Spring Lamb Sliders � A Shoulder to Bite On

You could roast an expensive leg of lamb for Easter, which would be lovely, but why not consider the lesser known, and just as delicious shoulder roast? This underrated cut is less expensive, very flavorful, and much less stressful.

We usually prepare the leg medium-rare to medium for maximum enjoyment, which requires a little more finesse than a shoulder roast, which we�re going to cook long and slow, until very tender. As long as you let the meat braise until it's falling off the bone, there's no way this isn't going to be great.

Obviously, we�re talking about a completely different texture than roasted lamb, but if you like things like shredded beef, and pulled pork, you will be down with this. As I mentioned in the video, I wanted you to focus on the super easy technique, and not necessarily the ingredients I used.

Honey, vinegar, and mint are classic with lamb, but any other sweet/sour approach should work nicely. You could even cheat, and use your favorite barbecue sauce (you know my favorite), which would be perfect with this rich, succulent cut, as well. I hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 large portions (about 3 sliders per person):

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

3 1/2 pound bone-in lamb shoulder roast

salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 onion, cut in large dice
4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup honey

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons freshly sliced mint

- 325 F. for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until very tender

Colcannon Hash � I Invented This, As Did Others Before Me

Every year about this time, I try to do some kind of culinary nod to St. Patrick�s Day, and this colcannon hash is the latest example. I really loved how this came out, and it made a beautiful, and delicious base for poached eggs, but there was one problem. Apparently, I didn�t invent this.

I thought I did, as I do with almost all the new recipes I create, but I figured I�d do a search anyway, just to confirm this assumption of singular brilliance. So I did, and it quickly became apparent that many others had the very same idea. Good for them.

I realize St. Patrick�s Day brunch isn�t really a thing, but if it were, this would be perfect. Although, we might have some leftover corned beef the day after, which would make this even more amazing; so maybe we should forget St. Paddy�s Day breakfast, and turn this into a hearty, day-after hangover cure instead. Either way, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2 large portions:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 ounces pancetta or bacon, diced

2 large russet potatoes, diced, rinsed, and well-drained

1 tsp salt, plus more to taste

freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 1/2 cup sliced green onions (mostly the white and lighter green parts)

2 large handfuls baby kale, roughly chopped

1/4 cup freshly grated sharp Irish cheddar cheese (or any sharp cheddar)

pinch of cayenne

2 tablespoons freshly chopped Italian parsley 
2 or 4 poached eggs, optional (actually, not optional)

Oxtail Ragu � Worth the Wait

Other than a completely unnecessary braising step right in the middle of the video, this oxtail ragu came out amazingly well. My thought was to roast the oxtails in the sauce, in a slow oven to see if I could achieve the tender-sticky meat I know and love, while slowly reducing the sauce at the same time. I couldn�t. 

Well, actually, it would have eventually gotten tender, but I wasn�t prepared to find out how long that was going to be. Like I said several times during the video, I want you to roast your oxtail and onion until nicely browned, but then transfer everything into a pot, add the rest of the ingredients, and simmer until the meat comes off the bones with minimal effort.

The only way to screw up this incredibly succulent cut of beef is to not cook it long enough, which is why I better not read any 3-star recipe reviews that say, �Good flavor, but wasn�t as tender as I wanted.� Just remember to not braise, and keep simmering until it yields completely to your fork. I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 portions:

(Pro tip: since this does take so many hours to simmer, it's almost always best to make this the day before you serve it)

3-4 pounds oxtail, cut into 2-inch sections, rubbed with olive oil, and seasoned generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

1 large yellow onion, diced

6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

-- Roast at 425 F. for 45-60 minutes until browned

-- Transfer into a sauce pot, and add the following

1/4 cup sherry vinegar

4 cups tomato sauce or puree, or more if desired

2 cups chicken broth, or enough to cover the oxtails

* You can add as much sauce and/or stock as you want, as long as you have at least enough to cover

1 sprig rosemary

2 springs thyme

2 springs oregano

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

- Simmer on low, many hours, until tender

- Should be enough sauce and meat for 1 pound of pasta

Stracciatella Soup � For When You�re 'Tore Up From the Floor Up'

You hear stracciatella often referred to as, �Italian egg drop soup,� which is fine, but knowing the name actually means little, torn rags, or shreds, works so much better metaphorically. 

