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Main Course Recipes

Meat is the centerpiece of most American meals. Whether it is beef, pork, poultry, or fish, I'll show you some gourmet recipes to highlight their best qualities and provide tips on choosing the right product for your dish. For those who abstain from meat or just for a change of pace, I'll provide you with some wonderful recipes that are vegetarian.
Asparagus and Scampi Risotto
A wonderful and creamy rice dish that works wells as a main course or as an appetizer, it's equally tasty with just scampi or just asparagus.
Semolina Gnocchi with Roasted Peppered Pears, Gorgonzola and Prosciutto
Here is a delicious and visually stunning dish that works well as a salad or as the main course. Roasted pears with baked gnocchi, gorgonzola cheese and prosciutto create a very hearty and flavorful meal.
Rigatoni with Meatballs (Rigatoni con Polpettine)
Pasta and meatballs are classic comfort food. Here is a great recipe for rigatoni pasta with meatballs that has a wonderful meaty flavor and lots of herbs. The rigatoni, which is larger than penne pasta, really stands up to the heartiness of meatballs.
Grilled Chicken Tacos al Carbón with Fresh Orange Salsita
The name al carbón means “cooking over coals” and refers to the charred surface of the meat derived from the grilling process. The wonderfully refreshing orange and pepper salsa goes great with the grilled chicken.
Pizza Margherita
Classic Margherita-style pizza is the most basic of all pizzas but so delicious is you use good ingredients: a nice olive oil, ripe juicy tomatoes, good mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.
Heirloom Tomato Flat Bread
This is a beautiful way to use those tasty ripe heirloom tomatoes of summer. Fried garlic, basil oil and some good cheese make this a delicious first course or light lunch. This recipe comes from Bungalow 44 Restaurant in California.
Slaughterhouse Five Ribs
This delicious rib recipe is done in Kansas City barbecue style and comes from our friends at Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue and Catering (3002 West 47th Street, Kansas City, KS).
Matt's Famous Austin-style Chalupas
Very simple to make, these chalupas are wonderful comfort food. Homemade refried beans are the best but canned will work fine if you're in a hurry. Once you have all the ingredients assembled, making these are quick and easy. Perfect for a party or family dinner.
Herb Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing - 2009 Inaugural Luncheon
The tradition of the Inauguration Luncheon dates back at least a century. Approximately 200 guests including President Obama, Vice President Biden, their families, the Supreme Court, Cabinet designees, and members of Congressional leadership will attend the event in Statuary Hall. The menu by Design Cuisine is based on favorites of President Abraham Lincoln.
Duck Breast with Cherry Chutney - Recipes from the 2009 Inaugural Luncheon
The tradition of the Inauguration Luncheon dates back at least a century. Approximately 200 guests including President Obama, Vice President Biden, their families, the Supreme Court, Cabinet designees, and members of Congressional leadership will attend the event in Statuary Hall. The menu by Design Cuisine is based on favorites of President Abraham Lincoln.
Citrus-Rubbed Roast Goose with Baked Gingery Apples in Calvados
Here's an easy method of cooking goose that creates a flavorful result. Calvados is a wonderful apple brandy from France. If you can't find calvados, there are several varieties of apple brandy made in the U.S. that are very nice.
Cilantro Chicken with Avocado and Pickled Tomato Salsa
Here's a delicious chicken recipe with an abundance of southwestern spices. Created by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Border Grill (Santa Monica).
Roast Goose with Pomegranate Glaze
Fruits (pomegranates, quince, plums, oranges) and herbs gives this recipe for roast goose a nice complex flavor perfect for holiday entertaining.
Southwestern Rubbed Pork Chops with Grilled Peach and Chipotle Salsa
Pork chops can be a bit boring so I've spiced them up a bit here. The spiciness is balanced well with the sweetness of the fresh peaches. I prefer to grill pork chops so they don't dry out.
Tequila Marinated Mahi Mahi with Avocado-Tomatillo Sauce and Grilled Tomatoes
Mahi Mahi is a wonderful fish for grilling. It has a nice meaty texture and great flavor. This recipe uses some traditional Latin ingredients (tequila, lime, avocado, tomatillo, coriander, chilis) that combine with the Mahi Mahi for excellent results.
Spaghetti with Fresh Spinach and Gorgonzola
Spinach and Gorgonzola make a perfect combination. A bit of pasta and you have a delicious meal.
Penne Pasta with Fresh Artichokes
Fresh artichokes in season are wonderful prepared as simply as possible. A little garlic and butter, a splash of lemon, some onions and you're all set. Add some pasta and you have a meal.
