Tag: Cast Iron

Buttermilk Roast Chicken

On By lukephillaryhIn ClassicoLeave a comment
Nigella Lawson buttermilk roast chicken
Chicken dinner for the WIN

This recipe, which we sourced from Nigella Lawson, has made its way around the web a bit. You can find a version from Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen. Martha makes a similar recipe with just two additional ingredients – lemon zest and fresh dill. It’s a tried and true recipe that is welcome to a little tinkering. And like Romeo and Juliet or Jay-Z and Beyonce, buttermilk and chicken are an illustrious couple, most famous of course for the wondrous results of frying buttermilk brined chicken. Buttermilk is such an amazing marinade because it not only imbues flavor, but its acidic composition also tenderizes the meat – double win!! As long as you can remember to whip together this super simple marinade the night before, this chicken recipe comes together real quick and yields flavorful, tender meat with salty, crispy skin. Enjoy with a green salad and some bread to sop up the chicken juices. You’ll feel like you’re seriously spoiling yourself for a weekday dinner.

Ingredients:

  • 4-6 chicken bone-in thighs (or a mix of thighs, drumsticks, wings – important to have bone-in chicken, whatever you choose!)
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup + 2 TBS veggie oil (we used canola)
  • 1 TBS freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 TBS sea salt
  • 2 TBS freshly chopped rosemary
  • 1 TBS honey
  • 2 cloves peeled and crushed garlic + garlic cloves with skin on for roasting (optional)

Directions:

  1. The night before, marinate yo chicken! Place chicken in a large freezer bag. Add buttermilk, 1/4 cup oil, salt, crushed garlic, rosemary, and honey. Seal bag securely, mix contents around, and store in your fridge. Chicken can be marinated for up to 2 days.
  2. Remove chicken from marinade and place on rack so excess can drip off. Try to let your chicken rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, or an hour ideally. This will allow your chicken to dry off a bit and come to room temperature, which ensures even cooking and crispiness.
  3. Preheat oven to 425°F. We opted to cook our chicken in our cast iron skillet, but you can also cook on a tinfoil lined roasting pan (tinfoil makes for easy cleanup). Drizzle chicken with 2 TBS of oil. Sprinkle with a bit more sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. Throw the couple cloves of garlic in the skillet as well, if you’d like (they turn soft and are great spread over a slice of bread). Place in oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until when chicken is pierced the juices run clear.
  4. Remove from oven and let rest for about 5 minutes. Then enjoy immediately!

Details: Serves 4-ish. Maybe we’re gluttons, but we have a hard time eating just a single chicken thigh per person.

Garlicky Lemony Anchovy Chicken

On By lukephillaryhIn Ode to NYTLeave a comment
Garlic lemon anchovy chicken thighs Melissa Clark recipe
THIS is your weeknight chicken recipe

We love Melissa Clark. And Melissa Clark loves lemon, anchovies, garlic, capers, and chile flakes. Though not all chronicled here, we’ve made enough of her recipes to know these are her go-to pantry ingredients (see Salmon with Anchovy Butter, Fried Lemon Pasta, Seared Lamb Chops). And when a couple, or all, of these elements are combined, they do make for an incredibly quick, simple, and flavorful dinner. This chicken dish is so easy to make it’s almost shockingly delicious. Boring old boneless, skinless chicken thighs are transformed into succulent, tangy, salty, addicting goodness. Enjoy with a hunk of bread to sop up all that amazing pan sauce and you’ll be overwhelmingly satisfied.

Checkout Melissa’s recipe for video instruction!

Ingredients:

  • 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • 6 garlic cloves (5 smashed and peeled, 1 minced)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 5 anchovy fillets
  • 2 TBS drained capers
  • 1 large pinch chile flakes
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • freshly chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Season chicken thighs with salt n’ peppa.
  2. Prep garlic, anchovies, and capers. Heat a large, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, then add the oil, smashed garlic cloves, anchovies, capers, and chile flakes. Let cook for 3-5 minutes, until garlic has browned around the edges. Stir with a wooden spoon to break up the anchovies (they will disintegrate).
  3. Add the chicken thighs and cook until nicely browned on one side, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip the chicken, place the pan in the oven and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
  4. When chicken is done, remove from the oven. Transfer chicken to a plate and return the skillet to the stove on medium heat. Add the minced garlic and lemon juice and cook for 30 seconds. Return the chicken to the skillet and garnish with parsley.

