Tag Archives: kosher salt

10 Pantry Essentials Every Cook Should Have

May 9, 2019Plan to Cookapple cider, apple cider vinegar, avocado, avocado oil, balsamic, balsamic vinegar, barbecue, barbecue sauce, barbeque, barbeque sauce, bbq, bbq sauce, black pepper, buffalo, buffalo sauce, canned tomatos, chef, coconut, coconut amino, cook, cook tools, cooks, crushed black pepper, dijon mustard, drizzle, hot sauce, hummus, Kitchen, kitchen spices, kosher salt, mustard, olive oil, oregano, pantri, pantry, pepper, pickles, rosemary, salt, sambal, sea salt, sea salts, sesame oil, siracha, soup, soy, soy sauce, spices, stew, stews soups, tamari, thyme, tomato, tomato paste, verjus, vinegar, walnut oil, white vinegarDennis Keohane

You may have taken the first key step towards a month of great eating and ordered a ButcherBox, complete with high-quality grass-fed beef, heritage pork, and free-range, organic chicken.

But do you know what else completes a kitchen? Pantry staples, like high-quality oils, a few kinds of vinegar, dried herbs, and more.

This guide details the pantry essentials that make all the difference when preparing the delicious meals at home. The essentials that all cooks have a hands-length from their stoves include condiments like assorted vinegars, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce or their gluten-free variants. With a few of these, you can make everything from vinaigrettes and dressings to sauces, rubs, and much more.

Other necessary kitchen staples include canned tomatoes, which add richness to stews and soups, and dried herbs like oregano, rosemary, and thyme.

The best part? None of these staples are prohibitively expensive, and your individual purchase will probably last you quite a while.

1. High-Quality Oils

You can’t cook many meals without a cooking fat, and while grass-fed butter, ghee, or tallow might be an option, you should always keep a solid selection of healthy, high-quality cooking oils at hand.

These oils might include high heat friendly options filled with healthy fats, like avocado oil or coconut oil. For lower heat preparations, a solid bottle of olive oil should always be handy. You can even use good olive oil as a finishing touch, like a drizzle over salad or hummus.

Neutral oils like avocado oil or olive oil are also excellent bases for homemade salad dressings, and, if you’re really looking to up your pantry game, keep finishing oils like sesame oil or walnut oil on hand.

2. An Assortment of Vinegar

A good vinegar will take a good dish to great, and thankfully there are many options to choose from.

If you need to add acidic sweetness, reach for balsamic vinegar. In fact, dousing some caramelized red onions with balsamic vinegar and sugar is a sure-fire way to make a quick and delicious topping for burgers and steaks, while aged balsamic vinegar makes the perfect coating for grilled veggies.

Don’t stop at balsamic vinegar. Champagne vinegar adds a sweet note to homemade vinaigrettes, while apple cider vinegar boasts so many purported health benefits it’s hard to keep count. You can even throw it into homemade barbeque sauce for a unique bite.

Even plain old white vinegar has its place in a pantry. It’s as useful for making crispy pickles as making homemade kitchen cleanser.

3. Dijon Mustard

Yellow mustard has its place, but nothing heightens a dish more than a dollop of Dijon mustard. The traditional French mustard is made with brown mustard seeds, white wine, and a verjus made from unripe grapes. This verjus is what gives Dijon mustard its distinct, tart flavor.

Use Dijon mustard in a homemade vinaigrette for a crisp salad, or as part of a rub for various cuts of meat. These rosemary brined pork chops are a perfect example.

The best part about Dijon mustard? While it sounds fancy, it’s a pretty affordable condiment, with the store brand bottles rarely costing more than $3 and the fancy stuff only clocking in at $5 or less.

4. Soy Sauce/Tamari/Coconut Aminos

What’s the best way to build umami into your dishes? Soy sauce, a sauce made from fermented soybeans, roasted wheat, and cultures, is the ultimate, inexpensive umami condiment.

Of course, many people question the nutritional impact of soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, a specific type of soy sauce, tamari, can be made without gluten.

If you avoid soy and grains entirely, coconut aminos, a sauce made from coconut tree sap and salt, is a great alternative. While a bit less pungent and a tad sweeter than traditional soy sauce, it still packs umami flavor into dishes.

Use soy sauce or any of its alternatives in Asian-inspired fare, like this ginger pork noodle soup.

5. A Solid Hot Sauce

While the hot sauce category is vast, your favorite hot sauce is a kitchen essential. Why? Because it can be doused on most anything and elevates the flavor of whatever you’re noshing on.

Do you prefer Asian flavor profiles? Reach for the less hot, slightly sweet Sriracha, or pack in the chili garlic flavor with sambal.

Mexican and Latin America hot sauces are another great category: The options are many, but most sauces feature some kind of vinegary heat and potentially a kick of citrus like lime.

Channel pure Americana with Tabasco or Louisiana hot sauce. There are, literally, thousands of hot sauces to choose from.

Use your favorite hot sauce to jazz up a simple breakfast of eggs and bacon, or incorporate it into vinaigrettes and sauces for a little kick.

6. Dried Herbs

Like hot sauce, the selection for dried herbs is vast. And while it’s great to build out your spice cabinet and experiment with various herbs, there are a few essentials we’d recommend always having on hand.

Dried oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme — commonly sold together as an Italian seasoning blend — lend bright flavors to any dish you whip up and are much more convenient in a pinch than fresh herbs.

Other dried herbs we’d consider staples include dill, which is perfect in anything from pickles to salads, and dried bay leaves, which lend depth to soups and stews.

If you’d really like to pad out your spice cabinet, add dried marjoram, ground coriander, dried mint, dried sage, and dried tarragon.

7. Coconut Milk

Canned coconut milk is a treasure, and not just because it’s suitable for most diets. The silky, fatty substance lends richness to any dish it touches, and won’t spoil as quickly as refrigerated alternatives like heavy cream or milk.

