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Chicken Souvlaki
Chicken Souvlaki
Souvlaki is the general Greek term used for skewered and grilled meats. This method of cooking has been dated back to 2000 B.C. Today, souvlaki is considered Greek fast food; typically served with pita, cucumbers, tomato, and tzatziki, with a side of fried potatoes. Souvlaki can be made with chicken, pork, beef, or lamb.
Equipment
- chimney starter
- charcoal
- charcoal grill
- metal skewers
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 1/2” cubes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 lemon juiced
- 8 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp oregano
- 1 tbsp rosemary
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
Accompaniments
- pita
- tzatziki
- cucumber sliced
- tomato sliced
Instructions
- Mix together the marinade ingredients.
- Marinate the chicken breast for up to 24 hours.
- Skewer 5-6 pieces of the chicken breast per stick.
- Place the charcoal in the chimney starter and light until they are grey. Place the skewers directly over the charcoal.
- Grill for about 3 minutes on all 4 sides until cooked through.
Bangers and Mash
If you can’t find a store bought banger sausage and want to make them from scratch, a recipe I made is: 4lbs ground pork, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp mace, 1 tsp white pepper, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp …
Irish Lamb Stew
Irish Lamb Stew
Considered the national dish, Irish Lamb Stew can be traced back as far as 1800; originally consisting of goat, potatoes, onions, parsley, and water. Lamb was later introduced to the stew by the wealthy. As the recipe progressed through time, other root vegetables were introduced, as well as a stout beer; typically Guiness.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 lbs boneless leg of lamb cubed
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 12 oz stout beer
- 4 cups lamb or beef stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp thyme
- 3 medium potatoes cubed
- 2 medium carrots sliced
- 1 medium turnip cubed
- 4 medium parsnips sliced
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat up the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the lamb until browned; about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the pot.
- Add in the onions. Brown for 5 minutes. Remove from the pot.
- Melt the butter in the pot.
- Whisk in the flour. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Slowly add in the beer and stock, alternating between the two; scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the lamb and onions back in, along with the bay leaves and thyme. Simmer on medium low for 1 hour, covered.
- Add the vegetables to the pot. Simmer for 30 minutes until tender.
- Stir in the parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
Kabocha Pumpkin Fried Rice
Kabocha Pumpkin Fried Rice
This Japanese-style fried rice uses one of my favorite ingredients: kabocha pumpkin. This pumpkin has the flavor between a butternut squash and a sweet potato. The skin is edible and adds a slight sweetness to the fried rice.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 cups kabocha pumpkin diced
- 5 strips bacon diced
- 1/4 cup shallots sliced
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 3 green onions chopped
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat up 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a wok over medium heat. Pour in the eggs.
- Scramble and remove from the wok.
- Add in the other tbsp of vegetable oil. Stir fry the kabocha pumpkin for 3 minutes.
- Add in the diced bacon. Cook for 7 minutes until crispy.
- Add in the shallots and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Break up the clumps of cooked rice and stir into the wok. Fry for 3 minutes.
- Pour in the soy sauce. Stir in the scrambled eggs. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the green onions. Season with black pepper to taste.