Details: Serves 2-4 (maybe Luke and I were just really hungry but we each had at least 2 chicken thighs)

Sweeeeeeet Cornbread

On By lukephillaryhIn Classico2 Comments
Cast iron cornbread sweet
A cast iron must

In the everlasting battle of North vs. South, we’re fighting for the Union when it comes to cornbread. After a few tries, we have finally mastered this sweet, crispy, comforting Northern-style cornbread. All it took was a simple switch from cake pan to cast iron (duh). While our cornbread does come from north of the Mason-Dixon line, it’s still the perfect side to our favorite southern dishes like Brunswick Stew and Texas Chili.

True southerners may call us soft, but we’re sure this sweeeeeet cornbread will make a Yankee out of anyone.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar + 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 TBS unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly + 1 TBS butter (or even better: bacon fat) for the cast iron
  • 2 TBS canola oil
  • 1 cup sweet corn (we use frozen, a bit defrosted)
  • 1 TBS sugar + 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F and place a 10″ cast iron in the oven.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugars, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, buttermilk, eggs, butter, and canola oil.
  3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk together until combined.  Add corn and mix in just until incorporated.
  4. Remove the cast iron from the oven (use pot holders!).  Place 1 TBS of butter (or lard) into the cast iron and swirl around to melt and coat the pan. Pour in cornbread batter, sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly on the top, and place in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until skewer inserted into the cornbread comes out clean.  Let cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting in to enjoy!

To print the recipe, click here: Sweet Cornbread

¡Salsa Verde Chilaquiles!

On By lukephillaryhIn Hillary's Dishes1 Comment
Chilaquiles with salsa verde recipe
It’s pronounced chil-a-QUILES

Shout out to Caesar at Candela’s on the Bay in Coronado, California! Whenever I’m home in San Diego, my family visits Caesar for Sunday brunch and we all order the Salsa Verde Chilaquiles. They are the bomb! The deliciousness of chilaquiles was reaffirmed by Gilmore Girls Season 7 Episode 20.  Caesar of Luke’s Diner fixes up some chilaquiles for a breakfast special and they are wildly popular. To the Caesars around the world promoting chilaquiles: keep doing your thing. Because this dish deserves to be on every restaurant’s brunch menu!

Our version is a combination of two recipes, the first you can find on Spoon Fork Bacon and the second is a from our trusted friends at NYT Food.  Chilaquiles are very versatile! Feel free to swap green salsa for red, add some chorizo or shredded chicken, mix in the eggs rather than fry on top, eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner – whatever your heart desires!

Ingredients:

  • 2 TBS olive oil
  • 1 onion, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 jalapeño, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups salsa verde (green salsa), homemade or store bought
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • salt & pepper
  • 3-5 handfuls of thick, authentic tortilla chips
  • 4-5 eggs
  • queso fresco (or feta), radishes, fresh chopped cilantro for garnish

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
  2. Heat oil in a heavy bottom skillet (cast iron pan!) over medium-high heat.  Add onions and saute, stirring frequently, until tender (5-8 minutes).  Add a little salt, garlic, and jalapeño.  Cook for 1-2 minutes more.
  3. Add the salsa and broth and stir together. Bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling, add tortilla chips, one handful at a time.  Allow chips to soak up the liquid before adding more.  You may need to gently press the chips into the liquid mixture.  Don’t skimp on chips! Otherwise you’ll have a soggy mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Crack eggs directly on top of mixture and then transfer to the oven.  Bake 8-10 minutes until eggs have set, but are still a bit gooey.
  5. Garnish!!

Details: Serves 4-6.

