Crispy Fresh Corn Fritters with Crab and Chipotle Lime Dressing � The Other Popcorn

Everyone loves fresh, sweet corn, but there comes a time every summer when you get tired of gnawing it off the cob, which is exactly when these crispy fritters should be made. Sure, you may get splattered with a little hot oil, but I promise, it will be worth it.

Freshly shucked corn is the star of the show here, and we�re going to pack a seemingly impossible amount into our batter. Beyond the amazing taste and texture, I think you�ll be shocked by how a batter this thin, light, and crispy, can hold together so many kernels.

If you don�t know how to remove those kernels from the cob, we welcome you to check out this video to see that very technique. Other than getting your hands on some perfect summer corn, the only other thing you�ll have to decide is how to serve this.

Crab is very nice, but so is grilled shrimp, or even a ceviche, which is how they serve it at the restaurant that inspired this fritter. Regardless of how you top them, or whether you top them, I really do hope you give this great fresh corn recipe a try soon. Enjoy!

Makes about 6 Crispy Corn Fritters:

2 ears white corn (about 1 1/2 cups of kernels)

1 large egg white

1/4 cup ice water

1/4 cup self-rising flour (or 1/4 cup all-purpose flour with 1/4 tsp baking powder and 1/8 tsp fine salt added)

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

* If need be, add a little more water, or cornstarch/flour, to adjust the batter consistency to what you see in the video.

- Shallow fry at 350�F for about two minutes per side

-- Use a seasoned cast iron skillet, as this will stick in a regular stainless steel pan
For the sauce:
1/2 cup mayo
2 teaspoons chipotle
juice of one lime 

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Bomba Calabrese � This Pepper Spread is the Bomb, Literally

This amazing Calabrian pepper spread is as delicious, as it is unknown. It doesn�t even have a Wikipedia page. Hey, even I have a Wikipedia page. But, despite the fact there�s not a lot of information available, I believe I got relatively close, and really love how this comes out.

As I said in the video, I like this best served simply on sliced bread, but beyond that, this is one of the most versatile condiments I know. You can toss it with pasta; add it to a sandwich; fill an omelet; top a pizza; use it like a salsa on grilled fish; spice up a potato salad; as well as create the world�s best deviled eggs. Actually, I�ve never made deviled eggs with it, but I know it�d be the best.

I was intentionally vague with the cooking times and temperatures. Basically, once the onion, eggplant, and mushroom mixture is saut�ed, you add your peppers, and simply cook until everything is soft and tender, no matter how long it takes. You�ll probably stay between medium and medium high heat, but be prepared to adjust as need be. This is not something we want browning in the pan, before everything is cooked.

Another key is waiting for this to cool down completely, before you finalize the seasonings. We always want to adjust a recipe at the same temperature it�s going to be served at, since that just makes sense. Another thing that makes sense, and a lot of sense, is you giving this bomba Calabrese a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients to make about 4 cups Bomba Calabrese:

3/4 cup olive oil, divided

1/2 yellow onion

1 small eggplant

4-5 large button mushrooms

2 pounds hot cherry peppers (or about 1 pound after trimming)

1 pound sweet red bell peppers (or about 12 ounces after trimming)

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

1/2 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 cup white wine vinegar, or to taste

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Calamari Marinara � Would You Like That In 45 Seconds or 45 Minutes?

Calamari is affordable, delicious, and sustainable, yet many cooks shy away from it, since it has a reputation for being tricky to work with. I should�ve said �unfair reputation,� because while it�s true calamari can end up with a rubbery texture if overcooked, there�s a very simple way to avoid this� by really overcooking it.

When it comes to calamari, it needs to be cooked in either 45 seconds, or 45 minutes, and nothing in between. If you sear it in a pan, or poach it in a sauce for a very brief time, you should get something nice and tender. However, after just a few extra minutes, the squid gets chewy.

Unfortunately, this is how most calamari is served, since it is easy to overcook, even for a professional. But, if we gently simmer for about 45-minutes total, something amazing happens. The calamari loses that rubbery texture, and becomes tender once again.

