Sweet Onion Mignonette Food

SWEET ONION AND CATFISH HUSH PUPPIES WITH COMEBACK SAUCE

Steps:

• For the comeback sauce: Combine mayonnaise, sambal, ketchup, lemon juice, hot sauce, smoked paprika, Worcestershire, garlic powder, mustard, salt and pepper in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together until the mixture is smooth and everything is well incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• For the whipped sorghum butter: Add the butter, molasses and salt to a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or to a medium bowl if you're using a hand mixer or whisk. Mix on medium speed until well-combined and the butter is lightened and fluffy.
• For the catfish: Combine the catfish with salt and sugar in a bowl. Refrigerate.
• For the hush puppies: Combine cornmeal with sugar, salt, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper and cayenne in a medium bowl. Whisk thoroughly to combine these dry ingredients. Whisk together the buttermilk and egg in a separate bowl until there are no specks of egg and it becomes a smooth and homogenous mixture.
• Retrieve the quick-cured catfish from the fridge, and add the catfish and diced onion to the dry ingredient mixture. Quickly stir together to coat the onion and catfish bits with cornmeal and spices. Add the buttermilk and egg and mix quickly with a spatula or wooden spoon until everything is well combined and the batter stiffens up pretty quickly as the cornmeal soaks up the buttermilk. Cover your batter and refrigerate for a few minutes while you prepare your pot for frying.
• Add vegetable oil to a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven no larger than 8 inches across-it's necessary for deep frying to have at least 2 inches of oil. Heat the oil over medium heat, bringing it up to 350 degrees F, using a thermometer to check the temperature. (If you don't have a thermometer, you can tell that the oil is ready when you add a small pinch of flour and it immediately sizzles and fries. You can fry without a thermometer if you're feeling bold, but just be careful that your oil doesn't get too hot or cold-you could either burn your hush puppies or end up with greasy ones-and no one wants that!)
• Once the oil is up to 350 degrees F, pull your batter from the fridge and begin to scoop it into the hot oil. We like to use a 3/4-ounce cookie scoop, but you could also use two spoons to scoop and drop roughly tablespoon-sized dollops into the hot oil. Fry as many hush puppies as comfortably fit into the pot at once-they should definitely have some room to expand and get crispy. It's okay to fry in several batches.
• Fry the hush puppies for 2 minutes, then turn them over and fry until golden brown and fluffy on the inside, another 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider, moving them to a plate or tray lined with paper towels to help drain any excess oil. Sprinkle the hush puppies with a little salt while they're still hot. Repeat this process until all your hush puppies are cooked and seasoned.
• Pile the hushpuppies into a dish for serving and garnish with a nice sprinkle of the chives. Serve them nice and hot with 1 cup comeback sauce and 1/4 cup whipped sorghum butter, or your favorite sauces.

SWEET ONION CARBONARA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan set over medium heat. Add the pancetta and saute until brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the pan and set aside to cool.
• Add the onions to the pan and cook until golden brown and lightly caramelized, 10 minutes. Add the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and cook 2 minutes more. Set aside to cool slightly. In a large bowl, whisk together the gruyere, cream, Parmesan, lemon zest, eggs and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta back to the pan along with the onions, cream mixture, 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water and the pancetta. Toss over low heat until the sauce is thick and coats the pasta, adding pasta water as needed, about 2 minutes (do not boil).
• Season the pasta with lots of pepper. Transfer the pasta to a large, wide serving bowl. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

MIGNONETTE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and chill. Serve with chilled oysters or clams on the half shell.

MIGNONETTE SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix together all the ingredients in a small bowl or jar until well blended. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes before using. Mignonette will keep in the fridge for up to 1 month.

SWEET ONION BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan. In a saute pan, heat the olive oil. When the oil is hot, caramelize the onions for about 10 minutes. In an electric mixer with a whip attachment, whip the egg whites until stiff. Switch the whip attachment to a paddle attachment and cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each yolk. With the machine running add the apple juice and ginger. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper, together. With the machine on low speed, alternate adding the flour 1/3 at a time with the milk. Do not over mix the batter. Fold in the stiff egg whites. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and invert onto a wire rack. Allow the bread to cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Slice a couple of slices from the loaf and place the loaf and the slices on a plate.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan. In a saute pan, heat the olive oil. When the oil is hot, caramelize the onions for about 10 minutes. In an electric mixer with a whip attachment, whip the egg whites until stiff. Switch the whip attachment to a paddle attachment and cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each yolk. With the machine running add the apple juice and ginger. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper, together. With the machine on low speed, alternate adding the flour 1/3 at a time with the milk. Do not over mix the batter. Fold in the stiff egg whites. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and invert onto a wire rack. Allow the bread to cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Slice a couple of slices from the loaf and place the loaf and the slices on a plate.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan. In a saute pan, heat the olive oil. When the oil is hot, caramelize the onions for about 10 minutes. In an electric mixer with a whip attachment, whip the egg whites until stiff. Switch the whip attachment to a paddle attachment and cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each yolk. With the machine running add the apple juice and ginger. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper, together. With the machine on low speed, alternate adding the flour 1/3 at a time with the milk. Do not over mix the batter. Fold in the stiff egg whites. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and invert onto a wire rack. Allow the bread to cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Slice a couple of slices from the loaf and place the loaf and the slices on a plate.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan. In a saute pan, heat the olive oil. When the oil is hot, caramelize the onions for about 10 minutes. In an electric mixer with a whip attachment, whip the egg whites until stiff. Switch the whip attachment to a paddle attachment and cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each yolk. With the machine running add the apple juice and ginger. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper, together. With the machine on low speed, alternate adding the flour 1/3 at a time with the milk. Do not over mix the batter. Fold in the stiff egg whites. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and invert onto a wire rack. Allow the bread to cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Slice a couple of slices from the loaf and place the loaf and the slices on a plate.

OYSTERS WITH CHAMPAGNE-VINEGAR MIGNONETTE

Steps:

• Make mignonnette:
• Stir together vinegar, shallot, pepper, and sugar and let stand 30 minutes.
• Prepare oysters:
• Preheat broiler.
• Spread 3/4 cup salt in an 8- to 10-inch flameproof shallow baking dish or pan. Arrange oysters on their shells in salt, then top each with a piece of butter.
• Broil 4 to 6 inches from heat until butter is melted and sizzling and edges of oysters are beginning to curl, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir parsley into mignonnette. Divide remaining 3/4 cup salt between 2 plates and arrange 3 oysters on each. Spoon 1/4 teaspoon mignonnette over each oyster and sprinkle oysters with grapes. Serve warm.