Category: Meat

Kibbeh bil Saniyeh

This dish is one of the few middle eastern foods I know how to make.  Kibbeh can be prepared in a number of ways, none of which I have entirely mastered.  I have had advice from my Syrian best friend, a Lebanese friend from law school, and the very patient and generous owners of a Lebanese Restaurant here in Victoria called Wrap N Roll to tweak this recipe towards perfection.  Note that you can use beef or lamb but I prefer the flavour of lamb by far.  At my best friends suggestion, this can be served with a beetroot mutabal.

Kibbeh bil Saniyeh - A Pat & A Pinch

Kibbeh

1 c. fine bulgar wheat
500 g. lean lamb, finely ground (twice through a grinder)
2 large onions, finely grated
1 1/2 tbsp. baharat kibbeh (*approx. based on the spice mix I use)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. black pepper, freshly cracked
1 tbsp. olive oil

Filling

2 tbsp. olive oil
500 g. ground lamb (once through a grinder)
4 large onions, chopped finely
2 tbsp. baharat kibbeh (*approx. based on the spice mix I use)

1 tbsp. pomegranate syrup (optional)

1 tsp. salt
1½ tsp. black pepper, freshly cracked
1 tbsp. butter
3 tbsp. pine nuts

Soak the bulgar in boiling water for approximately 20 minutes and then drain the water from it.

Meanwhile, begin the filling. Toast the pine nuts by frying them in the butter until they begin to brown.  Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add the onions.  Once the onions are translucent, add the ground lamb, stirring until it is browned.  Mix in the baharat, pomegranate syrup, salt, pepper, and pine nuts and let it cook until the juices have mostly evaporated.  Allow this to cool while preparing the kibbeh.

In a bowl, mix the bulgar, the finely ground lamb, the grated onion, and the baharat, spices, salt, and pepper using your hands.  Keep some cold water nearby to add if necessary to keep the mixture soft.

Preheat your oven to 350°F.  Oil a deep glass pan (I prefer round but any shape will work).

Handful by handful, create a layer of the kibbeh by flattening the kibbeh between your palms before pressing it into the bottom of the pan until it is covered.  Note: this should use about 1/2 of the kibbeh.  With moist hands, ensure that the surface of the kibbeh is smooth and that there are no cracks or holes between.  Spoon in the filling and ensure that it is evenly spread atop the kibbeh, press lightly to ensure it is packed.  Using the same technique as before with the rest of the kibbeh, cover the filling and make ensure that it is smooth.  Score the kibbeh with a knife in a pattern that pleases you and pour a bit of olive oil over the top of the dish.  Cook for about half an hour.

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Smoke Infused Potato Salad with Chorizo and Asparagus

We are at the end of the local asparagus season and I wanted to do something different with the last of the local harvest.

Smoke Infused Potato Salad with Chorizo and Asparagus - A Pat & A Pinch This recipe, adapted from a recipe by Heather Christo, did the trick for me taste wise. Unfortunately, it was not as photogenic as I hoped. Next time I will look for smaller yellow fingerlings to provide more of a visual contrast for presentation.

Smoke Infused Potato Salad with Chorizo and Asparagus - A Pat & A PinchWhat the recipe lacks in presentation is made up in flavor. The smokiness infuses the sautéed onions which, when combined with the freshness of the asparagus and the spiciness of the chorizo, makes for a refreshing combination of flavors. The salad is a perfect simple meal that is easily assembled.

Smoke Infused Potato Salad with Chorizo and Asparagus

1 pound small fingerling potatoes

1/3 pound chorizo sausage

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoon smoked paprika

½ red onion, thinly sliced

1 pound trimmed asparagus, each stalk cut into thirds.

1/3 cup water

¼ teaspoon liquid smoke

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

 

Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook until just fork tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan or heavy skillet, cook the chorizo over medium heat, breaking it up as you cook, about 2-3 minutes.

Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, the liquid smoke, and the red onions and sauté another 2 minutes. Add the asparagus and sauté two minutes.

Use a slotted spoon to remove the potatoes from the pot of water and add them to the pan. Stir to coat and cook, add the water and a lid and cook 2 more minutes.

While that is cooking, whisk together the remaining paprika, garlic, vinegar and olive oil.

When you remove the lid of the pan, make sure that the water has all cooked off. Turn the heat to low and add the oil and vinegar mixture. Toss everything together.

Transfer to a serving platter and garnish as desired: I used some micro-greens. Serve hot or warm.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 20 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 4

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Opa’s BBQ Pork Ribs

My Opa (grandfather in German) is one of the most fascinating people I know. His skills range from welding to cooking to removing blackberry stains to growing the best tomatoes in his greenhouse (which as you can likely guess he built all by himself). He is a man of all trades but most of all, he is a family man who loves to be surrounded by good food and company. Back in the day, I honestly have no idea when a company, then called Western Natural Gas in Alberta, Canada, provided recipe suggestions to its customers.  This recipe, which has been lovingly modified and bulked up since, came from that company oddly enough.  It is one of my absolute favourite recipes to make as it is simple and a definite crowd pleaser.  Unless you are vegetarian, I guarantee this will be a hit!

