ANTIPASTO VEGETABLE NOODLE SALAD
Ingredients
Serves 6
2 thick carrots, trimmed and peeled
2 zucchini, about 8-in (20 cm) long, trimmed
1 small fennel bulb, trimmed, reserve the fronds
½ small red onion, peeled
1 cup (250 ml) halved, small heirloom
cherry tomatoes
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin julienne strips
1 tbsp + 3 tbsp (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 slices prosciutto
1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice
1 small smashed and minced garlic
2 tsp (10 ml) minced fresh oregano
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
pinch of sugar, optional
½ cup (125 ml) small, green, pitted olives
2 tbsp (30 ml) pine nuts, toasted
3 tbsp (45 ml) finely grated Parmesan
2 tbsp (30 ml) slivered fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Using a hand-held vegetable peeler, or a vegetable spiralizer, shave carrots and zucchini into long thin strips or spiralized curls and place in a large bowl. Very finely dice any remaining vegetable cores and add to bowl.
- Thinly slice fennel and red onion using a mandolin, separate into rings and add to vegetables along with cherry tomatoes and julienne strips of yellow pepper.
- Heat 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil in large frying pan. As soon as it almost begins to smoke, add prosciutto and gently fry over medium heat until crispy. Transfer to a paper towellined plate to drain. When cool enough to handle, crumble into bite-sized pieces.
- In a small bowl, combine remaining 3 tbsp (45 ml) oil, lemon juice and garlic. Whisk together to blend. Whisk in minced oregano until blended. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add sugar, if desired.
- When ready to serve salad, give olive oil dressing a quick whisk and drizzle over vegetables. Gently toss to evenly coat. Note: Do not toss salad with dressing until immediately before serving, or salad will water out. Divide among serving plates and scatter with olives, pine nuts, Parmesan and basil. Place a couple of pieces prosciutto on top and serve.
Drink Pairings
BRAISED LAMB SHOULDER WITH PUY LENTILS
Ingredients
Serves 4
MOROCCAN SPICE MIX:
4 tbsp (60 ml) cumin seeds
3 tbsp (45 ml) black peppercorns
2 tbsp (30 ml) whole allspice
2 tbsp (30 ml) coriander seeds
1 tbsp (15 ml) whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks, broken
2 tbsp (30 ml) cayenne
2 tbsp (30 ml) ground ginger
PUY LENTILS:
12 cups (3 L) water
1¾ cups (425 ml) kosher salt
2 cups (500 g) dried Puy lentils
½ small Vidalia onion, peeled
½ large carrot
1 celery stalk
BRAISED LAMB SHOULDER:
5 lb (2.5 kg) bone-in lamb shoulder
2 to 4 tbsp (30 to 60 ml) canola oil
2 large Vidalia onions, peeled and quartered
2 large carrots, peeled, cut crosswise
4 celery stalks, cut crosswise
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 small bunch fresh thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 tbsp (15 ml) black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
MOROCCAN SPICED LENTIL PURÉE:
2 tbsp (30 ml) canola oil
¾ cup (175 ml) finely diced cooking onion
½ cup (125 ml) finely diced celery
2 tsp (10 ml) finely minced garlic
3 tbsp (45 ml) Moroccan Spice Mix
8 cups (2 L) water
2 cups (500 ml) Puy lentils
2 cups (500 ml) whipping cream
¾ cup (175 ml) cold butter, diced
lemon juice, to taste
salt, to taste
GARNISH:
12 baby turnips, trimmed, scrubbed clean
¼ cup (60 ml) diced cold butter (optional)
lemon juice, to taste
salt, to taste
1 cup (250 g) Burrata cheese, divided
16 cape gooseberries, husks removed, halved
fresh lemon balm
Instructions
- To make MOROCCAN SPICE MIX: Combine whole spices in a small, dry, heavybottomed frying pan. Toast whole spices and cinnamon sticks over medium heat until fragrant, 2 minutes. Shake pan several times to prevent burning. Transfer to a spice grinder and grind to a fine powder. Stir in cayenne and ground ginger to blend. Place in a small container with a tight-fitting lid. Cool and tightly seal until ready to use.
