When Comfort West closed this summer time, the barbecue scene in far West Texas out of the blue grew to become quite a bit sparser. The Marfa joint was manner on the market however nonetheless drew smoked-meat lovers and even the eye of the James Beard Basis. In reality, simply earlier than pitmaster Mark Scott and his spouse and restaurant co-owner, Kaki Aufdengarten-Scott, introduced the closure, they attended the James Beard Awards in Chicago as nominees (though they didn’t find yourself profitable).
Nonetheless, irrespective of the plaudits, barbecue is a difficult business with razor-thin margins, and working a pit is time-consuming and bodily demanding. In gentle of that, it’s straightforward to grasp that the small staff at Comfort West was worn out.
Fortunately, we are able to at all times bear in mind the nice occasions. I fondly recall the primary time I loved a diffusion at Comfort West—the brisket was delectably moist, the ribs have been completely cooked, and the Frito pie sausage particular was creative. However what actually caught out have been the inventive sides. Scott’s first job in a restaurant was at Maiya’s, which, on the time, was an unprecedented fine-dining spot in Marfa. There, he discovered to consider all of the scrumptious methods greens will be ready, so it’s no shock that he paid consideration to the complete plate. Memorable menu gadgets included blue cornbread, kale salad, a candy potato salad, and an ever-changing array of pickles.
The star, although, was the Carrot Dip Dip, whose whimsical name was inspired by a household pal’s three-year-old. The dip is clean and savory, with an earthy sweetness from the roasted carrots. The pepitas and recent cilantro that garnish the highest add texture, and Fritos are served alongside to scoop all of it up. I’ve typically thought it could be the right snack for a tailgate or a vacation gathering, however I couldn’t grasp the recipe from reminiscence. I reached out to Scott and requested if he’d share the recipe with us, and he generously obliged. Now we are able to all get pleasure from and bear in mind a few of the flavors of Comfort West.
Comfort West’s Carrot Dip Dip
We stated farewell to the Marfa barbecue joint, however we couldn’t half with out realizing the key to its well-known vegetarian aspect.
- 2 kilos carrots, peeled
- 1 yellow onion
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 purple bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon toasted pepitas, plus some for topping the dip
- 1 cup further virgin olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon for roasting the carrots
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- Cilantro leaves to garnish
- Salt and pepper to style
- Fritos for serving
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Reduce carrots into quarter-inch medallions. Toss with a tablespoon of olive oil and salt and pepper to style. Roast on a lined baking sheet at 425 levels till carrots have a pleasant shade and are fork-tender, about 45 minutes to an hour.
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Whereas carrots are roasting, minimize the onion in half and roast on a fuel burner or underneath a broiler within the oven for about 5 to 10 minutes. Fifteen minutes earlier than the carrots are imagined to be performed, wrap the charred onion and garlic cloves collectively in foil and place them on the sheet tray with the carrots within the oven.
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Reduce the pepper in half, take away the seeds and membrane, and roast it the identical manner you probably did the onion. When it’s charred, put it in a bowl and canopy with plastic wrap.
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When the carrots are cooked, pull them out of the oven and put them apart to chill for fifteen minutes.
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By now the pepper must be cool sufficient to be able to peel off the blackened pores and skin. After peeling it, add the pepper to a blender with the roasted onion and garlic.
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Mix on excessive for 10 to fifteen seconds, and add your carrots, pepitas, and apple cider vinegar. With the blender nonetheless on excessive, add olive oil progressively. We’re searching for a clean, virtually hummus-like texture.
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Serve topped with a touch of olive oil, the remaining pepitas, and recent cilantro, with Fritos on the aspect for dipping.
The carrots will roast higher in the event that they’re all about the identical measurement, so it’s useful to select equally sized carrots as an alternative of simply shopping for a two-pound bag.