Category Archives: Grillng

Thai Style Grilled Pork

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Tonight I felt like a Thai inspired meal – which started with Vegetarian Penang Curry – I wanted a protein to grill that would complement the sauce and flavour of the curry.  This was perfect – my only disappointment was that as it was ready – the skies opened up with crazy rain, hail, thunder and lightning.  Nope, no grilling going on here.  So – it was grill pan.  Second best always, but it turned out quite delicious!
Thai Style Grilled Pork

DIPPING SAUCE

1/3 cup white sugar

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

2 tbsp fish sauce

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp white pepper, freshly ground

Blend well and set aside for serving.

PORK

2 tbsp fish sauce

2 tbsp low salt soy sauce

1 tbsp brown sugar

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp freshly ground ginger

1 tsp chili flakes

1/2 tsp freshly ground white pepper

3 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely minced

1 pound pork steak, or tenderloin

(be flexible with the pork – tonight’s was pork steak on a grill pan – but this would be great threaded on to skewers)

I let this marinate for an hour before grilling, but up to 24 hours would be even better.

This is easiest if you mix the marinade in a ziplock bag or tightly closed container, add the pork and allow to marinate until ready to cook.

Grill pork, sprinkle with fresh cilantro and green onions – serve with dipping sauce.

The meat is great all by itself, but served with the dipping sauce it is over the top yummy.  

We served it tonight with Penang Curry and Jasmine rice.

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THAI STYLE SWEET AND SPICY CHICKEN SALAD

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Sweet and crispy chicken salad

DRESSING

1 tbsp miso paste

1 tbsp grated ginger

Juice of 2 limes (and zest if you like it really filled with lime!)

½ garlic clove, minced

1 chopped scallion

1 tbsp sriracha sauce

1 tsp raw sugar

1 tbsp fish sauce

½ tsp kosher salt

Blend well, and gradually stir in:  ½ – ¾ cup of vegetable oil – to taste

 

MARINADE

1/3 cup Thai sweet chili sauce

2 tbsp chili paste

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp grated ginger

1 minced garlic clove

 

2 good size chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)

Thin cut Chinese egg noodles (fresh is best)

Green Salad

Sesame seeds

Peanuts

Bean sprouts

 

Cut chicken into bite size pieces and allow to marinate for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.

A few minutes before frying stir in 1 tbsp corn starch.

 

Make a green salad using whatever ingredients are jumping out at you – make it nice and crunchy!

 

Cook the egg noodles according to package directions and allow to cool – rinse with warm water if they end up in a clump – the water always brings them back.

 

Toast the sesame seeds and peanuts

 

The chicken needs to be cooked fairly quickly so it gets nice and crispy – you can do this in a wok using a bit of peanut oil, in a fry pan, a deep fryer, or on the grill with a wok basket. 

 

While the chicken is cooking, bring the rest of the marinade to a boil – allow to boil for a few minutes until it is thick and has reduced slightly.  Stir warm into the salad dressing and allow to sit while you assemble the salad:

 

Noodles on the bottom – drizzle with a bit of the dressing

Salad

Chicken

Top with bean sprouts, peanuts and sesame seeds

Drizzle more salad dressing over top

Roasted Vegetables

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This works really well all year long in a hot oven, and even better on a grilling basket on your barbecue.

Preheat oven to 400. Use any assortment you like of vegetables, I usually try to go for color and cut the items so they cook at about the same rate – i.e., onions, broccoli and cauliflower take a little longer to cook so either cut them smaller or put them in the oven first, adding the peppers, zucchini and tomato after the first 15 min of cooking time.

Once you have all your vegetables prepped, toss in a generous amount of really good quality extra virgin olive oil, a couple cloves of crushed garlic and a good handful of fresh herbs.  Season with salt and pepper.

Turn vegetables out of oil seasoning onto roasting surface.  Reserve bowl that the oil and seasonings are in.