Despite it including coconut meat, coconut milk is a fairly neutral, non-dairy way to add creaminess and heft. Use coconut milk to add creaminess to soup, braise meats, or add silky texture and flavor to rice.

Pro tip: Stock up on cans of coconut milk. Whichever ones you don’t use for savory dishes, use them to make dairy-free sweets like no-churn ice cream.

8. Nut and Seed Butters

What’s your favorite? Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, tahini? Whichever nut or seed butter you prefer, it’s bound to serve many uses in your kitchen.

You can, of course, use nut butters to spread on toast, add protein to smoothies, and bake up some delicious cookies. But nut butters have serious culinary uses, too.

Peanut butter or almond butter both make excellent Asian-inspired sauces, like in this Thai almond soba noodle salad. Tahini tastes delicious in Mediterranean fare. Try it drizzled over these Mediterranean meatballs.

9. Canned Tomatoes

Whether you’re whipping up a sauce for pasta, throwing some chili in the crockpot, or cooking up beef stew or pot roast low and slow, canned tomatoes are so useful.

You can find canned tomatoes in many forms, from canned tomato paste to whole, peeled tomatoes in a can. It’s good to have a variety of these options on hand for whatever you may need. They’re inexpensive and can add flavor to nearly any dish, like this fennel and tomato Italian pork shoulder.

10. Good Salt and Black Pepper

It’s a bit of a given that you should have salt and pepper on hand. It’s rare to not add it to a dish in the kitchen. But not just any salt or pepper will do.

Iodized table salt is the most common option, but it’s not exactly the healthiest one. It’s bleached, devoid of trace elements, and often contains additives. Also, it just doesn’t taste as good as sea salt crystals.

Sea salt comes from the ocean, and is evaporated to separate the salt crystals from the water.

(Another option: ButcherBox Chef Yankel always recommends having Kosher salt on hand for seasoning steaks.)

For pepper, whole peppercorns that can be cracked in a pepper mill lend the best flavor.

An easy Bulgogi Beef Skillet recipe from Paleohacks

April 15, 2019Uncategorizedasian, Asian pear, asian pears, beef bulgogi, black pepper, brown sugar, bulgogi marinade, bulgogi marinades, bulgogi recipe, bulgogi recipes, bulgogi sauce, cast iron, cast iron skillet, cut of beef, fire meat, flank steak, garlic cloves, gluten free, grass fed beef, grass-fed, green onion, green onions, ground black pepper, high heat, korean, korean bbq, korean bbq beef, korean beef, korean bulgogi, korean cooking, korean dish, korean dishes, korean food, korean foods, koreanbul-gogi, kosher salt, large skillet, main dish, main dishes, medium-high heat, pork bulgogi, Recipe, rib eye, ribeye, ribeye steak, rice wine, sesame oil, sesame seed, sesame seeds, short rib, short ribs, shortrib, shortribs, side dish, side dishes, skirt steak, soy sauce, soy sauces, stir-fries, stir-fry, stove-top, stovetop, thin slices, vegetable oilDennis Keohane

If you’re craving takeout, try this easy, one skillet beef bulgogi recipe from our friends at Paleohacks for sweet and spicy flavor with zero soy, MSG, or preservatives!

Bulgogi is a popular Korean recipe that translates literally to “fire meat.” Super thin slices of strip steaks, sirloin steak, or ribeye are marinated in spices until tender, then grilled or pan-fried. The result is a sticky, crispy, and slightly spicy recipe that can be turned into a complete meal with a side of cauliflower rice or stir-fried veggie noodles.

The unique marinade includes ripe, grated Asian pear for sweetness, texture, and tang. The acidity in the pear also helps to tenderize the meat. If you can’t find Asian pears, a traditional pear will work just fine. To add a subtle spice to the marinade, use gochugaru, the bright red Korean red pepper. This powder is less spicy than cayenne and creates a balanced heat that lets the other flavors shine through.

Coconut sugar stands in for brown sugar, adding sweetness and helping to crisp the steak for delicious texture. Finally, toasted sesame oil adds nutty aroma while ginger, garlic, and coconut aminos add even more flavor and dimension.

To make the bulgogi, mix all the ingredients for the marinade together, add to the sliced beef, and refrigerate for at least two hours. Then, grease a medium skillet with avocado oil—not olive oil. Avocado oil has a high smoke heat point that can withstand high cooking temperatures without burning. Cook the steak about two minutes per side, in two batches.

To serve, top the hot steak slices with sesame seeds and scallions, and enjoy!

If you’re craving more takeout recipes but don’t feel like cooking, check out one of these 13 totally Paleo meal delivery options!

Paleohacks’ Korean-style BBQ Bulgogi Beef Skillet

Prep time- 10 minutes

Cook time- 10 minutes

Chill time- 4 hours

Total time- 4 hours, 20 minutes

Serves- 4

Tools

Mixing bowl

Skillet

Tongs

Ingredients

For the Marinade

1/3 cup grated Asian pear, peeled

1 T Korean red pepper (or chili powder)

1 T coconut sugar

1 T lime juice

2 T toasted sesame oil

2 T coconut aminos

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 t ground ginger

1/4 t sea salt

For the Steak:

2 10-oz strip steaks, thinly sliced

1 t avocado oil

1/2 t sesame seeds, for serving

1/4 cup chopped green onion, for serving

Directions

1. Combine ingredients for marinade in a mixing bowl and stir well.

2. Add steak slices and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.

3. Grease a skillet with avocado oil and heat over medium-high heat for a few minutes. When hot, use tongs to add half of the marinated steak strips and cook for 2 minutes. Flip and cook an additional 2 minutes.

4. Transfer steak to a bowl and repeat with remaining strips.

5. Serve the beef bulgogi hot garnished with sesame seeds and green onion.

A taco-stuffed sweet potato? Another great recipe from Paleohacks

March 8, 2019Uncategorizedamerican, best paleo, cast iron skillet, cooking time, grass fed beef, grass-fed, ground beef, ground black pepper, high heat, kosher salt, mexican, olive oil, Paleo, Recipe, slow cooker, sweet potato, taco, tacosDennis Keohane

The great recipe team at Paleohacks has shared another tasty dish with Roam. This Mexican-inspired recipe features sweet potatoes stuffed with taco meat and topped with homemade guacamole for a single serving meal everyone will love!

