Ingredients

• 1 tbsp groundnut oil
• 6 long dried chillies
• 2 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
• 1 whole star anise (optional)
• 100g/3½oz smoked lardons, cut into 1cm/½in thick pieces
• 1 red chilli, de-seeded, finely chopped
• 1-2 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
• 2 tbsp clear rice vinegar or cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 200g/7oz cucumber, halved lengthways, de-seeded and sliced into 1cm/½in thick wedges
• pinch sea salt
• 1-2 pinches dried chilli flakes [CP: omit for heat]
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp chili oil [CP: omit for heat]
• 1 small handful fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped
• dry-roasted peanuts (optional)

Preparation

Heat a wok until smoking and add the groundnut oil, then add the dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns. Stir fry for a few seconds, or until fragrant.

Add the star anise (if using), bacon lardons and chilli and stir fry for 2-3 minutes, or until the lardons have turned golden-brown at the edges.

Add the rice wine or sherry, vinegar and sesame oil and stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the cucumber and stir-fry for a few more seconds.

Season with sea salt, dried chilli flakes and lime juice, stirring well.

Pile the stir-fry onto a serving plate, drizzle over the chilli oil, garnish with the chopped coriander, sprinkle over some peanuts, if using, and serve immediately.

Ching-He Huang, Chinese Food Made Easy, BBC

Ingredients

• 5 8 oz. bottles clam juice
• 1/2 c. dry white wine
• 2 whole star anise
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 pinch saffron threads
• 3/4 c. fresh orange juice
• 1 c. 1/3 inch cubes seeded, peeled chayote
• 1 large carrot, peeled and thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
• 1/2 lg. leek, thinly sliced
• 6 oz. black cod, cut into 1" cubes
• 6 oz. halibut, cut into 1" cubes
• 1 tsp. fresh tarragon, chopped

Preparation

Boil clam juice, wine, star anise, bay leaf, and saffron in large saucepan until reduced to 2 1/2 c., about 25 minutes. Fish out anise and bay leaf. Boil orange juice in small saucepan until reduced to 1/4 c., about 7 minutes. Add to clam juice broth.

Bring broth mixture to simmer. Add chayote, carrot, celery, and leek. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Add fish and tarragon; cover and let stand until fish is cooked through, about 8 minutes. Season w/ salt and pepper.

Divide fish and vegetables between two bowls, top with broth, and serve.

Bon Appetit, Calabash Hotel, Grenada

Ingredients

• 1 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk, room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 2/3 c. flour
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. walnuts, very finely chopped
• 1/3 c. jam/jelly/preserve/fruit butter/etc.

Preparation

1. Cream butter using a mixer with a paddle attachment on medium. Add sugar, beat until smooth. Add egg, yolk, vanilla one at a time, mix until incorporated.

2. Combine flour, salt, and ground walnuts in a separate bow and mix. Slowly add to the butter. Mix until dough pulls away from the slide of the bowl. Knead a few times, wrap in plastic and chill 1 hour.

3. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease or parchment a cookie sheet.

4. Roll dough into 1" balls. Place on cookie sheet 2" apart. Make an indentation in the center of each with your thumb. Fill with a generous 1/4 tsp. of jam.

5. Bake until edges are golden brown, 14-15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest for a minute before transferring to a rack to cool. Top with additional jam if desired.

Makes 3 dozen.

Stonewall Kitchen

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 pounds whole small button mushrooms, wiped clean
• 3 tablespoons butter
• Gray sea salt
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves

Preparation

In a large skillet, heat the oil over high heat. Add the mushrooms. Do not move the mushrooms until they have caramelized on the bottom. If you toss them too soon, they will release their liquid and begin to steam. When the bottoms are caramelized, toss them and continue to cook for about 5 minutes.

Add the butter. Cook and toss for 5 minutes, until beautifully browned.

Season with salt and add the garlic. Saute another 2 minutes, and add the thyme, lemon juice, and white wine. Cook to evaporate the liquid.

Toss in the parsley and serve immediately.

Michael Chiarello, Food Network

Ingredients

• 3 green bell peppers
• 3 yellow bell peppers
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• 2 tbsp curry paste (pref. Indian)
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• scant 1 c. peanuts, chopped
• scant 1 c. coconut milk
• 4 tbsp. peanut oil
• 3 small pork tenderloins, about 2 1/2 lb.

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the whole bell peppers on a cookie sheet and roast, turning occasionally, for 20 minutes, until the skins are charred. Remove from the oven and let cool. Peel off the skins and set the whole bell peppers aside.

Chop the stems and leaves of the cilantro, then mix with the curry paste, garlic, and peanuts in a bowl. Alternatively, place the bunch of cilantro, the curry paste, and garlic in a food processor and process until finely chopped and thoroughly combined. Dry-fry this paste in a pan, stirring constantly, until it gives off its aroma. Stir in the coconut milk and cook until reduced.

Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the tenderloins and cook over high heat, turning occasionally, for 10 minutes, until evenly browned and cooked through. Meanwhile, reheat the bell peppers in the oven at 350F.

Arrange the tenderloins and the whole peppers on a board and serve the sauce separately.

Stéphane Reynaud, Pork & Sons

Ingredients

• 2 oz. gin
• 2 oz. grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz. St. Germain
• 1 squeeze lime juice

Preparation

Shake, strain, garnish with a sage leaf.

Ingredients

• 3/4 c buttermilk or milk + 2 T vinegar
• 2 T canola oil
• 1 T honey or brown sugar
• 1 c whole wheat flour
• 1 c whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 t baking soda

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400.

Mix milk, honey, and oil. Add dry ingredients. Drop biscuits onto greased cookie sheet or roll biscuits and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes.

KASEYK, SparkPeople

Ingredients

For the avocado salsa:

• 2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced on the bias
• 2 jarred piquillo peppers, diced (or substitute 2 jarred roasted red peppers)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the adobo:

• 1 1/2 teaspoons toasted and ground coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes [CP: 1 tsp. for mild]
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dry mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated nutmeg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper [CP: 1/4 tsp. for mild]
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper [CP: 1 tsp. for mild]
• 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dried orange peel
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Four 6-ounce tuna steaks
• 1/4 cup peanut or canola oil

For the cucumbers:

• 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
• 1/2 cup Champagne vinegar
• 1 European cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and very thinly sliced

Preparation

For the adobo:

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.

Rub each of the tuna steaks with 1 1/2 teaspoons of the oil and sprinkle generously with the adobo. (Reserve any extra adobo spice rub for another use.) In a nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil until it begins to smoke. Sear the tuna on each side for only 1 minute — the tuna is served rare. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

For the salsa:

In a medium bowl, combine the diced avocados, scallions, peppers, and garlic. In another bowl, whisk together the orange and lime juices, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Pour over the avocado mixture and gently toss. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, for the cucumbers: Mix the sugar and vinegar in a bowl, stirring well. Add the cucumbers and allow to marinate for about 15 minutes.

To serve, arrange the cucumber in neat slices across each plate. Slice the tuna and lay it over the cucumbers. Spoon the avocado salsa on top of or around the tuna. Spoon a little of the pickling juices around the cucumbers, and serve. (Sometimes I add a little grated orange zest for garnish as well.)

Norman van Aken, Epicurious

Ingredients

• 8 TBSP butter
• 8 oz. sliced mushrooms
• 1 med. onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, ditto
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 4 C. chopped green chile
• 8 slices (calls for Swiss) queso quesadilla
• 4 NY strip steaks

Preparation

Heat oven to 350. Saute onion, mushrooms and garlic in butter. Add chile and S&P. Simmer 10-15 minutes. Broil, grill or pan fry seasoned steaks. Top with chile mixture and cheese and bake until cheese melts.

Ingredients

Pork Butt

• 1 whole bone-in pork butt or picnic ham (8 to 10 pounds)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 7 tablespoons brown sugar

Ginger-Scallion Sauce

• 2½ cups thinly sliced scallions, both green and white parts
• ½ cup peeled, minced fresh ginger
• ¼ cup neutral oil (like grapeseed)
• ½ teaspoons light soy sauce
• 1 scant teaspoon sherry vinegar
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

Ssam Sauce

• 2 tablespoons fermented bean-and-chili paste (ssamjang, available in many Asian markets, and online)
• 1 tablespoon chili paste (kochujang, available in many Asian markets, and online)
• ½ cup sherry vinegar
• ½ cup neutral oil (like grapeseed)

Accompaniments

• 2 cups plain white rice, cooked
• 3 heads bibb lettuce, leaves separated, washed and dried
• 1 dozen or more fresh oysters (optional)
• Kimchi (available in many Asian markets, and online)

Preparation

1. Place the pork in a large, shallow bowl. Mix the white sugar and 1 cup of the salt together in another bowl, then rub the mixture all over the meat. Cover it with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or overnight.

2. When you’re ready to cook, heat oven to 300. Remove pork from refrigerator and discard any juices. Place the pork in a roasting pan and set in the oven and cook for approximately 6 hours, or until it collapses, yielding easily to the tines of a fork. (After the first hour, baste hourly with pan juices.) At this point, you may remove the meat from the oven and allow it to rest for up to an hour.

3. Meanwhile, make the ginger-scallion sauce. In a large bowl, combine the scallions with the rest of the ingredients. Mix well and taste, adding salt if needed.

4. Make the ssam sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the chili pastes with the vinegar and oil, and mix well.

5. Prepare rice, wash lettuce and, if using, shuck the oysters. Put kimchi and sauces into serving bowls.

6. When your accompaniments are prepared and you are ready to serve the food, turn oven to 500. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining tablespoon of salt with the brown sugar. Rub this mixture all over the cooked pork. Place in oven for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, or until a dark caramel crust has developed on the meat. Serve hot, with the accompaniments.

Momofuku, via the New York Times