Yield: 6 servings; prep time: 20 minutes; cook time: 6 to 8 minutes
INGREDIENTS
For the shrimp burgers:
• 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
• 1 poblano chile, roasted, peeled, stemmed, seeded and diced
• 2 tablespoons chopped white onion
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• Bulky Ciabatta rolls, split in half
• 2 plum tomatoes, sliced
• 6 lettuce leaves or a mixture of baby lettuce leaves
For the avocado aioli:
• 1 Haas avocado, halved, seeded and peeled
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 medium garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 serrano chile, cut in half and seeded
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
To make the shrimp burgers:
Divide the shrimp in half. Coarsely chop one half and set aside. Put remaining half in a food processor and grind to a coarse puree. Add egg, cilantro and garlic to processor. Process until smooth. Sprinkle mixture with breadcrumbs and process again. Transfer contents of food processor to a large bowl. Add coarsely chopped shrimp, poblano chile and onion. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Mix well. Chill for 15 minutes. Form patties or “burgers” and set aside.
Heat oil in a heavy skillet. When very hot, fry the shrimp burgers until golden, about 3 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Drain on paper towels.
To make the avocado aioli:
Scoop the avocado pulp into the bowl of a food processor. Add the mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic cloves, serrano chile, cilantro, salt and pepper. Process until smooth. Check and adjust seasoning.
To assemble:
Serve shrimp burgers on buns, topped with a dollop of avocado aioli, sliced tomato and lettuce.
Surf and Turf Molcajete
Makes 2 molcajetes; serves 4
1 boneless skinless chicken breast half
4 ounces flank steak
8 raw jumbo shrimp, peeled but tails left intact, and deveined
Salt and black pepper
6 scallions
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 onion
1 1/2 whole tomatoes
2 garlic cloves
2 California chiles, stemmed, seeded, and torn into pieces
2 ancho chiles, stemmed, seeded, and torn into pieces
2 dried arbol chiles, stemmed, seeded, and cut into pieces
1 tablespoon crumbled dried oregano
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon tomato bouillon
2 slices panela cheese
Six to eight 6-inch corn tortillas, warmed
This is a simple dish with an impressive presentation, and it works with any combination of grilled meat, fish, poultry, or vegetables. A molcajete is a mortar made of lava rock that is usually used with a pestle (also made of lava rock) to make fresh salsas. Because it is made with a natural rock, it has an excellent ability to preserve heat and keep a dish hot, and that’s how I use it in this recipe. If you do not have two molcajetes, ovenproof earthenware bowls (about the size of cereal bowls) are an acceptable substitute.
Prepare a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
Sprinkle the chicken, flank steak, and shrimp with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
Grill the flank steak to the desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium. Add it to the platter.
Grill the shrimp until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Add them to the platter.
Grill the scallions until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Add them to the platter.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, tomatoes, and garlic and cook for 8 minutes, or until the onion is golden. Add all three kinds of chiles, the oregano, cumin, and bouillon, and stir for 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Add 1 cup water to the saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 2 minutes, or until the chiles are soft. Let the mixture cool slightly. Transfer the mixture to a blender, add 1 cup water, and blend until smooth. Strain the sauce into a medium bowl.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the same saucepan over medium heat. Return the sauce to the pan and simmer for 2 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
