Sweet Grown Alabama Recipes

Channel your inner chef with this incredible dish from Chef Ben Rosen of The Depot Restaurant. Chef Ben prepared this dish to win the 2025 Sweet Grown Alabama Seafood Cook-Off!

Pecan Grilled and Marinated Alabama Gulf Cobia with Blistered Okra and Charred Peach Relish and Fried Green Tomatoes Served Over a Cobia Belly Confit Lump Crab Rillette Salad

For the Marinade:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of olive oil
• 1 head of Sweet Grown Alabama parsley 
• 1 head of coriander (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 2 lemons, zested and squeezed 
• 1 lime, zested and squeezed

 

For the Blistered Okra and Charred Peach Relish:

Ingredients:

• 8 large Sweet Grown Alabama fresh cut okra
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Sweet Grown Alabama peaches

Instructions:

1. Place okra in a bowl.

2. Toss okra with salt and pepper.

3. Char in a pan or over an open flame.

4. Cut peaches into 6 wedges.

5. Char peaches on grill to draw out natural sugars.

6. Dice both okra and peaches and toss together.

 

For the Fried Green Tomatoes: 

Ingredients:

•  2 cups masa corn flour
•  3 teaspoons kosher salt
•  3 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
•  4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
•  Sweet Grown Alabama Green Tomatoes
•  Buttermilk

Instructions:

1. Slice and soak tomatoes in buttermilk to tenderize the fibers.

2. Dredge in dry mixture then back into the buttermilk.

3. Repeat the process for a double coat.

 

For the Cobia Belly Confit Lump Crab Salad: 

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds Sweet Grown Alabama Gulf LB Cobia belly
• ½ gallon pecan oil
• Salt
• 1 pound Sweet Grown Alabama lump gulf crab
• 1 pound cream cheese

Instructions:

1. Cover Cobia belly with the pecan oil, then cover the pan with aluminum foil.

2. Cook in a 350-degree oven for 1.5-2 hours, until the cobia belly is soft.

3. Mix together softened cream cheese and gulf lump blue crab. Try and keep the crab as whole as possible.

 

For the Black Lemon Herb Cream Sauce: 

Ingredients:

• 1 quart heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon cuttlefish ink
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• Smooth and creamy butter
• Fresh chopped Sweet Grown Alabama rosemary, thyme, and parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ cup corn starch
• ¼ cup water

 

For the Sweet Corn and Bacon Risotto: 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Arborio rice
• 2 ears of shucked and grilled Sweet Grown Alabama sweet corn off the cob
• 1/2 pounds of Sweet Grown Alabama bacon cut into lardons
• Goat cheese
• Sweet Grown Alabama Cobia stock

Finally, channel your inner Food Network star and use your creativity to plate this dish to your liking. Who knows- you may be the next winner of our Sweet Grown Alabama Seafood Cook-Off with skills like these!