Charred Eggplant Dip By Andrew Zimmern This smoky charred eggplant dip is one of my favorite dishes in a classic meze spread, a collection of small plates, salads and appetizers common throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean. Charring the eggplant until entirely blackened and soft is crucial to developing the flavor of the dish. If… Read More →
How to Grill New York Strips By Andrew Zimmern I’m cooking this beautiful bone-in, dry-aged New York strip over high direct heat on a charcoal grill. Grilling over high direct heat requires constant attention—be sure to turn the meat frequently, moving it around the grill to avoid flare-ups. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
Tips for Grilling Steak Here are a few things to keep in mind next time you fire up the grill. When deciding what cut to buy, remember that cooking meat on the bone always imparts more flavor. The flavor of the roasting bones penetrates the flesh in a way that adds immeasurable benefit to your food,… Read More →
Chicken Skewers with Za’atar By Andrew Zimmern Here’s a peek at research and development for our Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen: Skewers concept at Minneapolis’ Target Field. In this recipe, we marinate chicken thighs in za’atar (a blend of thyme, sumac and sesame seeds that’s commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking), lemon and olive oil, before skewering… Read More →
Pizza Dough Recipe by Peter Campbell It’s Pizza Week in the AZ Cooks kitchen, and we’ve recruited our friend and pizza guru Peter Campbell, chef and owner of Minneapolis’ Red Wagon Pizza Co., to share his wisdom for creating restaurant-quality pizza at home. To start, he’s tackling pizza dough, probably the most daunting step for… Read More →
Labneh Dip with Peppers & Radishes Recipe adapted from Shaya: An Odyssey of Food, My Journey Back to Israel by Alon Shaya In this episode of AZ Cooks, I’m cooking the book, finding inspiration in my friend chef Alon Shaya’s new cookbook Shaya, a moving culinary memoir filled with recipes reflective of his path to… Read More →
The Best Recipes for a Memorial Day Barbecue From lobster rolls and baby back ribs to homemade baked beans and an easy mixed berry crumble, here are a few delicious ways to help you welcome summer this weekend. Lobster Rolls, Two Ways Here are two easy recipes for everyone’s favorite summer sandwich, the lobster… Read More →
Kielbasa Split Pea Soup By Andrew Zimmern My grandma started making a version of this almost 50 years ago, using kosher hot dogs and her mom’s pea soup recipe. Suffice it to say, it’s changed. Make it with your favorite Eastern European sausage—kielbasa, Krakowska and Ukrainian all rock in this soup. I like to use… Read More →
My Best Super Bowl Recipes Of course I’m disappointed the Vikings won’t be winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy on their home turf, but I am thankful for an amazing season and ready to welcome the world to Minnesota for Super Bowl 52 and the best week of events in NFL history. If you didn’t score tickets… Read More →
In my video series, AZ Cooks, I’m sharing cooking techniques and recipes inspired by my childhood, travels and experiences in the professional kitchen, all in the pursuit of culinary literacy. Thanks for tuning in, your support and feedback have made this venture a success! From classics like key lime pie and meatloaf to wok-tossed crickets and… Read More →
Saag Paneer By Andrew Zimmern A beloved vegetarian dish of spinach and mild fresh cheese, saag paneer is one of my favorites from the Indian repertoire. This is my version, the result of several years of testing and tweaking different saag paneer recipes, reading cookbooks and gathering inspiration from Indian restaurants. I think you’ll love it.… Read More →
How to Make Paneer at Home By Andrew Zimmern One of the easiest cheeses to make at home is the classic Indian paneer. It’s a mild, fresh farmers’ cheese that takes on flavors really well, soaking up the sauce it cooks in. For my version of saag paneer, I like it to be soft and… Read More →
How to Break Down a Whole Chicken Everyone should know how to break down a whole chicken. For one, it’s economical—whole chickens are much cheaper per pound than chicken breasts. Plus, if you buy a whole chicken, you can cut it into the specific pieces you need for the dish you’re making…. and, you’ll have… Read More →
Tips for Cooking with Red Wine Rule of thumb: When you’re cooking with wine, always use a wine you’d be proud to serve your guests, because as you reduce it, you magnify the good and the bad flavors. My favorite red wines to cook with are Rhone wines from Guigal. Ready to cook? Here… Read More →
Tips & Recipes for Thanksgiving Success Sharing a table with family and friends in celebration of tradition and great food is what makes Thanksgiving my favorite holiday, and I know I’m not the only one. Thanksgiving is about our cultural demonstration of collective thanks, expressed by a delicious meal…followed by football. Hosting the biggest feast… Read More →
Classic Turkey Gravy By Andrew Zimmern You can use this foolproof technique to make perfectly seasoned gravy from any roasted poultry. Add the giblets, onions and rich poultry stock to the bottom of the roasting pan to catch all of the drippings and deepen the flavor of the gravy. Then finish the gravy on the stovetop,… Read More →
Thanksgiving Turkey 101 By Andrew Zimmern Roasting a turkey can be intimidating. It’s the crown jewel of the Thanksgiving table, the star of the show—and yet so many things can go wrong, from dried-out white meat to overcooked stuffing and underseasoned gravy. Try these simple tips for Thanksgiving success, whether this is your first or… Read More →
Chestnut Stuffing for Thanksgiving By Andrew Zimmern I like to make my stuffing the same way my grandmother did, with the classic combination of turkey livers, roasted chestnuts and plenty of fresh herbs. Like this recipe? Save it here.
