(Family Features) No other trend has parked itself at the forefront of the culinary world quite like food trucks, but these aren’t the stale doughnut and questionable hotdog stands of yore. From coast to coast, a new generation of chefs has been putting unique cuisines on four wheels. But if you’re not in an urban setting, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on these delectable dishes.

To celebrate the phenomenon, CanolaInfo partnered with four food truck chefs/owners representing different U.S. regions to create the Street Eats Recipe Collection, allowing home cooks everywhere to recreate delicious food truck fare.

“The economic downturn has driven the street food trend in recent years along with Americans’ love of all things fast and convenient,” says Josh Henderson, owner of Skillet Street Food in Seattle, Wash. “There are all of these wonderful chefs looking for a way to bring their creations to the masses, and now with mobile kitchens, it’s easier than ever. This recipe collection provides yet another way of sharing our love of flavorful foods.”

Because of its versatility, canola oil is used in each Street Eats recipe. At 468°F, the smoke point (heat threshold) of canola oil is among the highest of all cooking oils, which means it’s perfect for sautéing and baking.

“I use canola oil in my food truck because it can take the heat and has a light texture and neutral flavor,” says Henderson. “From my skillet dishes to my gravy, it is very adaptable, letting other ingredient flavors shine without weighing them down.”

Canola oil can also help kick saturated fat to the curb when used in place of solid fat or other oils in recipes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a qualified health claim on canola oil’s potential to reduce the risk of heart disease when used in place of saturated fat.

For the complete Street Eats Recipe collection and list of food truck chefs, visit www.CanolaInfo.org or www.Facebook.com/CanolaInfo.

  

Raspberry Cream Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

By Frankie Francollo

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Serving size: 1 cupcake with frosting

Cupcakes

            2 1/2    cups all-purpose flour

            2          teaspoons baking powder

            2          cups granulated sugar

            4          eggs

            1          cup milk

            3/4       cup canola oil

            1          teaspoon vanilla extract

            2          cups raspberries, fresh or frozen

Cream Cheese Frosting

            2          packages of cream cheese

                                    (8 ounces) at room temperature

            1 1/2    cups powdered sugar, sifted

            1          teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin tin with 24 cupcake liners.

In small bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In medium bowl, combine sugar and eggs. Using electric mixer, combine until mixture thickens, about 1 minute. Add milk, canola oil and vanilla. Continue to mix. Slowly add flour mixture until fully combined, scraping sides of bowl with spatula to get out all lumps. Remove bowl from mixer.

Add 1 cup raspberries. Gently mix in raspberries by hand. Spoon mixture into muffin cups until about two-thirds full.

Bake for 20 minutes or until cupcakes spring back to touch. Remove from oven and cool cupcakes completely.

To prepare frosting: In medium bowl, mix cream cheese on medium speed until lump free. Slowly add powdered sugar and vanilla extract until fully combined. Spoon cream cheese frosting into pastry bag with medium round tip and pipe on top of cooled cupcakes. Top each cupcake with a raspberry. Serve right away or refrigerate until serving.

 

 

Kale Salad with Hazelnut-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Yield: 4 servings

Serving size: Just over 1 cup salad

Kale Salad

            4          cups chopped kale

            2          tablespoons chopped, toasted hazelnuts

            2          tablespoons dried cranberries

            2          tablespoons blue cheese crumbles

            1/4       cup flat leaf parsley, whole leaf

Hazelnut-Balsamic Vinaigrette

            1/3       cup balsamic vinegar

            1          tablespoon water

            2          teaspoons Dijon mustard

            1/2       teaspoon salt

            1          shallot, minced

            1          clove garlic, minced

            1          tablespoon fresh chopped thyme

            1/2       teaspoon black pepper

            1/4       cup crushed, toasted hazelnuts

            1/2       cup canola oil

In large bowl, combine kale, hazelnuts, cranberries, blue cheese and parsley. Set aside.

To prepare vinaigrette: In medium bowl, combine all ingredients except canola oil using immersion blender. Then slowly blend in canola oil until emulsion forms.

Add Hazelnut-Balsamic Vinaigrette to Kale Salad, toss and serve.

 

 

Cheddar-Parmesan Poutine with Gravy

Yield: 4 servings

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups poutine

            4          Russet potatoes, peeled and

                                    sliced into uniform sticks

            5          cups canola oil

            2          cups poutine gravy

                                    (see recipe)

            1          cup sharp cheddar cheese,

                                    grated

            1          cup Parmesan or Grana

                                    Padano cheese, grated

            3          tablespoons chopped

                                    fresh dill

            3          tablespoons chopped

                                    fresh flat leaf parsley

            3          tablespoons chopped

                                    fresh sage

            1/4       teaspoon salt

            1/4       teaspoon pepper

Soak cut potatoes in cold water overnight. Before deep-frying, remove potatoes from water and pat dry.

Using deep-fryer, heat canola oil to 375°F. Deep-fry for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove fries from deep-fryer and drain on paper towels.

If necessary, in saucepan, reheat 2 cups poutine gravy and set aside.

Return fries to deep-fryer and fry for additional 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from deep-fryer to stainless steel bowl. Add gravy, cheese and herbs. Stir gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.

 

Poutine Gravy

Yield: 5 cups

Serving size: 1/2 cup

            3/4       cup diced yellow onion

            2          tablespoons diced carrot

            2          tablespoons diced celery

            2/3       cup canola oil

            1          tablespoon chopped sage

            1/2       teaspoon tomato paste

            1/3       cup all-purpose flour

            4          cups beef stock

            1          tablespoon Worcestershire

                                    sauce

            1          teaspoon chopped garlic

            1          tablespoon chopped

                                    rosemary

            1          teaspoon salt

            1/2       teaspoon pepper

In large saucepan, sweat onion, carrot and celery in canola oil over medium heat until slightly caramelized. Stir frequently. Add sage and tomato paste and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.

Sprinkle vegetable mixture with flour and combine to form roux. Heat for about 30 seconds. Add stock, Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Simmer for 35 minutes.

Season with rosemary, salt and pepper. Simmer for additional 10 minutes. Using immersion blender, purée gravy. Leftover gravy can be frozen for future use.