Roast until just tender and little brown carmelized bits appear.  Anywhere from 30-45 minutes.Toss again into the olive oil, seasoning mix just to brighten up the flavours a bit – taste for seasonings and dust with freshly ground pepper and salt to taste. 

Corn Salad with Mint, Parsley and Cilantro

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In a word – Yummy!!!  I have tried this with leftover steamed corn on the cob or grilled corn – either way it is so fresh and delicious you will love it.  Serve as a side dish/salad/grilled meat or fish topping or even try it served over greens for a change to your green salad.

4 cobs of corn – grilled or steamed

Remove corn from cob, and if you want a warm dish, mix everything together and serve.  If you are looking for a cold or room temperature side, just allow corn to cool first.

1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

2 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice

Combine the onion and lime juice – let stand for at least 10 minutes – this will mellow out the flavour of the onions

1 tsp maple syrup

1 jalapeno, seeded and thinly sliced

3 tbsp each of minced or torn mint, parsley and cilantro leaves

Combine all of the ingredients – and taste.  Season with salt and pepper as needed.

Sundried Tomato and Almond Pesto

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Such a great taste, easy to have on hand and in the freezer.  You can use this in a variety of ways – toss with pasta, use it for a burger topping – blend it with mayonnaise for a quick dip – spread on baguette – blend with cream cheese to serve with crackers – top grilled meat … really, so amazing to eat in so many ways.  Have fun trying, and let me know if you come up with more creative ways to get that taste of sun drenched tomatoes!

Don’t you just want to taste this?

1 cup slivered almonds, toasted until golden

4 cloves garlic

2 cups dry pack sun dried tomatoes (soak in very hot water for a few moments, then drain)

1 tsp salt                                          

1/2 tsp pepper

2/3 cup olive oil

This is easiest if you use a food processor, but possible in a mortar and pestle … just be prepared to work hard!

In food processor, pulse roasted almonds and garlic until a coarse grind.  Add tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Pulse until a smooth paste.  With the motor running add the oil in a slow, but steady stream.  Finish with any leftover tomato water from soaking them.

This can be used within a few days in the fridge, or frozen in smaller containers to use all year long.

If you can’t get the dry pack sundried tomatoes, just use the oil packed ones but drain well.

Grilled or Wood Fire Barbecue Chicken PIzza

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Either make your own pizza dough, or buy some ready made from an Italian deli – make sure it is really good quality if you aren’t making your own. Come up with your own favorite toppings, or use this version – it was a real hit at our good friend Karli’s wedding stagette!  I think the wood fire oven made all the difference, but not everybody has one of those in their back yard.  We have had great pizzas just off our grill too – so try it!  Of course, you could buy BBQ sauce too – but I just like making it so I have included that recipe.

BBQ SAUCE

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/2  cup cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp molasses
  • 1 can or bottle beer
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup hot sauce
  • zest & juice of 1  lemon or lime
  • 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • 4 tbsp soya sauce

Heat oil in heavy saucepan and saute onions until soft.  Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil – allow to simmer until it has reduced and is nice and thick.  Taste to adjust for seasoning.  Sometimes just a bit of salt and pepper is all you need – but taste, taste, taste!  Get it just the way you like it.

Grill chicken breasts over indirect heat, basting with bbq sauce until cooked through, and juices run clear – allow to cool, then shred.

Grate jalapeno havarti cheese – set aside

Thinly slice red onions and cook over moderate heat until carmelized – allow to cool

Cook one side of the pizza on your grill – or in your wood fire oven – turn over and dress with:

BBQ sauce

shredded chicken

slivers of green and yellow peppers

grated cheese

carmelized onion

Return to grill or oven and cook just until cheese is bubbling and crust is golden and crunchy.

Tomatillo Corn Salsa/Relish

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Are you wondering what to do with a prolific crop of tomatillo plants??  We make lots of Salsa Verde to can for the winter months, and love it in a fresh cilantro salsa also, but this dish is incredibly good – serve with taco chips or as we did – over grilled steaks that have had an ancho chile rub applied before grilling.  It would be equally tasty served with grilled chicken or fish.  My husband loved it just as a salad!  