I also think it takes on more a meaty flavor, which I love, especially when using this to sauce pasta. So, if you�ve wanted to try cooking calamari, but were afraid of over-cooking it, I really hope you give this easy sauce a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 portions:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1  yellow onion, sliced thin

4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 anchovy fillet

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 Serrano chili pepper sliced thin

1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more if needed

1/2 cup drinkable white wine

1 cup clam juice

6 cups crushed or pur�ed Italian plum tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

2 pounds frozen calamari tubes and tentacles, thawed, sliced into half-inch pieces

1/4 cup freshly chopped Italian parsley

freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, optional

1 pound dry pasta

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Spicy Thai Basil Chicken � My Pad Krapow Gai

I don�t cook Thai food at home often, mostly because there are at least a dozen such restaurants within walking distance, but when I do, there�s nothing I enjoy more than this spicy Thai basil chicken. Thai basil sold separately. 

No, I didn�t use the real �Holy� basil, but even with regular basil, this simple recipe is spectacular. Aromatic basil is the perfect herb for pairing with the slightly sweet, sort of salty, and possibly spicy, chopped meat.

And yes, you really do want to chop, or grind your own chicken. Even if the worst-case scenario I shared in the video isn�t something you�re grocery store would do, it�s still very nice to know exactly what you�re eating, as well as being able to chop it as coarsely as you want.

If you decide to top with an egg, I should mention that they�re usually fried much more aggressively, with the edges getting brown and crispy. I tend to prefer something a little more gently cooked, but either way, or with none at all, I really do hope you give this delicious basil chicken recipe a try soon.  Enjoy!

Ingredients for two large or four smaller portions:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 pound freshly chopped chicken thighs

1/4 cup sliced shallots

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons minced Thai chilies, Serrano, or other hot pepper

1/3 cup chicken broth

1 tablespoon soy sauce, or as needed

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

2 teaspoons fish sauce

1 teaspoon white sugar

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1 bunch basil leaves, sliced very thin with a sharp knife (about a cup once sliced)

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Thai-Dipped Beef Tri Tip � Satay, Unskewered

There are so many examples of big foods being re-imagined into smaller, bite-sized versions, but going the other direction is not nearly as common. That's what I was attempting to do with this satay-inspired, Thai-dipped beef tri tip.

I enjoy beef satay way more than I do skewering small pieces of beef. Besides, I�ve never made satay, and not stuck a bamboo skewer into my finger at some point in the process. And not only did this involve less labor, but you can cook this in any number of ways.

I decided to go low and slow, over indirect charcoal heat, until I reached an internal temperature of 132 F.  If you�re in more of a hurry, you can cook tri tip over higher heat, and it�s perfectly fine, as long as it doesn�t overcook. You can also roast this in the oven at 325 F., just in case a thunderstorm tries to mess up your plans.

All the ingredients here are easy to find, with the possible exception of lemongrass. Most big city grocery stores carry it, but in other parts of the country, I�ve seen it sold as a tubed puree, displayed in the produce department. If you can�t find it, you can add some lemon juice and zest to adjust. Either way, I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for one beef tri tip roast:

2 1/2 pound trimmed beef tri tip top roast

6 cloves garlic, crushed

1/3 cup chopped lemon grass (peel off woodiest parts, pound with back of knife, then chop)

3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger root

2 tablespoons grated raw onion

1/3 cup fish sauce

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar

2 tablespoons ground coriander

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/2  teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

- Grill, smoke, or roast to an internal temp of 130 to 135 F.

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Eggplant �Bacon� � Because Fake Bacon is Better than Real Eggplant

I love that my wife, Michele, follows Questlove on social media, but not just because it makes me feel cooler by extension, which it does, but also because he�s a huge foodie, and this enticing eggplant �bacon� came from his Instagram.

Links were followed, and I discovered the recipe was from Minimalist Baker, and although I did tweak the technique and ingredient amounts a bit, the recipe is basically thieved from this gorgeous blog post. Thank you, Dana! By the way, there they were brushed, but I decided to dip. Because my slices may have been wetter, they did take way longer to cook.

