Where's the Beef?

Today's post deals with the age-old question, "Where's the beef?"

I'll bet you've figured out that the beef is here. Today's offerings include Melt-in-Your-Mouth Buttermilk Meatloaf and Super Sloppy Joes. Enjoy!

HAN OAK GALBIJJIM

This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "This is a home cook’s take on the short-rib stew the chef Peter Cho serves at Han Oak, the beautiful homestyle Korean restaurant in Portland, Ore., that he runs with his wife, Sun Young Park. It is fragrant and sweet, with deep caramelized flavors that come in part from roasting the meat and vegetables separately before combining them in the braising liquid. Cho fries rice cakes before adding them to the stew, but you can just slide them in plain, if you prefer. Either way, the addition of greens at the end gives the dish an exciting brightness, a zip that many galbijjims lack."

Yield: 6 servings; Time: 2 hours

This was featured in "A Secret Ingredient Makes This Chef’s Galbijjim Perfect. Just Don’t Tell Mom.", and cam be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019918-han-oak-galbijjim.

Ingredients

3 pounds mixed root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, onions and sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

5 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or vegetable oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 pounds bone-in short ribs, cut by a butcher into 2-inch pieces

2 medium-size Asian pears, peeled, cored and diced

1 large red onion, peeled and diced

12 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

2 tablespoons roughly chopped ginger

3 cups chicken stock

1 12-ounce can Coca-Cola

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup rice-wine vinegar

2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean chile flakes), or to taste

4 cups roughly chopped kale, optional

1 pound Korean rice cakes, optional

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

3 scallions, trimmed and both white and green parts thinly sliced

3 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced

Sesame seeds, to taste

Preparation

Heat oven to 425. Toss the root vegetables in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of oil, and season with an aggressive amount of salt and pepper. Turn the vegetables onto a sheet pan. Put the short ribs in the same bowl, and toss with 1 tablespoon of oil and a lot of salt and pepper, then put the ribs on another sheet pan, bone sides down. Place both pans in the oven and roast, turning the pans once or twice, until the vegetables are soft and caramelized and the ribs are well browned, approximately 40 minutes. Set the pans aside until ready to use.

While the vegetables and ribs cook, place a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and swirl into it the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. When it shimmers, add the pears, onion, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and browning, approximately 15 minutes.

Turn heat to high, add the stock, Coca-Cola, honey, soy sauce, rice-wine vinegar and gochugaru, and bring the mixture to a lively simmer. Cook until pears are tender, approximately 20 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor, and purée the sauce until smooth, then return it to the pot.

Add the cooked short ribs and whatever fat has rendered from them to the pot, cover it and cook over medium-low heat for approximately 90 minutes, or until very tender.

When the meat can be flaked from the bone, add the roasted vegetables to the pot, along with the rice cakes. Cook until the vegetables are hot and the rice cakes (if using) are sticky, then add the greens, and stir them around until they have just started to turn tender.

Drizzle with the sesame oil, top with the scallions, radishes and sesame seeds to taste. Serve immediately.

RIGATONI WITH SUMMER BOLOGNESE

This is from the Food Network, and begins, "The sauce for this dish is full of fresh tomatoes, which are high in skin-benefiting antioxidants."

Active Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/rigatoni-with-summer-bolognese-7119146.

Ingredients

Kosher salt

10 ounces rigatoni (about 3 cups)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 small onion, finely diced

2 small carrots, finely diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 pound ground beef

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/4 cup dry white wine

3 cups multicolored cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup fresh basil, torn

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente, about 12 minutes. Reserve 3/4 cup cooking water, then drain.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the ground beef, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, breaking up the meat, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook until evenly combined, 1 minute. Add the wine and simmer until almost completely dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water, the tomatoes and half the basil. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the mixture is saucy, 4 to 7 minutes.

Add the cheese to the sauce, then add the rigatoni; season with salt and pepper and toss, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen. Divide among bowls and top with the remaining basil and more parmesan.

MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH BUTTERMILK MEATLOAF

This is from John Mitzewich, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. John wrote, "This easy meatloaf recipe sure lives up to its name. The buttermilk works its tangy magic to make this meatloaf tender and delicious. This great recipe is finished with a glossy brown sugar glaze that's a perfect compliment to the flavorful meat. If you're craving meatloaf but on a stricter diet, you can also try kept meatloaf."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 8 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

1 onion (minced)

2 cloves garlic (minced)

2 1/2 pounds ground beef

2 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon dried tarragon

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 eggs (beaten)

1 teaspoon hot sauce

1 cup breadcrumbs (plain)

For the Glaze:

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Directions

While there are multiple steps to this recipe, this meatloaf dish is broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for cooking.

For the Meatloaf:

Gather the ingredients.

In a sauté pan, on medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onions and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until translucent.

Remove from the heat, stir in the garlic, and let cool to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 325 F.

In a large bowl add the ground beef, the onions, and all the remaining meatloaf ingredients. Mix to incorporate.

Lightly grease the bottom of a shallow roasting pan with a few drops of oil.

Wet your hands with cold water and form the meatloaf mixture into a loaf shape, about 6 inches wide, by about 3 to 4 inches high.

Bake for 30 minutes.

For the Glaze:

Gather the ingredients.

While the meatloaf is baking combine the brown sugar, vinegar, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl for the glaze.

After 30 minutes, remove the meatloaf from the oven and evenly spread the glaze over the top with a spoon. If you like, you can put a little of the glaze on the sides, but most of it should go on the top.

Bake for about 30 minutes more. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the center to check to make sure meatloaf is done—at least 160 F/70 C.

Serve and enjoy!

Tip

Enjoy with mashed potatoes and green beans for a complete meal.

BEEF EMPANADAS

This is from Angela Dimayuga in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Angela wrote, "Filipinos take snacking seriously, so much so that we devote an entire meal to it: merienda, which may take place midmorning or midafternoon, if not both. Empanadas are a great treat for this in-between time, but also keep well at room temperature — the grace of food built for a warm climate — so you can graze all day. (My family used to buy these by the tray for parties, but it’s nice to make your own and store them in the freezer for later.) In these, a ground-beef filling is tucked inside sturdy but flaky dough, with raisins added early in the cooking to plump with the beef juices. There are variations on empanadas all over Latin America; ours rely on the potency of onion and garlic, and exploit it to the hilt."

Yield: 40 empanadas; Time: 2 hours

This was featured in "Angela Dimayuga’s 10 Essential Filipino Recipes", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020490-beef-empanadas.

Ingredients

For the empanada dough:

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), diced

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2/3 cup ice water

For the filling:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

1/2 large green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch cubes

1/2 large red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch cubes

3 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1/2 medium russet potato, peeled and cut into 1-centimeter cubes (about 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup raisins

3/4 pound ground beef

1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon oyster sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 (48-ounce) bottle neutral oil, such as canola, for frying

Preparation

Prepare the empanada dough: In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the milk and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a large bowl, combine the flour and 1 tablespoon salt, and mix well. Add the butter and incorporate it into the flour using your hands or a food processor. Combine until mixture is sandy. Combine the egg mixture, vinegar and 2/3 cup ice water, whisking to break up the egg. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, and beat with a fork to bring dough together.

Sprinkle a light layer of flour over a work surface. Place the dough on top. Bring dough together by pressing and folding dough onto itself a few times with the palms of your hands. Being careful not to overwork, split dough in half and form into two equal logs about the thickness of a small sausage, 1 1/2- to 2-inches thick. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

While the dough rests, prepare the filling: In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high and bring to a shimmer. Add the tomato paste and toast, stirring frequently, until darkened and caramelized, about 3 minutes. Add the onion, bell peppers, garlic, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes.

Add the potato and raisins, and cook, stirring, until mixture starts to caramelize, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Add the beef, increase the temperature to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Stir in oyster sauce and soy sauce until coated, then stir in chicken stock. (Mixture should be glossy but not overtly wet; cook for another 5 minutes or so to reduce liquid, if need be.) Transfer to a sheet pan, dispersing in a thin layer, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 20 minutes.