- To firm Puy lentil skins, combine water and salt in a large container with a fitted lid. Stir to dissolve salt. Stir in lentils and cover tightly. Refrigerate overnight.
- The following day, drain lentils through a strainer and place in a large saucepan along with enough water to cover by 4-in (10 cm) and some generous pinches of salt. Add ½ Vidalia onion, ½ carrot and 1 celery stalk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover with lid ajar and simmer for 7 to 10 minutes. Lentils should be soft but with some bite. Strain, remove and discard vegetables and set lentils aside. You can refrigerate cooked lentils at this point if not using right away
- To BRAISE LAMB: Over medium-high heat, warm enough canola oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan to lightly film bottom of pan. Once it smokes, add lamb and sear on all sides until deep golden brown. Remove lamb to a large dish. Reduce heat to medium and add onions, carrots, celery and garlic to fat remaining in pan. Sauté, scraping up brown bits from bottom of pan. Continue to sauté until vegetables are golden, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Return lamb to pot along with herbs, peppercorns and bay leaf. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover with lid and cook 2 to 3 hours, depending on size of shoulder, or until meat is falling off bone. Then remove pan from heat. Allow to cool 20 minutes before removing lamb to wire rack over a baking sheet. Leave at room temperature for another 30 or 40 minutes before placing lamb on rack in refrigerator to thoroughly cool.
- Strain lamb cooking stock into another saucepan. Cook over mediumhigh heat until reduced by ¼. When lamb is cooled, cut meat from bone into large pieces. Reserve roughly 6 oz (140 g) for each serving portion and refrigerate remaining lamb for another use.
- While lamb is braising, prepare MOROCCAN SPICED LENTIL PURÉE: Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add diced onion, celery and carrot and sauté over medium-high heat, stirring until translucent. Reduce heat to medium and add garlic. Sauté a few seconds. Add 3 tbsp (45 ml) Moroccan Spice Mix and stir, scraping up brown bits from bottom of pan. Add 8 cups (2 L) water, 2 cups (500 ml) dry lentils and a pinch of salt. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook with lid ajar for 20 minutes or until lentils are falling apart. Water level must consistently be just covering lentils, so add more water or cooking time to reach that point.
- When lentils finish cooking, transfer to a blender and whirl with cream on high speed until blended. Whirl in butter, a few cubes at a time, until purée is completely smooth. Season with a little lemon juice and salt to taste. Purée can be used immediately or set aside until ready to use
- Prepare baby turnips, bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cut turnips into ½-in (1.25 cm) wedges and blanch in boiling water for 10 to 15 seconds. Then plunge into an ice water bath to stop cooking. Turnips should be crisp to bite when blanched.
- To serve, put Moroccan Spiced Lentil Purée in a large, wide, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Warm mixture over low heat. In a separate pot, add ½-in (1.25 cm) reserved lamb stock and stir in cooked lentils and enough chunks of braised lamb to serve 4 people. Bring to a low simmer and cook, stirring often, making sure mixture doesn’t stick. Add more lamb stock if mixture appears too dry.
- Once lamb is heated through, stir in baby turnips, cook briefly to warm. Stir in ¼ cup (60 ml) diced cold butter, if desired. Season with lemon juice and salt to taste.
- To serve, spoon a few tablespoons purée onto heated plates. Top with some chunks of lamb, lentils and baby turnips. Place a couple pieces Burrata cheese on side and garnish with gooseberries and a generous sprig of lemon balm.
Drink Pairings
BLACK FOREST CUPCAKES WITH KIRSCH CHERRIES
Ingredients
Serves 24 cupcakes
CUPCAKES:
2 cups (500 ml) granulated sugar
1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour
¾ cup (180 ml) cake and pastry flour
¾ cup (180 ml) unsweetened cocoa
1½ tsp (7 ml) baking powder
1½ tsp (7 ml) baking soda
1 tsp (5 ml) kosher salt
1 cup (250 ml) milk
½ cup (125 ml) melted butter, plus extra for greasing pans
2 whole eggs, whisked
2 tsp (10 ml) kirsch
1 cup (250 ml) boiling water
MARINATED CHERRIES:
1 cup (250 ml) fresh cherries, pitted
¼ cup (60 ml) granulated sugar
2 tsp (10 ml) kirsch
CHANTILLY CREAM:
1 cup (250 ml) whipping cream
¼ cup (60 ml) granulated sugar
¼ vanilla bean, seeds scraped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners or generously grease muffin tins with butter.
