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These amazing recipes (below) were developed by the award-winning cookbook author, Damon Lee Fowler. Bookmark this page and visit often as we will be adding new recipes every week.
Also, be sure to check out three of Damon Lee Fowler’s most popular cookbooks. All are available for sale at the Salt Table shops and online. And, all three are autographed.
Damon Lee Fowler (left) recently held a booksigning at The Salt Table shops in Savannah and Pooler Georgia. Carol and Dave are very proud to host such a prolific and notable cookbook author. His books are available in the shops and online. These books are also autographed by Damon.
About the Author: Damon Lee Fowler is a culinary historian, cooking teacher and food writer. A nationally recognized authority on Southern cooking, he is the author of nine cookbooks, including Classical Southern Cooking, Beans, Greens, & Sweet Georgia Peaches, Savannah Chef’s Table, Essentials of Southern Cooking and, most recently, Ham: A Savor the South Cookbook. He has written historical commentary on a number of historical cookbooks and was editor and recipe developer for Dining At Monticello for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. He is the featured food writer for the Savannah Morning News and has written for such national publications as Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Garden & Gun, Relish and Local Palate. He lives, eats, and writes in Savannah, Georgia.
Pork tenderloins are the leanest and most tender part of the pig, but they’re also the least flavorful and can become dry if they’re overcooked. A generous dose of Southern Italian Blend takes care of the former, and a protective wrapping of prosciutto takes care of the latter. These can be grilled or roasted, so they’re perfect for your cookouts or any special dinner!
10-12 very thin slices imported Italian prosciutto
2 lemons, cut into wedges
Rosemary sprigs, for garnish, optional
HOW TO MAKE:
Trim the tenderloins and remove the silver skin with a sharp knife. Rub their entire surface lightly with oil. Generously grind Southern Italian Grinder Blend over all sides, patting it into the surface. Wrap each tenderloin with prosciutto, completely covering it, and tied it securely with kitchen twine. Either prepare a grill with hardwood coals to a medium-hot fire or position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 425° F. If roasting, skip to step 3.
To grill them, brush them with oil and put them on the grill over direct heat. Grill, turning as needed, until all sides are seared, about 2-3 minutes per side. Move to indirect heat (or put them in a flame-proof pan on the coolest part of the grill), cover, and cook to an internal temperature of 135° for medium, about 15 minutes longer.
To roast them in the oven, rub a roasting pan with oil, put in the tenderloins, and drizzle with them with more oil. Roast 20 minutes in the upper third of the oven and reduce heat to 350°. Roast until meat reaches 135° for medium, about 10-15 minutes longer.
Remove to the meat to a platter, loosely cover with foil, and let it rest 15 minutes. Remove the twine, then thinly slice and arrange the tenderloins on a platter. Scatter the lemons around, garnish if liked
Seasoning traditional Italian-style meatballs is a cinch with The Salt Table’s Southern Italian Blend. Although spaghetti and meatballs are a standard weeknight meal in our country, meatballs are not served as a pasta sauce in Italy. These can be used Italian-style, as a meat dish, or American-style as a pasta sauce or hot sandwich filling
4 cups marinara sauce (good bottled or Southern Italian Marinara, recipe following)
Salt (for the pasta, if using)
12-16 ounces spaghetti, thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta, for serving, optional
½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for serving optional
HOW TO MAKE
Put the bread in a mixing bowl and drizzle enough milk over it to saturate it. Let it soak for a minute, then squeeze it dry, discarding the milk. Crumble the bread into the bowl. Crumble in the beef and add the onion. Season well with Southern Italian Blend and mix until everything is evenly blended. Moisten your hands with water and form the meat into 1½-inch balls.
Put enough oil in a 3-4 quart Dutch oven to cover the bottom by ¼-inch and put it over medium heat. When it’s hot, raise the heat to medium high, add enough meatballs to fill the pan without crowding, and brown them on all sides, about 3 minutes. Remove them with a slotted spoon to a plate and repeat until all the meatballs have been browned.
Drain and discard the browning oil and wipe out the pan, but don’t wash it. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the onion and return the pot to medium heat. Sauté, stirring often, until the onion is softened and golden, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about half a minute, then pour in the wine. Bring it to a boil and cook until it loses its sharp alcoholic aroma. Add in the marinara, bring it to a simmer, and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the meatballs to the sauce, bring it back to a simmer, and adjust the heat to a slow, steady simmer. Simmer until the sauce is thick and the meatballs are very tender and deeply flavored with the sauce, at least 1 hour—longer won’t hurt.
The meatballs can be served as a meat dish, on toasted sandwich rolls as a sandwich filling, or as a sauce for pasta. To serve the meatballs with pasta, bring 4 quarts water to a rolling boil. Stir in a small handful of salt and the pasta, bring it back to a boil, and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente (firm to the bite), using the package directions as a rough guide. Drain and toss with a cup of sauce, then serve topped with meatballs, passing the cheese separately.
