Epimeles

the Pence family cookbook

Recipes in Category “Main Course”

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


Vidalia Onion Pie

Main Course Side Dish Onion Pie Untested

Ingredients

  • 3 vidalia onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 c. sour cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 c. unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
  • pinch paprika
  • 1 tbsp. hot sauce
  • 9" pie shell, baked
  • 1/4 c. grated Parmsean for topping

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

In a medium skillet, cook onions in butter for about 10 minutes, or until clear and soft; stir often. Reserve juices.

In a large bowl, mix onions with eggs and sour cream. Stir in onion juices, butter and cheese. Add salt and pepper and hot sauce to taste. Make sure all ingredients are well blended and then pour into the pie shell.

Sprinkle grated cheese and paprika on top of pie. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Lower temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for an additional 30 to 40 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. Let cool for a few minutes to settle before slicing.

Serves 8, one 9" pie

Allrecipes.com


Fried Chickpeas with Chorizo and Spinach

Main Course Sausage Spanish Tapas

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas, as dry as possible
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 4 ounces chorizo, diced
  • 1/2 pound spinach, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup sherry
  • 1 to 2 cups bread crumbs

Preparation

Heat the broiler.

Put three tablespoons of the oil in a skillet large enough to hold chickpeas in one layer over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add chickpeas and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until chickpeas begin to brown, about 10 minutes, then add chorizo. Continue cooking for another 5 to 8 minutes or until chickpeas are crisp; use a slotted spoon to remove chickpeas and chorizo from pan and set aside.

Add the remainder of the 1/4 cup of oil to the pan; when it’s hot, add spinach and sherry, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook spinach over medium-low heat until very soft and the liquid has evaporated. Add chickpeas and chorizo back to the pan and toss quickly to combine; top with bread crumbs, drizzle with a bit more oil and run pan under the broiler to lightly brown the top. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Serves 4

The New York Times