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Foods from South of the Border

Tortas de Came a la Mostaza con Queso Suizo y Chiles Toreados (Dijon Steak and Swiss Cheese Tortas with Matador Chiles)

Tortas de Came a la Mostaza con Queso Suizo y Chiles Toreados (Dijon Steak and Swiss Cheese Tortas with Matador Chiles)

Who doesn’t love a great steak sandwich? This hearty version is one of my boys’ favorites. Simple to make, it packs a punch with the Dijon and garlic marinade, the strong cheese that melts into the bread, and the spicy, bright, salty, extra-hot, lime-soaked chiles toreados and their marinade.

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup soy sauce or Maggi
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
2 pounds flank steak
6 bolillos. teleras, Portuguese rolls, or small baguettes or 2 or 3 baguettes cut into 4- to 6-inch lengths, split in half
6 thick slices Swiss or Muenster cheese
Matador Chiles

In a small bowl, whisk together the oil. soy sauce, mustard, garlic, and pepper. Place the steak in a large baking dish and pour the marinade over it. Turn a few times to make sure that the meat is completely coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, and up to 24 hours. If marinating for more than 30 minutes, cover and refrigerate. Preheat the broiler. Place the baking dish with the meat under the broiler. 3 to 4 inches from the heat, and broil for 5 to 7 minutes per side, depending on how cooked you want it. For medium-rare, 5 minutes per side; for just over medium, the way I like it, 6 minutes on the first side and 7 minutes on the other. (Alternatively, you can grill the meat over medium-high heat on an outdoor grill or a grill pan for 5 to 6 minutes per side, depending on how well done you like it; I go for 6 minutes per side.) Transfer the meat to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice the meat against the grain. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the split rolls on a baking sheet, cut side up. And place a slice of cheese on each bottom half. Bake until the bread crisps and the cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Top the cheese with the meat and let diners spoon on as much of the Matador Chiles, along with their sauce and onions, as they want (or do it for them if you know their tastes). Cover the sandwiches with the top halves of the rolls and serve, with more Matador Chiles on the side.

Chiles Toreados (Matador Chiles)

Chiles Toreados (Matador Chiles)

Chiles toreados are jalapeno or serrano chiles that have been rolled against a work surface. The quick massage helps release their oils from the veins and seeds inside, which store the most flavor and heat. Torear means to compete in a bullfight, which gives you an indication of how fierce the result can be. Interestingly, they are common in sushi restaurants, steak houses, and taquerias specializing in meat grilled on big planchas, or griddles. They are charred in oil, then bathed in a mix of freshly squeezed lime juice and soy sauce, with some slivered or chopped white onion tossed in as well. The lime juice and soy cause them to lose some of their heat, so even though they sound like something to shy away from, I would give them a 4 out of 10 in spiciness.

(Matador Chiles)4 jalapeno or serrano chiles
3 tablespoons canola or safflower oil
1 cup thinly sliced or chopped white onion
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
¼ cup soy sauce or Maggi

Roll the chiles back and forth a few times under your palm on your kitchen counter. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the chiles and cook, flipping them over every 2 minutes, until deeply browned on all sides. 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the chiles and oil to a heatproof bowl. Once the chiles are cool enough to handle, remove them from the bowl, remove the stems, and chop; discard the seeds, if desired, though I never do. Return the chopped chiles to the bowl with the oil and stir in the onion, lime juice, and soy sauce until well combined. Let sit for at least 10 minutes and serve.

Crema de Berros con Requeson (Creamy Watercress Soup with Spiced Fresh Cheese)

Crema de Berros con Requeson (Creamy Watercress Soup with Spiced Fresh Cheese)

This style of creamy soup is common in the Yucatan Peninsula. At the Hacienda San Jose near Merida, the capital of Yucatan, I tasted one that was so delicious I asked the chef to show me how he made it. In exchange. I shared my take on a soft cheese mixture to use as a garnish. The combination is sublime! The soft, moist cheese, seasoned with jalapeno and chives, slowly blends into the watercress soup as you eat it. Your first spoonfuls of hot soup will have distinctive bites of cheese, but by the end, the cheese will have melted into the soup, so it becomes even creamier, its flavors enhanced by the jalapeno and chives. The version I tasted in Yucatan was made not with watercress but with chaya leaves, which taste like a sort of cross between watercress and baby spinach. Since chaya is practically nowhere to be found in markets north of the border, I developed my version using watercress, which I prefer because of its beautiful color. But feel free to try it with spinach. You could also make the soup with a cilantro base.

Crema de Berros con Requeson (Creamy Watercress Soup with Spiced Fresh Cheese)

Requeson: I wish there were more of this creamy, moist soft cheese to be found on this side of the border. With its slight tang and incredibly fresh feel, requeson is both a little sweet and a little salty, much like farmer’s cheese. It is perfectly balanced. In texture, it’s similar to ricotta, but ricotta is one-dimensional by comparison and a bit sweeter, without requeson’s definitive tang. You could also use queso fresco for the garnish in this recipe, but it’s a firmer, less creamy cheese. You could use fresh goat cheese as well, though it has a much stronger, more assertive, acidic flavor. But it works well with this soup because it melts like the other cheeses.

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup coarsely chopped white onion
2 cups thinly sliced leeks
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup chopped peeled carrots
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
4 cups chicken broth, homemade or store-bought
4 cups watercress leaves and upper part of stems
8 ounces requeson, ricotta. queso fresco, or farmer’s cheese
2 tablespoons Mexican crema, creme fraiche, or sour cream
1 jalapeno or serrano chile, finely chopped or to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Freshly ground black pepper

In a large heavy pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Once it foams, add the onion, leeks, celery, and carrots, season with salt to taste, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until completely softened but not browned. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables, stir together, and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, or until the flour is no longer raw and the mixture smells toasty. Reduce the heat to low, stir in the milk, and bring to a simmer, stirring. Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes, until thick and creamy. Add the broth and watercress, bring to a low simmer, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mash the cheese and cream with a fork. Add the chile, chives, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Keep covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve. In batches, puree the soup in a blender until completely smooth; hold a towel tightly over the blender top to prevent hot splashes. (It won’t jump quite as much if you let it cool down a little before you puree.) Return to the soup pot and stir. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Reheat gently. Ladle the hot soup into soup bowls. Place a generous dollop of the cheese mixture in the
middle of each bowl and serve.

Sopa de Queso Estilo Sonora (Sonoran Cheese Soup)

Sopa de Queso Estilo Sonora (Sonoran Cheese Soup)

The rich, fertile soil of Sonora, in northern Mexico, makes for happy cows that produce some of the country’s best milk and cheese. This mildly spicy soup, a chowder of sorts made with milk, chiles, tomatoes, potatoes, and cheese, shows off that wealth of good dairy. The cheese of choice, queso Chihuahua, is a melting cheese that is a mainstay of the region. But Oaxaca, asadero. mozzarella, or even Monterey Jack can step in as dignified substitutes. Any type of potato will work.

Sopa de Queso Estilo Sonora (Sonoran Cheese Soup)3 tablespoons canola or safflower oil
1 to 1 1/4pounds potatoes (4 medium), peeled and diced (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 cups chopped white onions
1 cup diced green bell peppers
1 ripe medium tomato, cored and diced
4 poblano chiles (about 1 pound), roasted, peeled, seeded, and cut into strips
3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
4 cups chicken broth, homemade or store-bought
2 cups milk
8 ounces white melting cheese, preferably queso Chihuahua, Oaxaca, asadero. mozzarella, or Monterey Jack (see headnote), diced (about 1 1/2 cups loosely packed)

Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add the potatoes and onions and cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft and translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the bell pepper, tomato, poblano chiles, and salt and cook until the vegetables are softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the broth, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the broth has thickened a bit. Taste and adjust the salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly add the milk, then bring to a gentle simmer. Gradually add the cheese and stir until it is completely melted. Taste again for salt. Top with a little scallion for color, if desired.

