Alton Red Sauce Recipes

CHICKEN PARM

Steps:

• Cut the butterflied and pounded breasts into 6 to 8 even pieces. Season with the salt on both sides and place on a rack set inside a sheet pan (technically we use "half" sheet pans for this). Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Combine the breadcrumbs, potato chips, oregano, parsley and garlic powder in a gallon zip-top bag and crush into a course meal.
• Set up a breading station with three loaf pans: place the flour in the first pan, the beaten eggs in the second, and the breadcrumb mixture in the third. Set a clean wire rack inside a sheet pan to hold the breaded pieces.
• Unwrap the chicken and blot well with paper towels then dredge the chicken first in the flour (shake off the excess), then dip in the beaten eggs (again, drain the excess), and finally coat with the breadcrumbs before placing on the rack.
• Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven and crank the broiler to high. Line a clean pan with paper towels and have it standing by.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in an 11-inch sauté pan over medium heat. When the butter foams, add half the breaded chicken to the pan, but don't overcrowd. Cook, undisturbed, until crisp and golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the clean rack, wipe out the pan and repeat with the remaining butter, oil and chicken.
• Spread 3/4 cup of the red sauce into the bottom of a a 9-by-13-inch broiler-safe baking dish or pan and broil until the sauce bubbles and begins to caramelize, about 2 minutes.
• Remove the dish from the oven and arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer. Dot the chicken with the remaining red sauce, leaving bare spots to retain some crispy bits. Scatter the fontina and mozzarella over the sauce.
• Return to the broiler until the cheese is bubbly and beginning to brown, about 1 minute to 1 minute and 30 seconds.
• Garnish with chopped flat-leaf parsley.
• Work the garlic, salt and 1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil together with a mortar and pestle until a paste forms.
• Heat the remaining 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic paste and cook, stirring, until it begins to brown, about 2 minutes.
• Add the anchovies and the red pepper flakes and cook until the anchovies begin to break down, about 1 minute. (I usually use the back of a wooden spoon to crush the anchovies.)
• Add the tomatoes and break them up with the back of the spoon then submerge the Parmesan rind in the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, until the sauce is almost dry, about 1 hour.
• Discard the Parmesan rind or feed it to the dog. Use the sauce immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge. (See Cook's Note.)

ALFREDO SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add cream and simmer for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cheese and whisk quickly, heating through. Stir in parsley and serve.

ALTON BROWN'S RED SAUCE

Steps:

• In a sieve over a medium non-reactive sauce pot, strain the tomatoes of their juice into the sauce pot. Add the sherry vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, oregano and basil to the tomato juice. Stir and cook over high heat. Once bubbles begin to form on the surface, reduce to a simmer. Allow liquid to reduce by 1/2 to a thickened, loose syrup consistency.
• Squeeze each tomato thoroughly to ensure most seeds are removed. Set the tomatoes aside.
• Cut the carrot, onion and celery into uniform sizes and combine with olive oil and garlic in a non-reactive roasting pan over low heat. Sweat the vegetables until the carrots are tender and the onions become translucent, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the tomatoes and capers.
• Place the roasting pan on the middle rack of the oven and broil for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. The tomatoes should start to brown slightly on the edges with light caramelization.
• Remove the pan from the broiler. Place the pan over 2 burners on the stove. Add the white wine to the tomatoes and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes over medium heat.
• Put the tomato mixture into a deep pot or bowl and add the reduced tomato liquid. Blend to desired consistency with a stick blender and adjust the seasoning to taste.

ALTON - RED SAUCE

Steps:

• In a sieve over a medium non-reactive saucepot, strain the tomatoes of their juice into the sauce pot. Add the sherry vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, oregano, and basil to the tomato juice. Stir and cook over high heat. Once bubbles begin to form on the surface, reduce to a simmer. Allow liquid to reduce by 1/2 or until liquid has thickened to a loose syrup consistency. Squeeze each tomato thoroughly to ensure most seeds are removed. Set the tomatoes aside.
• Cut carrot, onion, and celery into uniform sizes and combine with olive oil and garlic in a non-reactive roasting pan over low heat. Sweat the mirepoix until the carrots are tender and the onion becomes translucent, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the tomatoes and capers to the roasting pan.
• Place roasting pan on the middle rack of the oven and broil for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Tomatoes should start to brown slightly on edges with light caramelization. Remove the pan from the broiler. Place the pan over 2 burners on the stove. Add the white wine to the tomatoes and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes over medium heat. Put the tomatoes into a deep pot or bowl and add the reduced tomato liquid to the tomatoes. Blend to desired consistency and adjust seasoning