Synopses & Reviews
Introduction
Almost thirty years ago, when I owned a restaurant, I was confronted with a strange offer from a regular client. He worked at a laboratory where rabbits were raised for scientific experiments. The trials always included a control group made up of animals to which nothing was done, yet when these rabbits got old, they were “discarded.” He asked me if I would like some of these control-group subjects. I was grateful to get my hands on older rabbits—they’re perfect for thorough larding and slow braising—so I said yes. I was also eager to save them from a meaningless death.
The following Monday, a large cardboard box arrived. As I lifted the box, I knew from its motion that the rabbits were alive. Given the weight of the box, I expected to encounter about a dozen, so I was shocked to find only two giant rabbits that reminded me of a Monty Python skit. The task was left to me to do them in, which I did with a quick snap of the neck and a slit of the throat. On one hand, the killing wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. But the whole process upset me, especially the sad resignation the rabbits displayed as they seemed to know they were about to die. Never again have I looked at meat in the same way. The experience drove home the fact that an animal has to give its life in order for us to eat meat. I was left convinced that people who consume meat should have to kill for their supper at least once in their lives.
The average American eats more than eight ounces of meat a day, far more than needed for healthy nutrition. Asians eat small amounts of meat with hefty portions of carbohydrates, such as rice or noodles, and have lower rates of heart disease and stroke than Americans. It may seem perplexing to read in a book about meat that we should eat less of it, but this is, indeed, my position. We should eat less and eat better. In France, a good chicken costs twenty dollars or more. But what a chicken it is. Organic and truly free range, it is slaughtered at an older age than American chickens and as a result has a lot more flavor, if a bit more texture. Grass-fed steers in Italy and France develop a better flavor than some of the grass-fed beef in America, again, in part, because they are butchered at an older age. Beef in Japan is a rare luxury, but genuine Kobe beef is considered among the best in the world.
Americans are also enthusiastic consumers of steaks and chops. In other words, we eat high on the hog—literally. Most, though not all, of the tender meat on an animal is found along the back. Meat from the leg and shoulder, despite being the most flavorful, is often neglected. In Meat, I have included recipes and techniques that allow the reader to explore some of these underexploited cuts, with braising often taking center stage as the best method for cooking them. Offal, known euphemistically in the United States as variety meats, is also overlooked. How many Americans know the joys of properly cooked kidneys or sweetbreads or even a slice of liver? To the uninitiated, these typically inexpensive cuts are often a delicious revelation.
***
I have divided the chapters in Meat according to the type of animal, with the recipes in each chapter organized by either cooking technique alone or by cut and its appropriate cooking techniques. The emphasis on techniques, all of which are described beginning on page 5, is important because once you learn how to make one recipe, you can apply the same technique to a wide range of possibilities. Many of the recipes are extremely simple, sometimes involving only grilling or sautéing without a sauce or garnish. But what may seem overly simplistic is actually how most of us cook and eat.
You’ll find that each chapter is rich in photographs, most of them devoted to either cutting meat into pieces suitable for cooking or to techniques such as larding. These tasks may seem the work of a butcher rather than a cook, but butchers are disappearing, and many of those who remain are reluctant to carry out some of the more labor-intensive techniques. Plus, by doing the work yourself, you’ll gain both valuable practice with a knife and beneficial insight into how animals are put together. You’ll also save money by buying large cuts and breaking them down into steaks or chops or into pieces suitable for braising. You may even discover that you enjoy cutting up meat, finding it to be surprisingly soothing once you get the knack of it.
Pork, beef, lamb, and veal charts showing where various cuts are located on each animal will further your understanding of how to cut and cook meat. People are anatomically similar to the animals they eat, so it’s a good idea to check your own body to locate the various cuts. Once you know the source of each cut, you will recognize which parts are tougher—the more activity the muscle gets, the tougher the meat—and require longer cooking and which can be tossed onto a grill or into a sauté pan for a relatively short time.
Although techniques are at the heart of this book, putting together flavor combinations that both pair well with the meat at hand and share a geographical and seasonal affinity is also important. To help you achieve these successful pairings, I have included several flavor profiles inspired by traditional cuisines (see page 25). For example, if you are thinking Moroccan, you’ll find a list that includes olives, preserved lemons, almonds, and saffron, to name only a few of the possibilities. Or, if you prefer Indian flavors, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, cashews, and coconut milk are among the options.