Personal taste being what it is, you�ll have to experiment with not only your sweet-salty-smoky ingredient ratios, but also with how thick you cut your eggplant, as well as how long you cook it. I went for thin and crispy, but it was closer to a bbq potato chip in taste/texture than bacon. I may slice it thicker next time, and see if I can get some chewy bits, woven through the crispy bits.

These would make for some tasty vegetable chips, but were especially enjoyable in a BLT, which I inexplicably didn�t photo. I blame low blood sugar. Regardless of how you enjoy them, I really do hope you give this eggplant �bacon� a try soon. Enjoy!

Makes enough �bacon brine� for 2 medium-sized eggplants:

2 tablespoons maple syrup

4 tablespoons tamari, or soy sauce

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 to 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, depending on strength

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, a little coarser than usual

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 eggplants, sliced to about 1/8th inch

The original recipe calls for a 225 F. oven, but I would probably start this like I finished it, and that�s in a 250 F. oven. I�d plan on at least an hour baking time, but that will depend on thickness, pans, etc. Simply cook until they are how you want.

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Picadillo � Close, But No Cigar

I�m not sure if you�ve had picadillo before, but I�m very sure you�ve almost had it before. This Cuban creation is one of the world�s great ground meat dishes, and fairly similar to sloppy Joes, as well as bean-less chili, or as a chili connoisseur would call it, �chili." 

I went with beef here, but pork can be added, as well as chorizo. Often fillers like diced potato and squash are added, but since I serve this over rice, I typically don�t include those. I used to be more into hot, starch-on-starch action when I was younger, but these days, not so much.

As I mentioned in the video, many consider the olives optional, but for me, they�re one of the keys to the dish. Those briny bites reset your palate as you eat, which makes every bite seem like the first. Having said that, not everyone does olives, but I still really hope you give it a try soon � with capers. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 portions:

2 teaspoon olive oil

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (85/15 lean/fat)

1 cup diced yellow onions

1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons cumin

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 bay leaves

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

3 cups crushed tomatoes

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup currants or raisins

1/2 cup sliced green olives, or to taste

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Brazilian Fish Stew � Almost Moqueca

In case I wasn�t completely clear the multiple times I mentioned it in the video � this is just my take, my twist, my interpretation of a Brazilian fish stew. Or, as people who will ignore the previous sentence call it, �moqueca.�

The most glaring omission from the classic ingredient list would be red palm oil, which apparently gives this dish it signature flavor. Since I don�t think I ever had it, it�s hard for me to say, but what I can tell you, is that this was incredibly delicious even without the mysterious oil.

Like most of the world�s great fish stews, this is usually made with several types of seafood, but this is what I�m calling the weeknight version. Using a whitefish, along with scallops, shrimp, clams, etc., is lovely, but then you do have to worry about timing, so that everything finishes at the same time.

By using one fish, this really is quite a simple recipe, and the little bit of slicing and mincing involved is well worth the gorgeous, and very tasty results. I really do hope you give this gorgeous Brazilian fish stew a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 yellow onion, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

2 tablespoons tomato paste

4 cloves minced garlic

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon ground cumin

cayenne pepper to taste

1 can (14-oz) coconut milk (not low fat!)

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 1/2 cup sliced assorted sweet and/or hot peppers

1/4 cup chopped green onion

1 1/2 pounds sea bass, or other firm white fish, cut into chunks

1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

serve with rice

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Buffalo Chicken Nuggets - Made from Parts, Not Pieces

I�ve always wanted to show my method for making chicken nuggets. Not because I�m proud of how well they came out, which I am, but more so to plead my case for what I think qualifies as an actual chicken �nugget.�

Somehow people got the idea that a chicken nugget was supposed to be a solid piece of chicken. That�s not a nugget. That�s just a too small piece of fried chicken. A real nugget, at least in the fast food context, is more of a deep-fried, mostly-chicken sausage patty, fabricated from various parts of the bird, such as, every legal part.

