- 1143 VOTES
Oeuf Redux
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Episode: "Œuf" (Season 1, episode 4)
Occasion: A manipulative power exercise between Hannibal Lecter and Abigail Hobbs - part protege, part accomplice, part patsy - begins with a mind-altering mushroom appetizer and continues with a classic American breakfast. The combination is not incidental; as Hannibal argues, “Taste is not only biochemical, it’s also psychological.” He opens up her mind, and her subconscious, while nourishing her with the very meal her father was preparing the morning he was caught, changing Abigail’s life forever.
That the finished product resembles a sideways smiley face - egg-yolk saucer eyes, beef sausages curled into a grin - suggests a certain childlike delight. As a purveyor of comfort food, Hannibal has few equals - no matter what those sausages are made of.
Recipe: This meal is also known as huevos (eggs) high life, and it's a fairly plain frying pan concoction involving:
Oranges
Eggs
Sausages
Potatoes
Brioche - 2143 VOTES
Osso Buco
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Episode: "Sakizuki" (Season 2, episode 2)
Occasion: A leg is missing, first of all. Or so we think before seeing our dear Hannibal unwrap said leg like a fresh cut of beef, then cleanly slice it into four robust pieces. It’s already tantalizing - and that’s before we get a close-up of Hannibal handling those shanks into a full flour dredge, then dicing, squeezing, and pouring the remaining ingredients into a pan and sliding it into the oven.
The final result is an immaculate serving of... let’s call it veal. That he prepares four servings despite eating dinner alone - along with a bottle of red wine - can only mean one thing: You and two of your friends are cordially invited to a home-cooked meal with master chef Hannibal Lecter. Who could say no to that?
Recipe: Osso buco is an Italian veal dish traditionally served with risotto or polenta. Giada De Laurentiis's recipe calls for:
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 dry bay leaf
2 whole cloves
Cheesecloth
Kitchen twine, for bouquet garni and tying the veal shanks
3 whole veal shanks (about 1 pound per shank), trimmed
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 small onion, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1 small carrot, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1 stalk celery, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup dry white wine
3 cups chicken stock
3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon zest - 397 VOTES
Lomo Saltado
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Episode: "Naka-Choko" (Season 2, episode 10)
Occasion: The long-running, slow-burning, intimate tete-a-tete between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham reaches a milestone in this scene, as the latter puts into motion a unique gambit (with Freddie Lounds as the convenient pawn) intended to ensnare the former.
What follows is one of the series’ most romantic scenes - a scene of seduction, with Will playing the role of a predator even as he locks eyes with the ultimate predator. But who is playing whom? Or are they both willing, self-aware participants? The answer to this question is just as nebulous as the nature of the meat they’re sharing; Will insists it's a “slim and delicate pig,” but Hannibal doesn’t think so. “It’s long pig,” Will clarifies.
Recipe: The traditional Peruvian recipe calls for steak, but pork or chicken can be used. The recipe provided by the show's food designer Janice Poon includes:
12 ounces sirloin steak cut in strips
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
1 to 2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, optional
1/2 teaspoon crushed cumin seeds, optional
3 tablespoons oil
1/2 red onion, sliced
2 plum tomatoes, in thin wedges
1 tablespoon aji sauce or other hot pepper sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup frozen spicy French fried potatoes
2 to 3 sprigs cilantro, choppedShe goes into more detail on her blog about how to cook the meal.
- 482 VOTES
Pork Loin With Red Fruit Cumberland Sauce
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Episode: "Amuse-Bouche" (Season 1, episode 2)
Occasion: Ostensibly, this is a meeting of the minds between Dr. Lecter and Jack Crawford to discuss Will Graham’s mental health, which soon begets an impromptu therapy session (“You’ve already told me about your mother; why stop there?”). More accurately, though, this is a scene about Hannibal’s desire - be it his fledgling interest in Will, his aspirations toward Jack and his wife (“I’d love to have you both for dinner”), or, most pressingly, the meal he has so eagerly prepared for Jack.
On the menu is pork loin with Cumberland sauce - or, to put it another way, white meat coated in a rich red liquid. Hannibal’s pride in the dish is obvious in the way he eyeballs his colleague with increasing satisfaction after Jack’s every bite. And why shouldn’t he be proud? From the scene’s dramatic opening pour - lush crimson bleeding over three tender slices of roasted meat - it’s hard not to be enticed by this harmony of flavors tart and mild.