- To make CUPCAKES: In a large bowl, combine sugar, flours, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift together to blend.
- In a separate bowl, combine milk, melted butter, eggs and kirsch. Whisk until combined.
- Whisk milk mixture into dry ingredients until no lumps remain. Gradually whisk in boiling water until blended.
- Ladle equal amounts into prepared muffin tins, each about ¾ full. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a cupcake comes out clean. Rotate pans halfway through baking. Once done, remove from oven and thoroughly cool in tins on a rack before removing.
- While cupcakes are baking, place cherries in a bowl with sugar and kirsch. (You should have at least 24 cherries.) Stir to evenly blend. Marinate at room temperature for 1 hour or refrigerate overnight.
- Drain juice from cherries into a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan, reserving cherries. Gently boil juice over medium heat, reducing it to a syrupy consistency, about five to ten minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- To make CHANTILLY CREAM: In an electric stand mixer fitted with a wire whisk, beat whipping cream in a chilled bowl until soft peaks begin to form. Gradually beat in sugar and vanilla seeds until medium peaks form.
- Drizzle cooled cherry syrup over whipped cream and gently stir together, creating swirls of cherry syrup in cream.
- Pipe or dollop cherry cream onto each cupcake and garnish with a reserved, marinated cherry.
Drink Pairings
CARAMELIZED GARLIC AND YAM TART
Ingredients
Serves 8
PASTRY:
1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour
⅓ cup (75 ml) cornmeal
1 tbsp (15 ml) granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) sea salt
⅓ cup (75 ml) unsalted butter, chilled and diced
2 large egg yolks
2 tbsp (30 ml) ice water
FILLING:
1 large jewel yam
2 tsp (10 ml) olive oil
25 large garlic cloves, peeled
2 tbsp (30 ml) unsalted butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) each maple syrup and cider vinegar
2 large eggs
⅓ cup (75 ml) full fat Greek plain yogurt
¾ cup (175 ml) aged white cheddar
⅓ cup (75 ml) chopped garlic scapes (optional)
⅓ x 100 g package plain goat’s cheese, crumbled
2 tsp (10 ml) finely chopped fresh thyme
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- To make PASTRY: Place flour, cornmeal, sugar and salt in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse to blend. Add diced butter and pulse until crumbly. Whisk egg yolks and ice water together. With motor running, add egg mixture through feed tube until mixture just begins to hold together. Turn out onto a clean work surface and shape into a 5-in (12 cm) disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until slightly firm.
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- To make FILLING: Peel yam and cut into ½-in (1.25 cm) dice. Toss in a small bowl with oil and spread out on prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in oven for 10 to 15 minutes or just until fork-tender but not soft. Remove baking sheet to a cooling rack and set aside. Keep oven temperature at 350 F (180 C).
- Place garlic cloves and a few tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium-low heat until almost tender, about 20 minutes. Add butter and increase heat to medium, cooking until water has evaporated and garlic starts to brown. Add maple syrup and cider vinegar. Simmer over medium- low heat for 5 minutes or until most liquid has evaporated and cloves are glazed. Stir often. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Roll out pastry on a lightly floured work surface into an 11-in (28 cm) circle. Transfer pastry into a 9-in (23 cm) tart pan with removable sides and tuck pastry into pan, folding excess pastry inside tart to make a nice thick rim. Line bottom of pastry with parchment paper and fill with dried beans or pastry weights. Bake in oven for 10 minutes. Turn out dried beans reserving for another use and remove paper lining from pastry. Return pastry shell to oven and continue baking for 15 more minutes or until crust is firm and golden. Remove from oven and keep oven temperature at 350 F (180 C).
- Arrange diced yam evenly over bottom of tart shell. Combine eggs, yogurt and grated cheddar in a bowl. Stir to blend. Evenly spoon mixture over yams, spreading lightly. Scatter with garlic scapes, if using. Tuck caramelized garlic throughout top of tart and scatter with crumbled goat’s cheese and fresh thyme. Sprinkle with a few pinches of salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake in oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until firm.