Sopa de Palmitos con Crutones de Camote (Hearts of Palm Soup with Sweet Potato Croutons)

Sopa de Palmitos con Crutones de Camote (Hearts of Palm Soup with Sweet Potato Croutons)

This silky, delicate soup is often the most talked-about dish of the evening when I serve it. It’s a tribute to Mexico’s African heritage. For centuries we Mexicans were taught that our Mestizo heritage was the result of intermarriage between the Spanish and the indigenous people of Mexico. But the African component to our history that dates as far back as the Spanish conquest, a result of several factors, including the slave trade, migration from the Caribbean, and the Africans who came along with the Spanish as conquistadores, was long overlooked. Afro-Mexico is finally getting its due, and even has a name—The Third Root.

Sopa de Palmitos con Crutones de Camote1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
Kosher or sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ancho chile powder, chipotle chile powder, or paprika
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 2 cups)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
10 scallions (light green and white parts only), thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
2 garlic cloves
2 (14-ounce) cans hearts of palm, drained, rinsed, and sliced
5 cups chicken or vegetable broth, homemade or store-bought
2 tablespoons chopped chives

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment or foil. In a medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of the oil Vi teaspoon salt, the chile powder or paprika, and pepper. Add the sweet potato and toss until thoroughly coated. Spread the sweet potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet, taking care not to overcrowd. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping and turning them halfway through, until golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside. Remove from the heat and set aside. In a large heavy pot, heat the butter and the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-low heat until the butter is melted and bubbling. Stir in the scallions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until completely softened. 12 to 14 minutes. Raise the heat to medium, add the hearts of palm, and cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes, until heated through. Add the broth and 1/2 teaspoon salt, raise the heat to medium-high, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes. In batches, pour the soup into a blender and puree until completely smooth, holding down the lid of the blender with a towel to contain the pressure from the hot soup. Pour the soup back into the pot. stir, taste, and adjust the seasonings. Reheat if necessary before serving. Ladle the soup into individual bowls, spoon about 1/4 cup sweet potatoes into the middle of each bowl, and sprinkle the chives around the sweet potatoes.

Claudia’s Salsa de Nopal (Cactus Salsa)

Claudia’s Salsa de Nopal (Cactus Salsa)

claudia cactus salsa2 cactus paddles, cleaned and cut into ½ inch cubes
1 cup (240 g) coarse kosher salt
2 medium Roma tomatoes, chopped
½ medium red onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste
1 serrano chile, stemmed
Leaves from1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place the cactus in a large bowl and add the salt. Toss until the cactus is fully covered and set aside to cure for 5 minutes; the cactus will begin to release slime. Turn it with a wooden spoon or spatula to make sure the salt reaches all of the pieces of cactus and allow to rest for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to release more slime. Remove the cactus from the bowl and place it in a strainer. Run it under cold water until all the visible salt has been removed. Taste the cactus for salt; it should be salty and have some give but should not taste raw. If it’s too salty, rinse it some more. Pat dry with a paper towel. Move the cactus to a large bowl and add the tomatoes, onion, and lime juice and toss with a spoon or spatula. Slice the chile in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and veins if you want to keep the heat down. Thinly slice each half widthwise to create half-moon slices and add them to the bowl. Add the cilantro and fold until completely incorporated. Stir in the pepper and taste. If it’s too salty, add a bit more lime juice for additional acidity.

Claudia’s Salsa Verde

Claudia’s Salsa Verde

It’s no secret that we are known for our salsas. While the most common salsas are tomato-based red salsas, there is nothing in the world quite like a tart and spicy salsa verde (green salsa). Salsa verde and tomatillo salsa are actually the same thing, as the green color comes from the green skin and flesh of the tomatillo.

This is our family’s recipe for salsa verde. I use it in a number of dishes, from braised pork (see this page) to Green Chilaquiles, or as a topping for tacos. You can adjust the heat level by reducing or increasing the number of chiles you include. But cuidado (careful)—the spiciness of the serranos and chiles de arbol may have you looking for the closest ice- cold beverage.

12 ounces (340 g) fresh tomatillosSalsa Verde
1 to 2 whole serrano chiles, stemmed
Vi medium yellow onion, peeled
2 to 3 small garlic cloves, peeled
5 to 6 whole chiles de arbol, stemmed
Salt

Peel the husks off the tomatillos and rinse them thoroughly under lukewarm water
until their skin is smooth and they are no longer tacky or sticky. Place the tomatillos, serrano chiles, and onion in a large saucepan and add enough hot water to cover. Place over medium-high heat, bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the tomatillos change color and just start to soften, about 5 minutes. Remove the ingredients from the pan using a slotted spoon and place them in blender along with the garlic. Reserve the cooking liquid. Meanwhile, heat a skillet or comal (tortilla griddle) over low heat. Add the chiles de arbol, and toast for 1 to 2 minutes, turning often, until they darken in color but don’t
burn. The seeds will come out as you toast the chiles—you can use them or not depending on your heat preference. What you are looking for is a darker, almost black, red color. Keep your windows open as you toast the chiles, as the fumes can affect the strangest parts of your throat and cause cough attacks for the family … ahhh, the memories. Add the toasted chiles de arbol and seeds to the blender, pour in XA cup (60 ml) of the reserved tomatillo cooking liquid, and blend on medium-low speed until your desired consistency has been reached (see Notes). If your salsa is too thick, add more of the tomatillo cooking liquid. Pour the salsa into a bowl and season with salt, starting with about 1 teaspoon and adjusting the amount as needed to balance the tartness of your tomatillos.

The consistency of salsa verde varies depending on the dish you use it in. For Green Chilaquiles, make it a bit more on the liquidy side so your tortillas can soak up the salsa. For tacos, stick to a coarser and chunkier consistency to avoid a runny mess.

Keep in mind that chiles can vary in spice depending on the season, so you may want to
cut off the edge of one of your chiles and taste it for heat. If it’s too hot for your liking, re-
move the seeds and veins to turn the heat down. To turn up the heat, add more chiles.
Make sure not to touch your eyes after handling spicy chiles and wear gloves when
working with them to protect your hands.

Nopales con Queso Fresco (Cactus & Queso Fresco Salad)

Nopales con Queso Fresco (Cactus & Queso Fresco Salad)

Salt
1 pound (455 g) cactus paddles, cleaned (see this page) and cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm)
cubes
2 large Roma tomatoes, cubed
¼ cup (30 g) diced red onion
1/2 cup (20 g) chopped fresh cilantro leaves
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound (455 g) queso fresco, cubed

Bring a large saucepan of water to boil and season it well with salt. Add the cactus, return it to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until the pieces darken to a slightly muted green and are cooked through. Drain and let them cool. In a large bowl, combine the cactus, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the pepper. Gently fold in the queso fresco. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Oreja de Cerdo Frita (Crispy Pigs Ears)

Oreja de Cerdo Frita (Crispy Pigs Ears)

If you are feeling adventurous and can come by pigs’ ears (you can ask your butcher to special order them for you), I truly hope you will make this recipe—not only because the texture is unlike anything you have ever had before, but because the boiling liquid is infused with a depth of spices that can be tasted in each crunchy morsel. Just think of this dish as a kind of pork crackling and you will have no problem crunching away!

2 T. Annatto Seeds
4 cloves Garlic, crushed
2 T. Mexican Oregano
Salt
2 Pigs’ Ears
Canola Oil, For Frying

Fill a large saucepan halfway with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and add the annatto seeds, garlic, oregano, and 2 tablespoons salt. Place the pigs’ ears into the water and cover the pot. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, or until the cartilage can be pierced easily with a fork. Remove from the water to a plate and let the ears cool completely. (Don’t place them on paper towels, as the gelatinous skin will stick and you will be unable to remove the paper.) Cut the pigs’ ears into 1/8- to 1/4-inch (3- to 6-cm) -wide noodle-like strips. Fill a deep pan with l 1/2 inches (4 cm) of oil and heat it to 350°F (175°C). Line a plate with paper towels or parchment paper and have it ready. Carefully slip the pig ear strips into the oil, making sure they don’t stick to each other. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until completely crisp. Remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon, place on the paper towel-lined plate, and immediately season with salt. Serve immediately.

