Frango Piri-Piri

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This dish originates from Africa but was adopted by the Portuguese and is now one of their main dishes served in restaurants, cafés, and bars. It is a simple but tasty dish, and is a fond memory for me. The dish is usually served with crisp hot french fries, but you could serve boiled new potatoes if you prefer. Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 1 medium sized chicken, washed

  • 1 cup Molho de Piri-Piri (see recipe)

  • Pinch of ground piri-piri chiles (or substitute piquin or Thai)

  • Pinch of oregano (fresh or dried)

  • Romaine lettuce

  • 1 medium red onion, sliced and separated into rings

  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped

  • 1/4 cup Molho de Piri-Piri (see recipe)

  • 1 lemon, sliced for garnish

For the Molho de Piri-Piri:

  • 1 cup olive oil

  • 1.5 tablespoons ground piri-piris or substitute piquin or Thai chles

  • 1/2 tablespoon paprika

  • 1 clove garlic, minced, or more to tasted

  • 2 teaspoons sea salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oreganoFo

 

Instructions

For the Chicken:

lace the chicken on a cutting board and split it lengthways at the breastbone (but not in two halves) so that it will lie flat. Then flatten it as much as possible with a mallet. Place the chicken in a shallow glass pan and more the Molho over it. Marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for 3 hours.

Remove the chicken and sprinkle over it some of the ground piri-piri and oregano. Grill the chicken over coals or gas until done. (It can also be baked in the glass pan with the marinade.)

Chop the chicken coarsely.

Arrange the lettuce on four plates, add the onion rings and tomatoes, and top with the chicken. Serve garnished with lemon slices and a small bowl of the Molho as a dressing.

 

For the Molho de Piri-Piri:

Combine the ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously. Then store in a refrigerator for a few weeks to blend the flavors

 

 

Sweet Chile Sauce

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Sweet chile sauces, popular in Asian cuisines, are available in Asian markets–or you can make your own, like this recipe from Chef Russell Siu. This recipe uses the larger and milder Thai chiles.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mirin (sweetened rice wine)

  • ½ cup soy sauce

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1/4 cup sake

  • 1/4 cup cornstarch mixed with water until smooth

  • 1/4 cup minced Thai chiles (prik chee fa)

Instructions

In a non-reactive pot, add the mirin, soy sauce, sugar, and sake and bring to a boil. Thicken by adding the cornstarch and water and stirring well. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the chiles.

Sweet Chile Chicken Tidbits

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Here’s another great recipe from Russell Siu that’s incredibly easy to make. You can add some heat by adding a hotter sauce to the sweet chile sauce. Serve these tidbits over rice accompanied by a spinach salad.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup flour

  • ½ cup cornstarch

  • 4 chicken thighs, deboned and cut into 1 ½ inch cubes

  • Vegetable oil for deep frying

  • ½ cup Asian sweet chile sauce (see recipe below)

Instructions

In a bowl, combine the flour and cornstarch. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess. Deep fry the tidbits in 350°F oil for 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and toss in the sweet chile sauce.

 

Frizzled Shrimp with Chipotle Aioli

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A signature fusion dish at 3660 on the Rise, in Honolulu, Frizzled Shrimp was created by Executive Chef Russell Siu.

Ingredients

 For the Aloli:

  • 2 chipotle chiles, soaked in hot water for an hour

  • ½ teaspoon grated ginger

  • 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic

  • 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce

  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

  • 4 egg yolks

  • 2 cups vegetable oil

For the Shrimp:

  • 16 shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails on

  • Salt and pepper

  • 16 pieces filo dough, cut 12 inches long and 1 inch wide

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • Vegetable oil for deep frying

Instructions

For the Aioli:

In a blender, combine the chiles, ginger, garlic, barbecue sauce, cumin, and egg yolks. Puree for 1 minute, slowly adding the oil. The mixture will start to thicken. Transfer the aioli to a serving bowl.

For the Shrimp:

 

Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Wrap each shrimp in the dough with the tails sticking our and seal the seams by brushing with the beaten egg and pressing on them. Deep fry the shrimp in oil for 1 ½ minutes. Drain on paper towels. Serve drizzled with the chipotle aioli.

 

Pepper Jack Chicken Pizza

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Try this amazingly easy pizza with a variety of chile cheeses for a more interesting, non-traditional flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1 pre-baked Italian pizza shell or focaccia

  • 1 14 to 14.5-ounce can chunky tomatoes with Italian seasonings or diced tomatoes with roasted garlic, drained

  • 1 medium green pepper, seeded, sliced into rings

  • 1 cup shredded cooked chicken

  • 4 ounces (1 cup) Hot Pepper Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded

Instructions

Heat the oven to 425°F. Place the pizza shell on an ungreased baking sheet. Top the shell with tomatoes, green pepper, chicken, and cheese.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until heated through.