1,001 Best Hot and Spicy Recipes (45 page)

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Authors: Dave Dewitt

Tags: #Cooking, #Specific Ingredients, #Herbs; Spices; Condiments

BOOK: 1,001 Best Hot and Spicy Recipes
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2.
Spoon 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of the filling onto a wonton skin, fold the skin over, and press firmly to seal. Repeat until all the filling is used.
3.
Heat the Wonton Soup Broth in a large pot.
4.
Heat the peanut oil in a wok and fry the wontons in batches until they are golden brown, about 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer them to a paper towel to drain.
5.
Place 4 or 5 wontons in each soup bowl, ladle the broth over them, and garnish with the parsley.
Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Snapper Soup
Yield: 4 servings
Heat Scale: Varies, Medium to Hot
This soup, known as Canh Chua Ca, is representative of many of the soups of Vietnam. It is delicately seasoned, and one ingredient doesn’t overwhelm the others; instead, all the ingredients present a balanced taste in this quick, easy-to-prepare recipe.
 
1 pound (454 g) snapper or other delicate white fish fillets
3 tablespoons (45 mL) frozen orange juice concentrate
1½ tablespoons (22.5 mL) apple cider vinegar
1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 quart (.95 L) water
3 medium tomatoes, peeled and sliced
1½ cups (354 mL) mung bean sprouts
1⅓ cups (315 mL) thinly sliced celery
1 teaspoon (5 mL) soy sauce
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ teaspoon (1.25 mL) ground cayenne
2 tablespoons (30 mL) chopped fresh cilantro
Fresh red serrano or jalapeño slices, to taste
 
1.
Rinse the fish fillets with cold water and dry them with paper towels. Cut the fish into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces and set aside.
2.
In a large saucepan, combine the orange juice, vinegar, onion, and water and bring to a boil. Cover the pot and simmer gently for 15 minutes.
3.
Add the tomatoes to the simmering water and continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to soften.
4.
Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for 2 minutes.
Bahamian Pumpkin Habanero Cream Soup
Yield: 4 servings
Heat Scale: Medium
This smooth bisque with island flavors has considerable heat because of the habanero. It also has great color. Garnished with fresh coconut shavings, it’s perfect to serve before a seafood entrée or a dish of Jamaican jerk pork.
 
¼ pound (113 g) butter
1 large onion, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons (30 mL) all-purpose flour
2½ cups (591 mL) milk
½ cup (118 mL) heavy cream
3 cups (708 mL) Classic Chicken Stock (page 46)
3 cups (708 mL) cooked, mashed pumpkin
1 teaspoon (5 mL) salt
⅓ cup (79 mL) freshly squeezed lime juice
1 habanero chile, stem and seeds removed, minced
¼ cup (59 mL) dark brown sugar
½ teaspoon (2.5 mL) ground ginger
½ teaspoon (2.5 mL) ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon (2.5 mL) ground mace
Shaved or grated fresh coconut for garnish
 
1.
In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the flour and stir until smooth, then add the milk and cream and stir well. Slowly mix in the chicken stock and pumpkin. Stir well and add the salt, lime juice, habanero, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and mace. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Garnish with the coconut and serve.
Wild Mushroom Bisque with Grilled Chicken
Yield: 12 servings
Heat Scale: Mild
Every year on the Saturday preceding the Super Bowl, Wild Oats Market in Albuquerque sponsors the Chef’s Invitational Souper Bowl Soup Contest. In 1995, my friend W. C. Longacre defeated a dozen other Albuquerque chefs with this grand prize winner. Use whatever wild mushrooms you have available—I have suggested a mixture, below. W. C. gathered most of the mushrooms from the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque and urges aficionados to learn about wild mushrooms.
 
1¾ pound (790 g) chicken breasts
½ cup (118 mL) teriyaki sauce
1½ tablespoons (22.5 mL) grated ginger
9 ounces (252 g) mixed wild mushrooms (suggested: 2½ ounces [71 g] bo-
letes, 2½ ounces [71 g] cepes, 2 ounces [57 g] morels, 1 ounce [28 g] golden
trumpets, and 1 ounce [28 g] black trumpets)
2 large shallots, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon (5 mL) minced garlic
1 teaspoon (5 mL) freshly ground black pepper
4 quarts (3.8 L) Classic Chicken Stock (page 46)
½ medium onion, chopped fine
¾ cup (177 mL) butter, divided in thirds
1 pound (454 g) domestic mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon (15 mL) minced garlic
¾ cup (177 mL) all-purpose flour
2 ounces (57 g) hard romano cheese, finely grated
1 quart (.95 L) cream
½ cup (118 mL) dry sherry
2 cups (473 mL) V-8 juice or other vegetable juice
Commercial hot sauce, to taste
Salt, to taste
 