Aderezo de Citricos con Miel y Jalapeno (honey citrus jalapeno dressing)

Aderezo de Citricos con Miel y Jalapeno (honey citrus jalapeno dressing)

2 T. fresh Red Grapefruit Juice
1 T. fresh Lime Juice
1 T. fresh Orange Juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 ½ tablespoons honey
1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil
1 teaspoon minced shallot
1 to 2 teaspoons minced jalapeno chile
Salt

In a medium bowl, whisk together the citrus juices, vinegar, and honey until the honey dissolves, then whisk in the oil. Stir in the shallot and jalapeno and season with salt.

Huevo en Chile Verde

Huevo en Chile Verde

Huevo en Chile Verde

 

1 lb tomatillos, husks removed and rinsed

2-3 jalapeno peppers, stems removed (remove the seeds if you don’t want it spicy)

1/2 cup water, plus more for cooking

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 small onion

2 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon olive oil

8 large eggs, beaten

I

Add tomatillos and jalapenos to a small pot. Add water until the tops are completely covered. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower heat to simmer, cover, and cook for 3 more minutes until the color of the tomatillos begins to deepen. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatillos and peppers to a large blender. Add 1/2 cup of water, cilantro, onion, garlic, 1 teaspoon of salt, and cumin. Blend until smooth. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add eggs and cook for a few minutes, moving them around occasionally to scramble them, until the eggs are firm and lightly browned. Add the salsa verde, reduce heat to low, and cook for 5 more minutes. Taste and season with salt, if necessary. Serve with warm tortillas and enjoy.

 

When scrambling the eggs, make sure to cook them fully. They should be firm and lightly browned in spots. No soft scrambling here! This dish is often served for breakfast and lunch/dinner. It’s a great protein-packed vegetarian meal that’s typically served with a side of refried beans and some corn or flour tortillas.

Tacos Gobernador (Governor’s Tacos: Sautéed Shrimp Tacos)

Tacos Gobernador (Governor’s Tacos: Sautéed Shrimp Tacos)

claudia shrimp tacosIt’s actually named after a governor of the state of Sinaloa who once visited the city of Culiacan. A local chef invented a taco to welcome the governor, and when he asked what the taco was called, the chef named it the “governor taco.” These sautéed shrimp tacos went on to become a crowd favorite across port towns all over Mexico. This recipe calls for a sauce called Salsa Maggi. It’s like a Mexican version of soy sauce, and I use it in several recipes in the book. Start off slow and add as much or as little as you like to suit your taste.

8 (6-inch/15-cm) corn tortillas, homemade (see this page) or store-bought
8 ounces (225 g) Oaxaca cheese or Monterey Jack cheese, pulled or cut into thin strips
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 pound (455 g) small to medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
1/4 cup (60 ml) Maggi sauce

Preheat a griddle or comal (tortilla griddle) over medium-high heat to get it nice and hot. Reduce the heat under the griddle to low, add a couple of tortillas, and heat them for 15 to 30 seconds on each side, until soft and malleable. Add 1 ounce (28 g) of cheese to one side of each tortilla and fold the empty side over the cheese side to form a quesadilla. Press down on the quesadilla with a metal spatula for the first few seconds so the cheese sticks, then cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until the cheese is completely melted and the tortillas start to get crisp. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and cheese. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the shrimp and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook until just turning pink on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes, flipping the shrimp halfway through cooking. Remove the shrimp to a bowl. Add the onion and bell pepper to the pan and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes, stirring often. Return the shrimp to the pan, add the Maggi sauce, and toss quickly until incorporated and the shrimp are fully cooked through. To serve, open up a crispy quesadilla and add some shrimp and vegetables. Fold it back over and serve piping hot.

Ensalada de Quelites con Mango y Habanero “Sturdy Greens” Salad with Mango and Habanero

Ensalada de Quelites con Mango y Habanero “Sturdy Greens” Salad with Mango and Habanero

Ensalada de Quelites con Mango y Habanero

1/2 fresh habanero chile, stemmed (remove the seeds if you wish)
3 garlic cloves, peeled
The zest (colored part only) of 1/2 orange
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup agave syrup or honey
Salt
1 small white or red onion, thinly sliced
4 cups sliced (about 1/2-inch is good) sturdy greens (such as kale, chard, or mustard greens—you’ll need to start with about a 1/2 pound of most greens, then pull off or cut out the stems/stalks before slicing)
2 cups (about 3 ounces) frisée leaves (if your frisée is in a head, cut out the core and tear the leaves into rough 1-inch pieces)
1 large ripe mango (I like the yellow-skin ataúlfo/honey Manila mangos best for flavor and texture), peeled, flesh cut from the pit and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
A couple tablespoons crumbled Mexican queso fresco or other fresh cheese such as feta or goat cheese
A couple tablespoons pine nuts or slivered almonds, toasted lightly in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and aromatic

In a small microwaveable dish, combine the habanero and garlic. Cover with water and microwave at 100 percent for 1 minute. Drain and transfer to a blender. Add the zest, juices, oil and agave or honey. Blend into a smooth dressing. Taste and season highly with salt, usually about a 1/2 teaspoon. Scoop the onion into a small bowl and stir in a little of the dressing. With all the greens in a large bowl, use your fingers to massage the kale, making it more tender by breaking up its fibers until it darkens a little, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the onions and frisée to the greens. Drizzle on about 3 tablespoons of the dressing (the leftover can be covered and refrigerated for another salad) and toss to coat the greens well. Taste and season with additional salt if you think it’s necessary. Divide the salad between 4 serving plates and spoon over each about a tablespoon of mango (the mango you don’t use is yours to snack on). Sprinkle the salads with the cheese and nuts and it’s ready to serve.

Mushroom & Poblano Tacos

Mushroom & Poblano Tacos

Mushroom & Poblano Tacos

 

This is inspired by a dish that Mexican chef Rick Bayless makes with huitlacoche, a black fungus that grows in lobes on ears of corn. It’s a great delicacy in Mexico but not easy to get in the United States (though you can find mail order sources on the Internet). Mushrooms are a lot easier to find, and they make a delicious taco filling. Epazote is an earthy Mexican herb that you might be able to find in a Mexican market or a farmers’ market. If you can’t find it, use cilantro.

 

1 pound fresh poblano chiles (3 large or 4 medium)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium or large white onion, halved and thinly sliced across the grain

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/4 pounds mushrooms, sliced (about 6 cups)

Salt to taste

3 to 4 tablespoons chopped epazote or cilantro

12 corn tortillas

2 ounces crumbled Mexican queso fresco or feta (optional)

 

Roast the chiles. Light a gas burner, and place the pepper directly over the flame. As soon as one section has blackened, turn the chiles with tongs to expose another section to the flame. Continue to turn until peppers are blackened all over. Alternatively, roast under a broiler. Preheat the broiler. Cover a baking sheet with foil, and place the peppers on top. Place under the broiler until charred on one side, about three to four minutes. Turn and continue to grill, turning every three minutes or so, until uniformly charred. Place in a bowl, and cover tightly. Allow to sit until cool, then remove the charred skin. You may need to run the pepper briefly under the faucet to rinse off the final bits of charred skin. If so, pat dry with paper towels. Cut the pepper in half, remove the seeds and membranes and cut into 1/4-inch dice. Set aside. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-low heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and lightly colored, about 10 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt and the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the mushrooms, and turn the heat up to medium-high. Cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, then season with salt. Turn the heat down to medium, and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms are tender and moist, about eight minutes. Sir in the poblanos and epazote or cilantro, and cook, stirring, for another minute or two. Taste and adjust seasonings. Remove from the heat and keep warm. Wrap the tortillas in a heavy kitchen towel and place in a steamer basket over 1/2 inch of water. Bring to a boil, cover the pot and steam one minute. Turn off the heat, and allow to sit for 15 minutes without uncovering. Pass the tortillas, top with the mushroom mixture, sprinkle with a little cheese if desired, fold the tortillas over the filling and enjoy.

