Here's another one for you guys that think it is not hot enough until your nose hairs are on fire and it hurts to pee.
Funny story about this one. Y'all know I married into a Louisiana family, and all of them started out with cayenne pepper in their mashed peas, so they have no issues with spicy hot food. Chicken Big Mamou is my favorite non-seafood Cajun dish, and my brother in law always makes it for me for my birthday. One year, we sat down to eat and I took a huge bite. It was good... for about three seconds... and then my eyes started to water and my throat was numb with pain. But to show weakness to heat at that family table is to invite serious ridicule, so I choked it down. I got about halfway through the plate - and I was dying. Incredible pain. But I said NOTHING. I toughed it out. Until I noticed that the entire table was quiet. I looked at B-I-L and his face was red and he was sweating bullets. He has had two heart attacks, so I asked him if he was okay. He said he was fine, that maybe the mamou was a bit hot. My sister in law goes "Yeah, maybe a bit..." and Carl nods his head and doesn't speak... and then B-I-L admits that he thinks he added the cayenne three times instead of just twice... I threw down my fork and gasped "OH THANK GOD!!!"
So all I can say is... taste, taste and taste again before adding any extra cayenne. Cayenne is a delayed reaction. The white pepper and Tabasco will sneak up on you too if you aren't careful. Remember that each person can always add their own seasoning at the table...
Very labor intensive dish to prepare but SO DAMN WORTH IT. And it is even better the next day after it has been refrigerated overnight and everything has a chance to blend... Can also be frozen and reheated very well. The recipe calls for spaghetti but angel hair is better.Chicken Big Mamou On Pasta - Paul Prudhomme
Ingredients
1/2 Pounds Fresh spaghetti (1 lb dry);
----seasoning mix---
2 Teaspoons Dried thyme leaves
3/4 Teaspoon Black pepper
1 1/4 Teaspoons Ground cayenne pepper
1/2 ts Dried sweet basil leaves
1 ts White pepper;
----sauce-----
1 lb Unsalted butter
2 tb Worcestershire sauce
1 tb Tabasco sauce + 1 teaspoon
1 c Onions; chopped
very fine (
VERY IMPORTANT FOR PROPER SAUCE CONSISTENCY)
2 cn Tomato sauce (16 oz)
4 Med. garlic cloves; peeled
2 tb Sugar
2 ts Minced garlic
2 c Green onions; chopped
very fine (
VERY IMPORTANT FOR PROPER SAUCE CONSISTENCY)
3 1/4 c Rich chicken stock (see note;
----chicken seasoning
1 1/2 tb Salt
1 ts Black pepper
1 1/2 ts White pepper
1 ts Cumin (optional)
1 1/2 ts Garlic powder
1/2 ts Dried sweet basil leaves
1 1/4 ts Ground cayenne pepper
2 lb Boneless chicken (see notes)
Instructions
NOTE: To make a Rich Chicken Stock strain the basic stock, then continue simmering it until evaporation reduces the liquid by half. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup Rich Stock, start it with at least 2 cups of strained basic stock. Use dark meat, cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Thoroughly combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. In a 4-quart saucepan, combine 1-1/2 sticks of the butter, the onions and garlic cloves; saute over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the minced garlic and seasoning mix; continue cooking over medium heat until onions are dark brown, but not burned, about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often. Add 2-1/2 cups of the stock, the Worcestershire and Tabasco; bring to a fast simmer and cook about 8 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the tomato sauce and bring mixture to a boil. Then stir in the sugar and 1 cup of the green onions; gently simmer uncovered about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Combine the ingredients of the chicken seasoning mix in a small bowl; mix well. Sprinkle over the chicken, rubbing it in with your hands. In a large skillet melt 1-1/2 sticks of the butter over medium heat. Add the remaining 1 cup green onions and saute over high heat about 3 minutes. Add the chicken and continue cooking 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
When the tomato sauce has simmered about 40 minutes, stir in the chicken mixture and heat through.
Serve over pasta.
From Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen