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Kufta, grilled meat on skewers

You’ll LOVE KUFTA

It has many names, Kufteh, Cufta, Kifta…..depending on country of origin Lebanon, Turkey, Serbia, Bulgaria, or Iran.  It all stems from the Persian word “to grind” or “meatball”.   Kufta is a mixture of meat, parsley, onions, bulgar wheat, spices and egg. They are usually formed into cigar shaped cylinders, then grilled, baked, fried, steamed, or poached.  They can also be served with a spicy sauce.  One thing is without question, this is a delicious ancient food, with endless ethnic variations.  The following recipe is one I have used for years. It is made with lamb and beef and then grilled. I also use a special an ancient middle eastern spice called BARAHAT, a mixture of allspice, cardomon, cassia bark, cloves, coriander, cumin, nutmeg and paprika. See if you can find it, because it adds a special exotic flavor to the kufta.

KUFTA

¾ lb ground lamb

¾ lb ground beef

¾ cup finely chopped or grated onion

1 toe finely minced fresh garlic

¾ cup chopped parsley

3 TBS chopped fresh mint leaves

1 egg (beaten)

1 tsp BARAHAT

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp sea salt

Optional: flat wooden skewers (soaked)

Optional:  Labna or Laban (Lebanese  yogurt)

Directions

1. In a large bowl mix all the ingredients
2. Form into 10 equal balls, then into cylinders
3. If using skewers, run skewer through cylinders
4. Grill until med rare, residual heat will continue to cook
5. Don’t over cook. 
6. Serve with dollop of labna, garnish with chopped parsley or chives

Kufta, cooked on Grilling Stones

About the Author  Part time chef  Doug Cordier, is a food writer, TV cook, Certified Ergonomic Consultant and business man. Doug is the owner of Cascom Group  Travel and has been teaching corporate and Italian cooking classes for twenty years. For more foodie thoughts and recipes, try www.cookingwithcordier.com 

Photo and recipe by Doug Cordier.  All rights reserved, Cooking with Cordier 2010

Calamari in Wine Sauce, peas and rice

My first encounter with calamari was in San Sebastian, Spain where calamari fritos are sold on the streets. Big rings of sweet squid are breaded and then deep fried in lard (pig fat rules) until crispy. It just doesn’t get any better than that! Over the years calamari has become my favorite treat. I love it fried, sautéed, broiled, grilled, marinated in salads, or in a seafood stew like the recipe below.

Calamari needs to be either cooked FAST or VERY SLOWLY and LOW or it will turn into rubber. Nutritionally, squid is a very good source of protein. 4 oz yields 16 grams of protein, 92 calories and only 1.5 grams of fat……….however, and this is a WARNING for some of you………4 oz of squid is loaded with LDL cholesterol (250 Mg bad cholesterol! ) The highest concentration appears to be in the tentacles. So if you’re a calamari lover and watching your cholesterol limit your intake of this versatile seafood delight.

Calamari in wine sauce

Squid in classic wine & tomato sauce

1 2 LB package of frozen squid (thawed)

3 toes garlic minced

2 TBS oyster sauce (optional)

3 TBS tomato paste

1 cup finely chopped red onions

2 TBS flour

1 small can tomato sauce

1 ½ cup dry red wine

2 TBS chopped thyme leaves

1 cup parsley leaves

Fresh ground pepper

Pinch sea salt

2 TBS olive oil for frying

Finishing olive oil and parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)

1. Thaw calamari in frig, drain, pat dry
2. Add olive oil to heavy pan, fry squid for two minutes, add onions & garlic
3. Sauté onions, garlic, add paste, oyster sauce, flour, thyme, salt & pepper
4. Add wine, cook 2-3 minutes to reduce
5. Cover and cook for 50 minutes in 285 oven
6. Anoint with finishing olive oil & sprinkle of parmesan cheese (optional)
7. Serve with rice, peas, light salad & crusty bread.

