Spit-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Rosemary Dijon Baste

Spit-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Rosemary Dijon Baste

This delicious recipe was one of the factors in my TV show making the ratings that kept me on the air for 131 episodes. Our original contract was for 13 episodes. We used it on the cover of my book The Sonoran Grill This easy recipe is tangy and herbal with the correct amount of bite from the lemon and dijon to cut through the lamb and bring ou the delicate flavor. Serve it with a cold, crisp white Pinot and a loaf of my bread!

Fresh Rosemary for garnish

1 8LB Leg of lamb, de-boned and tied

1. Allow the lamb to rest in the marinade for 1-1/2 hours.

2. Place lamb on spit and roast over indirect heat, medium-hot coals, until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees or about 35-40 minutes of cooking time (for medium rare).

3. Remove lamb from spit and allow resting for 8-10 minutes before serving.

4. Garnish with Rosemary.

Rosemary Dijon Baste;

1-1/2 TSP Fresh rosemary, minced

2 CLOVES Garlic, minced or pressed

1/4 C Peanut oil

2 TBL Fresh-squeezed lemon juice

2 TBL Dijon mustard

1 TBL Soy sauce

PINCH Salt

1. Whisk all ingredients well. Use to baste or marinade lamb, poultry or pork.

Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Tabouli is perfect for those days when it's just too hot for a big meal.  Add a few pita bread, a little feta cheese, some good, Kalamata olives and our Cucumber Yogurt sauce and you've got a great, light Middle Eastern meal on your hands.  Add grill roasted lamb and it's a feast!

    Tabouli salad
1 C Bulghar wheat, dry
1-1/2 C Water, boiling
1-1/2 TSP Kosher salt
    Dressing
1/4 C Olive oil, extra virgin
1/4 C Lemon juice, fresh-squeezed
1 TBL Lime juice, fresh-squeezed
2 CLOVES Garlic, finely minced
1/2 TSP Mint, dried
    Finish
1 C Plum tomatoes, diced
1 C English cucumber, diced
1/2 C Scallions, chopped fine
1 BUNCH Italian parsley, chopped fine
2 TSP Kosher salt
  Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
    Cucumber yogurt sauce
1-1/2 C English cucumber, peeled
1/2 PINT Sour cream
1/2 PINT Yogurt
2 CLOVES Garlic, minced fine
1 TBL Mint, dried

   Salad
1. Pour the bulghar into a mixing bowl, then add the salt and pour in the boiling water.
2. Cover with plastic and let soak for 30 minutes.
3. Whisk dressing together and stir into the bulghur.
4. Allow flavors to blend in the refrigerator for three hours.
5. Carefully stir in finishing ingredients.
6. Taste to correct seasoning.
   Sauce
1. Shred cucumber with a cheese grater.
2. Combine all ingredients and allow to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.

How do I know when it's Done?

How do I get from this…

to this?

I get this question, every time I speak on cooking.  Usually people are looking for a time in the grill or oven.  With the exception of fish, the way to think about this issue is not time, but internal temperature.  I suggest a digital meat thermometer.  They're cheap, fast and accurate.  Professionals often use the standard stem thermometer which can be quickly calibrated in a glass of ice water.  And I don't suggest gadgets that have a rare, medium and done setting,  just take the extra five minutes to remember this guide and you're on your way to knowing the nature of raosted grill meats.  Soon you'll just get a feel for where your foods are in the cooking cycle.
Use this guide as a starting place then adjust to your preferred doneness!  (Warning,The FDA suggests much higher target temperatures to avoid bacterial contamination.)   

Mad Coyote Joe's Grilled Meats, Fish and Foul, Target Temperature Guide.

Chicken

            Grill indirectly high heat, target temperature 165°f at the thickest part of the breast and thigh

Duck

            Grill indirectly, high heat, target temperature rare145°f, well done 165°f at the thickest part of the thigh breast.  If smoking or roasting suspend over a water bath.

Lamb

            Chops; grill directly, medium high heat, target temperature 145°f center of the chop

            Leg; grill indirectly, medium high heat, target temperature 145°f rare, 165°f well done, test at center of the leg

Pork

            Tenderloin and chops, medium high heat, target temperature, rare 145°f , well 165°f at center

            Roasts,  the old guys say, "low and slow", roast or smoke at 250°f to 325°f-target temperature done at 165°f but fall apart tender 192°f

Beef           

            Tender cuts (non-locomotive); Steaks, tenderloins, fillets and tender roasts like tri tip, quick sear, high heat indirect finish, target temperature rare 124°f, medium rare 128°f, medium 132°f, medium well 136°f, well 140°f

            Tough cuts; brisket, chuck roasts, pot roasts, long slow cooking, sear then braise, moist environment, target temperature, 192°f

Fish

            Direct grilling medium high heat, 10 minutes of grilling for every inch of thickness.

Allow all grilled meat and poultry to rest for at least 10 minutes after removing from heat.

