If you’re one of the 80 million people in America who have an Air Fryer, then this episode is for you! Chef Amy Barnes with Scottsdale Culinary Center share the most amazing ways she tackles Italy by Air! Her tips for meal prepping your air fryer meals are invaluable and so are her recipes!
arugula
Everything Crusted Salmon
Salmon, much like chicken, is one of those foods that end up in our regular rotation of favorite dishes. Like chicken, we’re always looking for new ways to prepare it. This recipe is served family style with a beautiful herb encrusted salmon on one side of the platter and a light and hearty salad on the other. The boost of spicy flavor for this recipe comes from harissa, a smoky, peppery red chile paste often used in Middle Eastern cooking. Harissa is incredibly versatile, and is used often in marinades, dips dressings, soups and stews. There are two versions of harissa; powder and paste. For this recipe, the paste works best, and can be found in most grocery stores and specialty shops like Trader Joe’s and even in the food section of Target. The big question is always; do you cook salmon with skin on or off? My preference is to leave the skin on. (If you prefer it off, it’s easier to remove after the salmon is cooked.) Skin on provides some delicious advantages. First, the skin holds the piece of salmon together as at cooks. Second, it provides a tremendous flavor, especially when it’s cooked crisp. Lastly, salmon skin is loaded with nutrients. Throw it away, and you’re missing out on some real goodness for your body. Finally, the Everything Bagel seasoning makes the Everything Crusted Salmon the perfect meal for dinner this week!
Cowboy Stetson Chopped Salad
Chopped Salads are a huge trend right now, and a refreshing way to eat during these excruciating hot summer months. So I decided to pay homage to the chopped salad that has been called “The Most Photographed Dish in the Valley.” The Cowboy Stetson Chopped Salad has become so iconic that some Arizonans refer to this colorful array of greens as the “State Salad of Arizona.” It originated 27 years at Cowboy Ciao in Old Town Scottsdale which closed its doors in 2018.
I love this salad. Frankly, I love just about any salad that has bite-sized pieces that you can eat with a fork instead of a knife and fork. I also appreciate the mixture of ingredients in the Cowboy Stetson, because for me it’s all about color and crunch. The dressing is fantastic especially if you make your own pesto sauce. (In my opinion, there’s nothing worse than a shelf-stable jar of pesto.)
Salads will always be a staple for light and healthful eating, but you’ll certainly be “bucking” the trend with the Cowboy Stetson Chopped Salad!
Garden Churkey Burger
The Story
You’re looking for something yummy and a little different for your Memorial Day menu. You’re trying to eat lighter. You’re craving a burger. You’ve come to the right place! How about a Churkey Burger? It’s a delicious combination of ground turkey and chicken (no, it’s not redundant… really!) with moistness and flavor added to the mixture from pesto, onion, and crushed red pepper. Then, once it is grilled to perfection, top it with avocado, sliced tomato, onion, arugula, and your favorite cheese. Your craving is about to be satisfied! So why use both ground turkey and ground chicken? You could certainly use just one or the other – they’re pretty much equal in calories, fat, and protein. But while turkey has a nice flavor, it tends to be a bit dry. Chicken, it seems, has a little more moisture and it acts more like ground beef when mixed together with other ingredients for patties. Add the pesto for even more moisture, and the Churkey Burger becomes a hearty and satisfying alternative to the usual burger fare. Now here’s a tip for a delicious condiment for your Churkey Burger: if you have some leftover pesto, let it drain through a sieve to get most of the olive oil out. Place the pesto in a bowl, add a little mayonnaise, and stir. It makes a wonderful slather on your bread and the perfect complement to the burger. Dive in and enjoy!
