Lightly Cured Hamachi With Cilantro Peanut Lime And Tamarind Food

TRIO OF MARGARITAS - GINGER, GRAPEFRUIT AND TAMARIND

Steps:

• Combine the tequila, Cointreau, ginger syrup, lime juice and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass with or without a salt rim (use the lime wedge to wet the rim). Garnish with pickled ginger.
• Combine the tequila, Cointreau, grapefruit juice, lime juice and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass with or without a salt rim (use the lime wedge to wet the rim). Garnish with sliced grapefruit.
• Combine the tequila, Cointreau, orange juice, tamarind syrup, lime juice and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass with or without a salt rim (use the lime wedge to wet the rim). Garnish with orange zest and pomegranate seeds.
• Bring the sugar, 1 cup water and ginger to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar has melted and the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat and infuse for 30 minutes. Strain before using.
• Bring the sugar, 1 cup water and tamarind paste to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar has melted and the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat and infuse for 30 minutes. Strain before using.

KALE WITH CHICKPEAS AND TAMARIND

Steps:

• Cook 1 tablespoon each minced ginger and garlic in butter in a pot over medium-high heat, 2 minutes. Add one 15-ounce can chickpeas (drained and rinsed), 2 teaspoons curry powder and a pinch of salt. Toast the chickpeas, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in 8 ounces chopped kale. Add a mix of 3 tablespoons each water and dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon tamarind paste and a pinch of cayenne. Cook until the kale is tender. Top with cilantro.

DENNINGVLEIS (SWEET-AND-SOUR BRAISED LAMB WITH TAMARIND)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Warm the oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy ovenproof pot set over medium heat. Season the lamb generously with salt and cook in the oil, in batches as necessary, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes per batch. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the browned lamb to a plate and set it aside. Once all the lamb is browned, add the onion and garlic to the empty pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the bay leaves, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, tamarind paste, sugar, and water to the pot and stir well to combine. Return the lamb (and whatever juices have collected on the plate) to the pot and stir well to combine. Cover the pot and place it in the oven. Cook until the meat is wonderfully tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Be sure to uncover the pot and give the mixture a stir halfway through the cooking time. Season the lamb to taste with salt and serve hot.

CILANTRO SHRIMP WITH PEANUT DIP

Steps:

• Put shrimp in a bowl.
• In a blender puree the cilantro, lime juice, oil and salt and stir it into the shrimp.
• Cover the bowl and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes up to 8 hours.
• In a small bowl whisk together the ingrdients for the sauce, adding enough water to reach the consistency of a thin mayonnaise.
• Preheat the broiler, with the oven rack set on the top level.
• Spread the shrimp in a single layer in a large jelly roll pan and broil the shrimp for about 5 minutes, turning them once, until they are cooked through.
• Serve the shrimp with the peanut sauce.
• Note: Alternatively the shrimp can be threaded onto skewers and grilled on a preheated oiled grill for the same amount of time.