I love any and all types of fried chicken, but the typical nugget, when made from a piece of breast, just makes me want to get a bucket of the full-sized stuff. No, as far as party food goes, I�ll take the classic, seems-bad-for-you version every time. Plus, since we�re making a paste out of the meat, we get to flavor it any way we want.

I loved the Buffalo approach, and it allowed me to dip something in blue cheese dressing, which is always nice, but there are lots of directions you can go with this. So, whether you make these as directed, or come up with your own game plan, I really hope you give these delicious chicken nuggets a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 24 Buffalo Chicken Nuggets:

1 1/2 pound chicken thigh

2 tablespoons fine dry breadcrumbs

1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (here is a link to a copy cat recipe)

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1 tablespoon Franks hot sauce

1 tablespoon melted butter

For the starch coating:

1/2 cup corn starch

1/3 cup self-rising flour (or mix 1/3 cup all-purpose flour with 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/8 tsp salt)

1/4 teaspoon salt

- After coating, let sit in fridge until starch on surface is absorbed. For best results, flip over once while in fridge.

- Fry for 1 minute at 300 F., then chill, and finish when ready to serve by frying for 2 minutes at 375 F., or until cooked through. Exact time depends on size and shape of your nugget.

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Deviled Lobster Tails � There's Something in the Details

I never blame people for not wanting to work with fresh lobsters, but when it comes to lobster tails, there is no excuse. Well, I guess the enormous price tag is also an excuse, but other than that, no excuse. 

Speaking of price tags, since the recipe is so straightforward, I�ll spend the rest of the post ranting about pre-thawed lobster at the market. When buying your tails, ask the person working the fish department to go into the freezer, and get you ones that are still frozen. Lobster tails are always flash frozen shortly after being caught, and sent to the grocery store in this state, which is how they should be sold, except they�re not. 

What the grocery store does is thaw them, and pile them in the fish case, so you think a big batch of fresh lobster tails have just arrived from Cape Cod. They sit there for a day, or two, or three, getting less fresh and sweet by the minute. So, bypass the �fresh,� for the frozen, which are fresher. I really hope that all made sense, but regardless, with fancy dinner party season in full swing, I really do hope you give these deviled lobster tails a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 portions:

Please note: I never measure when I use this technique, and so these are just guesses. Everything in this is �to taste,� so work accordingly.

4 frozen lobster tails, thawed and split as shown

1/4 cup mayonnaise

pinch of salt

1 tablespoon sriracha hot sauce

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped tarragon, chervil, or dill

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How to Make Berbere Spice and What to Do with It (Partial List)

I love berbere spice, but it never occurred to me to make my own. I usually get it pre-mixed from the fancy grocery store, and it�s never disappointed, but I�ve wanted to feature it in a recipe, so I figured I�d also show how to make a batch from scratch.

Well, sort of from scratch. To make this �for real,� you need to buy the whole spice seeds/pods, toast them, and grind it yourself. It does make a difference, but I rationalize not doing all that extra work because I usually toast the spices during the cooking process anyway.

I�m not exactly sure what dried chili pepper(s) would be most authentic, but many people are saying that the New Mexico chili I used does a nice job. They have a nice, sweet, earthy flavor, and are sort of medium spicy. If you can�t find it, they say California or ancho chilies can work.

Like I said in the video, please use the ingredients and amounts below as an outline, and adjust this to your tastes. Once you�ve perfected your formula, you�ll be the proud owner of one of the most delicious, and versitle spice mixes ever. I hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients (everything can/should be adjusted to taste):

1/2 cup ground dried New Mexico chiles

1/4 cup paprika

1 generous tablespoon cayenne

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

1 teaspoon fenugreek

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

For the chicken:
1 boneless skinless chicken breast, seasoned with salt and berbere spice to taste
2 teaspoon melted butter
1 lime, juiced
2 teaspoon tomato paste
1/4 chicken broth, or as needed
1/3 cup coconut milk
1/2 tsp berbere spice
salt to taste
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

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Mexican-Style Shrimp Cocktail � The New Taco?

One of the many advantages of living in San Francisco is my proximity to some pretty amazing Mexican food. That used to be a much bigger deal, but happily, you can now get tacos and burritos in just about every corner of the country these days.