***
The controversy over how animals are raised and slaughtered for meat has been explored by a number of thoughtful writers, which prompts me to keep my advice on the subject brief: follow your conscience. Needless suffering is inherent in how many animals are raised and slaughtered, and we shoppers must use our wallets (nothing else is as convincing) to let sellers know that we want to buy meat from animals that have been treated humanely. Always ask the butcher the source of the meat he or she sells. A butcher who can provide a specific answer usually has greater concern for the well-being of animals. Plus, the easier it is to learn about the origin of the meat, the more likely it is that the animals have been humanely raised and slaughtered. By insisting on being better informed, we can transform an industry that is opaque and secretive into one that is transparent and, as a consequence, humane.
Even though most of us shop at a supermarket—and, admittedly, nowadays supermarkets are far more interesting than in the past—I recommend finding a high-quality butcher to patronize as often as possible. Not only will you learn from a butcher, but he or she will recognize your genuine concern for the quality and provenance of what is sold. The meat at a butcher shop is often more expensive than at supermarket, but it is also usually of higher quality, and because your butcher will teach you about lesser-known—and often less costly—cuts rarely found at supermarkets, you may actually end up saving money.
Simply put, much of what I’m encouraging is the simple act of tasting, of training your palate to recognize meat of better quality. As you learn to appreciate the flavor of fine meat (and to understand the flavor of what’s not so fine), you’ll find yourself satisfied with eating less meat. You’ll also find more joy in the kitchen as your cooking improves.
Skirt Steak Rolled with Prosciutto and Sage
Tender, flavorful skirt steak is used to make these small rolls. I have grilled them here, but you can also broil them, using the same timing. Be sure they are close enough to the heat source to brown nicely. Look for prosciutto di Parma or another high-quality imported prosciutto for the best result.
Makes 6 main-course servings
2 skirt steaks, about 1 pound each
6 large, thin slices prosciutto, cut in half crosswise
12 fresh sage leaves
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil or melted butter
If using wooden skewers, soak them in water to cover for 1 hour before loading.
Prepare a hot fire for direct grilling in a grill (see page 21).
Cut each skirt steak crosswise into 6 pieces of equal size. Place a half slice of prosciutto on each steak piece, and top the prosciutto with a sage leaf. Roll up each piece of beef into a snug cylinder, then slide the roll onto 2 metal or wooden skewers, piercing the roll once near each end. Repeat to top and roll the remaining 11 pieces of steak, putting 6 rolls on each pair of skewers (or fewer if you have only small skewers). Season the rolls with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil.
Place the skewers on the grill rack and grill, turning as needed and brushing with additional oil, for about 10 minutes total, or until the rolls are nicely browned and the meat is medium-rare.
Review
"A great reference for today's meat lovers."
-Library Journal
"Cooks everywhere will find this magnum opus practical and inspiring despite its daunting heft. In addition to dozens of intriguing recipes reflecting just about every culinary tradition on this carnivorous planet, Aidells offers prodigious, authoritative data on cuts of red meat, how to identify and select them, how to prepare them optimally, and even what to do with those inevitable leftovers. Aidellsand#8217; reputation and the comprehensiveness of this volume make this an indispensible reference work for any cookery collection."
-Booklist
and#8220;Carnivores rejoice! For those of us who put meat on the table many days of the week, this book will quickly become our best friend.and#8221; and#8212; Sara Moulton, host of the PBS show Sara's Weeknight Meals, and author, Sara Moulton's Everyday Family Dinners
and#8220;I bow before Bruce's Great Meat knowledge. You could not be taken by the hand by a nicer chap to guide you through the delights animals have to offer. So go and make a dry Martini, sit down with his book, and enjoy a meaty moment or two.and#8221;
and#8212;Fergus Henderson, author, The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating
and#8220;The Great Meat Cookbook is loaded with recipes for tasty but less-understood cuts, and Aidells covers the globe in search of recipes that will bring delight and good eating for many yearsand#8217; worth of meals.