- Remove and serve warm or at room temperature with a crisp salad.
Drink Pairings
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SKILLET LASAGNA
Ingredients
Serves 6
2 lbs (1 kg) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
1 large yellow onion, peeled, cut into rounds
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh sage
3 tbsp (45 ml) olive oil, divided, plus extra
1 tbsp (15 ml) pure maple syrup
1 tbsp (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste
12 lasagna noodles
4 slices double-smoked bacon
8 to 10 whole sage leaves
10 oz (300 g) goat’s cheese
½ cup (125 ml) ricotta cheese
1 large egg
6 oz (180 g) fresh mozzarella balls, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). To a large bowl, add butternut squash, onions, garlic, sage, 2 tbsp (30 ml) oil, maple syrup, vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Transfer to a baking sheet and spread evenly. Roast until squash browns lightly in spots, 20 to 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 F (190 C).
- While squash roasts, cook lasagna noodles in a large saucepan of salted boiling water according to package directions, until al dente. Drain, refresh under cold water and toss with remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil. Set aside.
- Fry bacon in large frying pan over medium heat. Cook, turning once or twice, until crisp. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate to cool, then crumble into pieces.
- Carefully add sage leaves to hot bacon drippings in frying pan over medium heat. Fry for 30 seconds or until crisp. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate with bacon to drain.
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together goat’s cheese, ricotta and egg. Set aside.
- To assemble, lightly grease a 10-in (33 cm) cast iron frying pan, then place ⅓ of squash mixture over bottom. Top with ⅓ goat’s cheese mixture, 1 strip worth of crumbled bacon and 2 lasagna noodles, breaking up a third to fit pan as necessary. Continue layering of ingredients 2 more times, ending with a layer of noodles. Cover lasagna with mozzarella slices before baking until piping hot and cheese is golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Garnish with reserved crumbled bacon and fried sage. Serve hot.
Drink Pairings
CARROT, CUCUMBER AND JICAMA SALAD WITH SMOKY GRILLED LAMB
Ingredients
Serves 4
2 lbs (1 kg) well-trimmed boneless leg of lamb, cut into 3 equal pieces
2 tbsp + ¼ cup (90 ml) olive oil, divided
1 tbsp (15 ml) ground cumin, divided
salt and pepper, to taste
3 tbsp (45 ml) rice wine vinegar
1 tsp (5 ml) liquid clover honey
¼ tsp (1 ml) dry mustard powder
4 cups (1 L) roughly chopped romaine lettuce
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into long julienne curls with a spiralizer
1 unpeeled English cucumber, cut into ribbons with a vegetable peeler
2 cups (500 ml) peeled and diced jicama
2 cups (500 ml) cooked chickpeas
¾ cup (175 ml) pitted green olives, cut in half
2 tbsp (30 ml) finely chopped fresh chives
⅓ cup (75 ml) fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Preheat barbecue grill to medium-high.
- Rub lamb with 2 tbsp (30 ml) oil and season with 2 tsp (10 ml) cumin, salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium-sized bowl, whisk together remaining 1 tsp (5 ml) cumin, vinegar, honey and mustard powder. Slowly incorporate remaining ¼ cup (60 ml) oil until dressing is well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Grill lamb, turning frequently, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until nicely charred and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 135 F (57 C) for medium-rare. Transfer lamb to a carving board to rest for 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl toss together romaine, carrots, cucumber, jicama, chickpeas and olives. Drizzle with dressing and toss again to coat salad. Transfer salad to a platter. Thinly slice lamb and arrange overlapping slices on salad. Garnish with chives and cilantro before serving.
