Seasonal Ontario Food's Top Ten - Meat, Poultry & Fish Main Dishes

More main dishes, the meaty ones this time. In spite of how much I like vegetables I have to confess I could never be a vegetarian. I'm a little surprised to review things and see how much pork we eat, and I'm definitely shy on the fish recipes. I think that's because I am perfectly happy to eat it pretty plain. Judging by this list I also have a taste for the classic dishes, and braising is a favourite cooking technique. Sounds about right, I have to say.

And apparently meat dishes get put on my oval Chinese platters. Huh, okay.


Beef:

Beef, Mushroom & Rice Stuffed Buttercup Squash - This is my most viewed beef recipe and as usual I don't quite get why. On the other hand, it's a fun and impressive thing - yet not too difficult - to do with a squash.

Braised Beef with Onion Sauce - The onion sauce takes this one from being a nice if perfectly ordinary pot roast to something special, with little in the way of effort.

Gehacktes Rinderschnitzel - This is a great recipe for more than the name although of course there is the name. It makes a pound of ground beef feed 4 generously, and is no harder to make than regular hamburgers while presenting as more elegant and sophisticated. Can't beat that!

Sauerkraut & Onion Smothered Pot Roast - Another pot roast with onions; I do like 'em. This one has sauerkraut and I'm pretty fond of that too... and easy, did I say? So easy.

Swedish Meatballs - This one is more work, and rather rich, but definitely worth while for a special occasion.

Braised Beef Brisket -The sauce was delicious and the meat meltingly tender; ten out of ten would definitely braise again.

Stir Fried Beef & Kohlrabi - The kohlrabi supplies 2 different textures and goes beautifully with the beef. Delicious!

Swiss Chard Rolls - We freeze these by the dozen every late summer and live on them all winter, served in tomato sauce. The only things we have to buy for them is the beef, oil, salt, and pepper, which makes them an ideal recipe for us, trying to live off of our garden as much as possible. Fortunately, they are also very tasty.

Mom's Meatloaf - Well it's Mom's meatloaf, so of course it's good. Hot with mashed potatoes or cold in a sandwich it can't be beat.

Blanquette de veau - Rich and elegant; a dish for a special occasion. Not difficult though.


Lamb & Pork:

Turkish Kofta (Lamb Meatballs) - If it wasn't for the liver casserole (which see) this would be my most viewed lamb recipe. Now, this one I get! These are really good, really quick, really easy... just fine!

Roast Leg of Lamb in a Spicy Sauce - Whenever we buy lamb 3 out of 4 legs tend to go to making this. I feel obliged to make something else with the fourth one for the blog, but this is always a winner and people fall into it face-first.

Lamb Meatballs Stewed with Chick Peas - Look at that: lamb! Meatballs! Chick peas! Of course it's a Top Ten winner; how could it not be?

Liver & Tomato Casserole Possibly with Mushrooms & Bacon - Since I think this is best made with lambs liver it goes in with the lamb recipes. No matter which meat category I put it in though, it would come out as the most viewed recipe in that category. Yes, this one has had a lot of views and while I will be the first to declare that this is a very fine way to serve liver I admit to being perplexed. Could it be my humorous introduction? I doubt it.

Scotch Broth - Yes, it's soup. But at the price of lamb, it's also lamb. And since it's a rib-sticking meal in itself, here it is. Pretty simple really, but so delicious. I keep saying that about things, but in my books that's what makes things the best.

Stamppot Boerenkool - Kale & Sausage Mash - One of the few ways in which kale will be greeted with enthusiasm around here. But yes, this does guarantee enthusiasm.

Baked Bone-In Ham with Maple Mustard Glaze - This is my most viewed pork recipe, in spite of or more likely because of being very straightforward. The hard part is finding a decent bone-in ham; basically you need not just a butcher but a good butcher. But once you have that settled the rest is a doddle.

Apple Butter Spareribs - I can't say I always love barbecue sauces, so this is how I usually do my spareribs. A little different from the usual, but I love the sweet-sour and zingy ginger flavours.

5-Spice Pork Chops - a simple treatment for pork chops that takes them out of the ordinary.

