Charred Scallion Butter Recipes

CHARRED SCALLION BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high until smoking hot. Add scallions and cook, turning occasionally, until evenly blackened, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool; coarsely chop.
• Mix scallions, lime zest, and lime juice into butter in a medium bowl until evely blended; season with salt and pepper.
• Do Ahead
• Butter can be made 2 weeks ahead. Cover and chill.

CHARRED SPRING ONION AND SESAME-CHILE BUTTER

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Toss onions with oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and black pepper. Grill until lightly charred and wilted, about 3 minutes (extra-large bulbs will take a little longer). Let cool; finely chop.
• Mix onions, shichimi togarashi, and red pepper flakes into butter in a small bowl; season with salt and black pepper.
• Do Ahead
• Butter can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.

SCALLION BUTTER

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients, keeping warm.
• Use some for basting while grilling the lobster or seafood of choice.
• Use the remainder as a dipping sauce, served with the lobster or seafood of choice.

CHARRED SCALLION DIP

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan or grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill grates.
• Set 2 scallions aside. Drizzle the remaining scallions on a plate with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the oiled scallions to the grill pan and cook until slightly charred, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set aside to cool completely, then finely chop. Thinly slice the whites and light greens of the remaining 2 scallions and set aside for garnish.
• Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, Worcestershire, garlic salt, onion powder and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in the grilled scallions. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the fresh sliced scallions. Serve right away or chill.

CHARRED SCALLION DIP WITH LEMON AND HERBS

Steps:

• Heat a grill or a grill pan over high.
• As pan heats up, prepare the scallion-herb mixture: Halve 2 scallions lengthwise, then slice very thinly crosswise. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in chives and dill, if using. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• On a baking sheet, toss remaining 10 scallions with the canola oil. Season generously with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Working in batches if necessary, grill the scallions over high heat, turning occasionally, until deeply grill-marked and slightly softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board to cool.
• While the scallions cool, add the sour cream, cream cheese, lemon zest and juice, onion and garlic powders, and sugar to the medium bowl with the scallion-herb mixture.
• Thinly slice the grilled scallions, then add to the sour cream mixture and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour or ideally 1 day. (The flavor will deepen as it sits.) To serve, drizzle with olive oil. Serve with potato chips for dipping.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH CHARRED SCALLION VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Marinade: Peel and julienne the onion. Halve the lemon, then cut it into thin slices. Place zip-top bag into a large mixing bowl to keep contents from spilling, then place sliced onion and lemon into the bag. Pull rosemary and thyme leaves off their sprigs, roughly chop, and add to the bag. Add salt and oil, then mix to combine. Set aside.
• Break down the chicken: First, cut away the wings. Then cut the leg and thigh away from each side, being careful to include the "oysters" from the carcass. Separate the legs from thighs. Cut down either side of the backbone and remove the breasts. (Reserve remaining carcass for stock.) Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and massage the bag to coat. Remove as much air as you can from the bag before sealing it. Marinate at room temperature for 30-45 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours. (Chef Kaysen doesn't recommend marinating for longer than 2 hours, due to the highly acidic nature of this marinade.)
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Transfer all the contents of the zip-top bag into the mixing bowl. Line a clean surface with paper towels and pat chicken pieces dry. In a large sauté pan over high heat, add oil. When it's hot and shimmering, carefully add the chicken and some of the solids from the marinade to the pan. (Work in batches if necessary; do not crowd the pan.) Sear the chicken, about 2 minutes per side. Evenly distribute butter pieces in the pan. After the skin has begun to caramelize, transfer pan to the oven. Allow to roast for a total of 15-20 minutes, until the juices run clear (not pink) for both the white and dark meat. (Alternatively, chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F.) Meanwhile, make the Charred Scallion Vinaigrette.
• Charred Scallion Vinaigrette: In a sauté pan over high heat, add 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil. When it's hot and shimmering, add the scallions; cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until the scallions are charred all over, 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile, peel and mince the ginger, followed by the garlic. In a mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, the lemon juice, ginger and garlic. Whisk in remaining grapeseed oil (about 3 tablespoons). Remove charred scallions from the pan; chop and add to vinaigrette. Stir to combine, then taste and adjust with more lemon juice as needed. Set aside.
• Assembly: Remove chicken from oven. It's fully cooked when the meat has shrunk and pulls away from the bone (it's easy to tell on the leg). Arrange chicken pieces on a serving platter, along with plenty of roasted lemon and onion. Spoon Charred Scallion Vinaigrette over the top before serving.

SCALLION RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the broth to a boil; lower the heat and keep at a scant simmer.
• Meanwhile, in a large saute pan (see note) heat 4 tablespoons of the butter and cook the white parts of the scallions, stirring until they're soft, about 2 minutes. Add the rice, stirring with a wooden spoon, until all the grains are coated with butter. Add the wine and cook the mixture at a low simmer, stirring until all the wine is absorbed, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup of the simmering broth and continue to simmer the mixture, stirring until the broth is absorbed. Keep adding broth by the 1/2 cup and repeating as above until the rice is creamy and al dente The rice may not absorb all the broth, so it's best to taste the mixture before adding the last 1/2 cup.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the green scallion tops, cheese and white pepper.

SPAGHETTINI WITH CHARRED SCALLIONS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet or braiser over medium-high. Add scallions; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and beginning to char, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, peas, and asparagus. Add 1/4 cup water, cover, and simmer until vegetables are crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Season to taste.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook per package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain. Add pasta to skillet along with 1/2 cup pasta water and remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
• Stir vigorously, adding more water as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, to create a silky sauce. Remove from heat; stir in cheese, zest and juice, and more pasta water if needed. Season and serve, with more cheese and pepper.