Drink Pairings
BAKED ITALIAN RICOTTA CINNAMON CHEESECAKE IN A WALNUT CRUST
Ingredients
Serves 12
FILLING:
2 x 400 g containers full-fat ricotta
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml) panko bread crumbs
2 x 8 oz (250 g) packages full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature, cubed
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 lemon, zest and juice
2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract
⅛ tsp (0.5 ml) kosher salt
CRUST:
1½ cups (375 ml) coarsely ground walnuts
¼ cup (60 ml) granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon
¼ tsp (1 ml) kosher salt
3 tbsp (45 ml) butter, melted
TOPPING:
3 tbsp (45 ml) icing sugar, sifted
2 tsp (10 ml) cinnamon
chopped walnuts, for garnish
Instructions
- For FILLING: Place ricotta in a large, fine-meshed sieve set over a large bowl. Let drain for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- While ricotta drains, prepare crust. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Spray sides and bottom of an 8-in (20 cm) springform pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper. In a food processor, pulse ground walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and salt to blend and transfer to a bowl. Stir in melted butter. Firmly press into bottom of prepared springform pan. Bake in oven for 10 minutes until light golden. Remove pan to a rack for crust to harden and cool.
- Once ricotta has drained, place in a food processor and discard liquid. Pulse for 15 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and add sugar, panko bread crumbs and cream cheese. Make sure cream cheese is at room temperature, or it will not blend smoothly. Pulse to blend. Add eggs 1 at a time and continue to pulse. Add lemon zest and juice, vanilla and salt, and pulse to blend. When filling is smooth and creamy, transfer to cooled walnut crust and smooth top.
- To prevent cheesecake from cracking during baking, wrap cheesecake pan in a large sheet of foil that extends halfway up the sides. Then place pan in a large roasting pan or lasagna dish. Fill roasting pan or dish with ½-in (1.25 cm) hot water. Gently place in preheated oven and bake for about 1¼ hours, or until cake is fairly firm when jiggled. Remove cheesecake from water bath and remove foil. Set on a rack to cool. Cake will settle slightly as it cools. Refrigerate uncovered, until cool, about 3 hours. Then cover and chill overnight.
- To serve, combine icing sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sift together to blend. Remove sides from cake pan and place cake on a serving platter. Sieve topping over cake in a decorative pattern and sprinkle with chopped walnuts, as desired. Cut into wedges and serve.
Drink Pairings
ADOBO SHRIMP WITH ZUCCHINI
Ingredients
Serves filling for about 12 tacos
6 dried Ancho chilies, stems removed
½ cup (125 ml) boiling water
4 garlic cloves
¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar
2 tsp (10 ml) kosher salt, plus extra
½ tsp (2 ml) dried Mexican oregano
½ tsp (2 ml) ground cumin seed
½ tsp (2 ml) coconut sugar
2 lbs (1 kg) small or medium uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tbsp (15 ml) coconut oil
1 large zucchini, cut into ¼-in (0.5 cm) wide half moons
ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat a dry frying pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add chilies and toast, turning often, until just fragrant and softened, about 1 minute. Remove to a plate and let cool. Using scissors and working over a medium bowl, cut toasted chilies into 1-in (2.5 cm) rings, reserving seeds. Cover chilies with water and set aside to soak, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
- Transfer hydrated chilies along with soaking liquid to jar of a blender. Add garlic, vinegar, salt, oregano, cumin, and sugar and purée until a smooth, thick paste forms. Transfer adobo paste to a large bowl before adding shrimp and stirring to coat.
- Preheat broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
- Place shrimp on prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Broil, watching closely and stirring halfway through, until shrimp are just cooked through and browned in spots, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- While shrimp is cooking, heat coconut oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and sauté until softened and starting to brown in spots, about 4 to 6 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt.
- Fold zucchini into cooked shrimp to coat lightly in sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve while warm.
Drink Pairings
CANTONESE ROAST CHICKEN
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6 as part of a multi-course meal
HOISIN ORANGE-GINGER SAUCE:
¾ cup (175 ml) hoisin sauce
3 tbsp (45 ml) rice vinegar
½ cup (125 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tsp (5 ml) finely minced ginger
2 green onions, minced
2 tbsp (30 ml) sesame oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
GINGER SOY DIPPING SAUCE:
1 tbsp (15 ml) dark soy sauce
1 tbsp (15 ml) light soy sauce
1 tbsp (15 ml) minced ginger
2 tbsp (30 ml) minced green onion
2 tsp (10 ml) sesame oil
1 tsp (5 ml) sugar
CANTONESE ROAST CHICKEN:
1 large whole roasting chicken, about 6½ lbs (3 kg), cleaned thoroughly and dried
2 tbsp (30 ml) Chinese rice wine vinegar
4 tbsp (60 ml) Shao-Hsing wine or sherry
2 ½ tsp (12 ml) salt
¼ tsp (1 ml) white pepper
¼ tsp (1 ml) Chinese 5 spice, optional
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 large slice ginger, lightly smashed
2 green onions, quartered, white portions only, lightly smashed
1 cup (250 ml) water
cilantro sprigs and sliced green onion, for garnish
Instructions
- To make HOISIN ORANGE-GINGER SAUCE: In a mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients and season to taste. Cover and set aside to develop flavours.
