Lemon Grass Parfait With Warm Pineapple Salsa Food

ROASTED SPICY PINEAPPLE WITH PASSION FRUIT GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, mix together the sugar, water and vanilla bean and cook until golden brown. Add the rum, ginger, chiles, banana, passion fruit and mix well. Allow to cool then blend in a food processor. Strain and set aside. Place pineapple in a shallow baking dish and brush on glaze. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, basting every 15 to 20 minutes. Save the warm sauce in the baking dish for plating.

STEAMED RICE PEARL BALLS WITH SPICY MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• Soak the rice in a bowl of cold water for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Strain and dry on a clean towel. In a bowl, combine the pork, egg, soy, sugar, pepper, ginger and cornstarch. Mix well then add the dried and fresh shiitakes, water chestnuts and cilantro. Using wet hands, make small balls the size of a ping-pong ball, then roll them in the soaked rice. Press the rice in firmly. In a large steamer basket (or 2 levels) sprayed with a non-stick spray, place the balls, cover and steam hard for 30 to 35 minutes. Make sure there is a lot of water to keep the steam going strong.
• PLATING: Place a small bowl of chutney in the center of a clear plate glass plate and surround with rice balls. Place glass plate on top of another plate filled with rice.
• SPICY MANGO SALSA: In a bowl, combine all. Let stand for at least 30 minutes so flavors blend.

COCONUT-CRUSTED PORK CHOPS WITH WARM PINEAPPLE SALSA

Steps:

• For the salsa: Heat the oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Saute the pineapple, Fresno chile and red onion until tender and the juices have been released, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the guava jelly, soy sauce, ginger and garlic; stir together and cook for 1 minute. Add a drizzle of sriracha if desired. Stir in the cilantro and scallions.
• For the pork chops: Set up a dredging station with three separate bowls: one with the flour, another with the beaten eggs and soy sauce, and the last with the breadcrumbs, coconut flakes, five-spice powder, garlic powder and some salt and pepper.
• Dip the pork chops in the flour, then the egg and then in the breadcrumb mixture.
• Heat 1 inch of oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Shallow fry the dredged pork chops until golden brown, then flip and cook to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Remove the pork chops from the pan and set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
• Serve the pork chops with salsa on top and macadamia nuts as garnish.

TAMARIND GLAZED DUCK BREAST WITH THAI RED CURRY TAMALE GREEN PAPAYA AND CORN SALSA

Steps:

