Beef Up Your Menu with a Trendy Twist on Sushi

(Family Features) Tantalizing taste buds with the latest in trendy foods can be a fun way to bring the whole family to the table for meals together. Combining familiar flavors with a new preparation method, for example, is one way to add flair to dinners at home.

An innovative sushi-style concept, "beefshi" features convenient beef products like pastrami, roast beef, summer sausage, hot dogs, corned beef or bologna prepared in rolls with rice and vegetables. Because recipes like Reuben Roll, Taco Maki, New York Deli Roll and Muffarolletta can be enjoyed individually as appetizers or grouped together for a full meal, these dishes can provide a variety of solutions from entertaining a crowd to simply feeding your family.

Find more information and recipes at beefshi.com.

Reuben Roll

Recipe courtesy of the North American Meat Institute on behalf of the Beef Checkoff
Yield: 2 rolls (16 pieces)

Hand Vinegar:

• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar

Rolls:

• 12 thin slices pastrami
• 3 cups sushi rice
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 2 sheets nori
• 4 thin slices Swiss cheese, cut into slivers
• 1 1/4 cups sauerkraut, rinsed, drained and squeezed dry
• Russian dressing

1. To make hand vinegar: In small bowl, stir water and rice vinegar.
2. To make rolls: Lay sushi mat on clean surface and cover with plastic wrap. Lay six slices pastrami on mat lengthwise. Moisten hands with hand vinegar and shake off excess. Spread 1 1/2 cups rice across pastrami, leaving 1 inch empty at farthest end. Sprinkle rice with caraway seeds. Turn nori over so rice side is down.
3. Cover half the pastrami crosswise with two slices cheese and half the sauerkraut.
4. Securing meat and cheese with fingers, use thumbs to push end of mat up and over filling until edge of nori meets rice on opposite side. Press firmly on roll.
5. Lift top of mat and roll firmly until tight and round. Squeeze gently to shape. Press ends in carefully to secure loose rice. Remove mat and set roll aside.
6. Repeat to make second roll.
7. Use thin, sharp knife to cut each roll into eight slices. Arrange on sushi platter and serve with Russian dressing.

New York Deli Roll

Recipe courtesy of the North American Meat Institute on behalf of the Beef Checkoff
Yield: 2 rolls (16 pieces)

Hand Vinegar:

• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar

Futomaki:

• 2 sheets nori
• 3 cups sushi rice
• 2 teaspoons caraway seeds
• 6 thin slices corned beef
• 4 teaspoons horseradish, well-drained
• 4 thin slices Swiss cheese, sliced into thin sticks
• Dijon mustard

1. To make hand vinegar: In small bowl, stir water and rice vinegar.
2. To make futomaki: Lay sushi mat on clean surface and cover with plastic wrap. Place one nori sheet on mat, shiny-side down. Moisten hands with hand vinegar and shake off excess. Spread 1 1/2 cups rice across nori. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon caraway seeds. Turn nori over so rice side is down.
3. Cover half the rice crosswise with three slices corned beef. Spread corned beef with 2 teaspoons horseradish. Cover corned beef with two slices cheese.
4. Securing meat and cheese with fingers, use thumbs to push end of mat up and over filling until edge of nori meets rice on opposite side. Press firmly on roll.
5. Lift top of mat and roll firmly until tight and round. Squeeze gently to shape roll. Press ends in carefully to secure loose rice. Remove mat and set roll aside.
6. Repeat to make second roll.
7. Use thin, sharp knife to cut each roll into eight slices. Arrange on sushi platter and serve with Dijon mustard.

Taco Maki

Recipe courtesy of the North American Meat Institute on behalf of the Beef Checkoff
Yield: 2 rolls (16 pieces)

Hand Vinegar:

• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar

Maki:

• 2 sheets nori
• 4 cups sushi rice
• 4 ounces finely shredded spicy beef jerky
• 16 cilantro sprigs
• 1/2 cup slivered radishes
• 64 tortilla strips
• queso fresco crumbles
• pico de gallo

1. To make hand vinegar: In small bowl, stir water and rice vinegar.
2. To make maki: Lay sushi mat on clean surface. Moisten hands with hand vinegar and shake off excess. Place one nori sheet on mat, shiny-side down. Spread 2 cups rice across nori, leaving 1 inch empty at farthest end.
3. Lay 2 ounces jerky, 8 cilantro sprigs and 1/4 cup radishes crosswise along rice, covering half the surface closest to you.
4. Securing jerky, cilantro and radishes with fingers, use thumbs to push end of mat up and over filling until edge of nori meets rice on opposite side. Press firmly on roll.
5. Lift top of mat and roll firmly until tight and round. Squeeze gently to shape roll. Press ends in carefully to secure loose rice. Remove mat and set roll aside.
6. Repeat to make second roll.
7. Use thin, sharp knife to cut each roll into eight slices. Arrange on sushi platter. Stand four tortilla strips upright in center of each roll then sprinkle with queso fresco. Serve with pico de gallo.

