Blackened Duck Topped With Mango Salsa And Served With Wild Rice And A Vegetable Medley Recipes

BLACKENED COD WITH MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• Mix 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a small bowl and stir to combine a paste.
• Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
• To prepare the fish, start by wiping the flesh with a dry paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
• Rub the blackening paste on one side of the fish.
• Pour a small amount of vegetable oil into a large saute pan and heat over medium-high heat. When pan is nice and hot, carefully place fish into preheated pan. Sear on both sides for 2-3 minutes each side. Remove fish from pan and place onto a cookie sheet lined with tinfoil. Place pan into preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until cod is cooked through.
• Remove pan from oven and place fish on top of steamed rice or whatever you're serving. Top fish with salsa, a lime wedge and extra cilantro.
• For Mango salsa, mix 1 mango, red onion, diced red bell pepper, 1/2 jalapeno, and juice of 1 lime, 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, and salt to taste. Can be made a few hours ahead. Taste just before serving and adjust seasoning as needed.

SAUTEED VEGETABLE MEDLEY

Steps:

• Toss vegetables together in a medium bowl.
• In a medium saute pan, heat the butter and water together over medium heat. Add the vegetables to the pan and turn the heat to medium high. Toss the vegetables, by gently moving the pan back and forth over the flame. Cook the vegetables for 3 to 4 minutes, or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the vegetables to a serving bowl and serve immediately.
• To blanch and refresh vegetables:
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it generously. Fill a large bowl with ice water, and put a colander or strainer in it. Add the vegetable to the boiling water and cook, uncovered, until crisp tender, or the desired degree of doneness. Scoop the vegetable from the water and immediately put them in the ice water, to stop the cooking and set their color. Cool and drain, and use as desired.
• When blanching a mix of vegetables, don't cook them together since they may not all cook at the same time. Start with the lightest colored or mildest flavored vegetable, and blanch and refresh each vegetable, one after the other, until cooked as desired.
• Variations:
• Cook the vegetables in 1 to 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or butter, without the water. Do this over high heat and brown and crisp the vegetables slightly.
• Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of minced garlic, minced shallot, a teaspoon of grated peeled fresh ginger to the pan before adding the vegetables.
• Enhance the vegetables at the end of cooking with a tablespoon or so of minced fresh herbs, like chopped flat-leaf parsley, dill, mint, basil, cilantro, or thyme.

ITALIANO CHICKEN AND PASTA MEDLEY

Steps:

• Cook the chicken and garlic in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until the chicken is well browned, stirring often. Remove the chicken mixture from the skillet.
• Stir the stock, tomatoes, Italian seasoning and black pepper in the skillet and heat to a boil. Stir in the pasta. Reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the vegetables and cheese. Return the chicken to the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the pasta is tender. Serve with additional cheese.