Yields 4-5

Recipe and photo copyright 2010 , Cooking with Cordier, All Rights Reserved

First layer of zucchini, cheese and bacon

My Wife’s Favorite Zucchini  Dish

I love zucchini in nut breads and ratatouille but have never been able to create a savory dish that really lets this versatile veggie shine.  My wife, “MB” is always asking me to prepare special zucchini dishes but I fall short each time. Perhaps it’s the fact that zucchini “weeps” a lot of liquid, or the way I slice it.  I’ve tried slicing on a diagonal, shredding, julienne, chopping, stuffing, and of course just plain cross sections.  Well, I finally have a dish that she loves.  It combines, some great flavors that marry perfectly with zucchini…….fresh ricotta, parmesan, provolone, green onion, lemon and just a touch of BACON……(everyone loves bacon).  So MB, here’s your dish, and I dedicate it to you.

Zucchine con tre  formaggi e lemone

2 small zucchini (thinly sliced on cross section)

1 cup fresh ricotta cheese

6 slices provolone cheese

½ cup parmesan cheese

2 green onions (sliced on diagonal)

½ the juice of a lemon

1 strip of bacon (cooked crisp and diced)

2 TBS olive oil

Sea salt & fresh Pepper

1. Coat a 7” x 10”  baking dish with oil
2. In a bowl, toss sliced zucchini with oil and lemon
3. Layer in pan like scales, one layer of zucchini,top with dollops of ricotta, and onions.
4. Sprinkle with parmesan and bacon, top with provolone.
5. Repeat with second layer
6. Bake at 325 for about ½ hour or until bubbly.

 Serves four

Recipe and Photo by Doug Cordier

How to make killer gumbo for 150 people.

This years Gumbopalooza was the best ever. We raised almost 10K! Proceeds from our fundraiser will go to purchase building supplies for re-habilitating homes in New Orleans and Haiti. This annual event is sponsored by the Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church and is a real labor of love. Every year we roast a pig and prepare the gumbo for the hungry hoard. Although I am the head chef in the well equipped kitchen, we have a whole crew of very talented dedicated foodies.  First there’s our pig roasters, Art and Fred Van de Putte, and Mike Haas.  Then in the kitchen, Tamara Baubie, Don and Laurie Stowell and finally my trusty sous chef, Ed Glotfelty and his wife Jolene. Ed runs the School of Culinary Arts in Oscoda, Michigan and is a wealth of culinary info and techniques. Jolene is a talented pastry chef and creator of some amazing tortes for our famous dessert auctions. We also have help with authentic ingredients from the Village Food Market. Owner Mark Garmo, and his very experienced butcher Franko smoke the andouillie sausage especially for our gumbo.

So, how do you make gumbo for 150? …the answer is very carefully with a great deal of patience and love. First of all, we start by frying up all the sausage in big old iron skillets.  Then we cut the chicken breasts into three long pieces. These are sprinkled with creole spices and dusted with seasoned flour then fried in the sausage grease. “Pork fat rules!”   When all the veggies are chopped, we start to make the roux. The roux is what makes a gumbo………it adds that characteristic velvety texture to the sauce.  We use two parts flour to one part oil.  A roux has to be cooked in iron skillets and stirred constantly for a long time until it becomes the color of chocolate. It’s called a “burnt roux”  but if one roasts it just a second too long it will actually burn….and you have to start all over again. Believe me, I speak from experience. Ed and I stand next to each other at the stove both concentrating as we chat about foodie stuff and slowly stir the roux as it gradually turns to light chocolate…..” how ya doin’ ,  boy they’re gittin dark” …..” “should we quit now?…..let’s get’m a little darker”  Then it’s OFF HEAT…and cross your fingers that the residual heat doesn’t take your roux over the edge to charville. After the roux is complete, it’s divided between two huge pots.  Next the veggies are sauteed in the roux, stock is added, then finally the chicken, sausages, rice and okra. One of the last ingredients is the file powder…….which is also known as sassafras.  This powered spice is essential for an authentic gumbo.  Now our gumbo is almost complete, it will still need a while to simmer so all the ingredients will “get friendly with each other”  before we serve it to the hoard.