Ditch the tortilla and stuff your favorite taco fixings inside tender roasted sweet potatoes for a filling and guilt-free meal.

Tacos are a dinner staple that everyone can agree on. However, when following a Paleo lifestyle, tortillas can be difficult to replace. Traditional tortillas and other grain-filled foods can cause bloating, which is why sweet potatoes are such a great alternative. Plus, they’re big enough to stuff with drool-worthy toppings for a fun twist on taco night.

Grass-fed ground beef carries the smoky taco spices, like cumin, onion powder, and chili powder. A little tomato paste adds to the tangy zip. And as we all know, no taco is complete without a scoop of creamy guacamole. This one is kept simple with chopped onion, cilantro, and jalapeños so you can mash it together while the meat sizzles on the stove.

Get started by greasing the sweet potatoes with avocado oil, which helps to lightly crisp up the skins. Bake for one hour, then let the sweet potatoes cool at room temperature while preparing the other ingredients.

Meanwhile, heat ground beef in a skillet until browned, then stir in dry seasonings, tomato paste, and a little water. Cook about five minutes more.

While the taco meat cooks, make the guacamole by mashing an avocado until just slightly chunky. Add red onion, cilantro, sea salt, and jalapeños.

When everything’s ready, slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise and fill it up with taco meat. Top with a scoop of guacamole and finish with freshly diced tomatoes. Enjoy it while it’s hot!

Other great toppings to include:

Pickled jalapeño
Diced mango
Sliced radishes
Chopped bell pepper

Tip: Try baking up a few additional sweet potatoes so you can have these decadent sweet potato brownies for dessert!

Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potato

Prep time- 10 minutes

Cook time- 1 hour, 15 minutes

Total time- 1 hour, 25 minutes

Serves- 4

Tools

Parchment paper

Baking sheet

Skillet

Spatula

Small bowl

Ingredients

4 sweet potatoes

1 T avocado oil

1 lb ground beef

1 T ground cumin

2 t chili powder

1/2 t garlic powder

1/4 t onion powder

1/4 t cayenne pepper

2 T tomato paste

1/4 cup water

1 medium ripe avocado

2 T red onion, chopped

1 T cilantro

1 T minced jalapeños

1/4 t sea salt

1/2 cup tomatoes, diced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Grease the outsides of the sweet potatoes with avocado oil and set on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, then let cool.

3. Meanwhile, heat ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, using a spatula to break up the meat. Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Stir in dry seasonings, tomato paste, and water until thoroughly combined. Continue to cook for 5 minutes.

5. While the taco meat cooks, prepare the topping: Mash an avocado in a small bowl. Add the chopped red onion, cilantro, jalapeños, and sea salt. Stir well.

6. When the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice them down the center lengthwise. Stuff with the taco meat, then add a scoop of the guacamole and diced tomatoes and serve.

If you liked this recipe, then you’ll love this sweet potato cheeseburger casserole recipe that you can make with just one pan.

NY strip steak – An iconic steak in New York and beyond for good reason

August 9, 2018Uncategorizedamerican, best steak, best steaks, black pepper, cast iron skillet, compound butter, good steak, grass-fed, grassfed, hot skillet, kansas city strip steak, kosher salt, n.y. strip steak, n.y. strip steaks, New York strip, new york strip steak, new york strip steaks, new york strips, ny strip, NY strip steak, ny strip steaks, ny strips, olive oil, pan seared, perfect new york strip steak, perfect steak, porterhouse steak, porterhouse steaks, rib eye, rib eye steak, rib eye steaks, rib-eyes, ribeye, ribeye steak, ribeyes, room temperature, sea salt, short loin, steak dinner, steak lover, steak lovers, steak recipe, steak recipes, steaklover, strip loin steak, strip loin steaks, strip steak, strip steaks, striploin steak, striploin steaks, stripsteak, strip_steak, t bone, t-bonesDennis Keohane

You can find it featured on the menu of most reputable steakhouses, and although it goes by various names, when one thinks of a perfectly sized, tender, and flavorful cut of beef, likely, they are imagining a New York strip steak.

The strip steak comes from the topmost section of the sirloin, a little-used area of muscle, the longissimus, that is commonly referred to as the strip loin or top loin. The strip steak is sometimes prepared with a bone attached; quite often, you can find the strip is part of a T-bone steak or Porterhouse steak when part of a larger bone-in cut that also includes tenderloin steak — by itself, filet mignon.

Delmonico steak, Kansas City strip steak, or NY strip steak?

As a standalone steak, it is most commonly referred to as the New York strip steak, but it can also be called the New York sirloin steak, the Kansas City steak (with bone-in) or Kansas City strip steak, contré filet, strip loin steak, hotel steak, ambassador steak, club sirloin steak, or in some parts of the world, simply sirloin steak. Also, the New York strip can be — or has been known — as the Delmonico steak.

The connection to Delmonico’s, the famous New York steakhouse and restaurant first opened in Lower Manhatten in the 1820’s, is likely how the cut earned its most famous moniker, the New York strip steak. However, it is unclear if a Delmonico steak, or the original Delmonico steak, is, or ever was a strip steak from the top loin or a ribeye steak. The reason for the confusion is likely due to steakhouses across the country seeking to mimic Delmonico’s famous steaks, but using an array of different — yet similarly tender and thick — cuts. Those who have investigated the Delmonico and New York strip steak connection, refer to the cut also being called a club steak, a reference to the restaurant’s early days as one of the first American dining clubs.

However convoluted the naming history of the cut may be, one thing isn’t up for debate: New York strip steaks take relatively little preparation and can be cooked to a melt-in-your-mouth level of deliciously quite easily.

