Thai Balls

INGREDIENTS

For meatballs:

 2 Tbsp olive oil

 1 lb ground pork

 1 lb shrimp, shelled, deveined, and roughly chopped

 2 large eggs

 ¾ cup fresh thai basil(or italian basil), roughly chopped

 ¾ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

 ½ cup fresh mint, roughly chopped

 2 thai chiles, shelled, deveined, and roughly chopped stemmed, seeded, and minced

 ½ cup bread crumbs

 2 Tbsp minced lemongrass (or lemongrass paste)

 2 Tbsp minced fresh ginger

 2 garlic cloves, minced

 Juice of 1 lime

 2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce

 2 Tbsp sesame seeds

 2 Tbsp fish sauce

For garnish:

 1 tsp rice wine vinegar

 1 tsp low sodium soy sauce

 2 large carrots, julienned or grated

 10 fresh Thai basil (or Italian basil) leaves, roughly chopped

 ¼ cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro (including stems)

 10 fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped

 ¼ cup roasted peanuts, chopped

 1 tsp sesame seeds

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Drizzle the olive oil into a 9 x 13- inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside.

Combine the ground pork, shrimp, eggs, basil, cilantro, mint, chiles, bread crumbs, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, lime juice, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and fish sauce in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated.

Roll the mixture into round, golf ball–size meatballs (about 1½ inches), making sure to pack the meat firmly. Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, being careful to line them up snugly and in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. The meatballs should be touching one another.

Roast for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. A meat thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball should read 165°F.

Allow the meatballs to cool for 5 minutes in the baking dish.

Meanwhile, place the rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, carrots, basil, cilantro, mint, peanuts, and sesame seeds in a bowl and toss to combine.

Spoon the garnish over the top of the meatballs and serve.

Lamb Burgers with Lemon-Caper Aioli and Fennel Slaw

INGREDIENTS

Aioli

¼ cup rinsed salt-packed capers

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

3 tablespoons (or more) fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 garlic cloves, finely grated

Kosher salt

Assembly

1½ pounds ground lamb, preferably grass-fed

Kosher salt

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

3 celery stalks, thinly sliced on the diagonal

½ fennel bulb, thinly sliced; plus ¼ cup chopped fennel fronds (optional)

¼ large sweet onion, thinly sliced

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons crushed dried mint

Freshly ground black pepper

4 potato or ciabatta rolls, toasted

Boquerones (marinated white anchovies, for serving, optional)

Place capers in a small bowl and pour in warm water to cover. Let soak 20 minutes. Drain, rinse, and pat dry. Coarsely chop.

Whisk capers, mayonnaise, oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, and garlic in a medium bowl; taste and season with salt and more lemon juice, if desired.  Aioli can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Toss celery, fennel, fennel fronds (if using), onion, lemon juice, dried mint, and remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium bowl. Season slaw with salt and pepper.

Shape lamb into 4 patties about 1" thick, season with salt, and let sit at room temperature 30 minutes.

Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, ideally cast iron, over medium. Cook lamb patties, working in batches if needed, until browned (they won’t take on as much color as a beef burger), 5–7 minutes. Turn and cook until browned on second side, about 5 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer patties to a plate and let rest 10 minutes.

Generously spread aioli on cut sides of buns and build each burger with a lamb patty, 3 or 4 boquerones, and a mound of slaw. 

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Schmaltzy Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

1 pound small Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered

4 (6-oz.) skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 lb.)

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

2 cups halved Brussels sprouts

1 1/2 cups chopped carrots

3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots

3 tablespoons sherry vinegar

1 tablespoon light brown sugar

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine 1 tablespoon oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and potatoes in a bowl; toss to coat. Spread potato mixture on prepared pan; bake at 450°F for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove pan from oven; keep warm.

Meanwhile, place a wire rack on a baking sheet. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken to skillet, skin side down; cook 8 minutes. Flip, and cook 2 minutes (chicken will not be cooked through). Place chicken on wire rack (reserve drippings in skillet). Bake chicken at 450°F for 20+ minutes or until done.

Return skillet to medium-high heat. Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, halved Brussels sprouts, and carrots to drippings in pan; cook 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Remove vegetables from pan with a slotted spoon; set aside (do not wipe out pan).