Tzatziki; Greek Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Fantastic with Lamb, a warm pita and some good olives.  Tzatziki is also great with the Naan recipe from my last post.

Tzatziki;
Greek Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

1-1/2 C English cucumber, peeled

1/2 PT Sour cream

1/2 PT Yogurt

2 MED CLOVES Garlic, minced fine

1 TBL Dried mint

1. Shred the cucumber with a cheese grater.  Combine all the ingredients and allow to chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving.

Spit-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Rosemary Dijon Baste

Spit-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Rosemary Dijon Baste

This delicious recipe was one of the factors in my TV show making the ratings that kept me on the air for 131 episodes. Our original contract was for 13 episodes. We used it on the cover of my book The Sonoran Grill This easy recipe is tangy and herbal with the correct amount of bite from the lemon and Dijon to cut through the lamb and bring out the delicate flavor. Serve it with a cold, crisp white Pinot and a loaf of my bread!

Fresh Rosemary for garnish

1 8LB Leg of lamb, de-boned and tied

1. Allow the lamb to rest in the marinade for 1-1/2 hours.

2. Place lamb on spit and roast over indirect heat, medium-hot coals, until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees or about 35-40 minutes of cooking time (for medium rare).

3. Remove lamb from spit and allow resting for 8-10 minutes before serving.

4. Garnish with Rosemary.

Rosemary Dijon Baste;

1-1/2 TSP Fresh rosemary, minced

2 CLOVES Garlic, minced or pressed

1/4 C Peanut oil

2 TBL Fresh-squeezed lemon juice

2 TBL Dijon mustard

1 TBL Soy sauce

PINCH Salt

1. Whisk all ingredients well. Use to baste or marinade lamb, poultry or pork.

Point Reyes Blue Cheese Compound Butter

I was sent this comment today;
A Mexican restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area serves tortilla chips and salsa with a blue cheese/butter mixture and it's fantastic. But I've never seen it served anywhere else. Your thoughts?

Give this a try, it's a good start.

Point Reyes Blue Cheese Compound Butter

3/4 lb sweet butter

2 Tbl. Dijon mustard

1 Tbl. Fresh thyme, chopped fine

Pinch Kosher salt or Flur de Mar

1/2 lb Point Reyes blue cheese, or your favorite blue cheese

Cut butter into small cubes and soften at room temperature for 15 minutes

Cream the butter working in the mustard, thyme and salt. Gently fold in the blue cheese until all ingredients are incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning

Form the butter into two eight-inch rolls, about an inch and a half in diameter, along the bottom edge of two pieces of waxed paper. Roll up and twist tight.  Place in the freezer or the fridge if using right away.

Soften a bit and cut ½ inch slices to top any grilled meats right off the grill!

Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and Grill-roasted Babaganouj

I went to coffee this morning, as usual I sat out front of The Cave Creek Coffee co and chatted with a few neighbors and friends. I had a light jacket on and after a few moments I was getting very warm. It's that time of year again, when we go from keeping warm to keeping cool. Here in the Sonoran desert where we see summer temperatures in the 110-120f range, that's an art form. It means getting up early if you need to do anything in the yard, taking it easy during the midday heat and eating light.

When it comes to recipes dealing with lighter fare, I like to look to the regions of the world that have been dealing with living in the heat for centuries. There are many to choose from, but today let's look to the middle east and one of my favorites dishes tabouli. Good tabouli, served with Grill-roasted Babaganouj, a selection of olives, a pita bread and cucumber yogurt sauce is exactly what you're looking for when eating in the heat. It both refreshes and satisfies you without filling you up. If you must add meat think grilled lamb!

Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Tabouli salad:

1 C Bulghar wheat, dry

1-1/2 C Water, boiling

1-1/2 TSP Kosher salt

Dressing:

1/4 C Olive oil, extra virgin

1/4 C Lemon juice, fresh-squeezed

1 TBL Lime juice, fresh-squeezed

2 CLOVES Garlic, finely minced

1/2 TSP Mint, dried

Finish

1 C Plum tomatoes, diced

1 C English cucumber, diced

1/2 C Scallions, chopped fine

1 BUNCH Italian parsley, chopped fine

2 TSP Kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce:

1-1/2 C English cucumber, peeled

1/2 PINT Sour cream

1/2 PINT Yogurt

2 CLOVES Garlic, minced fine

1 TBL Mint, dried

Salad:

1. Pour the bulghar into a mixing bowl, then add the salt and pour in the boiling water.

2. Cover with plastic and let soak for 30 minutes.

3. Whisk dressing together and stir into the bulghur.

4. Allow flavors to blend in the refridgerator for three hours.

5. Carefully stir in finishing ingredients.

6. Taste to correct seasoning.

Sauce:

1. Shred cucumber with a cheese grater.

2. Combine all ingredients and allow to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.

Grill-roasted Babaganouj:

By roasting this in your grill, you get the light smoky flavor of barbecues of the past.