Recipe: The traditional English Cumberland sauce should be served over thinly sliced pork loin. The ingredients include:
1 orange
1 lemon
1 cup white sugar, granulated
1 cup cold water
1/2 cup homemade or store-bought red currant jelly
2 tablespoons ruby port
1 cinnamon stickSee details for the next steps.
- 555 VOTES
Clay-Roasted Thigh
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Episode: "Futamono" (Season 2, episode 6)
Occasion: A special occasion if there ever was one. After all, it’s not every day that the main course and guest of honor are one and the same. Our compliments to Mr. Abel Gideon and his sacrificial gam. By Hannibal’s code of ethics, that’s simply the price you pay for trying to take credit for a man’s life’s work - no matter the vocation.
The importance of this particular feast is why the good doctor sprang for the clay - which, he assures us, “makes for a more succulent dish. And adds a little theatricality to dinner.” No need to just take his word for it; we see every mouthwatering detail of the preparation. The garlic, shallots, and seasoning are folded inside a massive slab of meat, which is then wrapped in prosciutto, wrapped again in lotus leaves, and then packed and cooked in clay. Once it’s ready to serve, the clay-roasted thigh - carved into thin, tender slices - speaks for itself. Even Abel enjoys a taste - much to Hannibal’s delight.
Recipe: This technique can be used to cook different types of meats, but many recipes call for whole pork loins, including this one by chef Andrew Rea:
4 pounds non-toxic, non-polymer, oven-hardening clay
9 shallots, peeled and halved
3 cloves garlic, halved
1/2 cup dong quai
4 medium-sized pieces of tong sum
1 cup dried shiitake mushrooms
1/2 cup dried longan flesh
1/2 cup dried gocce berries
1 whole pork loin
Salt
Fresh ground pepper
3 ounces prosciutto
2 large reconstituted lotus leaves
1 large beef marrow bone, halved lengthwise
1/4 cup parsley
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
Butcher's twineThe method details how it all comes together.
- 665 VOTES
Jamón Ibérico
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Episode: "Buffet Froid" (Season 1, episode 10)
Occasion: At this point in Season 1, Hannibal is withholding from Will the truth about his encephalitis - with the complicity of Will’s neurologist Dr. Sutcliffe. The two accomplices sit down to discuss the situation over an elaborate meal at Hannibal’s home, during which the correlation between Will Graham and Hannibal’s primal appetite is put in no uncertain terms.
With a giant leg of a rare Spanish ham joining the two at the dinner table, Dr. Sutcliffe remarks about his colleague’s taste for “rare treats.” He states, “The more expensive and difficult to attain, the better.” He then mentions Will specifically: “I know you’re fond of the rarefied - what makes him so rare?” We might stop to consider the varied implications of this connection... but, come on - do you see that giant leg? Who’s turning that down? Anyone? Frankly, saying no to Hannibal’s jamón ibérico - one of only a few thousand selected for slaughter each year, he points out - would be rude.
Recipe: This is a special type of Spanish ham, and there are many fun, easy ways to include this meat in dishes. Spanish tomato bread with ham is a quick, tasty appetizer. One recipe calls for:
4 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
3 tablespoon olive oil
Salt
Pepper
20 slices of baguette
5 to 6 slices of Serrano ham - 757 VOTES
Sanguinaccio Dolce
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Episode: "The Great Red Dragon" (Season 3, episode 8)
Occasion: What is a great chef without a signature dessert? An institutionalized Hannibal confirms that this dish - a concoction of chocolate and, appropriately, blood - is one of his favorites when he gets a visit from a former nemesis, to whom he has previously served a more customized variety. Dr. Chilton, despite seeing his former colleague in cuffs, still wonders about the nature of the blood half of the “blood and chocolate” equation. “Traditionally made with pig’s blood, in this case a local cow,” Hannibal insists. And the last time he served it, Chilton asks? It "was from a cow, only in the derogatory sense.”
Chilton’s newfound status as a successful author gives the show an opportunity for some nasty wordplay ostensibly about punctuation - “Colons lose their novelty when overused” - but let’s be honest: Even the most distasteful of suggestions isn’t enough to detract from the fact that this delicacy - from the dramatic pour of the almond milk to the crack of the chocolate bar to the image of Chilton’s plastic spoon cutting into its rich texture - is far too tempting to pass up. We always have room for a final course.