Ratatouille with Summer Herbs
This is a simple recipe that uses lots of summer vegetables and fresh herbs. This aromatic dish works wonderfully as a first course or as a light entree.
Cornish Game Hens with "Pickled" Figs and Prosciutto
Here is a very elegant and stylish recipe for Cornish game hen created by former John Ash & Co. Chef Jeffrey Madura.
Gypsy Peppers Stuffed with Frommage Blanc
This wonderful stuffed pepper recipe comes from Greens Restaurant in San Francisco. This recipe calls for Gypsy peppers (also called bull's horn peppers) but any frying pepper will work.
Shrimp with Nectarine and Chili Sauce
Here's an easy way to prepare shrimp that is popping with flavor. Sweet juicy nectarines and spicy serrano chilis make a wonderful combination that pairs very well with shrimp.
Miso-Glazed Cod with Charred Red Onions, Nectarine and Radish Salad
There are a lot of ingredients to this cod dish but it is beautifully simple to prepare. Fresh, juicy nectarines complement the grilled fish wonderfully. Created by by Chef Adam Perry Lang of Daisy May's BBQ in New York City.
Chilled Seafood Salad
Here's a wonder seafood dish served cold with shrimp, mussels, calamari, and scallops. This recipe was created by Executive Chef Henry Salgado of the Spanish River Grill, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Filet Mangrove Snapper with Sambuca, Fennel and Kalamata Olives
This recipe was created by Miami chef Giancarla Bodoni of Escopazzo, an organic Italian restaurant.
Bing Cherry Chicken Salad with Toasted Pecans
Here's a wonderful fruit-packed version of chicken salad from Marjorie Druker, chef and co-owner of the New England Soup Factory located in the Boston area.
Grilled Asparagus and Lamb Kabobs with Mustard Aioli
Here's a fairly simple dish that brings together two of spring's best ingredients: lamb and asparagus. Lamb and asparagus both cook quickly on the grill. Watch them closely so you don't overcook them. Lamb is best served medium rare.
Carbonara with Green Asparagus and Pancetta
This is a wonderfully rich and tasty dish that works well as a main course. It also pairs beautifully as a side dish with meat dishes.
Spicy Ziti with Olives and Capers
Recipe for a spicy vegetarian pasta dish.
Clam, Pork, Sausage, and Bacon Stew
A number of traditional Portuguese dishes are based on the unlikely, but flavorful, combination of pork and shellfish. This variation on ameijoas na cataplana, the classic clam and pork stew, calls for three types of pork: fresh pork cubes, spicy sausage, and bacon.
Late Autumn Vegetable Casserole
Here is a wonderful comfort food recipe. Fall vegetables have never tasted so good.
Eggplant, Sausage, and Ziti Casserole
Comfort food at its best, an Italian dish from our friend Emeril with hearty sausage and pasta and lots of cheese. Yum.
Guinea Hen with Raspberries
"The guinea hen is a West African relative of the chicken and partridge, originally from Guinea. It has a gamey taste and can dry out easily because it has little fat. Cooking the bird in a covered pot and adding fat solves that problem, and raspberries match its stronger flavor. The raspberries inside the bird will tint the bird's juices red: don't let this fool you into thinking that it needs more cooking." - author's note.
Bay Scallops with Mushrooms, Peppers, and Grilled Italian Sausage
I've always loved the lusty combination of scallops, peppers, and Italian sausage. In this dish we use tiny, succulent Nantucket Bay scallops and sometimes present them as a first course served in a scallop shell. If bay scallops are unobtainable, larger sea scallops may be substituted.
Chicken Milanese
"Crunchy breaded chicken hidden under a mountain of tart salad is just the kind of thing I want to eat on a warm summer night. Perhaps you agree. These don't take long to make, but if you have some extra time, make extra chicken breasts so you'll have them in the refrigerator for sandwiches. If you don't have summer tomatoes, skip the tomatoes altogether. You want flavor." -Roy Finamore
Oven Roasted Pork Chops with Sweet Shallot and Pama Sauce Recipe
This delightful recipe using PAMA pomegranate liqueur was created by Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli of Butter Restaurant in New York City.
Pan-seared King Salmon with Blood Orange Vinaigrette
"King salmon has a lovely rose color and a high fat content, making its flavor very rich and sweet. The acidic vinaigrette offsets the sweetness perfectly, and the colors are an absolute symphony on the plate. Tomato- Basil Vinaigrette is another great sauce for this salmon."
Beef Filet Mignon and Red Wine Braised Short Rib, Cippollini Onions, Marrow Flan
This recipe was created by Los Angeles celebrity chef Joachim Splichal (Patina Restaurant) for the 59th Annual Emmy Awards Governors Ball.