The perfect NY strip steak

Whether pan seared — or reverse seared — grilling on a charcoal or gas grill, or cooking by some other method, all a New York strip steak really needs is a coating of crushed black pepper and kosher salt or sea salt and some compound butter. Just a few ingredients, a few minutes of cooking time, and you can get the perfect steak for any steak lover. The easy prep is one of the reasons it pops up on restaurant menus so often.

According to ButcherBox Head Chef Yankel Polak, the lack of too much visible fat also makes New York strip steak a steakhouse favorite.

“There is a breed of steak lover out there who likes things a bit leaner,” Chef Yankel explains. “I used to see them in restaurants all the time; they would order a big ol’ ribeye and leave all that amazing fat sitting on the plate. It inspired me to offer a NY strip steak as the lean alternative.”

“When butchered properly, it has only a thin strip of fat running down one side — and besides its natural marbling — the strip steak presents itself as the less fatty menu option,” continues Chef Yankel.

And, there is a business reason as well: According to Chef Yankel, a NY strip steak is a high-value item for a restaurant because there is nearly no waste. “It dry ages well, cooks quickly, and requires almost no skill to do it perfectly and deliciously.”

“Personally I like slow smoking them at 225°F until they are rare, resting them for a bit, and then finishing them over a raging fire for the ultimate crust,” he added.

The cut does also benefit from a bit of marinating if you want to marry a grass-fed, grass-finished New York strip steak to other flavors you may be preparing. Below are two of Chef Yankel’s favorite methods for marinating and cooking the perfect New York strip steak.

NY Strip Steak with Chef Yankel’s Zesty Marinade Recipe

Ingredients:

2 ButcherBox NY Strip Steaks
3 limes, zest and juice
1 bunch fresh cilantro chopped
1 head of garlic, peeled and minced
1 Tbsp crushed black pepper
¼ c olive oil

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients for marinade in small bowl. Mix well and coat steaks thoroughly.

2. Allow steaks to marinate refrigerated at least one hour, then bring steaks to room temp before cooking.

3. Grill steaks over charcoal or open flame for 4 to 6 min per side, or until internal temperature reads 120°F. Rest steak 8 min before serving.

Chef Yankel’s 5-minute NY Strip Steak Marinade Recipe

Ingredients:

2 ButcherBox NY Strip Steaks

Marinade/Dressing:

¼ c balsamic vinegar (the higher-quality, the better!)
½ c extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp chili flakes
1 Tbsp garlic, minced
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Bring steaks to room temperature and season with salt and pepper.

3. Mix all marinade ingredients. Pour ¼ c over steaks and let them sit at room temp for 5 min.

4. Preheat cast-iron skillet. Once skillet is hot, sear steaks on both sides for 2-3 min per side or until a nice crust forms.

5. Place pan in oven for 5 more min, or until thermometer inserted in thickest part of steak reads 120°F.

6. Let steaks rest for at least 8 min before slicing. Serve alongside salad and enjoy!

The ultimate guide to smoking meat at home

July 27, 2018Outside the Boxamerican, americans, barbecue sauce, barbecue sauces, beef brisket, black pepper, Boston butt, brining, brown sugar, charcoal grill, charcoal grills, charcoal smoker, charcoal smokers, chimney starter, cook time, cook times, electric smoker, electric smokers, fire box, firebox, gas grill, gas grills, hot coals, hot smoked, hotsmoked, indirect heat, internal temperature, internal temperatures, kosher salt, low temperature, low temperatures, lump charcoal, meat smoking, meat thermometer, meat thermometers, moisten, pellet smoker, pellet smokers, pork butt, pork butts, pork ribs, pork shoulder, right wood, rub recipe, rub recipes, slow cooking process, smoke meat, smoke meats, smoked meat, smoked meats, smokemeat, smoking basics, smoking meat, smoking meats, smoking process, smoking processes, smoking time, smoking times, smoky flavor, smoky flavors, spare ribs, spareribs, weber, webers, wood chip, wood chips, wood chunk, wood chunks, wood pelletsDennis Keohane

Smoking meat is a prehistoric culinary art. In the past, the technique was used to preserve protein-rich foods. Smoking dehydrates meat and imparts antibacterial properties that keep it from spoiling quickly. While our ancestors used the method to preserve red meat and fish, today smoking is used for all kinds of meat — not just as a preservation method — and the enhanced flavor makes it quite the delicacy.

We’re most familiar with smoked meats in the form of barbecue: When meat is treated to the low and slow treatment in a smoker, connective tissues and collagen within the meat break down, resulting in ultra-flavorful, ultra-tender food. Top that off with the bevy of barbecue sauces we’ve invented — vinegar-based, sweet, thick and tangy, you name it — and you’re in heaven.

This guide delves into the ins and outs of smoking meat at home — from equipment to wood chips to the best cuts of meat to smoke.

Equipment

There are several fancy smoker options, from pellet smokers to vertical electric smokers to offset smokers for the true meat smoking aficionado. These smokers are specially designed for applying indirect heat at steady low temperatures, and most cost several hundreds of dollars. While cooking with a Traeger wood pellet grill can be amazing, if you’re a novice who’s not ready to invest too heavily into smoking equipment, have no fear.

Everyday gas grills and charcoal grills can be manipulated to smoke meat with just a little effort.

Gas grills can be tricky to use as smokers, as they’re designed to cook meat over direct heat at high temperatures — the opposite of smoking, which is low, indirect heat over a long period of time.

With a little patience, however, a gas grill will smoke your meat. You’ll need to build an indirect heat zone and a direct heat zone within your grill, making sure to keep your meat in the indirect zone. Experiment with your burners until you’re able to bring the internal temperature to around 250°F which you can check with a meat thermometer (for most cuts of meat, anyway).

You’ll need a smoke box to hold your — soaked and drained — wood chips. Newer gas grills sometimes come with a built-in metal smoker box, but you can also purchase a heavy duty metal smoker box or make an inexpensive one at home by placing the wood chips in a foil pan, covering it with heavy-duty aluminum foil, and adding slits with a knife.

