Ricardo Encore

Ricardo keeps me busy with his easy and almost artful recipes. Ricardo Larrivée is a reputed cook and food writer and hosts his own show on Food Network. They say he is “Quebec’s answer to Jamie Oliver”! They also say that Ricardo’s accent reflects his personality. Which I feel is endearing and charming and sweeps me off my feet, just like his quick and casual recipes.

Here are two very quick and easy Ricardo-recipes I made yesterday. There are two good reasons why you should make them this weekend – beer and vodka! Onion Rings are a classic American fast food everyone loves. Ricardo’s has very simple ingredients and some beer, all of which you would usually find at home. Here is how I followed his recipe:

1 large white onion
1 cup unbleached flour
2 + 2 tablespoons corn starch
Half teaspoon baking powder
1 cup beer
Oil for deep frying
1 egg
Salt and pepper

Peel and cut the onion into thick slices. Separate each slice without breaking till you get lots of individual rings.
Dust it with two tablespoons corn starch. I used a plastic box with a lid to do this. Sprinkle, shut and shake! Simple.
Make a batter with the egg, flour, two tablespoons corn starch, baking powder, pepper powder and a cup of  your favorite beer. Blend them all together till you get a smooth pancake-like batter.

Heat oil in a fryer or wok. Dip each onion ring in the batter and deep fry. Its important you do the step of dusting the onion rings with the corn starch, this helps the batter to cling to the onions all too nicely.
Fry till the rings are golden brown. Drain excess oil on paper towels.
Sprinkle some salt on the onion rings and serve immediately.
If you are mad about onion pakoras and bhajias, you will really love this!

While we are talking about madness, remember to inject a little fun and flavor this summer with these lollies for grown ups. Ricardo never fails to surprise me, and this one is extra favorite because he has turned my favorite drink – the Bloody Mary or Caesar into lollypops. 

Ingredients for Caesar Lollies:

1 oz vodka
Clamato juice (I used the spicy one)
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
Dash of Tabasco sauce
Lemon juice
Pepper
Salt

Pour everything in a glass, mix well and pour out in ice lolly moulds. Freeze for at least 6-8 hours. Serve the Ceaser Lollies on a bed of ice!
Now doesn’t that look delicious and dead simple?Use your imagination and make lollies with just about anything – watermelon, mango, litchi juice…There are no perimeters to a frozen delight in summer.