Toasted Spice Rub Of Fennel Coriander And Pepper Recipes

TOASTED SPICE RUB - MICHAEL CHIARELLO

Steps:

• Read this recipe all the way through before beginning, get your spices and equipment (skillet, plate, blender, alternate method grinder, and storing container) ready.
• In a small, heavy skillet over medium heat, toast the fennel, coriander, and peppercorns.
• Watch carefully, because when the fennel turns a light brown you're going to work quickly: turn on the hood exhaust fan on your stove, then add the red pepper flakes and stir well for 30 seconds.
• Turn the mixture onto a plate to cool.
• When cool, place mixture in a blender together with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon; blend until all are evenly ground.
• (Alternately, you can use a spice mill/coffee grinder/mortar and pestle to grind the fennel, coriander, peppercorns, and chili flakes, then toss resultant powder with the remaining ingredients).
• Transfer the spice rub into a glass jar and store in a cool, dry place; you can also freeze the mixture.
• Note: if you prefer a mixture that is less spicy-hot, make sure you use mild California chili powder and/or begin with fewer red pepper flakes, then add to your preference; California chiles in powder are generally less hot and more sweet.
• On chicken: sear a chicken in a little olive oil, let cool, pat the rub generously over the bird, then roast it.
• Use as dry rub or dry marinade: rub into meat or poultry, refrigerate 4 hours, bring to room temperature, then roast, pan-sear, or grill.
• Finishing rub: blend with just enough olive oil to make a paste, then use as a marinade or to finish grilled steaks and seafood.
• Other uses: toss with vegetables before pan-roasting, or add to soups and stews.

ROASTED PORK WITH FENNEL SPICE RUB

Steps:

• PORK: Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat until hot. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 1 minute. Add the sage and cook until the onions stop releasing water (about 3 minutes). Add the water, cover and cook until the onions are very tender (about 10 minutes). Uncover and saute until the onions are very soft and the pan is dry again (about 2 minutes). Season well with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Peel back the pork skin and spread the onions directly on the fat layer. Fold the skin back over the onions and tie closed with kitchen string. Season well all over with the Fennel spice. Arrange the meat on a rack in a roasting pan and cook until the meat is very tender (approx. 6-8 hours). The meat is ready when it pulls away easily if picked at with a pair of tongs. It is often easiest to cook the meat overnight or put it in the oven in the morning and let it cook all day - it doesn't need to be attended.
• FENNEL SPICE RUB: Put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light-brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding or they will gum up the blades. Pour the seeds into a blender or spice grinder and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender or grinder occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly-sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.

FENNEL SPICE RUB

Steps:

• Put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding, or they will gum up the blades.
• Pour the seeds into a blender and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.

TOASTED SPICE RUB ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Blanch the almonds in boiling water, until the skins peel off.
• Melt the butter in a large ovenproof skillet over moderate heat and cook until it turns light brown and smells nutty. Add the almonds and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, over moderate heat until the almonds begin to color, about 5 minutes, coat and toss in the spice mix thoroughly. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the almonds are medium-brown, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, taste for flavor, add more spice mix or salt, if necessary. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a sheet pan; they will crisp as they cool. Store the cooled almonds in an airtight container at room temperature. (See Cook's Note)
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool. Put in a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.
• Toasting freshens spices, releases their oils, and makes them more fragrant, as well as adding a new dimension of flavor. Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
• Taste your chili powder and, if too spicy and hot, cut back the amount. California chiles are almost sweet, not hot.

YAMS WITH TOASTED SPICE RUB

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Put sweet potatoes in a glass or stainless steel bowl.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in brown sugar and lemon juice. When sugar is completely melted, stir in Toasted Spice Rub and gray salt. Pour mixture over sweet potatoes. Toss well.
• Arrange sweet potatoes in a baking dish, cut side up. With rubber spatula, scrape all the butter and spice mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes, and then add a sprinkling of Toasted Spice Rub on top of each one. Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees F until easily pierced with a knife.
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool. Put in a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.

ROASTED TURKEY RUBBED WITH CORIANDER, BLACK PEPPER, AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Place turkey, breast-side up, on a work surface. Pull a leg away from body; slice through skin between breast and drumstick. Turn turkey on its side. Bend leg back till thighbone pops out of socket. Cut through joints and skin to detach leg completely. Repeat on other side. With turkey still on its side, pull a wing away from body. Cut through joints; remove wing. Repeat on other side. Lift turkey and, with kitchen shears, cut downward through rib cage and then shoulder joints to separate breast from back. Cut back in half crosswise (so it will fit in pot). You can ask your butcher to do this -- just make sure you still get all bones and wings.
• Make turkey stock: Place turkey back, neck, and wings in a stockpot; add 12 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook 3 hours. Strain. (You should have 6 to 7 cups stock.)
• Meanwhile, toast fennel and coriander seeds and peppercorns in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, swirling pan occasionally, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Set aside 2 tablespoons of toasted spices; grind remainder in a spice grinder. Add 5 teaspoons salt and thyme; stir to combine. Rub mixture all over turkey breast and legs (both skin side and meat side). Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Remove turkey from refrigerator; let stand at room temperature 1 hour, 30 minutes. During last 30 minutes, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Pat turkey dry. Spread butter over breast. Arrange onion and fennel slices in the center of a large roasting pan (to create a rack for turkey breast). Scatter garlic around onion. Place turkey breast on vegetable rack. Roast 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a large, heavy skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high. Swirl in oil. Add turkey legs, skin-sides down, and cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip skin-sides up; add thyme sprigs and wine. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute. Add 3 1/2 cups stock and reserved toasted spices; bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes.
• Remove roasting pan from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees. Add legs to pan, skin-sides up, along with liquid from skillet; meat sides should be partially submerged but skin should sit above liquid. Return to oven and roast, basting turkey with pan juices every 20 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast (nearest but not touching bone) reads 155 degrees, about 1 hour, 10 minutes.
• Transfer turkey to a cutting board (tent with foil to keep warm, if desired). Remove and discard onion; reserve garlic. Strain cooking liquid into a medium saucepan; let stand 15 minutes. Skim and discard fat. Transfer 1/2 cup liquid to a small bowl; whisk in flour, then whisk mixture back into saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Carve turkey; serve, with gravy and roasted garlic, garnished with pomegranates, kumquats, oranges, and gooseberries.