and#8212;Rick Bayless, chef/owner of Frontera Grill, Topolobampo and XOCO, Chicago
and#8220;Bruce Aidells's magnum opus spans every possible cut and cuisine. For intrepid carnivores, it's the perfect all-in-one guide, from sausage making, to sourcing and searing the perfect steak.and#8221;
and#8212;Dan Barber, executive chef and co-owner, Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns
and#8220;When I want sound guidance on cooking meat, (and I generally do need guidance), I turn to Bruce Aidells, and especially this book. Itand#8217;s richly informative and thorough in scope.and#8221;
and#8212;Deborah Madison, author, Local Flavors and Vegetable Literacy
and#8220;Rarely has the title of a cookbook so thoroughly captured its essence as this carnivoreand#8217;s treasure does. The Great Meat Cookbook is simply the best, most comprehensive cookbook about meat of all time.and#8221;
and#8212; Nancy Silverton, founder, La Brea Bakery and co-owner, Mozza
and#8220;Thankfully, people are paying more attention to what happens to meat before it reaches their table. Bruce Aidells has now put together an invaluable resource to be their guide and inspiration.and#8221;and#160;
and#8212;Bill Niman, rancher and founder, Niman Ranch and B N Ranch
and#8220;Bruce Aidelland#8217;s The Great Meat Cookbook is an amazing reflection of the authorand#8217;s depth of knowledge. From the pictures and recipes, to the cooking techniques and definitions of local, sustainable, and organic meat, you will find an answer to any question you might have.and#8221;and#160;
and#8212;Nell Newman, president, Newmanand#8217;s Own Organics
and#160;and#8220;Bruce is our nation's most pleasantly loquacious and intellectually curious meat man. After perusing his new tome, I know how to define cow pooling, understand that grass-fed beef is a seasonal product, believe that meat can be employed as a condiment, and can cook feijoada and#8212; a traditional Brazilian dish and#8212; with a very nontraditional hunk of pastrami.
and#8212;John T. Edge, author, The Truck Food Cookbookand#160;
Synopsis
Meat: A Kitchen Education is award-winning author James Peterson's guide for carnivores, with more than 175 recipes and 550 photographs that offer a full range of meat and poultry cuts and preparation techniques, presented with Peterson's unassuming yet authoritative style. Instruction begins with an informative summary of meat cooking methods: sauteing, broiling, roasting, braising, poaching, frying, stir-frying, grilling, smoking, and barbecuing. Then, chapter by chapter, Peterson demonstrates classic preparations for every type of meat available from the butcher: chicken, turkey, duck, quail, pheasant, squab, goose, guinea hen, rabbit, hare, venison, pork, beef, veal, lamb, and goat. Along the way, he shares his secrets for perfect pan sauces, gravies, and jus. Peterson completes the book with a selection of homemade sausages, pates, terrines, and broths that are the base of so many dishes. His trademark step-by-step photographs provide incomparable visual guidance for working with the complex structure and musculature of meats and illustrate all the basic prep techniques--from trussing a whole chicken to breaking down a whole lamb.
Whether you're planning a quick turkey cutlet dinner, Sunday pot roast supper, casual hamburger cookout, or holiday prime rib feast, you'll find it in Meat along with:
Roast Chicken with Ricotta and Sage; Coq au Vin; Duck Confit and Warm Lentil Salad; Long-Braised Rabbit Stew; Baby Back Ribs with Hoisin and Brown Sugar; Sauerbraten; Hanger Steak with Mushrooms and Red Wine; Oxtail Stew with Grapes; Osso Buco with Fennel and Leeks; Veal Kidneys with Juniper Sauce; Lamb Tagine with Raisins, Almonds, and Saffron; Terrine of Foie Gras; and more.
No matter the level of your culinary skills or your degree of kitchen confidence, the recipes and guidance in Meat will help you create scores of satisfying meals to delight your family and friends. This comprehensive volume will inspire you to fire up the stove, oven, or grill and master the art of cooking meat.
Winner - 2011 James Beard Cookbook Award - Single Subject Category
Synopsis
Award-winning author James Peterson is renowned for his instructive, encyclopedic cookbooks—each one a master course in the fundamentals of cooking.
Like well-honed knives, his books are indispensable tools for any kitchen enthusiast, from the novice home cook, to the aspiring chef, to the seasoned professional. Meat: A Kitchen Education is Peterson’s guide for carnivores, with more than 175 recipes and 550 photographs that offer a full range of meat and poultry cuts and preparation techniques, presented with Peterson’s unassuming yet authoritative style.