Roasted Duck with Caraway & Orange By Andrew Zimmern When I was growing up in NYC in the ’60s, my dad would take me out every week for roast duck at the amazing Czech and Eastern European restaurants that helped define our neighborhood for generations. We always ordered the Bohemian duck, which is simply roasted… Read More →
Hainanese Chicken Rice with 3 Dipping Sauces By Andrew Zimmern A popular dish in southern China and Southeast Asia, Hainan-style chicken and rice is a dish I crave often—and I’m not the only one. The ginger-scented, perfectly poached chicken served with fatty, unctuous rice seems to have developed a cult following over the years. I… Read More →
Tune in for Bizarre Foods: Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride Aug. 29 at 9|8c on Travel Channel The midnight ride of Paul Revere marked the beginning of a war that changed our world forever. On this episode of Bizarre Foods, I’m following in the footsteps of this great patriot, revealing layers of history and food traditions… Read More →
Tune in for Bizarre Foods: The Magnificent Mississippi River Aug. 8 at 9|8c on Travel Channel On this episode of Bizarre Foods, I had the pleasure of traveling from Memphis to Natchez by boat, and got a real taste of life on the Mississippi. This majestic river is a refuge for a slower-paced, nature-based way of… Read More →
Fried Chicken Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce By Andrew Zimmern Served at room temperature or chilled and packed with lots of fresh herbs and crisp vegetables, summer rolls are perfect warm-weather food. They’re commonly filled with shrimp and roast pork, which I love, but more often than not, I’m craving these fried chicken summer… Read More →
Grilled Rack of Lamb with Eggplant Salad & Bacon Fat Tortillas By Andrew Zimmern Grilling a rack of lamb may seem daunting, but it couldn’t be easier. Before you grill the lamb, make sure to cut as much surface fat as you can to avoid sooty flare-ups. In this recipe, I season the lamb with… Read More →
Fried Duck Confit with Eucalyptus Honey & Mustard Greens By Richard Blais Who can resist crispy duck skin that gives way to supple, yielding, moist meat? I can’t, which is why I suggest you make this “times two” because you’re sure to want seconds. Or—gasp!—you can indulge in cold fried duck confit tomorrow. Recipe from… Read More →
Lamb & Beef Kefta with Herb Yogurt Sauce By Andrew Zimmern An ubiquitous street food in Morocco and the Middle East, kefta are flavorful meatballs that are simple to prepare at home. I make my version with a mix of ground lamb and beef, and tons of herbs and aromatics. Pan-fry the patties and toss them… Read More →
Impressive Valentine’s Day Recipes A love of good food is universal, it’s what connects us all… trust me, I’ve spent a lifetime trying to prove this very point. So this Valentine’s Day, skip the dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant and practice the art of seduction from the comforts of your own kitchen. Here are… Read More →
Sous Vide Duck Breast with Port, Oranges & Juniper Berries By Andrew Zimmern Sous vide cookery is safe, convenient and easy. Cooking inside of a sealed container allows you to lock in flavors, juices and fats, unlike any other technique. It’s a foolproof method of cooking your favorite foods with precise temperature control. It’s also… Read More →
Holiday Menu Inspiration The best part of the holiday season is the time spent in the kitchen cooking special meals for family and friends. Here, I’ve gathered a few of my favorite recipes for main courses that are sure to impress, from a centerpiece roast to indulgent beef stroganoff. Feeding a crowd? Try the ham… Read More →
Deep Fry Like a Pro The word ‘fried’ is one of the most maligned terms in the kitchen. There’s no denying that fried foods aren’t the healthiest thing you can put in your mouth. But let’s face it, we’re pleasure seekers at heart and a little fried food every now and again is soul satisfying.… Read More →