Recipe: This Italian delicacy involves warming animal blood with milk and chocolate. The mixture is served in a hollowed-out orange. If the thought of consuming blood isn't appealing, try out sanguinaccio dolce senza sangue instead. You'll need:
1 cup milk (any percentage, preferably whole)
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup chopped good-quality chocolate at least 70% cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extractThe process is quite straightforward, as described in this recipe by Tracy.
- 853 VOTES
Sacromonte Omelet
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Episode: "Shiizakana" (Season 2, episode 9)
Occasion: Jack is attempting to regain Hannibal’s trust, his suspicions about the latter’s dinner party ingredients - and private hobbies - having gone up in smoke after Dr. Chilton was “exposed” as the Chesapeake Ripper. And what better way to gain trust than willingly scarfing down the once-accused’s homemade omelet without even asking about the source of the meat?
Then again, with a presentation like this, it’s hard to worry too much about the liver’s origins - or speculate about what carcass it may (or may not) have been extracted from. All we know is that this looks delicious, full stop. The strips of meat, sweetbreads, quail eggs, baby potatoes, and grilled clementine - this is a breakfast of champions.
Recipe: This omelet calls for organ meat, specifically liver. Recipes abound, but here is a simple one by Solya:
1/2 pound liver
1 tomato
1 bunch of dill
2-3 tablespoons sour cream
Parmesan cheese
Sea salt
PepperFor those who aren't fans, the liver can be replaced with a small chicken breast.
- 954 VOTES
Black Chicken Soup
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Episode: "Relevés" (Season 1, episode 12)
Occasion: Perhaps Hannibal Lecter has a sentimental streak after all. With Will convalescing in a hospital, it’s Hannibal who brings him chicken soup in bed. And not just any chicken, but “a black-boned bird prized in China for its medicinal value since the seventh century.” Most friends - let alone psychiatrists - would have settled for Campbell’s Chunky.
Rather than the fine china and silverware with which he typically serves his delicacies, Hannibal humbly brings his palliative offering in plastic Tupperware. He and Will sit down and eat together - an intimate rejoinder to the chilly antiseptic surroundings of the hospital itself. A stark contrast to the ostentatious displays of the doctor’s typical feasts, this chicken soup - dappled with the evocative reds of dates and wolfberries - stands out for its homey qualities. This meal is an act of affection. If only we could all have a caretaker like Hannibal.
Recipe: The black chicken is actually known as a Silkie chicken, a special Asian bird with black bones. A straightforward ingredients list includes:
1 Silkie chicken
3 to 4 liters water
10 to 12 red dates
1 inch root ginger, smashed
1 small cup wolfberry, optional
Salt, to taste
Chopped green onion and coriander, as neededCheck out the full recipe and instructions by Elaine.
- 1044 VOTES
Mushroom And Spinach-Stuffed 'Cow' Heart
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Episode: "Sorbet" (Season 1, episode 7)
Occasion: Perhaps the best implementation of Hannibal’s “eat the rude” modus operandi, this centerpiece of a lavish dinner party begins with a flashback to another doctor, one Andrew Caldwell, whose flippant attitude toward Dr. Lecter’s health makes him an unwitting object of Hannibal’s hungry impulses. We catch glimpses of a whole host of dishes - chicken liver pate, braised beef lungs, parmesan-crumbled lamb brain - but this stuffed “cow” heart is clearly his prized dish.
As we see Hannibal carefully preparing the kidney and heart, Will - back at the lab - takes notice of the chef’s tenderness, complimenting the elegance and grace of the preparation. If it weren’t savory enough already, Hannibal even adds a little romance in the form of tomato roses. And it all comes with a concluding warning to his guests - “Nothing here is vegetarian” - a warning those of us in the know might heed extra carefully.
Recipe: Stuffed heart is prepared like other stuffed meat dishes. Ingredients include:
1 3.85-pound large beef heart
6 thick slices of bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 pound button mushrooms, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground Ceylon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 pound fresh spinach leavesThe complete recipe by Sonia contains more specifics.
- 1135 VOTES
Boudin Noir
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Episode: "Œuf" (Season 1, episode 4)
Occasion: This exquisitely cooked meal is prepared for Jack by his new friend Hannibal under the pretense of discussing professional matters. This time, it’s French blood sausage - “modified,” Dr. Lecter is quick to point out.