When you�ve been run ragged, stracciatella is always there for you. After a long, infuriating day at work, you want something fast, filling, and comforting; ideally made with ingredients you already have on hand. This is all that, and less.

Sure, you could order some unhealthy, and expensive take-out, but that�s just a shame spiral waiting to happen. Better to beat up a few eggs with some cheese, and boil up the last of that homemade chicken stock, you made using this video.

By the way, if you�re a normal person, and don�t have homemade broth in the freezer, this works perfectly well with a high-quality, packaged broth. As you eat this, hopefully with some nice crusty bread, imagine all those little �rags� floating in the bowl are all your torn-up problems, both real and imagined. They were there, and then they were gone. You just won, with soup. I hope you give this stracciatella a try soon. Enjoy!

Makes 2 large or 4 appetizer sized portions:

6 cups nice rich chicken broth, seasoned to taste

3 large eggs

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons semolina flour

1/2 ounce Parmigiano Reggiano (about 1/2 cup if grated on a microplane)

1/2 ounce Pecorino Romano cheese (about 1/2 cup if grated on a microplane)

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

pinch cayenne

pinch nutmeg
olive oil and pepper flakes to garnish

Torrone (Italian Nut & Nougat Confection) � A Stirring Valentine�s Day Treat

The theme of this torrone post was originally about making this gorgeous candy for your Valentine, but then I realized what would be even better than making this for your sweetheart, would be making with your sweetheart.

While very easy, this procedure does take about one and a half hours to complete, and most of that time is spent standing at the stove, stirring, which is why tag-teaming this Italian confection makes the job much easier, and I�ll assume a lot more fun.

By the way, this is the real way to make torrone, and by �real,� I mean the really old way. Today, most candy makers use a much faster method, where a caramelized sugar syrup is simply added to the whipped egg whites. I�ve tried this both ways, and while the modern technique is way faster, I much prefer this method. It seems to have more soul, whatever that means.

Using this ancient technique, you don�t need to worry about precise timing, specific temperatures, or potentially painful burns. Besides, standing and stirring something on the stove for that long is surprisingly therapeutic. Watching the ingredients slowly, and magically change, as your home fills with the sweet aroma of warm honey, is almost as enjoyable as the amazing candy you end up with. Almost.

The visual clues, and times I give in the video should be enough, but don�t forget the cold water trick I showed you. That�s a great way to check you work, and sneak a taste. I hope you give this a try very soon. Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from this one by, Enzo Maragucci. 
Makes about 80 (1-inch) square pieces:

400 g honey (about 1 1/3 cups)

250 g white sugar (about 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons)

2 large egg whites

pinch salt

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 rounded tablespoon lemon zest

3 cups roasted almonds (I used Marcona almonds)

1 cup roasted pistachio

2 sheets �wafer� paper (*edible rice paper)

*Follow this link for info on the one I ordered. 
If you don't use the wafer paper, you can just spray plastic wrap with oil, and that also works. Some people use cornstarch, but I'm not a fan. Google for many other tricks.  

- I used an 8 x 11 baking dish to mold mine in.

Zabaglione � Tastes Like Romance

When you go over the things you really want in a Valentine�s dessert, this ultra-simple zabaglione checks all the boxes. Assuming that your sweetheart enjoys things like sweet, juicy fruit enveloped in a rich, but impossibly light custard, this should work out nicely.

