Fish Japanese Untested

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced peeled ginger
  • 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons mirin
  • 2 tablespoons dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha chile sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 6 6-ounce, 1-inch-thick tuna steaks
  • 1/2 cup sesame seeds

Preparation

1. In a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the ginger, onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 5 minutes. Add the vinegar, orange juice, mirin, wine and Sriracha and simmer until the liquid is almost evaporated, 10 minutes. Add the cream and simmer until reduced by half, 15 minutes. Strain the sauce, season with salt and pepper; keep warm.

2. Season the tuna with salt and pepper and coat both sides with the sesame seeds. In a nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the tuna; cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until the sesame seeds are browned and the tuna is medium-rare, 5 minutes. Slice the tuna 1/3 inch thick and serve with the ginger cream.

Hosea Rosenberg, HuffPo


Beef Bulgogi

Main Course Beef Korean

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Asian (toasted) sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
  • 1/4 Asian pear, coarsely grated (about 1/4 cup)
  • 1/2 medium onion, coarsely grated (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted, plus additional for garnish
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound beef sirloin, trimmed of excess fat and thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 8 red leaf or bibb lettuce leaves, for serving
  • 1 cup cooked white rice, for serving
  • 1/2 cup kimchi, for serving
  • 1 cup fresh enoki mushrooms, trimmed
  • 4 teaspoons hot bean paste

Preparation

In large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, mirin, pear, onion, garlic, ginger, sesame seeds, and pepper. Let marinade stand 30 minutes at room temperature, then add beef and toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, 1 hour.

In large skillet over moderately high heat, heat oil. Remove beef from marinade, draining it very briefly over bowl to remove excess liquid, and then cook until browned and done medium-well, 6 to 7 minutes.

Remove beef from heat and serve by filling each lettuce leaf with about 2 tablespoons Korean sticky rice, small handful of beef, 1 tablespoon kimchi, about 8 enoki mushrooms, and about 1/2 teaspoon hot bean paste. Serve immediately.

Epicurious, January 2009


Carrot-Coconut Soup

Main Course Side Dish Carrot Soup

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1 pound carrots, peeled, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 13.5-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons Thai-style chili sauce, plus more for serving
  • Fresh cilantro leaves (for serving)

Preparation

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add carrots and onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until carrots are softened, 15–20 minutes. Stir in broth, coconut milk, and 2 tablespoons chili sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very soft and liquid is slightly reduced, 40–45 minutes.

Let soup cool slightly, then purée in a blender until smooth. Reheat in a clean saucepan, thinning with water to desired consistency; season with salt and pepper.

Divide soup among bowls, drizzle with chili sauce, and top with cilantro.

Bon Appetit, November 2013


Carnitas Caldo (Soup)

Main Course Mexican Pork Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. olive or vegetable oil
  • 1 large white onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 chayote, skin and core removed, then sliced into matchsticks
  • 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 5-6 cups cooked pork carnitas
  • 1-3 roasted serrano peppers (add to taste, instructions below)
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 cups potato-masa dumplings (below)
  • 2 avocados, diced
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 6-8 cups fresh baby arugula
  • lime wedges for garnish

for dumplings:

  • 1 cup mashed potatoes
  • 1/2 cup masa harina
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 tsp. salt

Preparation (Dumplings)

Combine last 4 ingredients in a bowl and stir together until blended. Use your hands to knead the mixture a few times until smooth. Then pinch off about 1/4 cup of the mixture and roll it into a long tube about 1/2-inch wide in diameter. Use a knife to slice the tube into small coins, about 1/8-inch wide. Repeat with remaining dough to make dumplings. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Preparation (Soup)

Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium high heat. Add the white onion and chayote, and saute for 5 minutes until cooked and the onion is translucent. Add garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the chicken broth, carnitas, and serrano peppers (add one at a time to test out the level of heat) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Season generously with salt and pepper. Then ladle the soup into serving bowls, filling them about half full. Then add in a small handful of potato dumplings, avocados and fresh cilantro to each bowl. Then top each with a large handful of baby arugula. Serve with lime wedges for garnish.

Recipe from Gimme Some Oven, after XOCO


Slow-Cooked Carnitas

Main Course Mexican Pork

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds bone-in pork shoulder roast, cut into 1 1/2- to 2-inch slabs
  • Salt

Preparation

1. Moist cooking. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut each slab of pork in half and lay the pieces in a baking dish (they should fit into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish without being crowded). Liberally sprinkle with salt (about 1 teaspoon) on all sides. Pour 1/3 cup water around the meat, cover tightly with foil, and bake for 1 hour.

