Grilled Cheese & Bacon Sandwiches with Cheese Curds

Image
Cheese Curd Grilled Cheese. JoeBeef_FW_Oct2011
Photo Credit: Fredrika Stjärne, Food&Wine Magazine, 2011.

 

 

Cheese curds are small chunks of just-made cheese that haven’t been pressed into a shape. They’re milky and delicious in a grilled cheese sandwich like this one, which is spread with Joe Beef’s signature “chicken glace mayo,” made at the restaurant with chicken stock that Morin says has been “reduced to oblivion.” He suggests substituting beef bouillon to replicate his uniquely savory mayonnaise.

By Frédéric Morin
Food & Wine Magazine
October 2011

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1/2 beef bouillon cube
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Sriracha
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
12 slices of bacon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
8 slices of white sandwich bread
1/2 pound sharp cheddar, cut into 4 slices
1 cup cheddar cheese curds

Directions:
In a small bowl, crush the bouillon cube into 2 teaspoons of hot water until dissolved. Whisk in the mayonnaise and Sriracha and season with salt and pepper.

In a medium skillet, heat the oil. Add the onion, cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, in another skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat, turning once, until crisp, 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

Set a griddle over 2 burners and turn the heat to moderate. Butter the bread slices on 1 side. Spread the other side of 4 bread slices with the spicy mayonnaise and top with the onion, cheddar, cheese curds and bacon. Close the sandwiches buttered side out and griddle over moderately low heat until crisp, about 4 minutes per side. Cut the sandwiches in half and serve.

Cook’s Notes:
Cheese curds are available at specialty food shops and cheese shops.

Grilled Hanger Steak with Bacon Jalapeno Chimichurri Sauce

Image
fw200705_hangarsteak.jpg
Photo Credit: Victoria Pearson, Food&Wine Magazine, May 2007.

These herb-marinated steaks are accompanied by chimichurri, a South American sauce for grilled meats made with olive oil, parsley and garlic. E. Michael Reidt’s chimichurri has an indulgent addition to the classic recipe: bacon.   

Adapted from
E. Michael Reidt
Food & Wine Magazine
May 2007

Serves 8

Ingredients:

For the Steaks:
8 garlic cloves, smashed
4 thyme sprigs, coarsely chopped
2 rosemary sprigs, coarsely chopped
1 cup dry red wine
1 medium red onion, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Eight 6-ounce hanger steaks, trimmed
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

For the Chimmichurri sauce:
4 garlic cloves, quartered
1/2 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/4 cup packed fresh oregano leaves
1 Jalapeno pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/2 pound sliced bacon

 

Directions:
For the steaks: In a large, shallow dish, combine the garlic, thyme, rosemary, wine, onion and olive oil. Add the hanger steaks and turn to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

For the chimmichurri sauce: Using a  food processor, pulse the garlic, parsley, oregano,  jalapeno, vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil until the herbs are pureed. Scrape into a bowl and season with salt and pepper.

In a large skillet, cook the bacon in 2 batches over moderate heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels and let cool, then finely chop.  Stir the bacon in to the sauce and pour the sauce into a serving bowl and  set aside.

Light a grill. Scrape the marinade off the steaks and season them with salt and pepper. Grill the steaks over a hot fire until charred all over, about 10 minutes for medium-rare meat. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.

Carve the steaks crosswise into thick slices and serve immediately with the chimmichurri.

Oxtail Bourguinonne

 

363718_oxtail-bourguinonne_1x1.jpg

Bourguignonne refers to any dish cooked in the style of Burgundy, France. This dish is similar to classic boeuf bourguignonne (French beef stew), which is beef braised with red wine and mushrooms. Although oxtail was once the tail of an ox, these days the bony cut can be beef or veal origin. Also note that mashed potatoes would make the perfect side dish. And if you desire a gluten free side dish, mashed cauliflower works just as well.

Serves 6

Ingredients:
8 slices fatty bacon, chopped
Olive oil
3 large fresh Italian parsley sprigs
3 large fresh thyme sprigs
2 large fresh bay leaves, bruised
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 to 4 1/4 pounds meaty oxtail pieces, trimmed of excess fat
2 cups chopped onions
1 cup diced carrot plus 6 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch chunks
4 large garlic cloves, peeled; 1 minced, 3 left whole
1 3/4 cups beef broth
1 1/2 cups red Burgundy wine (such as Beaujolais)
1 pound crimini (baby bella) mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
12 small shallots, blanched 1 minute, peeled

Directions:
Cook bacon in heavy large pot over medium-high heat until brown and crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to plate. Pour drippings into small bowl. Return 6 tablespoons drippings to pot (add olive oil, if necessary, to measure 6 tablespoons total; reserve bacon for another use). Tie parsley, thyme, and bay leaves together for bouquet garni. Stir 1 tablespoon flour and butter in small bowl to smooth paste.

Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Add oxtails, a few pieces at a time, to seasoned flour and toss to coat.

Heat bacon drippings in pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add oxtails and brown on all sides, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer oxtails to bowl after each batch.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add chopped onions, diced carrot, and minced garlic to pot. Sauté until onions soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Return oxtails and any accumulated juices to pot. Add bouquet garni, then broth and wine. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer until meat is almost tender, adjusting heat occasionally to maintain gentle simmer, about 3 hours. Mix in mushrooms, shallots, carrot chunks, and whole garlic cloves. Increase heat and return to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover pot and simmer gently until meat and vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes longer.

Tilt pot and spoon off any fat that rises to surface. Stir flour paste into stew. Simmer uncovered until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cook’s Notes:
This dish can be made 1 day ahead. Allow it to cool  for 1 hour, then refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. To serve, rewarm over low heat before ladling into serving bowls.