8 medium tomatillos, husked and chopped

2 tbsp red onion, finely diced

1/2 jalapeno – seeded and diced (use the seeds if you like it really spicy, but taste before adding them!)

3/4 cup of corn, removed from cob (for extra flavour grill the corn first!)

juice of 1 lime

2 tbsp olive oil

Combine all ingredients and toss to blend.  Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as necessary – you won’t believe how fresh and delicious this is.

Shrimp Stuffed Sole

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This is a great way to have a quick, easy, scrumptious dinner ready in minutes.  In the summer do these little packets in foil on the barbecue, or grill.  If you live somewhere that grilling isn’t feasible, just do it in the oven!

4 sole fillets

FILLING

3/4 cup cooked shrimp

1/3 cup chopped fresh spinach

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1/4 cup chopped feta

2 tbsp red onion, minced and sauted lightly in olive oil – then cooled

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all filling ingredients

1 lemon

butter

Spray foil (or parchment paper) with cooking spray, then set fillet on it.

Put scoop of filling on each fillet, roll up – place slice of butter and lemon slice on top.  Seal pack and put on grill for 15-20 minutes.  You will have such a delicious sauce inside that serving it with rice to soak it up is a great idea!

Burgers Mexicana

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I love making burgers that pack lots of flavour into every bite.  These are guaranteed to do just that! The addition of chipotle aoili makes anything have a hint of Mexican flavours.  Feel free to add a bit of minced chipotle pepper to the burger mix as well if you like to kick the heat up a bit.

1 pound ground lean pork

1 pound ground chorizo sausage or spicy italian sausage meat

1/4 cup minced fresh herbs – basil, oregano, rosemary and parsley

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup finely sliced chives or green onions

1/2 cup monterey jack or havarti jalapeno cheese, grated

Gently toss just until ingredients are blended well and form into patties.  If you place them on a cookie sheet in the freezer for a while they will hold their shape much easier on the grill.  When you put them on the grill, gently place them on an oiled grill (or lightly oil the burger) and do not move until they have formed up.  Rotate for nice grill marks.  Flip when they are able to hold their shape, and cook through.

Grill:  avocado slices, tomato slices and onion slices

Grilling tomato and avocado slices is easier than you think – and for any vegetarian in the crowed – just use portabello mushrooms!

Chipotle Aioli:  Mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise with 1 minced chipotle pepper (in adobo sauce), 1 tbsp sliced green onions and 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice -season to taste with salt and pepper

To serve burgers:  Grill buns, then spread the both halves with the chipotle aoili – place bun on bottom bun and pile it up with the avocado, tomato and onion slices – simply divine!

Lemon Herb Chicken Linguine

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This light and fresh summery pasta is perfect for a sunny day – takes so little effort and won’t heat up your kitchen either!

CHICKEN

4 chicken breasts

2 tbsp minced fresh herbs – basil, parsley, oregano

1 heaping tbsp dijon mustard

1 lemon – juice and zest

2 tbsp olive oil

Marinate all above ingredients in a ziplock bag for a minimum of 1 hour, and preferably overnight.  (My favorite trick is to have this already made and in the freezer, pull it out in the morning and you are ready to proceed when you get home from work!)

Grill chicken breasts until no longer pink inside, and juices run clear.  Allow to rest while you cook the pasta.

PASTA

1 pack linguine noodles (or honestly, whatever you like!)

broccoli – broken into little trees (about 1 1/2 – 2 cups) or snap peas!

1 lemon, juice and zest

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp of your best extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp roughly chopped basil

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Cook linguine in a pot of well salted water – for the last 3 minutes toss in a generous handful of broccoli heads.  Drain pasta, reserving some of the liquid.

In large serving bowl toss the cooked broccoli and pasta with the lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, crumbled feta, basil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle the olive oil over top, and add just enough pasta water to allow you to toss the pasta easily, and it creates just a light bit of sauce.

Slice chicken on the diagonal, and serve over the pasta.