It’s a good idea to set up a drip pan to collect the drippings of your meat. Also, be sure to add a small amount of liquid to the drip pan — like water, apple juice, or beer — to add moisture and keep the drippings from drying out. Don’t set the pan directly on top of the burners, but rather on a grate, with another grate above for the meat.

As for a kettle or charcoal grill, like a traditional Weber, things are a little simpler. Remove the cooking grate from your grill and place the drip pan on one side. Remember to fill it with some liquid. Next, pile up your coals or lump charcoal on the opposite side of the grill.

Once the coals are white hot, you can add your wood and then smoke your meat over the drip pan. While you’ll occasionally need to open the grill to add more coal or wood, try not to disturb the smoking process.

Cuts of Meat

In truth, you can smoke pretty much any kind of meat or seafood. Poultry, red meat, pork, fish are all fair game — game meat, like venison, is also great when smoked.

But, if you’re looking for meats that respond really well to the smoker, you’ll actually want to aim low, rather than high. Low-cost, tougher cuts of meat tenderize when smoked low and slow.

For example, try Boston butt — or simply pork butt as it’s also simply called — for sumptuous pulled pork. Be sure to rub your pork butt amply with your desired spices — we like this smoky coffee rub recipe. Other pork options include ribs, like this brown sugar rub and mustard barbeque sauce-laced recipe. You can also smoke sausages for a complex, savory flavor.

While you can smoke leaner cuts like pork loin, it’s not ideal, as it responds better to grilling or roasting than smoking.

Beef brisket is the king of smoked meat, and the perfect cut when it comes to smoked beef. Give this smoked brisket with citrus marinade a whirl. But one thing to remember is not to smoke steaks—seriously, a simple grill or hot skillet is a better bet.

Poultry like whole chickens and turkeys turn out great in the smoker. You can also smoke chicken leg quarters if you’re not feeling up to the whole chicken yet. Here are some pecan smoked chicken wings for a super simple smoked recipe.

Wood Chips and Chunks

Not all wood is created equal when it comes to smoking meat. For one, you should never use any old wood you chopped down in your backyard — it’s potentially toxic. Never fear, though, there are plenty of other woods to experiment with as you smoke meat

While wood chips are sold more readily in most grocery stores and hardware stores, they tend to ignite quickly and burn out quite fast. This is not ideal for smoking low and slow. Wood chunks, on the other hand, burn for hours in a smoker. They do take a bit longer to ignite, but if you’re smoking meat, you’ve probably already committed the time.

If you use wood chips, be sure to soak them for at least 30 minutes before using. This will ensure they burn long enough to impart some flavor to the food.

What about the many varieties of wood? Getting the smoky flavor you want requires choosing the right wood.

Consider them on a scale of mild to intense. Fruity woods, like apple, peach, cherry, and pear, are light and sweet. They pair well with poultry, fish, and pork. Hickory, maple, pecan, and oak are stronger, but not overwhelming. Beef, game, and pork all go well with these woods. Mesquite is the most intense wood—it’s best used in moderation and with red meat.

Once you’ve mastered smoking with one wood, feel free to experiment with mixing woods for different flavors.

Now, you’re equipped with everything you need to know to get started on smoking meat. Get cooking!

By any name, coulotte or picanha, this is a cut everyone can enjoy

July 17, 2018Uncategorizedamerican, bell peppers, brasilian, brazilian, brazilian food, Brazilian steak, brazilian steak house, brazilian steakhouse, brazilian steakhouses, brazilians, butcher shop, california, coulotte steak, culotte, cutting board, delicious cut, delicious cuts, dry-aging, fat cap, fat side, grill picanha, grilled meats, internal temperature, internal temperatures, kosher salt, mole, new york, north american butcher, north american butchers, picanha, picanha steak, picanha steaks, prized cut, rio de janeiro, roast beef, rock salt, rump cap, rump cover, sirloin cap, sous vide, top sirloin, top sirloin cap, tri tip, unboxing, unique cuts of steak, united states, wood fire, wood fires, Yankel PolakDennis Keohane

A hidden delight of being a ButcherBox member is the monthly unpacking. As proof, check out one of the hundreds of videos people have posted online of them opening and discovering the cuts included in each month’s shipment.

One of the reasons the unboxing can be so exciting is that each month we include unique, difficult to find, and often underappreciated cuts of beef, pork, and chicken.

Some months, members may have come across a slab of beef that they’ve likely never seen at a butcher shop with a name they may not be familiar with: Coulotte, which is also commonly referred to as picanha, as well as fat cap, rump cap, or top sirloin cap by North American butchers.

This cut is derived from the triangular muscle of the top sirloin butt, also known as Biceps femoris. Coulotte is a lean steak that comes from this hindquarter section of the cow, specifically between the loin and the round. Often a couple of inches thick, picanha is usually identified by the thin layer of fat that covers one side of the cut. The fat layer gives the cut much of its flavoring as there is little marbling inherent in coulotte.

An international cut of beef

The name ‘coulotte’ itself has a bit of complicated backstory. There is some confusion over the derivation of the word from the original French. Some believe the word is closest related to ‘culot,’ meaning cap, a reference to the location and thin layer of fat of the top sirloin cut. However, there is also a belief that the name coulotte is derived from the French word ‘cul,’ meaning bottom or, to the dirtier-minded, is slang for the human derriere. This interpretation is taken from the French word’s relation to the Latin word ‘culus,’ meaning bottom, and refers to the location of the muscle in the cow’s hindquarters or backside.

To complicate matters further, another cut, the ribeye cap, which is very different steak altogether, is known in France as the ‘calotte,’ a name also related to the cap-like nature of that cut.

Most people are first introduced to the top sirloin cap by its Brazilian name, picanha, which is the specialty of churrascarias — Brazilian steakhouses that grill and slice the steak off a skewer. Churrascarias derive their name from the term churrasco, which is Portuguese for barbecue.

