Seared Polenta Rounds With Barbecued Chicken And Pickled Red Onion Food

PICKLED RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Put the onions in a medium bowl. Combine the vinegar, sugar, coriander, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Pour the mixture over the onions, cover and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

SEARED POLENTA ROUNDS WITH BARBECUED CHICKEN AND PICKLED RED ONION

Steps:

• For the pickled onions, combine vinegar, sugar, salt and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside to cool for about 15 minutes.
• Place sliced onion in a pint jar or heatproof bowl and pour vinegar mixture over onions.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• For the barbecue chicken, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet.
• Add chopped onion and jalapeño and cook until just golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in barbecue sauce and mix well. Stir in chicken and warm over low heat.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Working in batches, lightly sear both sides of polenta rounds, 3 to 5 minutes. Set seared rounds on a serving dish.
• Top each polenta round with about 1 tablespoon of the chicken mixture and garnish with a few pickled onion slices and a pinch of cilantro.

GRILLED RED POTATOES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the grill and brush with a metal grill brush to loosen any crud and soot. After the grill has been brushed, run an oiled towel over the grill to pick up any loosened crud.
• In a large bowl, toss the potatoes and onions together with the rosemary, garlic, crushed red pepper, salt, to taste, and a little olive oil. Try to keep the onions together in rounds, they will fall apart while grilling but try and keep them together as long as possible; it just makes things easier.
• Arrange the potatoes and onions on the preheated grill. Once the potatoes have developed lovely grill marks, rotate them a quarter turn to create a lovely crosshatch pattern, (dont worry about the onions, they fall apart and you wont see the marks). Turn the potatoes over and repeat the process, turn the onions over to cook the other side as well. Cook the potatoes and onions until they are soft all the way through, about 8 to 10 minutes on each side.
• Remove from the grill and serve hot or at room temperature.
• Who knew you could grill a potato!

BARBECUED PORK SANDWICHES WITH PICKLED RED ONION

Steps:

• For onion:
• Place sliced onion in medium bowl. Pour boiling water over. Let stand 10 minutes; drain well, then return to bowl. Add juice, vinegar, and salt and stir to blend. Cover and chill at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• For vinaigrette:
• Chop garlic with salt to paste; scrape into small bowl. Add barbecue sauce, orange juice, and lime juice to bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season vinaigrette to taste with pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• For pork:
• Blend pepper, smoked paprika, and salt in small bowl. Sprinkle seasoning mix evenly over both tenderloins. Let stand at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• Spray grill rack with nonstick spray. Prepare barbecue (high heat). Grill tenderloins uncovered 5 minutes, rolling over to sear all sides. Cover grill and continue to cook until thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 145°F, turning often and moving to cooler part of grill as needed, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer to cutting board; let rest 10 minutes.
• Thinly slice tenderloins crosswise into rounds. Mound pork on roll bottoms. Top with well-drained onion slices, then drizzle with vinaigrette. Cover with roll tops and serve, passing extra onion slices and vinaigrette separately.

PICKLED RED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together the first four ingredients until sugar and salt dissolve. Place onions and optional ingredients, if desired, into large glass jar; pour vinegar mixture over onions. Seal and let stand at least 2 hours at room temperature. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

GRILLED MUSTARD CHICKEN WITH FRESH CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• For chicken:
• Whisk onions, mustard, lemon juice, and garlic in medium bowl to blend. Using fingertips and leaving 1 side still attached, loosen skin on each chicken thigh. Lift skin flap on each and fold back. Spoon half of mustard seasoning atop thighs, dividing equally; spread to cover meat. Fold skin flap over to enclose seasoning and secure skin with metal pin. Sprinkle thighs with salt and pepper on both sides. Turn thighs, skin side up, and spread remaining mustard seasoning over skin. Transfer to small baking sheet. DO AHEAD: Chicken can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Preheat oven to 250°F. Brush grill rack generously with olive oil grill chicken until golden brown and cooked through, turning chicken occasionally and moving to cooler spot on grill if browning too quickly, 40 to 50 minutes. Transfer grilled chicken to another baking sheet; keep warm in oven while preparing polenta.
• For polenta:
• Bring 5 cups water to boil in heavy large saucepan over high heat. Gradually whisk in polenta, then 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt and sugar. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until polenta is tender, thick, and creamy, whisking often and adjusting heat to maintain gentle simmer, 25 to 30 minutes. Add corn kernels and cook, stirring constantly, until corn is tender, about 5 minutes. Mix in mascarpone cheese. Season polenta to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon polenta onto each of 6 plates. Top with grilled chicken and serve.