Tuna and Mango Chutney

This past Tuesday evening, I dined with some friends originally from Argentina. They are both from Buenos Aires (right across the shore from where I grew up in Montevideo, Uruguay on the River Plate). The conversation turned to past and present Latin American politics, yiddish culture and religious life. Not only was the conversation great, so were the food and wine…

We started the meal with a superb fish appetizer covered with a nice spicy and sweet chutney… She graciously emailed me the recipe and a photo this morning:

Photo by: Mrs. Lea Bronshtain

Tuna with Mango Chutney

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup rum
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 lb tuna steak
• 1/2 cup crushed corn flakes
• 1 small dried chilli pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 3 tablespoons olive oil.

Mango Chutney

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 6 cups mangoes (4 to 5), peeled and cut in 3/4-inch pieces
  
• 1 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 cupginger, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, whole
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes (hot)

(Mrs. Bronshtain makes the chutney once a year and uses it as needed. Bottled in a disinfected jar it can keep on aging for a long, long time.)

• 1/2 yellow pepper, diced
• 1 plum tomato diced
• chopped cilantro for garnish

Directions

1. In a bowl mix soy sauce, rum and orange juice. Marinate tuna in mixture in refrigerator for 3 hours while covered.
2. In a second bowl mix corn flakes, chilli pepper, chilli powder, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper and cilantro.
3. Remove tuna from marinade. Pat cereal mixture tightly on fish to coat on all sides.
4. In a pan, sear fish in hot oil for 2 minutes on each side.
5. Mix the chutney with the yellow pepper and plum tomato, top fish with this mixture. Garnish with cilantro.

Directions for Mango Chutney

1. Combine sugar and vinegar in a 6 quart pot; bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
2. Add remaining ingredients and simmer, uncovered, until syrupy and slightly thickened, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Stir occasionally during cooking.
3. Pour into clean, hot jars leaving 1/2-inch space to the top; close jars. Process in a water bath for 15 minutes.

Yields 6 (1/2 pint) jars.

We followed this appetizer with a butternut squash soup, braised short ribs, and a Café Brulé. During the meal we had a well decanted Flecha de Los Andes Gran Malbec 2006 from Argentina (of course!). It is a deep colored wine, with black plum, pepper and licorice, floral notes and a barely perceptible chocolate hint; on the palate it’s well balanced, rich with plum, espresso, pepper and licorice, and leaves you with a long finish. A truly memorable meal!

Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!

CS

Sukkot Wine Pairing

[I have the pleasure of introducing you to my good friend Jeff Ingber. He lives in Providence, RI. A trained Chef and graduate from Johnson and Wales in RI, one of America’s top culinary schools, Jeff graciously agreed to share his menus and pairings. CS]

Rosh Hashanah is behind us and most of us Jewish households here in the North East are preparing to dine “al fresco” for a week, while enjoying good company in the Sukkah.  The change in temperature and the observance of the holiday offer us a chance to snuggle up to some bigger and bolder wines on these cooler nights. For over 20 years now here in Providence, people have long anticipated seeing and tasting what wine gems would be served in my Sukkah.

At the beginning of the Israeli Wine Revolution, I was still a student in college. I remember traveling to New Jersey on Sundays to pick up as many varietals of Kosher Wine I could get my hands on, at a store in Teaneck. I would arrive at 11:00am and the clerk would remind me that I could not complete a purchase until after 12:00 in Bergen County. I do not think she knew I had just driven 175 miles and 10 more minutes would not kill me.

Today, I manage a small Wine Store that is located inside my children’s school.  Yes, that is not a typo.  We are the largest retailer of kosher wine in Southern New England.  We carry over 100 labels and sell over 500 cases a year.

This morning I reviewed my menus to ensure some great pairings.

I am not a huge fan of wasting print with personal reviews. It is too refined a process for me.

I have become a huge fan of kosher wines coming out of Spain and Argentina.  Israel is running right behind them.  I try to do my pairing at this time of year with those countries offerings in mind so here goes.

Over the next 1o days or so I will be serving the following:

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Chorizo and Jicama……….. Elvi Adar (Spain)

Arugula Salad with Sweet Potato Crisps and Dried Cranberries……….. Capçanes Peraj Petita (Spain)

Grilled Asparagus with Roasted Garlic Slivers……….. Arco Nuevo Shiraz (Argentina) $9.

Garlic Soup……….. I must say, this is a good time for my favorite Bourbon.  (Willet’s or W. H Harrison)

Jeff Ingber showing one of his catches

Black Sea Bass Ceviche (I catch it myself)……….. Barkan Classic Pinotage OR Carmel Shaal Gewürztraminer  (Israel)

Grilled Southwestern Style Salmon……….. Flecha De Los Andes Gran Malbec (Argentina)

Chicken with Apple and Fig Chutney……….. Or Haganuz Amukah (Israel)

Chicken with Roasted Sweet Chilies and Cilantro……….. Segal’s Single Vineyard, Dovev, Merlot (Israel)

I know , this is a wine Blog not a food blog but it is important to know what we are pairing with here.

There are many other super wines for the season.   Wines from the Dalton Winery like their Shiraz or Tepperberg Meritage a big and bold are just the thing on these cooler nights to keep your senses on high alert. Other great wines like Bynyamina’s Yogev  Cabernet Zinfandel blend or Binyamina Choshen label Ruby Syrah are dancing with a mouthful of Mediterranean flavors of mineral dark fruit.  Elvi’s EL26 Priorat and Ramon  Cordova Rioja remind you that you can sit in the sukkah with tapas, fine wine and great friends for a night under the stars. And, as my wife walks by and takes a look at my musings, she reminds me that Baron Herzog’s Late Harvest Chenin Blanc is her favorite accompaniment to fresh berries and custard. These wines are all in the $7.00 t0 $28.00 range, except for the bourbons which are around $40.00 Everyone can get in on the season of rejoicing!!!

Jeff Ingber