I like to use a dry Marsala wine, but sweet Marsala is also a popular choice. If you use the sweet variety you�ll need to cut down or eliminate the sugar.  If you�re not into warm wine foams, you can literally use any other flavorful liquid, and the technique will work the same.

You may need to change the garnish, but things like coffee, fruit juices, and pretty much any other liquor, or liqueur, will work with this technique. Experiment, and see what happens. So, whether you make this for that certain someone this Valentine�s Day, or just for a random weeknight treat, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Makes 2 or 3 servings:

3 large egg yolks

3 tablespoons white sugar

1/4 cup dry Marsala wine
1/2 cup diced strawberries tossed with a spoon of sugar

Next Up: Something Special for Valentine's Day

Bacon Jalapeno Popper Puffs � Seeing Spots

I had everything I needed to shoot a brand new chicken wing video, except for one key ingredient; a working oven. Yes, my oven decided to take the rest of Super Bowl week off, as did my oven repairman, but these bacon jalapeno popper puffs came out so well, I decided to designate this as an official blessing in disguise.

These pepper poppers in puff form really did come out incredibly well, as long as you don�t have a problem with lots of unsightly dark spots. Since we loaded these with so much diced pepper, the pieces on the outside caramelized (which is chef-speak for burned), and my beautiful, golden-brown balls were spotted with golden-black.

Apparently, I�m having more of a problem with the appearance than your average viewer, at least according to the first wave of YouTube comments, but I may still try to figure out a way to make these a little more camera friendly next time. Maybe I�ll puree the peppers first, or possibly char off the skin, which I believe gets even darker than the flesh. Stay tuned.

Superficial beauty aside, if you enjoy the gut-bombs that are classic, bacon-wrapped, jalapeno poppers, I think you�ll love these shockingly light puffs. All the same flavors are there, especially when served with the easy cream cheese dip, and the prep is much easier. I really hope you give these a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for about 40 Bacon Jalapeno Popper Puffs:

For the dough:

2/3 cup water

3 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon bacon fat

1 teaspoon kosher salt (or 1/2 teaspoon fine salt)

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 eggs

Then add:

2 ounces extra sharp white cheddar cheese

1/2 cup finely diced jalapeno peppers

1/3 cup finely chopped bacon

pinch cayenne

pinch freshly ground black pepper

- Fry at 375 F. for about 3 1/2 minutes, or until golden-brown and cooked through

For the dipping sauce:

1/2 cup cream cheese

1/4 cup cr�me fraiche or sour cream

2 tablespoons minced green onions

1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

- add enough water to thin mixture out to proper dip consistency

2016 Super Bowl Prediction Using Chicken Wing Bones

Welcome to this year�s installment of �Get Rich Quick with Chef John,� where you cash in on my mystical method for picking Super Bowl winners, using the lost art of wing bone reading. I know it sounds crazy, but if you think this is some kind of joke, think again. In the 49 years I�ve been doing this, there hasn�t been a single (major) university study proving these results aren�t 100% accurate. Not one single study. 

Sure, we�ve had a couple of recent, very minor �discrepancies,� but instead of wasting time arguing who's at fault, or who lost who�s college fund, I prefer to look toward the future. This year the bones point to a decisive Carolina victory, and while I�ll be personally rooting for Old Man Manning, if you want to win money, you�ll put everything you have on the Panthers. 

I�m just glad the Patriots aren�t in it. They�re shady. Anyway, good luck, and I�ll apologize in advance for any income tax issues that pop up after this windfall. Good luck, and as always, enjoy!

Next Up: Them Bones

Hot Baked Reuben Dip � Deli Up Your Super Bowl Party

This baked Reuben dip works so well that you�ll be racking your brain trying to think of other iconic sandwiches to convert into dip form. Of course, thanks to the Internet, most of this work has probably already been done, but something to keep in mind the next time you�re out of things to daydream about.