- To make GINGER SOY DIPPING SAUCE: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and allow to infuse for 15 minutes before serving.
- To make CANTONESE ROAST CHICKEN: Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Place chicken in a roasting pan and rub all over with rice vinegar, then with rice wine. Sprinkle with salt, then with white pepper. Place 2 to 3 slices of garlic on chicken at random, between the skin and the meat. Place ginger, green onions, and 2 more garlic slices in the chicken cavity. Place chicken on a rack in roasting pan, breast-side up, and dot with a couple slices of garlic. Add water to roasting pan.
- Place the chicken in oven and roast for 10 minutes. Lower temperature to 375 F (190 C) and roast for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, turn over and dot with remaining garlic slices. With a fork, pierce the skin all over. Return chicken to the oven and roast for 30 minutes. Turn chicken over again, breast side up, and pierce skin to ensure fat runs off. Lower oven to 350 F (180 C) and roast for 30 to 40 minutes more.
- Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes before serving. Chop into 2-in (5 cm) bone-in pieces, garnish with cilantro and green onion and serve with dipping sauces.
Drink Pairings
BROWN BUTTER CUSTARD TART WITH CRANBERRY TOPPING
Ingredients
Serves 10
TART SHELL:
¾ cup (175 ml) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing tart pan
2 cups (500 ml) vanilla wafer crumbs
½ tsp (2 ml) salt, divided
BROWN BUTTER CUSTARD:
2 tsp (10 ml) unflavoured gelatin
2 tbsp (30 ml) water
1 cup (250 ml) whole milk
⅓ cup (75 ml) light brown sugar
⅛ tsp (0.5 ml) cinnamon
¼ tsp (1 ml) finely grated orange zest
¾ cup (175 ml) whipping cream
¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
CRANBERRY TOPPING:
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
3½ cups (875 ml) fresh or frozen cranberries
¼ cup (60 ml) water
½ vanilla bean, split lengthwise
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). To make TART SHELL: In a small saucepan, melt butterovermediumheat.Cook,stirring occasionally, until butter starts to change colour to a golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Strain butter through a fine mesh sieve into a glass measuring cup or bowl. Reserve browned butter solids.
- In a medium bowl, stir together vanilla wafer crumbs, 1⁄2 cup (125 ml) of reserved melted butter and 1⁄4 tsp (1 ml) salt. Grease a 9-in (23 cm) fluted tart pan with extra butter before pressing crumb mixture into bottom and up sides. Save any remaining butter for another use. Refrigerate tart shell for 30 minutes.
- Place chilled tart shell on a baking sheet and bake until firm and golden brown, about 12 to 14 minutes. Set aside on a wire rack to cool completely.
- While tart shell cools, start preparing Brown Butter Custard. In a small bowl sprinkle gelatin over water and set aside to bloom for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium-sized saucepan, bring milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, reserved brown butter solids and remaining 1⁄4 tsp (1 ml) salt to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in gelatin and orange zest stirring until gelatin is dissolved. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until set, about 3 hours.
- In a large bowl, whisk together whipping cream and sour cream to stiff peaks. Whisk prepared brown butter custard to loosen it before folding it into whipped cream mixture. Pour mixture into cooled tart shell and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to 8 hours.
- While tart is chilling, make CRANBERRY TOPPING: In a medium-sized saucepan, combine sugar with cranberries, water and vanilla bean. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook until cranberries have just split and sugar is dissolved, about 4 minutes. Transfer cranberry mixture to a bowl and refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour. Remove and discard vanilla bean.
- Just before serving, using a slotted spoon, arrange cranberries on tart along with some of cranberry liquid. Discard remaining liquid. Cut tart into wedges and serve chilled.