Hatch Chile Stew, Chicken, Heirloom Beans

Hatch Chile, Chicken, Heirloom Bean Stew

⭐️⭐️ Hatch Chile Stew ⭐️⭐️
With Chicken and Heirloom Beans
Tortilla Strips, Sour Cream, Avocado, Radish, Cilantro

Hatch Chile Aficionados, you’re gonna love this stew! It is chock-full of a whole pound of fire-roasted chopped Hatch chiles. But don’t worry, I used the mild ones so it is not too spicy, just bursting with New Mexico green chile goodness. There is also red Hatch chile powder in the recipe for another layer of chile flavor and so you can adjust the spice-level to your liking. 🔥

Chicken and heirloom beans make it a hearty meal while all the garnishes give it pizzazz. Home-fried tortilla strips are dusted with Hatch chile powder and give the stew a spicy Southwest crunch. Sour cream, avocado, radish, and cilantro bring creamy, peppery, and herby notes. Unlike some stews where chicken and/or beans take center stage and chiles play a supporting role, here, the chiles are the star. ⭐️

Hatch Chiles are chile pepper varieties commercially cultivated in the Hatch Valley of Southern New Mexico. It is said that the soil and climate of the area contribute to the especially pleasing flavor of the chiles. (from Fresh Chile Co. here) 🌶

Hatch Chile, Chicken, Heirloom Bean Stew

Hatch Chile Stew with Chicken, Heirloom Beans Recipe

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Dungeness Crab Nigiri

Dungeness Crab Nigiri

🦀 Dungeness Crab Nigiri 🦀
Miso-Garlic Mayonnaise, Shiso Leaves, Chives

The sweet ocean-y taste of Dungeness crab is complemented by the fresh herbal notes of shiso leaves – reminiscent of mint, lemon, anise, and basil. The miso mayonnaise adds creamy, nutty, garlicky, and umami characteristics. This two-bite nigiri sushi is a morsel of delight with a complex sweet/savory/herby flavor.

Dungeness crabs get their name from the port of Dungeness, Washington. They are found along the West Coast of North America, typically from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands to Point Conception, near Santa Barbara, California.

Dungeness Crab Nigiri

Dungeness Crab Nigiri Recipe

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Basque Matcha Cheesecake

Basque Matcha Cheesecake

Basque Matcha Cheesecake

With the addition of one single component, Japanese Matcha Green Tea Powder, the now-famous cheesecake has morphed into something completely different. Here, the cake has a gorgeous striking green color, and the flavor has also changed dramatically. The recipe brings together ingredients from Basque and Japanese cultures for a novel fusion dessert.

We’ve made Basque BURNT Cheesecake several times, and it is always a big hit. With no fruit topping, no crust and five simple ingredients – cream cheese, sugar, salt, eggs, and cream – it is astonishing how absolutely fabulous the original cheesecake actually is…it is baked in a very hot oven so the top and bottom caramelize where the insides remain soft and luxurious.

The cheesecake recipe was originally developed by Santiago Rivera, Chef of La Viña in San Sebastian, Spain. The Chef says, “Its popularity amongst our clients have become La Viña Restaurant’s Cheese Cream Cake a great classic of the San Sebastian cuisine.”

Matcha Green Tea has an intense and complex flavor profile with vegetal grassy flavors, a unique sweet nuttiness, and savory umami notes.

The vibrant green hue is due to the high concentration of chlorophyll in the leaves, a result of the bushes being covered up in shade for about 3 weeks before harvesting. The whole leaves are steamed, dried, and then finally stone ground to a fine powder.

Basque Matcha Cheesecake

Basque Matcha Cheesecake Recipe

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Crispy Skin Black Cod, Spinach Dashi

Crispy Skin Black Cod, Spinach Dashi

Crispy Skin Black Cod, Spinach Dashi

Here is a black cod dish inspired by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, but probably not in the way one would think. The legendary chef’s arguably most popular recipe is Miso Marinated Black Cod. A preparation that is absolutely worth every accolade. We recently enjoyed his signature black cod fillet at Nobu Paris Las Vegas, along with several other incredible dishes.

But here, I am preparing Alaska black cod simply, sautéed with crispy skin. It is served over a complex broth inspired by Nobu’s cookbook Nobu West where he shares a soup made with watercress (or spinach), dashi, and soy milk.

Black cod’s silky-rich luxurious flesh and its contrasting crispy skin are complemented by the extraordinary broth where spinach brings bright earthy green flavor and color, dashi adds umami and hints of the sea, tamari for salty notes, soy milk for a light creaminess, and rice vinegar for acidity. Steamed white rice is served on the side, it is heavenly dipped in the spinach dashi. Micro watercress is a nod to Chef Nobu’s original recipe.

Crispy Skin Black Cod, Spinach Dashi

Nobu's Miso Black Cod @ Paris Las Vegas
Nobu’s Miso Black Cod @ Paris Las Vegas

Crispy Skin Black Cod, Spinach Dashi Recipe

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Lamb Shanks with Cassoulet Beans

Lamb Shanks and Cassoulet Beans

Slow-Braised Lamb Shanks
Smoky Cassoulet Beans
With Kalamata Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
Gremolata Condiment

This is the second of two quick, slow-braised lamb shank dinners. QUICK and SLOW? Yes, as the lamb shanks are already slow-braised, from the refrigerated section at Costco. Are they as good as home-cooked braised shanks that take 2 1/2 hours? Of course not, but for a fast impressive meal, they rock. And the beautiful beans here are cooked one day ahead so assembling the entire dish takes less than 30 minutes.

The beans from Rancho Gordo are grown in California from classic French Tarbais seed stock. This white runner bean was developed over generations by French farmers to be the foundation for a traditional cassoulet. The combination of beans, olives, and tomatoes simmered with smoked paprika and red wine paired with lamb is heavenly.

Gremolata – a mix of chopped fresh parsley/lemon zest/garlic – adds an invigorating freshness and brightness to most braised meats. It builds another interesting layer onto this outstanding dish.

Lamb Shanks and Cassoulet Beans

Lamb Shanks and Cassoulet Beans Recipe

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