I went with pastrami here, but corned beef is more common, and probably the safer bet. Pastrami is heavily spiced with coriander and black pepper, and therefor your dip will be too. I love that kind of thing, but something to consider depending on your audience. No matter what meat you use, you�re going to be enjoying a truly delicious hot dip, which is also great warm, or room temp.

The seeded crackers I used in the video were great, but they�re a little on the pricey side, especially when purchased at the fancy cheese shop, so one of these days I need to show you how to make your own. Unless we all get rich betting on the game, using my guaranteed chicken wing bone method. In that case, we�ll continue to buy the crackers. I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 24 servings:

1 pound sliced corned beef or pastrami

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1 cup sauerkraut, drained well, squeezed very dry

2 tablespoons sour cream

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 rounded tablespoon ketchup

1 rounded tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup sweet pickle relish

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

cayenne to taste

8 ounces �Swiss� cheese (4 ounces Gruyere and 4 ounces Emmenthaler)

crackers and bread

Super Deluxe Steak Nachos � Regular Nachos for the Big Game? I Don�t Think So.

I�m still trying to figure out how this video for super deluxe steak nachos ended up being over nine minutes long. I�ll blame the fact that I showed you how to do the steak and faux refried beans, but still, I always feel a little uneasy whenever we go past seven or eight minutes. Also, I don�t get overtime.

Be that as it may, this is one of my all time favorite party foods, and I�ve wanted to show you my version for a long time. As you may have heard, the Super Bowl is just a few weeks away, and this should get serious consideration when formulating your snack line-up.

Feel free to cook your meat medium-rare, or less, but as I mention in the video, I think medium works best if you�re using the recommended skirt steak, or flap meat. These cuts have a beautiful, beefy flavor, which, in my experience, is only maximized if cooked to a certain point.

Even though the meat is reheated when we melt the cheese, I still think medium is the way to go, and not just flavor-wise. I think the texture is better as well. These cuts are a little on the chewy side, which is accentuated if cooked rare. Having said that, whether you used raw, or completely well-done beef, you�re still going to be thrilled with the results. I still hope you give these super deluxe steak nachos a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for about 3 of the same sized platters as I used:

For the steak:

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 1/2 pounds skirt steak or flap steak (aka flap meat) seasoned on both sides with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and chipotle to taste

- cook to a medium (about 135 to 140 F. internal temp)

For the beans:

2 tablespoons bacon fat or lard

1 yellow onion, diced

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

2 (15-oz) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 cups water or chicken broth, plus more as needed

1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste

You also need:

corn chips

12 ounces sharp cheddar

12 ounces Monterrey Jack
diced avocado (tossed in lemon juice and salt) 
diced white onion 
diced tomato 
finely diced jalape�o pepper 
sour cream 
freshly chopped cilantro 
* serve with hot sauce on the side, and lots of beer

Next Up: Something Super Deluxe

Chorizo Steamed Clams � How Do You Say �Ubiquitous� in Spanish?

I have always just called these chorizo steamed clams, "Spanish Clams," since it seems like there�s some variation of this on every Spanish restaurant menu I�ve ever seen.

What better evidence for a dishes� deliciousness than that? Not to generalize about an entire culture, but the Spanish simply don�t put non-amazing things on every menu.

Sometimes they use beer, or white wine, or sherry; and many varieties of clams can be used; but the common denominator is the spicy, Spanish-style chorizo. Using such a flavorful sausage is sort of like cheating, and one of the main reasons the ingredient list is so short.

Speaking of which, you can really adapt this kind of thing to your tastes. Cilantro instead of parsley, leeks instead of onions, and mussels instead of clams, just to name a few. Just make sure you have plenty of grilled, or toasted bread around to soak up the glorious broth. I really hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 appetizers, or 2 larger entr�e size portions:

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 cup finely diced onions

3 ounces Spanish chorizo, quartered, sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 cups white wine

3 pounds Little Neck clams

1/3 cup chopped Italian parsley

2 tablespoons butter

grilled bread to garnish

Next Up: Something with Clams

Sandwich Rolls � Because Size and Shape Matter

As promised, here is our method for making your own sandwich rolls at home, and while �shocked� may be a bit strong, I think many people will be surprised at just how simple these are. Like, four ingredient simple. Sure you have to wait a few hours while it rises, but that gives you time to decide what sandwich to make.