Grilled Fish with Nectarine Mint Salsa
Here's a great recipe for fish that is healthy yet full of flavor.
Barbecued Pork Shoulder With Grilled Peaches
I love the flavor of fresh peaches with pork. This recipe seems a little complicated with all the ingredients but its really not too bad once you have everything assembled. The long cooking time is typical of most pulled pork recipes and results in wonderfully tender and moist dish. This great dish was created by Chef Adam Perry Lang of Daisy May's BBQ in New York City.
Cherry Mustard Chicken
Here is a very simple recipe for jazzing up chicken. Fresh cherries match wonderfully with chicken. Serve with rice and salad for a complete dinner. Leftovers make for a nice cherry chicken sandwich or chop up the chicken and add to a salad.
Chicken Breast with Fennel & Tomatoes
Here's a refreshing way to serve chicken. Fresh summer tomatoes, fennel, olives, and feta cheese give this lively dish a definite Mediterranean flavor.
Roast Cornish Hen with Sauteed Blueberries and Garlic
Here's a beautiful dish using fresh blueberries created by Cory Schreiber, chef of one of my favorite restaurants, Wildwood in Portland, Oregon. Don't be afraid to try this one. Despite the upscale look of this dish, it's actually quite simple to make.
Thai Curried Chicken with Peaches
If you like Thai food, you'll love this recipe. Here's a wonderful recipe for chicken with an authentic Thai curry flavor. The spiciness is balanced nicely by sweet peaches.
Green Chili Bread Pudding with Avocado Salsa
Here's a delicious recipe for bread pudding with a Mexican twist. Mildly spicy green chilies, spices, and lots of cheese go into this bread pudding that balances nicely with the fresh tasting avocado salsa. Recipe provided courtesy of the California Milk Advisory Board.
Tom Douglas's Crab Cake BLT Sandwiches
This delightful recipe comes from Seattle celebrity chef Tom Douglas . Chef Douglas' restaurants include Lola , dahlia lounge , Etta's , and The Palace Kitchen.
Rack Of Lamb With Mustard & Herb Crust On Sautéed Vegetables
Who knows more about cooking lamb than the Irish? Here's a wonderful recipe for roasted lamb from Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo. Ashford Castle is one of the most luxurious castle-hotels in Ireland. [p] Recipe courtesy Tauck World of Discovery.
Creamy Risotto with Pan-seared Scallops, Andouille Sausage, and Wild Mushrooms
Risotto is a wonderful method of cooking rice. By constantly stirring and adding liquid little by little, the arborio rice finishes with a nice creamy consistency. This recipes adds a trio of scallops, spicy sausage, and earthy mushrooms along with some fresh herbs that creates a delightfully tasty and aromatic dish. This is comfort food at its best!
Raspberry-Chile Glazed Chicken Roulade
These Roulades are simple, elegant and tasty with a striking presentation. They reflect a contemporary Southwestern approach to classic flavors. From Daniel Hoyer's Fiesta on the Grill.
Spicy Green Tea-Rubbed Grilled Salmon
Recipe reprinted with permission from GREEN TEA: 50 HOT DRINKS, COOL QUENCHERS, AND SWEET AND SAVORY TREATS (Harvard Common Press, 2006).
Garlicky Chicken Kebabs
Here is a delicious chicken recipe perfect for summer grilling. And if the weather isn't so great, it also works great under a broiler. Lots of Middle Eastern flavor with roasted garlic, coriander, and cumin. Works great for an appetizer or as an entree with some flatbread and a salad.
Hickory Smoked Pork Shoulder with Carolina Barbecue Sauce
Nothing says southern cooking like slow-cooked pork and Carolina BBQ sauce.
Lamb Adovada with Chipotle Chile Sauce & Carmelized Corn
Here is wonderful recipe from the new cookbook from the Sante Fe School of Cooking. "Guests at the school are surprised how much they like this lamb and confess to enjoying more lamb since their discovery. It works well for a dinner party because it is elegant, but you can rub on the lamb in the morning and there isn't a lot of last-minute preparation." - from Southwest Flavors by Susan Curtis and Nicole Curtis Ammerman.
Spice-Rubbed Grilled Leg of Lamb with Orange & Basil Salsa
This recipe for grilled lamb is a wonderfully aromatic and flavorful dish. The mild spiciness of the lamb pairs very well with the fruitiness of the orange & basil salsa. Most recipes for grilled leg lamb call for deboning the leg beforehand. I find that you lose a lot of flavor this way and it is much better to grill the leg as is, removing the meat afterwards.
