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Saturday, March 26, 2016

Paella on the Big Green Egg








Immediately throw down whatever you have in your hands and go to the grocery store. You are going to want to make this. We have had this theory that the Big Green Egg would be a perfect heat source for a paella pan because the stove top is just too small to evenly apply heat. So couple the even heat with the delightful smokey flavor that the egg imparts and you have paella perfection.

Note that we have a second paella experiment on this site but this one is way better and we thought it would be good to just do a whole new post rather than try and update the old one. So here we go.

Research:

Found this recipe and followed it more or less. Check out this Martha Stewart Recipe

Ingredients:

4.5 cups of chicken broth
0.5 teaspoon of saffron (yes saffron)
1 teaspoon of paprika
0.5 teaspoon of olive oil
3 bone in chicken thighs
course salt and pepper
3 andouille sausages sliced
0.5 a medium onion
1 clove of garlic
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1.5 cups of a medium grain rice
clams (store didn't have mussels)
1 lb of shrimp
0.5 lbs of scallops



Execution:

We had guests for dinner and decided to make this in two parts. First part in a cast iron skillet on the stove and then the final paella cook on the egg.

First a little olive oil, salt and pepper and paprika on the chicken and brown in the skillet


In the mean time, slice up the onion and parsley


After browning, set the chicken aside, drain the oil


saute the onion and parsley and garlic


and in a separate sauce pan heat up the chicken stock, saffron and paprika


Then add the sausage and tomato


Put the other ingredients in the pan and cover. Ready to move to the paella pan and egg when the time is right


Prep the scallops and shrimp and have a little bourbon. After all, it's America.


Heat the egg to about 350 and put the plate setter in. I placed the cast iron grate on the plate setter just as a spacer to keep the paella pan off the direct heat of the plate setter.

Transfer to the paella pan that just barely fits in the egg thanks to the handles (had to bend them a little)


Add the rice evenly and pour in the stock to cover the rice


Cook about 20 minutes and let the rice absorb the stock. Then added more stock as needed to get the rice done. Careful to not finish soupy. You want the dish to dry out enough to form a crust on the pan


Add the seafood about 8 minutes before completion. You don't want the shrimp to cook too long. Shrimp is sensitive to temperature and is easily overcooked. We probably shouldn't have added any more stock at this step.


Then serve!






Verdict:

Like most things, Paella is way better on when cooked on the big green egg. Even heat and the nice smokey flavor coupled with the seafood is excellent. Serve with a great Albarino and enjoy with friends. Thanks Lee and Regina for joining us.








We would love it if you would drop us a note in the comment section and let us know how your cook went. We are always looking for suggestions and improvements! We have opened up the comments so that anyone can post now, so please do. I'll try not to delete anything unless it is spam or stabs me in the heart.



Please help support our site, buy something you like on Amazon. Simply click through the links below and though you can pick anything, I suggest the thermometer and knives below:


So apparently Thermoworks doesn't sell through Amazon anymore. You must buy direct. Still the thermometer to have. Go here and order direct. 

Aaron Franklin's Favorite trimming knife:

Dexter-Russell (S131F-6PCP) - 6" Boning Knife - Sani-Safe Series

Aaron Franklin's Favorite Brisket cutting/serving knife:

Sani-Safe S140-12SC-PCP 12" Scalloped Roast Slicer




Sunday, March 13, 2016

Collard Greens







In the South the humble collard green is an art. A goodly cooked mess of collards is a highly sought after and coveted dish that is widely considered the king of sides in the American South. and yes, the proper reference is a "mess".

Research:

Found this recipe and follow it more or less. Check out the Ultimate Classic Collards at myrecipes.com

Ingredients:

3 pounds of collards or so
12 strips of bacon
2 yellow onions - chopped
3 cloves of garlic
3 cups of chicken stock. Make your own people!
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 cup apple vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
salt and pepper to taste

Execution:

Get your biggest dutch oven and cook the bacon until it starts to get a little crisp then add the onions until soft.

Add garlic and saute for 1 minute




It smells positively heavenly


In the meantime wash, remove the stems and chop the collards.


Pour in the chicken stock, vinegar and honey and then add the collards. lower heat to simmer.

The recipe called for a ham hock but we didn't have one, so we didn't use it. It would be best if you had one. If you did, you would add it here.

We added the collards a little at a time. They cook down in volume quite a bit. Cook them for about 2 hours or so. Just until it gets to the consistency that appeals to you.





Verdict:

Make these. Nice side to go with pulled pork, brisket, or any slow cooked meat on your Big Green Egg.







We would love it if you would drop us a note in the comment section and let us know how your cook went. We are always looking for suggestions and improvements! We have opened up the comments so that anyone can post now, so please do. I'll try not to delete anything unless it is spam or stabs me in the heart.



Please help support our site, buy something you like on Amazon. Simply click through the links below and though you can pick anything, I suggest the thermometer and knives below:


So apparently Thermoworks doesn't sell through Amazon anymore. You must buy direct. Still the thermometer to have. Go here and order direct. 

Aaron Franklin's Favorite trimming knife:

Dexter-Russell (S131F-6PCP) - 6" Boning Knife - Sani-Safe Series

Aaron Franklin's Favorite Brisket cutting/serving knife:

Sani-Safe S140-12SC-PCP 12" Scalloped Roast Slicer




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