“Picanha, or coulotte, is hugely popular in Brazilian BBQ,” our in-house ButcherBox chef Yankel Polak said. “It is a perfect cut to grill.”

One thing is clear, when dry-seasoned and cooked carefully — do not overcook — the coulotte is a delicious steak. The cut is fantastic when cooked on a grill, but it is also has a lot of other uses, including for kabobs, steak sandwiches, stews, stir fry, shredded Mexican-style beef, and more.

Preparing coulotte/picanha

In the summer, you can grill picanha/coulotte on skewers, Brazilian churrasco-style, over a wood fire or on a charcoal grill. When grilling the steaks outdoors, first score the fat cap, cut into smaller steaks — against the grain — and then season generously with kosher salt or rock salt and fold and skewer. You can also cook directly on a grill; to do that right, first cook with the fat cap down for a few minutes.

Either way, whether you are in New York or California, grilled picanha will make you feel like you are in Rio de Janeiro in the summer.

“It’s crazy tender with a beautiful fat cap that just melts and crisps as you cook it,” he added. “Sliced thin and against the grain, this hunk of sirloin will literally melt in your mouth when treated properly, which is medium rare or skewered and slow roasted over an open fire.”

Chef Yankel loves a good mole. However, preparing the dish can be time-intensive. “Cheat the system by using mole-inspired flavors — peppers, nuts, spices, and chocolate — as a rub instead of a sauce,” he suggests. “Then top it all off with a spicy tomatillo salsa.”

Chef Yankel has a few delicious coulotte recipes to share. First, check out the video of him demonstrating his “Smoky Chili Rubbed Coulotte with Red Pepper Salsa” recipe in the video below and also find Chef Yankel’s “Mole-Rubbed Coulotte with Tomatillo Salsa” recipe after the video.

Chef Yankel’s recipe for Mole-Rubbed Coulotte (Picanha/Top Sirloin Cap) with Tomatillo Salsa

Servings: 4 Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 1½ hours

Ingredients:

1 ButcherBox Coulotte (Top Sirloin Cap)
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cumin
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 Tbsp kosher salt
¼ cup pecan
¼ cup almond
1 dried ancho chili
1 dried chipotle chili

Tomatillo Salsa

6 tomatillo, husk removed and rinsed
1 poblano pepper
1 jalapeño pepper
1 serrano pepper
6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 Tbsp lime juice

Directions:

1. In a food processor, combine kosher salt, cinnamon, cumin, garlic powder, cocoa powder, both chilies, and nuts.

2. Pulse until chilies and nuts are finely chopped.

3. Rub both sides of coulotte roast with the spice rub.

4. Refrigerate for 3 hrs or overnight.

5. Place coulotte on sheet pan and roast in 200℉ oven until internal temperature is 115℉.

6. Remove from oven and sear in a hot pan on all sides, 1½ min per side. Let rest for at least 8 min, then slice thinly against the grain.

Directions: Tomatillo Salsa

1. Toss tomatillos, garlic, and whole peppers in avocado oil.

2. Place on sheet pan and roast in a 400°F oven for 15 min or until tomatillos and peppers are browned from roasting.

3. Remove from the oven and place items in a mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 min.

4. Remove the skin of the tomatillos and peppers and the seeds from the peppers.

5. Place tomatillos, peppers, garlic and the liquid from the mixing bowl in a food processor.

6. Add lime juice and puree.

7. Serve over the coulotte and enjoy!

The ribeye steak – There is no better grilling steak

July 12, 2018Uncategorizedbeef steak, best steak, black pepper, bone-in, bone-in ribeye steak, cast iron, cast iron skillet, dietary fiber, garlic cloves, grilled ribeye steaks, grilled steak, ground black pepper, high heat, hot skillet, internal temperature, kosher salt, medium heat, medium-high heat, nutrition facts, olive oil, perfect ribeye steak, perfect steak, rib steak, ribeye steak, ribeye steak recipe total fat, room temperature, spinalis, steak lover, steak recipe, total timeDennis Keohane

Ribeye steak is one of the most delicious of all the cuts of beef that we — as steak lovers — want to grill and eat every time we spark up the grill.

The reason for our ribeye obsession is that it is so tender and tasty; and, it is mouthwatering-good when grilled with just kosher salt or sea salt and fresh ground black pepper for seasoning. The reason ribeye steak is a true beef flavor bomb is that it has more marbling — the fatty connective tissue within the muscle — than most other cuts.

Even grass-fed and grass-finished ribeye steaks — which are usually less fatty than corn-fed and grain-fed factory farm beef — has just enough of that good fat marbling to make the steaks savory and full of that great grass-fed beef flavor we love.

And while ribeyes are perfect steaks to cook with an oven — they are great when lightly seasoned and seared on a hot skillet with a bit of olive oil or unsalted butter — we prefer the simple pleasure of a perfectly cooked ribeye from the grill.

Head ButcherBox Chef Yankel Polak is a huge fan of the ribeye steak. Chef Yankel says, “Cast iron or open fire. Finish it with butter and tons of salt. Even the best ribeye will taste underwhelming if not seasoned properly.”

What gives ribeye steaks such great marbling? They come from the rib primal of a cow, specifically, the longissimus dorsi, which gets very little use, hence the excess fat dispersed throughout the muscle. But in a grass-fed ribeye steak, that fat is a bit healthier than in a grain-fed or corn-fed ribeye.

The fattiness burns up when being cooked adding a juicy moisture to the meat, making it incredibly tender. Once you eat a grilled ribeye, you will definitely notice its smooth, rich texture and delicious beefy flavor. When cooked on an open flame, charred lightly and medium-rare in the middle

According to Chef Yankel, “Ribeyes have a ton of fat so super high heat is the best way to get the most flavor.” When cooking on an open flame, char a ribeye lightly on each side — a few minutes on each side — and then let it sit for eight to ten minutes before cutting into. Follow these instructions and you will get a perfect medium-rare steak every time.

