Chic Fil A Grilled Chicken Nuggets

Created on 8/21/2023

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup dill pickle juice
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tsp powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp Christie Vanover’s Chicken Rub or use: 2 tsps powdered sugar, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp celery salt

Instructions:

Step One: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place in a bowl with pickle juice and milk. Marinate for 30 minutes

Step Two: Remove from marinade and pat dry

Step Three: In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and Chicken Rub. Sprinkle all over chicken

Step Four: Heat grill to high. Grill chicken for 3 minutes per side until cooked through

Step Five: Serve with honey mustard dipping sauce

Avgolomeno Soup

Created on 8/17/2023

Ingredients:

  • 6 pieces small-medium size chicken thighs (bone-in and skin on) – about 1¾ pounds total, pat the chicken dry with paper towels
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1½ tablespoons minced garlic
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ¾ cup uncooked long-grain white rice, (rinsed and drained)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, (optional)
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons fresh dill (optional)
  • Parsley, chopped for garnish

Instructions:

Step One: Season the chicken thighs with salt and black pepper. Press the “Sauté” key and when the instant pot displays “hot”, heat the oil and sear the chicken for 5 minutes on each side. Set aside

Step Two: Add the onion, cook until tender for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, cook just until fragrant. Add in the broth. Be sure to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of pan to flavor the soup and to prevent burning

Step Three: Add the rinsed rice, salt (optional), and the seared chicken thighs back into the pot. Secure the lid and set it to “manual” on high for 5 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is completed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 15 minutes then move the valve to venting to release the remaining pressure. Transfer the chicken thighs to a plate and shred into small pieces

Step Four: Fill a blender with a cup of rice and broth mixture, egg yolks, lemon juice and dill (optional). Puree until smooth. Return the pureed soup and shredded chicken into the pot, simmer until thickened slightly for a few minutes. Do not let it come to a boil, stirring often. Add more salt, pepper, and/ or lemon if necessary and according to your liking. Garnish with parsley

Notes: Don’t forget to rinse and drain the rice before cooking. If more lemon juice is needed, add in small increments of 1 teaspoon at a time. If you want a thinner soup you can add more broth later. Do not fill your Instant Pot more than ⅔ full

Tzaziki Sauce

Created on 8/15/2023

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Full-Fat Greek Yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
  • 2 teaspoons Fresh Dill
  • 2 teaspoons Fresh Parsley
  • 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1 ½ cups Cucumber (minced or grated; ~ 1 medium 8-ounce cucumber)

Instructions:

Step One:  In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients except the cucumber

Step Two: Wrap the minced cucumber in a kitchen towel and squeeze over the sink to release as much water as possible

Step Three: Stir the cucumber into the bowl

Notes: This sauce pairs well with this doner kebab and it’s also great on sandwiches!

Birria Tacos

Created on 8/8/2023

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds beef (chuck roast, beef shank, short ribs, oxtail), lamb, or goat meat
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 dried ancho chilis (very mild, smoky, 1000 – 2000 SHU)
  • 3 dried guajillo chilis (sweet, smoky, not very spicy, 2500–5000 SHU)
  • 1 new Mexican dried chiles (mild, sweet 800 – 1400 SHU)
  • Optional: 1 dried chile de árbol (quite spicy, 15000 – 30000 SHU)
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 6 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ cinnamon stick or ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano or oregano
  • 1½ teaspoon cumin seeds, ground
  • 1 teaspoon coriander, ground
  • 2 teaspoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups unsalted chicken stock or high-quality unsalted beef stock
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • Salt & ground black pepper

Garnish:

  • 8 – 12 corn tortillas
  • Good melting cheese (i.e. Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella cheese), freshly grated
  • White onion, diced
  • Cilantro, finely chopped
  • Lime slices

Instructions:

Step One: Prepare Dried Chiles – Remove stems and seeds from dried chiles, then cut chiles into smaller pieces. Toast Dried Chiles in Instant Pot – Put all dried chiles in Instant Pot. Press “Saute” button to “Sauté More” to heat up the Instant Pot. Stir occasionally. Once you smell the chiles’ aroma (~4 to 5 mins), remove and set aside the toasted chiles

Step Two: Brown Meat in Instant Pot – Wait until the Instant Pot says “HOT”. Pat dry your meat. Season one side of beef with salt & black pepper. Add 1 tbsp vegetable oil in inner pot, and ensure to coat the oil all over the whole bottom of the pot. Carefully place the seasoned side of beef in Instant Pot. Season the other side of beef with more salt & black pepper. Brown one side for 5 minutes before flipping the meat, then brown the other side for another 5 minutes. Set aside the browned meat

Step Three: Saute Onions and Garlic – Add another 1 tbsp vegetable oil to Instant Pot. Add in sliced onions, then saute for 3 minutes. Add in garlic cloves, 2 bay leaves, ½ cinnamon stick, 2 tsp dried Mexican oregano, 1½ tsp ground cumin seeds, 1 tsp ground coriander, and 2 tsp tomato paste, then saute for another minute

Step Four: Deglaze Instant Pot – Pour in 1 cup unsalted chicken stock, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon. Give it a quick mix

Step Five: Pressure Cook Birria – Add in 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp (15ml) regular soy sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, and another cup of unsalted chicken stock, then give it a quick mix. Add in toasted dried chiles (make sure all chiles are submerged in the cooking liquid). Layer browned beef on top. With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Cook the Beef Shank & Chuck Roast Pieces on High Pressure for 1 hour then Natural Release for 15 minutes

