Grilled Corn & Scallion Salad

We shopped at the farmers market to get beautiful corn and scallions for this summer side dish. I could happily eat corn and basil every day all summer long. 😉

This salad was very fresh and light. It was a perfect accompaniment to our dinner of grilled burgers (and Impossible burgers), pickles, tomato slices drizzled with basil vinaigrette, and potato chips, of course. We even had brownie ice cream sandwiches for dessert. A summer feast.

This recipe is from Bon Appetit, contributed by Zaynab Issa. I incorporated my CSA tomatoes and backyard basil. We ate it immediately but the components can also be made in advance. Perfect.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

• cooking oil spray, for grill grates
• 5 T extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 ears of corn, husked
• 1 bunch scallions (I used 4 huge scallions)
• 2 T freshly squeezed lime juice (I used 1/2 of a large lime)
• 2 T sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp Morton kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 12 oz mixed heirloom tomatoes, chopped, and/or cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup sweet basil, chiffonade, plus more for garnish

1. Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; oil grate (before heating).
2. Grill husked corn and scallions, turning occasionally, until very tender and charred and blackened in spots, 10–12 minutes for corn, 5–7 minutes for scallions. (Alternatively, you can cut kernels from cobs in slabs and slice scallions into ¼”–½” pieces; cook together in a dry large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, turning and stirring occasionally, until charred in spots, about 4 minutes.)
3. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool.
4. Meanwhile, whisk lime juice, sherry vinegar, salt, and olive oil in a large bowl to combine; season vinaigrette generously with freshly ground black pepper.
5. Cut corn kernels from cobs in slabs and slice scallions into 1/2-inch pieces.
6. Add corn kernels, scallions, tomatoes, and basil to vinaigrette and gently toss to combine.
7. Top corn and scallion salad with more basil just before serving.

Do ahead: Corn and scallions can be grilled and vinaigrette can be made 3 days ahead; wrap corn and scallions separately and chill. Cover and chill vinaigrette. Salad (without basil topping) can be assembled 3 hours ahead; cover and chill.

Citrus Roasted Broccoli & Cauliflower with Queso Cotija Dressing

As soon as I saw Mexican chef Pati Jinich prepare this dish on her PBS show, I had to make it. 🙂 I bought beautiful purple cauliflower and purple broccoli at the farm stand to make it extra special. We ate it with Mexican-Style Chipotle-Lime Pork Cutlets.

The salty, cheesy sauce was absolutely incredible. I loved how the vegetables were sliced into steaks instead of florets as well. I trimmed the tough outer portion of each stem but would remove even more next time to make that portion more tender.

This recipe was adapted from Pati’s Mexican Table and patijinich.com, via kcet.org. It was on an episode featuring dishes inspired by Isla Mujeres. I substituted creme fraiche for the Mexican crema. I also modified the method and proportions. Amazing!

Yield: Serves 6

For the Vegetables:

• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (I used 2 limes)
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (I used 1 large naval orange)
• 3 chopped chiles de arbol or 1/2 to 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing/drizzling
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 pounds broccoli, cut into 1/4″ vertical slices, including thick part of stem (I used 2 large heads)
• 2 pounds cauliflower, cut into 1/4″ vertical slices, including thick part of stem (I used 1 large head)

For the Queso Cojita Dressing:

• 1/2 cup crumbled queso cotija
• 2/3 cup Mexican crema or creme fraîche
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used Canola oil)
• 2 tsp sherry vinegar
• 2 T water
• 2 medium garlic cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

To Prepare the Vegetables:

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. ( I set my oven to convection roast.)
2. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. In a glass measuring cup with a spout, mix the lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, red pepper flakes (or chile de arbol), 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
4. Place the cauliflower and broccoli steaks on the prepared baking sheets in a single layer, making sure that they are not crowded.
5. Evenly pour the orange juice mixture all over the vegetables.
6. Place in the oven and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until well roasted and considerably charred. Remove from the oven and set aside.

To Make the Dressing & To Serve:

1. While the vegetables are roasting, combine the queso cotija, Mexican crema (or creme fraîche), vegetable oil, sherry vinegar, water, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the jar of a blender or mixer. Puree until smooth. (I used a Vitamix.)
2. Serve the broccoli and cauliflower on a large platter and ladle the queso cotija right on top, or let your guests spoon sauce onto their plates and dip their vegetables in the sauce to their liking. (I served the sauce in a bowl on the side.)

Mexican-Style Chipotle-Lime Pork Cutlets

I chose these flavor-packed pork tenderloin cutlets to serve with Mexican-style roasted broccoli and cauliflower steaks. The dishes complemented each other very nicely.