Ingredients
25 Andouille sausage (cut into 1/2 ” slices)
25 Keilbasa sausage (cut into 1/2 ” slices)
6 Bratwurst (cut into 1/2 ” slices)
10 large full chicken breasts (cut into three long pieces)
25 cups celery (4 large bunches) 1/2 ” chop
25 cups vadalia onions (10) 1/2 ” chop
6 cup fresh okra (1/2 ” chop)
12 cups cooked rice
25 toes fresh garlic (minced)
1 bottle file powdew (sasafras)
9 quarts brodo (broth)
7 serrano, 7 jalapenos, 7 anahiem peppers (1/4 ” chop)
2 quarts or more water to thin
1/2 – Creole seasoning
cayenne pepper for heat
Sea salt & pepper to taste
Roux = 4 cups oil/8 cups flour

Directions
1. Brown sausage in large iron skillets
2. Sprinkle chicken pieces with creole seasoning & dust with flour
3. Fry chicken in sausage grease and extra oil
4. Clean iron skillets and make roux
5. Transfer roux to two jumbo pots, heat pots
6. Add all veggies except okra, and saute for 5-10 minutes
7. Add brodo stock, cook 5 minutes, add rice
8. Cut chicken into 1 ” chunks, add to pot with cut sausage
9. Lower heat and simmer for 1 hour or so, turn off heat, let set 2 hrs
10 Before serving, raise to simmer, add okra, file powder, thin with H20
Start your own Gumbopalooza

Viva Citra Wines!

First of all, I don’t work for Citra Wines (chee-tra).   However, over the years I have been serving them at all my cooking classes.   Many years ago I discovered the secret to successful cooking classes………..serve lots of wine!  So,  how do you serve decent regional Italian wines and not break the  food budget ?………….simple, serve these wonderful Citra Wines.  I first encountered these wines on a trip to Pescara, Italy  (on the Adriatic coast of the Abruzzo region)  This forgotten area of Italy boasts not only fabulous mountains, pristine beaches and friendly people,  but some truly great wines.  We especially enjoy their Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo (not to be confused with the town of Montepulciano, south of Siena) where the Montepulciano grapes are barrique-aged and  harvested from the lush vineyards of Pagliata and Polltri.  The 7000 local wine growers blend their grapes to create a well balanced, full bodied red with nice acid balance and loads of berry fruit.  Citra also offers several white wines………our favorite is their Tribiano.  The tribiano is 100% tribiano grapes (the grape used to produce balsamic vinegar) and is very clean,  bright, with citric notes and very little oak.   The perfect wine paired with seafood, pastas and light dinners in the warmer months.  The owner of the Village Market, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan (Mark Garmo)  is always happy after my cooking classes are over because he knows he will acquire new loyal Citra customers for life.  Now, heres the best part of this wine story.  Not only does Citra draw praise and awards from many discerning wine pundants, including Wine Spectator,  but the price will surely win you over. In our market 1.5 liter bottles of Citra wines go for under $10!  Not too bad for wines that have been served to Britain’s Prince Charles.  Viva il vino……….Viva Citra Wines!

This recipe is based on a very simple dish that we encountered in Montepuluciano, Italy.  The trattoria was very small and located in the basement. The combination of the salty prosciuto, capers, creamy mozzarella , and crispy bread is sublime…………plus  really easy.  In Italy, the very best ingredients are always used. The INGREDIENTS speak for themselves.  That’s why the food in Italy is so great.

