Monday, May 26, 2008

Vinegar and Salt Grilled Potato "Chips"



4 medium Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed

Canola oil

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Malt vinegar


Heat the grill to medium.


Place potatoes in a pot of cold water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and cook until potatoes are tender, but still firm, about 10 minutes. Drain, let cool and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices.


Brush the potatoes on both sides with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the slices until golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, about 10 minutes.


Remove the slices to a platter in an even layer and immediately drizzle with the vinegar and season with salt.

Zesty Grilled Tilapia



6 (6-ounce) tilapia fillets

6 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for brushing

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

6 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon hot sauce, to taste

1 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Mango Coconut Rice, recipe follows


Place the fish in a large nonmetal dish. Whisk together the 6 tablespoons oil, the orange zest, orange juice, ginger, hot sauce, salt, and pepper, to taste; pour over the fish. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare grill. Brush the fish with additional oil. Grill until fish just flakes when tested with a fork, about 5 minutes per side for each inch of thickness.


Serve alongside Mango Coconut Rice.


Mango Coconut Rice:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 1/2 cups long-grain rice

1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk

2/3 cup water

1 teaspoon salt

1 large ripe mango, peeled and cubed


In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil. Add the coconut milk, water, and salt; bring to a boil. Stir in the mango. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer about 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Remove the rice from the heat and fluff with a fork. Place a clean, dry dish towel over the pan, cover with the lid, and let steam for 5 minutes before serving.

Grilled Summer Fruit



Nonstick spray

3 firm but ripe nectarines, halved, pitted

3 firm but ripe purple/black plums, halved, pitted

3 firm but ripe red plums, halved, pitted

6 metal skewers or thick wooden skewers soaked in water 30 minutes

3 tablespoons sugar

*Other fruit substitutions can be apricots and peaches


Spray the grill rack with nonstick spray and prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Thread 1 piece of each fruit on each of 6 skewers so that the cut sides line up and lay flat. Sprinkle the sugar over the cut sides of the fruit. Let stand until the sugar dissolves, about 10 minutes. Place the fruit skewers on the grill cut side down. Grill the fruit until it is heated through and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Transfer 1 fruit skewer to each plate and serve.

Portobello Stuffed with Sausage, Spinach and Smoked Mozzarella



3/4 pound mild Italian sausage

1 medium Spanish onion, sliced

6 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup dry red wine

8 ounces fresh spinach leaves, stems removed and coarsely chopped

1/2 cup water

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

4 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

12 ounces fresh smoked mozzarella, cut into small cubes

4 large portobello mushrooms, stems removed

2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced


Preheat grill to medium-high heat.


Brush sausages and onion slices with olive oil and place on the grill. Cook until browned on all sides.


Put the sausage and onion into a saute pan, add the wine and cook until the wine is completely reduced. While the wine is reducing, break up the sausage into small pieces. Add the spinach, 1/2 cup of water and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the spinach has wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the 2 tablespoons of the basil, 2 tablespoons of the parsley and the cheese and let cool slightly.


Heat the grill to high.


Brush the mushroom caps on both sides with the remaining oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the mushrooms on the grill, top side down and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Remove the mushrooms from the grill and place on a flat surface, cap side down. Fill the mushrooms with the sausage mixture and top each with a few slices of tomato. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper and place on the grill, cap side down, close the cover and cook until the mushroom and filling have heated through, the cheese has melted and the tomatoes are soft, about 5 minutes. Remove to a platter and sprinkle tops with the remaining parsley and basil.

Grilled Pizza with Hot Sausage, Grilled Peppers and Onions and Oregano Ricotta


1/2 pound Italian hot sausage
1 large red onion, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
2 large yellow pepper, cored, seeded and quartered
2 large red pepper, cored, seeded and quartered
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 recipe favorite pizza dough, rolled into 4 (6-inch) rounds
1/2 pound grated fontina cheese
1 cup ricotta
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
Basil Vinaigrette, recipe follows

Preheat a grill.

Grill the sausage on both sides until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes per side. Brush onions and peppers with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the onions and peppers until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove the sausage from the grill and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices. Remove the onions, separate into rings, and roughly chop. Remove the peppers and slice into 1/8-inch thick slices.

Heat grill to high. Brush dough with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and grill for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Turn over and grill for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the grill and place on a flat surface.

Divide the fontina cheese among the 4 pizza rounds. Divide the sausage, onions and peppers over the cheese. Place the pizza on the grill, close the cover and grill until the cheese has melted, about 3 to 4 minutes. To finish in the oven, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place the pizza on sheet pans and bake until the cheese has melted, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Mix together the ricotta, extra-virgin olive oil, and oregano in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove the pizzas from the oven and drizzle with Basil Vinaigrette. Top with dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve.

Basil Vinaigrette:

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste.