Seared Lamb Steak

1 lamb leg steak (approximately 6 ounces)
Salt, Pepper
Extra Virgin olive oil

Season lamb with salt and pepper.
Heat oil in cast iron skillet until very hot – until the oil just begins to smoke.
Carefully place the lamb into the skillet and cook to the desired doneness; for medium rare, about 2 minutes on each side.
Remove the lamb from the skillet and let it cool about 4 or 5 minutes.
After the lamb has cooled, slice into strips.

Orzo Pasta Salad

1/2 pound cooked orzo (prepare according to package directions)
3 bell peppers of varying colors ( red, purple and yellow work well)
One cucumber peeled, seeded and diced into 1/4 inch cubes
10 to 12 leaves of purple basil rough chopped
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt, Pepper
Toss all ingredients together in large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Tomatoes

1 red Heirloom tomato, sliced thin
1 yellow Heirloom tomato, sliced thin
Salt and pepper to taste

Presentation:

Spread the tomato slices on a plate in a circular pattern. Alternating colors look nice but red on one side and yellow on the other looks good, too.
Place about 1/4 cup of the orzo salad onto the tomato slices.
Arrange 4 or 5 of the lamb slices in a star pattern on top of the orzo salad.
Garnish with a purple basil leaf.

]]> http://www.chattanoogamarket.com/2008/08/seared-lamb-steak-with-orzo-pasta-salad-and-heirloom-tomatoes/feed/ 1 http://www.chattanoogamarket.com/2008/07/blackberry-balsamic-vinegar-reduction/ http://www.chattanoogamarket.com/2008/07/blackberry-balsamic-vinegar-reduction/#comments Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:00:51 +0000 admin http://www.chattanoogamarket.com/?p=250 Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar Reduction
by Chef Anna Scott, Mia Cucina

1 cup water
½ pint fresh blackberries
3 tbsp honey (darker is better)
1 cup balsamic vinegar
Salt

In small saucepan, bring water and blackberries to a boil. Reduce heat slightly to a soft boil for 20 minutes.
Add balsamic vinegar and bring to a hard boil for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to a slow boil and add honey. Continue slow boil until sauce is reduced by half or until sauce coats the back of a spoon.
Sprinkle with a small amount of salt.

by Chef Anna Scott, Mia Cucina

4 double boneless chicken breasts
¼ cup Alchemy’s Jerk Seasoning
3 tbsp oil
1 cup lager beer

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in large pan. Clean chicken, removing fat and separating breasts.
Coat chicken with jerk seasoning and cook in pan for 5-7 minutes. Turn chicken over and continue cooking until no liquid remains in the pan. Add beer and bake in oven for 20 minutes, uncovered.

Rice
1 shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 golded beet
1 bell pepper, red or orange look best
1 ear of corn (removed from cob)
1 ½ cups fresh arugula
1 ½ tbsp beer
1 bunch of the following herbs:
savory
basil
chives
parsley
lemon thyme

Prepare 6 servings of rice according to package directions. Heat cast iron skillet on low (approximately 15 minutes) while slicing vegetables. Add shallot, garlic, bell pepper, beet and corn to skillet. Cook until beets are soft to the touch but not falling apart. Add beer and let sit until soaked in. Fold into rice and add herbs and arugula. Salt and pepper to taste.

1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 large unripe tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices, ends removed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 – 3 heirloom varieties of tomatoes, sliced like the green tomatoes.
Balsamic Vinegar reduced to a thick syrup

In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and pepper to taste

Make an egg wash with whipped eggs and water

Dip the tomatoes in the egg wash and then dredge them in the flour mixture, coating both sides well.

Place a large cast iron skillet over medium heat and coat with the oil. When the oil is hot, pan-fry the tomatoes (in batches if necessary) until golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Carefully remove the tomatoes and drain on paper towels.

Layer the fried green tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes shingle style and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar.

Wes Orr, 212 Market
Bill Heckler, Gordon Biersch
Anna Scott, Mia Cucina
Wolfgang Poe, Red Rock Grille
Brandon White, Back Inn Cafe’

Contestants will be displaying their professional and creative expertise by preparing dishes using fresh produce, spices, herbs and other goods available fresh and direct from farmers at the Chattanooga Market. The chefs will be using the finest professional ranges in the world, thanks to Five Star Professional Ranges, which are also available for home use.

Five Star is yet another best-of-class manufacturer here in the Chattanooga metro, and a long-term supporter of the Chattanooga Market. Please support our local farmers, manufacturers, craftsmen and organizations – Local is Better!