Doin' Some Cookin'... Kimchi Fries

I'm a food truck junkie and happened to stumble upon Chi'lantro BBQ here in Houston, Texas one weekend downtown. Ordered their tacos and kimchi fries. While the tacos were good the kimchi fries were ah!mazing!! Absolutely crave worthy!!

One afternoon a craving hit for their fries after coming across a blog post about the top Houston food trucks and their food truck made the list. I'm always down for any excuse to get out of the house, especially to satisfy a craving, however, it was rainy and cold. I do not like to weather the poor drivers here in poor driving conditions. So I went without.

While the fries baked in the oven I crisped up some bacon and caramelized the kimchi. Making this was torture. It smelled so good and looked fantastic. Each component on it's own is divine.

Whenever trying a new recipe I like to have a back up dinner plan, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Little Man are always on hand. Tonight, I stopped at JoJo's Asian Bistro and picked up some... knowing I had a Plan B just in case these fries didn't turn out.

But they turned out amazing and worth the time spent cutting my own fries.

... and I am so excited to share this recipe with you.

These kimchi fries make for the perfect movie snack or a dinner on their own... I have no shame.

Kimchi Fries

Adapted From: The Woks Of Life

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 russet potatoes, cut into fries
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp paprika
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 slices of bacon, diced
• 2/3 cup kimchi
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

And Action:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place fries on a baking sheet that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Toss with olive oil, paprika, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Bake 45 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes to make sure they brown evenly. 

While the fries bake, crisp the bacon. Once cooked, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add kimchi to the bacon fat along with the sugar and stir fry until caramelized, about 10 minutes. Set heat to low until ready to assemble the fries.

In a baking dish sprinkle half the cheese over the fries. 

Spread the kimchi mixture over the top and top that with the rest of the cheese. 

Broil for 1-2 minutes until melted. Top with bacon and scallions, if desired. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Herb Salted Garlic Parmesan French Fries and Roast Beef Dip Sandwich with Herbed Garlic Au Jus

Holy hell! This dinner was quite ambitious for a Monday night, especially after an exhausting day at work. Note to self, make this on a weekend and preferably when your patience levels are high.

The potatoes get double fried and believe me it is totally worth it. Then they are tossed in a garlic parmesan herb salt.

This meal is carb heavy... and wine heavy... as in, I drank the bottle of wine after using the splash of it  to make the au jus. At least now I'll be able to sleep off the carb overload.

Herb Salted Garlic Parmesan French Fries

Adapted from : How Sweet It Is

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 russet potatoes, thinly sliced, like french fries
• 1 qt canola oil
• 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
• 1/2 tbsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/3 cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese

And Action:

Add potatoes to a bowl of ice water and let sit for 30 minutes. Place two layers worth of paper towels on a baking sheet and remove the potatoes from the water. Take more paper towels and pat dry the potatoes. 

Add oil to a large pot and heat over medium high heat until the temperature reaches 350 degrees (use a candy thermometer). Add the potatoes in batches and fry for 2-3 minutes. Remove and place on paper towels to drain the oil. 

Let the potatoes cool, about 10 minutes.

Make the garlic parmesan herb salt using the rest of the ingredients.  

Fry the potatoes again until browned and crispy. Toss with the garlic parmesan herb salt. 

Roast Beef Dip Sandwich with Herbed Garlic Au Jus

Adapted From: Food.com

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp basil
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 can (14.5 oz) beef broth
• 1 french baguette, cut into 4 portions and split in half
• 1 (4 oz) package garlic and herb goat cheese
• 1 lb thinly sliced peppered roast beef

And Action:

To make the au jus: In a medium saucepan heat oil, then add onion powder, garlic, and the other dried herbs. Stir often for 1 minute. The add red wine and soy sauce. Increase the heat, bring to a simmer and let the sauce reduce by half. Add beef broth and simmer for 5 minutes. 

To make the sandwiches: Spread the cheese evenly on both sides of the baguette. Divide roast beef among the sandwiches. Close the sandwiches, place on a baking sheet, and bake at 450 degrees for about 3 minutes. Serve with small cups of the au jus for dipping.