Chile-Seared Salmon with Sweet Pear Pineapple Salsa from Jane Butel's Real Women Love Chiles
"Chiles love salmon - they add just the right accent to flavor the salmon to its greatest dimension. Fruity salsas, spiked with chiles, adds just the right complement." Jane Butel from her cookbook Real Women Love Chiles.
Aztec Style Pork Chops from Jane Butel's Real Women Eat Chiles
You’ve got to give the Aztecs credit for chipotles – they are the spicy, subtly smoky red jalapenos that give this recipe a super punch. The honey and cinnamon pair beautifully with the pork and serve to make for a lacquered brown on the outside of the chops. You are set here with spice for a very healthy entrée. I like these served with spiced steamed spinach and whipped sweet potatoes – special enough for company.
White Lasagna with Chicken, Artichokes, and Mushrooms
Tired of the same old lasagna? Try this wonderful white lasagna with chicken, artichokes, mushrooms, and an herbed white sauce. It's very earthy with a creamy texture and a hint of sweetness.
Helene Henderson's Chicken with Prosciutto and Gruyere Cheese with Apple-Pomegranate Relish
A Swedish favorite, falukorv is a lightly smoked, thick (two to three inches in diameter), boiled sausage, similar to ring bologna. This chicken recipe uses cheese, mustard, and apples to re-create the flavors of this classic sausage dish.
Michael Chiarello's Pea-And-Potato Ravioloni with Sage Brown Butter
Tender peas are typically the first spring vegetable to appear in Northern California. As much as we locals would like winter to be over, when peas arrive, we are still in a shoulder season between winter and spring. By pairing a winter-satisfying potato with the first kiss of spring, you and your guests will be able to celebrate both. - Michael Chiarello
Persian Chicken with Pomegranates, Pine Nuts, and Grapefruit Yogurt
This recipe is loosely based on the traditional Persian dish, Faisinjan. Classically made with duck or wild birds, this recipe uses the more available chicken. Pomegranates, pine nuts, and yogurt are all Middle Eastern staples whose flavors marry very well in this dish.
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Apple Chutney
Sometimes you just need good old comfort food. Pulled pork takes a long time to cook, but it's well worth the wait. Juicy, tender pork melts in your mouth. Rich, tangy barbecue sauce and spicy apple chutney create a wonderful taste sensation. Messy, fatty, and rich. Good stuff!
Cornbread Crusted Pork Chops with Spicy Peach & Corn Salsa
Don't throw away that leftover cornbread! Cornbread makes an excellent coating for meats. It has an earthy sweetness and crunchiness that is just sublime when fried. Freshly made cornbread is also suitable for this recipe. Peach and corn salsa make a wonderful accompaniment to this recipe for cornbread crusted pork chops. A variety of textures and flavors make this a true delight.
Sweet and Spicy Tomato Chicken
Here is a delightful recipe for roasted chicken that pairs the sweetness of ripe tomatoes and brown sugar with the smoky spiciness of chilies and jalapenos. It's also low fat. What could be better?
Blackened Salmon with Chipotle Squash Puree and Mang
A little spicy, a little sweet, this recipe combines some of my fall favorites. Fresh and earthy butternut squash pairs perfectly with salmon. Sweet, tangy mangos cut through the smoky, spicy chipotles to create a dish that is exciting and challenging yet well-balanced.
Susanna Foo's Roasted Five-Spice Pork Tenderloin
"Jalapeno peppers, coriander seeds, and five-spice powder give this marinade a lively fragrant note. It penetrates the meat, contributing character and a bold, sweet-tangy flavor. If I have fresh coriander seeds on hand, I use them in place of dried. Serve with Pickled Napa Cabbage or Cranberry-Ginger Relish." - Susanna Foo
Butternut Squash and Pear Ravioli with Rosemary Sauce
Ravioli doesn't have to be boring kid stuff. Try this wonderful combination of earthy and sweet flavors. It's sure to change your opinion of ravioli.
Herb Crusted Lamb Chops with Creamy Morel Potatoes
A wonderful lamb recipes that combines the brightness of fresh herbs with earthy morel mushrooms.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Broiled Peaches
Both tangy and sweet, here is a chicken dish that is sure to please.
Farmhouse Shrimp and Scallops with Pernod Cream Sauce
A rich and earthy dish with complex flavors, seafood and the farm combine here for a heavenly match.
Roasted Chicken with Mango Glaze
Succulent roasted chicken combines with fresh mangoes to create a Carribbean style dish in this easy to make recipe.

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