Claudia’s Mexican Sauces

Claudia’s Mexican Sauces

claudia saucesCrema de Aguacate Oazaquena (Oaxacan Avocado Cream)

1 lg. Ripe Hass Avocado
½ C. Oazacan Sour Cream or Creme Fraiche
1 T. Lime Juice
Salt

Using a 6-inch (15-cm) knife, carefully slice through the stem end of the avocado until you can feel the pit. Proceed to run your knife down one side following the pit, but don’t press too eagerly. A ripe avocado will be very easy to cut, so don’t exert yourself or you can risk a cut. Continue cutting all the way around the pit until you reach the original cut. Set your knife down, hold each side of the avocado in your hands, and twist in opposite directions. Carefully remove the pit of the avocado either with a spoon or fork. (If your avocado isn’t ripe enough, this may prove difficult; if so, stab your knife into the pit and twist in order to remove it. If you are unable to remove the pit, use another avocado, as this avocado is not ripe and will taste too earthy.) Run a large spoon along the inside of the skin of the avocado to remove the flesh from the skin. Don’t worry how perfectly the avocado comes out, as you are going to be pureeing it anyway! In a small blender or food processor (a mini food processor works well), combine the avocado flesh, sour cream, and lime juice, and blend until smooth. If your avocado is not ripe enough or the sour cream is too thick, add a tablespoon or so of water to get things moving in the machine, but make sure to keep the consistency thick and mousse-like. Remove from the blender and season with salt. Fit a piping bag with a small circular tip and add the avocado cream to the bag or spoon the cream into a squeeze bottle. To plate with tamales or tacos, place your point close to the plate, squeeze out a little cream, and lift the tip straight up. This will make your dollop look like the perfect kiss! Because avocados are finicky and will turn brown and dull, this creme will not keep longer than 4 hours, even when stored in an airtight container. So put it on everything and be generous with it!

Oaxacan sour cream is denser than typical sour cream and is salted and textured much
like a creme fraiche. If you cannot find it, use creme fraiche or, in a pinch, regular sour cream and a bit more salt to achieve a similar balance of flavor. Err on the side of thicker (but not chunky) than thinner for your avocado cream, because if it is too thin, you will have a dripping mess that cannot be piped.

Chipotle Crema (Chipotle Cream Sauce)

1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 medium white onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
1 small tomato, chopped
1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
1 to 2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
Salt

Heat the oil in a medium sautepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add the garlic and oregano and cook for an additional 30 seconds, or until the garlic starts to soften. Add the tomato and saute until softened, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, carefully pour in the cream, and bring to a simmer. Immediately remove from the heat. A little bit goes a long way with smoky chipotle chiles, so if you have never worked with them, start with one, and then add another if you want to turn up the heat. Place the chile in a blender, carefully pour in the hot cream mixture, and blend on medium speed for about 1 minute, until smooth and bright orange in color. Taste for salt and season accordingly; if the sauce is not spicy enough for you, add an additional chile and blend again until smooth. This is a dairy-based cream sauce that will keep a maximum of 3 to 4 days in the fridge, so use it quickly.

Salsa de Chile Tatemado (Roasted Red Pepper Sauce)

2 medium Roma tomatoes
1 jalapeno chile
1 pound (455 g) fresh piquillo peppers, roasted, or 1 (14-ounce/400-g) can roasted piquillo peppers, drained
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 small yellow onion, quartered
½ cup (120 ml) beef stock or veal demi-glace, plus more if needed
4 sprigs fresh thyme, tied with kitchen string
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cayenne pepper (optional)

Heat a skillet or comal (tortilla griddle) over medium-low heat. Place the tomatoes and jalapeno on the skillet and heat until the tomatoes are almost completely darkened on all sides, softened, and releasing their juices and the jalapeno is fragrant and blistered. Remove the stem and cut the jalapeno in half. Remove the seeds using a spoon if you’d like your sauce on the milder side. In a blender, combine the tomatoes, jalapeno, piquillo peppers, garlic, onion, and stock, and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan. Add the thyme and season with salt and pepper. Place over low heat and bring to a simmer, adding a little more stock if it’s too thick. Once it simmers, remove the thyme, taste for heat, and add a little cayenne if needed. The sauce will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. Bring it to a boil before serving.

Aceite de Cilantro (Cilantro Oil)

2 large bunches fresh cilantro
1 1/4 cups (300 ml) canola oil
Salt

Start by cutting 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the thick ends of the cilantro stems. Chop the leaves and tender stems (stop about 1 inch/2.5 cm from the bottom of the cut stems) until you have 2 packed cups (80 g). Save any remaining cilantro for another recipe. Place the cilantro in the blender with ¼ cup (60 ml) of the oil. Blend on low speed, slowly drizzling in the remaining oil through the hole in the top of the blender. Do not overblend or blend on high speed, as this can cook the cilantro and turn it a dark green or brown color. Season with salt and pulse until incorporated. Line a fine-mesh sieve or chinois with a double layer of cheesecloth. Pour the blended oil into the sieve and, using a large rubber spatula, push the oil mixture through the sieve into a large bowl, pressing on it with the spatula to get out all the flavored oil. Discard the cilantro pulp. Using a funnel, pour into a squeeze bottle for ease of plating. It will keep, refrigerated, up to 5 days.

Carne de Cerdo en Salsa Verde (Pork in Green Chile Sauce)

Carne de Cerdo en Salsa Verde (Pork in Green Chile Sauce)

Carne de Cerdo en Salsa Verde (Pork in Green Chile Sauce)Salsa verde (Green sauce)
1 pound tomatillos (known in Mexico as tomate verde), husks removed
4 or 5 whole chiles serrano, depending on your tolerance for picante (spiciness)
1/2 medium white onion, coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic (optional)
1 medium bunch fresh cilantro, largest stems removed
Sea salt to taste
1 kilo (2.2 pounds) very lean fresh pork butt, cut into 2″ cubes
White flour
Salt
Oil or lard sufficient for frying the pork

In a large pot of water over high heat, bring the tomatillos and chiles (and garlic, if you choose to use it) to a full rolling boil. Boil just until the tomatillos begin to crack; watch them closely or they will disintegrate in the water. Let the tomatillos and chiles (and garlic, if you like) boil until the tomatillos begin to crack. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the cooked tomatillos, salt, and chiles into your blender jar. There’s no need to add liquid at first, but reserve the liquid in which the vegetables boiled until you see the thickness of your sauce. You might want to thin it slightly and the cooking liquid will not dilute the flavor. Set the vegetables aside to cool for about half an hour. Once they are cool, cover the blender, hold the blender cap on, and blend all the vegetables, including the chopped onion, until you have a smooth sauce. Be careful to allow the tomatillos and chiles to cool before you blend them; blending them while they are fresh from the boiling water could easily cause you to burn yourself, the hot mixture tends to react like molten lava in the blender. (Note: don’t ask me how I know this.) In the blender, the boiled and cooled tomatillos and chiles. The cilantro goes in last. While the blender is running, remove the center of its cap and, little by little, push the cilantro into the whizzing sauce. Blend just until smooth; you should still see big flecks of dark green cilantro in the lighter green sauce. Test the salt and correct if necessary. Reserve the sauce for later use.
Pat the 2″ pork cubes as dry as possible with paper towels. Put about 1/4 cup flour in a plastic grocery-size bag. Add 1/2 tsp salt. Melt the lard over high heat in a large heavy oven-proof casserole. While the lard is melting, shake about 1/4 of the cubed pork in the salted flour. When the oil or lard begins to smoke, add the floured pork cubes, being careful not to dump the flour into the pan. Cover the pan. As the pork cubes brown, shake another 1/4 of the pork cubes in flour and salt. Turn the pork cubes until all sides are golden brown. Remove browned cubes to a bowl and reserve. Add more floured pork to the hot lard. You may need more oil or lard as well as more salted flour. Repeat until all pork cubes are well browned. Reserve the browned pork in the same pan, scraping the crispy bits from the bottom. Most Mexican housewives do not flour and brown the pork cubes prior to cooking them in the sauce. I like to prepare the dish this way because the browned flour adds a deeper flavor to the finished sauce. Everyone taste is different, though, and you are of course welcome to tweak the recipe till the finished product is just the way you like it. Add the sauce to the pork cubes in the casserole, making sure that all the cubes are immersed in sauce. Cover and put the casserole into the oven, reducing the heat to 160°C or 325°F. Bake for two hours. Add cooking liquid from the vegetables if necessary to keep the sauce relatively thick but not sticking to the casserole. The pork will be fork-tender and the green sauce will take on a rich, deep, pork-y flavor and color. Serve with arroz blanco (steamed white rice) or arroz a la mexicana (red rice), refried beans, a colorful, contrasting vegetable, and fresh, hot tortillas. Mexico Cooks!’ money-back guarantee: everyone will come back for seconds.

