Coffee. For millions of people every day, it is the hot and tasty drink that gives them the energy they need to face the day; that wonderful taste that brings the day into focus and powers them to begin another morning of working in the world. But, did you know that the wonderful taste of coffee can also be used in the cooking you do throughout the day? Here are some of our favorite recipes for cooking with coffee.
For Dinner: Coffee Fish Tacos
Our friends at Food and Wine (www.foodandwine.com/recipes) bring us this fabulous recipe for Coffee Fish Tacos.
You’ll need the following ingredients:
2 – 8oz skinless, center cut Salmon fillets
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of chili powder
¼ teaspoon of your favorite freshly ground coffee (we prefer Peets for the best flavor)
2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro
2 tomatillos, husked and quartered
1 small jalapeno, seeded and quartered
1 garlic clove
6 tablespoons of sour cream
1 ripe avocado, halved, peeled and pitted
4 cups of finely shredded red and green cabbages (about 12 oz)
8 corn tortillas
Extra virgin olive oil for brushing
Salt and pepper to taste
Hot sauce and lime wedges
First, stir in the cumin with the chili powder, brown sugar, and coffee into a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper and then brush the Salmon Fillets with olive oil and the spice mixture. Separately, in a food processor, puree the tomatillos with the chopped cilantro, jalapeno, and garlic until smooth. Add the sour cream and process again until smooth. Then add the avocado and pulse until the whole mixture is creamy. Transfer to a large bowl and again season with salt and pepper. Add the cabbage and toss to coat.
Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. In a grill pan, lightly brush each tortilla with olive oil. Stack the tortillas and wrap them in foil. Bake for 10 minutes.
Brush a grill pan with olive oil and grill the Salmon Fillets for over a high heat, turning once, until neatly cooked (about 8 – 9 minutes). Transfer the Salmon to a plate and flake with a fork. Fill the tortillas with the salmon, top with the cabbage slaw and serve while hot. Add hot sauce and lime wedges to taste.
For Dessert: Coffee Bundt Cake
As delicious as those fish tacos are, make sure to leave room for dessert, as our friends at food and wine also have this fabulous recipe for a Coffee Bundt Cake.
First, gather together:
A can of vegetable spray oil
5 oz of bittersweet chocolate (chopped)
¾ cup of canola oil
1 cup of sugar
1 large egg
2 cups of all-purpose flour
½ cup of Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 tablespoon of baking soda
¾ teaspoon of salt
1 cup of strongly brewed coffee (we love to use Sam and Evan’s for this cake)
1 cup of buttermilk
1/3 cup of heavy cream
½ cup of corn syrup
½ tablespoon of unsalted butter
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12 cup Bundt pan with vegetable oil spray. In a small saucepan, melt 2 oz of chopped chocolate over a low heat, stirring constantly. Scrape the chocolate into a medium bowl and let cool.
Whisk the oil and sugar until smooth. Then whisk in the egg.
In a small bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together. Add half of the dry ingredients into the chocolate along with ½ cup of brewed coffee and ½ cup of buttermilk. Whisk until smooth. Add the remaining dry ingredients and remaining coffee and buttermilk and whisk until smooth.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the lower third of the oven for 45 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center of the cake and come out with only a few moist crumbs attached. Let cook for 10 minutes and then turn it over and let cool completely.
In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. In a heatproof bowl, combine the remaining chopped chocolate with the corn syrup and butter. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let stand until melted. Whisk until smooth. Let the ganache glaze cool until it is thick but still pourable. Pour the Ganache over the cooled cake. Let the cake stand until the glaze is set.
Grab a large fork and enjoy the chocolate and coffee goodness.
Post Dessert: Spanish Coffee
Once you’re full, now is the time for a good night cup of coffee. We love this recipe for Spanish Coffee from the Coffee Detective (coffeedetective.com)
First, dig through your cabinets to find:
1 cup of hot coffee (We recommend Dunn Bros for the best tasting spicy coffee)
½ oz Tia Maria
½ oz of your favorite rum whipped cream
Simply add the liqueur to the coffee, top with whipped cream and add your favorite garnish to enjoy the great taste of the islands to bring an end to a perfect day.
Coffee is the flavor that’s loved by millions. Why should such great taste go to waste in a single cup of morning Joe? Bring the taste you love to every meal.