Pistachio Creme Brulee With Blackberries And Pomegranate Food

SPICE RUBBED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS, JALAPENO PESTO AND POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the pork tenderloin: To a bowl, add the paprika, brown sugar, coriander, cumin, mustard powder, chili powder, 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper, and stir to combine.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil in a cast-iron pan over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Sprinkle the tenderloin on both sides with the seasoning mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the pork in the pan and sear on all sides until golden brown, about 8 minutes.
• Transfer the pork to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Put the pan into the oven and roast the pork to medium (an internal temperature of 130 degrees F), about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, tent loosely with foil and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing into 1/2-inch-thick medallions.
• For the pomegranate sauce: Whisk together the pomegranate molasses, vinegar, mustard and honey in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified.
• For the pesto: Combine the cilantro, cheese, pine nuts, jalapenoes, garlic, and some salt and pepper in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil and process until emulsified. Scrape into a bowl.
• For the Brussels sprouts: Put the Brussels sprouts on a baking sheet , toss with the canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until light golden brown and a knife inserted into the centers goes in without any resistance, 20 to 30 minutes.
• When ready to serve, reheat the brussels sprouts in a saute pan with the butter. Then add the pomegranate molasses.
• Plating: Place 2 pork medallions cut-side up on a plate. Top with some pomegranate sauce across the pork and a dollop of jalapeno pesto on the top of each pork medallion. Add some Brussels sprouts on the side, garnish with hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds and cilantro.

POMEGRANATE-PISTACHIO PILAF

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the lentils to a boil in about 1 cup water; reduce the heat to low and let simmer until just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and add the onions, carrots and celery and cook until the onions are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the sausage, if using, and cook, breaking up any clumps, until lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Stir in the rice, pistachios, fennel seeds, turmeric, thyme and 1 teaspoon salt; cook until the rice is opaque, about 3 minutes. Stir into the lentils and add 1 3/4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then cover completely and simmer over low heat until cooked, about 45 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, without removing the cover, 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork and top with the pomegranate seeds.

PISTACHIO CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Pour milk in a large pan, and cook on high heat. When milk starts boiling, remove from heat. Put a large empty bowl and another one filled with ice the refrigerator. Pour egg yolks and sugar into an electric mixer and mix until it becomes thick and white. Leave aside. Put milk back on heat and bring to boil. Pour a little milk into egg and sugar mix whipping constantly. Pour into milk pan and cook at low temperature stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until firm consistency (about 5 minutes). Do not bring to boil. To check if creme is ready, rub your finger on the back of the spoon and if it leaves a trace, the creme is cooked. Add the pistachio paste. Put the bowl on ice to stop the cooking process. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.

PORK AND POMEGRANATE PUFFY TACOS

Steps:

• For the pineapple-pomegranate relish: Combine the pineapple, cilantro, pomegranate, chives and lime juice in a bowl. Add honey if needed. Season the relish with salt and pepper and let sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
• For the pork: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Put the pork into a large bowl and sprinkle with the ancho, New Mexican and arbol chile powders and the salt, tossing to coat evenly.
• Heat the oil in a large roasting pan or braising pan over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Add the pork and sear until golden brown on all sides. Add the pineapple, garlic and onions and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock, pineapple juice and pomegranate juice and bring to a boil.
• Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and put in the oven. Braise until the pork is fork-tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove the pork to a bowl and let cool slightly, then coarsely shred with two forks.
• Mix together the pomegranate molasses, honey and 1/2 cup of the braising liquid in a large saute pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the shredded pork and toss to coat.
• For the puffy tacos: Combine the masa mix, salt and 2 1/4 cups warm water in a large bowl and mix until a smooth dough forms. Pull off pieces of dough and roll them into balls about the size of a ping pong ball.
• Meanwhile, pour 2 inches of oil into a large deep pot and heat until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil registers 350 degrees F.
• Cut a quart-size resealable plastic bag open down both sides to form a rectangle. Use the bag to line the tortilla press as you shape the tortillas so they do not stick: Lay one side of the plastic over the bottom of the press. Place a ball of dough in the center and fold the other side of the plastic over the dough. Shut the top and press firmly down on the dough to shape the tortilla. Continue with the remaining dough balls.
• Drop a tortilla into the hot oil and, using a metal spatula, repeatedly douse the tortilla with the hot oil until it begins to puff up. Flip it over and, using the spatula, make an indentation in the center of the tortilla to form a taco shape. Transfer to paper towels to drain and sprinkle with salt.
• Fill the puffy taco shells with some of the pork, avocado slices, cheese, pineapple-pomegranate relish, cilantro and radish slices and serve.