The dish was based on a Mexican dish called cecina enchilada, thinly sliced pork marinated in a chili sauce. This recipe was adapted from Milk Street, contributed by Diane Unger. I modified the proportions. Serving rice on the side was essential to soak up every drop of the wonderful sauce. Simple and delicious.

The grilled pork could also be sliced and used as a taco filling with chopped white onion and fresh cilantro. Rice and refried beans would make this a complete meal as well. Next time!

Yield: Serves 8

• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 T ground cumin
• 2 T sweet paprika
• 4 tsp ground coriander
• 4 tsp packed brown sugar
• 8 medium to large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 2 pork tenderloins, about 1 1/4 pound each, trimmed of silver skin
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 chipotle chilies in adobo, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce (can use more, to taste)
• 2/3 cup lime juice
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the oil, cumin, paprika, coriander, sugar and garlic. Microwave on high until the garlic is softened, about 1 minute.
2. Measure out 6 tablespoons of the seasoned oil, including some of the solids, into a large baking dish.
3. Cut each tenderloin in half crosswise, then cut each piece in half lengthwise.
4. Between sheets of plastic wrap, use a meat pounder to pound each piece to an even 1/8-inch thickness.
5. Place the meat in the baking dish, turning to coat on all sides with the oil mixture. Cover and refrigerate while you make the sauce and prepare the grill.
6. Into the remaining oil mixture, whisk 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, the chipotle chilies, adobo sauce, lime juice and cilantro. Set aside.
7. Prepare a charcoal or gas grill. For a charcoal grill, ignite a large chimney of coals, let burn until lightly ashed over, then distribute evenly over one side of the grill bed; open the bottom grill vents. For a gas grill, turn all burners to high. Cover and heat the grill for 5 to 10 minutes for charcoal or about 15 minutes for gas, then clean and oil the cooking grate. (I used a gas grill.)
8. Place the pork in a single layer on the grill (on the hot side if using charcoal) and cook until well browned, about 2 minutes.
9. Using tongs, flip each piece and cook for 1 minute. Transfer browned side up to a platter. (See Tip)
10. Stir the sauce to recombine, then drizzle 1 tablespoon over each cutlet. Tent with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with the remaining sauce on the side.

Tip: Don’t grill the second sides of the cutlets for more than about 1 minute or they will overcook. Aim to get charring on only the first sides, then serve the pork charred side up.

Cucumber-Cilantro Margarita

These cocktails were wonderful! They were the perfect way to use the delicious home grown cucumbers given to me by a friend.

This recipe was adapted from The Village Times Herald, contributed by Barbara Beltrami. Tasty and refreshing.

Yield: makes 2 cocktails

• 1 wedge or slice of lime
• coarse salt
• 3 oz tequila
• 1 tsp orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
• 3 oz freshly squeezed lime juice or key lime juice
• 1/2 cup peeled and seeded chopped cucumber
• 2 T granulated sugar
• 6 cilantro leaves, chopped
• 2 dashes Tabasco or Chipotle Tabasco
• 6 ice cubes
• 2 cucumber slices, for garnish

1. Wipe the rims of two margarita glasses with the lime wedge or slice. Dip in a shallow dish of coarse salt; set aside.
2. In a blender combine the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, chopped cucumber, sugar, cilantro, hot sauce and ice cubes; blend for one minute. (I used a Vitamix.)
3. Immediately pour into prepared glasses over ice.
4. Garnish with cucumber slices, as desired.

Avocado-Chicken Burgers

The only drawback of these flavor-packed chicken burgers is that they have to be pan-cooked in order to keep their shape because they are very moist. Worth the mess!

The original recipe notes that the ginger, garlic, cilantro and scallions incorporated into the burger makes them similar to a dumpling filling. They were fresh and light.

I loved the soy-lime mayonnaise sauce and loads of toppings. I served them with a generous amount of sauce, and jalapeño and avocado slices on potato rolls. There were so many toppings that we forgot to add lettuce! I may even try them topped with arugula next time.

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Yasmin Fahr. I used freshly ground chicken thigh meat and froze the formed burgers for 20 minutes prior to cooking. We ate them with pickles and chips.

