5 fat dutch oven Recipes

extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined (21/25), salt and pepper, olive oil, garlic, minced, boneless skinless chicken thighs , trimmed of excess fat and halved crosswise, red bell pepper, seeded and cut pole to pole into 1/2-inch-wide strips, chorizo sausage , spanish sliced 1/2 inch thick on the bias, onion, chopped fine (about 1 cup), diced tomatoes, drained, minced, and drained again, rice , valencia or 2 cups arborio, low sodium chicken broth, dry white wine, saffron thread, crumbled, bay leaf, dozen mussels , scrubbed and debearded, frozen green pea, thawed, fresh parsley leaves, chopped, lemon, cut into wedges, for serving

roasting chickens, rinsed and trimmed of excess fat, onions, quartered, orange, cut into wedges, canola oil, soy sauce, canola oil (for the skin ), dried basil, sugar, salt, garlic powder, ground black pepper, ground ginger

i use a 3 1/2 to 4 lb chuck roast, well marbelized with fat, and if you can find a bone-in roast, that s better yet (but it s almost always boneless chuck that you find at the grocer). i like to quickly rinse the roast in cold water just before i lay it on the cutting board to coat it with seasoned flour. place the following ingredients in a small baggie and shake the closed bag to mix it up, flour, salt, garlic salt, crazy mixed-up salt (if you can tsp get this seasoning, use seasoned salt instead, but jane s is by far the best), pepper, use your hands to generously pat the seasoned flour into the roast, on both sides, flipping the roast a couple times and repeating the process., in a dutch oven or roasting pan large enough to hold the roast, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium high heat - you want your pan and oil to be hot enough to sear the roast well when you put it in the pan. when the oil is just about to the smoking point, put the roast in and cover the pan. let the meat sear until nicely browned on the bottom, then flip the roast. let it sear for a minute or two on the second side, then add, beef stock (i much prefer the boxed stock to the canned broth - it just seems to give the gravy a much richer taste in the end), cover the roasting pan and place it in a pre-heated 300 degree oven. roast for 4 to 5 hours, until the meat is fork tender and falls apart easily. i check the roast each hour, quickly opening the lid, just to make sure the stock has not evaporated. as long as your pan has a good seal on it, this shouldn tsp happen. but if necessary, add more stock to the pan., an hour before the roast is done , prepare the mashed potatoes. peel 6 large red potatoes (these work better - at least for me - because they are much moister than the russets, so the mashed potatoes are creamier); cut into 1/4th, and place them in a large saucepan - rinse the cut potatoes 2 times in cold water, then cover them in fresh cold water and place the pan over medium high heat; boil until tender. this is usually about 30 minutes, but it depends on the size of your cuts, so just cook them until you can easily insert a fork into a potato. drain potatoes well, reserving 1 cup of the water for the gravy. add the following to the hot potatoes, butter, sour cream, milk, salt, crazy mixed up salt (use regular salt or garlic salt if jane s salt is not available), pepper, i use a hand masher , but you can use an electric mixer or however you chose to mash the potatoes into a creamy yet firm texture. add more milk if potatoes are too stiff. place the mashed potatoes in a buttered casserole dish, cover with foil, and place in the oven to keep warm while you make the gravy., prepare the gravy, melt 2 tbsp butter, stir in 1/4 cup flour to make a paste, stir in enough beef stock to thin the paste enough to pour., finished roast from the pan and place it on a plate; cover meat with foil to keep warm., place the roasting pan over a medium flame and bring the liquid to a gentle boil (i usually seem to have about 1 1/2 to 2 cups liquid in the pan when the roast is done - if you have less, just use the beef stock to increase your liquid)., use a whisk to gradually whisk in the butter/flour/stock liquid., add 2 tbsp beef base - i use tone s (i prefer beef base to buillon - has a richer flavor and is really worth having on hand, but if you can tsp find this, try knorr s beef buillon extra large cubes), add the 1 cup of reserved potato water, add 1/2 cup beef stock, taste the gravy and see if you want more seasoning. i usually find i don tsp need to add anything at this point, since i have the seasoning from the flour coating and the stock and the beef base. if you think you need more seasoning, add salt and pepper to your taste. beef base will also give you more saltiness., keep the gravy warm while you uncover the meat and use 2 forks to pull the meat apart into small to medium chunks., you are now ready to assemble...

in serving to start the process, wash , rinse and thoroughly dry the new skillet or dutch oven to remove the protective wax coating. i recommend drying the utensil over a low flame to remove all moisture from the porous metal, 2-3 minutes., put two tbsp of liquid vegetable oil in the utensil. do not use saturated fat , such as butter or bacon fat, because this fat will become rancid during storage. use a paper towel to coat the entire surface of the utensil with the oil, inside and out -- including all corners, edges and lids., preheat the oven to 500 degrees f for 30 minutes. line a large baking pan or cookie sheet with aluminum foil and place the utensils on the sheet, with the pot upside down and the lid right side up, to prevent the oil building up in the concave areas., bake the utensils for 1 hour, turn off the heat and allow the skillet or dutch oven to cool completely in the oven with the door closed, 4-6 hours., oven and wipe with a paper towel. this completes the seasoning process, and you are ready to use your nicely seasoned cast iron skillet., everytime you use your cast iron skillet , it will become more seasoned. its a work in progress. be patient, the look will come with time., taking care of your cast iron will make it last forever ..