Tag: main course

Shrimp and Chili Paste Stir Fry

Shrimp and Chili Paste Stir Fry

Shrimp and Chili Paste Stir Fry

It’s getting to be that time of the year where I have an excessive amount of basil in my garden and it needs to be used up sooner than later. Here is the perfect recipe to use that basil. This shrimp and chili paste stir fry is unbelievably flavorful and ready in 10 minutes with prep work and cooking time.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Keyword: main course, seafood, Southeast Asian, Thai
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 red bird’s eye chilies finely minced
  • 1 lb 16/20 ct shrimp peeled and deveined; tails removed
  • 1 1/2 cups asparagus cut into 2” pieces
  • 1/2 medium white onion thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups Thai basil

Sauce

  • 2 tbsp thai chili paste
  • 2 tbsp chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp fish sauce

Instructions

  • Mix together the sauce ingredients. Set aside.
    Thai, main course, seafood
  • Heat up cooking oil in a sauté pan or wok over medium high heat. Sauté the garlic and chilies for 1 minute.
    Thai, main course, seafood
  • Add in the shrimp in a single layer on top of the garlic and chilies.
    Thai, main course, seafood
  • Pour in the sauce. Add in the asparagus, onion, and sugar. Stir fry for 3 minutes.
    Thai, main course, seafood
  • Turn off the heat and stir in the Thai basil.
    Thai, main course, seafood
Thai, main course, seafood
Serve with steamed jasmine rice.
Roast Suckling Pig

Roast Suckling Pig

Chinese, main course, pork
I ordered a suckling pig from my friends at wildforkfoods.com.
Chinese, main course, pork
The pig was shipped within 2 days of ordering on dry ice.
Chinese, main course, pork
The little guy was flash frozen, much like the turkey you buy during the holidays.
Chinese, main course, pork
Allow the pig to completely thaw out in the refrigerator for a couple days before cooking.

Roast Suckling Pig

I started stonedsoup.net back in March of 2019. 2 1/2 years later, we’ve reached recipe #1000. I wanted to do something extravagant for this milestone. What’s more extravagant then a suckling pig? Just about nothing. Suckling pigs are typically slaughtered between 2-6 weeks old. The high amount of collagen in a suckling pig makes the meat rich and tender while it’s encased in it’s crispy skin.
Suckling pigs in Chinese culture is a prized delicacy. It is served at weddings, large parties, as well as the celebration of a baby’s first month of life. The pig gets roasted until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Then the entire pig is cut with a cleaver into 2” pieces with the skin attached. It is served with the same type of pancakes you eat with Peking duck, plus hoisin sauce and green onions. While still being on the bone, the meat is so tender that it just slides right off.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Drying Time12 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: Chinese, East Asian, main course, Pork
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • Spice grinder
  • foil
  • roasting pan with rack
  • cleaver

Ingredients

  • 1 suckling pig 8-10lbs
  • 2 tbsp coarse ground salt
  • 1 tbsp 5 spice powder
  • 1 tbsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns

Accompaniments

  • Peking duck pancakes
  • green onions
  • hoisin sauce

Instructions

  • Dry toast the fennel seeds and Sichuan peppercorns in a small skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
    Chinese, main course, pork
  • Grind the fennel and peppercorns in a spice grinder. Mix together with the 5 spice powder and salt.
    Chinese, main course, pork
  • Rub the entire inside cavity of the suckling pig.
    Chinese, main course, pork
  • Place the pig on a rack upright. Set in the refrigerator overnight to allow the skin to dry out.
    Chinese, main course, pork
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the pig on a rack on a baking sheet lined in foil. Wrap the pig’s ears and nose in foil so they don’t burn during the roasting process.
    Chinese, main course, pork
  • Toast the pig for 30 minutes. Turn the oven temp down to 350 degrees and roast for 90 minutes. Let rest for 15 minutes before carving.
    Chinese, main course, pork

Carving the Suckling Pig

  • Cut off the pig’s head and feet with a cleaver. The pig will be tender enough to almost pull the feet off.
    Chinese, main course, pork
  • Cut off the pig’s thighs. Using the cleaver, split the pork down the center of the spine. Chop each side of the body horizontally, then cross cut to get 2” pieces of the suckling pig.
    Chinese, main course, pork
Chinese, main course, pork
Arrange the suckling pig on a serving platter. Serve with pancakes, hoisin sauce, and green onions.
Chinese, main course, pork
An 8lb suckling pig will yield 24-30 servings.
Hamburguesas Colombianas

Hamburguesas Colombianas

Hamburguesas Colombianas

Colombian hamburgers are known for having an abundance of toppings. The burgers themselves have onion, garlic, and green onions in the patties, seasoned with cumin and paprika. The burgers are topped with mozzarella, tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and…coleslaw.? It adds a nice crunch to the burger instead of boring iceberg lettuce. You can use store bought coleslaw if you’re in a hurry, but I always recommend making it from scratch.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Colombian
Keyword: Beef, Colombian, Latin American, main course, sandwich
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 85% lean ground beef
  • 2 green onions finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 cup white onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • hamburger buns

Toppings

  • mozzarella cheese slices
  • tomato thinly sliced
  • coleslaw
  • ketchup
  • mustard
  • mayonnaise

Instructions

  • Mix together the burger ingredients.
    Columbian, main course, beef
  • Depending on the size of the burgers you want, for into 2-4 patties.
    Columbian, main course, beef
  • Heat up a griddle over medium high heat. Toast the hamburger buns.
    Columbian, main course, beef
  • Add the patties to the griddle.
    Columbian, main course, beef
  • 1/4lb patties will take 4-5 minutes a side for medium. 1/2lb patties will take 7 minutes a side for medium.
    Columbian, main course, beef
  • Once you flip the patties, top each one with a slice of mozzarella cheese.
    Columbian, main course, beef

Burger Assembly

  • Place the sliced tomato on the bottom of the bun.
    Columbian, main course, beef
  • Place the patties on top of the tomato.
    Columbian, main course, beef
  • Top each burger with a large scoop of coleslaw. Squeeze over ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise.
    Columbian, main course, beef
Columbian, main course, beef