Beat Bobby Flay is Bobby Flay’s newest Food Network endeavor. Taped in front of a live audience, it begins with two contestants competing to make a dish featuring a secret ingredient in 20 minutes.
The ingredient is always chosen by Bobby Flay.
The winner of that round can then compete against Bobby Flay, making a dish of the competitor’s choosing. They have 45 minutes to make the dish.
I thought it would be fun to come up with some recipes that you can try at home featuring the key ingredients that Bobby has chosen. Contestants are encouraged to make the ingredient the star of the dish, so I chose recipes that really make the key ingredient shine.
Challah Bread: Challah French Toast
In this showdown, Rene Rodriguez beat Michael Kramer by whipping up a tasty dish starring challah. He then went on to beat Bobby by making a sophisticated huevos rancheros. I think that the best method of attack, given challah as the secret ingredient, would be this challah french toast.
King Crab: Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms
I love Alex Guarnaschelli and she kicked Jet Tila's butt in the opening round of this episode by showcasing king crab beautifully. She then went on to beat Bobby in the second round. With this crab-stuffed mushroom recipe, you could give either one of them a run for their money.
Sundried Tomatoes: Balsamic Eggplant Stir Fry
This four ingredient balsamic eggplant stir fry would probably win the award for the least ingredients ever used in a round of Beat Bobby Flay. That doesn't mean it wouldn't stand up to Todd Stein and Paul Virant's dishes in the sundried tomato flavor department.
Quail Eggs: Ginger Curry Egg Drop Soup
Quail eggs are known for being tiny and having a delicate flavor that's easily masked by other ingredients. Competitors Jason Tom and Admir Alibasic both did a great job preparing their dishes, but I think this ginger curry egg drop soup would've been a great move.
Red Snapper: Snapper in Soy Sauce
This Japanese-inspired take on red snapper, when paired with a contrasting side, could take on competitors as experienced as Vuong Loc and Ian Alvarez. Then you could take on Bobby Flay where he has the least experience, asian cuisine.
Red Wine: Braised Pork Butt with Egg Noodles
Competitors Franke Otte and Eric Adjepong had to get creative with red wine in the opening battle of their episode. Instead of just drinking it, try using this recipe to make a delicious meal with sophisticated flavor that will finally make you feel like a grown-up.
Canadian Bacon: Eggs Benedict
I don't know about you, but when I hear canadian bacon, I automatically think eggs benedict. If I were up against Todd Erickson and Charles Bauer in the opening round, I wouldn't hesitant to whip out this recipe for the brunch classic.
If you're getting a little tired of the same old traditional eggs benedict every weekend, try one of these recipes.
Bowtie Pasta: Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad
Bowtie pasta is a fun ingredient from childhood that you may not know could be used in a huge variety of recipes. Not only is the shape fun, but it's perfect for holding the pesto sauce in this recipe that you could use to Beat Bobby.
Corn Flakes: Crusted Chicken
Crushing corn flakes and using them as a crust on fried food is a great way to make a breakfast food shine in a dinner entree dish. This recipe uses popcorn as well and gives it a healthy twist by baking. None of the flavor is lost, so this dish could beat Brian Santos, the winner of the round.
Strawberries: Strawberry Jalapeño Poppers with Smokey Strawberry BBQ Sauce
Usually competitors, like Francois Payard and Zac Young from this episode, use the secret ingredient in multiple ways to showcase their skills and ensure that the ingredient shines. This recipe makes strawberry the star of both the main savory dish and the sauce.
Butternut Squash: Butternut Squash Bowls
In this episode, Ed Cotton faced off against Omar Zerrei and won by creating a dish starring butternut squash. If I were to fight it out in battle butternut squash, I would want to bring this recipe for a delicious vegetarian dish featuring quinoa and kale. The judges wouldn't even miss the meat.
Ground Pork: Donburi
This easy twist on the classic Japanese rice bowl dish, Donburi, would have Bobby Flay running for the hills. When accompanied by rice, eggs, and a few traditional Japanese add-ins like soy sauce and sesame oil, ground pork becomes a real star.
After you work your way through these recipes, you'll be ready to beat the Iron Chef in his own kitchen. What signature dish would you want to use to Beat Bobby Flay?