Jalapeno Bacon Johnnycakes With Avocado Cilantro Cream Recipes

JALAPENO-BACON JOHNNYCAKES WITH AVOCADO-CILANTRO CREAM

Steps:

• Johnnycakes: Cook bacon in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp and browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then finely chop. Remove all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet; return to medium heat. Add onion, hot and mild peppers, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden in places, 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; let cool completely.
• In a bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Add eggs, milk, sour cream, and sugar along with cooled pepper mixture, whisking just until combined (do not overmix). Stir in bacon; let stand 10 minutes.
• Avocado Cream: Halve and pit avocado; scoop flesh into the bowl of a food processor. Add sour cream, cilantro, lime zest and juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Process until smooth. Transfer mixture to a bowl and cover with plastic until ready to serve.
• Wipe skillet clean and return to medium heat; coat with a thin film of oil. Drop level tablespoons of batter into skillet, 2 inches apart. Cook until cakes are golden on bottoms, small bubbles form at surfaces, and edges lift slightly from pan, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until cakes are golden on bottoms and spring back when lightly pressed, 1 to 2 minutes more. (Brush pan with more oil as needed.) Top with dollops of avocado cream and chopped peppers; serve.

JALAPENO JOHNNY CAKE

Steps:

• Put dry ingredients (except for the Jalapeño pepper and cheese in one bowl and wet ingredients in another).
• Mix together a little at a time and let sit for fifteen minutes, occasionally stirring.
• Then put about a tsp or two of oil in a frying pan and make it hot.
• Just before frying the johnny cakes, add the cheese and jalapeño peppers and stir well.
• Drop by pot spoons onto a hot griddle just as you would if you were making pancakes. Wait till bubbles form on top and then flip and fry on the other side until golden brown.
• Serve with jalapeno dip, sour cream or eat plain.

ROASTED POTATO SALAD WITH JALAPEñO-AVOCADO DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place the potatoes on a sheet pan and add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, garlic or onion powder (if using), and about ½ teaspoon of salt. Season with black pepper and toss to coat. Place in the oven and roast for 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile make the dressing: Combine avocado, mayonnaise, dill, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, 1 jalapeño and salt in a blender or small food processor. Blend until completely smooth. Taste and if you want it spicier, add the second jalapeño.
• After 25 minutes, remove the potatoes from the oven and toss. Push the potatoes to one side of the sheet pan, and add the green beans to the other side. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Return the sheet pan to the oven and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until the beans are crisp-tender and the potatoes are golden on the outside and tender all the way through. Don't overcook the beans; if the beans are done before the potatoes are ready, remove them from the sheet pan and return the potatoes to the oven.
• Transfer the potatoes and green beans to a large bowl and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Add the cannellini beans along with half the dressing and toss to coat well. Taste and check seasonings, adding more salt and black pepper if needed.
• To serve, squeeze the lime halves over and scatter with dill leaves. Pass the remaining dressing on the side.

JALAPENO, AVOCADO AND BACON BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium and place a cast-iron skillet on top. Add the chiles and cook until softened and the skin is charred, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chiles to a bowl, cover and let cool slightly. Remove and discard the stems, skin and seeds; finely chop the chiles.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in the skillet until crisp. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat; chop the bacon.
• In a large bowl, combine the chopped bacon, the reserved bacon fat, the beef and half of the chiles. Form into 6 patties; season with salt and pepper.
• In a medium bowl, combine the queso fresco, mayonnaise, buttermilk, 1 tablespoon olive oil and the remaining chiles. Season with salt and pepper, cover and refrigerate.
• In another bowl, toss the avocados, cilantro, onion and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil; set aside.
• Grill the burgers, flipping once, for about 10 minutes for medium-rare. Just before the burgers are finished cooking, grill the buns until toasted, about 1 minute. Place a burger on each bun bottom, top with some of the avocado salad, drizzle with some of the queso fresco dressing and set a bun top in place.