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.

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.

FAJITA CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• For the marinade: Combine the lemon, lime, cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt and garlic in a large bowl. Add the skirt steak and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge until your grill is preheated.
• Preheat a charcoal grill over medium-high heat.
• Toss the peppers and onions in a bowl with 2 tablespoons oil, salt and pepper, to taste. Grill the skirt steak and prepared vegetables until the steak is medium-rare and the veggies are tender and charred, about 5 minutes. (It'll cook further in the chimichangas.) Set aside on a plate or platter.
• For the salsa: Bring a pot of water to a boil and carefully add the tomatillos. Cook until the tomatillos begin to rupture, about 10 minutes. Drain, shock in an ice bath, and transfer to a blender. Add the jalapenos, garlic, cilantro and salt and pulse until incorporated. Transfer to a container, then cover and chill.
• For the tortillas: Mix the flour and 1/4 cup water together to form a paste. Lay the tortillas out and rub some of the paste over the top edges of the tortillas. Divide the meat and veggies in the lower thirds of the tortillas. Fold the sides in, then the bottoms. Roll up and allow to rest on the "glued" seal.
• Heat a deep-fryer or large Dutch oven with oil to 375 degrees F.
• Carefully lower the chimichangas in the hot oil and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Drizzle some of the crema on the bottom of a large platter. Top with the chimichangas, more crema, tomatillo salsa and cilantro.

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.

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.

CLAMS CASINO MAZEMEN

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, add the bacon and cook over medium-high heat until the bacon begins to brown, a couple of minutes. Add the garlic, shallots and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots have softened, about 5 minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer half of the bacon mixture to a medium bowl. Add the breadcrumbs and Parmesan to this same bowl. Stir to combine and set aside to use as topping later.
• Add the stock and wine to the saute pan with the remaining bacon mixture to deglaze, scraping up any cooked bits stuck to the bottom. Add the clams, then cover and cook until the clams begin to open, about 10 minutes. Push the clams to one side and add the ramen noodles, then cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3 minutes.
• Turn the broiler on.
• Pour the saucepan components into a 14-inch cast-iron pan and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top. Broil until the breadcrumbs are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Serve sprinkled with basil and red pepper flakes, if desired.