1.
Marinate the chicken in the teriyaki and ginger for 20 minutes. Grill the chicken until done, chop fine, and set aside.
2.
Soak the wild mushrooms in 3 cups (708 mL) warm water for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Soak the mushrooms again in 2 cups (473 mL) water. Remove the mushrooms, reserving the water, and finely chop them. Place the mushrooms, reserved water, shallots, garlic, black pepper, and chicken stock in a stock pot and boil for 30 minutes, adding water as needed to maintain the original volume.
3.
Sauté the onion in ¼ cup (59 mL) of the butter over medium heat and set aside.
4.
Sauté the domestic mushrooms and garlic in ¼ cup (59 mL) butter. Add the sautéed onions, mushrooms, and garlic to the stock pot.
5.
Melt the remaining ¼ cup (59 mL) butter in a pan, add the flour, and stir until lightly browned to make a roux. Add the roux to the stock pot, stirring well. Add the chopped chicken breast and romano cheese and stir well. Add the cream, sherry, V-8 juice, and salt and heat for 10 minutes.
Southwest Cream of Corn Soup with Serranos
Yield: 8-10 servings
Heat Scale: Medium
This well-received classic is dramatically enhanced by f loating large garlic croutons and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on top. It’s great with any traditional Mexican or Southwestern fare, such as enchiladas or chiles rellenos.
 
1½ quarts (1.42 L) water
2 tablespoons (30 mL) salt
Kernels from 6 ears fresh sweet corn
8 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
1 large green bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, finely chopped
1 large red bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, finely chopped
2 medium red onions, peeled and finely chopped, divided
½ cup (118 mL) red wine vinegar, divided
½ cup (118 mL) dry red wine, divided
3 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
½ bunch green onions, top 2 inches (5 cm) of greens removed, cut into
¼-inch (.5 cm) pieces
1½ teaspoons (7.5 mL) minced garlic
1 tablespoon (15 mL) minced parsley
2 tablespoons (30 mL) ground red New Mexican chile (chimayó preferred)
1½ tablespoons (22.5 mL) sugar
½ cup (118 mL) shredded carrots
5 cups Classic White Sauce (page 44)
Chopped cilantro for garnish
 
1.
In a stock pot, combine the water, salt, corn, serranos, bell peppers, 1 onion, ¼ cup (79 mL) of the vinegar, ¼ cup (79 mL) of the wine, tomatoes, green onions, garlic, parsley, and ground chile and bring to a boil. Boil uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
2.
In a bowl, combine the remaining red onion, wine vinegar, and red wine and let stand for 20 minutes.
3.
In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, carrots, and White Sauce. When the onions are finished marinating, add them, with 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of the marinade, to the White Sauce.
4.
Add the White Sauce mixture to the simmering stock pot and cook for 5 minutes, blending with a whisk. Serve immediately or keep warm in a double boiler. Serve garnished with the cilantro.
Conch Bisque
Yield: 6-8 servings
Heat Scale: Medium to Hot
A very popular dish in the Turks and Caicos Islands, this conch bisque is devoid of the tomatoes so popular in most conch dishes. The flavor comes from heavily pounded conchs, good white wine, thyme, and hot peppers. Since the soup tends to be rather rich, I suggest serving it as a light lunch or dinner entrée. Squid may be substituted for the conch. Conch is a dish of great pride wherever it is served—the acclaim is due to the meat and the fine shell.
 