• In a small saute pan, dry roast the cumin, coriander, and pepper until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes and then grind into a powder. In a food processor, puree the shallots, garlic, lemon grass, galangal, and cilantro. Add the pureed chiles, tomato paste, lime juice, shrimp paste, ground spices, and blend until smooth.;
• In a heavy bottomed pot over high heat, season the duck legs with salt and pepper and sear until golden brown. Remove the duck legs and using the same pot, saute the onions until they are translucent. Add the curry paste to the onions and cook over medium heat for 4 minutes. Add the coconut milk and simmer for another 2 minutes. Return the duck legs to the pot and fill with enough water to just cover the duck. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until the meat falls off the bone. Remove from heat and when cool, pick all of the meat off the bones and add only the meat to the remaining broth.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the duck broth, rice, scallions, and red bell pepper. Season with the salt and pepper. Lay a banana leaf shiny side down, and place about 1 cup of the rice mixture in the center of the leaf. Fold the ends over the rice to form a sealed packed. Continue making the tamales. Using a wok or a double boiler, steam the tamales until the rice is very hot, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the corn, red onion, papaya, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, fish sauce, cumin, salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for about 1 hour for the lime juice to soften the papaya.
• TAMARIND GLAZE: 1 cup tamarind paste 1/4 cup sliced shallots 2 tablespoons garlic, chopped 1/2 cup lemon grass, sliced 2 Kaffir lime leaves 2 Thai bird chiles 1/2 cup crushed rock sugar 1 tablespoon whole cumin seed, toasted 2 quarts chicken stock or water Salt and pepper, to taste
• In a medium, non-reactive pot, combine the tamarind paste, shallots, garlic, lemon grass, Kaffir lime leaves, Thai bird chiles, rock sugar, cumin seed, water, salt and pepper. Simmer lightly for about one hour until the glaze is thick and syrupy. Strain and season with salt.
• DUCK BREAST 4 (6 1/2-ounce) duck breasts 1 cup tamarind glaze Salt and pepper, to taste
• Using a sharp knife, score the duck skin, in half- inch intervals. Season the duck with the salt and pepper and place skin side down on a hot grill. Be careful of the errant flames that may flare up. Continuously brush the duck with the tamarind glaze as it cooks. Flip the duck when the skin is very golden and continue to brush with the glaze. Cook for about 7 minutes more for medium rare. Allow the duck to rest for 3 minutes before slicing.
• GARNISH: Red corn tortillas Canola oil, for frying 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup sliced scallions
• Using a sharp knife, cut the tortilla into thin strips. Fill a fryer or medium heavy pot 1/3 full with oil and heat over high heat to 350 degrees. Add the tortillas and fry until crispy. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with the cumin and salt.
• PLATING Place a hot tamale on each plate and make a cut down the center. Squeeze the 2 sides together, like you would to a baked potato. Thinly slice each duck breast and fan it out, skin side up, around each tamale. Place a mound of the salsa in the center between the duck and tamale, and top with the tortilla. Drizzle some of the remaining glaze around the plate and sprinkle with the sliced scallions.
• Wine suggestion: Bedford Thompson Cabernet Franc 1995

COCONUT CREAM AND CHOCOLATE RICE CAKE PARFAIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 1/3 hotel pan that is 2 1/2-inches deep, about 3 quarts in size, with the room temperature butter. Set aside.
• Add the rice flour to a medium bowl and whisk in the liquid egg substitute until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
• Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set aside. Place the oat milk in a saucepan with the cinnamon sticks and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, pour over the chocolate and cover with a plate, pot lid or whatever will cover the top of the bowl. After at least 5 minutes, remove the cinnamon sticks and whisk the chocolate until smooth. Add the chocolate ganache to the rice flour mixture and carefully stir to combine. Pour into the greased pan and put into the oven. Bake until evenly browned, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Turn the cake out onto a wire rack lined sheet tray and let cool completely at room temperature.
• Remove the top cream from the coconut cans and discard or reserve for another use. Pour the rest of the coconut can contents into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whisk until thickened and holds stiff peaks. Set aside and save in the refrigerator until the cake is completely cooled.
• Make the parfaits in rocks glasses. Cut out small circles of the cake to fit them - 2 to 3 inches in size. Place a piece of cake on the bottom, top with the coconut whipped cream and repeat until you end with the dollop of cream on top. Dust cocoa powder on top for garnish and serve.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH PINEAPPLE, GINGER AND LEMON GRASS SALSA

Steps:

• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the shallot and 1 pinch of salt; cook and stir until the shallot has softened, about 5 minutes. Stir shallot, pineapple, ginger, lemon grass, cilantro, honey, vinegar, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, extra virgin olive oil, and salt to taste, together in a bowl. Set aside.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan, and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the green beans, recover, and steam until just tender, 2 to 6 minutes depending on thickness. Immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Once the green beans are cold, drain well, and set aside.
• Heat the safflower oil in a large skillet over high heat. Thoroughly dry each scallop. Once light wisps of smoke are visible in the safflower oil, carefully place the scallops in the skillet. Sear the scallops until golden brown without moving them, about 1 minute. Flip the scallop and cook until desired doneness, about 90 seconds. Turn of the heat and remove scallops from the skillet. Toss green beans into the still-hot skillet for 1 minute. Serve scallops over green beans and top with pineapple salsa.