Six recipes with a kick: Tacos, quesadillas and bourbon chili

Looking for beer-friendly fare to heat up your patio dining and bar food menus? Consider these inspired updates of casual classics. Ideas range from Alaska Crab and Zucchini Quesadillas to Korean BBQ Duck Tacos, both offering a taste of luxury, to refreshing combos like Lemon Citrus Swai Fish Tacos and Baja Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa. Tempt chicken fans with the Chicken and Avocado Quesadillas; meat-lovers will appreciate the luxury of bourbon chili made with premium small-batch bourbon and boneless beef short ribs.

Korean BBQ Duck Tacos

From: Chef Greg Reggio, Taste Buds Management, New Orleans, LA. 

Yield: 6 servings.

BBQ Sauce:
½ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp. peanut oil
½ tsp. toasted sesame oil
½ cup molasses
1 Tbsp. fresh ginger
2 Tbsp. fresh garlic
1 serrano pepper, whole

Pepper Jelly Dressing:
¼ cup Tabasco Red Pepper Jelly
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. kosher salt
½ cup olive oil

Korean BBQ Duck:
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 cup BBQ sauce
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 lb. pulled duck meat

Kimchi Slaw:
½ cup kimchi, chopped ¼”
1 cup green cabbage, chopped ¼”
1 cup cucumber, diced ¼”
¼ cup chopped green onions, white and green
¼ cup cilantro leaves, rough chopped
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
¼ cup pepper jelly dressing

Tacos:
6 6” flour tortillas
as needed, leaf lettuce
as needed, Korean BBQ meat
as needed, kim chi slaw

For BBQ sauce: Combine all ingredients and blend in a food processor until well-blended.

For pepper jelly: Combine all ingredients.

For Korean BBQ Duck:

Combine soy sauce, BBQ sauce, toasted sesame oil and sesame seeds into a mixing bowl and whisk until all ingredients are incorporated. Pull apart any large chunks of duck meat. The target size of the chunks should be no more than 1” wide by 2” to 3” long. Add the duck meat to the mixing bowl. Toss to coat each piece of duck meat. Add duck to preheated skillet and allow to cook until duck meat is hot and slightly caramelized.

For kimchi slaw: Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.

For tacos: Heat tortillas. Place lettuce leaf on tortilla. Place Korean BBQ duck meat on lettuce. Garnish with kimchi slaw.

PHOTO: Maple Leaf Farms