6 conchs, cleaned, pounded with a heavy mallet to flatten, and diced into
½-inch (1 cm) pieces
5 cups (1.18 L) water or Traditional European Fish Stock (page 47)
1 cup (236 mL) dry white wine, plus more as needed for cooking
2 tablespoons (30 mL) butter and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) vegetable oil (or
use all vegetable oil)
1 cup (236 mL) chopped onions
½ cup (118 mL) chopped green bell pepper
1 cup (236 mL) chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 teaspoons (10 mL) fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon (5 mL) dried thyme
1 cup (236 mL) diced carrots
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in ½-inch (1 cm) dice
1 large habanero chile, stem and seeds removed, minced
3 tablespoons (45 mL) chopped chives
1 cup (236 mL) half-and-half
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
 
1.
In a heavy soup pot, combine the pounded conch, water, and wine and bring the mixture to a hard boil. Lower the heat so the liquid is at a light rolling boil and boil for 45 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat. Strain the liquid, reserving the conch meat. Measure the liquid and add enough more white wine to make 6 cups (1.42 L).
2.
Wash out the soup pot. Pour the liquid back into the clean pot and bring to a boil.
3.
Heat the butter and oil (or just oil, if you prefer) in a heavy skillet over low heat. Add the onions, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in the thyme.
4.
Add the sautéed mixture to the boiling conch liquid, then add the carrots, potatoes, habanero chile, chives, and reserved conch meat. Return the mixture to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 1 hour.
5.
Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool slightly. Stir in the half-and-half and reheat the soup, taking care not to let it boil. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.
Colombian Coconut Soup
Yield: 4 servings
Heat Scale: Medium
This recipe hails from the tropical lowlands of the Republic of Colombia, where it is known, logically, as Sopa de Coco. Coconuts are frequently used in cooking there. Tortillas cut into strips and fried in vegetable oil are a nice accompaniment. To dress it up, serve the soup in coconut shell halves.
 
2 large, ripe coconuts, cracked, meat grated
2 cups (473 mL) milk, scalded
3 cups (708 mL) Traditional European Fish Stock (page 47) or Classic
Chicken Stock (page 46)
2 egg yolks, well beaten
½ habanero chile, stem and seeds removed, minced (or substitute
1½ jalapeños)
Paprika, to taste
Salt, to taste
 
1.
In a bowl, combine the grated coconut and the milk. Let the mixture cool, then squeeze it through cheesecloth or a linen napkin to extract all the liquid. Combine the coconut milk, stock, egg yolks, and chile in a saucepan and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
2.
To serve, sprinkle with paprika and salt to taste, and accompany with strips of toast or fried tortillas.
Curried Coconut Soup
Yield: 4-6 servings
Heat Scale: Medium
From South America to Africa, I make a coconut culinary leap. The hot curry powder blends nicely with the coconut milk to create a tangy Nigerian soup. Curry has traveled around the world, and each country has its own variations on the spice blend.
 
3 cups (708 mL) coconut milk
3 cups (708 mL) Classic Chicken Stock (page 46), divided
2 teaspoons (10 mL) imported Indian curry powder
½ teaspoon (2.5 mL) salt
¼ teaspoon (1.25 mL) freshly ground white pepper
¼ cup (59 mL) prepared grated coconut
1 tablespoon (15 mL) freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon (5 mL) cornstarch
½ cup (118 mL) plain yogurt
¼ cup (59 mL) toasted coconut
Minced parsley for garnish
 
1.
Combine the coconut milk and 2¾ cups (629 mL) chicken stock in a large, heavy pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and add the curry powder, salt, pepper, grated coconut, and ginger. Simmer for 10 minutes.
2.
Mix the cornstarch with the remaining ¼ cup (59 mL) stock and add it in a steady stream to the simmering soup, stirring constantly until the soup thickens slightly.
3.
Serve the soup hot, garnished with the yogurt, toasted coconut, and parsley.
Peanut-Piquin Cream Soup
Yield: 6 servings
Heat Scale: Medium
Each African country seems to have its own version of peanut, or groundnut, soup. It is common all over Africa, but it is especially popular in the western part. The soup can be made a day ahead to blend the flavors, then carefully reheated. Add some dried tropical fruits or a chutney for a nice variation when serving.
 
1 pound (454 g) shelled, roasted peanuts
1 tablespoon (15 mL) peanut oil
1 cup (236 mL) chopped onion
½ cup (118 mL) chopped carrots
3 dried, crushed piquin chiles, or 3 fresh jalapeños, stems and seeds re- moved, minced
8 cups (1.9 L) Basic Beef Stock (page 45) or Classic Chicken Stock (page 46)
¾ cup (177 mL) milk, divided
1 tablespoon (15 mL) cornstarch
¾ cup (177 mL) cream
½ teaspoon (2.5 mL) salt
Chopped parsley for garnish
Chopped chives for garnish
 
1.
Rub the skins off the peanuts. Place the nuts in a food processor and grind them to a very fine meal. Set aside.
2.
In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the chiles, the ground peanuts, and the stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

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