Instruction begins with an informative summary of meat cooking methods: sautéing, broiling, roasting, braising, poaching, frying, stir-frying, grilling, smoking, and barbecuing. Then, chapter by chapter, Peterson demonstrates classic preparations for every type of meat available from the butcher: chicken, turkey, duck, quail, pheasant, squab, goose, guinea hen, rabbit, hare, venison, pork, beef, veal, lamb, and goat. Along the way, he shares his secrets for perfect pan sauces, gravies, and jus. Peterson completes the book with a selection of homemade sausages, pâtés, terrines, and broths that are the base of so many dishes. His trademark step-by-step photographs provide incomparable visual guidance for working with the complex structure and musculature of meats and illustrate all the basic prep techniques—from trussing a whole chicken to breaking down a whole lamb.
Whether you’re planning a quick turkey cutlet dinner, Sunday pot roast supper, casual hamburger cookout, or holiday prime rib feast, you’ll find it in Meat along with:
Roast Chicken with Ricotta and Sage; Coq au Vin; Duck Confit and Warm Lentil Salad; Long-Braised Rabbit Stew; Baby Back Ribs with Hoisin and Brown Sugar; Sauerbraten; Hanger Steak with Mushrooms and Red Wine; Oxtail Stew with Grapes; Osso Buco with Fennel and Leeks; Veal Kidneys with Juniper Sauce; Lamb Tagine with Raisins, Almonds, and Saffron; Terrine of Foie Gras; and more.
No matter the level of your culinary skills or your degree of kitchen confidence, the recipes and guidance in Meat will help you create scores of satisfying meals to delight your family and friends. This comprehensive volume will inspire you to fire up the stove, oven, or grill and master the art of cooking meat.
Winner – 2011 James Beard Cookbook Award – Single Subject Category
Synopsis
A comprehensive visual guide to cooking all cuts of meat using every cooking method, from an award-winning cookbook author.
James Peterson is renowned for his encyclopedic cookbooks that are cornerstones in kitchen libraries across the country. His latest, Meat, offers over 175 classic recipes and 500 step-by-step photographs for preparing poultry, beef, pork, lamb, veal, game, pâtés, stocks, and sausages. Peterson explains the various cooking methods for meat, from sauteing to grilling to stir-frying, and his photos illustrate how to work with different cuts, critical points during the cooking process, and carving techniques. Whether it’s Slow-Roasted Duck Thighs with Sauerkraut or Moroccan-Style Braised Lamb Shoulder, Meat contains all the instruction needed to achieve perfect results.
Synopsis
Award-winning author and culinary expert Peterson presents a comprehensive guide for carnivores, with more than 175 recipes and 550 photographs that offer a full range of meat and poultry cuts and preparation techniques, presented with Peterson's unassuming yet authoritative style.
Synopsis
Sixteen years after his authoritative Complete Meat Cookbook, America's favorite meat expert and the founder of Aidells Sausage Company offers a completely new, comprehensive tour of the modern landscape of beef, pork, lamb, veal, bison, and goat, with an emphasis on sustainable meat and more than 250 recipes.
Synopsis
In the last decade since the publicationand#160;of Bruce Aidells's hugely successful
The Complete Meat Cookbook, called by the
Washington Post "authoritative" and "all-encompassing," the world of meat cookery has changed radically. With the rise of small farmers and the Internet, a more diverse supply is availableand#8212; not only of beef, pork, lamb, and veal, but also of bison, venison, and goat.and#160;Today's shopperand#160;confrontsand#160;a host ofand#160;bewildering, often misleadingand#160;labels: "certified organic," "humanely raised," "vegetarian diet," and many more.
Whether the cookand#160;shops atand#160;the local farmers' marketand#160;or the supermarket, The Great Meat Cookbook is the definitive guide to the new landscape. In sidebars illustrated with color photographs of each cut, Aidells shows how to pick the best steaks, chop, roasts, and ribs. With hundreds ofand#160; recipes, including "Great Meat Dishes of the World" like Beef Fillet stuffed with Parmesan andand#160;Proscuitto; budget-friendlyand#160;dishes like Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pork Shoulder; speedyand#160;dinners like Mushroom-Stuffed T Bone Lamb Chops,and#160;and charcuterie and sausage selections,and#160;Aidells provides all the information needed for juicy results every time.
