Toasted Spice Rub Of Fennel Coriander And Pepper Recipes

Steps:

• Read this recipe all the way through before beginning, get your spices and equipment (skillet, plate, blender, alternate method grinder, and storing container) ready.
• In a small, heavy skillet over medium heat, toast the fennel, coriander, and peppercorns.
• Watch carefully, because when the fennel turns a light brown you're going to work quickly: turn on the hood exhaust fan on your stove, then add the red pepper flakes and stir well for 30 seconds.
• Turn the mixture onto a plate to cool.
• When cool, place mixture in a blender together with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon; blend until all are evenly ground.
• (Alternately, you can use a spice mill/coffee grinder/mortar and pestle to grind the fennel, coriander, peppercorns, and chili flakes, then toss resultant powder with the remaining ingredients).
• Transfer the spice rub into a glass jar and store in a cool, dry place; you can also freeze the mixture.
• Note: if you prefer a mixture that is less spicy-hot, make sure you use mild California chili powder and/or begin with fewer red pepper flakes, then add to your preference; California chiles in powder are generally less hot and more sweet.
• On chicken: sear a chicken in a little olive oil, let cool, pat the rub generously over the bird, then roast it.
• Use as dry rub or dry marinade: rub into meat or poultry, refrigerate 4 hours, bring to room temperature, then roast, pan-sear, or grill.
• Finishing rub: blend with just enough olive oil to make a paste, then use as a marinade or to finish grilled steaks and seafood.
• Other uses: toss with vegetables before pan-roasting, or add to soups and stews.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Blanch the almonds in boiling water, until the skins peel off.
• Melt the butter in a large ovenproof skillet over moderate heat and cook until it turns light brown and smells nutty. Add the almonds and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, over moderate heat until the almonds begin to color, about 5 minutes, coat and toss in the spice mix thoroughly. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the almonds are medium-brown, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, taste for flavor, add more spice mix or salt, if necessary. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a sheet pan; they will crisp as they cool. Store the cooled almonds in an airtight container at room temperature. (See Cook's Note)
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool. Put in a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.
• Toasting freshens spices, releases their oils, and makes them more fragrant, as well as adding a new dimension of flavor. Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
• Taste your chili powder and, if too spicy and hot, cut back the amount. California chiles are almost sweet, not hot.

Steps:

• For the spiced and honey glazed ham: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Blend together the honey, Toasted Spice Rub and thyme.
• Place ham on an open brown paper bag or waxed paper for easy clean up. With the tip of a paring knife carefully score a 1-inch grid pattern around the outside of the ham.
• Brush the entire surface of the meat on all sides with some of the honey mixture.
• Add about 1/2 cup of water to the base of a roasting pan. Lay the celery sticks in the bottom of the pan and then place the ham on top of the celery.
• Cook for 1 hour. Every 15 minutes, baste ham with juices that collect in the base of the roaster and the honey. Let rest for 15 minutes before carving as desired.
• For the savory bread pudding: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Using a serrated knife, shave off the thicker parts of the crust from the bread loaf. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a 13 by 18-inch rimmed baking sheet. Bake until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and place in a large bowl. Leave the oven on.
• In a skillet, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over high heat and cook, without stirring, until it turns nut brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion and a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme and cook for 10 seconds to release its fragrance.
• Pour the onion mixture over the toasted bread. Add 3/4 cup of the Parmesan and toss well.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and nutmeg. Pour the milk mixture over the bread and toss well.
• Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Arrange the toasted bread evenly in the baking dish. Pour the custard evenly over the bread. Scatter the blue cheese and the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan over the top. Bake until the bread is golden brown and crispy on top and a thin knife blade inserted into the custard comes out almost clean, about 30 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes. Cut into individual servings and serve warm.
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool.
• Put mixture into a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients. Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze. *See Chef's Notes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place ham on an open brown paper bag for easy clean up. With the tip of a paring knife carefully score a 1-inch grid pattern around the outside of the ham. Brush the entire surface of the meat on all sides with some of the honey.
• Season the entire surface of the meat on all sides with the toasted spice rub and thyme. Add about a half cup of water to the base of the roaster. Place ham on several celery sticks in the roasting pan.
• Cook for 1 hour. Every 15 minutes, baste ham with juices that collect in the base of the roaster and the honey. Let rest for 15 minutes before carving as desired.
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. (Toasting freshens spices, releases their oils, and makes them more fragrant, as well as adding a new dimension of flavor.) When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan; add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool. Put in a blender with the sweet chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground.
• If you have a small spice mill blender or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients. Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
• *Chef's Tip: Taste your chili powder and, if spicy and hot, cut back the amount. California chiles are almost sweet, not hot.
• Yield: 1 cup