Place shallots in a small bowl. Add vinegar to skillet, scraping to loosen browned bits. Add vinegar mixture, remaining oil, and brown sugar to shallots, stirring to combine. Place 1 cup potatoes and 1/2 cup vegetable mixture on each of 4 plates; top each serving with 1 chicken thigh and about 1 1/2 tablespoons shallot mixture.

Quick Chicken or Pork Picatta with Parslied Orzo

Ingredients

1 cup uncooked whole-wheat orzo

3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided

2 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

4 (4-oz.) boneless skinless chicken thighs or pork chops

1/4 cup finely chopped shallot

2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic

8 thin lemon slices, seeds removed

1 tablespoon capers, drained

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Cook orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain but reserve 1 cup of pasta water Spread orzo on a baking sheet; cool 10 minutes. Place orzo in a bowl; add 1 tablespoon juice, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stirring to combine.

Place flour in a shallow dish. Sprinkle chicken / pork with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Dredge meat in flour, shaking off excess. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add meat to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until done. Place meat on a platter (do not wipe out pan).

Add shallot and garlic to pan; cook2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons juice and lemon slices, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Reduce heat to low; add capers and butter, stirring until butter melts. Add some of the reserved pasta water if you want it saucier.  Spoon lemon mixture over chicken. Serve with orzo.

Chicken Escabeche

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 tablespoon coriander seeds

¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium carrot, peeled, chopped

6 garlic cloves, smashed

1 bay leaf

⅔ cup sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

4 chicken legs, thighs and drumsticks separated, patted dry

1 serrano chile, very thinly sliced

½ cup golden raisins

¾ cup mint leaves

Preheat oven to 400°. Toast cumin and coriander seeds in a dry medium saucepan over medium heat, tossing, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ¼ cup oil, followed by onion, carrot, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent but hasn’t taken on any color, about 5 minutes. Add bay leaf, vinegar, and ½ cup water and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1 minute. Remove marinade from heat; season with salt and pepper.

Season chicken generously all over with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Working in batches if needed, cook chicken, skin side down, in a single layer until skin is well browned and very crisp, 8–12 minutes. Turn pieces over and cook on the other side 1 minute (if cooking in batches, transfer pieces to a plate as they’re done). Chicken will not yet be cooked through. Return chicken to pot, arranging skin side up and nestling pieces side by side to form as even a layer as possible. Pour in marinade (meat should be mostly submerged, but you want the skin still exposed). Scatter chile and raisins over top.

Transfer pot to oven and bake, uncovered, until chicken is cooked through, 10–15 minutes (an instant-read thermometer inserted into a thigh should register 165°). Let rest 10–15 minutes, then top with mint.

India Spice Marinated and Grilled Lamb Chops

INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

3 serrano chiles, finely grated

1 3-inch piece ginger, peeled, finely grated

6 garlic cloves, finely grated

1/2 cup crème fraîche or sour cream (or more)

4 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 teaspoon dried mango powder (amchoor; optional)

2 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves

2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon finely grated nutmeg

2 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder or paprika, plus more for serving

4 tablespoons vegetable oil (or more)

12 lamb rib chops (about 2¼ pounds total)

Kosher salt

Mint leaves, cilantro leaves with tender stems, and lemon wedges (for serving)

Toast fennel seeds in a dry small skillet over medium heat, shaking pan often, until fragrant, about 45 seconds; let cool. Finely grind in spice mill or with mortar and pestle. Transfer to a large bowl; add in chile, ginger, garlic, crème fraîche, lime juice, mustard oil (if using), mango powder (if using), fenugreek leaves, pepper, nutmeg, 1 tsp. chili powder, and 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil and mix well. Season lamb chops with salt and add to marinade; turn to coat. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

Let lamb chops sit at room temperature 1 hour before grilling.

Prepare a grill for medium heat; oil grate. Bring reserved marinade to a boil over medium heat.  Add additional vegetable oil if marinade is too thick.

Grill lamb to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter; let rest 5–10 minutes.

Top lamb with mint and cilantro and dust with more chili powder. Serve with lemon wedges.