Recipe #85 - Cranberry Salsa with Cilantro and Chiles

_______________________________________________________________________________

I made this recipe as a side dish for this year's Thanksgiving dinner. I was tired of always eating the cranberry sauce straight out of the can every year. This definitely shook things up a bit.

Preheat over to 200 degrees. 

Place cranberries on a cookie sheet and let simmer in the oven until softened and juicy. Small bubbles should break the surface around the edges of the berries. The Payoff: Simmering softens the berries and allows enough time for all the flavors to meld. For more of a bitter taste, place the cranberries directly in the food processor. Simmering them will bring out the sweetness.

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add pepitas; stir until golden, about 1 minute. Transfer too plate; sprinkle with sea salt.

Place cranberries in processor. Using on/off turns, process until finely chopped. Transfer to bowl. Add onions, cilantro, and chiles. Stir sugar and lime juice in another bowl until sugar dissolves. Do Ahead: Cranberry and lime mixtures can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover separately; chill. 

Add cranberry mixture and pepitas to lime juice mixture; still to combine.

Rating: 7

Time: 40 minutes

Serves: Makes about 3 cups

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons pumpkin seed oil

1/2 cup natural unsalted papitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)

Sea salt

2 cups fresh cranberries or frozen, thawed

1 1/3 cups chopped green onions (dark green parts only; 2 bunches)

1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons minced seeded serrano chilles

6 tablespoons sugar

6 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Recipe #84 - Spicy Blackened Salmon Tacos w/ Cilantro Aioli and Charred Corn Salsa

_______________________________________________________________________________

For the Spicy Blackened Salmon Tacos:

Heat oil in heavy-bottomed skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium high heat until smoking.

Meanwhile, mix chili powder, cayenne, sugar and salt with the flour in a shallow bowl. Dredge salmon in flour mixture and transfer to hot skillet.

Cook until very brown, then flip. Continue cooking till flesh is just opaque. Set aside to cool.

Once the fish has cooled, tear it into small chunks.

Wipe oil from skillet, and throw in tortillas to warm. Arrange the fish, flanked into chunks, Charred Corn Salsa, and desired toppings on one half of a warmed tortilla and drizzle aioli. Fold in half to serve.

For the Charred Corn Salsa:

Preheat broiler and put oven rack in highest position. Toss corn, tomatoes, onion and jalapeno with olive oil in a zip lock bag. Salt to taste. Shake to combine.

Transfer corn mixture to a shallow baking pan. Broil until tomatoes are soft and corn is charred, 5-8 minutes.

For the Cilantro Aioli: 

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Keep chilled until ready to serve (can be made ahead). Top tacos with generous spoonfuls.

Rating: 10
Time: 2 hours
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
Spicy Blackened Salmon Tacos:
1 pound of salmon, or other firm-fleshed fish
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Large flour tortillas
Avocado, cilantro, and green onions for topping
Lime wedges
Charred Corn Salsa
Cilantro Aioli

For the Charred Corn Salsa:
1 cup corn kernels (I used frozen)
3 roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup red onions, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt, to taste

For the Cilantro Aioli:
1/2 cup sour cream
Juice of 2 limes
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced

Recipe #83 - Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice

My sister, Teresa, and I have the craziest obsession with Chipotle's burritos. We make a 40 minute drive to get burrito once a week. It may seem a little redic, until you taste their rice. So here is how you make it:

Sautee the rice in oil until almost translucent (as if you are making a risotto).

Add water, bring to a boil. As soon as the water begins to boil, turn the heat down low. 

Simmer, covered for 15-20 minutes, or until all water is absorbed. 

Turn off heat. DON'T PEEK. LEAVE IT COVERED for 30 minutes (this is the "streaming" part... Chipotle steams rice every hour). This is what makes the rice fluffy. You won't be happy with yourself if you don't do this. Be patient. Good things come to those who wait. 

Remove lid, let some of the steam out. I just mixed every thing in the pot for the next step (some might think I mixing bowl would be easier).

Mix salt and lime juice together until salt is dissolved. I had to heat the juice in the microwave for 25 seconds to fully dissolve the salt. 

Pour the lime mixture over the rice a little at a time. Taste as you go. Mine turned out a little too limey. Then fluff with a fork. Sprinkle in cilantro, and toss well to evenly coat with cilantro and the lime mixture.

I served the rice with the Recipe #84 - Blackened Fish Tacos. 

Rating: 6

Time: 55 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oil (canola/vegetable)

2 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped fine

1 fresh lime 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1 cup  long grain white rice

2 cups water