Recipes: Jerked Prawns, Grilled Quail and Pear Poached in Zinfandel

Daniel Strongin

Corporate Chef/Director of Deli Operations

Andronico's Markets
Albany, California

Daniel Strongin's more than 20 years experience as a chef includes work at the Boston Ritz-Carlton, the Bay Tower Room and the Claremont; Resort Hotel in Oakland. Daniel is founding president of the Greater East Bay Chapter of the American Culinary Federation, was Chef of the Year of the ACF Greater East Bay Chapter in 1989 and has been a member of the Board of the American Cheese Society since 1992. This year he will serve as program chair for the American Cheese society Conference in Sonoma County, California.

Jerked Prawns with Parmesan Shavings

Marinade

2 tablespoons jerk seasoning marinade (Busha Browne's)
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
18 prawns (12 per pound or smaller), peeled and deveined

Dressing

1 large garlic clove
1/4 cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
6-8 fresh basil leaves
1-12 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pound mesclun
24 red or yellow cherry tomatoes
4 ounces Parmesan cheese, shaved

For the Marinade: In a medium bowl combine jerk seasoning, oil and lemon juice. Add shrimp. Marinate shrimp 1 hour at room temperature. Grill shrimp over medium heat about 2-1/2 minutes each side. Chill until serving.

For the Dressing: In blender container add garlic, parsley, basil and half the olive oil. purée. Add remaining oil in thin stream. Finish with vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

To Serve: Toss mesclun with dressing. Divide among chilled salad plates. Arrange prawns, tomatoes and shaved Parmesan over salad.

6 Servings

Bluesy Grilled Quail
"John Lee Hooker"

Marinade

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons minced rosemary leaves
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 boneless quail

Polenta

6-1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups coarse-grained cornmeal
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons grated Wisconsin Parmesan cheese
4 ounces crumbed Wisconsin Blue cheese

1 pound asparagus, trimmed, blanched and refreshed
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

For the Marinade: In large bowl combine oil, garlic, rosemary, lemon, salt and pepper. Add quail. Marinate quail 1 hour in refrigerator. Grill quail over medium heat, 3-1/2 minutes each side.

For the Polenta: In large pan over medium heat, bring water to boil. Add salt. Drizzle cornmeal into water stirring constantly. Cook 20 minutes, until polenta is custard-like and pulls away from side of pan while stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and Parmesan and Blue cheeses. Keep warm.

Toss asparagus with oil, lemon juice and vinegar. Grill about 5-7 minutes.

To Serve: On heated plates, arrange asparagus and polenta. Top polenta with 2 quail.

6 servings

Pear Poached in Zinfandel
with Ganache and Raspberry Mascarpone

Pears

4 cups water
2 cups red Zinfandel
2 cups sugar
Zest of 1 orange, blanched
6 firm pears with stems, peeled

Ganache

1 cup cream
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Sauce and Raspberry Mascarpone

1 pint raspberries
1/2 cup sugar
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
1-2 tablespoons water
12 ounces Mascarpone cheese

Mint leaves, garnish

For the Pears: In large pan over medium heat add water, wine, sugar and orange zest. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Add pears. Poach pears until just tender. Cool in syrup. Core pears. Set aside.

For the Ganache: In medium-size pan over medium heat, bring cream to a boil. Remove pan from heat immediately. Add chocolate. Soften several minutes. Stir until smooth. Stir in butter. When cooled, pipe ganache into pears. Set aside.

For the Sauce and Raspberry Mascarpone: purée raspberries in blender. Add sugar, lemon juice and water. Stir half the purée carefully into Mascarpone.

To Serve: Spoon generous amount of raspberry Mascarpone on chilled dessert plates. Arrange pear on Mascarpone. Garnish with remaining raspberry sauce and mint.

6 servings

Provided by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

This page originally published as a FoodDay article in 1997.