Tag Archives: marinate

Mediterranean Dreams

When I think of the Mediterranean, I think vibrant colors, earthy flavors, and of course feta. This sheet pan dinner has all the elements of color, flavor, and savoriness combined into a crowd pleasing and easy dinner. Although designed to feed about 4 people, it’s easy to double (who wouldn’t want leftovers?). Simple can indeed be delicious. A uncomplicated side salad with a Dijon vinaigrette, and a chilled glass of white wine and you’re in business. The only thing missing is a view of the sea.

GREEK SHEET PAN DINNER

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 4 garlic cloves, grated
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
  • 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4 inch half moons
  • 1 yellow or orange bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium red onion, sliced into wedges
  • 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives
  • 1/2 cup feta, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Move oven rack to upper third of oven. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.
  2. Place the chicken thighs in a bowl or zip lock bag, and pour 2/3 of the marinade over chicken. Rub marinade into chicken with your hands making sure it is well coated. Marinate chicken 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. In a large bowl, add the zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, and tomatoes, then cover with remaining marinade. Toss together until they are completely coated. Place coated vegetables on sheet pan. Nestle chicken thighs in the middle of vegetables.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove sheet pan from oven and add the olives and feta. Return sheet pan to oven and bake 15 minutes more, or until chicken registers 165 degrees. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes.
  5. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Yields, 4-6 servings

“Greece is a good place for rebirths.” – Judith Martin

This Little Piggy Stayed Home

As our weather starts warming up, my thoughts are full of ways to utilize our gas grill. I love virtually anything grilled, from veggies, to pizza, to skewers, to ribs. I recognize that this is my second post in a row using my Ras el Hanout spice blend, but it’s so extremely versatile. Here I use it in both the marinade and the basting sauce. I can’t stand over-cooked pork, and this treatment is fool-proof using the combination of boneless country-style ribs that are marinated and basted with a blend of marinade and honey. They are served over roasted sweet peppers and red onions.

The relish, really compliments the grilled skewers, with bold flavors of grilled onions, olives, capers, balsamic vinegar and parsley. I could easily see this relish on grilled flank steak as well. I was recently gifted with a bottle of 18 year balsamic vinegar, which put it over the top!

MARINATED PORK SKEWERS WITH ONION, CAPER RELISH

INGREDIENTS:

  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 5 garlic cloves, grated on micro planer
  • Zest of one lemon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Ras El Hanout
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons local honey
  • 2 onions, sliced into 1/2 inch thick rounds
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives, sliced in half
  • 1/4 cup capers, rinsed
  • 3 tablespoons good balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 sweet peppers, seeded and cut into 6ths
  • 1 large red onion, cut into 6 wedges
  • 1 cup red grape tomatoes

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INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, Ras el hanout, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl. Transfer 2 tablespoons of marinade to small bowl and set aside. Combine remaining marinade and cubed pork in 1-gallon zip lock bag and toss to coat. Press out as much air as possible and seal bag. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
  2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place peppers, red onions and grape cherry tomatoes on rimmed baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 30-40 minutes or until soft and slightly charred. These will be served a room temperature.
  3. Preheat gas grill on high for 15 minutes. Skewer onion slices on metal skewer and baste with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Clean grates, turn down to medium and grill onions until soft and slightly charred. Bring in and set aside.
  4. Whisk reserved marinade with honey and microwave until fragrant, about 15-30 seconds. Remove pork from bag and thread tightly on 2-3 metal skewers.
  5. Place pork skewers on grill (it’s already heated at medium), cover and grill, turning every 2 minutes and basting pork with honey mixture; until pork in browned and registers 140 degrees. Remove and let rest while you finish the relish.
  6. Chop grilled onions, and combine with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, olives, capers, balsamic vinegar and parsley.
  7. Place roasted peppers, onions and tomatoes on platter, top with pork skewers. Pass relish.

Serves 4-6

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“Looks can be deceiving, it’s eating that’s believing!” –James Thurber

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