2. Dry cooking. Raise the oven temperature to 450 degrees. Uncover the meat and cook until the liquid has completely reduced and only the rendered fat remains, about 30 minutes. Now, roast, carefully turning the meat every 7 or 8 minutes, until lightly browned, about 20 minutes longer. Break the meat into large pieces and serve on a warm platter, sprinkled with salt.

Rick Bayless


Tortilla Gaditana with Spicy Mayo

Main Course Side Dish Shrimp Spanish Untested

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, more as needed
  • 1/2 pound shell-on, large or extra-large shrimp
  • 210 grams all-purpose flour (about 1 3/4 cups)
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
  • 2 small garlic cloves (or 1 fat clove), minced
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley
  • 3 tablespoons good, preferably homemade mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce, or more to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon Korean chile powder, smoked hot paprika or a pinch cayenne
  • Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
  • Olive oil, for frying

Preparation

Fill a bowl with ice water. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring 4 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a simmer. Drop in shrimp and poach gently until opaque, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer shrimp to ice water to stop the cooking; reserve 2 1/2 cups poaching liquid.

Peel shrimp and finely chop tails; discard rest of shells. Coarsely chop shrimp and season lightly with salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons of the poaching liquid. Whisk in the onion and half the garlic, along with the parsley, shrimp and chopped shrimp tails. Add more poaching liquid as needed; you want the consistency of a very thin pancake batter.

In a small bowl, combine remaining garlic, the mayonnaise, the sriracha, the smoked paprika and the lemon juice. Set aside.

In a medium, nonstick skillet over medium heat, warm 1/2 inch oil until a drop of water flicked into the pan sizzles (about 300 degrees). Ladle in 1/4 cup of the batter. Using a spatula, quickly spread the batter out in the pan so that it is very thin, making small holes in the pancake to help it cook evenly. You want to err on the side of too thin rather than too thick. The final pancake should have a crisp, lacy appearance and be riddled with holes. Shake pan slightly toward you, creating waves of oil over the top of the pancake. Cook until underside is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Gently flip and cook other side until golden, about 2 minutes more. Adjust heat as needed to maintain an even temperature for uniform browning. [From Mom: This frying step will take at least an hour; be prepared.]

Transfer pancake to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and sprinkle with coarse kosher salt immediately after frying. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve with the spicy mayonnaise.

Makes 8 fritters.

Melissa Clark, The New York Times


Vietnamese Pork Chops

Main Course Pork Untested Vietnamese

Ingredients

  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup fish sauce (such as nam pla or nuoc nam)
  • 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 1-inch thick-cut bone-in pork chops (about 2 1/2 pounds total)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Lime halves (for serving)

Preparation

Whisk shallot, brown sugar, fish sauce, vinegar, and pepper in a shallow dish. Using a fork, pierce pork chops all over (to allow marinade to penetrate faster) and add to marinade in dish. Turn to coat. Cover and let pork chops marinate at room temperature, turning occasionally, 20 minutes (or in refrigerator overnight).

Remove pork chops from marinade, scraping off excess (reserve marinade for sauce). Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly season pork chops with salt. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Let pork chops rest 10 minutes before serving.

Meanwhile, bring marinade to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 4 minutes.

Serve pork chops with reduced marinade and lime halves.

Bon Appetit, June, 2013


Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Peas

Main Course Side Dish Pasta Peas Salad Tomato Vegan Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup white-wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried, crumbled
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 pound medium pasta shells
  • 1/2 pound shelled fresh or frozen peas (about 1 1/2 cups), boiled until tender and drained
  • 2 pints red or yellow pear tomatoes or cherry tomatoes or a combination, halved
  • 1/2 cup shredded fresh basil leaves

Preparation

In a large bowl whisk together the vinegar, the water, the salt, the sugar, the tarragon, the garlic paste, and pepper to taste, add the oil in a stream, whisking, and whisk the dressing until it is emulsified. In a kettle of salted boiling water cook the pasta until it is tender, in a colander rinse it well, and drain it. In the bowl toss the pasta with the dressing, add the peas, the tomatoes, and the basil, and toss the salad well.

Gourmet, June 1993