Maque Choux With Tasso Ham Food

FLOUNDER WITH CORN AND TASSO MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Line pie dish with large sheet of foil, leaving long overhang on 1 side. Separate rings of 1 shallot slice; scatter over foil. Top with 1 tablespoon butter, sliced garlic clove, 2 lime slices, and 1 orange slice. Sprinkle 1 fillet on both sides with salt and cayenne. Arrange fillet, skin side down, atop seasonings in dish. Top fillet with 2 thyme sprigs. Spoon 2 tablespoons beer and 1 tablespoon wine around fillet. Fold long foil overhang over fillet to opposite edge of foil, pressing foil onto fillet. Fold foil edge over to seal on 3 sides, then fold again to double seal. Transfer packet to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining seasonings and fillets.
• Prepare barbecue (high heat). Arrange packets, sealed side up, on grill rack. Cook until fish feels slightly firm when pressed, about 10 minutes. Serve with Corn and Tasso Maque Choux.

CAJUN TASSO CORN MAQUE CHOUX WITH GRILLED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat. Shuck the corn, being sure to remove all the silk. Season the ears with some olive oil, salt and black pepper. Grill, rotating the ears regularly, so as to char but not scorch, 10 to 15 minutes. Reserve.
• Dice the Tasso into approximately 1-centimeter cubes. Heat a large, heavy Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Tasso with a little bit of canola oil and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until evenly browned, about 15 minutes. Remove and reserve, leaving any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.
• Add a little more canola oil to the Dutch oven. Add the garlic, celery, jalapenos, onions and bell pepper and sautee until the onions are sweated, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add the wine and simmer, scraping up the bits from the bottom of the pan, until all the wine has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the bay leaves, thyme, red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon paprika, 2 teaspoons cayenne, 2 teaspoons chili powder and some salt and black pepper. Stir.
• Using a knife, cut the kernels off the corn cobs, then milk the cobs using the back of the knife. Add the corn to the Dutch oven. Reserve about 50 pieces of Tasso, then add the rest to the Dutch oven. Add the heavy cream and butter, stir and bring to a simmer. Cook the mixture until thickened with a slight creamed corn consistency, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaves.
• Combine 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon cayenne and 1 teaspoon chili powder in a small bowl. Toss the shrimp with 1/4 cup olive oil on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the shrimp on both sides with the spice rub. Grill the shrimp over medium heat until pink and slightly charred, but not overcooked, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• To serve: Place 1 tablespoon of corn maque choux in an Asian soup spoon. Top with a grilled shrimp and a piece of the reserved Tasso. Garnish with some green onion. Repeat with the remaining maque choux, shrimp and Tasso.

PATE A CHOUX PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and butter, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the salt, sugar and flour, and stir vigorously with a heatproof spatula. Cook, stirring constantly, until a dense dough forms that pulls away from the side of the pan, about 3 minutes.
• Add the dough to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. On low speed, beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions to make sure everything is evenly mixed.
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using a 1-ounce scoop, drop the dough, 1 inch apart, onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake until puffed and golden, 35 to 40 minutes. (The puffs should feel light when you pick them up.) Make sure to keep the oven shut until at least the halfway point -- if you open the oven before 20 minutes have elapsed, the puffs will deflate and you won't be able to get the texture back. Remove the puffs from the oven and prick each one on the side to allow the steam to escape. Let cool completely.
• To dip in chocolate: If desired, dip the tops of the puffs in Warm Chocolate Ganache, shaking off the excess. Place on a platter and sprinkle with sliced almonds. Let stand for about 30 minutes, to set the glaze, before eating.
• Heat 1 inch or so of water in a medium saucepan over low heat. Put the chocolate chips and cream in a heatproof bowl that fits snugly into the saucepan without touching the water. Heat, stirring, until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes.

TASSO MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the Tasso and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the corn, onions and bell peppers. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Saute for about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the corn is tender. Add the cream, stir, and remove from the heat.

CORN AND TASSO MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush 1 ear of corn with oil, then sprinkle with coarse salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Grill corn until cooked through and slightly charred, turning occasionally, about 14 minutes. Set grilled corn aside.
• Cut kernels off 3 remaining ears of corn. Place kernels in large bowl; reserve cobs.
• Using coarse side of box grater, grate any milky juices from 3 reserved cobs into medium bowl. Coarsely grate ear of grilled corn, then any milky juices from cob into same medium bowl.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add tasso and sauté until almost crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Add shallots, poblano chile, celery, thyme, and garlic. Sauté until celery is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add corn kernels; sauté 3 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices and grilled corn with juices. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 8 minutes. Mix in 2 tablespoons butter. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with green onions.