Chorizo and Butternut Squash Tacos

Chorizo and Butternut Squash Tacos

Chorizo and Butternut Squash Tacos

 

12 ounces chorizo sausage

½ cup onion chopped

1 pound squash cut into small cubes

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon cumin

2 cups kale. stems removed

½ lime juiced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

8 corn tortillas store-bought or homemade. warmed

¼ cup crumbled goat cheese

¼ cup chopped cilantro

 

Remove the chorizo from its casings and cook in a large skillet over medium heat for about 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chorizo to a plate; leave the drippings in the pan. Add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring often, for about 3 minutes, until golden and soft. Add the squash, garlic powder, and cumin and continue to cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until the squash is soft. Add the kale and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the cooked chorizo back into the pan and stir to combine. Remove the pan from the heat, and the lime juice, and season with salt and pepper. To assemble the tacos, place a layer of chorizo and squash mixture on each tortilla, top with some crumbled goat cheese, and sprinkle with cilantro.

Sopapillas

Sopapillas

Sopapillas4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups warm water

You have to serve them hot. And you HAVE to eat all of them at that meal. When you drop them in the fryer be sure not to crowd them and only do about 2 or 3 at a time depending on the size. As soon as the float to the top start spooning the hot oil over them to make them puff even more. Turn them once and take them out of the oil when they are golden. Stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and shortening until it is crumbly. Stir in water and mix until the dough is smooth. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes for the gluten to relax. Meanwhile heat the oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees. Roll out on floured board 1/8 thick. Cut into large-ish squares. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain. Dust with confectioner’s sugar or granulated sugar and serve hot with honey to pour in the hollow centers.

Padron Pepper and Goat Cheese Tacos with Smoked Salt and Cilantro Lime Crema

Padron Pepper and Goat Cheese Tacos with Smoked Salt and Cilantro Lime Crema

Look for padron peppers at farmer’s markets or fancy foodie stores throughout the late summer. If you’re sensitive to spice, fry up a batch on their own first to test them out. Peppers from the same farm tend to have the same ratio of hot to mild peppers. If you get a hot one, you can spit it out; but if it’s in your taco, you’ll be stuck eating it.

Have all your other ingredients ready before frying the peppers so that they stay warm; they only take a few minutes to cook. For the tomatoes, I like to use one dry-farmed red, and one heirloom yellow; you may not need to use all the tomatoes. Be sure to drink the delicious juice they let off. It pays to seek out good corn tortillas.

2 small tomatoes
salt, as needed
1/3 C. sour cream
2-3 T. finely chopped cilantro, plus a few leaves for garnish
juice of half a lime
1 T. olive oil
1 pint basket padron peppers
a few pinches of smoked sea salt
4 (6-inch) corn tortillas (or a corn/wheat blend)
2 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 C.)
1 medium-sized ripe avocado, halved, pitted, and sliced
several paper-thin slivers from a red onion
lime wedges

Dice the tomatoes, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and let drain in a sieve while you get on with the recipe. In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, and a big pinch of salt. Taste, adding more lime or salt if you like. Set aside, or cover and chill for up to a day or two. Use a pair of scissors to cut the stems off the peppers (their crowns are edible). Rinse the peppers and drain them well. Heat 1 T. olive oil in a 10″ cast iron skillet set over a medium flame until it shimmers. Add the peppers and cook, tossing occasionally, until blistered all over and blackened in places, about 5 minutes. They will pop and spit; lower the temperature if things are getting too crazy. Sprinkle with a few pinches of the smoked salt.
In another skillet, warm the tortillas on both sides until soft and pliable. Place the tortillas on a couple of plates, and build the tacos. I like the following order:

goat cheese
avocado slices
diced tomato
sliced onion
cilantro lime crema
padron peppers

Top with a sprinkle of smoked salt and a few cilantro leaves. Serve immediately, with lime wedges for squeezing over the tops.

Carne Asada

Carne Asada

3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup lime juice
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon finely chopped canned chipotle pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup olive oil

3 pounds flank steak

Combine Citrus juices in a large glass or ceramic bowl along with the garlic, soy sauce, chipotle pepper, chili power, ground cumin, paprika, dried oregano, black pepper, and cilantro. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until marinade is well combined. Remove one cup of the marinade and place in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for use after the meat is cooked. Place the flank steak between two sheets of heavy plastic (resealable
freezer bags work well) on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound the steak with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/4 inch. After pounding, poke steak all over with a fork. Add the meat to the marinade in the large bowl, cover, and allow’ to marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil the grate. Remove the steak from the marinade and grill to desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium rare. Discard used marinade. Remove meat from heat and slice across the grain. Pour the one cup of reserved, unused marinade over the hot meat and serve immediately.

Chintextle (Pumpkin Seed And Pasilla De Oaxaca Paste)

Chintextle (Pumpkin Seed And Pasilla De Oaxaca Paste)

Mexicans can tell that this is not something you often find in cities. Instead, it’s what men who toil on farms buy in local street markets or get from their wives before they head to work, because it keeps well even in the high heat of the afternoon. When they need a snack, they break out tostadas (crunchy corn tortillas) and spread on chintextle, the potent paste turning even that simple snack into a real treat.

Chintextle (Pumpkin Seed And Pasilla De Oaxaca Paste)1 1/2 ounces pasilla de Oaxaca chiles (9), wiped clean and stemmed
4 ounces hulled raw (green) pumpkin seeds (¾ cup)
5 large garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon fine salt, or 1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 to 2 tablespoons mild olive oil or vegetable oil, if necessary

Heat a comal, griddle, or heavy skillet over medium-low heat, and toast the chiles a few at a time, turning them over and pressing them down with tongs frequently, until they become a lighter shade of brown and develop some blisters, about 2 minutes per batch. Set them aside to cool. Heat a skillet over medium heat and toast the pumpkin seeds, stirring and tossing constantly, until they’re puffed and just slightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer them to a plate to cool. Put the chiles, pumpkin seeds, and garlic in the food processor (there’s not enough liquid to use the blender here) and process to form a paste, scraping the sides often. Add the vinegars and process again. Season to taste with the distilled vinegar and salt, and process again to blend. If necessary, add oil, a little at a time, to help blend the mixture into a very smooth paste. Processing will take at least 3 minutes total. Before you serve it, refrigerate the chintextle in an airtight container for one day to allow the flavors to develop.

Polvorones de Canele (Mexican Cinnamon Cookies)

Polvorones de Canele (Mexican Cinnamon Cookies)

Polvorones de Canele (Mexican Cinnamon Cookies)1 cup butter
½ cup confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ cups bread flour
Coating
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350° F. Cream together confectioners’ sugar and butter. Stir in the vanilla. Combine flour, salt, and cinnamon in a separate bowl. Mix into the butter/sugar mixture to form a stiff dough. In a third bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon mixture. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool cookies on wire racks.

