Appetizer Archives - Poor Man's Gourmet Kitchen

Miso Soup

The Best Miso Soup

I love Japanese food and my wife and I order sushi quite often but one thing I like to get, as an appetizer, is Miso Soup. If you don’t don’t know what Miso is, I can tell you that it’s a Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and kōji and sometimes rice, barley, seaweed or other ingredients. There’s several different varieties of Miso but the most common are white and red. I’ll be demonstrating how to make Miso Soup using the red Miso and I’m going to show you how to make a soup with the most basic ingredients,Tofu and Green Onions.

Dashi ingredients, Kombu and Katsuobushi.

Dashi Fish Broth

Most soups are made from broths or stalks and this recipe is no different. The broth that needs to be prepared for this Miso Soup recipe is called Dashi and it’s really easy to make. All you have to do is combine Kombu(dried Kelp) and katsuobushi(bonito flakes or dehydrated Skip Jack Tuna) with boiling water and let it steep, like tea, for 10 minutes. If you don’t know what these ingredients are or where to find them, you can go to any Asian market and ask the attendants. I buy them both dehydrated and I just reconstitute them with the boiling water. The water absorbs the flavor, like tea, and creates the broth called Dashi. Then, all you have to do is strain the broth to make the Miso Soup.

Be sure to try my Red Sauce Wonton and my Wonton Soup Recipe.

Extra firm Tofu and fresh chopped Green Onions.

Tofu and Green Onions

As I mentioned above, there are several different varieties of Miso and there are also several different Miso Soups. If fact, eventually I want to show you how to make a spicy Beef Ramen Miso Soup that I think is just amazing but I’ve got to teach you the basics first so you understand recipe like that one, later. So today I’m going to teach you how to make a Miso Soup with Tofu and Green Onions.

Miso Soup Ingredients:

2 cups dashi
1 Green Onions, chopped
4 oz Tofu, Extra Firm
3 Tbsp miso

Dashi
4 cups water
1 oz kombu (dried kelp)
1 cup katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) (1 loose cups = 10 g)

Just watch the video tutorial and I’ll show you just how easy it is to make Dashi and this Tofu and Green Onion Miso Soup.

Armadillo Eggs

The Best Armadillo Eggs

This Armadillo Eggs recipe is a cross between 3 recipes I previously posted; my Jalapeno Poppers, Scotch Eggs and my Cheese Bombers. In fact, these are a lot like Potato bombs too. But, basically, you end up with a jalapeno popper that’s wrapped in sausage, bacon and baked to perfection. This recipe is fun and it can be baked or grilled and served as an appetizer, side dish or even as the main course.

Whole Jalapeno Peppers for Armadillo Eggs.

How to make the Armadillo Eggs

Normally, Armadillo Eggs are made whole, meaning one whole pepper is usually stuffed then wrapped with sausage and bacon. I like to cut them in half, instead, then wrap the peppers and I show you how to do both in the video tutorial. I also like to season the cream cheese filling with a few ingredients that make these poppers taste better. Fill each pepper half with cream cheese, then all you have to do is flatten out a few ounces of raw ground sausage and wrap the entire pepper. Then wrap with 2 pieces of bacon for each one and bake over a cookie or baking sheet with a wire rack.

If you don’t want the skin on your hands to burn all night, I recommend that you wear gloves.

Oven Baked or Grilled Armadillo Eggs

Over all, these Armadillo Eggs take about a half hour to cook, in the oven. On an open grill, you’re probably looking at upwards of 30 to 45 minutes of grilling. It really just depends on your heat and/or if the lid is open or closed. Usually, a good rule of thumb is to just cook and turn until the bacon is crispy on all sides.

Armadillo Eggs – Jalapeno Poppers/Scotch Eggs – poormansgourmet

Armadillo Eggs Ingredients:

3 to 6 Jalapeno Peppers
1 lb Sausage
1 lb Bacon
1 pkg Cream Cheese
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
Salt and Pepper to taste

Be sure to watch the short video tutorial and bake the Armadillo Eggs at 400° Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes on each side.

Buffalo Chicken Wings

The Best Buffalo Chicken Wings

I can honestly say that these are the best Buffalo Chicken Wings that I have ever made and I would put them against any restaurant’s recipe and feel confident that they’d hold their own. They’re succulent, tender, very juicy with a great texture and the Buffalo sauce is amazing. The best part is that they’re really easy to make, too.

12 Raw Chicken Wings cut into 24 pieces including the drum and flats.

My Buffalo Chicken Wings secret

One of the smartest things you can do for your Buffalo Chicken Wings is add Brining. I show you how to do this in my Grilled Chipotle Chicken Wings recipe and it makes all the difference in the world. The video tutorial in that recipe also shows you how to easily cut the wings into drum and flat portions. I recommend that you take a look at if you’re needing to freshen up on your butchery skills. Plus someone told me that they won a wing competition using my recipe so, it really might be worth your while. And my Wasabi Chicken Wings are to die for, just sayin’!

My homemade Blue Cheese Dressing is perfect for dipping Buffalo Chicken Wings.

Brining is just a simple process of adding more flavor to the meat that otherwise wouldn’t be there. I just use a simple salt water brine that keeps the poultry juicy through every bite. I also toss the wings in potato starch and give them a light dusting to add texture to the skin after the wings are fried. You can use corn starch instead, if that’s all you have. My secret ingredient in the sauce is my Blackened Seasoning recipe and it takes this recipe to a whole new level. Also, if dipping is your thing, you should try my Blue Cheese Dressing recipe. I guarantee, it’ll be the best you’ve ever tried.

Buffalo Chicken Wings video tutorial by PMGK.

Buffalo Chicken Wings Ingredients:

12 Wings, cut into drums and flats(24 peices in all)

Brine
1 Qt Water
1/4 Cup Salt

1 cup Potato or Corn Starch, for dusting

Sauce
1/4 cup Butter
1/4 cup Hot Sauce
1 tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Blackened Seasoning

Watch the video tutorial and deep fry room temperature wings for 14 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Ladle and add 3 oz of sauce per 8 Buffalo Chicken Wings.