Spiced Capon With Pomegranate Glaze Food

GOLDEN OVEN-ROASTED CAPON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity and rinse the chicken under cold water, inside and out. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Season the body and cavity of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together the butter, lemon juice and chopped herbs. Rub the herbed butter all over the chicken. Put the lemon halves, onion, garlic and whole herbs inside the bird. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine to help hold its shape.
• Place the chicken, breast side down, on a V-rack in a roasting pan. Cooking the chicken on a rack helps make its skin crisp and keeps it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Pour water in the roasting pan to prevent the fat drippings from burning and smoking.
• Roast the chicken for about 20 minutes, then carefully turn the bird over breast side up. It is best to take the pan out of the oven, close the oven door to maintain the temperature, and rotate the chicken on the counter. Baste the chicken all over with the pan drippings. Turn the heat down to 375 degrees F and return the pan to the oven. Continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees to 170 degrees F, count on this taking about 2 hours. Remove the chicken to a platter and let stand for 15 minutes so the juices settle back into the meat before carving.
• Meanwhile, pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a gravy separator or measuring cup to let the fat rise to the top. Skim and discard the fat then return the pan juices back in the roasting pan. Place the roasting pan on top of the stove over medium heat. Add the sherry and deglaze, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper, and serve with chicken.

ACORN SQUASH WITH POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Place a baking sheet on the middle oven rack and preheat to 475 degrees F. Toss the squash in a large bowl with the melted butter and season with salt and pepper. Spread out on the hot baking sheet and roast until tender and browned, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the pomegranate juice, maple syrup, vinegar, chile powder, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until reduced to about 1/3 cup, 15 to 20 minutes. Discard the garlic.
• Arrange the squash on a platter. Drizzle with the pomegranate glaze and top with the parsley.

GRILLED BLUEFISH IN POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• In a bowl large enough to hold the four fish fillets, combine the pomegranate molasses, chopped garlic, red onion, crushed coriander seeds, and orange zest. Let marinate for 1/2 hour, refrigerated.
• Season bluefish with salt and pepper. Brush generously with oil. Put fish on hottest part of grill, skin side up. When the first side is charred and releases from the grill, about 5 minutes flip and grill on second side. Cook an additional 5 minutes or until done. Take care not to over char the fish. The marinade has sugar in it so it may burn easily.
• To serve, put a piece of fish in the center of each of 4 plates. Put a spoonful of the potato puree next to the fish and a spoonful of yogurt next to the potatoes. Arrange a quarter of the eggplant slices next to the yogurt. Top the fish with pea tendrils, drizzle with pomegranate molasses and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. Serve immediately.
• Put potatoes in saucepan and cover with cold salted water by 1-inch and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain and return the pan to heat to dry out the potatoes for about 5 minutes. Put through a ricer immediately. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. The flavor of the mixture should be prominent in garlic, salt, and acid. Set aside at room temperature.
• Preheat grill to 350 degrees F. Toss eggplant in a bowl with salt and pepper. Add the extra virgin olive oil and toss again until evenly coated. Grill on each side until slightly charred and the eggplant is tender. Set aside.
• Toss the cucumbers with salt and drain in colander for 30 minutes. Pat dry to remove moisture and excess salt. Mix yogurt with cucumbers and remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large saute pan with 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and the sliced garlic, over medium high heat. As soon as the garlic begins to brown, add the pea tendrils, season with salt and pepper and cook, tossing constantly until the tendrils are slightly wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

SPICED POMEGRANATE AND ORANGE GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the cinnamon, star-anise, juice, sugar, pomegranate molasses and honey in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Cook for 4-6 minutes or until syrupy.
• Lightly grease a large wire rack over a roasting pan lined with aluminum foil. Use a sharp knife to score the skin around the sides and hock of the ham, before using your fingers to gently remove the rind. Trim any excess fat. Wrap the ham hock in non-stick baking paper then aluminum foil. Place the ham on the rack and brush with the glaze. Arrange the orange slices over the ham, overlapping slightly. Carefully brush with the glaze and roast the ham for 40 minutes, brushing with glaze halfway. Increase the oven temperature to 200°C (400°F). Brush the ham with the glaze and roast for a further 5 minutes or until golden and caramelized.
• Serve the ham with the remaining glaze.

SPICED POMEGRANATE & ORANGE GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Put the gammon in a large pan with the bay leaves, star anise, cloves, 6 allspice berries and 8 peppercorns. Pour over the pomegranate juice to cover the gammon (you may need to top up with water). Add one of the orange halves, then bring to a simmer and partially cover with a lid. Cook for 2 hrs 30 mins, topping up with water as needed to keep the gammon covered. Leave to cool in the liquid for 20 mins, then lift out and place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the skin off the gammon, leaving a 1cm layer of fat. Score lines into the fat at ½cm intervals using knife. Bake for 15 mins until the fat is starting to crisp.
• Meanwhile, crush the remaining allspice berries and peppercorns with a pestle and mortar. Combine the crushed spices with the molasses, mustard, sugar and 1 tsp orange juice. Remove the gammon from the oven and brush over the molasses mixture. Arrange the orange slices over the gammon, securing them with some cloves.
• Turn the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and return the gammon to the oven for another 20 mins. Brush the honey over the orange slices and bake for another 5-10 mins, or until the glaze is bubbling. Leave to rest for at least 20 mins, then serve with bay leaves and pomegranate seeds scattered over, if you like.