Grilled Jumbo Shrimp, Two Ways By Andrew Zimmern When it comes to grilling shrimp, bigger is always better. Jumbo shrimp take more time to cook through, allowing them to stay in contact with the heat long enough to develop a char. For the juiciest shrimp, grill them with the shell on. The shell imparts a… Read More →
Tzatziki Sauce By Andrew Zimmern One of my favorite condiments, tzatziki is a traditional Greek yogurt sauce packed with cucumber and herbs. It’s an essential element of any Mediterranean meze spread that can be used as a dip for fresh vegetables, a salad, or a cooling topping for spicy dishes, roasted meats and grilled fish.… Read More →
Homemade Mayonnaise By Andrew Zimmern Making a batch of mayonnaise at home is so simple, and the result is a more flavorful, tangy and silky condiment than what’s available at the grocery store. It’s incredibly versatile and customizable—use it as a base for all kinds of dips, marinades and sauces, or schmear it on a… Read More →
Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles By Andrew Zimmern These Sichuan-style cold peanut sesame noodles are a favorite meal in the Zimmern household. It’s a simple, approachable dish with complex flavors that speak to kids and adults. The sauce is so delicious I’d suggest making extras to use as a salad dressing or dipping sauce for grilled… Read More →
Crispy Crab Rolls By Andrew Zimmern This dish combines my love of Asian cooking and my obsession with mid-19th-century Southern country club recipes. The crust of these crispy crab rolls filled with moist flaked seafood, is made with—surprise!—soft, white sandwich bread. Served with a doctored Thai sweet chile sauce, it’s an irresistible snack. Watch Andrew… Read More →
AZ Cooks Snack Bracket Champion We have a winner! This March has been full of surprises, and my snack bracket was no different. Although my money was on Chinese chicken wings making it to the championship, I’m happy to announce that our voters crowned roast pork belly as the AZ Cooks Snack Bracket Champion. I… Read More →
The Ultimate Seafood Tower By Andrew Zimmern This is Plateau de Fruits de Mer 101. First, learn how to dispatch a lobster and cook it in a court bouillon, and then how to steam crab, mussels and shrimp in a multi-tiered bamboo steamer. I’ll teach you how to shuck oysters and clams with the proper… Read More →
How to Shuck an Oyster First place the oyster in a kitchen towel and lay it firmly on the counter, this is easier for beginners and will help protect your hands, especially if this is your first time shucking. Then, drive the point of an oyster knife into the hinge, and twist to pop open… Read More →
Hunan-Style Peanut Sauce By Andrew Zimmern This classic Hunan-style peanut sauce is one of my favorites for dipping, glazing and enjoying with all sorts of Asian food. It’s great with sticky rice, fried chicken summer rolls, ribs, chicken satay, pork belly or chicken off the grill. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
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 →
Sous Vide Spare Ribs with Sticky Rice & Peanut Sauce By Andrew Zimmern Want to take your cooking game to a new level? Get on board with the immersion circulator. 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… Read More →
Dry-Rubbed Fried Chicken Wings By Andrew Zimmern Do you want to be king of your chicken wing castle? Deep fry a batch of wings before tossing with your favorite dry rub and melted butter. Chicken wing supremacy is really that simple. Here, I’ve used two different types of dry rub—one with herbs, garlic and onion,… Read More →
Pajarito Just over a year old, Pajarito’s contemporary Mexican cuisine is still satisfying a packed house every night. Located on St. Paul’s West 7th St. in the historic Glockenspiel building, it’s proven to be the right combination of quality ingredients, superb flavors, affordable plates, great service and a sophisticated, inviting atmosphere. I love a cheap… Read More →
Homemade Crispy Onion Rings By Andrew Zimmern With a light and crispy batter, these buttermilk fried onion rings are a perfect snack for game day, or as part of a backyard burger bash side dish. It’s a classic Southern-style recipe, with an extra flavor boost from my Lemon & Shallots spice blend and hot sauce. Make sure… Read More →
Frozen Margaritas By Andrew Zimmern You can easily make these party drinks non-alcoholic, just omit the tequila and Grand Marnier and add a little extra sugar. For a winning game-day combination, serve a pitcher of margaritas next to a platter of my brisket nachos… your friends will thank you. Watch Andrew make this recipe: Like… Read More →
