Tatjanas Sambuca With Fire Recipes

TATJANA'S SAMBUCA, WITH FIRE!

Steps:

• Pour your sambuca into a shot glass.
• Add the 3 coffee beans. Light the sambuka so that it flambe's, and leave lit for a minute or a minute and a half. (not more or the glass will get too hot).
• Extinguish the flame by resting a drinking glass on the shot glass so that there is no oxygen and the flame goes out (takes 3 seconds or less)
• Wait until the glass has cooled a little to handle and crunch a coffee bean as you drink the sambuca to blend the flavours.

CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA

Steps:

• Place the chicken cutlets flat on the work surface. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Lay 1 slice of prosciutto atop each chicken cutlet.
• Squeeze the frozen spinach to remove the excess water. Season the spinach with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, toss the spinach with 1 tablespoon of oil to coat.
• Arrange an even, thin layer of spinach atop the prosciutto slices. Sprinkle the Parmesan evenly over each. Beginning at the short tapered end, roll up each chicken cutlet as for a jellyroll. Secure with a toothpick.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and cook just until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice, and scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium. Cover and simmer until the chicken is just cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Simmer the cooking liquid over high heat until it is reduced to about 2/3 cup, about 5 minutes. Season the cooking liquid with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove toothpicks from the chicken. Drizzle the reduced cooking liquid over the chicken and serve immediately.

VEAL SALTIMBOCCA

Steps:

• Season veal scallops with salt and pepper. Layer 1/2 of the medallions with 1 thin slice ham, folded to fit medallion. The edges of the ham can peak out a bit. Place 1 whole sage leaf on top of ham, then place another veal medallion on top of sage leaf. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter and saute 1/2 of the veal 2 to 3 minutes on the first side, 1 to 2 minutes on the second side. Transfer to a warm platter, then repeat with remaining veal.
• Transfer the last of the cooked meat to the warm platter and return pan to heat. Reduce heat to medium low. Add wine to veal pan and scrape up pan drippings with wine and add lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Pour pan juices over veal and serve.

SALSA TATEMADA NORTEñA (FIRE-ROASTED SALSA)

Steps:

• Start a charcoal or prepare a gas grill. Once hot, place the whole tomatoes, chiles and onion on the grill. Let the ingredients char for about 12 to 15 minutes, flipping every 3 to 4 minutes. Pull them off the grill once cooked: The tomatoes should be completely mushy, as their skins start to break and their juices start to come out. The chiles should be wilted, charred and wrinkled. The onion should be darkened and softened. (Alternatively, ingredients can be charred under the broiler on an aluminum foil-covered baking sheet, or directly on a preheated comal or a cast-iron pan set over medium heat.)
• Place charred chiles in a plastic bag, and close the bag well. Let chiles steam and sweat for 5 to 10 minutes. As soon as they have cooled enough to handle, remove them from the bag, slip off their skins, make a slit down the side of each and remove their seeds and stems. You could rinse the chiles under a thin stream of water, to help remove the seeds, or rinse them off by dipping them into a bowl of water. (Don't remove or discard the skin, seeds or juices from the tomatoes and onion.)
• Set the charred tomatoes, onion and cleaned chiles on a chopping board, and finely chop. Place in a bowl, add salt, and mash and mix with a fork. (Alternatively, ingredients can be mashed in a molcajete.) Taste for salt and add more, if needed.
• Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days. The salsa can be eaten cold, though is best consumed lukewarm or hot. If desired, you can reheat it in a small saucepan until warmed.