Spherified Picklebacks Recipes

PICKLEBACK SHOTS

Steps:

• Cut each pickle in half across the equator. Use an apple corer, melon baller or the tip of a small knife to hollow out the interior of each pickle half, leaving an 1/8-inch-thick border of pickle intact. Slice the closed end of each pickle shot glass just enough to make it sit flat. Be sure not to cut too deep and create a hole in the shot glass.
• Fill each pickle shot glass with 1 tablespoon of bourbon. Serve immediately.

SPHERIFIED PICKLEBACKS

Steps:

• Combine pickle brine, calcium lactate and xanthan gum in a bowl until thoroughly blended. Strain, then allow to sit, refrigerated, until bubbles dissipate, about 15 minutes.
• Fill mini half-sphere candy molds with the solution to just below the brim, about 85 percent full. Freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
• Combine 1500 grams water with the sodium alginate in a bowl using an immersion blender until thoroughly blended. Strain, then allow to sit, refrigerated, until bubbles dissipate, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer the sodium alginate bath to a microwaveable container and microwave until warm, about 30 seconds.
• Use a slotted spoon to place the frozen pickle half spheres into the brine until they thaw, about 30 minutes.
• Pour six 1.5-ounce shots of whiskey in shot glasses and serve pickle spheres on the side.

JAPANESE PICKLEBACK

Steps:

• Pour the whisky and soy sauce into a liquor glass, pour a side shot of pickle brine and serve with a pickle wedge. Sip or shoot the whisky, then immediately after swallowing, sip or shoot the pickle brine and then take a bite of the pickle wedge.

JEN'S CLASSIC PICKLEBACK

Steps:

• Fill a shot glass with the whiskey and another one with the pickle juice. Serve the whiskey with the pickle juice as a chaser.

DUSK BREAST CROSTINI

Steps:

• For the duck: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Trim excess fat from along the sides of the duck breasts. Using a sharp knife, score the skin in a crosshatch pattern. Season with salt and pepper and place skin-side down in a cast-iron skillet. Turn heat to low and cook until skin begins to crisp, about 10 to 12 minutes. Flip and transfer to the oven to continue to cook, about 10 minutes. Remove the duck breasts from the skillet and set aside to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
• For the sauce: Pour off some of the duck fat from the skillet and put the pan over a medium flame. Add the shallots, thyme sprigs, and marmalade. Cook until aromatic and slightly reduced, about 4 minutes. Discard sprigs.
• For the baguette: Brush baguette slices with oil and bake until light brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
• To assemble, slice duck breast on the bias into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place a duck slice on a toasted baguette. Drizzle a spoonful of sauce on top. Garnish with a few thyme leaves and serve.