About the Author
ix Acknowledgments
1 Introduction
5 Basic Cooking Techniques
25 Improvising International Flavors
31 Chicken and Turkey
69 Fowl, Rabbit and Hare, and Venison
103 Pork
143 Beef
219 Veal
259 Lamb and Goat
293 Sausages
303 Pâtés, Terrines, and Foie Gras
314 Broths and Consommés
322 Index
Table of Contents
“From roast turkey to veal piccata and everything in between (quail, rabbit, goat...), cooking authority James Peterson makes sure you get the most expensive part of the meal right.”
—Cooking Light, Favorite Cookbooks, 2010
“I also admire Meat: A Kitchen Education by James Peterson, a knowledgeable work about cooking and eating animal flesh (this is what we’re doing when we serve steak, or a pork shop, or a rack of lamb, and it’s important to acknowledge this). Lots of color process shots which I love.”
—Michael Ruhlman, Books for the Holidays, 12/13/10
“A treasure trove. It’s chock-full of not only recipes, but also techniques, illustrative photographs, and detailed explanations of every facet of meat preparation. If you’ve ever wondered how to properly butterfly a leg of lamb or truss a chicken, this is the book you want on your kitchen shelf. . . . Meat is sure to become a constant companion in our kitchens.”
—TheKitchn.com, 12/9/10
“With a recipe for almost every cut of beef, pork and lamb, plus poultry and game, “Meat” also offers step-by-step photos for the curious carnivore.”
—The New York Times Book Review, Web Extra: 25 More Cookbooks, 12/3/10
“This James Beard Award winning cookbook author has staked his reputation on single-topic explorations. This one has made a successful play in becoming our go-to primer for home butchery. Although the recipes are delicious, they function more as a teaching tool (with step-by-step color photos) than a dinner plan.”
—Tasting Table National, 12/3/10
“Few food experts in the world have more knowledge — or a brighter ability to impart that knowledge — than James Peterson, whose previous one-subject books are essentials. His latest, "Meat," follows the trend, with crystal-clear instructions and advice on meats of all varieties, from chicken to rabbit to beef. Meat geeks will revel in the details, and step-by-step pictures make it idiot-proof.”
—Denver Post, 2010’s Best Cookbooks, 12/1/10
“a new bible for any cook.”
—Booklist, 11/15/10
“Peterson not only knows how to cook, but knows how to explain it clearly to just about anyone.”
—Cooking with Amy, 11/11/10
“A great kitchen reference book.”
—Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 11/3/10
"James Peterson, the writer of several excellent single-topic cookbooks, has lately turned his meticulous eye to meat cookery. He opens Meat: A Kitchen Education (Ten Speed Press, $35), which will hit bookstores this fall, by telling us that we should cook and eat less meat, for our health and that of the planet, but that he wants us to enjoy it more. For Peterson, that means achieving exquisite meat dishes by means of classical techniques. Aided by an abundance of photographs, all of which he took himself, the acclaimed cooking instructor does a thorough job of passing along those techniques to home cooks."
—Saveur, May 2010
“When I read the introduction to Meat: A Kitchen Education, I wanted to stand up and cheer. James Peterson and I share a deep passion for great meat, and a respect for all animals whose lives are taken for our food. If you subscribe, as I do, to the philosophy of “eat less meat, eat better meat, and enjoy it more,” then this book will guide you on that journey. Whichever recipe you choose, Meat will help you make something sensible and delicious.”
—Bill Niman, rancher and founder, Niman Ranch
“James Peterson’s body of work is already substantial. To it, he adds this thorough, informative, compelling, and impressively illustrated book about meat. What I admire about Peterson’s work is the way he makes the chef’s knowledge so clear and accessible to the home cook.”
—Michael Ruhlman, author of The Elements of Cooking and Ratio
“Well explained, factual, useful—the home cook as well as the professional will learn from Meat: A Kitchen Education.”
—Jacques Pépin, cooking instructor, author, and host of Fast Food My Way
“Meat: A Kitchen Education delivers what the title promises. It is packed full of expert advice on cooking all types of meats, poultry, and game. But better than using only words to describe important methods and techniques, Peterson uses detailed photographs to give the reader visual instruction. His simple recipes rely on classic ingredients and techniques, and will make any beginner adept at cooking meat. More advanced cooks will appreciate his chapters on sausage and pâté making, as well as his step-by-step photos for preparing foie gras.”
—Bruce Aidells, author of Bruce Aidells’s Complete Book of Pork and coauthor of The Complete Meat Cookbook