New Orleans Style Grits And Grillades Recipes

NEW ORLEANS GRILLADES AND GRITS

Steps:

• Combine the 1/2 cup flour, salt and one teaspoon of Creole Seasoning in a shallow bowl. Dredge the pieces of beef in the flour, shaking off the excess and transfer to a large plate.
• Heat the oil in a stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Place the beef in the skillet, being careful not to overcrowd, and fry on both sides until browned. Transfer the beef to a plate.
• Saute the onions in the skillet until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for another minute. Add the bell pepper and celery and saute until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add the tomatoes and saute for another 4-5 minutes, scraping up any browned bits in the skillet. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl.
• Melt the 5 tablespoons of butter or olive in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the 1/3 cup flour and whisk constantly until the mixture is a rich brown, about 4 minutes. Add the beef broth and red wine vinegar, whisking continually until the mixture is smooth and thickened.
• Return the vegetables to the skillet and add the Creole Seasoning and bay leaves. Return the beef to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is very tender, stirring occasionally.Stir in the parsley and simmer for another 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaves.
• Serve the grillades and gravy ladled over hot grits (see below).
• For the Grits: In a 5-quart pot over medium-high heat, bring the milk and salt to a simmer, stirring regularly to prevent the milk from burning.
• Slowly add the grits in a steady stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Add the salt. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the grits are thick and tender.

NEW ORLEANS-STYLE GRITS AND GRILLADES

Steps:

• Cut tenderloin into 12 cutlets, place each between sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a mallet until very thin, about 1/8 inch. In a small dish, mix 1 cup of the flour with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Lightly dust each cutlet on both sides, set aside on a plate. Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and sauté cutlets in batches of 4 at a time. Cook for 1 minute on each side. Repeat with remaining oil and cutlets. In same skillet, cook bacon. Transfer bacon to a paper-lined plate, keeping bacon fat in skillet. Reduce heat, whisk in remaining flour. Simmer and stir continuously until roux becomes light brown, about 10 minutes. Add bell peppers, onion and garlic and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Carefully whisk in remaining salt and pepper, Creole spice, cumin, paprika and bay leaves. Next, whisk in stock and tomato. Bring sauce to a simmer, and cook on low for 10 minutes, skimming off excess fat. Strain sauce through a sieve and then return to skillet; warm pork cutlets in sauce.
• Make the Grits: Scald milk (skin forms on top). Whisk in grits and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, whisking again now and then. Whisk in butter, cream, salt and pepper. Cover and remove from heat. It will stay hot for about 15 or 20 minutes, covered.

GRILLADES AND GRITS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the beef and veal together. Season the meat with Essence. Add the flour and toss the meat completely. Turn the meat out onto a floured surface and with meat mallet, lightly pound the meat. Turn the meat over and lightly pound the meat again. In a large cast-iron pot, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the meat. Brown the meat evenly on both sides for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, and celery. Season with salt and cayenne. Continue stirring, scraping the bottom and sides of the pot to loosen any browned particles. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the vegetables are wilted. Add the tomatoes and garlic. Cook, stirring often and scraping the bottom and sides of the pot for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves, thyme, oregano, basil, broth and wine. Season with salt, cayenne, and black pepper. Bring the liquid to a simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, and cook for about 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is very tender. Remove the bay leaves and serve with baked cheese grits.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

NEW ORLEANS GRILLADES

Steps:

• 1. Don't let the list of ingredients scare you. New Orleans cooking is bold and full of different flavors. This is an easy dish, just do your prep work ahead of time and have the ingredients at hand before you start.
• 2. In a small bowl combine the first 6 ingredients and set aside. Remove any fat from the beef or veal. Don't use cubed or pre-tenderized round, it's not the same.
• 3. Lay meat on a cutting board and sprinkle one side liberally with the seasoning blend, then sprinkle with flour.
• 4. Put plastic wrap on top and bottom of the meat and pound the meat until slightly flattened using a meat mallet. Flip the meat over and repeat the process with seasonings and flour. Pound to 1/8" - 1/4" thick.
• 5. Cut meat into 3 inch squares or pieces. In a large heavy pot heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the meat, several pieces at a time and brown evenly on both sides. As the meat cooks transfer it to a plate and set aside.
• 6. Add about 2 tablespoons of flour to the pan, or enough to absorb remaining oil, stir until there are no lumps remaining and cook on medium-low heat until roux begins to turn the color of peanut butter.
• 7. To the roux add the onions and cook stirring frequently until the vegetables are soft and onions are caramelized, about 10 minutes. (The roux will seize up when the onions are added, it's supposed to do this.) Add bell peppers, celery and garlic; cook another 5 minutes.
• 8. Add the tomatoes and their liquid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the broth, wine, bay leaves, oregano and basil. Stir to mix and bring to a simmer uncovered.
• 9. Add meat back to the pan, cover and cook until the meat is very tender, stirring occasionally. For Veal - cook about 45 minutes; for beef round - cook about 1 1/2 hours or until fork tender. If the liquid begins to evaporate add more both.
• 10. Spoon over buttered or cheese grits, rice or noodles and garnish with parsley and green onions. Serve with a sunny side up egg on the side of the plate. C'est ci bon!
• 11. *Notes: Many people use round steak for this recipe, but veal is the traditional and most delicious meat to use. Some people like to put this over cheese grits, but well salted and buttered plain grits was the original way of making this dish. It's also delicious over pasta, rice, or day-old biscuits.