Thursday, May 9, 2024

Cooking with Gas: Trackside Cuisine

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Event weekends are tough. Not only on you, your car, your rig… but your stomach!

We can only eat so many hamburgers and hot-dogs, or baloney sandwiches. So the team of foodies over at GTM have put together 3 recipes you can easily make during the day; trackside! We wanted to make sure to cover all the bases and selected recipes that feature: An electic griddle, Crock-Pot, or Insta-Pot as the only tool you need.

*WARNING* you will gain some new friends, friends that will help you not take home any leftovers, yum!


Griddle: Hibachi-style Meats & Veggies

There are probably a million things you can do with an electric-griddle, from cooking eggs and bacon in the morning, to making grilled sandwiches, paninis and flatbreads – heck, you can even make cookies… it’s a pretty versatile tool, so why not try some hibachi?

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. of canola oil
  • 2 medium zucchini, cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 1 large onion, quartered and sliced thickly
  • 1 pkg sliced mushrooms, about 5 oz.
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp. butter
  • 1-2 tsp. soy sauce, or to taste
  • If you’re a carnivore, pick up some stew beef, chicken or shirmp.

Instructions

  • Prep your veggies (and meats) by slicing/cutting the night before; these items hold up well in a cooler.
  • Heat the oil on the electric grill over medium-high heat.
  • Add zucchini, onion, and mushrooms then season with salt and pepper.
  • Grill, turning frequently until the onions and zucchini are tender and slightly browned.
  • Stir in the butter and soy sauce, cooking until the soy sauce begins to caramelize.
  • If using meats as well: Add your meats, with some additional butter, salt & pepper to taste, and cook to appropriate “done-ness”
  • Adding spices like: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and others can add a nice zing to the platter – be adventurous.
  • Remove from heat and keep warm until ready to serve.
  • Serves as many as you cook for … find some friends, Enjoy!

Insta-Pot: French Dip Sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 Pound Chuck Roast
  • 1 Onion Sliced
  • 1 Can French Onion Soup
  • 2 Cups Beef Broth
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 6 Hoagies
  • 6 Slices Provolone

Instructions

  • Season the roast with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Turn the instant pot to saute and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, sear the roast on all sides until browned then remove from pot.
  • Add the onions to the instant pot and saute until onion is soft. Turn instant pot off.
  • Pour the beef broth into the instant pot stirring and scraping any bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the onion soup and Worcestershire sauce, and roast.
  • Add the lid to the pot and seal. Cook on high pressure/manual for 60 minutes. Do a natural release for 20 minutes, then quick release.
  • Prep your buns with cheese (maybe a little yellow mustard); and drop meat right into the bun on top of the cheese.
  • Use a spoon to grab some extra juices (Au Jus) from the pot.
  • Serve immediately, it won’t stick around long, Enjoy!

Crock-Pot: Mississippi Pot Roast

Here is a variation on a fan and family favorite. If you search the web for this recipe there are all sorts of variants, but we have one that is a sure fire win at any track day! If you’re in a garaged paddock like Watkins Glen or VIR and have power available, this is a one-crock-pot meal.

Ingredients

  • 13 lb chuck roast
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 packet ranch dressing mix
  • 1 packet dry onion soup mix
  • 1/2 cup salted butter 1 stick
  • 1 jar of sliced peperoncini peppers
  • 1 can of regular Coca-Cola “Coke”
  • 2 cups of White or Arborio Rice

Instructions

  • Most of the other versions of this recipe urge you to brown the meat before you place it in the crock-pot, but since we don’t have that luxury at the track; you can skip that step. Just Salt & Pepper your meat before placing it in the crock pot.
  • Sprinkle packets of dry ranch dressing and onion soup mixes over pot roast.
  • Top with a stick of butter then place peppers on and around roast.
  • Pour an entire (mini) can of Coke into the crock pot (or 3/4s of a 12oz can, and enjoy the rest for yourself) – the Coke acts as a tenderizer to soften the beef.
  • You should start the process at the beginning of the day (circa 7am) on a 4-6 hr setting (all crock-pots are different) but the earlier the better, or prep the night before. 
  • No one is going to sit around and just eat an entire pot-roast, therefore about 45 minutes before you’re ready to eat, throw in your rice and let it cook by absorbing all the juicy-goodness that has be given off.
  • Right before you’re ready to serve, take two forks and start shredding the meat.
  • Discard any big fatty pieces.
  • Scoop into a bowl, share with friends, Enjoy!
If you want more recipes like this, feel free to reach out to us at GTM; or search the web for “one pot meals” – “4 hr slow cooker recipes” – “easy insta-pot meals” – and more. Whatever you do, be sure to mix it up at your next event weekend. #burger-vs-burrito #ohmylanta

Bon Appétit!

Harry B
Harry B
GTM's OG Region 2 Chief and Master Chef...

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