Jul 27, 2016 | Dressings & Sauces, Recipes, Salads, Sides
Okay, Okay, Okay!! I heard you already. I have been getting a lot of requests for the Firecracker Cole Slaw that got a fleeting mention at the end of the burger pot lucky post. I guess it’s time.
This is a recipe adapted from my very first menu at New World Grill. We served it with a delicious steak sandwich with a horseradish aioli on toasted sourdough (I know you can do that on your own). The tang of the cole slaw with the richness of the beef was a match made in heaven. But for reals…cole slaw?? What doesn’t it go with?? It’s fantastic on pulled pork. Wait, did I say fantastic? No, sir. It is mandatory! Reubens? Pa-lease. I’m a New Yawker! And required with a fish sandwich. Bien sur. And because at New World we always took the “less-traveled” route and never made anything in classic style, Firecracker Cole Slaw had Black Sesame Seeds (the cracker) and a splash of chili oil (the fire). And for added fire, this version has both chili oil AND sriracha. If you are a minimalist you can go with one or the other and double down (Sriracha gets my vote).
It’s a well-documented fact that I am a hater when it comes to mayo. I won’t go so far as to say I never use it but I won’t slather it on my turkey sandwich with white bread. I like the sass of Dijon. And speaking of sass, let me introduce you to my bestie buttermilk. Buttermilk feels rich and creamy, but it’s really low fat (1 cup has 2 grams of fat) and it adds the acid hit I am always desperately seeking. I have another favorite slaw I will bring you soon that gets its juice from white miso paste. Forever seeking rich and single…er, creamy without the fat or mayo.
You can absolutely use bell peppers of any color, but here I am using mini sweet peppers. They happen to be on hand, but I also like the contrast of the mini bell rings to the cabbage shreds. Go with your heart on this one. No wrong choices. And #nojudgement.
This is a super simple dish to whip up if you put your food processor and blender to work. And a little bit of cabbage goes oh so far. I last made a double batch of this, but had a crowd. It holds well for a couple days. If you are making it ahead, add the seeds at serving time.
Firecracker Cole Slaw
Cole Slaw Dressing:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Sriracha
- 2 teaspoons chili oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until well combined.
Makes 2+ cups
Firecracker Cole Slaw
- ½ head red cabbage, finely shredded
- ½ head green cabbage, finely shredded
- ½ pound mini sweet peppers, cut into rings (or 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, diced or slivered)
- ¼ cup Black Sesame Seeds
Toss cabbages and peppers in a large mixing bowl and pour on dressing, stirring to combine. Depending on your cabbage size, you may have some dressing left over. (Refrigerate for future use in an airtight container).
Taste and adjust seasonings, as needed.
Stir in black sesame seeds before serving.
Makes 1 ½ quarts.
Some other great salads perfect for summer…
This post contains affiliate links. For more of my must-have faves, check out my shop.
© Copyright: KatyKeck.com 2016. All rights reserved.
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Nov 7, 2015 | Recipes, Salads, Sides
This homely little vegetable belies its knobby, unsightly exterior, showing up instead packing a flavor punch and chocked full of crunch. It became one of my favorites during my year in France. While interning in Michelin starred restaurants, I had this crazy schedule, leaving at 7am for work about an hour away, and returning home well after midnight on the last metro of the day. There were a few others in this tiny studio apartment, but I got the “walk in” (if you could call it that) closet which I used as my salon – having a glass of wine, checking my mail and unwinding from the day. I was always the last one in and first one out each day. My personal time in the apartment came on Saturday when everyone else was either at work or away for the weekend. I spent that day off each week combing the specialty food shops in my neighborhood, doing laundry and plotting for dinner. Being on a budget meant a lot of chicken, but it also meant trying new things with cheap root vegetables. Céleri Rémoulade (grated celery root with mayonnaise) and Salade de Carottes Râpées (grated carrots, lightly dressed) became two staples of my weekend dining. The French don’t favor raw vegetables, but they make exception for these two which are damn near national treasures. The Céleri Rémoulade mayonnaise dressing bore faint resemblance to its American cousin. It was rich and creamy and somewhat tangy.
I don’t think about those dinners all that often, but this time of year when I see celery root, technically celeriac, with the remaining farmers braving brisk market mornings, I am immediately back there in that tiny kitchenette. It reminds me how hard I worked to make it taste the same each time, something that a professional takes pride in. These days, I like to make it different each time. Sneak in a new ingredient, change the dressing. The recipe below masquerades grated apple and white cheddar. They both look about the same as grated celery root, but what a delight to find that the intense celery flavor is elevated with sweet/tart apple and rich cheddar lurking within.
Here in the US, celery root is not so well known. When the farm stands are gone, invariably I’m forced to buy it at the supermarket. Without fail, I get one of the befuddled cashiers giving me a “Whaaaaaat?” look. I am so smitten with the flavor – think celery and parsley – and versatility that I have been known to sneak celery root into a mystery basket for auditioning chefs. On one particular project, the first three candidates failed to use it (a strict mystery basket no-no) and when the fourth got a last minute chance to audition, he asked if he could use the abundance of celery root he had seen in the walk-in. Guess who still has the job? Unlike the others, he was well aware that celery root can not only be served grated and raw, but also steamed, boiled, and roasted to include in soups, stews, bisques, gratins and mashes, the very way he chose to serve it.
When shopping, look for small, firm celeriac that seem overly heavy for their size. Bulbs with bruises, soft spots or a lot of shoots or rootlets are past their prime. Not only will they have lost their intense flavor, they tend to be a bit pithy inside and that is no good for a raw salad. To prepare for grating, trim the ends to create a flat surface, then use a sharp knife to cut off the woody exterior. Cut in wedges that will fit into your processor, fitted with the large grating disc. The exposed flesh will start to turn brown eventually, so have your dressing ready and dress as you go.
Celery Root, Apple and Cheddar Slaw
Dressing:
- ¾ cup combined lemon juice and EVOO, 50-50 ratio
- 1 Tablespoon white miso, available at health food stores or Asian markets
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon or spicy/pepper mustard
Put all ingredients into a blender and combine until well blended.
Slaw:
- 1 pound celery root, trimmed and grated
- 1 pound crisp-tart apples such as Braeburn, peeled and grated
- ¼ pound sharp white cheddar, such as Barber
Grate each ingredient using the large grating disc on your food processor.
Transfer to a serving bowl and drizzle with dressing, tossing and dressing to desired coating.
Keep refrigerated in an airtight container.
Serves 6-8.
This time of year just feels like spicy brats and sausages, and while I reached for a cabbage slaw variant all summer, this celery root, apple, cheddar slaw is the perfect accompaniment for fall outings.
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