On’s Thai Kitchen Located in Midway on University Avenue, On’s Thai Kitchen always makes it onto my list of top 10 favorite restaurants in the Twin Cities. There are many excellent choices for Thai cuisine in my hometown, but none transport me to Thailand quite like On’s. The 105-item menu has many recognizable standbys like fresh herby… Read More →
Figs & Smoked Mozzarella Wrapped in Prosciutto By Andrew Zimmern Smoky, salty and sweet, these prosciutto-wrapped figs with smoked mozzarella are a perfectly balanced appetizer that only takes a few minutes to throw together. They’re a great addition to a holiday spread and make for a classy upgrade to your game-day finger foods. Watch Andrew… Read More →
How to Prep Lemongrass I love cooking with lemongrass. It’s a staple of many Asian cuisines that lends a unique citrusy aroma and flavor to soups, curries, marinades, stir-fries, dumplings and dipping sauces, even cocktails. Peel away the dried, tough outer layers, trim the top of the long stalk, pound the root end with a… Read More →
Japanese Beef Tataki By Andrew Zimmern This easy Japanese tataki is stunning and tastes even better. With a simple dish like this, buy the best beef you can get your hands on. Because it’s served very rare, using a tender, luxury cut like sirloin is important—trust me, it’s worth spending the extra bucks. Skip the… Read More →
Four Chile Salsa By Andrew Zimmern Using four different types of dried chiles adds a deep complexity to this thick salsa that’s hard to beat. It’s also incredibly versatile—use this chile salsa to braise pork, seafood or chicken, to accompany grilled beef, as a sauce for tamales or enchiladas, or simply as a dip for… Read More →
Young Joni Young Joni’s presence on my list of must-try restaurants should come as no surprise. What chef Ann Kim and her team have accomplished is exceptional and worthy of all the national attention—which includes recognition from GQ and Eater as one of 2017’s best new restaurants in the country. And while this may be… 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 →
How to Roast Chestnuts Roasting chestnuts is an essential part of my holiday traditions. Only harvested in the fall, I like to take full advantage of this seasonal beauty. I roast them and put them in my stuffing at Thanksgiving, candy them for Christmas or chop them up and saute them with brown butter and… Read More →
Russian Dressing By Andrew Zimmern Russian dressing—and yes, where I’m from, we call it Russian dressing not Thousand Island—is one of my favorite condiments. Used as a dip, sandwich spread or salad dressing, it’s piquant, balanced and delicious. I especially love it on a brisket sandwich with melted gruyere cheese. Watch Andrew make this recipe:
Apple Tarte Tatin By Andrew Zimmern A classic Parisian recipe, tarte tatin is an upside-down apple tart made famous by the Tatin sisters more than a century ago. The best autumnal treat I can think of, this stunning caramelized apple dessert is an easy show-stopper. Watch Andrew make this recipe: Like this recipe? Save it… Read More →
Pork Belly 101 By Andrew Zimmern Roasted pork belly is one of the most unctuous, delicious dishes that you’ll ever eat. To achieve a meltingly tender piece of pork crowned with crispy skin requires a multi-day process, but don’t let that scare you, it’s a simple technique. Serve it with bao, or on its own,… Read More →
Ginger Scallion Oil Dipping Sauce By Andrew Zimmern Chopped scallions, grated ginger and salt are combined with heated peanut oil to create this flavorful dipping sauce—the perfect complement to my Hainanese chicken rice. This sauce is so easy to throw together and pairs well with a piece of grilled meat or fish, noodles, dumplings or… 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 →
Spicy Meat-Filled Bulgur Dumplings By Robyn Eckhardt These chewy bulgur dumplings hide a filling of ground lamb and onion spiked with tomato and Turkish red pepper paste. Deep-fried versions are found all over Turkey, but I prefer this boiled version from Van, especially when it is drizzled with tomato butter before serving. You will have… Read More →
The Best Snack Mix Ever Invented By Andrew Zimmern It’s hard to improve on something like homemade Chex mix, but everything’s better with bacon candy—you can’t argue with that. I’ve added spiced nuts and lots of candied bacon to Chex and bagel chips, creating a symphonic blend of crunchy, salty, sweet and savory. This recipe… Read More →
