Sarah from Simply Cooked was our November Daring Cooks’ hostess and she challenged us to create something truly unique in both taste and technique! We learned how to cook using tea with recipes from Tea Cookbook by Tonia George and The New Tea Book by Sara Perry.
Okay so while I was tempted to mix the tea with pepsi I refrained. I know I have issues. Moving on. I am not a tea drinker so I rooted through a care package my sister had sent me. Luckily I scored some cool teas. She had sent me a bunch to try as I had bought a couple of real cool teapots when mini-me went through a short tea phase. I lucked out and found some fun teas. I had a hard time narrowing down what I wanted to use. The possibilities were endless. I could make so many things. So I did. I made two. Yup, like I said...issues.
First I made this:
Then later I made this:
Yup, issues.
So the steak I used Organic Darjeeling White Tea.
And for the chicken I used Organic Earl Grey.
Then I took a tea infused nap.
Yup, issues.
Okay so truth be told I didn't make them both the same day. I mean seriously I am not THAT crazy. Close but not quite there. Yet. I was going to make a third as I've been dying to try tea packets in the BBQ but it's freezing cold here so I quieted the voices in my head and stopped at two recipes.
Earl Grey Chicken:
Ingredients:
1 roasting chicken
1 earl grey tea pouch (is it called a pouch, I'm not clear on what to call it, perhaps a bag)
Water
Onion
Garlic
Salt
Directions:
Make up a pot of earl grey tea. Let it cool a bit.
Rinse your chicken.
Pat it dry.
Put it in a roasting pan or dutch oven. I used a dutch oven.
Stuff the onion and garlic inside the chicken cavity.
Toss some salt over it.
Now add the tea to the dutch oven.
Cover and place in a 375 degree oven and ignore for about an hour.
Uncover and baste. Cover again and ignore for about another hour.
Uncover and baste again. Cover and ignore for about 30 minutes.
Uncover and continue cooking for another 30 minutes. Try to find the energy to baste it a couple times. I know your worn out from ignoring the chicken but try to muster the energy to baste at least once.
Remove from oven.
Pull the garlic and onion out of the cavity.
Let stand for a little bit. (the bird, not the onion and garlic- you can discard those)
Carve.
Enjoy.
Tips and hints- My chicken was a huge arsey chicken so when doing yours plan for about 30 minutes per pound.
I know people say not to cover them but seriously buy a good dutch oven and you never need to pay attention to a chicken or roast again.
You could go all crazy and add all kinds of stuff but WHY!
And just to be kind find a nice way to cover the private areas. Both head and butt if possible. It's just good manners!
Darjeeling White Tea Flank Steak:
Ingredients:
Flank steak cut into 4 pieces
1 tea packet of darjeeling tea
Water
Directions:
Make a pot of darjeeling tea. Let cool.
Cut your flank steak into pieces. How ever many works for you.
Now marinate your steak in tea for about an hour.
Spray a broiler pan with non stick spray. I find lining the bottom section with tinfoil helpful. Makes cleanup super easy.
Now turn your broiler on in your oven.
Place your steaks on the broiler pan.
Stick it in your oven and watch the magic happen.
Broil each side for about 6 to 8 minutes.
Remove and place on a plate. Let stand for about 5 minutes.
Serve.
Tips and hints- You can marinate longer if you like. Or you can not marinate at all. Just dunk and cook.
You can do this on the BBQ, it was too cold here.
If it's too plain brush some BBQ sauce on it. We did just to jazz it up a bit.
Adjust your cooking time depending on how you like your steak done. Less time for rare. More time for well done.
You can use the leftovers for this:
Yup, I have issues. Stay tuned for the fajita recipe this weekend.
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Toodles and smoochies.xx
You're still awake ? hahahaha That roasted chicken looks really yummy ! Tea adds a distinct flavor and aroma to a dish ;)
ReplyDeleteI can only start to imagine the great taste of chicken meat prepared that way:)It looks delicious
ReplyDeleteFun with Earl Grey! It is surprising at the many ways you can use tea. It is not just for drinking.
ReplyDeleteThe chicken recipe is the stand out for me-awesome.
That roast chicken has my mouth watering. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteWould have never considered using tea for roasted chicken, but yours looks fabulous! Will have to give it a try soon!
ReplyDeleteI've never imagined cooking with tea before, but I can imagine what the bergamot smells and tastes like on that beautifully roasted chicken!
ReplyDeleteOh I looooove tea in my cooking process! This recipe sounds glorious, I'll definitely file it for later use!
ReplyDeleteWow. very cool recipes!
ReplyDeleteThat was a huge chicken. I honestly thought it was a turkey from the first picture. Fantastic use of teas though! I'm not a tea person either and had to raid Hubby's stash when I made the Earl Grey Peach Jam this summer. That's what tea lovers for though, providing ingredients when needed.
ReplyDeleteThat chicken has such a nice color. My Dutch oven is my new best friend. It makes the best roast meat and poultry.
ReplyDeleteI've never cooked with Earl Gray tea before, but it's a great idea. Love the photo of the Hasselback potato!