To print the recipe, click here: Chilaquiles

 

Four Spice Salmon

On By lukephillaryhIn Ode to NYT1 Comment
Salmon with four spices Mark Bittman recipe
Lil squeeze of lemon, always a good addition

Hillary is the recipe-finding maven in this relationship. She digs through our small cookbook collection or searches online to make sure we don’t fall into cooking monotony . I have a much simpler approach: Mark Bittman. I’ve used his workhorse of a cookbook, How to Cook Everything, since 7th grade when I made crab cakes for Mother’s Day. This Four Spice Salmon recipe is quintessential Bittman: simple, quick, and delicious. It’s salmon + cumin/nutmeg/coriander/cloves. Period.

My words of advice for anyone looking for a midweek meal: when in doubt, Bittman is best.

Ingredients:

  • 4 6-ounce salmon fillets > Bittman suggests aiming for equal sized fillets, best to go for center cut
  • salt & peppa
  • 1 TBS coriander
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 2 TBS neutral oil (grape seed, peanut, canola, etc.)

Directions:

  1. Season your fillets with salt and pepper on both sides.
  2. Combine all the spices and press spice mixture onto the top of each fillet.  Should be completely covered, don’t skimp!
  3. Heat a large nonstick skillet or cast iron pan over med-high heat for 2-3 minutes.  Add oil and when it shimmers, place the fillets, coated side down, in the pan.  Cook for 2-3 minutes and then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Better to undercook than overcook!  You can test doneness with a thin-bladed knife.  Stick the knife into the thickest part of the fish.  The fish should slightly resist the knife.

If you’re not familiar with Mark Bittman, we highly suggest checking him out!  His cooking video for this recipe is very entertaining.

Details: Serves 4.  You can reduce portion size by buying fewer fillets and halving spice mix.

To print the recipe, click here: 4 Spice Salmon

Feta-Brined Roast Chicken à la Melissa Clark

On By lukephillaryhIn Ode to NYTLeave a comment
Brined roast chicken Melissa Clark recipe
The ~ perfect ~ sunday night dinner

Roasted chicken. It’s a classic dish. But what recipe to choose? It’s all over the web, in every cookbook. There’s a plethora of tips, an abundance of varieties. The options are endless! Luke and I initially made your typical roast chicken – lemon and garlic in the cavity, salt and pepper, yada yada yada. But then NYT Food posted a new Melissa Clark video – Feta-Brined Roast Chicken. Of course we had to try it. Melissa makes just a few modifications to the usual recipe. The result: a roast chicken with all its wonderful traditional characteristics, but a nuance of newfangled taste.

One important lesson we’ve learned from Melissa’s recipe:

Brining makes everything better!!

You’ll find that this recipe produces an especially moist and flavorful chicken with extra crispy skin.

Ingredients:

  • 1 3.5-4 lb whole chicken
  • 2 oz feta (plus about 2 oz more if you’d like to add to the pan drippings at the end of cooking)
  • 4-6 cups water
  • 2 tsp salt (brine) + 1 1/2 tsp salt (dry rub)
  • 1-2 TBS freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 TBS dried oregano
  • 2 large lemons
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

  1. Brine the chicken: Do this the night before serving or morning of (brine for at least 8 hours, up to 36 hours). In a blender, combine water, 2 tsp salt, and 2 oz feta and blend until smooth. But your chicken in an extra-large resealable plastic bag or container and cover with feta-brine.  Add extra water to fully submerge chicken if necessary.
  2. Prep chicken to cook: Remove chicken from the brine, pat dry, and let rest for about 1 hour so that it reaches room temperature.
  3. Make dry rub and dress chicken: Combine 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1-2 TBS black pepper (we tend towards 1 TBS), 2 TBS oregano, and zest of 2 lemons. Rub all over the bird and in the cavity.  Do not skimp on rub!! Cut one lemon into quarters and place into the cavity. Truss the chicken.
  4. Cook: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a large, oven proof skillet (cast iron pan) over high heat.  Once heated, add oil. Place chicken breast-side up (legs in the air!). Transfer entire pan to the oven.  Cook for 50 minutes – 1 hour, basting once or twice. To test if finished, pierce chicken with a knife.  If juices run clear the chicken is ready!*
  5. Remove chicken from oven.  Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing (check out this video for carving instruction). Add some feta and juice of 1 lemon to the pan drippings to make a simple sauce. Enjoy with a baguette and green salad!

