Alton Red Sauce Recipes

ALTON BROWN'S RED SAUCE

Steps:

• In a sieve over a medium non-reactive sauce pot, strain the tomatoes of their juice into the sauce pot. Add the sherry vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, oregano and basil to the tomato juice. Stir and cook over high heat. Once bubbles begin to form on the surface, reduce to a simmer. Allow liquid to reduce by 1/2 to a thickened, loose syrup consistency.
• Squeeze each tomato thoroughly to ensure most seeds are removed. Set the tomatoes aside.
• Cut the carrot, onion and celery into uniform sizes and combine with olive oil and garlic in a non-reactive roasting pan over low heat. Sweat the vegetables until the carrots are tender and the onions become translucent, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the tomatoes and capers.
• Place the roasting pan on the middle rack of the oven and broil for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. The tomatoes should start to brown slightly on the edges with light caramelization.
• Remove the pan from the broiler. Place the pan over 2 burners on the stove. Add the white wine to the tomatoes and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes over medium heat.
• Put the tomato mixture into a deep pot or bowl and add the reduced tomato liquid. Blend to desired consistency with a stick blender and adjust the seasoning to taste.

ALTON'S RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Place the vegetable oil in a 7-quart Dutch oven and set over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, salt and pepper to the pot.
• Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions and celery are semi-translucent and the bell peppers are tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the pickled pork, bay leaves, thyme, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, water and beans to the pot and increase the heat to high.
• Cook, stirring frequently until the mixture comes to a boil, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
• Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
• Uncover, increase the heat slightly to maintain a steady simmer and continue to cook for another 30 to 40 minutes or until the beans are tender and the sauce is thickened to your liking. If you prefer an even creamier texture, mash some of the beans with a potato masher.
• Prepare rice during the last 30 minutes of cooking the beans. Place the water into an electric kettle and bring to a boil. While the water is coming to a boil place the butter into a 3-quart saucepan, set over medium heat.
• Once the butter begins to bubble, add the rice and stir to combine. Add the salt and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Carefully pour the water over the rice and stir to combine.
• Decrease the heat to the lowest setting, cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the beans over the rice.
• Pickled Pork:.
• Combine all of the ingredients except the ice and the pork in a 2-quart non-reactive saucepan, set over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and maintain a simmer for 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, add the ice and stir.
• Place the pork into a 1-gallon zip top bag and add the cooled pickling liquid.
• Remove as much air as possible; seal the bag and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 days, turning the bag occasionally. Use within 2 weeks or remove from the pork from the brine and freeze.