Step Six: Blend and Shred Beef – Transfer beef to a large mixing bowl. Find and discard the bay leaves & cinnamon stick. Keep all the chiles in Instant Pot. Blend the birria sauce with an immersion hand blender. With two forks, shred the beef, then transfer the shredded beef back to the Instant Pot

Step Seven: Season Birria: Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt (for reference: we added roughly 4 – 6 large pinches of salt)

Heat up a skillet over medium heat. Dip corn tortillas in the birria sauce. Make sure the birria sauce is fully covering both sides of corn tortillas because the tortillas will break if they’re too dry. If you’re using a cast-iron skillet, grease pan with oil to prevent tortillas from sticking. You can use a bit of oil for a non-stick pan. It’s important your skillet is hot enough before you start to pan-fry the tortillas. Place corn tortilla on the heated skillet. Layer a handful of grated melting cheese on corn tortilla, then let the cheese melt. Once the cheese has melted and the corn tortilla is a bit crisped, layer some birria meat on the cheese. Fold corn tortilla in half. Serve these birria tacos immediately with dipping sauce and lime slices

Notes: Make extras for the freezer!

Vegan Pesto

Created on 7/20/2023

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups Fresh Basil (packed, large stems removed)
  • 3 tablespoons Walnuts (or pine nuts, if nut-free, try sunflower seeds!)
  • 3 large cloves Garlic (peeled)
  • 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
  • 4 tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
  • ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt (plus more to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 6 tablespoons Water (plus more as needed)

Instructions

Step One: To a food processor or small blender, add the basil, nuts, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and sea salt and blend/mix on high until a loose paste forms

Step Two: Add olive oil a little at a time (streaming in while the machine is on if possible) and scrape down sides as needed. Then add 1 Tbsp (15 ml) water at a time until the desired consistency is reached – a thick but pourable sauce. (If avoiding oil altogether, sub the oil with vegetable broth or just use all water)

Step Three: Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor, salt for overall flavor, nuts for nuttiness, garlic for bite / zing, or lemon juice for acidity

Notes: This sauce will be good in the fridge for up to a week.

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

Created on 7/20/2023

Ingredients:

  • 1 bone-in turkey breast (5 to 6 pounds)
  • 5 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 medium onion, cut into wedges
  • 1 celery rib, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth

Instructions:

Step One: Preheat oven to 325°. With fingers, carefully loosen the skin from both sides of turkey breast. Combine lemon juice and oil; brush under the skin. Combine the pepper, rosemary, thyme and garlic salt; rub over turkey

Step Two: Place onion and celery in a 3-qt. baking dish. Top with turkey breast, skin side up. Pour wine into the dish

Step Three: Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 170°, 2 to 2-1/2 hours. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.) Cover and let stand 15 minutes before carving

Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken Thighs

Created on 6/14/2023

Ingredients:

  • 3″ piece fresh ginger
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • ¾ cup coconut milk
  • ¼ cup hot chili paste (such as sambal oelek)
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for grill
  • 2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • ½ cup cilantro leaves with tender stems
  • Lime wedges (for serving)

Instructions:

Step One: Prepare a grill for medium heat. Finely grate ginger and garlic into a medium bowl. Add coconut milk, chili paste, lime juice, brown sugar, salt, and 2 Tbsp. oil and whisk to combine. Add chicken and toss to coat. Let sit at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours

Step Two: Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip back into bowl, and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Pour marinade into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 2–3 minutes

Step Three: Clean and generously oil grate of grill (if there are a few flare-ups while you do so, not to worry, they will burn off). Grill chicken, turning once and basting occasionally with marinade, until you see some good grill marks and chicken is cooked through, 8–10 minutes

Step Four: Transfer chicken to a platter. Brush with remaining marinade. Top with cilantro and serve with lime wedges alongside

Mongolian Pork Chop

Created on

Ingredients

  • ½ cup hoisin sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons hot sauce
  • ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 (10 ounce) thick bone-in center cut pork chops

Instructions:

Step One: Make marinade: Combine hoisin sauce, garlic, soy sauce, ginger, red wine vinegar, rice vinegar, sherry vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, hot sauce, white pepper, and black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk thoroughly until combined

Step Two: Place pork chops in a resealable plastic freezer bag; pour slightly more than 1/2 of the marinade into the freezer bag over pork chops. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours. Reserve remaining marinade

Step Three: Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. Lightly oil the grate

Step Four: Remove pork chops from marinade; pat dry with paper towels. Discard used marinade

Step Five: Cook pork chops on the preheated grill until brown grill marks appear, about 4 minutes per side

Step Six: Move pork chops to indirect medium heat and continue cooking, brushing reserved marinade on each side, until no longer pink inside, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C)

Black Cod with Miso

Created on 4/23/2023

Ingredients:

  • Four 6 ounce filets of sablefish
  • 1/4 sake
  • 1/4 mirin
  • 1/4 white miso paste
  • 2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

Step One: Add sake and mirin to a small sauce pan and cook for about 5 minutes, until the alcohol has evaporated

Step Two: Turn the heat down to medium to medium low and add in the miso paste. Stir this until the miso is fully incorporated

Step Three: Add in the sugar. Mix the sugar until it is full incorporated. Let the mixture cool. Pour the mixture over the fridge and let it marinate for 24 hours – 3 days (the longer the better)

Step Four: Turn on the broiler in the oven to high. Place the fish on a baking sheet and cook under the broiler for about 5 minutes each side. You want to see the sides of the fish start to turn brown and carmelize

Notes: Serve with soba noodles and bok choy to replicate this Nobu dish.