Tan Recipes

CHINESE WONTONS

Steps:

• Combine pork, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and vegetables in a bowl.
• Separate wonton skins.
• Place a heaping teaspoon of filling in the center of the wonton.
• Brush water on 2 borders of the skin, covering 1/4 inch from the edge.
• Fold skin over to form a triangle, sealing edges.
• Pinch the two long outside points together.
• Heat oil to 450 degrees and fry 4 to 5 at a time until golden.
• Drain and serve with sauce.

TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, place the flours, sugar and butter. Pulse 5 or 6 times in 1/2-second bursts to break up the butter. Add the shortening, turn on the machine and immediately add the ice water, pulsing 2 or 3 times. The dough should look like a mass of smallish lumps and should just hold together in a mass when a handful is pressed together. If the mixture is too dry, pulse in more water by droplets.
• Turn the dough out onto the work surface and with the heel of your hand, rapidly and roughly push egg-size blobs into a 6-inch smear. Gather the dough into a relatively smooth cake, wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 2 hours (or up to 2 days).
• Slice the halved apples into 4 lengthwise wedges each, and toss in a large bowl with the lemon juice and zest and 1/2 cup sugar. Drain the apples after macerating 20 minutes.
• In a 9-inch skillet melt the butter over high heat. Stir in the remaining sugar and cook until the syrup bubbles and caramelizes, and turns a brown color. Remove the pan from the heat and arrange a layer of apple slices in a neat pattern on the caramel in the skillet, then arrange the remaining apples neatly on top.
• Return the pan to moderately high heat and cook for about 25 minutes, covering the pan after 10 minutes. Every few minutes press down on the apples and baste them with the exuded juices. When the juices are thick and syrupy, remove the pan from the heat.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a circle, 3/16-inch thick and 1-inch larger than the top of the pan. Drape the dough over the apples, pressing the edge of the dough between the apples and the inside of the pan. Cut 4 small steam holes on the top of the dough. Bake until the pastry has browned and crisped, about 20 minutes.
• Unmold the tart onto a serving dish (so the pastry is on the bottom), and serve warm or cold with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, as desired.

BLACK AND TAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Fill a pint glass halfway with the pale ale.
• Float the Guinness on top by slowly pouring it over the back of a spoon to fill the glass. Serve and enjoy.

TAN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the balsamic vinegar, brown sugar and black pepper. Taste and adjust sugar and vinegar to your personal preference. Add the apples, and stir to coat.

SPICY TAN TAN SOUP (TANTANMEN OR DAN DAN NOODLES)

Steps:

• Heat sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat; add doubanjiang. Cook and stir shallots, garlic, and ginger until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add ground pork; cook and stir until browned, about 3 minutes.
• Mix soy sauce, tahini, sake, miso paste, and tianmianjiang into pork mixture until evenly combined. Add chicken stock; bring to a boil. Mix rice vinegar and rayu into pork mixture; add spinach. Simmer soup over low heat for 10 minutes.
• Put noodles in a bowl of hot water to separate; drain. Mix noodles into soup and garnish with green onions and Thai chile peppers.

TAN TAN NOODLES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, with heavy bottom, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes, or until they begin to turn golden brown. Watch carefully so they don't overcook. Add sesame oil, chili oil and the black beans. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the green onions and cook 2 minutes. Stir in the chili paste, tamari and stir to create a smooth sauce. Add the peanut butter and tahini, again stirring to create smoth paste. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. If you want a really thick sauce, add an additional TBSP of peanut butter and tahini.
• Add the broth slowly and reduce the heat to low. Let the sauce simmer for a min of 15 minutes, as the flavors need to blend, and the broth thicken. Taste for spiciness - add more chili paste and chili oil if you want more heat. Saute ground beef, and when it is cooked through, spoon in some of the tan tan sauce and heat until liquid has been absorbed.
• The sauce can be made 24 hours ahead of time; cover and refridgerate. Just before serving, bring back to temperature, but don't boil.
• To serve: Place cooked noodles into individual serving bowls, top with beef, green onions, cilantro and peanuts. Ladle sauce over top.

DAN DAN NOODLES

Steps:

• To make the chili oil: In a small pot, add the Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon stick, star anise, and oil. Over medium low heat, slowly heat to 325 degrees, and then turn off the heat. Wait 6 - 7 minutes, then remove the peppercorns, cinnamon stick, and star anise with a slotted spoon. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and allow them to steep in the hot oil. It should start smelling fragrant, almost like popcorn. Allow the oil to cool. This makes more chili oil than you'll need, but you'll be glad to have it on hand for use in other dishes. Store in a glass jar and keep refrigerated.
• To make the meat mixture: In a wok, heat a teaspoon of oil over medium heat, and brown the ground pork. Add the sweet bean sauce, shaoxing wine, dark soy sauce, and five spice powder. Cook until all the liquid is evaporated. Set aside. Heat the other 2 teaspoons of oil in the wok over medium heat, and sautee the sui mi ya cai (pickled vegetables) for a few minutes. Set aside.
• To make the sauce: Mix together all the sauce ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning if you like. You can loosen it with more hot water, add more Sichuan peppercorn powder, etc.
• To prepare the noodles and veggies: Cook the noodles according to package directions and drain. Blanch the greens in the noodle water, and drain.
• Divide the sauce among six bowls (or four if you want larger servings), followed by the noodles and the leafy greens. Add the cooked pork and sui mi ya cai over the top. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts (optional) and scallions.
• Mix everything together and enjoy!

CLASSIC BLACK AND TAN

Steps:

• Pour the pale ale into a pint glass. Lay a spoon upside-down over the mouth of the glass and slowly pour the Guinness over the back of the spoon. (Pouring this way slows the flow of the Guinness so that it floats atop the pale ale.) Do not stir.