Huevo Verde

Huevo Verde

Huevo Verde

 

2 large Eggs

1 tablespoon Olive Oil

40 grams Onion, sliced

1 Green Jalapeño Chili, sliced

Salt to taste

 

3 Corn Tortillas

20 grams Feta Cheese

Avocado Slices (optional)

 

Heat the oil in a small non-stick pan at medium high heat. Add the sliced jalapeño chili and the onions and cook for one minute or until the onion starts getting translucent. Don’t overcook them, we want both chilies and onions with a bit of a bite in them still! Crack the eggs over the onion and chili and let the white cook a little before you break the yolk and scramble them. I like my scrambled eggs ‘tender’ as my mother would call them, that is fully cooked white and slightly soft-cooked yolk. Cook for a couple of minutes stirring with a spoon when necessary, until the eggs are cooked to your liking. Season with salt and remove from the heat. I always start heating tortillas while the eggs are cooking, saves time and it means the eggs are not left sitting and overcooking. So take a warm corn tortilla and add a generous spoonful of the eggs. Crumbled a bit of feta cheese on top and add a slice of avocado if you want to cool off a bit of the heat from the chili.

Enchilada Suizas

Enchilada Suizas

Enchiladas SuizasA3[5]3 cups of Salsa Verde
3/4 cup Mexican crema
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken meat (or leftover chicken)
1 ½ cup shredded Oaxaca or Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
12 corn tortillas
1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil for frying
Salt & Pepper to taste

If you want to make this dish spicy, add 1 or 2 chopped jalapeño peppers with the salsa verde in the blender.

Place 1 cup of Salsa Verde, Mexican Cream, cilantro and garlic clove in a blender, process until you have a smooth sauce. Mix with the rest of the salsa verde and set aside. Heat a skillet over medium heat; warm one tablespoon of oil and warm the tortillas one at a time to soften, giving it just a few seconds per side. Add the rest of the oil as needed. Besides softening them for easy rolling, another reason is that we do this is to keep the tortillas from breaking. Transfer onto a plate covered with paper towels to drain any excess oil. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. You can also add garlic powder if you like. Spread 1/3 of the sauce in a greased 9″ X 12” baking dish. Fill the center of each tortilla with the chicken and roll it up. Arrange the enchiladas in 1 layer, seam side down. Cover with the rest of sauce; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 25-30 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Serve immediately and garnish with onion slices.

Mexican Menus

Mexican Menus

Taste of Yucatan: Mexican Sangria, Fiery Habanero Salsa, Fresh Corn Torillas, Yucatan Achiote Seasoned Pork, Yucatan Pickled Red Onions, Refried Black Beans

Christmas Eve Open House: Cranberry Sage Margarita, Roasted Oaxaxan-Spiced Orange & Butternut Soup, Red Chile Pork Tamales, Roasted Pork Leg in Adobo, Lime Tarts with Ancho Graham Crust and Agave Whipped Cream

New Years Dinner: Tequila Old Fashioned, Ancho Glazed Chicken Empanadas, Corn, Poblano and Lobster Bisque, Pumpkin seed Crusted Rack of Lamb with Oaxacan Red Mole Sauce, Classic Mexican Vanila Flan

Summer Fiesta: Watermelon Habanero Margarita, Guacamole, Mezcal Braised Spare Ribs with Spicy Chiptole Molasses Sauce, Mexican Grilled Corn, Flourless Chocolate Ancho Cake

Chile-Honey Glazed Pork Ribs

Chile-Honey Glazed Pork Ribs

Chile Honey Pork Ribs4 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1½oz. ancho chiles
1½ oz. guajillo chiles
½ c. chicken broth
2 Tbs. cider vinegar
big pinch ground cumin
pinch ground cloves
â…› tsp. freshly ground black pepper
¾ tsp. dried Mexican oregano
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. brown sugar
1½ tsp. salt

3-3½ lbs. country-style pork ribs
2 T. honey

6 (or more) large romaine lettuce leaves
small onion, thinly sliced into rings
2 radishes, quartered, diced, or sliced
fresh cilantro, in sprigs or chopped

Begin by setting a heavy, ungreased comal or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Stem and seed the chiles and rip them open so that they will lay flat. Set them on the hot skillet, pressing with a spatula for just a few seconds, until they start to change color and crackle a bit. They should smell nice and earthy and toasty – but not burnt. Flip over and repeat on opposite side. Remove from skillet and place in bowl. Do this in batches until all chiles have been toasted. Cover chiles with boiling water and set a plate on top to keep them submered; let soak ~30 minutes. Toss the garlic cloves onto the hot skillet and roast until soft and charred in spots, ~10-15 minutes. Let cool until you’re able to handle then, then slip the garlic from its paper skin. Place the garlic in the jar of a blender. Lift the chiles from their soaking water and place in blender with the garlic. Add ½ cup of broth to the blender along with the vinegar and all of the spices. Puree until smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender jar as needed. Press the puree through a sieve into a clean bowl, pushing down with a rubber scraper to release all of the liquid. Stir in the brown sugar and salt; taste and adjust seasoning as needed. You could make this chile marinade up to several weeks in advance and store it in a jar with a lid in the fridge until ready to use.

Place the ribs in a gallon-size zippered baggie and pour HALF of the marinade over them. Seal the baggie and squidge everything along until the marinade coats the pork. Refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.

Combine remaining half of chile marinade with honey; stir until smooth. Cover and refrigerate.

Preheat oven to 325° F. Dump the ribs and any marinade into a large baking or roasting pan. Drizzle ¼ cup of water around them. Cover with foil and bake until tender when pierced with a fork – this could take anywhere from 1-2 hours. Uncover and baste with the liquid in the pan. Return to oven and bake uncovered for 15 minutes, this will help them develop a good crust. Carefully pour the fat and juices out of the pan. Increase heat to 350° F. Brush the ribs with the chile-honey glaze…really slather it on there…really, use it all! Bake until the ribs are beautifully glazed and crusty on the edges, ~15 minutes.

Lay the lettuce leaves on a serving platter and arrange the ribs over them. Scatter onion, radishes, and cilantro over them. Serve with hot corn tortillas. These ribs are great eaten whole or shredded and stuffed into tortillas to make some tasty tacos.

Mexican Pork Spareribs

Mexican Pork Spareribs

2 racks (6 lb.) St. Louis-style pork spareribs
16 dried guajillo or ancho chiles, seeded
1 1⁄2 tbsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3⁄4 cup white vinegar
3⁄4 cup orange juice
1⁄4 cup canola oil
16 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
6 sprigs cilantro
3⁄4 tsp. ground cloves
4 cups oak or mesquite chips, soaked in water 1 hour, then drained (optional)
Salsa, for serving (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Place ribs in a roasting pan. Place chiles in a bowl and pour 4 cups of hot water over them. Soak until softened, 8-10 minutes; drain, reserving ½ cup soaking liquid. Purée chiles, soaking liquid, oregano, cinnamon, cloves, vinegar, orange juice, oil, garlic, cilantro, salt, and pepper in a blender until smooth; rub mixture over ribs. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Heat a charcoal grill or set a gas grill to high; bank coals or turn off burner on one side. Place soaked wood chips, if using, over coals or in a smoke box in a gas grill. Grill ribs until slightly charred and tender, 1-1½ hours. If the outside starts to burn before the ribs are fully cooked, move them to the cooler section of the grill and continue to cook until tender. Rest ribs 20 minutes; slice into individual ribs. Serve with salsa, if you like.

jalapeño poppers a la parrilla

jalapeño poppers a la parrilla

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4 Large Jalapenos, halved, seeded
1-12 toothpicks
4- 8 slices Turkey Bacon (crisps up well on the grill)
4 oz. Cream Cheese, room temperature
2 T. finely Grated Cheddar Cheese

Mix cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Take a T. and stuff a jalapeno half, making it fairly level. Run spoon along the outside edge so no cheese is hanging over the sides. Repeat for remaining half peppers. Wrap each half with 1-2 pieces of turkey bacon – 2 for large peppers. The bacon should encircle the jalapeno, completely covering the filling and as much of the pepper as possible. You do not want the filling to be able to spill out if the jalapeno tilts while on the grill. Use toothpicks to secure the bacon in place. Place peppers on your hot grill, filling side down and cook 4-6 minutes and then turn them over and cook the other side an additional 4-6 minutes. The bacon should be crisp and beginning to blacken, the filling hot and creamy, and the pepper softened.

