Showing posts with label Spice Mix Recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spice Mix Recipe. Show all posts

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Paleo Cajun Pork Spareribs w/ Japanese Sweet Potato Mash & Coconut Kale

Yes, I admit, this is a feast.  I was at the grocery store and when I saw pork spareribs on sale for $1.40/lb I could NOT resist!  Many of you who know me know how much I love ribs...my #1 favorite meal as a child was bbq baby back ribs with extra sauce.  Of course these aren't baby backs, but they are still tender, meaty, juicy, and delicious.  For those of you who boil your ribs, stop it!  Boiling them in some sugar laden soda makes them have a strange chewy texture and just loads them up with high fructose corn syrup.  Trust me when I say that slow cooking them in the oven is best followed by a few minutes under the broiler or on the grill to caramelize the sauce.  Much healthier and much more delicious.  I have been told that I should enter a rib contest with these ribs... you decide.  I paired them with some hearty mashed Japanese sweet potatoes and some southern style coconut kale.  I hope you enjoy this American classic as much as we did!

An inexpensive feast to fill up the whole family 

Cajun Ribs & Spice Rub Ingredients:
1 slab pork spareribs
2-3tbs Cajun Seasoning, I used Webers, but use any one you want just make sure you look at the ingredient list for any unwanted additives
2-3tbs Seasoned Salt, I used Tastefully Simple because it's hands down the best seasoned salt out there but go ahead and use your favorite
2tbs paprika

BBQ Sauce Ingredients:
1c katsup (Get one without high fructose corn syrup HFCS like Simply Heinz)
2tbs apple cider vinegar (add more for a little more tang)
1/4c molasses
1/4c brown sugar
1tbs minced garlic
1/4tsp garlic powder
1/4tsp onion powder
1/4tsp cayenne (add more if you like yours with a kick)
Note:  If you are strict Paleo, omit the katsup and brown sugar.  Use a high quality tomato paste instead.  Since I only add this sauce at the end of the dish, you really aren't getting much sugar but please adjust this recipe to your liking!

Japanese Sweet Potato Ingredients:
5 large Japanese sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 stick butter at room temperature
1/2c coconut milk (this is an estimate...you add this at the end so you can make them as thick or thin as you like)
1/4c honey (omit if you are strict Paleo)
salt & pepper to taste

Coconut Kale Ingredients:
2 bunches kale, washed well and chopped in 1" strips
1/2 onion, minced
1tbs ginger, minced
2tsp minced garlic
2tbs extra virgin coconut oil
1/4c coconut milk
1/2 lemon, juiced
salt to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 275F.  Lay ribs flat with bones up.  Take a knife and carefully remove the membrane.  Rinse and pat dry.  In a bowl, mix your cajun seasoning, seasoned salt, and paprika and rub generously over the entire rack of ribs.  Place them in a baking dish (overlap them if needed) and cover with 2 layers of heavy duty foil.  Place in the oven and bake low and slow for about 3 to 3 1/2 hours or until fall off the bone tender.
2. Meanwhile, when you are about an hour out from the ribs being done, make your sauce:  place all sauce ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Lower to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes or until spices have blended and you have a nice thick sauce (if it gets too thick you can add a bit of water and keep cooking it down).  Leave at room temperature until ready to use.
3. Next make your sweet potatoes.  Place them in a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil.  Boil uncovered about 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft.  Drain, then add butter and a plash of coconut milk and cover with a lid until the butter melts.  Then using a hand masher or a beater, mash up your potatoes.  Add some honey and continue mashing, adding coconut milk until you get them as thin as you like.  Add some salt to taste.
4. Last, make your kale.  Heat your coconut oil in another large stockpot over medium heat.  Add onion, ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant and onion is softening (about 5 minutes).  Add your kale and saute until fully coated.  Add a bit of water (maybe a cup), cover and let the kale steam for 5-7minutes or until tender.  Remove the lid and continue to cook (you may need to drain some of the water out to speed up the process).  Add a splash of coconut milk, some lemon juice, and salt and continue to cook until the liquid has absorbed into the kale.
5. When your ribs are done, take them out of the oven and move them to a baking sheet.  Generously coat the tops of them with your bbq sauce.  Place them under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until the sauce is caramelizing and baking onto the ribs.  Alternatively you could carefully place these on the grill for about the same amount of time to sear them.
6. Serve some potatoes & kale with a big serving of ribs and an extra side of sauce.  Delish!