PISTACHIO CRèME BRûLéE WITH SOUR CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Spread pistachios on a baking sheet and toast until nuts are fragrant but not browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cool completely. Rub off and discard any loose skins (some will remain on nuts).
• Pulse nuts with granulated sugar in a food processor just until finely chopped. (Do not blend to a paste.)
• Stir together nuts and cream with a pinch of salt in a 1-quart heavy saucepan and cook over moderate heat, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until just hot. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 30 minutes.
• Rinse kitchen towel under cold water and wring out as much water as possible. Line a large sieve with towel, then set sieve over a bowl or large glass measure and pour pistachio mixture into towel. Wrap towel up around mixture and, working over sieve, squeeze pistachio cream from towel into bowl. Discard ground pistachios.
• Lightly beat yolks in a medium bowl, then whisk in pistachio cream. Divide mixture among gratin dishes.
• Arrange gratin dishes on a metal rack set in a roasting pan and bake in a hot water bath until custards are just set around edges but centers tremble slightly when dishes are gently shaken, about 20 minutes. Remove gratin dishes from pan and cool, uncovered, then chill, covered, at least 4 hours. (Custards will set completely as they chill.)
• Very gently blot any moisture from surface of chilled custards with paper towels. Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons turbinado sugar evenly over each custard, then move blowtorch flame evenly back and forth just over sugar until sugar is melted and caramelized. Serve with sour cherry sauce.

POMEGRANATE CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the pomegranate juice, 1/3 cup sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Stir in the cream, brown sugar, water and remaining sugar. Cook until bubbles form around sides of pan., Remove from the heat; stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks. Return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Stir in vanilla. Transfer to five 4-oz. ramekins. Place cups in a baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to pan., Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until center is just set (mixture will jiggle). Remove ramekins from water bath; cool for 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours., If using a creme brulee torch, sprinkle custards with sugar. Heat sugar with the torch until caramelized. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and serve immediately., If broiling the custards, place ramekins on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar. Broil 8 in. from the heat for 4-7 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 1 hour. Just before serving, sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.

BLACKBERRY CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• In a saucepan, combine cream and half of the sugar; heat over medium heat until steaming. In a heatproof bowl, whisk together remaining sugar, eggs and egg yolks until pale. Gradually whisk in heated cream mixture in a slow steady stream; whisk in vanilla.
• Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a liquid measuring cup wih a pouring spout. Place blackberries evenly in bottom of six 3/4 cup, or 8 1/2 cup ramekins, or crème brûlée dishes. Pour cream mixture evenly over top.
• Set ramekins in a roasting pan and place pan in oven. Pour in enough boiling water to come to three quarters up sides of ramekins.Bake for 35-40 minutes until tops are firm and center is still slightly jiggly.
• Let cool on rack. Cover loosely and refrigerate for about 2 hours, until chlled, or for up to 2 days.
• TOPPING: Just before serving, preheat broiler, if using. Blot tops of custards, dry with paper towel. Sprinkle evenly with a thin layer of sugar, adding more if required. Broil on a baking sheet, rotating ramekins if necessary, or use a torch until sugar is bubbling and caramelized. Let cool for 3 minutes.
• COOKING TOP: Fresh berries work best for rhis recipe. Frozen berries are too soft and rhe custard won't set properly. Rinse fresh berries and pat dry with paper towel just before serving.
• VARIATION: Instead of sprinkling the tops with sugar and browning them, make a caramel syrup topping instead. Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil, without stirring, until syrup turns a deep caramel colour. Let cool until bubbles subside; pour a thin layer onto custards and let harden.