Muffarolletta

Recipe courtesy of the North American Meat Institute on behalf of the Beef Checkoff
Yield: 2 rolls (16 pieces)

Hand Vinegar:

• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar

Rice:

• 1/2 cup mixed olives, patted dry and finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons capers, patted dry and finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 cups sushi rice
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Rolls:

• 8 thin slices beef salami
• 3 thin slices part-skim mozzarella, cut into sticks
• 3 thin slices provolone, cut into sticks
• 1/4 cup chopped celery leaves

• toasted sesame seeds
• shaved celery

1. To make hand vinegar: In small bowl, stir water and rice vinegar.
2. To make rice: In small bowl, mix olives, capers, garlic and rice; season with pepper, to taste.
3. To make rolls: Lay sushi mat on clean surface and cover with plastic wrap. Lay four slices salami on mat, overlapping by about 1/2 inch, to create surface 7 inches wide and 6 inches deep.
   Moisten hands with hand vinegar and shake off excess. Cover salami with 1 1/2 cups sushi rice, leaving 1 inch empty at farthest end.
4. Arrange half of each cheese along center of rice crosswise, covering half of rice closest to you. Sprinkle cheese with 1/8 cup celery leaves.
5. Securing cheese with fingers, use thumbs to push end of mat up and over filling until one edge of rice meets opposite side. Press firmly on roll.
6. Lift top of mat and roll firmly until tight and round. Squeeze gently to shape roll. Press ends in carefully to secure loose rice. Remove mat, peel off plastic and set roll aside.
7. Repeat to make second roll.
8. Slice each roll into eight rounds, arrange on sushi platter and sprinkle each slice with sesame seeds. Serve with shaved celery.

SOURCE:
North American Meat Institute

Savory Summer Grilling

(Family Features) There’s not much that tastes better during the summer than a meal hot off the grill. If you’re in the mood for a delicious backyard dish, try adding versatility to your grilling game with a few simple tips.

Try a new cooking method. If your usual preparation involves a basic flame, you may be surprised by all the different flavors you can evoke just by changing the method. Whether you’re using gas or charcoal, switch from standard grilling to smoking over indirect heat. You can also use seasoned wood chips with most grilling methods to build a completely different flavor profile.

Look for non-traditional ways to use your favorite proteins. Instead of the traditional steak or chicken on a kabob, you can create a whole new flavor experience using smoked sausage. For example, Eckrich offers a variety of smoked sausage flavors in traditional ropes and bun-length links, all with just the right blend of seasonings for a rich, savory taste.

Explore new condiments and toppings. Ketchup, mustard and relish may be staples at the condiment station, but there’s no reason you can’t add a little something extra. Grilled onions, mushrooms and peppers are all simple and delicious ways to add flavor. Or try something entirely new, like this sweet, tangy marmalade made with bacon and onions.

Find more summer grilling ideas at Eckrich.com.

Smoked Sausage Links with Bacon and Onion Marmalade

Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Servings: 6

• 2-3       strips bacon
• 1          tablespoon mustard seeds
• 1/2       cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2    pounds (about 6 onions) Vidalia onions, diced
• 1/2       cup light brown sugar
• 1/4       cup cane syrup
• 1          package Eckrich Smoked Sausage Links (bun-length)
• 6          hot dog buns

1. Heat oven to 350° F.
2. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and lay strips of bacon flat. Cook until crispy, about 20-25 minutes. Chop bacon into small pieces and set aside.
3. In dry pot over medium heat, toast mustard seeds until slightly browned.
4. Add bacon, vinegar, onions, brown sugar and cane syrup to pot. Cover, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Cook about 20 minutes at medium-high heat. Remove pot cover and reduce to medium heat. Cook until liquid is reduced and onions are dark in color, about 50 minutes.
5. Oil grill and bring to medium heat. Grill sausage 12 minutes, or until heated through.
6. Place smoked sausage in hot dog bun and cover evenly with marmalade.

Note: Marmalade can be made in advance for easier dinner preparation and can be kept up to 2 weeks in a refrigerator or 3 months in a freezer.

Grilled Kabobs with Smoked Sausage and Veggies

Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6

• 6          wooden skewers
• nonstick cooking spray
• 1          package Eckrich Original Smoked Sausage (rope)
• 1          medium zucchini
• 2          large red bell peppers
• 2          large yellow bell peppers
• 1          large red onion

1. Soak skewers in water 1 hour. Spray grill and heat to medium.
2. Cut smoked sausage diagonally into 1-inch pieces. Slice zucchini, bell peppers and onion into 1/2-inch pieces.
3. Thread smoked sausage, peppers, zucchini and onion onto skewers.
4. Grill kabobs until smoked sausage is hot and vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from grill and serve immediately.

SOURCE:
Eckrich