Yield: Serves 4

freezer for 20 min before cooking

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp soy sauce or fish sauce
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
•  Kosher salt
• 1 packed cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped, plus more for serving
• 1/4 cup mashed, ripe Hass avocado (from about 1/2 avocado; slice the other half for serving)
• 2 scallions, light green and white parts only, thinly sliced
• 3 large garlic cloves, grated, minced, or pushed through a garlic press
• 1 (2-inch) piece ginger, grated or minced (about 2 tsp)
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, to taste
• 1 pound ground chicken, preferably dark meat (I used freshly ground chicken thighs)
• 2 T neutral oil, such as canola oil, or ghee
• 4 potato, brioche, or other burger buns, lightly toasted, as desired
•  butter lettuce or other tender lettuce, for serving, or arugula
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced, for serving, optional

To Make the Sauce:

1. In a small serving bowl, combine the mayonnaise and soy sauce.
2. Season with the juice of 1 lime wedge and salt as needed.

To Make the Burgers:

1. In a medium mixing bowl, use a fork to mash and thoroughly combine the chopped cilantro, mashed avocado (see Tip), scallions, garlic, ginger, red-pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon of the soy-lime mayonnaise sauce.
2. Add the chicken and gently combine. Form into 4 large balls.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze for 20 minutes to help maintain the shape while cooking.
4. Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron or heavy skillet over medium heat until very hot, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
5. Add the neutral oil or ghee, then add the chicken meatballs, spacing them out in the pan. (We cooked 2 at a time.)
6. Use a metal spatula to press them until they form 1/2-inch-thick patties.
7. Cook without moving for 3 1/2 to 4 minutes, until a deep golden crust has formed and they easily release from the pan.
8. Flip the patties using the spatula and cook until done with a nice crust on the other side, about 3 minutes more. If the patties need more time, cover the pan and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to avoid scorching.
9. Squeeze a lime wedge over the patties and serve sandwiched between the buns topped with lettuce, a healthy slathering of sauce, avocado slices, jalapeño slices if using, and cilantro sprigs, if desired.
10. Serve with the remaining lime wedges and mayonnaise on the side.

Tip: Resist the urge to add more than 1/4 cup mashed avocado to the ground chicken, as the burgers will get too soft and fall apart during cooking.

Apple Cider Margarita

I have seen several versions of this seasonal cocktail but I’m not sure if I need to try another one. This one is festive and fabulous. I first tried it on Halloween and now plan to incorporate it into my Thanksgiving weekend menu. Perfect! 🙂

The recipe was adapted from thehealthfulideas.com, contributed by Veronika. I used gold tequila and added maple syrup.

For the Cinnamon-Sugar Rim:

• 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar 
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• A lime wedge

For the Margarita:

• 1.5 oz tequila
• 0.5 oz Cointreau 
• 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lime juice, or more, to taste
• 2 oz apple cider
• 0.5 oz (1 T) pure maple syrup
• small dash cinnamon, optional
• 1-2 dashes orange bitters
• ice cubes
• apple and/or lime slices, for garnish, optional

To Make the Rim:

1. Combine the turbinado sugar and cinnamon on a small plate.
2. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip it in the sugar. Set aside.

To Make the Margarita:

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add a handful of ice, and shake for 10-15 seconds until it’s very cold to touch. 
2. Pour into a margarita glass (or another glass of choice) over ice.
3. Garnish with an apple and/or lime slice, if desired, and enjoy!

Coconut Rice with Shrimp & Corn

This dish is a wonderful one-pot summer dinner. Creamy rice topped with fresh summer corn, backyard basil, and shrimp. Delicious.

The recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Samantha Seneviratne. I modified the cooking times. I loved the fresh lime juice squeezed over the top. I may consider adding garlic next time- although it really was perfect as-is!

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons peeled and finely chopped fresh ginger
• 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped 
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1 1/2 cups white rice, such as jasmine rice (I used Basmati rice)
• 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
• 1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (I used tail-on, 21-25 count per pound)
• fresh corn kernels from 2 cobs (about 1 1/2 cups kernels), can substitute frozen
• 1 lime, zested, then sliced into wedges for serving
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn or chiffonade, plus more for garnish

1. In a large, heavy pot (with a lid), heat coconut oil over medium. (I used a large enameled cast iron Dutch oven.)
2. Add the onion, ginger and jalapeño and season with the 3/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the rice and sauté for another minute.
4. Then stir in the coconut milk and 1 1/4 cups water. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer but avoid scorching.
5. Stir in the corn kernels and an additional 1/4 cup of water, cover again, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender, about 10 minutes. (Add more water by 1/4 to 1/2 cups throughout cooking as needed if the water has been absorbed, but the rice is still too firm.)
6. When the rice is tender, add the shrimp, stir and recover. Continue to cook over low heat for and additional 2 to 4 minutes, or until shrimp is pink and fully cooked.
7. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime zest and basil; season to taste with salt.
8. Serve immediately with lime wedges and topped with more basil.