ReplyDeleteKim...you did a GREAT job on that challenge! I have yet to use tea in any cooking or baking..(except to drink it when I am cooking or baking!)...but you have me inspired! They both look so good!
ReplyDeleteUs asians in asia use tea to smoke the chickens (not get the chickens to smoke, like pot, no, never did that either). Makes an interesting roast too. I should try this dunk chicken in tea method, sounds alot easier ... all that ignoring sounds good to me!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool way to roast chicken! Never even would have thought to use earl grey tea! I really want to try this chicken now!
ReplyDeleteWow, Kim those look terrific! I am not a fan of tea, but honey bunny LOVES tea. However, I bet the flavors it gives to meat is incredible! Thanks for sharing and your pictures are terrific!
ReplyDeleteI love the deep dark color the the tea give the chicken. The steak looks good too. We wouldn't have had any leftovers! Great work for someone who doesn't like tea.
ReplyDeleteJust opened my eyes like 30 minutes ago and now I am looking at your OMG bird up there..and wondering is it a food crime to wish it for breakfast :)))))) Beautiful post Kim!!!
ReplyDeleteAh, roasting in tea sounds like a brilliant way to cook chicken. And isn't roasting so wonderful - you have to do so little! I am impressed by your two inventive recipes. Thanks so much for taking part this month.
ReplyDeleteI think it sounds great. Honestly! I've been thinking of doing Tea Smoked Duck out of Mark Bittman's cookbook so this really appeals to me.
ReplyDeleteOkay I am behind on my responses it's ridiculous. I am reading them folks. Just a crazy week this week. So here goes. Tackling you all at once. Not literally, cuz that would hurt a little bit.
ReplyDelete@Anne- I seem to always be awake. It's a sad state of affairs. I need professional help I think. Lol. Thanks so much. I was so happy with this one. I was terrified it would be bad so it was nice to be wrong.
@Dzoli- Okay I still say I am loving the new profile pic. You are gorgeous. Okay so now back to the chicken. It was so good. I was so happy with the taste. Would use tea again in a heartbeat.
@Tina- I love that. Fun with Earl Grey. Cracked me right up. Thanks so much, the chicken was definitely a hit.
@Pretend Chef- That is high praise and I will take it. Thanks.
@Kels- You must test it out. So much flavour. We loved it.
@The Kitchen Noob- Oh my you are so right. My kitchen smelled like a dream. Funny how that can just brighten your mood.
@Kiri- I hope you try it. It is so worth all the effort of ignoring the chicken. Lol!
@Grubarazzi- Thanks so much!
@The Mom Chef- It was HUGE! I get mine from a local guy I trust completely. I buy them twice a year and freeze them. Best chicken I've ever used. I was lucky my sis sent some. I always think I like tea but I never drink it. I am a hot chocolate gal. I know you don't like chocolate right.
@Kristen- Oh man I love mine. I ended up buying a second one that was bigger. They came on sale locally for 70% off so I scored a deal. My first one was a gift from my son for Christmas. Best gift ever. I covet the le creuset but so cannot afford one. I love roast in it.
@Cucina- Thank you. It was fun. I love trying new things. Those hasslebacks will be on the blog this week. Did a really neat experiment with them.
@Anne- You must try. I bet you could do something incredible with it. You always blow my mind.
@ping- I now have this weird picture in my head of chickens dressed in kimonos smoking pot. Not cool! Oy, where my mind goes some days. I am dying to try the tea smoke packets. They featured them in a magazine and I saved the info as it sparked my interest. But it's so cold I don't want to go outside to BBQ! And I am the queen of ignoring. I had to invent ways to go riding and still have dinner so I learned some tricks. Lol!
@Stephanie- I hope you try it. It is really cool.
Ann- Thank you my dear. I love these challenges. It forces me to step outside my comfort zone which is refreshing.
@Lynne- Lol, they only reason we did was the kids weren't overly hungry that day. Plus I made a ton. That steak was huge. So were the potatoes. They are mutant size.
@Sandra- I say bird for brekkie is perfect. Go for it. Lol. And thanks. You are so sweet.
@sarah- I had so much fun Sarah. These challenges are a hoot. I just need to start remembering to share them with the group. I was terrified to post in the forum as I am technology challenged most days. Glad I figured it out. Looking forward to the next one.
@Carolyn- Oh that sounds brilliant. You should really do it. You would knock it out of the park. I gave a friend of mine your blog info. We went for lunch the other day and she is pre-diabetes as well. Has trouble finding recipes she can make. All mine are too high carb for her. So hope she pops by and uses yours.
Wow, that Earl Grey tea chicken looks amazing! The skin is perfectly browned. I've never thought to cook chicken with tea, it's an intriguing concept!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! That chicken looks AMAZING! So yummy & the color is fabulous. You picked one of my favorite teas, Earl Grey :)
ReplyDeleteTori- Thank you my dear. I love roast chicken of any kind. One of my top 10 meals for sure. Usually it's the first thing I request for my birthday.
ReplyDeleteThippi- I am not a tea gal but sure kicks butt on chicken!