Besides the super obvious reasons why these are better than the ones from the supermarket, you can make them the exact size and shape you want. We�ve all been there�you find the perfect sausage at the store, but the rolls in the bakery dept. are either too short, or too long, leaving you angry and disillusioned. 

Like I said in the video, you can pretty much use this technique with any yeast dough, and it just depends on what you�re going for. Speaking of which, a viewer who couldn�t wait for this recipe to make banh mi, used our no-knead beer bread dough, and reported they had great success.

This recipe is based on our French baguette, but if you happen to have luck using another one of our recipes, please let us know! I hope you give these a try soon. Enjoy!

Makes 6 Sandwich Rolls:

1 package dry active yeast (2 1/4 tsp)

1 1/2 cups warm water (100 F.)

1 1/2 tsp fine salt

19 ounces (by weight) bread flour (about 4 1/4 cups)

Next Up: French Rolls

B�nh M� � More Than a Sandwich

I�ll never forget my first real b�nh m�. It was here in San Francisco, at a place called Saigon Sandwich, and I remember thinking to myself, this just isn�t one of the best sandwiches I�ve ever had to eat, but one of the best things, period.

Not only do we get amazing contrasts in flavor, and texture, but also the temperature difference between the crisp, warm, meat-filled roll, and cool, crunchy vegetables, makes this so much fun to eat.

By the way, the secret sauce should be just sweet enough to temporarily put out the fire from the sriracha and jalapenos. Which reminds me, everything here is �to taste.� The amounts below are just guidelines, and by guidelines, I mean guesses.

If you�re not into our roasted 5-spice pork for this sandwich, you can pretty much use any of your favorite sandwich ingredients. Ham is great, as is smoked turkey, and while I�ve not tried it yet, I bet many of our grilled chicken breast recipes would be stellar here. Just don�t forget the pate!

I prefer the smooth, buttery type of pate, and you don�t have to get to fancy. That one from the cheese shop, made with pork and chicken livers is just fine. Stay tuned for the French rolls video coming soon, and at some point very soon, I hope you give this a try. Enjoy!

Ingredients for one B�nh M�:

1 crusty French sandwich roll

3 tablespoons secret sauce (mayo, seasoned to taste with hoisin sauce, and sriracha)

4 ounces roasted pork

2 ounces smooth pate

1/2 cup *pickled daikon and carrot

1/4 cup cilantro leaves

6-7 jalapeno slices

6 thin spears English cucumber

* To make the pickled daikon and carrot, use equal parts and toss in enough seasoned rice vinegar to coat well. Let sit for 15-20 minutes, or until the veggies get slightly limp. Drain and use, or refrigerate. If using regular vinegar, add a pinch of salt and sugar.

Pan-Roasted 5-Spice Pork Loin � Pleasing and Teasing

Now that it�s been posted, I can admit this easy, pan-roasted pork loin was just an elaborate tease for a video I�ve wanted to post for years; the Vietnamese b�nh m� sandwich! If you�ve had one, you�ll fully understand my excitement. If you haven�t, do not miss the next video.

Having admitted my true motivation, I will also say that this very tasty technique is impressive enough in its own right. The misleadingly simple marinade produces big flavor, and by splitting/scoring the pork, we not only have something that absorbs the seasoning quickly, but also cooked faster, and more uniformly.

I�ve been trying to get you to buy that bottle of Asian fish sauce for years now, and maybe this will be the recipe that does it. That really is a key here, as is the Chinese 5-spice powder. Mine included cinnamon, ginger, anise seed, fennel seed, and clove; but this can vary brand to brand. Whatever you find should work, otherwise, just combine equal parts of what I just listed, and you�ve made you own.

