Tag Archive for 'Summer'

Lamb and Vegetable Kebabs

It’s really started heating up in NYC and I’ve been getting the itch to BBQ. Sadly, I’m not allowed to hang a BBQ out my 7th floor window, so I have to make due with my broiler. It’s not quite the same as a charcoal grill, but you can get results close to that of a gas grill with a bit of practice.

The key is to preheat a broiler pan or some kind of grill rack in the broiler so it gets nice and hot. Then you get some searing action on one side, while the other is exposed to the direct heat. You’ll want to experiment with times and positions to adjust for your particular oven, but it’s not rocket science.

When grilling it’s important to have a good basting brush. You want something that’s heat resistant and has a reasonably long handle so you don’t singe the hairs off your hand. These silicon ones do a pretty good job and have the added benefit of being able to go in the dishwasher for easy cleanup. The one drawback is that they don’t hold a ton of your basting liquid so you may need to dip more frequently that a regular brush, but I find the benefits outweigh this minor inconvenience.

I like using a simple Mediterranean marinade, but there are a lot of possible spices you can add. The thing that really makes this marinade for me is the pomegranate molasses. It’s made by reducing pomegranate juice until it has the consistency of molasses. I found a bottle at Wholefoods, but you should be able to find it in the “ethnic” aisle of a large supermarket, or at Middle Eastern grocery stores.

This marinade is nice and refreshing and does a great job of covering up that odor that lamb has. The pomegranate molasses adds a puckering tartness, honey-like sweetness and great floral aroma that works really well with lamb.

I like to serve these kebabs over a salad made with wheat berries and quinoa, but they’re great over saffron rice or tabbouleh.

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Tuna Poke (pronounced poke-ay)

So here’s a recipe that draws its heritage from the the tropical islands of Hawaii. It’s been decades since my last visit and I wasn’t even introduced to Hawaiian cuisine till I lived in San Jose, but I’ve become quite a fan of the regional food that quite possibly started the “asian fusion” movement.

For those of you that are from other parts of the world, Hawaii is a blend of people from just about everywhere, including such disparate groups as the Native Americans, Japanese, Germans, and the native Hawaiian population. It then stands to reason that the food reflects a melding of the different ancestries combined with the abundant bounties of the rain forests and surrounding sea.

This dish is my take on on this island classic, combining the asian flavors with some local springtime ramps. The sweet soy sauce, nutty sesame oil and sweet garlicy ramps work harmoniously with the satiny tuna to create something refreshing, exotic and comforting all at the same time.

Best of all, there’s not much work involved beyond a bit of chopping and stirring, perfect for a hot summer’s day. Because shape doesn’t really matter I usually go for the cheaper “kiriotoshi” cuts of the tuna, These are the bits that get cut off when the store shapes the tuna into perfect blocks to sell as sashimi.

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