Details: Serves 4 (Luke and I love using the leftovers for chicken salads).

*Note 1: Another way to test doneness is with a meat thermometer.  Chicken is finished when the internal temperature reaches 150 – 160°F.

To print the recipe, click here: Feta-Brined Roast Chicken

Chickpea + Spinach “Curry”

On By lukephillaryhIn Exotic2 Comments
chickpea spinach indian curry
Maybe not so authentic? But very tasty

When we first made this recipe, we felt pretty accomplished.  We made an Indian meal!  In under 45 minutes!  With *fresh* ginger and authentic spices!  But now, we supplement the meal with some legit curry and samosas from our favorite Indian takeout spot.  So this curry is not the most authentic, but it is a simple, delicious, and healthy weekday dinner meal.  And it makes excellent leftovers.

Ingredients:

  • olive oil – to coat skillet
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp fresh minced ginger
  • 2 tsp gram masala
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • additional (optional) spices: ground toasted fennel seed (1 tsp), coriander (1 tsp)
  • shake of red pepper flakes
  • two 14 oz can chopped tomatoes
  • 1-2 tsp sugar
  • 2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 can)
  • generous handfuls of spinach
  • squeeze of lemon

Directions:

  1. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat, add onions and cook until translucent, 4-5 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and ginger, cooking 1-2 minutes more.
  3. Add the spices, stirring so the onions are coated.  Cook 1-2 minutes more, until fragrant.
  4. Add chickpeas.  Stir to coat with spices.
  5. Add tomatoes and sugar.  Stir and bring to a boil.  Once at a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes.  If liquid is reducing too rapidly, cover.
  6. Add spinach, in batches, stirring into curry so spinach wilts.
  7. End with a squeeze of lemon and a garnish of cilantro.  Serve with rice, nan, a little yogurt if you’d like!

Details: Serves up to 4 people, or 2 with lots of leftovers (especially when you’re eating with some samosas, you’ll be very full!)

To print the recipe, click here: Chickpea + Spinach “Curry”

Salmon + Anchovy Butter

On By lukephillaryhIn Ode to NYT1 Comment
Salmon with anchovy butter Melissa Clark recipe
The salmon – nice and crispy!

Melissa Clark is one of our cooking idols. She’s just so likable in her NYT videos!! Luke proudly has run into her two times to and from Prospect Park (stalker…). This recipe is one of the first of Melissa’s that we tried out. It’s so simple and delicious it has become a staple. Make sure to get a baguette because as Melissa says, “Anchovy butter is good on EVERYTHING.” Very essential to spread some extra anchovy butter on a slice of bread.

Ingredients:

  • 3-4 TBS butter, softened
  • 4 anchovy fillets, minced
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
  • salt + pepper
  • 2-4 skin on salmon fillets (6-8 oz each, number depending on how many peeps you’re trying to feed! one fillet per person)
  • 2 TBS drained and dried capers
  • 1/2 lemon

Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 400°F. In a small bowl (or mortar and pestle) mash together butter, anchovies, garlic, and salt and pepper.
  2. In a large oven proof skillet (cast iron pan!) melt half of anchovy butter. Add fish, skin side down.  Cook for 3 minutes over high heat to brown skin, spooning melted butter over the top of the fish.  Add capers to bottom of pan and transfer to oven.  Roast until fish is cooked through, 8-10 min.
  3. Remove pan from oven and add remaining butter to pan to melt.  Squeeze some lemon juice on top.  Garnish with parsley if you’d like!  And as mentioned above, a baguette is a nice edition to dip in the anchovy butter  – mmmmm!

Details:  As mentioned in ingredients, this recipe serves 2-4.  You can easily increase the portion size by cooking more fillets and mixing up a bit more butter!

To print the recipe, click here: Salmon + Anchovy butter