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Category Archives: Meats

Steak Tacos with Fresh Guacamole

  • 1 to 1½ pounds tip steak, sliced thin diagonally

Spice Mix

  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Mix together and add the spice mix and steak pieces into a ziplock bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours.

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 to 6 corn tortillas

Heat a cast iron or non-stick pan with the olive oil. Cook the steak pieces making sure they are not over done.
Heat the corn tortillas and serve with steak, guacamole and salsa.

Guacamole

  • 2 ripe avocados cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ¼ cup red onion, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • Juice of 2 limes

Mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour before serving.

Pork Ragu with Penne

Pork Ragu with Penne

  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup pancetta, chopped
  • ½ cup shredded carrots
  • ½ cup white onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • ½ cup half and half
  • Salt
  • ½ pound penne, al dente- ½ cup spare pasta water
  • 2 tablespoons truffle paste or 1 tablespoon truffle oil

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the pancetta and sauté for 4-5 minutes on medium heat. Add the carrots, onions and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Add the pork and separate with the back of a wooden spatula while sautéing the meat on medium high heat about 2-3 minutes. Add the beef broth and cook on medium low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, till a thick sauce is formed. Add salt and half and half. Add the truffle paste or oil. Mix well and add the cooked pasta and pasta water. Check for seasonings and serve.

Memorial Day Recipes: Moroccan Style Lamb Burgers with Harissa Sauce

Lamb Burgers2

  • 1½ pounds ground lean lamb
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large shallot, grated
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
  • 4 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons harissa sauce

Put the lamb in a mixing bowl and add the paprika, salt, cumin, garlic, shallot, parsley, cilantro and harissa. Mix well and divide into 8 patties. Keep aside.

Grill the patties on high for 4 to 5 minutes on each side.

Lamb Burgers

Sun Dried Tomatoes Mayonnaise

  • ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes (in oil), chopped
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Juice of half a lemon

Mix the sun dried tomatoes, mayonnaise, cilantro, parsley, salt and lemon juice into a small bowl. Mix well and refrigerate till serving.

Sundried Tomatoes and Herb Mayo

To Assemble

  • 2 large tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • Baby arugula
  • 2 baguettes, sliced and cut into 4 pieces each

Place a burger into a sliced piece of baguette. Spread some mayonnaise and add a tomato, some onion and arugula.

Lamb Burgers1

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff1

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt
  • 1 pound tri-tip roast, sliced against the grain into small pieces
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup light red wine like a pinot noir or white wine
  • 1 medium white onion, sliced thin
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef or chicken broth
  • ¼ cup crème fraiche
  • Salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill or 1 tablespoon fresh dill
  • ¼ cup parsley, chopped

In a large frying pan, heat the two tablespoons olive oil. Add the mushrooms and sauté on medium high heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Saute till the excess moisture evaporates and the mushrooms begin to turn golden brown. Add garlic and salt. Saute for another 3 to 4 minutes and take out of the pan and keep aside.

Reheat the pan with one tablespoon olive oil and brown the beef pieces in two batches on high heat using the remaining olive oil for the next batch. Saute on both sides for a minute or two. Take the pieces out of the pan and keep aside.

Reheat the pan with two tablespoons olive oil. Add the onions and sauté on a medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes till the onions are soft and translucent. Add the tomato paste and flour. Saute for a minute. Add the wine, scraping off all the bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the beef or chicken broth and whisk the liquid in making sure no lumps are formed. Add the mushrooms and beef pieces into the pan. Mix well and add the crème fraiche. Taste for seasonings and add salt in necessary. Garnish with dill and parsley.

Serve on top of a garlic toast.
Beef Stroganoff

Pork and Kale Chili

In spite of this dish having kale, this was a big, big hit. A great dish to make in this chilly weather.

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound good quality ground pork
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ancho chili
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 14 ounces can chopped fire roasted tomatoes with chili
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 2 14 ounces can of any kind of beans (I used black and pinto), washed and drained
  • Salt
  • 10 ounces baby kale, chopped

Heat a heavy large pan with olive oil. Add the ground pork and cook on medium heat, separating the meat with the back of a wooden spoon. Add the ground cumin, ancho chili and oregano and continue cooking and browning for 5 to 6 minutes on medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and a teaspoon of salt. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and beans and bring to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer and cover with lid and cook for 30 minutes, checking every 10 minutes to stir. Take lid off and add the kale and bring to a boil. Simmer for another 10 minutes until the kale is wilted and cooked through. Check for seasonings and garnish with cheese and serve.

Chicken and Chorizo Paella

Chicken and Chorizo Paella

  • 4 to 5 chicken thighs, with bone, skinless
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

Sprinkle the salt and smoked paprika all over the chicken thighs and let sit for 2 to 3 hours.

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup dried chorizo, chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 medium red pepper, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon Spanish saffron
  • ½ cup tomato puree
  • 2 cups short grain rice
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • Salt
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • 1 small tomato, chopped

Heat the olive oil in a paella pan. Brown the chicken thighs on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes each. Take out and add the chorizo. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion, pepper and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minute. Add the bay, saffron and tomato puree. Saute for a minute. Add the chicken thighs and cover with lid and cook for 15 minutes or till the chicken is cooked through. Take out and let cool. Add the rice and mix well. Add the chicken broth and check seasonings. Add salt. Bring to a boil and in the meantime, take the chicken meat off the bones and shred. Add the shredded chicken to the pan and mix well. Cook the rice on a simmer for 5 minutes, lower the heat and cover till rice is almost cooked through, about 15 minutes. Add the peas and tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt. Cover and cook for another 5 minutes till the peas are warm. Stir in cilantro and parsley and serve warm.

Pork Ragu Lasagna with Pesto Bechamel

Pork Ragu and Pesto Bechamel Lasagna

Pork Ragu

  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 cups fresh tomato sauce
  • Salt

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the pork and cook on high heat and separate the meat with a wooden spoon. Saute for a 3 to 4 minutes on medium high heat. Add the onion, garlic, thyme and rosemary. Saute for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste and sauté for a minute. Add the tomato sauce and cook on medium heat for 20 minutes. Add salt if necessary and turn heat off and keep aside.

Bechamel Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups milk
  • ¼ teaspoon powdered nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ cup fresh or store bought pesto

Heat a medium saucepan and add the flour and butter. Melt the butter on medium high heat. Cook for a minute or two, stirring constantly. Slowly add the milk and whisk to make sure all the lumps are taken out. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to medium. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the nutmeg and salt. Turn the heat off and keep aside. Add the pesto and mix well.

Lasagna

  • 1 cup shredded Pecorino Romano
  • 12 lasagna sheets (I used no boil pasta)

Preheat oven to 400 degree F.

Line a 9 X 11 glass pan with a quarter cup of béchamel sauce. Cover the bottom and add four pasta sheets. Spread one cup of meat sauce on top. Sprinkle ¼ cup shredded Pecorino. Place another 4 sheets on top. Pour about ¾ cup of béchamel sauce- spreading it all over the pasta. Add another cup of meat sauce. Add ¼ cup of shredded Pecorino. Place another 4 sheets on top and cover with the remaining béchamel sauce. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Take the cover off, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake for another 15. Serve hot with salad and garlic bread.