Ultimate Raita Tyler Florence Food

CUCUMBER RAITA

Steps:

• Combine ingredients in a food processor and pulse 3 times to just chop up the cucumber. The raita should be nice and creamy from the yogurt but still have texture from the cucumber.

THE ULTIMATE PAELLA

Steps:

• Combine the paprika and oregano in a small bowl. Rub the spice mix all over the chicken and marinate chicken for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
• Heat oil in a paella pan over medium-high heat. Saute the chorizo until browned, remove and reserve. Add chicken skin-side down and brown on all sides, turning with tongs. Add salt and freshly ground pepper. Remove from pan and reserve.
• In the same pan, make a sofrito by sauteing the onions, garlic, and parsley. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes on a medium heat. Then, add tomatoes and cook until the mixture caramelizes a bit and the flavors meld. Fold in the rice and stir-fry to coat the grains. Pour in water and simmer for 10 minutes, gently moving the pan around so the rice cooks evenly and absorbs the liquid. Add chicken, chorizo, and saffron. Add the clams and shrimp, tucking them into the rice. The shrimp will take about 8 minutes to cook. Give the paella a good shake and let it simmer, without stirring, until the rice is al dente, for about 15 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, when the rice is filling the pan, add the lobster tails. When the paella is cooked and the rice looks fluffy and moist, turn the heat up for 40 seconds until you can smell the rice toast at the bottom, then it's perfect.
• Remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with peas, parsley and lemon wedges.

TYLER FLORENCE'S ULTIMATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust:.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a mixing bouwl, combine the ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8 inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour the crumbs inot the pan, and using the bottom of a smmoth glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1 inch up the sides. Regrigerate for 5 minutes.
• For the filling:.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy (about 1 to 2 minutes).
• Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and beaters. The batter should be well-mixed but not overbeaten. Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Set the cheescake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around the pan. Place the cake pan in a large roasting pan. Pour boiling water in the roasting pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake for about 45 minutes. The cheesecake will still be soft (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook. Let cool in pan for about 30 minutes. Chill in the regrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheescake from the side of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Unmold and transfer to a cake plate. Using a spatula, spread a layer of Lemon Blueberry topping over the top.
• For the topping:.
• In a small saucepan, add all the ingredients and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the fruit begins to break down slightly. Let cool before spreading on cheesecake.

TYLER FLORENCE'S ULTIMATE FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• Heat 3 inches of the oil in a deep fryer. Or you can heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pot. Peel the potatoes and cut them into chips, about the size of your index finger.
• Put the potatoes in the oil. Fry the chips for 2 to 3 minutes; they should not be crisp or fully cooked at this point. Remove the chips with a spider strainer or slotted spoon, to a paper towel-lined platter to drain.
• Put the chips back in the fryer for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy and brown. Take out and drain.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and egg. Pour in the soda water and whisk to a smooth batter.
• Spread the rice flour on a plate. Dredge the fish pieces in the rice flour and then dip them into the batter, letting the excess drip off.
• Now submerge the battered fish into the bubbling oil for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy and brown.
• Remove and drain the fish with the chips on paper towels; season lightly with salt. Serve wrapped in a newspaper cone with malt vinegar and/or tartar sauce.
• Tartar Sauce (about 1-1/4 cups): In a small mixing bowl, combine all tartar sauce ingredients. Chill before serving to let the flavors combine.

TYLER FLORENCE'S ULTIMATE FAJITAS WITH RACHAEL RAY'S GUACAMOLE

Steps:

• Mojo Marinade: In an immersion blender, add first 8 ingredients and puree the marinade. Transfer to a re-sealable plastic bag and add steak. Seal and shake to coat. Refrigerate the beef for 2 to 4 hours, but no more than 4 hours.
• To cook: Preheat a rigged grill or (for better flavor) your outdoor grill on high heat.Lightly drain marinade from beef and Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Lightly oil grill and grill each steak 4 minutes on each side. Transfer to cutting board and let rest. May need to cook in batches.
• While meat is resting preheat large skillet on med-high heat, add olive, onion, peppers and lime juice and toss to coat. Cook until peppers and onions are just limp.
• Guacamole: Scoop avocados in med size bowl and squeeze lemon juice over avocados immediately, then smash.Add jalapeno, and onion. Sprinkle garlic with coarse salt and smash with the side of your knife blade, add to avocado mixture. Mix well.
• Then slice steak against the grain on a diagonal.
• To assemble: spread some guacamole on a tortilla, top with a few slices of steak, peppers and onions, and if desired tomato, cheese and sour cream. Roll to enclose filling.

TYLER FLORENCE'S ULTIMATE ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Rinse the chicken with cool water, inside and out. Pat it dry with paper towels. Divide the herbs, keeping 1/2 of them whole. Finely chop the other half.
• In a small bowl, mash the softened butter with the chopped herbs, until combined. Rub the herbed butter under the skin, as well as all over the outside of the chicken.
• Season the bird all over with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the orange, garlic, 1 onion, and the remaining herbs. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine to help hold its shape.
• Place the chicken, breast-side up, in a roasting pan. Put the remaining onion into the pan, which will help color and flavor the sauce. Lay the strips of bacon across the breast of the chicken and roast for 25 minutes.
• Remove the bacon and baste the chicken with the drippings and cook for another 25 minutes to brown the skin. The chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer reads 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (the legs of the chicken should wiggle easily from the sockets too.) Remove the chicken to a platter and let stand for 10 minutes, so the juices settle back into the meat before carving.
• Meanwhile, remove the softened onion from the roasting pan. Tilt the pan so the drippings collect in 1 corner, skimming off as much fat as possible, and leaving the drippings.
• Place the roasting pan on top of the stove over medium heat and take a wooden spoon to scrape up the flavor from the bottom of the pan. Stir the flour into the drippings to make a roux-like paste. Pour in the chicken broth in stages; continue to stir to dissolve the flour evenly to prevent lumps. Stir in the sherry and season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, carve the chicken tableside and squeeze the oranges from the cavity over the meat.

ULTIMATE RAITA - TYLER FLORENCE

Steps:

• Wash cucumber well and chop into 1/4" dice.
• Add chili, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir well.
• Add lemon juice and yogurt and stir again.
• Serve in a pretty bowl with curry or samosas.