Prosciutto Crostini with pinenuts & capers

Large crostini with prosciutto, mozzarella, pine nuts & caper

4 slices rustic bread (cut on long diagonal)

2 slices prosciutto (cut lengthwise)

2 TBS chopped pine nuts  

4 TBS mozzarella cubes (1/4 “)

2 drained capers

Chopped Parsley

2 TBS olive oil & paint brush

• Lightly paint each slice of bread with olive oil
• Place long slice of prosciutto on each crostini
• Place on baking sheet in 375 oven for 15 minutes
• Remove from oven, put cubes on crostini, return to oven 2-3 minutes
• Remove from oven, sprinkle on pine nuts and capers
•  Return sheet to oven for 2 minutes until bubbly.
• Serve immediately , garnish with parsley

Caution:  Oven times and temperatures may vary

Bon appetitto   

Makes two servings

Whether you grill these inside on a grill pan or outside over coals, these jumbo shrimp wrapped in prosciutto will be a big hit. The secret is marinating them in lime juice for about a half an hour before you put them on the grill.  This is a super simple and super fast dish, so do them at the last minute just before serving.

Prosciutto Wrapped Grilled Shrimp

Jumbo shrimp wrapped in prosciutto with lime

6 Jumbo shrimp (16-20 per lb peeled tail on)

3 slices prosciutto (cut lengthwise)

2 lime juice

1 toe minced fresh garlic

2 lbs olive oil

Chopped Parsley

Lime wedges

• Marinate the shrimp in lime and olive oil for ½ hour
• Wrap a strip of prosciutto around each shrimp
• Grill on grill pan or over coals for 2 minutes on each side
• Garnish with parsley, serve immediately with lime wedges

Bon appetitto

Pollo con Funghi Selvatici

Chicken with wild mushrooms is a simple and very economical dish that creates a very lucious experience. The secret is in browning the skin then cooking the dish uncovered in a 325 oven for just an hour and a half. All the vegetables and mushrooms meld together for flavor……..then simply add the butter/flour mixture until you get just the right viscosity to the sauce.  Don’t tell anyone the secret that it was easy and inexpensive!

5-6  Chicken thighs with skin

1 cup chopped wild mushrooms

½ carrot (chopped)

½ cup chopped red onion

1 large toe garlic (chopped)

1 cup brodo or chicken/mushroom stock

Creamed 2 tbs butter in 2 tbs flour

Salt/pepper

Optional:  4 small pealed potatoes cut in half

Chopped Parsley for garnish

2 TBS olive oil

Instructions

1. Sprinkle chicken skin side with salt & pepper
2. Brown chicken in oil in heavy pan until skin is crispy
3. Remove chicken and set aside
4. Add veggies & mushrooms to pan, saute 4-5 minutes
5. Add stock
6. Place chicken on top of liquid
7. Place pan (uncovered) in 325 oven for 1 hour
8. Remove pan, slowly stir in butter/flour mix until creamy
9. Continue to a few more minutes
10. Serve immediately with chopped parsley garnish.

Acting on a reliable tip from Missy & Mike Steins from South Beach, Fl,  we found ourselves seated at the Porta Sagua Restaurant on Collins and 7^th…  We were in search for the best authentic Cuban food in town and judging by the locals seated around us, we had come to the right place. Service was great in this crowded family eatery, but that’s not what we came for. The food was the best, simple and delicious.  Here’s a sample recipe for Vaca Frita (fried cow)  

Shredded beef                                                   Marinade

1 lb cap steak or flank steak                            Juice of one lime & lemon

½ onion sliced through core                         2 TBS sherry

1 cup stock                                                            3  toes chopped garlic

½ tsp cumin                                                        ½ onion sliced through core

2 bay leaves                                                         3 TBS olive oil

1 toe  garlic                                                          3 TBS oil for frying

Salt/pepper

2 TBS olive oil

Chopped parsley

 DIRECTIONS

1. Salt & pepper steak

2. Add 2 TBS oil to a  large heavy pan, and brown the steak on both sides

3. Remove steak, add onions & garlic and sauté

4. Deglaze pan with stock, add steak back in and cook covered for 2 hours  (285)

5. Save liquid

6. Remove tender steak, and shred into large pieces, let cool,

7. In bowl, add steak, and toss with lemon/lime/sherry, onions, garlic, marinate 1 hour

8. Add 3 TBS oil to hot pan, fry batches of beef/onions until crispy on each side

9. Serve with rice and black beans garnish with parsley.