Basic “Southern Italian” Marinara
You can use a jar of marinara for the above recipe, (they’re right at 4 cups) or make your own: it’s easy with The Salt Table’s Southern Italian Grinder Blend. Southern Italian Blend has garlic powder in it, so you can omit the fresh garlic, although it freshens the flavor.
Put the oil and onion in a 3-4-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté until the onion is pale gold, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, if using, and sauté until fragrant, about half a minute.
Add the tomatoes and season well with Southern Italian Blend. Bring it to a boil, then adjust the heat to a slow, steady simmer, and let it cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick and the flavors are well-blended, about half an hour.
Inspired by Damon’s dear friend Sallie Ann Robinson. She taught him how to make her mother’s shrimp and potato salad, which was a staple during the long hot summers of Daufuskie Island.
1½ pounds small red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed under cold running water
Dry white wine, dry white vermouth, or chicken broth
½ cup thinly sliced scallions (about 4 scallions)
2 tablespoons green tops set aside for garnish
½ cup small-diced celery (about 2 medium ribs)
3 tablespoons nonpareil capers, drained
1/3 cup chopped bread-and-butter pickles or sweet pickle relish
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Creole or coarse Dijon mustard, or to taste
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
HOW TO MAKE
Bring 2 quarts water to a rolling boil. Add the shrimp and cook until they’re curled and pink and 2 or 3 float, about 1 minute. Don’t let the water return to a boil. Pour them into a colander, drain, and rinse well under cold running water. Generously grind Tybee Island Coastal Blend over them, toss to coat, and let them completely cool.
Meanwhile, cut the potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Put them in the pot in which the shrimp cooked and add enough water to just cover them. Bring it to a boil over medium high heat, adjust the heat to medium-low, and simmer until they’re just tender, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and put them in a large bowl. While they’re still hot, sprinkle them generously with the wine or broth and season with several grindings of Tybee Blend. Gently toss and let them cool.
Peel and devein the shrimp and add them to the cooled potatoes. Add the scallions, holding back a 2 tablespoons of their green tops for garnish, the celery, capers and chopped pickles. Gently toss. Blend together the mayonnaise and mustard. Add it to the salad and gently but thoroughly fold it in. Taste and adjust the mustard and Tybee Blend. Chill at least 2 hours and serve on lettuce leaves, garnished with the reserved green onion tops
The Tybee Island Coast Grinder Blend is one of Carol’s award-winning blends and best selling blends for seafood of all types. This recipe features this versatile blend for the perfect appetizer. Serve it with crackers and chips and enjoy it at any picnic or backyard party.
1 6½-ounce can minced clams, drained but juice reserved
Worcestershire sauce
Hot sauce such as Tabasco or Louisiana Hot Sauce
1 lemon cut in half
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
Sturdy “scoop” style corn chips or ruffled potato chips
HOW TO MAKE:
Whip together the cream cheese and sour cream with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Blend in 2 teaspoons Tybee Blend and 3 tablespoons of reserved clam juice. Blend in several dashes of Worcestershire and hot sauce and a teaspoon of lemon juice, and fold in the parsley. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so to allow the flavors to blend.
Taste and adjust the Tybee Blend, Worcestershire, hot sauce, lemon juice, and clam juice. It can be served right away, but will be better if chilled for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. If you’ve chilled it, let it sit at room temperature at least 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if liked and serve with “scoop” corn chips or ruffled potato chips.
Salt Table’s All ‘Round Good Grinder Blend & Leek and Chive, and Onion Seasoning Blend
All ‘Round Good Grinder Blend is ideal for marinades and vinaigrettes, providing all the flavorings the marinade will need with a simple twist of the mill. It’s especially cooling way of using up the leftover roast, but in Savannah’s changeable climate, it can be a welcome supper dish at any time of the year. Try it also with roasted pork tenderloins or leg of lamb.
1 head romaine lettuce, pulled apart, washed, and spun dry
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
12-16 ripe cherry or grape tomatoes
2 tablespoons nonpareil capers, drained
4 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut into wedges
2-4 ounces Roquefort, gorgonzola, or other blue cheese, roughly crumbled
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
HOW TO MAKE IT:
Make the vinaigrette: chop the garlic fine and sprinkle with salt. Rub it to paste with a flat side of the knife. Scrape it into a mixing bowl. Whisk in vinegar and mustard. Slowly whisk in oil, a few drops at a time, until emulsified. Whisk in 1 teaspoon Good Grinder Blend and thyme. Set aside 10-15 minutes, then taste and adjust the seasonings. Put the beef in a glass or ceramic bowl. Drizzle vinaigrette over it, toss, then cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or until needed.
Make potato salad: Put 1 inch water in pot fitted with steamer insert and bring to rolling boil over medium high heat. Scrub potatoes under cold running water, slice 1/4-inch thick, and put in steamer insert. Cover and steam until just tender. Transfer to mixing bowl and while still hot sprinkle lightly with wine. Toss and let sit a few minutes. Sprinkle lightly with vinegar and season with Leek, Chive, and Onion Seasoning Blend. Toss and let cool. Drizzle with olive oil. Toss, taste, and adjust the vinegar, oil, and seasoning blend. Set aside until completely cooled.
