Chef Hubert Keller Shares Secrets to a Great Soup, Offers Recipe Using Cuisinart's New Rice Plus(TM) Multi-Cooker

October 30, 2009 5:18 PM EDT

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As the colder months rapidly approach, home cooks are turning to warmer, heartier dishes to satisfy the entire family. Soup is a traditional favorite for fall and winter, with options that go far beyond chicken & stars and classic tomato.

Using Cuisinart's Rice Plus(TM) Multi-Cooker with Fuzzy Logic Technology, Chef Hubert Keller, one of the top three finalists in Bravo's recent Top Chef Masters, provides home cooks with tips to make fresh and hearty soups as a one-pot meal that incorporates delectable and authentic flavors.

"All chefs know that the secret to making a great soup is starting with a great stock," says Chef Keller, who hosts the PBS cooking series, Secrets of a Chef, and is the owner of Fleur de Lys, Burger Bar and SLeeK Steakhouse. "I always recommend that home cooks make their own stock if they have the time. Professional chefs generally cook their chicken stock for many, many hours (up to 24) at a low simmer to extract maximum flavor. The Cuisinart Multi-Cooker is a great kitchen appliance to use for this purpose, as it can be set and left alone all day and you know the soup is simmering at just the right temperature." This is accomplished using the Multi-Cooker's Fuzzy Logic Technology, which is comprised of a built-in "brain" that senses fluctuations in cooking and automatically adjusts operation to ensure perfect results.

The recipe below for Brazilian Chicken and Shrimp Soup was developed specifically by Chef Keller using the Rice Plus(TM) Multi-Cooker. The inspiration for this dish came from the two years in which Chef Keller worked in Brazil with Master Chef Roger Verge at Cuisine du Soleil. There, he began to integrate some of the bright, bold flavors of Brazilian cooking that make this soup so unique and flavorful: combining chicken and shrimp, while using coconut milk and lime juice to deepen and enliven the stock base, and ultimately, adding a final flourish of cilantro.

Additional Soup Pointers from Chef Keller:

    --  Soup is a great dish to serve at a cocktail party or get-together; pass
        it around in espresso cups or small Asian bowls, and for more informal
        gatherings, serve it in a coffee mug
    --  When serving soup, think about adding a few decorative garnishes that
        add color and texture to the finished product. Since garnishes should
        always reflect or enhance the flavors in the main dish, look at the
        ingredient list to see if there is something already in the soup that
        can be chopped and sprinkled on top, such as:
        o Peppers
        o Peanuts
        o Scallions
        o Diced tomatoes
        o Herbs
        o Croutons

Brazilian Chicken and Shrimp Soup

A medley of aromatic spices, chicken and shrimp gives this hearty, Brazilian-inspired soup a burst of flavor; great as a one-pot meal.

Serves 8

5         chicken thighs, skinned

3         tablespoons fresh lime juice

2         garlic cloves, minced

1         tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1         cup finely chopped onion (about 1 small)

1         cup diced green bell pepper (about 1 medium)

1         can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes

1/3       cup finely chopped toasted peanuts

1         medium jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped

2         bay leaves

1-1/4     teaspoons salt

3/4       teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3         cups chicken broth

1-1/2     cups coconut milk

8         ounces raw shrimp (medium size), peeled and de-veined

10        ounces frozen peas

2         tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro

4         cups cooked jasmine or basmati rice for serving

          Prepare rice using the long-grain directions on the cooking chart for
      1.  Cuisinart's Rice Plus(TM) Multi-Cooker. Rice can also be prepared the
          day before.

          Place the chicken in a medium mixing bowl and season lightly with salt
      2.  and pepper. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the lime juice and rub chicken
          with minced garlic. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

          In the cooking pot of the Cuisinart Rice Plus(TM) Multi-Cooker, add
      3.  the olive oil. Set to Quick Cook and press start. Once the olive oil
          is hot, after about 3 minutes, add the onions and peppers and saute
          for about 4 minutes until soft and fragrant.

          Stir in the canned tomatoes including juice, peanuts, jalapeno, bay
          leaves, salt, pepper, broth, and coconut milk. (Note: be sure to stir
      4.  the coconut milk prior to pouring from can.) Add the chicken and
          marinade and stir until well combined. Turn the unit off. Close the
          lid and select the Soup function and set the timer for 5 hours.

          15 minutes before the timer is done, rinse the shrimp well and pat
      5.  dry. Place in a mixing bowl with the remaining lime juice and a pinch
          each of the salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 5 to 8 minutes; no longer
          or the acid of the juice will begin to cook the shrimp.

          Once there are 5 minutes remaining on the timer, open the lid and add
      6.  the frozen peas and the shrimp with the juices, and close again to
          finish cooking.

          Once the timer tone sounds, open the lid. Discard the bay leaves. Take
          out the whole chicken pieces and place on a cutting board. Remove the
      7.  meat from the bone, cut into bite size pieces, and return to the pot.
          Stir in the cilantro to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as
          needed.

          To serve, place some warm cooked rice (approximately 1/3 to 1/2 cup
      8.  depending on portion size) in the bottom of each soup bowl and ladle
          the soup on top. If desired, sprinkle with additional chopped cilantro
          and/or chopped peanuts.

Cuisinart Rice Plus(TM) Multi-Cooker with Fuzzy Logic Technology, everyday retail price: $149

The Multi-Cooker features pre-programmed menu options, a 24-hour programmable finish time and an automatic "Keep Warm" setting that activates after cooking is complete. Cuisinart's new kitchen appliance is also equipped with an easy-to-read control panel and backlit blue LCD display; pre-programmed menu options that include White Rice, Sushi Rice, Brown Rice and Risotto (which is most often made with Arborio Rice); and additional options for Soup, Oatmeal, Slow Cooking, and Steaming. In addition, the unit has Quick Cooking and Reheat functions, making it one of the most versatile pieces of kitchen equipment a home cook can possess.

About Cuisinart:

Cuisinart, universally known for introducing the food processor in America, is a leader in culinary appliances, professional quality cookware and kitchen accessories. The company's cutting edge reputation can be seen on numerous fronts, from industry-first products and design awards to sponsorships of culinary events and TV cooking shows. Cuisinart manufactures a full range of products under the tagline, "Savor the Good Life(R)." These products include cookware, countertop cooking appliances, blenders, stand mixers and coffeemakers, as well as food processors, toasters and toaster ovens, ice cream makers and waffle makers. Cuisinart's website is www.cuisinart.com, www.cuisinart.com/baby, www.cuisinartstandmixer.com and www.cuisinartcleanwater.com.

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    Source: Cuisinart

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