I think this particular marinade works great for a 30-minute soak at room temp. Just keep turning it over every so often, and that�s it, you�re ready to cook. Or simply wrap and keep in the fridge for 2-3 hours, or even up to overnight. So, stay tuned for the upcoming b�nh m� video, and in the meantime, I really hope you give pan-roasted pork loin a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 large portions:

2 pound boneless pork loin roast, cut in half lengthwise, and scored

For the marinade:

1/4 cup rice vinegar

3 cloves garlic, finely minced or crushed

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons sriracha, or to taste

1 teaspoon fine salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder

1 tablespoon vegetable oil for the pan

Next Up: Something Easy & Delcious with Pork Loin

Shrimp Toast � Is Toast the New Wing?

While virtually unknown compared to most other popular fried party snacks, these shrimp toasts are easy to make, and every bit as delicious, and addictive, as those Buffalo wings, or jalape�o poppers. Well, all that�s about to change.

Nobody goes to a friend�s house to watch the game, and expects to see a plate of these crispy-on-one-side, soft-and-savory-on-the-other-side treats, but after a few of you make these, and word spreads, I�m sure it will just be a matter of time.

Speaking of spreads, since we apply the shrimp mixture raw, it�s not like you can dip a finger in to taste it. So, to check for seasoning, especially the salt, you may want to fry a small piece (like during meatball production), and adjust from there. I added a tiny pinch of salt, but thanks to the soy, anchovy, and fish sauce, you may not need any.

These are significantly better served warm than cold, so maybe fry them in batches, and/or keep warm in an oven. And yes, if you don�t do shrimp, any other raw seafood will work. By the way, I have it on good authority that these are magnificent served with cold beer, and for that reason alone I hope you give these a try soon. Enjoy!

Makes about 16 Shrimp Toasts:

1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 cup diced water chestnuts

1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

1/2 cup green onion, finely sliced

3 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tablespoon finely grated ginger

1 anchovy filet

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce, or more to taste

1 egg white

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon paprika

pinch cayenne pepper

pinch of salt

4 large slices white bread

sesame seeds, optional

vegetable oil for frying

One-Pot Chicken & Sausage Orzo � Tastes Like You Used at Least 3 or 4 Pots

There�s something extra satisfying about a recipe like this one-pot chicken and sausage orzo, where you just basically dump the ingredients in a pot, and wait until it�s cooked. Sure, you have to stir it a few times, and it helps if you add stuff in the right order, but for how delicious this comes out, you�re doing very little actual work.

Having said that, there are a few variables involved, so you will have to really keep and eye on the pot for the entire 10-15 minutes, or however long it takes. The size of the orzo �grain� can really vary, so be sure to check for doneness early, and stop when it�s 95% tender, as it will continue to soften as you complete the final steps.

I like to keep a little extra broth on the side, in case my mixture gets too dry, and the pasta is not yet cooked. Just splash some in and keep on stirring. On the other hand, if your pasta is cooked and there is a little too much liquid, well, that�s life. You�ll just be enjoying an extra �saucy� dish that day.

Of course this will work with countless combos of sausage, veggies, and other small-sized pastas, so go forth and multiply. By the way, the nice thing about using a very flavorful sausage, like a spicy Italian, is that most of the seasoning is done for you. Or, go with fresh ground meat, and you can flavor it any way you want. No matter what you use, I hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 portions:

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 (6 ounce) spicy Italian sausages, casing removed

1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces, OR 2 chicken breasts, cut into bit sized pieces

3 cups chicken broth, plus more as needed
1/2 cup tomato sauce

1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

1/2 cup finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano

1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley

2 tablespoons sliced fresh chives

4 tablespoons ricotta cheese to garnish