Chicago Beef Kebabs With Giardiniera And Gremolata Recipes

SKIRT STEAK WITH GREMOLATA

Steps:

• Smash the garlic, sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt and work into a coarse paste using the side of a large knife. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the parsley, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and pepper flakes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly rub the steak on both sides with oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Put the steaks in the skillet and cook, turning once, until well browned on the outside and medium-rare on the inside, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes.
• Thinly slice the steaks against the grain and divide among 4 plates. Top with the gremolata and serve with rice or potatoes.

CHICAGO-STYLE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICH

Steps:

• For the pot roast: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F.
• Liberally sprinkle the entire roast with salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the roast on all sides until golden and caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes per side; reduce the heat if the fat begins to smoke. Transfer the roast to a plate and reduce the heat to medium.
• Add the onions and a pinch of salt and saute, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper and garlic and saute until fragrant, another minute. Deglaze with the red wine, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Simmer until reduced by about half, another 2 to 5 minutes. Add the stock and thyme and bring to a simmer. Adjust the seasoning of the liquid.
• Put the roast back in the pot with any accumulated juices and place in the oven, covered. Cook the roast, turning every 30 minutes and uncovering the pot for the last 30 minutes of cooking, until very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Transfer the roast to a cutting board and tent with foil. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F for the peppers and bread.
• For the sweet peppers: Toss the pepper strips with the olive oil, granulated garlic and some salt and pepper on a baking sheet. Bake, stirring halfway through, until lighter in color and softened, about 45 minutes.
• Strain the pot roast jus through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl and return to the pot. Bring to a simmer and simmer until reduced slightly, 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Keep warm.
• Once the meat has cooled a bit, remove the twine. Pull the meat into smaller chunks and return to the reduced jus until ready to build the sandwiches.
• For the sandwich build: Rub the rolls with some of the giardiniera oil and toast in the oven until golden brown and crispy, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Place some beef on a roll, then some sweet peppers (with some of the oil they were cooked in), followed by some hot giardiniera. Pour a small dish of reduced jus. Quickly dunk the whole sandwich in the hot jus, then wrap in deli paper or parchment paper and wait for 2 to 3 minutes while the magic happens. Repeat with the remaining rolls and toppings. When ready, open up and eat!

SEARED TILAPIA WITH ASPARAGUS AND SPICY MINT GREMOLATA

Steps:

• 1. Put a steamer basket in a large pot over 1-inch of boiling salted water. Add the asparagus; cover and steam until it is crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• 2. In a small dish, stir together the mint, garlic, lemon zest and pepper flakes.
• 3. Brush the tilapia with 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper to taste. Add 2 tilapia fillets to hot pan; cook, turning once, until opaque throughout, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer to plates. Repeat with remaining tilapia.
• 4. Serve the tilapia with the asparagus; garnish with gremolata mixture. Drizzle the asparagus and fish with olive oil, if desired.

HALIBUT WITH ENDIVE AND GREMOLATA

Steps:

• For the endive: In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the sugar and endive quarters and brown for about 2 minutes. Next, add the piquillo peppers, garlic and red onions and cook about 3 more minutes. Deglaze with the vegetable broth and add the beans. Cook until the broth is slightly reduced, about 4 minutes. Smash some of the beans to further thicken the sauce. Keep warm.
• For the gremolata: Combine together the mint, parsley, lemon zest, garlic, red pepper flakes and some kosher salt in a small bowl. Add enough extra-virgin olive oil to bind the mixture together, 1 to 2 tablespoons.
• For the fish: Sprinkle the halibut fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. In a large saute pan, add the canola oil and heat on high until there are small wisps of smoke coming from the sides of the pan. Add the fish to the pan and cook until golden, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook until firm but still translucent in the center, 4 more minutes.
• Spoon some endive onto each plate and then a piece of halibut. Top with some of the gremolata.