Spicy Surf N Turf Trio Recipes

SPICY SURF-AND-TURF

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
• Sprinkle the chicken, flank steak and shrimp with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• Grill the flank steak to the desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium. Add it to the platter with the chicken.
• Grill the shrimp until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Add them to the platter.
• Grill the scallions until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Add them to the platter.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the tomatoes, garlic and onions. Cook until the onions are golden, about 8 minutes. Add the oregano, cumin, bouillon, sugar and chiles. Stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup water to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the chiles are soft, 2 minutes. Let the mixture cool slightly. Transfer the mixture to a blender, add 1 cup water and blend until smooth. Strain the sauce into a medium bowl.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the same saucepan over medium heat. Return the sauce to the pan and simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place 2 molcajetes (see Cook's Note) in the oven and heat them for 10 minutes (or use 2 small to medium cast-iron skillets). Using oven mitts, remove them from the oven and carefully transfer them to a heatproof surface (be careful, as the molcajetes get extremely hot).
• Bring the sauce to a boil. Cut the chicken and flank steak into 3/4-inch-wide strips. Arrange the chicken and steak strips, shrimp, scallions and cheese slices around the edges of the heated molcajetes. Pour the boiling sauce into the center. Serve very hot, with tortillas to make tacos.

SURF AND TURF DINNER FOR TWO

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to broil.
• Lightly grease the left third of an 18-by-13-inch sheet pan with the butter.
• Mix the Parmesan, heavy cream, thyme, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl. Add the potatoes and toss to coat.
• Arrange the potatoes in even overlapping layers on the buttered part of the sheet pan. Pour whatever cream mixture remains in the bowl on top. Sprinkle evenly with the Gruyere.
• Brush oil on both sides of the steak and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Put the steak on the middle third of the sheet pan. Broil for 5 minutes to begin browning the potatoes and steak. Meanwhile, put the shrimp scampi in a 1 1/2-quart oval baking dish.
• Remove the sheet pan from the oven, lower the oven to 450 degrees F and put the baking dish with the shrimp on the right third of the sheet pan next to the steak. Return the sheet pan to the oven and bake, stirring the shrimp halfway through, until the shrimp are cooked and the steak registers 135 degrees F for medium-rare, 16 to 18 minutes.
• Remove the steak to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve the steak with the potatoes, shrimp scampi, spinach salad and bread for sopping up the flavorful juices.

SURF 'N TURF PAELLA

Steps:

• Cook rice in a large pot of generously salted boiling water, as you would cook pasta, until it is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, season each side of the steak with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and spray the steak with nonstick spray. Add the steak and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Flip and continue cooking on the other side until browned, 5 minutes more. Transfer the cooked steak to a plate and let rest.
• Heat the oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, onion, and bell pepper. Cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, broken spaghetti, chicken broth, and saffron and cook until the pasta is cooked through, 8 minutes. Drain the rice and add to the pot along with the peas. Stir until warm. Arrange the shrimp on top of the rice, cover and let shrimp steam until shrimp is just cooked through and pink, about 3 minutes.
• While the shrimp cooks, slice steak against the grain into 1/4-inch thick slices. Lay over the paella. Remove from the heat. Scatter cilantro and olives over the top and serve warm from the pan.