Sunday, November 20, 2011

Espresso Crusted Ribeye with Bacon Balsamic Spinach

I have been wanting to experiment with espresso spice mixes ever since my trip to Florida.  It was there that I spent an hour in a gourmet spice shop that had all kinds of homemade spice mixes and the espresso steak rub smelled divine.  Determined to make my own, I created 4 different spice rub mixes and rubbed them on 4 small ribeye steaks.  Two of them were completely Paleo without sugar or grains and the other two had a bit of brown sugar to offset the bitterness of the espresso.  There were 2 obvious winners and I will share both with you.  I paired this rich steak with a simple sauteed spinach with balsamic and bacon.  The meal was fabulous and I assure you that I will be making this one again.  Which spice rub will you be making??

The rich espresso steak compliments the sweet and salty bacon balsamic greens

Sweet Espresso Steak Rub (Won 1st place):
2tbs ancho chile powder
1 1/2tsp instant espresso powder
1/4c packed brown sugar
1/8tsp cinnamon
1/8tsp allspice
1/2tsp ground pepper
1/2tsp salt

Peppery Paleo Espresso Steak Rub (Won 2nd place):
1tbs ancho chili powder
2tbs instant espresso powder
1/2tbs dry mustard
1/2tbs salt
1/2tbs pepper
1/2tbs coriander
1/2tbs oregano
1tsp chili powder

Ingredients:
2-4 large rib-eye steaks, about 1" thick
10oz fresh spinach
2 slices bacon, chopped
2tsp minced garlic
2tsp olive oil
2tbs balsamic vinegar
sea salt to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat your grill to medium high.  Mix your spice rub in a bowl until evenly combined. 
2. Rub the spice rub over your room temperature steaks (they cook better if they are not cold).  Grill until desired doneness, maybe 4-5 minutes per side for medium.
3. Meanwhile, make your spinach:  cook bacon in a large saute pan over medium heat.  When done, pour out oil leaving only about 1tbs in the pan.  Add a touch of olive oil if desired.  Add your garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.  Then add your spinach, cooking and stirring until the leaves begin to wilt.  Add the balsamic vinegar and continue to cook until all greens are wilted and sauce is reduced.  Add salt to taste.  Serve with grilled steak.



Monday, October 17, 2011

Fall off the Bone Baby Back Ribs with Chili Sauce

As a kid, my favorite meal of all time was baby back ribs.  I ate them every chance I got, including birthdays and any special celebration where I could convince my parents to "take me out for ribs."  I still love them, but have never actually made them myself.  Until today.  I must warn you that these are just about the best baby back ribs I have ever eaten.  They are fall off the bone tender but still packed with flavor.  Since I am trying to cut back on sugar ("trying" being the key word here), I decided to make a dry rub for the ribs and then glaze them with a warm chili sauce at the end instead of your traditional sugar laden barbeque sauce.  The result was unbelievable.  I'm not sure if it's because I just love ribs so much or if I just didn't expect them to turn out so amazing.  Either way, Anthony thinks I should enter them in a rib contest.  Maybe I will.

Throw these on top of a fresh green salad and you have yourself the perfect meal!
Ingredients:
1 full slab baby back ribs
2tbs Liz's Rib Rub (recipe to follow)
1/2c Spicy Chili Sauce (recipe to follow)


Rib Rub Ingredients:
1tbs cumin
1tbs paprika
1tbs garlic powder
1tbs onion powder
1tbs chili powder
2tbs salt
1tsp cayenne
1tsp black pepper
1tsp white pepper
1tsp Old Bay Seasoning


Spicy Chili Sauce Ingredients:
6oz tomato paste
1c beef stock (gluten free!)
2tsp minced garlic
2tbs stone ground mustard
2tbs balsamic vinegar
2tsp extra virgin olive oil
1tsp salt
2tbs chili powder
1/2tsp cayenne pepper


Directions:
I promise these are worth the effort!
1. Mix all the rib rub ingredients together in a container.  This will make more than you need, so label the container and save the leftovers for later. 
2. Preheat the oven to 260F.  Remove the rib membrane underneath the ribs, if not already done for you.  Rub some of the mixture all over the ribs.  Cut the slab in half and place in a roasting pan.  Cover tightly with 2 layers of foil.  Bake in the oven for 3 hours and 15 minutes.  Ribs should be fall off the bone tender.
3. Meanwhile, make your sauce:  heat all the chili sauce ingredients in a sauce pan over medium and whisk until smooth, hot and bubbling.  Turn heat to low.
4. Carefully move ribs to a baking sheet (single layer).  Turn the oven to broil.  Generously baste the chili sauce over the top of the ribs.  Then broil the ribs a few inches from heat for about 4 minutes.  Serve hot.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Chipotle Honey Glazed Chicken Zucchini Tacos with Chipotle Cream

This is a "kicked up" version of the traditional chicken zucchini tacos I usually make.  I used a spice rub over the chicken thighs and zucchini before I grilled it and then made a quick chipotle wing sauce to glaze over the chicken.  The end result was a juicy, meaty, sweet and spicy taco.  You will never go back to the ground beef and McCormic Taco Seasoning traditional taco again.