However, one item that hasn�t swept the nation like the others, is the Mexican-style shrimp cocktail. Which is a shame, since it�s every bit as good, if not better, than the more common version. Who knows? Maybe if this video goes viral, one day �Taco Tuesday,� will be joined by �Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Monday.�

Please just use the ingredients and amounts below as a rough guide, and adapt as you see fit. The spiciness, tanginess, and salt level are all very subjective things, and you�ll almost certainly need to adjust. I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 servings:

1 cup clam juice

1 pound raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1 cup diced English cucumber

1/2 cup diced celery

1/2 cup finely diced red onion

2 tablespoons jalapeno peppers, seeded, finely diced

1 1/4 cup diced, peeled, seeded ripe tomatoes, or quartered small cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup ketchup

2 freshly squeezed limes or to taste

freshly chopped cilantro to taste

Mexican hot sauce to taste

1 large Hass avocado, cubed

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Bulgogi Beef � How They �Barbecue� in Korea (the Good Korea)

This is going to be a pretty easy post to write, since I know almost nothing about the fine art of bulgogi. I do know that if you follow along with what I did in the video, you�re going to end up with something very delicious, and fairly gorgeous, so that�s a good place to start.

I also know that you can control the texture by making your slices thicker or thinner, as well as changing the marination time. Obviously, the thinner the slice, and the longer it�s in the marinade, the softer and more tender the meat becomes. However, you can go too far, ending up with something mushy, and unappetizing.

Unfortunately, this is a matter of trial and error, and so to avoid all that, I generally go with just an hour or two, which always seems like plenty to me. I don�t want mushy meat, in the best examples I�ve had of this in Korean restaurants, while tender, still had a little bit of chewiness to them. Besides, the fact that this is such a fast-acting marinade, is one of the big advantages.

If you don�t do the boneless short ribs, and go with pork loin, or chicken, you�ll want to be especially careful, since it has less connective tissue. By the way, if you are an experienced bulgogi master, please feel free to pass any tips along. I really hope to give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 large portions:

1 1/4 pound boneless beef short rib, or any other meat, sliced about 1/8-inch thick

4 finely crushed garlic cloves

1 generous tablespoon freshly grated ginger

1/3 cup freshly grated Asian pear

1/4 cup grated yellow onion

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 or 2 tablespoon light brown sugar, depending on how sweet you like it

1 tablespoon Korean chili flakes (Gochugaru)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

sliced green onions to finish

steamed rice

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Eastern North Carolina-Style Barbecue Sauce with a West Coast Twist

I�m not sure if using honey instead of sugar really qualifies as a �West Coast twist,� but it does ensure that people from North Carolina can�t attack me for this Eastern North Carolina-style barbecue sauce not being authentic. 

Anyway, while this isn�t exactly what you might find in the Tar Heel State, it was fantastic on the pork, and I hope it inspires you to add this deliciously different barbecue sauce in your repertoire.

As I mentioned in the video, I�m heading down to SoCal to work on a top-secret project, but since I teased this sauce in the recent paper pork recipe, I wanted to get this posted before I left. Unfortunately, I can�t give any details about what I�m doing down there, but let�s just say�actually, I can�t even say that. So stay tuned, and in the meantime, I really do hope you give this a try soon.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon honey, or other sweetener to taste

1 generous tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

1 generous tablespoon hot red pepper flakes

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup white distilled vinegar

3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

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Eggplant Escabeche � The Second Best Way to Eat Eggplant

The best way to eat eggplant is fried, which I�ll hopefully prove to you one day with a video recipe. In the meantime, you�ll have to settle for the second best way, which is this eggplant escabeche. It�s cold, refreshing, vibrantly-flavored, and I�m guessing, very healthy. 

This was inspired by a visit to a restaurant in San Francisco called Lolinda, where Chef Alejandro Morgan serves a simple, but incredibly delicious Argentinian-style eggplant escabeche. I won�t go so far as to say it came out as good, but the noises of pleasure Michele made while eating this were very similar. 