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Put sweet potatoes in a glass or stainless steel bowl.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in brown sugar and lemon juice. When sugar is completely melted, stir in Toasted Spice Rub and gray salt. Pour mixture over sweet potatoes. Toss well.
• Arrange sweet potatoes in a baking dish, cut side up. With rubber spatula, scrape all the butter and spice mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes, and then add a sprinkling of Toasted Spice Rub on top of each one. Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees F until easily pierced with a knife.
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool. Put in a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.

Steps:

• Put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding, or they will gum up the blades.
• Pour the seeds into a blender and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.

Steps:

• PORK: Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat until hot. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 1 minute. Add the sage and cook until the onions stop releasing water (about 3 minutes). Add the water, cover and cook until the onions are very tender (about 10 minutes). Uncover and saute until the onions are very soft and the pan is dry again (about 2 minutes). Season well with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Peel back the pork skin and spread the onions directly on the fat layer. Fold the skin back over the onions and tie closed with kitchen string. Season well all over with the Fennel spice. Arrange the meat on a rack in a roasting pan and cook until the meat is very tender (approx. 6-8 hours). The meat is ready when it pulls away easily if picked at with a pair of tongs. It is often easiest to cook the meat overnight or put it in the oven in the morning and let it cook all day - it doesn't need to be attended.
• FENNEL SPICE RUB: Put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light-brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding or they will gum up the blades. Pour the seeds into a blender or spice grinder and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender or grinder occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly-sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.

Steps:

• Place turkey, breast-side up, on a work surface. Pull a leg away from body; slice through skin between breast and drumstick. Turn turkey on its side. Bend leg back till thighbone pops out of socket. Cut through joints and skin to detach leg completely. Repeat on other side. With turkey still on its side, pull a wing away from body. Cut through joints; remove wing. Repeat on other side. Lift turkey and, with kitchen shears, cut downward through rib cage and then shoulder joints to separate breast from back. Cut back in half crosswise (so it will fit in pot). You can ask your butcher to do this -- just make sure you still get all bones and wings.
• Make turkey stock: Place turkey back, neck, and wings in a stockpot; add 12 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook 3 hours. Strain. (You should have 6 to 7 cups stock.)
• Meanwhile, toast fennel and coriander seeds and peppercorns in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, swirling pan occasionally, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Set aside 2 tablespoons of toasted spices; grind remainder in a spice grinder. Add 5 teaspoons salt and thyme; stir to combine. Rub mixture all over turkey breast and legs (both skin side and meat side). Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Remove turkey from refrigerator; let stand at room temperature 1 hour, 30 minutes. During last 30 minutes, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Pat turkey dry. Spread butter over breast. Arrange onion and fennel slices in the center of a large roasting pan (to create a rack for turkey breast). Scatter garlic around onion. Place turkey breast on vegetable rack. Roast 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a large, heavy skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high. Swirl in oil. Add turkey legs, skin-sides down, and cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip skin-sides up; add thyme sprigs and wine. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute. Add 3 1/2 cups stock and reserved toasted spices; bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes.
• Remove roasting pan from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees. Add legs to pan, skin-sides up, along with liquid from skillet; meat sides should be partially submerged but skin should sit above liquid. Return to oven and roast, basting turkey with pan juices every 20 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast (nearest but not touching bone) reads 155 degrees, about 1 hour, 10 minutes.
• Transfer turkey to a cutting board (tent with foil to keep warm, if desired). Remove and discard onion; reserve garlic. Strain cooking liquid into a medium saucepan; let stand 15 minutes. Skim and discard fat. Transfer 1/2 cup liquid to a small bowl; whisk in flour, then whisk mixture back into saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Carve turkey; serve, with gravy and roasted garlic, garnished with pomegranates, kumquats, oranges, and gooseberries.