Here, for a little more detail, is Chef Yankel’s recipe for Garlic Crusted Ribeye Steak:

Garlic-Crusted Ribeye Steak

Dry ribeye steaks and bring to room temperature.
Season steaks generously on both sides with salt and pepper.
Preheat grill. If using an open flame, wait for flames to die down. Right before grilling, make sure grill surface is extremely hot, then rub it down with an oil-soaked rag – we advise using tongs to hold the rolled-up rag.
Rub heads of garlic with olive oil, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1 tsp fresh black pepper and wrap in aluminum foil.
Bake garlic for about 30 minutes on the cooler side of grill – indirect heat.
Once baked, peel the skin off garlic and place in food processor with ghee. Pulse to make a paste.
For medium-rare, place ribeye steaks at 45° angle across hottest part of grill grates, then grill for 2 – 3 min per side, while rotating 90° every 1 ½ min.
Place steaks on a baking sheet and smear 1 large Tbsp of garlic paste on top of each steak.
Move steak to the cooler part of the grill, then grill for 4 min per side. Keep your meat moving to ensure that it cooks evenly. Remove from grill when a meat thermometer inserted into thickest part reads 120°F.
Let the steaks rest for 8 min before slicing.

Grilled chicken breast and chicken thighs: The essential summer recipes

July 11, 2018Uncategorizedbbq chicken, bbq sauce, best grilled chicken, best recipes, black pepper, boneless chicken breast, boneless skinless chicken breasts, charcoal grill, chicken breasts, chicken marinade, chicken recipe, dijon mustard, flavorful grilled chicken, garlic cloves, gas grill, greek, grill chicken, grilled chicken breast, grilled chicken recipe, grilling chicken breasts, italian, juicy chicken breast, juicy grilled chicken, kosher salt, lemon juice, meat mallet, olive oil, outdoor grill, perfect grilled chicken, perfectly grilled chicken, rolling pin, set aside, skinless chicken breastsDennis Keohane

Grilled chicken breast and chicken thigh: The essential summer recipes

Grilled chicken is the ultimate summer dish. Why heat up the oven or slave over a pot indoors when you can soak up some sunshine while grilling up your dinner?

The key to juicy, tender grilled chicken is the technique. Harnessing the power of indirect heat on the grill is the way to go. Whether it’s a gas or charcoal grill, spend some time building heat in your grill, then grill your chicken over indirect heat. You can use the direct flames and high heat for crisping, browning, and those characteristic grill marks.

The flavor profile possibilities are endless, too. Try Greek-marinated grilled chicken or spicy Italian grilled chicken. Citrus is grilled chicken’s best friend, from smoky citrus grilled chicken to grilled chicken with lemon and thyme.

Whatever marinade or spice-blend you opt for, these chicken recipes will keep you grilling all summer long.

1. Juicy Grilled Chicken Breast

This juicy grilled chicken breast is all about the technique. Keep it pure and simple (to start, at least) with just a few bone-in, skin-on chicken breast halves, some salt, some oil, and a grill. The trick is to harness the power of indirect heat, whether you’re using a gas or charcoal grill. If using a gas grill, turn on all the burners and close the lid. Once the temperature inside the grill reaches 400°F, turn off one of the burners. You’ll be grilling your chicken in the indirect heat left by the now-off burner. For a charcoal grill, light 50 or 60 briquettes for 20 to 30 minutes, until they’re covered with ash. Clear them to one side, and place chicken breast halves over the indirect heat. Your chicken will take a quick trip to the direct heat for crisping and browning. Once you’ve mastered this technique, you can get more creative with a marinade or rub.

2. Grilled Greek Marinated Chicken Breast with Peach and Endive Salad

If you’re trying to capture the essence of summer in a meal, this grilled Greek marinated boneless chicken breast with peach and endive salad will do it. Freshness abounds with summer fruits and veggies like peaches, avocado, endive lettuce, and corn. Meanwhile, boneless skinless chicken breasts get marinated in a deliciously zesty Greek vinaigrette and grilled quickly for color, then finished off in the oven. While you’re grilling chicken, you can also grill corn to add a delicious smoky char flavor to the accompanying salad. Toss the salad in Primal Kitchen’s Green Goddess dressing and add some tangy feta, and you’re in heaven.

3. Spicy Grilled Italian Chicken

Heat things up with this Italian flavored, red pepper flake, and chili powder-spiced grilled chicken breast. Barbeque sauce, white wine vinegar, and lemon juice add tang while Italian seasonings like dried basil, dried oregano, and dried parsley add an herbaceous touch. Marinating the chicken in the sauce ensures tender, juicy breasts while basting it while grilling maximizes the spicy Italian flavor. Bonus: It only takes an hour to marinate and 20 minutes to grill up, making for one effortless summer meal.

4. Aromatic Grilled Chicken Thighs

The ultimate spice blend prevails in this aromatic grilled chicken thighs recipe. With seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, turmeric, chili powder, paprika, and of course salt and black pepper, these skin-on, bone-in, grilled chicken thighs are packed with flavor. The unique custom spice blend is better than anything you can find in a bottle, plus your kitchen will smell as heavenly as a spice shop as you prepare it. The trick to perfectly grilled and crispy, aromatic chicken is to cook it over indirect heat, bone side down for the majority of the time. Only flip it to the spiced-skin side at the end to avoid burning the spices.

5. Smoky Citrus Grilled Chicken Thighs

These smoky citrus grilled chicken thighs are extra special because they require a charcoal grill and hickory wood chips to perfect that smoke flavor. This recipe works with any cut of chicken, but boneless skinless chicken thighs ensure ultra-juicy and flavorful dark meat. Herbs like rosemary and thyme and plenty of citrus—including lemon, orange, and lime—really pack in the flavor to complement the smokiness from the hickory wood chips. Once again, indirect heat helps create masterfully charred yet juicy grilled chicken.