Salsa de Habanero y Cebola

Salsa de Habanero y Cebola

5 habanero peppers, roasted and finely chopped
Juice of ½ an orange
Juice of 2 limes
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
2 tsp. white vinegar

Roast habaneros in a skillet on medium heat until they start to get a few dark spots. Cut top off the pepper and discard stem. Finely dice the habaneros. Mix the diced habaneros with the chopped onion in a bowl (or directly in the container you intend to store the salsa in, preferably in a glass jar). Pour juices over the habaneros and onions and then add the vinegar. Toss lightly to moisten and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Keeps refrigerated for about 5 days.

Carne Asada

Carne Asada

1/4 cup olive Carne Asadaoil
1 cup malt vinegar (red Wine Vinegar, more traditional)
1/3 cup lime juice or lemon juice
1/3 cup orange juice
1 cup water
2 T. peeled fresh garlic, minced
1 T. ground white pepper
1 1/2 T. salt
1 T. ground cumin
1 T. chili powder
1 T. Mexican oregano
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 orange, sliced
1/4 bunch cilantro, chopped
5-6 pounds skirt steak

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Place meat in gallon sized freezer bag, in the bottom of a shallow baking dish, or a non-reactive (plastic or glass) storage container with a lid. Pour carne asada marinade on top of meat, cover dish or close bag, and marinate overnight up to 48 hours in the refrigerator. Grilling the marinated carne asada: Take meat out of container and grill until just cooked through. (Rare to medium rare.)

One way to serve:  Cut cooked meat into strips. Place meat and favorite toppings (salsa, cheese, guacamole, avocado slices, tomatoes, shredded cabbage, grilled sweet peppers, etc.) in a tortilla to make into tacos or burritos. You can also serve meat over rice for a carne asada bowl.

Slow cooking the marinated carne asada: After marinating for one or two days, place meat and marinade in a slow cooker. Slow cook for 10 to 12 hours on low. Meat should be extra tender and can be shredded with a fork. Place meat and favorite toppings (salsa, cheese, guacamole, avocado slices, tomatoes, shredded cabbage, grilled sweet peppers, etc.) in a tortilla to make into tacos or burritos. You can also serve meat over rice for a carne asada bowl.

Agave Chipotle Glazed Salmon with Macadamia Cauliflower Rice

Agave Chipotle Glazed Salmon with Macadamia Cauliflower Rice

Agave Chipotle Glazed Salmon is the best of both worlds – sweet and savory! Tender salmon coated in a homemade sauce of agave, chipotle peppers, garlic and lime and served over low carb Macadamia Cauliflower Rice!

Agave-Chipotle-Glazed-Salmon-with-Macadamia-Cauliflower-Rice-4Glaze:
½ cup agave nectar
2½ tablespoons soy sauce
2 chipotles in adobo
¾ teaspoon chile powder
½ lime, juiced
Salmon:
1½ pound salmon fillet
¾ teaspoon sea salt
¾ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Macadamia Cauliflower Rice
1 large head of cauliflower, chopped
½ cup chopped macadamia nuts
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
Garnish:
Cilantro
Lime Wedges

Glaze: In a small blender, combine the agave nectar, soy sauce, chipotles, chile powder and salt. Blend until smooth and set aside.

Salmon: Spray a baking sheet with non stick cooking spray and place fillet on it. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pour half of the glaze over the salmon. Preheat broiler on high. Place salmon on bottom rack so it is not too close to the broiler. Broil for 10 – 12 minutes or until flakey and cooked through. (Cooking time may depend on how thick your fillet is.)

Macadamia Cauliflower Rice: In a high powered blender or food processor, add the cauliflower florets and cover with water. Turn blender on medium, until cauliflower looks like rice. Drain and place cauliflower in a towel. Ring out as much water as possible. Place in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 8 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Season with the salt and garlic powder. Toss with macadamia nuts. Divide between 4 bowls.

When salmon is finished cooking, cut salmon into 4 fillets and place on top of cauliflower rice. Drizzle with remaining glaze, and garnish with cilantro and extra lime wedges.

Chipotle-Honey Glazed Bacon

Chipotle-Honey Glazed Bacon

Chipotle-Honey Glazed Bacon6 slices of premium bacon
1/2 cup of honey
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1 tbsp of the adobo sauce

Heat a large skillet, placing the heat on medium-low. Cook the bacon from about 7 minutes on one side, then flip, and cook another 5-6 minutes on the other side. The goal here is to warm up the bacon, get the majority of the fat out, however retaining a nice texture being careful not to overcook it. During this time, add the honey, powders, chipotle pepper and adobo sauce into a small sauce pan and place on very low heat. You just want the honey to warm through, while you incorporate the other flavors. So once the bacon cooked on both sides, remove the bacon and place on some paper towel to remove any excess fat. Discard the bacon grease, saving it for later, or placing in your grease container. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. As your bacon is resting on the paper towel, brush some of the honey chipotle glaze on the top of each piece. Place on a baking sheet and cook for a few minutes. Remove the tray, flip over the bacon, brush with more glaze and return to the oven for a few more minutes. The outcome of this bacon is something wonderful. The texture changes just ever so slightly to create what almost appears to be bacon candy. It has a bit of chew from the honey, the awesome texture from the slow cooking, and the great heat from the chipotle pepper. This is a great snack, or better yet, served on that leftover turkey sandwich! Enjoy.

Chipotle Bacon Guacamole (Guacamole de Tocino)

Chipotle Bacon Guacamole (Guacamole de Tocino)

guac5 strips medium-thick bacon (full-flavored smoky bacon is great here)
3 medium-large (about 1 1/4 pounds) ripe avocados
1/2 medium white onion, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
2 or 3 canned chipotle chiles en adobo to taste, removed from the canning sauce, stemmed, slit open, seeds scraped out and finely chopped
1 medium-large round, ripe tomato, cored and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, loosely packed, coarsely chopped, thick bottom stems cut off
Salt
1 or 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

In a large (10-inch) skillet, cook the slices of bacon in a single layer over medium heat, turning them occasionally, until crispy and browned, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels, then coarsely crumble. Cut around each avocado, from stem to blossom end and back again, then twist the two halves apart. Dislodge the pit. Scoop the flesh from the skin into a large bowl. Using an old-fashioned potato masher or a large fork or spoon, mash the avocados into a coarse puree. Scoop the onion into a small strainer and rinse under cold water. Shake off the excess water and transfer to the bowl, along with the chipotle chiles, tomatoes, cilantro (save out a little for garnish if you wish) and about 2/3 of the bacon. Gently stir to combine all of the ingredients. Taste and season with salt, usually about 1/2 teaspoon, and enough lime juice to add a little sparkle. Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Scoop the guacamole into a serving dish, sprinkle with the remaining bacon (and cilantro if you have it), and you’re ready to serve. Tip: If the tomato is really ripe and juicy, cut it in half widthwise (across its “equator”), then gently squeeze out the jelly-like seeds from each half. That’ll keep the guacamole from becoming runny. If you’re not serving right away, wait to stir in bacon to ensure the crispy texture!