Sweet, Tangy, Spicy and Delicious in less than 30 mintues!

Ingredients:
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 zucchini, sliced 1/4" thick lenghwise
Olive Oil
Corn Tortillas
Garnishes (I used salsa and sharp shredded cheddar)

Spice Rub:
1tbs paprika
2tbs brown sugar
2tsp garlic powder
2tsp chili powder
2tsp salt

Chipotle Creme:
1/3c sour cream
2tsp chipotle puree (To make the puree, take a can of chipotle chilis in adobo and puree it all in a food processor until smooth.  Keep a jar of this in the fridge for quick Mexican recipes!)
1tbs cilantro, chopped

Chipotle Honey "Wing" Sauce:
(Yes, it's also good on chicken wings)
1/2c red wine vinegar
1tbs dijon mustard
2tbs chipotle chili puree
2tbs honey
1tbs canola oil
3tbs butter
2tsp ancho chile powder


Directions:
1. Mix together all ingredients in spice rub.  Set aside.
2. Mix together all ingredients in chipotle creme.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Lightly coat zucchini and chicken with olive oil (I use an olive oil sprayer but you can also just use a few tsp of oil and lightly coat all the food).  Rub the spice mix all over the chicken and zucchini until evenly coated (but keep separate to prevent contamination).
Also makes great leftovers as a chicken salad!
4. Grill the chicken and zucchini over medium high until done (5 or 6 minutes per side).
5. Meanwhile, whisk together wing sauce ingredients in a saucepan.  Place over medium heat and cook until boiling.  Continue to stir and turn to low for a few minutes.
6. When chicken is done, slice into bite size pieces and throw them in the sauce pan to coat them with the wing sauce.  Remove the chicken and place in a serving bowl.
7. Heat tortillas over a tortilla warmer or over the grill or a flame until hot and lightly charred on each side.  Top with cheese, chicken, zucchini, salsa and chipotle cream.  Enjoy!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Tandoori Chicken Thighs with Spicy Tomato Chutney and Cool Yogurt Sauce

I'm Gearing...I mean grilling...up for Memorial Day Weekend.  Enjoy!

Perfect accompanied by Grilled Asparagus & Baked Potato
Tandoori Spice 
(I make a big jar full and store it with my spices for a quick spice rub)
2 tbs onion powder
2 tbs garlic powder
2 tbs ground ginger
2 tbs ground coriander
1 tbs ground cumin
1 tbs ground cayenne
1 tbs ground turmeric
1 tbs ground white pepper
1 tbs salt

Boneless skinless chicken thighs (I grilled 8.  Delicious with chicken breast also.)
5 plum tomatoes
1 small onion, diced
Pinch saffron
1 serrano pepper or a few sprinkles of cayenne pepper.
3-4 tbs balsamic vinegar
1/2 packet sweetener (I used Truvia)
1c greek yogurt
Sour cream to taste (optional)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Garlic powder and onion dip mix to taste
Cilantro (optional)


Directions:
1. Grill tomatoes on the grill until charred on all sides.  Dice.
2. Rub chicken with spice mix until thoroughly coated (I used a few tbs of the mix, not all of it!)
3. Grill chicken on medium-high (thighs about 5 minutes per side, large breasts about 10 minutes per side) until done.
4. Meanwhile, saute onion in some oil.  Add tomatoes and simmer with pinch saffron.  Add balsamic vinegar and sweetener to taste.  Add salt as well.  Sometimes I add a Serrano pepper if I have one.  Otherwise add a few shakes of cayenne depending on how spicy you like it.  Let set to room temperature.
5. Make yogurt sauce.  Mix in greek yogurt with lemon juice, garlic and onion mix to taste.  I usually add a few tbs of sour cream for richness as well, but this is optional. I also add cilantro to the sauce.
6. Serve chicken topped with spicy tomato chutney and chilled yogurt sauce to counteract the spiciness of the dish.  Sprinkle with Cilantro if desired.


NOTE: I always serve this dish with bread or a potato and some grilled vegetables.  Tonight I sprayed some fresh asparagus with olive oil and sprinkled it with sea salt.