If you didn�t get the #dotsnotslots reference, I explained how to tell a �male� from �female� eggplant in a old video, which involves looking for a dot shaped mark at the end, and not a slot shaped one. This indicates a �male,� which generally has less seeds.

By the way, �male� is in quotations because eggplants don�t actually have different genders, but apparently some are less pregnant than others. I�m certainly no expert when it comes to eggplant sex, but I�ll go with that until I hear otherwise. I really do hope you give this fabulous eggplant recipe a try soon. Enjoy! 

 
Ingredients for about 2 pints:
3/4 cup sliced roasted sweet and/or hot peppers
1 large eggplant, halved, cut in 1/4 slices
1 large zucchini, halved, cut in 1/4 slices
tossed with 2 tablespoons kosher salt 
1 cup white wine vinegar 
2/3 cup water 
1/2 cup olive oil 
2 cloves finely crushed garlic 
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste
1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
1 tablespoon freshly chopped oregano
1/4 cup reserved vinegar cooking liquid
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 
2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
.

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Thai-Style Sweet Chili Sauce � Nam Jim for the Win

As promised, here is my take on Thai-style sweet chili sauce, or Nam Jim, if you want to sound cool. I do a sort of hybrid between the cooked and fresh versions, and using this technique, I think you get the best of both worlds.

If you can�t find these beautiful Thai bird�s eye chilies, you can make this sauce with any other combination of fresh, preserved, and/or dried chilies. Things like jalapeno, red Fresno, or Serrano chilies work great, as does habanero. If it�s hot, give it a shot.

Above and beyond the array of deep-fried treats you enjoy this stuff with at your favorite southeast-Asian restaurant, it also makes an incredibly good sauce for grilled meats, especially chicken and pork. Even the most insipid boneless-skinless breast shines, once shined with this sauce.

And I wasn�t kidding about the fish sauce being mandatory. It really is a key ingredient here, so I�m counting on you to either get some, or maybe sit this one out. As always, the amounts listed below are what tastes �perfect� to me, but what do I know? So, be sure to taste and adjust before you serve. I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for about 1 cup of Thai-Style Sweet Chili Sauce:

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup white distilled vinegar

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon ketchup

2 teaspoons sambal chili sauce

1 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

6 cloves finely crushed garlic

2 tablespoons finely minced Thai chili peppers (or more of a less spicy pepper like Frenso, Jalapeno, or Serrano)

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

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Yucatan-Style Grilled Pork � Surrounded on Three Sides by Flavor

If the early feedback from the YouTube channel is any indication, this may not actually be �Yucatan-style,� and I couldn�t be less surprised.  I did no real research into the traditional foods of the Yucatan peninsula, and based the name of this dish solely on a pork chop I once enjoyed at a sports bar.

They called it �Yucatan-style,� and it featured vibrant citrus/chile flavors, as well as a beautiful orange hue, which I figured out was from ground annatto. This is the signature ingredient in the famous braised pork dish, cochonita pibil, and can be found at any Latin market, or your larger, fancier grocery stores.

As I mention in the video, I think this easy marinade would work on all kinds of pork cuts, but the tenderloin is very user-friendly, and it�s mild flavor really takes to these ingredients. I think 4 to 6 hours is plenty of time to marinade the meat, but I�m guessing that overnight would probably be fine as well.

Once grilled, you have so many options for enjoying these. Sandwiches, salads, and tacos are all wonderful choices, and I�ve also heard from a reliable source that diced, they make for an epic pan of nachos. This weekend is the official start of summer grilling season, and what better way to kick it off than this tasty, possibly Yucatanian treat? I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 to 6 portions:

2 whole pork tenderloin, trimmed

2 oranges

2 or 3 lemons

2 or 3 limes

6 cloves minced garlic

1 rounded teaspoon annatto powder, plus more to sprinkle on before grilling

1 teaspoon chipotle powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon vegetable oil before grilling

- I garnished with cilantro, and pickled onions. To make your own, thinly slice some red onions, and cover them with red or white wine vinegar. Leave to soak for 4 hours or overnight, and that's it! 

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