Maque Choux Skillet Cornbread Food

CORN MAQUE CHOUX (FRIED CORN)

Steps:

• In the skillet, heat the butter over medium low heat until melted.
• Add the onion and saute until wilted but not brown.
• Add the bell peppers and the corn and stir to coat everything with butter, sprinkle with some salt, pepper, and cayenne, and continue cooking over med-low heat, stirring frequently, until all liquid (if any) completely evaporates, the vegetables start to take on a slight caramalization and the whole room smells really, really good.
• (This should take about 20 minutes).
• Taste, adjust the seasonings if you need to, and serve.
• Note: I say to use a cast iron skillet because, as with cornbread, I believe this dish suffers in flavor if it is not cooked in one.
• However, if you don't have one, you can use another skillet- just know that it would be much better cooked in a cast iron skillet.

CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet, cast iron or other non-stick, over medium heat until hot. Add bacon; cook and stir until crispy, 2-3 minutes. Add bell peppers, green onions, and garlic; cook and stir until softened, about 3 minutes. Add corn; cook and stir until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add butter, black pepper, and cayenne to skillet; stir to combine. Season to taste with kosher salt and serve hot.

CAJUN CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• 1. Cut the kernels off of the corn into a large bowl. Using the back of the knife, scrape the sweet corn milk from the cobs to extract about 3 tablespoons and add it to the bowl. Set aside.
• 2. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until the fat renders and the bacon is crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside. Add the butter to the skillet and when melted, add the celery, bell peppers and onions. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are soft, about 15 minutes. Add the milk, scallion whites, garlic, tomatoes and corn. Cook until thickened, 10 minutes.
• 3. Serve garnished with the scallion greens and reserved bacon.

KICKED UP CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the corn, onions, bell peppers, jalapeno, Essence, and salt, and cook, stirring, until soft, for 10 minutes. Add the cream and cook for 2 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and serve hot.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

MAQUE CHOUX AND SKILLET PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• For the Chops: In a small bowl, combine paprika, oregano, onion powder, pinch sugar, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Sprinkle pork with spice mixture. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet on medium-high, tilting skillet to coat bottom lightly and cook pork for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until slightly pink in center. Transfer pork to a serving platter; cover to keep warm.
• For the Maque Choux: To keep the mess down, wipe the skillet clean that the chops were cooked in or you can use different skillet. Melt the butter in a large skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the corn, onions, bell peppers, jalapeno, Cajun seasoning and salt; cook, stirring, until soft, for 10 minutes. Add the cream and cook for 2 minutes.
• Dish the cooked chops with a serving of maque choux on the side.

CAJUN CORN MAQUE CHOUX (MOCK SHOE)

Steps:

• With sharp knife, cut kernels off corn cobs, if using fresh corn.
• In medium skillet heat 1 tablespoon butter with the oil.
• Add corn, onion, sugar and Tabasco sauce.
• Cook until corn is almost tender and starts to form a crust on bottom of pan.
• Gradually stir in broth, scraping up bits on bottom of pan.
• Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the cream.
• Cook for 5 minutes longer or until almost all liquid evaporates; stir frequently.
• Remove skillet from heat.
• Add beaten egg; stir one minute or until egg is cooked.
• Serve with additional Tabasco sauce.

CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Using high heat combine 4 T butter, oil, onions, sugar, pepper, salt, cayenne, and corn in a large skillet or frying pan. Cook until corn is tender and starch forms a crust on the pan bottom, about 14 to 16 minutes. Stir occasionally and stir more as it starts to stick.
• Gradually add 1 C of the stock, scraping the pan bottom and continue cooking 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add 4 T butter and stir. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping pan bottom.
• Reduce heat to low and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring once or twice. Add 1/4 C stock and cook 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the remaining 1 C stock and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in 1/2 C evaporated milk and continue to cook and stir until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• In a bowl, combine eggs and the remaining 1/2 C evaporated milk. Beat until frothy. Stir into the corn and serve. Heat from the corn will cook the eggs, but will not curdle.

CORNBREAD-STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH CORN MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• For stuffing:
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; sauté until beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Add apples; sauté until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Mix in sage, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; transfer to large bowl. Let stand until almost cool, about 10 minutes.
• Mix cornbread into vegetables. Add egg and toss to blend. Mix in cheese, then enough apple cider by tablespoonfuls to form stuffing that is moist but not wet.
• Game hens:
• Sprinkle cavity of each hen lightly with salt and pepper. Pack 1 cup stuffing into each (place any leftover stuffing into buttered ramekins and cover with foil). Skewer cavities closed with toothpicks or turkey lacers. Tuck wing tips under; tie legs together to hold shape. Mix sage, coarse salt, and pepper in small bowl; sprinkle over hens.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place 2 hens in skillet. Sauté until brown, turning often with wooden spoons (to prevent tearing skin), about 10 minutes. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet, breast side up. Repeat with remaining hens. Drape 2 bacon strip halves over breast of each hen. Using kitchen string, tie bacon strips in place. (Place any ramekins of stuffing on baking sheet with hens.)
• Place hens (and extra stuffing) in oven. Roast hens until cooked through and juices run clear when thigh is pierced, about 45 minutes. (Roast stuffing 30 minutes.) Cut strings off hens. Transfer hens to plates. Spoon maque choux around hens and serve with extra stuffing.