Lomo Saltado

Lomo Saltado

1__Lomo_Saltado1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons finely chopped ají limo (I just used a red bell pepper and cut into thin strips)
2 pounds beef, cut into strips (I used skirt steak and cut it into strips)
1 pound red onions, sliced
1 pound plum tomatoes sliced lengthwise into sixths
2 pounds large yellow potatoes, peeled and cut into sticks (I used a bag of frozen French fries)
3 ajíes amarillos, sliced fine (I used 2 yellow bell peppers)
6 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 pinch of ground cumin
Red wine vinegar (about 6 tablespoons)
Salt and pepper
Oil for frying (I used canola oil)

First- this makes a TON of lomo saltado so keep this in mind if you are feeding around less than six people. Heat enough oil to coat a large pan or wok and, over medium heat, sauté garlic and ají limo (or your substitution) for 2 minutes. Raise the heat, add meat and brown all over. Season with cumin, salt and pepper. Remove meat from the pan and set aside, keeping it warm. Add a little more oil to the pan if necessary and stir-fry onions until just barely soft, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Add a few drops of red wine vinegar to deglaze the pan, still stir frying the onions, let the vinegar evaporate, about another minute—the onions should have some bite. Remove from pan and set aside. Repeat the stiry fry steps with the tomato and set aside as well (there’s a lot of set aside in this recipe!) In a separate skillet, deep fry the potato sticks until just slightly golden. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain potatoes on a paper towel and season with salt and pepper. If you are using frozen French fries, follow the instructions on the bag. Return meat, onion and tomato to the wok. Add ajíes amarillos (or substitute) and soy sauce and cook for about a minute. Finally, add the French friends and mix everything together carefully. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve immediately.

Tequila Infused Queso Fundido

Tequila Infused Queso Fundido

Tequila Infused Queso Fundido1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
1 large (10-ounce) ripe tomato, cored, seeded (if you wish) and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 medium onion, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
Hot green chiles to taste (roughly 1 large jalapeno or 2 large serranos), stemmed, seeded (if you wish) and finely chopped
3 tablespoons tequila, preferably a silver (blanco) tequila
8 ounces Chihuahua or other Mexican melting cheese, such as quesadilla or asadero, shredded (you’ll have about 2 cups)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Heat the oil in a very large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high. Add the tomato, onion and chiles, and cook, stirring nearly constantly, until the onion begins to soften and brown, about 7 minutes. Add the tequila and cook quickly, stirring, until nearly reduced to a glaze. (If you tip the pan toward an open gas flame, it will ignite. If you choose this route, simply shake the pan back and forth until the flames subside and the tequila has reduced to a glaze.) Reduce the heat to medium-low, sprinkle the cheese evenly over the vegetables and stir slowly and constantly until just meltedtoo long over the heat and the cheese will become tough, oily and stringy. Scoop into a warm dish, sprinkle with the cilantro and serve right away with tortillas for making soft tacos. You may want a little salsa, too.

Frijoles a la Charro (Spicy Bacon Pinto Beans)

Frijoles a la Charro (Spicy Bacon Pinto Beans)

frijoles a la charro1 lb dried pinto beans, rinsed
1 white onion, quartered
4 garlic cloves
6 slices bacon, uncooked
½ small white onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 serrano chile peppers, diced
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 tsp salt
½ cup cilantro leaves, chopped

Place the beans in a large stockpot or clay olla and cover with plenty of water; soak for 6 hours or overnight. Drain and discard the soaking liquid. Return the soaked beans to the stockpot along with the quartered onion and whole garlic cloves. Add enough water to the pot to rise approximately 2 inches above the beans. Place the pot over medium-low heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender. Check and stir the beans every 15-20 minutes to ensure that they are covered in water and not sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add more water to the pan if necessary to ensure that all of the beans are always covered with water. Once the beans are fully cooked, remove from the heat and discard the onion and garlic. Heat a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in the bacon and cook until it is crispy and golden brown. Stir in the diced onion, minced garlic and serrano peppers and cook for 3 min. Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 min, or until they have softened. Add the cooked beans and their cooking liquid to the pan and stir to thoroughly combine. Season with salt. Cook for 8-10 minutes longer until the flavors have blended and most of the liquid has evaporated. Taste and season with additional salt if desired. Serve hot, garnished with chopped cilantro levees.

Frijoles Negros con Arroz Tradicionales

Frijoles Negros con Arroz Tradicionales

Frijoles Negros con Arroz Tradicionales1 can (15 oz) BUSH’S® Black Beans, drain and reserve juices
1 Tbsp olive oil
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp garlic salt
3 T. cider vinegar
1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce
2 cup cooked rice
Lime wedges (optional)

In large skillet, heat olive oil; cook onion and green pepper until crisp tender. Stir in tomatoes, beans, thyme and garlic salt; cook 3 minutes. Add vinegar, pepper sauce, and reserved juices continue to cook 5 minutes. Serve over rice. Garnish with lime wedge (optional).

Cuban Avocado, Watercress, and Pineapple Salad (Ensalada de Aguacate, Berro, y Piña)

Cuban Avocado, Watercress, and Pineapple Salad (Ensalada de Aguacate, Berro, y Piña)

Cuban Avocado, Watercress, and Pineapple Salad (Ensalada de Aguacate, Berro, y Piña)2 bunches watercress
One 2 1/2-pound pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into four 1-inch-thick slices
1 T. sugar
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 T. cider vinegar or fresh lime juice
1/8 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 large Florida (West Indian) avocado or 2 Hass avocados
1 small red onion (5 oz.) thinly slivered lengthwise
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Preparing the Watercress: Place the watercress in a colander and rinse under cold running water to remove any grit or sand. Discard any yellowing leaves and remove the tough stems; for this salad, you want only the leaves and tender stems. Pat dry with paper towels and refrigerate while you prepare the rest of the salad.

Broiling the Pineapple: Preheat the broiler. Place the pineapple slices on a baking pan and sprinkle the sugar evenly on top of them. Broil about 4 inches from the heat source, turning once, for 10 minutes on each side, until lightly golden brown. Let cool, then cut into 1-inch cubes. Set aside.

Preparing the Dressing: Place the garlic, olive oil, vinegar or lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Taste for seasoning. Set aside.

Peeling the Avocado: Cut the avocado(s) lengthwise in half around the pit and remove the pit. Place the avocado halves cut side down on the work surface and slice lengthwise into 1-inch-wide wedges. Peel each segment by hand or with a paring knife, and cut into 1-inch cubes.

Assembling the Salad: Place the watercress in a medium bowl and toss with half the dressing. Arrange on a large platter. Add the pineapple and avocado to the same bowl and toss with the rest of the dressing. Mound the pineapple and avocado over the bed of watercress. Garnish with the slivers of red onion and serve immediately.

Escabeche de Cebolla (Yucatan Pickled Red Onion)

Escabeche de Cebolla (Yucatan Pickled Red Onion)

escabeche de cebolla1 large red onion, peeled and very thinly sliced
1/4 tsp. black peppercorns
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. Mexican oregano
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Place the sliced red onion in a large mason jar (or divide if using smaller jars). In a small pot, heat the vinegar to black pepper, cumin, oregano, garlic, bay leaf and salt. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour the hot vinegar spice mixture over the red onion. Cover and refrigerate. Your onions may not turn bright pink immediately. We found that the gorgeous bright pink color will develop and deepen as the onions rest, covered overnight. These pickled onions will keep for up to 2 weeks refrigerated.

Rajas con Crema (Roasted Poblanos with Cream)

Rajas con Crema (Roasted Poblanos with Cream)

Rajas con Crema (Roasted Poblanos with Cream)6 fresh poblano chiles, fire roasted, stemmed, seeded and skinned
1 T. butter
1 white onion, sliced lengthwise (root to tip), 1/4-inch slices
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup Mexican crema (Mexican sour cream) or crème fraîche
1/2 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese

Cut the chiles into long strips, about an inch wide. Many recipes call for thin strips, about a half inch wide, which you can do if you want. I just like them with thicker strips. Set aside. Heat the butter (can use vegetable oil instead if you want) in a large cast iron skillet on medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes. Add the poblano chiles to the onions. Sprinkle the chiles with salt. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the Mexican crema. Gently stir to coat the chiles. Let cook for several minutes, until the chiles are completely cooked through and the sauce is bubbly and a little reduced, then sprinkle in the grated jack cheese. Stir with the hot crema sauce until the cheese has melted and mixed in with the crema sauce. Serve with warmed corn or flour tortillas.