Chengdu Chicken with Black Beans, Chiles & Peanuts By Andrew Zimmern This spicy Chengdu-style chicken in an umami-rich black bean sauce is a mainstay at my house. Marinating the chicken overnight in rice wine and cornstarch makes the meat tender, helps tighten the sauce and gives the chicken a twice-cooked slippery quality that’s a sign of… Read More →
AZ and the Lost City of Ophir Twelve-year-old AZ dreams of becoming the world’s greatest explorer. Instead, he’s stuck in summer school with just Odd Uncle Arthur for company. Little does AZ know that this summer will be his most thrilling—and dangerous—adventure yet. After a time-traveling mishap, AZ finds himself in Ophir, a lost city… Read More →
Roasted Tomato Soup By Andrew Zimmern The perfect tomato soup with some Parmesan bread toasties that is going to rock your world. It’s tomato insanity in a bowl.
Big Food Truck Tip Premieres Wednesday, September 19th at 10/9pm CT on Food Network I can’t wait to share my new series with you, Big Food Truck Tip, premiering on Food Network with back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, September 19th at 10/9pm CT. Join me as I travel the country in search of passionate food truck… Read More →
Gizmo Sandwiches at the Minnesota State Fair Carla Wood and her Gizmo sandwich embody everything I love about the fair. The Gizmo is a ground beef and Italian sausage sandwich covered in their secret red sauce, topped with melted mozzarella. Every sandwich is made on premise from scratch. It’s an edible torpedo of pleasure and my idea… Read More →
Elote-Style Mexican Street Corn By Andrew Zimmern The best way to cook corn on the cob is in the husk directly on the coals. The husk protects the cob from incinerating, while the embers impart a smoky, fire-charred flavor. Smother the sweet corn with classic elote toppings—crema, mayo, chile-lime seasoning and cilantro—for the ultimate summer… Read More →
Blistered Shishito Peppers By Andrew Zimmern I can’t think of a better bar snack than these gorgeous Japanese peppers. They are mostly mild, although you may bump into a spicy one on occasion. This is my favorite way to prepare shishito peppers, blistered directly on the coals with a simple dressing of salt and lemon… Read More →
Salmon Burgers with Roasted Tomatoes & Avocado By Andrew Zimmern This simple recipe allows the flavor of the salmon to shine. I prefer to use fresh salmon, as opposed to canned salmon, the extra effort and cost is worth it for a better tasting burger with a superior texture. I top my salmon burgers with oven… Read More →
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 →
Tips for Grilling with Fruitwood & Charcoal We received a lot of questions about using charcoal, wood chips and wood chunks. I prefer to use natural hardwood charcoal, lit in a charcoal chimney without lighter fluid. I use fruitwood, such as cherry or apple, when grilling or smoking chicken, fish or fruit. Soak wood chips… Read More →
Barbecue Chicken By Andrew Zimmern This barbecue chicken is the best thing I’ve cooked in a long time. I’m confident enough that I’d put it up in a barbecue contest any day of the week. The key is to cook the chicken quarters over indirect heat with a lot of smoke, before finishing them over… Read More →
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 →
Israeli Tomato & Cucumber Salad By Andrew Zimmern Every country in the Levant owns a version of this salad. I grew up calling this simple, healthy mixture of chopped fresh vegetables tossed with aromatic herbs, lemon juice and olive oil Israeli Salad. Don’t feel obligated to stick to this recipe, there are very few rules.… Read More →
Zhug, Israeli Hot Sauce By Andrew Zimmern If you love spicy food, zhug is a versatile condiment you should know how to make. A mixture of chiles, lemon, garlic and herbs, this bright, citrusy hot sauce packs a punch. I always keep a batch of this in the fridge to add to skewered chicken off… Read More →
Recipes for a Father’s Day Grill Out Being a father is my life’s greatest joy. Parenthood is the best gift of all, and spending time by the grill or in the kitchen teaching my son the ropes is my favorite way to spend Father’s Day. Here are 10 recipes to inspire you to fire up… Read More →
Reverse-Seared Tomahawk Steaks By Andrew Zimmern Reverse searing means to cook a piece of meat over indirect heat on the cool side of the grill first (or in a low oven), before finishing it over very high heat to get a nice crust. This method of cooking steak has become very popular in recent years,… Read More →
Grilled Chicken Wings with Apricot-Mustard Glaze By Andrew Zimmern A foolproof flavor combination, apricot and mustard have an affinity for each other. I love adding my Moroccan Moon seasoning to the marinade, an aromatic blend of turmeric and lemon peel that works its magic on anything I throw on the grill. This glaze is an… 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 →
Everything Bagel & Egg Casserole Recipe by Kevin Masse from TheFeedFeed This recipe transforms the typical egg bake into a crave-able dish inspired by the classic combination of everything bagels topped with cream cheese, onion, capers and smoked salmon. Bagels work well in a make-ahead and soak overnight casserole because they don’t lose their chewy… Read More →
Mexican Pork Burgers with Tomatillo Salsa By Andrew Zimmern In this recipe, I infuse ground pork with the bold flavors of Mexican chorizo to create an irresistible burger. For the best results, it’s essential that you allow the pork to sit overnight with all of the seasonings. You can grill the burgers or sear in… Read More →
Ma’s Muthia This recipe is from our Grandmother’s Best Recipe Contest winner Surtida S. Her grandmother combined her Indian roots with Tanzanian flavors to create this incredible dish of millet flour dumplings braised in a tomato-and-coconut-infused sauce chock-full of vegetables and aromatic spices. The smell and flavor of this recipe is intoxicating. “One of my… Read More →
Matzoh Ball Soup By Andrew Zimmern A Passover staple, matzoh ball soup is nurturing and medicinal. Before I had a bottle in my mouth I was sipping on this soup, and it’s remained one of my top five favorite foods. This is the only recipe I’ve come across that measures up to my grandmother’s. This… Read More →
Salmon Gravlax By Andrew Zimmern This salmon is cured for two days with a mix of fresh herbs, star anise, Pernod, sugar and salt. The salt and sugar draw out the liquid from the fish, so the texture and flavor is superb without having to weigh it down to expel the moisture. While gravlax seems… Read More →
Posole By Andrew Zimmern Hominy is the star of posole, a hearty Mexican stew loaded with chiles. While canned hominy is readily available, dried white corn hominy from Rancho Gordo has a superior flavor and toothsome texture that I love. I’ve long sung the praises of Rancho Gordo’s top quality products, and this heirloom prepared… Read More →
Po’ Boys at R&O Restaurant There is no city in the world like New Orleans. Its history, culture and cuisine truly make it a magical and captivating place. From muffuletta sandwiches at Central Grocery to oysters Rockefeller at Galatoire’s, even the most touristy restaurants are irresistible. On my last visit, I discovered a new favorite… Read More →
Crock-Pot Chicken Stock By Andrew Zimmern An essential building block of cooking that can transform the flavor of a dish, chicken stock is the single greatest ingredient you can make in your kitchen. Using a crock pot is a no-hassle way to cook stocks, simply load it up, set it to 200 degrees and let… 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 Clams Clams are definitely one of my top five desert island foods. During my childhood summers, my dad and I would spend the day clamming in the bay of Long Island’s South Fork. We’d poach and steam them, add them to chowder or cioppino, or shuck them and simply enjoy on the… Read More →
How to Shell a Lobster Buying a live lobster, dispatching it, cooking it properly and then extracting all of the meat can be an intimidating process. I totally get it. However, if you love lobster—or are trying to impress someone with a luxurious meal—cooking it at home is easier than you think and far more… Read More →
