For a more refined Independence Day meal, try these stove-grilled recipes.
By NERIA BARRSmokeless grill 370(photo credit: Dan Peretz )
If you want that grill taste without the smoke, try using a grilling pan. Chef Charlie Fadida of the gourmet Olive Leaf restaurant in the Sheraton Hotel in Tel Aviv offers his version of the traditional Independence Day meal. He presents a few twists on familiar dishes and suggests using mulard, a hybrid that is a cross between goose and duck, and another very popular dish inspired by the local Palestinian cuisine, a ground lamb kebab grilled and served on a cinnamon stick.ROASTED MULARD WITH CARAMELIZED FRUITMakes 6 ✔ 3 pieces of mulard, about 200 gr. each ✔ 1 nectarine* ✔ 1 peach* ✔ 2 apricots* ✔ 2 figs* ✔ 2 Tbsp, fine sugar ✔ Kosher salt ✔ Freshly ground pepperHeat oven to 180º. Make crisscross cuts in the meat and place it on a heated skillet, skin side down, and sear. Do not add oil. Sear 4 minutes on each side and place in the oven for 6 more minutes.Remove from the oven and let meat rest for 3 minutes.Turn up heat to 250º. Cut fruit into wedges. Place in a lined baking sheet and sprinkle sugar. Place the baking sheet in the highest part of the oven for 3 minutes until sugar is caramelized.Slice the meat and serve with the fruit.* This year Independence Day comes early, so the summer fruit may not be available yet. Use other seasonal fruit instead.Click for special JPost featuresSWEET-AND-SOUR CHICKEN WINGS This is a great dish for a large picnic.
✔ 1 kg. chicken wings ✔ 3 slices canned pineapple, chopped ✔ 1⁄2 cup of the pineapple liquid ✔ 2 tsp. cornstarch ✔ 3 Tbsp. sweet chili ✔ 2 Tbsp, vinegar ✔ 3 Tbsp. brown sugar ✔ 6 Tbsp. ketchup ✔ 1 tsp. fresh ginger, chopped ✔ 1 Tbsp. fresh coriander, choppedHeat oven to 200º. Place wings in a lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until golden. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch in the pineapple liquid.Cook sugar and vinegar in a large, heavy frying pan, mixing with a wooden spoon until sugar is melted and liquid turns into a dark caramel. Very carefully add all ingredients except chicken and let it simmer. Add cornstarch mixture and keep stirring. When the sauce thickens, add the baked chicken wings and cook 3 more minutes. Serve warm.Note: You can serve it with a small salad made of strips of carrots, green onion, zucchini and other vegetables.BUTCHER’S CUT SKEWER Makes 6✔ 750 gr. butcher’s cut beef, cut into large cubes ✔ 1 purple onion ✔ 1 green bell pepper ✔1 red bell pepper ✔ 6 pieces of smoked goose (optional) ✔ 6 Tbsp. olive oil ✔ Kosher salt ✔ Freshly ground pepperHeat oven to 200º. Cut vegetables into large cubes. Skewer meat and vegetables, alternating them. Season with oil, salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan and sear skewers on all sides. When ready to serve, place skewers in the oven for 4 minutes. Best served with handmade pita.For the pita: ✔ 500 gr. sifted flour ✔ 1⁄2 tsp. salt ✔ 40 gr. dry yeast ✔ 1⁄2 tsp. sugar ✔ Lukewarm waterPlace flour in a bowl and create a hole in the middle.Place yeast, 1⁄4 cup water and sugar in the hole and mix gently.Wait five minutes, add salt and mix. Gradually add water (about 1 cup), and knead until batter is smooth. Leave to rise in a warm place for 20 minutes, covered. Knead again and leave for 10 minutes more.On the stove, heat a wok upside down. Divide batter into small balls, about 30 gr.each, and roll or stretch with hands. Bake on the heated wok for 1 minute or until golden.LAMB KEBAB ON A CINNAMON STICKMakes 6✔ 700 gr. ground lamb ✔ 300 gr. lamb fat ✔ 2 onions, chopped ✔ 4 cloves garlic, minced ✔ Coarse salt ✔ Ground black pepper ✔ 11⁄2 tsp. cumin ✔ 4 Tbsp. parsley, chopped ✔ 50 gr. pine nuts, roasted ✔ 1⁄2 cup soda water ✔ 18 cinnamon sticksMix all ingredients except cinnamon in a large bowl.Knead well, using hands.Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Make oval-shaped patties, and skewer each on a cinnamon stick.Place all the kebabs on a baking sheet, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours (best to leave it overnight). Heat a grilling pan until very hot and sear meat on all sides, at least 2 minutes on each side. Serve with tomato salad.For the salad ✔ 4 tomatoes, peeled and cubed ✔ 1 clove garlic, minced ✔ *1 hot chili pepper, roasted over open fire, peeled and chopped ✔ 10 Tbsp olive oil ✔ Juice of 1⁄2 lemonMix all ingredients.Serve a small amount next to the kebabs.*Use 1⁄2 chili if you prefer less spicy.CHICKEN THIGHS WITH SUMACMakes 6✔ 6 pieces of boneless thighs, cut into cubes ✔ 6 cherry tomatoes ✔ 1 purple onion, cubed ✔ 1 red hot chili, sliced ✔ 6 cubes smoked goose (optional) ✔ 6 tsp. olive oil ✔ 1 tsp. vinegar ✔ 1 tsp. sumac ✔ Kosher salt ✔ Black pepperSkewer chicken meat, alternating with tomatoes, pepper and onion. If using smoked goose, add that as well.To prepare marinade: Mix sumac, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Marinate skewers for 30 minutes, covered, in the refrigerator. Heat oven to 200º. Sear skewers on a grilling pan for 1 minute, then transfer to the hot oven for 10 more minutes. Serve with tabouleh salad.For the tabouleh✔ 1 bunch parsley, chopped ✔ 1⁄4 bunch mint, chopped ✔ Juice of 1 lemon ✔ 1⁄2 cup bulgur, soaked in water until soft, and then squeezed to get water out ✔ 1⁄4 cup olive oil ✔ 1 tomato, chopped ✔ Salt and pepperMix all ingredients and serve with meat.Recipes and photos courtesy of The Olive Leaf, Sheraton Hotel, Tel AvivFollow @JPost_Lifestyle
