Tag: appetizer
Rueben Tots
Rueben Tots
Ruebens are one of my all-time favorite sandwiches; and I love tater tots. So why not combine the two to make the ultimate appetizer. I present to you: the rueben tot. Corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, rye breadcrumbs, and potatoes; mixed together and blinded by a couple of eggs; formed into larger-sized tater tots, and baked until crispy on the outside. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Equipment
- food processor
- cheese grater
Ingredients
- 1 cup corned beef
- 2 cups potatoes grated
- 1 cup sauerkraut drained of excess moisture
- 1 cup rye bread crumbs
- 8 oz Swiss cheese shredded
- 2 large eggs
- thousand island dressing for serving
Instructions
- Place the corned beef in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Remove from the food processor.
- Place the rye bread in the food processor and pulse until they are fine bread crumbs.
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
- Form the mix into walnut-sized balls.
- Place the rueben tots on a baking sheet lined in parchment paper.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes in a 400° preheated oven; flipping half way through.
- Serve with a side of thousand island dressing to dip them in.
Chicken Liver Pâté
Chicken Liver Pâté
Pâté can be traced back to the 12th century; where a protein is cooked with some type of fat, vegetables, herbs, spices, and an alcohol; being either brandy, cognac, bourbon, or wine. This particular Pâté is made from chicken livers and ground pork, butter, onions and garlic, and brandy. While the French introduced the baguette to Vietnam in the 1860’s, the banh mi was created in the 1950’s; using the French Pâté and mayonnaise as staple ingredients to the sandwich. This chicken liver Pâté is great served as a spread on crackers or toasted baguettes, as well as spread across the inside of a banh mi sandwich.
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 cup yellow onion diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 lb chicken livers
- 8 oz ground pork
- 1 tbsp cognac, bourbon, or brandy
- 1 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place the ground pork in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Set aside.
- Heat up the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Sauté the onions for 3 minutes.
- Add in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
- Melt the butter in the pan.
- Add in the ground pork and chicken livers.
- Cook for 15 minutes. Let cool at room temp.
- Place the liver mixture into the food processor with the rest of the ingredients.
- Purée until smooth. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
Grilled Garlic Jalapeño Lime Black Tiger Shrimp
Grilled Garlic Jalapeño Lime Black Tiger Shrimp
I recently bought some giant shrimp from work. Like 4-6 in a pound giant shrimp. It was a nice 52° day on January 31st in Minneapolis and I said to myself, “Thanks climate change for letting me grill in the middle of winter when it’s normally -40°.” So I made one of my favorite marinades for seafood: garlic, jalapeño, and lime juice, and marinated these lobster tail-sized shrimp for 20 minutes. I threw them on the grill and they were done in 10 minutes. You can definitely make this recipe with any size shrimp, but they will take less amount of time.
Equipment
- food processor
- chimney starter
- charcoal
- grill
Ingredients
- 8 black tiger shrimp 4/6 ct.; peeled and deveined
Marinade
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 large jalapeño
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Pulse the marinade ingredients in a food processor. Marinate the shrimp for 15-20 minutes.
- Start the charcoal in the chimney starter and allow to get gray. Pour in the grill. Put on the grate. Place the shrimp directly over the charcoal.
- Grill for 4-5 minutes a side.
Spicy Refrigerator Pickles
Add all of the ingredients into a jar, shake it up, and refrigerate for 2 days before eating.