6. Grilled Citrus Chicken Breast with Summer Watermelon Salad

Summer strikes again with these grilled citrus chicken breasts with summer watermelon salad. Boneless skinless chicken breasts get marinated in a mélange of aromatics, including fresh crushed garlic cloves, shallots, fresh thyme, and rosemary, whole lemon and orange and a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. All of the aromatics get pulsed in the food processor to form the perfect marinade. Meanwhile, a refreshing summer salad of grilled corn, red and yellow watermelon, cilantro, feta, and onion accompany the chicken, making for an ideal summer meal.

7. Grilled Chicken Breasts with Lemon and Thyme

Simple yet bold, these grilled chicken breasts with lemon and thyme are a delicious quick meal, clocking in at 20 minutes total on the grill. Lemon juice and thyme meld with red pepper flakes, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper for an uncomplicated marinade. Bone-in chicken breasts stand up to the heat to ensure succulent flavor and tenderness. If you don’t have dried thyme on hand, don’t worry, any similar dried spice will work. Think marjoram, oregano, rosemary, or sage.

Extra Tips

ButcherBox Head Chef Yankel Polak suggests the best way to grill a juicy chicken breast comes down to two key steps. The first is to pound your boneless chicken breast thin before you grill chicken. You can use a meat mallet or just your rolling pin, but either way, a thinner chicken breast allows for more evenly cooked meat. Second, once you’ve achieved the ideal internal temperature, set aside at room temperature and let the juices distribute throughout the now flavorful grilled chicken breast.

Do both and you will get the ultimate summer dish, perfectly grilled chicken, every time you use the outdoor grill.

Digging into shepherd’s pie: A rich, simple dish with a complex history

March 14, 2018Uncategorizedbeef stock, black pepper, British food, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, chef, Chef Yankel, cinnamon, cottage pie, curry, diced tomatoes, garam masala, garbanzo beans, garlic cloves, ghee, ground beef, Irish dish, Irish food, kosher salt, muchi curry powder, peas, russet potatoes, shepherd's pie, St Patricks Day, tomato paste, yellow onionDennis Keohane

As the days start to get warmer, let’s skip the stew and dig into a dish that’s a lot easier to make.

The dish itself is not complicated. Popular in the British Isles, it is usually some combination of meat, spices, vegetables, with a mashed potato crust.

A problem arises, however, when discussing the name of the entree. Shepherd’s pie? Cottage pie? “Pâté chinois?

Here in America, we usually refer to any dish that contains beef, hearty veggies, and is topped with potatoes as “shepherd’s pie.” However, what we know as shepherd’s pie is actually a “cottage pie,” which is popular in Ireland, Scotland, and England. A shepherd’s pie is the same except the featured meat is lamb instead of beef.

The background for the name differences is quite interesting. Cottage pies have traditionally been more common because they were made from the leftovers of from larger meals. So commonfolk in places like Ireland and England — who predominantly lived in country cottages — would take leftover beef they had, cut it up, and throw it into a pot or dish with whatever veggies they had lying around.

As our in-house chef, Yankel Polak explains, “There are endless variations since its basically a free-form stew topped with mashed potatoes.”

Because potatoes have been such a prevalent and accessible crop to broader swaths of the population — especially in Ireland — it made more sense to use mashed potatoes as a crust or topping than any grain-based foods. And so, the cottage pie became a staple in Ireland, Britain, Scotland, and, eventually America.

It is a bit odd that a cottage pie — the dish with beef as its meat — would be called shepherd’s pie more commonly here in the U.S.

If you haven’t made the connection yet, shepherd’s pie gets its name because it features lamb, the livestock tended to by shepherds.

Whatever name it goes by, the savory dish is good just about any time you happen to have ground beef or any leftover meat and vegetables handy. But it is a perfect hearty meal for the winter, especially in the more snow-blanketed, northern sections of the country.

ButcherBox’s Chef Yankel likes to make a beef stew and store mash potatoes in a pastry bag. “When I’m hungry,” he explains, “I heat up the stew in a saute pan, pour it into an oven safe dish, pipe the mash on top with a sprinkle of parmesan and pepper and broil it till golden.”

For another variation on the cottage pie/shepherd’s pie, check out Chef Yankel’s “Spiced-Up Shepherd’s Pie,” which adds some more complexity with Indian-inspired flavors and a unique potato topping that blends in cauliflower for a lower carb count:

Spiced-up Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients:

Meat Filling

- 1 ButcherBox Ground Beef

- 1 c butternut squash, small dice

- 1 c carrots, small dice

- 1 c peas (if frozen do not thaw)

- One can (15½oz) garbanzo beans

- 1 can (14½oz) diced tomatoes

- 1 medium yellow onion, small dice

- 4 garlic cloves, minced

- ½ tsp cinnamon

- 1 tsp muchi-curry powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- 1 Tbsp tomato paste

- 2 tsp kosher salt

- 1/3 c beef stock

Cauliflower Topping

- 1 cauliflower

- 2 russet potatoes

- ½ tsp muchi-curry powder

- ½ tsp ground black pepper

- 1 tsp kosher salt

- 1 tsp ghee

Preparation:

30 minutes cooking time:

Serves: 4-6

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Rinse potatoes, poke them twice with a fork and place on baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 1 hr or until fork-tender. Peel the skin off once you are able to handle them.

3. Cut up cauliflower and place in a steaming basket. Steam for 10 min, or until very soft.

4. Place cooked cauliflower, peeled potatoes, and remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

5. With a hand mixer, mix until smooth.

6. Set aside.

Meat Filling

7. Preheat sauté pan. Crumble ground beef into the hot pan, and sauté until slightly pink, then drain liquid.

8. Return the meat back to pan and add garlic, onion, butternut squash, carrots, and spices. Sauté until onions are translucent.

9. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and beef broth mix, and cook for 3 min.

10. Add garbanzo beans and peas. Mix everything together and pour meat filling into a casserole dish.

11. Spread the mashed cauliflower and potato mixture evenly on top of meat.

12. Bake for 30 min. Remove from oven and enjoy!