On the record, the sausage in question is rabbit. “He should have hopped faster,” Crawford jokes, before we cut to a flashback of the prey - a “rabbit” in a lumberjack jacket frantically running away from Hannibal in the middle of the woods - that explicitly brings the hunt itself into the equation. “Fortunately for us, he did not,” Hannibal deadpans. If we, too, can convince ourselves it’s rabbit, it would be hard to turn down this particular treat.
Recipe: French blood sausage has a long and rich history, and there are multiple ways to cook it. One recipe suggests using these spices, herbs, and plants when frying up some links:
Salt
Pepper
Thyme
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Ginger
Cloves
Shallots
Parsley
ScallionsTopping it all off with a little cognac creates the perfect finish.
- 1244 VOTES
Steak And Kidney Pie
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Episode: "Mukozuke" (Season 2, episode 5)
Occasion: Poor Beverly Katz. Not only does she have the misfortune of discovering Hannibal’s secret, but she won’t even get justice in her name. Mostly because Hannibal is eating the evidence.
Kidneys, to be specific - which he cuts and prepares carefully before running some beef through a meat grinder, blending it all together and resting the meaty concoction on a bed of lettuce. The kicker is the crust, which, in its shape (and conspicuous breathing holes) explicitly evokes the mask worn by Will Graham earlier in the episode. Hannibal may take his cooking seriously, but never let it be said that he lacks a sense of humor.
Recipe: Historically a way to pull together the unwanted scraps from animal organs and meats, this savory British pie has stood the test of time. Common ingredients for the filling are:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound, 9 ounces braising steak, diced
7 ounces lamb kidney, diced
2 medium onions, diced
1ounce plain flour
1 1/2 pints beef stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
A dash of Worcestershire sauceEverything comes together much like a regular pie would, according to this recipe by Antony Worrall Thompson.
- 1333 VOTES
Truite Saumonée Au Bleu
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Episode: "Su-zakana" (Season 2, episode 8)
Occasion: After all the manipulations, accusations, and even attempts on each other’s lives, Will, Hannibal, and Jack are back together at the dinner table again, where they belong. Only this time, Will and Jack are trying to bait and hook their mutual friend. “I’m a good fisherman, Jack,” Graham promises. And so the hunt begins.
Even this comparably small fish - caught by Will, but prepared in extravagant fashion by you-know-who - can’t escape our trio’s penchant for innuendo and gamesmanship. Dr. Lecter states, “I find the trout to be a very Nietzschean fish. Trials of his wild existence find their way into the flavor of the flesh.” (Oh Hannibal, you’re such a romantic.)
Like most other meals in Hannibal, it's not just a meal. As the doctor puts it, “We will absorb this experience. It will change us... We are all Nietzscheian fish in that regard.”
To which Will responds, “Makes us tastier.”
Recipe: Hannibal's take on this French seafood dish involves tentacles, but a much less complicated recipe has a short ingredients list:
750 ml court-bouillon
1 live trout
25 ml vinegar
5 potatoes
100 ml hollandaise sauce - 1440 VOTES
Lung And Loin Bourguignonne
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Episode: "Apéritif" (Season 1, episode 1)
Occasion: What better introduction to our title character than this? The FBI forensics team has just discovered, to their collective horror, the dubious nutritional value of the organs in their newest cadaver. From there, we cut to the serenity of an intimate dinner table, and the perfectly cooked dish - made from healthy organs, no doubt - being quietly enjoyed by none other than Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
Recipe: Lung and loin bourguinonne is a remix of the classic French coq au vin. Not a meal for lightweights, this dish asks for veal or pig lungs, which are cooked in a wine sauce. The full recipe is here, but the main ingredients include:
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound veal or pork lungs, trimmed of tracheal tubes and cut in 1-inch cubes
1 pound beef tenderloin, trimmed and cut in 1-inch pieces
2 cups portobello mushrooms, trimmed and cut in 1/2-inch slices
12 baby red onions, peeled and parboiled
1 cup baby carrots, parboiled
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HannibalHe's brilliant. He's charming. He wants to have you for dinner. What more do you look for in a psychiatrist?
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Hannibal
He's brilliant. He's charming. He wants to have you for dinner. What more do you look for in a psychiatrist?
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