Opa's BBQ Pork Ribs - A Pat & A Pinch

Opa’s BBQ’d Pork Back Ribs

2 pounds, preferably back rib rack

Sauce

1 1/12 cups ketchup

1 cup brown sugar

4 tablespoons liquid smoke

4 teaspoons celery seed, optional

4 tablespoons hot horseradish (preferably not creamed)

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Mix the sauce ingredients together.

Brown the ribs on the BBQ. Then place them in a disposable aluminum pan and cover with the sauce. Cover the pan with foil.

Cook on the BBQ on a low heat until the meat is tender, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from burning.  Back rib racks take approximately one and one-quarter hours, country style ribs take longer.

Opa's BBQ'd Pork Ribs - A Pat & A Pinch Opa's BBQ'd Pork Ribs - A Pat & A Pinch

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Moroccan Spiced Lamb Shanks

Great news, not only is it summer, but I have finished my undergrad and have 3 months before my first year in law school commences.  I’ve got a summer job that I’m quite excited about, who would’ve thought employment would feel like such a luxury!?!  If you are thinking, “hmmm, no blog posts since November, I wonder if she still knows how to cook?” the answer is yes, I just have spent very little time cooking anything shareable.

So, although the weather is getting warmer, here in B.C., we still have the occasional wet and chilly day and this is the perfect meal for just that.  I inquired as to its origins and my mother scoured her cookbooks and the internet to no avail.  So while I am sure this faux-tagine is not a family recipe, I can only credit my mom for introducing it to me.

A Pat & A Pinch - Moroccan Spiced Lamb Shank

Moroccan Spiced Lamb Shank

3 tbsp. cumin seeds

3 tbsp. coriander seeds

4 12-14 oz. lamb shanks

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

¼ c. olive oil

2 carrots, chopped

2 celery ribs, chopped

1 1” piece fresh ginger, chopped

1 large yellow onion, grated

1 large pinch saffron

1 c. white wine

1 cinnamon stick

1 tsp. ground ginger

1 ½ tsp. ground cloves

2 whole bay leaves

1 ¼ c. dried apricots chopped

4 c. chicken stock

1 tbsp. butter

Toast the cumin seeds in a skillet for about 4 minutes, stirring a few times.  Grind the cumin seeds and coriander seeds coarsely with a mortar and pestle.  Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350F.  Season the lamb shanks with salt and pepper.  Put the olive oil in a large ovenproof pan over medium-high heat.  Brown the lamb on all sides, 10-15 minutes.

Remove the lamb, pour off the fat and add the carrots and celery.  Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until just beginning to soften.  Add the fresh ginger, onion, and saffron and cook until the onion is translucent and soft, about 5 minutes.  Add the wine, ground cumin, ground coriander, cinnamon stick, ground ginger, ground cloves, bay leaves, and dried apricots.  Cook 5 minutes.

Place shanks back in the pan and add the stock.  Cover the pan and cook in 350F oven for about 1 ½ hours or until meat is tender and falling off the bone.  Remove the lamb shanks and cover with foil.  Set aside and keep warm.

Skim the fat off and strain liquid into a saucepan.  Discard solids.  Reduce the braising liquid to a saucy consistency by slowly simmering.  Time will vary widely, can take as long as 20 minutes.  Adjust the seasoning by adding salt and pepper, add butter.

Serve with couscous and a nice seasonal green vegetable.

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Thai Beef Salad

This is a recipe that my talented mother came up with. It’s tasty, fresh, fun, and I love it.  She came over to help (read: make it for me) tonight to share with you all.

Thai Beef Salad

1 pound beef tenderloin tail, sliced in half lengthwise (tonight we used NY strip)

1/2 c. soy sauce

1 tsp. sesame oil

4 tsp. sugar

3 tbsp. Sriracha hot sauce

1/4 c. lime juice

2 tbsp. fish sauce

3/4 c. peanut butter

1/4 c. sliced green onions

1/4 c. chopped cilantro

2 tbsp. chopped peanuts

fresh baby greens, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers (red, yellow, and/or orange), shaved carrot, and sliced cucumber (really you can make the salad how ever you so choose but this is what mama suggests)

Place tenderloin in a shallow dish. Combine 1/4 c. soy sauce, sesame oil, and 1 tbsp of the hot sauce.  Pour over steak and marinate for at least 1 hour turning several times.

In blender, combine remaining soy sauce, sugar, hot sauce, lime juice, fish sauce, green onion and cilantro and blend until cilantro is finely chopped.

Grill steak over hot coals, turning once until done as desired.  Let stand 5 minutes (hint: always do this to help the steak retain its juices). Slice steak thinly on diagonal and place on salad.  Drizzle with the dressing and serve.

Serves 4

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