Line a platter with whole lettuce leaves. Tear the remaining leaves into bite-size pieces. Drizzle lightly with vinaigrette, toss and spread over the whole lettuce leaves. Add the scallions to the marinated beef, toss, and spread it over the center of the platter.
Arrange the potato salad around the beef in several mounds. Toss the tomatoes with a spoonful of vinaigrette and arrange them between the potatoes. Scatter the capers over the beef, potato salad, and tomatoes. Arrange the wedges of egg around the beef and drizzle them with vinaigrette. Sprinkle Roquefort cheese over the salad to taste and finish with a sprinkling of parsley. Serve at once, passing the remaining vinaigrette separately.
Salt Table Southern Italian Grinder Blend, or River Street Cobblestone Blend, or Southern Herb Garden Blend
Stuffed vegetables are popular with Italian cooks, particularly in Liguria, the coastal province that’s also known as the Italian Riviera. These are most often offered as an antipasto (appetizer), but they’re substantial enough to serve as a light main dish for lunch or supper. The Salt Table’s Southern Italian Grinder Blend is a perfect pairing with the flavors of this, but other great seasoning combinations are River Street Cobblestone Blend and Southern Herb Garden Blend.
Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 375° F. Scrub the squash under cold running water. Put them in a wide, shallow, lidded pan and add just enough water to cover. Lift out the squash, cover the pan, and bring the water to a boil. Return the squash to the pan, cover, bring it back to a boil, then uncover, reduce the heat, and simmer until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and let them cool enough to handle.
Split them lengthwise and carefully scoop out centers, leaving a ¼-inch shell. Lightly season these with Southern Italian Blend. Roughly chop the pulp.
Put the shallot and butter in pan over medium heat. Sauté, tossing occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the zucchini pulp and cook until its liquid is evaporated. Add the prosciutto, toss until hot, and turn off heat. Stir in the crumbs and all but 3 tablespoons of the Parmigiano cheese. Season well with Southern Italian Blend and toss well to mix.
Fill the zucchini shells with stuffing, mounding it on top, and put in a lightly buttered casserole, stuffing side up. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake until hot through and tops are golden brown, about 20-30 minutes
Salt Table Tybee Island Coastal Grinder Blend and Leek, Chive and Onion Blend
Southerners love their seafood, and shrimp is on the top of that list because it is so versatile in so many dishes, especially salads. This salad features ‘Tybee Island Coastal Grinder Blend’ and ‘Leek, Chive and Onion Blend,’ and we think you’ll absolutely love it!
Completely peel the shrimp for this. Nothing is more irritating than having that pretty but inedible bit of tail fin on the end of a shrimp that you’re trying to eat with a knife and fork.
1/2 cup washed, trimmed, and sliced scallions, optional
2 tablespoons nonpareil capers, drained
1 head romaine lettuce, pulled apart, washed, and spun dry
2 medium to large ripe tomatoes
2 ripe avocadoes
6-8 small fresh basil leaves
12-16 Butter Toasted Croutons, optional (see note below)
HOW TO MAKE IT:
Bring 3 quarts of water to boil in a large pot. Add the shrimp and simmer until 3-4 shrimp float, about 1 minute. Drain, rinse under cold running water, then grind Tybee Island Blend liberally over them and toss well. Let cool completely, then peel and devein. The shrimp will pick up the seasoning as you peel them.
2. Make the vinaigrette: chop the garlic and sprinkle it with salt. Rub it to a paste with the flat side of the knife. Scrape it into a mixing bowl and whisk in the lemon juice, vinegar, and mustard. Whisk in the oil a few drops at a time until emulsified and whisk in 2 tablespoons of Leek, Chive, and Onion Seasoning. Set it aside 10-15 minutes, taste, and adjust seasonings and lemon juice. Put the shrimp in a bowl and pour all the vinaigrette over them. Add the celery, scallions, and capers, toss well, cover, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or until needed.
To serve, line a platter with lettuce leaves. Tear the remaining lettuce into bite-sized pieces in large salad bowl. Core and if desired peel the tomatoes, then halve, seed, and dice them and add them to the shrimp. Halve, pit, peel and dice the avocadoes and add them to the shrimp. Gently toss. Lift the shrimp, avocado and tomato from the vinaigrette with a slotted spoon and add them to the lettuce. Toss well, taste, and add the reserved vinaigrette as needed. Spread the salad on the lettuce-lined platter, tear the basil into small pieces over it. Scatter croutons over salad if using and serve immediately, with the remaining marinade passed separately.
Butter-Toasted Croutons: Cut 2 1-inch thick slices firm, crusty bread into 1-inch cubes. Warm 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add bread and toss to coat. Pan-toast, tossing regularly, until evenly browned and crisp, about 6-8 minutes.
Recipe by Damon Lee Fowler, featuring