2 Medium eggplants

1/2 C Tahini

4 CLOVES Garlic, minced fine

1/2 BUNCH Italian parsley, rinsed and chopped fine

Juice of 1 large lemon

3 Scallions, chopped fine

2 TSP Kosher salt

1 TSP Fresh-ground black pepper

1 TBL Extra virgin olive oil

1. Light the grill and turn one burner on medium. Adjust heat until temperature reaches 400 degrees.

2. Cut stems off the eggplant and pierce the skin in several places with a fork. Place the eggplant in an oven-safe baking dish and slow roast in grill over indirect heat for 45 minutes, or until the eggplant has wilted and they are totally soft.

3. Remove from grill and allow to cool. Separate the peel from the insides. In a mixing bowl, mash the insides well and stir in the Tahini, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, scallions, salt, and pepper.

4. Place in the refrigerator and chill well. Drizzle with a good olive oil before serving.

New Mexico, Lamb and Chicos Stew

New Mexico, Lamb and Chicos Stew

This is a traditional Native American stew made through the Southwest. It uses chicos, which are dried corn kernels that have been roasted in an horno, or adobe oven. Making this wonderful stew takes several hours so we always start in the morning, on a cold winter day. By noon the house is full of the enticing aroma and the stew is ready and so are we. Chicos can be purchased at many southwestern gift shops in New Mexico or through the mail!

1 Lb. Chicos

5 cups chicken broth

5 cups water

1 Tbl. Corn oil

1 white onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, chopped fine

1 Lb lamb stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

4 or 5 fresh Anaheim, Hatch or Poblano chiles, roasted, peeled, deveined, seeded and chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Place the chicos in a large stockpot with the water and chicken broth, and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and allow to cook for two and on half to three hours. When the time is up heat up the oil, over medium heat, in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot. Sauté the onion until soft. Add the garlic and continue cooking for 30 seconds. Add the lamb meat and sauté until well browned. Ladle some of the hot liquid from the chicos into the Dutch oven. Deglaze the pan by working brown bits lose from the bottom of the pan into the stew with a rubber spatula. Add all of the chicos and liquid to the lamb. Bring to a boil, cover and then reduce heat to low and simmer for another hour. When the time is up, add the chiles simmer for fifteen more minutes, taste and season. Serve in big soup bowls with warm bread or tortillas.

Serves 6-8

Tabouli salad with Cucumber yogurt sauce

Tabouli salad with Cucumber yogurt sauce

I did a little comercial today and we made a dish of quonia with middle eastern flavors. It reminded me of this wonderful dish that works well when it just too darn hot!

Tabouli salad

1 C Bulghar wheat, dry

1-1/2 C Water, boiling

1-1/2 TSP Kosher salt

Dressing

1/4 C Olive oil, extra virgin

1/4 C Lemon juice, fresh-squeezed

1 TBL Lime juice, fresh-squeezed

2 CLOVES Garlic, finely minced

1/2 TSP Mint, dried

Finish

1 C Plum tomatoes, diced

1 C English cucumber, diced

1/2 C Scallions, chopped fine

1 BUNCH Italian parsley, chopped fine

2 TSP Kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Cucumber yogurt sauce

1-1/2 C English cucumber, peeled

1/2 PINT Sour cream

1/2 PINT Yogurt

2 CLOVES Garlic, minced fine

1 TBL Mint, dried

Salad

1. Pour the bulghar into a mixing bowl, then add the salt and pour in the boiling water.

2. Cover with plastic and let soak for 30 minutes.

3. Whisk dressing together and stir into the bulghur.

4. Allow flavors to blend in the refridgerator for three hours.

5. Carefully stir in finishing ingredients.

6. Taste to correct seasoning.

Sauce

1. Shred cucumber with a cheese grater.

2. Combine all ingredients and allow to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.

Spit-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Rosemary Dijon Baste

This delicious recipe was one of the factors in my TV show making the ratings that kept me on the air for 131 episodes. Our original contract was for 13 episodes. We used in on the cover of my book The Sonoran Grill This easy recipe is tangy and herbal with the correct amount of bite from the lemon and mustard to cut through the lamb and bring a light and refreshing flavor. Serve it with a cold, crisp white Pinot and good French bread!

Fresh Rosemary for garnish

1 8LB Leg of lamb, de-boned and tied

1. Allow the lamb to rest in the marinade for 1-1/2 hours.

2. Place lamb on spit and roast over indirect heat, medium-hot coals, until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees or about 35-40 minutes of cooking time (for medium rare).

3. Remove lamb from spit and allow resting for 8-10 minutes before serving.

4. Garnish with Rosemary.

Rosemary Dijon Baste;

1-1/2 TSP Fresh rosemary, minced

2 CLOVES Garlic, minced or pressed

1/4 C Peanut oil

2 TBL Fresh-squeezed lemon juice

2 TBL Dijon mustard

1 TBL Soy sauce

PINCH Salt

1. Whisk all ingredients well. Use to baste or marinade lamb, poultry or pork.