Fill a small bowl with some cool water for sealing your empanadas, and another small bowl with flour for dusting. Working with one log at a time, remove dough from fridge. Cut each log in half crosswise, then cut each half crosswise into 10 equal pieces, which will be the shape of thick coins. Using a bit of flour, dust your work surface. Round each coin slightly using your thumb and forefinger and on your surface with your hands press each coin lightly to coax it into a flat round shape. Switch to a rolling pin and roll each piece of empanada dough into a 4 1/2-inch circle. You can lightly dust and stack your circles off to the side or transfer them to a parchment lined baking sheet and chill until you are ready to assemble (they are easier to work with when kept cool). Repeat with remaining log. When you have all your pieces rolled out, you are ready to assemble your empanadas. Place about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the meat filling in the center of each circle, leaving at least a 1/2-inch border. Using a brush or your finger, wet the edges of the dough with water and fold the crust over the filling, forming half-moon empanada shapes, sealing out as much air as possible. Crimp the edges of the empanada with the tines of a fork to seal.

In a large heavy Dutch oven or pot, heat about 2 inches of oil over medium-high. Heat oil to 365 degrees. Working in batches so as not to crowd the pan, maintaining an even heat, fry the empanadas, turning frequently, until they start to bob, 4 to 5 minutes. (They should be crisp and golden brown, the pastry should be cooked through and the meat should be warmed through.) Transfer to a paper-towel lined baking sheet and fry remaining empanadas. Serve warm.

SUPER SLOPPY JOES

This is from Rachael Ray on the Food Network. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 super sloppy sandwiches; Level: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan

1 1/4 pounds ground beef sirloin

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon steak seasoning blend, such as McCormick brand Montreal Seasoning

1 medium onion, chopped

1 small red bell pepper, chopped

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cups tomato sauce

2 tablespoons tomato paste

4 crusty rolls, split, toasted, and lightly buttered

Garnish: sliced ripe tomatoes, pickles, Deviled Potato Salad

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to the pan. Spread the meat around the pan and begin to break it up. Combine brown sugar and steak seasoning. Add sugar and spice mixture to the skillet and combine. When the meat has browned, add onion and red peppers to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, peppers, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce with meat for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and paste to pan. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook Sloppy Joe mixture 5 minutes longer. Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, pile sloppy meat onto toasted, buttered bun bottoms and cover with bun tops. Serve with your favorite sides or sliced tomatoes seasoned with salt and pepper, dill pickles and Deviled Potato Salad. Have plenty of napkins on hand!

BEEF CHILI

This yummy chili recipe is from Tyler Florence on The Food Network. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cooki Time: 2 hours 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Intermediate

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/beef-chili-recipe-1937323.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 pounds beef shoulder, cut into large cubes

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons ancho chili powder

1 tablespoons ground coriander

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon sweet paprika

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 onions, diced

10 garlic cloves, halved

3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped

1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

1 teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed by hand

1/2 cup masa harina

3 cups shredded white Cheddar, for garnish

2 bunches chopped chives, for garnish

1 1/2 cups sour cream, for garnish

Ingredients

In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil. Season the beef shoulder all over with salt and pepper, add it to the pot and brown it. As it's browning stir in the chili powder, coriander, cumin, paprika, oregano and cinnamon. Lower the temperature under the meat to "toast" the spices. In a food processor puree the onions, garlic, chipotle peppers, jalapeno, tomato paste and sugar and add it to the pot. Increase the heat to medium to steam vegetables a little and sweeten the peppers. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch, about 1 quart, and add tomatoes with their liquid. Bring to a boil and skim off any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer until the meat is fork-tender and comes apart with no resistance, about 2 hours. As it cooks down, add more water, if necessary. When done, stir in the masa harina. Take a potato masher and mash the chili so the meat comes apart in shreds. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish each serving with the shredded Cheddar, chives, and sour cream.