Victorian Cottager's Pie with Bacon, Mushrooms & Onions - This variation on the theme of Shepherd's pie is so simple and straightforward, and so delicious, I don't know why it isn't a ubiquitous dish the way the beef version is. It should be!

Pork Loin Stuffed with Spinach & Mushrooms - Unlike Dill Pickle-Brined Pork Tenderloin this is actually a recipe, and requires a little effort. Not too much though, and the results are excellent.

Poultry:

Braised Turkey - Braising turkey really produces better results than roasting, as the legs stay juicy and flavourful and the breast meat doesn't cook too long and dry out. Plus there will be lots more gravy. You lose the crispy skin, and it can't be stuffed, but such is life. I've been braising pretty much all my turkeys since I discovered this.

Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce - I find toasted barley flour a really good thickener for soups, and here it helps keep ground turkey - which can easily get too dry - moist and flavourful. I didn't mention the carrots, but this dish is just swimming in carrots, and altogether, it's a simple and delightful take on the inevitable meatball.

Duck Schnitzel with Green Peppercorn Sauce - Sometimes you can get skinless, boneless duck breasts, which is a slightly odd thing. This is what you do with them; the end. Not so odd after all!

Braised Duck Legs with Rutabaga, Leek & Celeriac - Well here we go again; something something braised with vegetables. That's because it's still delicious. And it's duck!

Roasting Organic Chicken - My most viewed poultry recipe, presumably because lots of people want to roast an organic chicken and realize they are really not the same as those limp, flabby supermarket chickens. Not at all.

Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuity Crust - It's the Biscuity Crust that made this so special, and I've used it a lot for other things since then as well. Something about it is just classic comfort food, much like

Chicken with Herb Dumplings - which are also classic comfort food. Poached biscuits with herbs! Tender stewed chicken and vegetables! Oh man, so good.

Quick Braised Chicken with Leeks & Garlic -But sometimes you can't sit around and wait all day for things to cook. Here's a quick and easy one, full of flavour and with many of the comfort food qualities of those longer-cooking braises.

Chicken with Rhubarb - Different! Make this one now; it's in season. No reason to relegate rhubarb to nothing else but pie.

Braised Guinea Fowl with Carrots & Prunes - More braising, with a classic sweet-sour flavour profile. Lovely!

Fish:

Fish & Pasta with Greens in Saffron-Paprika Broth - Let's call this a stew; it could have been treated as soup, or pasta. Whatever it is it's a simple easy meal to make on those days when you want to put as little effort into cooking as possible but still eat something delicious and satisfying.

Fish in Leek & Carrot Sauce - The sauce is simple, not particularly rich, and yet really appealing. It supports a fine white fish perfectly without overwhelming it. 

Stir-Fried Fish with Snow Peas, Mushrooms & Garlic Scapes - This one will be in season any moment and it is a delightful treat for early summer.

Perch, or Other Fish, Tacos - By far my most viewed fish recipe. As usual I don't think it's by far my best fish recipe. Although I have to admit I will never turn down a good fish taco.

Smoked Trout Kedgeree - Traditionally a breakfast dish but delicious and easy at any meal, and pretty much a meal in itself.

Dilled Trout Cabbage Rolls with Lemon Sauce - A surprising unusual but delicate and sophisticated cabbage roll. Savoy cabbage, of course, in keeping with the delicate and sophisticated theme.

Fish & Eggplant Casserole - Based on a traditional Chinese dish, but simplified and a bit less swimming in oil. Still full of flavour!

Salmon or Trout Tourtière - A lighter and really delicious version of the Quebec classic, this deserves to be much better known than it is.

Salmon or Trout & Spinach Pie - Another lively and delightful fish pie. Savory pies are the bomb, but fish keeps them from being too heavy. The spinach makes this one pretty much a meal in itself. This would be a fine picnic dish.

Tartar Sauce - not a fish dish as such, but a common accompaniment to that plain sautéed, poached, or steamed fish I eat so often. As different from that gummy paste sold commercially as cheese is from chalk. Don't think you like Tartar Sauce? Give this one a try - you might be surprised.

Posted in: Ontario Food