As a part of our continued support for the WKCTC Culinary Program, Karla and I started our second series of classes for the year. This set is an introduction to Latin American Cuisine. Covering a broad range of cuisines makes it impossible to do more than a cursory exploration. Following are the recipes from our first night.
Plantain Chips Patacones
Serves: 4
Ingredients
2 green plantains
1 cup vegetable oil, plus more if necessary
Salt
Directions
Cut off the ends of the plantains and then carefully cut a slit down the length of the skin without cutting into the plantain itself. Using a wooden spoon, pry up the edges of the peel and pull off the skin. Once the peel is removed cut the plantain crosswise into 3 or 4 pieces, each about 2 to 3 inches long.
Heat the oil in a medium skillet over high heat until it shimmers, about 3 minutes. Add the plantains and fry them until they turn golden on all sides, about 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then place between 2 sheets of parchment paper. Reduce the heat to medium.
Flatten the plantains by pressing down on them with a heavy-bottomed pan. Return 1/2 of the flattened plantains to the oil and re-fry until deep golden on both sides, about 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer back to the paper towel-lined plate to drain and repeat with the remaining flattened plantains. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately.
Latin Cabbage and Corn Salad
Serves: 6
Ingredients
For the dressing:
2 limes, juiced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
20 grinds fresh black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
For the salad:
1 small head green cabbage, trimmed, cored, and shredded
1/2 small head red cabbage, trimmed, cored, and shredded
1 (15-ounce) can corn kernels
1 bunch fresh cilantro, washed, dried, and finely chopped
1 bunch scallions, washed, dried, and thinly sliced into rounds
Directions
Make the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Toss all the salad ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
Just before serving, toss the salad with the dressing. Keep refrigerated and covered until ready to use.
Chorizo and Potato Fritta
Serves: 4 to 6
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups thinly sliced onions
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound chorizo sausage, small diced
2 cups small diced white potatoes, blanched
8 large eggs
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large non-stick ovenproof saute pan, over medium heat, add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until caramelized, about 8 minutes. Add the sausage and saute for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to saute for 1 minute. In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy. Season with salt and pepper. Using the back of a spoon, lightly press the chorizo/potato mixture over the bottom of the pan. Pour in the egg mixture.
Place in the oven and bake until the center is firm to the touch, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cool slightly. Slice into individual servings and place on serving plates. Garnish with parsley.
Sancocho with Aji
Serves:6
Ingredients
For the aji:
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
8 scallions, white and light green part only, finely chopped
1/2 small Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped white onion
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice (about 1/2 lime)
3/4 cup water
1 small plum tomato, cored and finely chopped, optional
Salt
For the soup:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 large yellow onions, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 large tomatoes, cored, peeled, seeded and chopped
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 pounds chicken thighs, skin and excess fat removed
2 pounds beef flanken ribs (also called cross-cut ribs)
2 green plantains, peeled and cut into 2-inch long pieces
2 ripe plantains, peeled and cut into 2 inch long pieces
1 large bunch fresh cilantro, stems tied together with kitchen twine
14 cups chicken broth, homemade or canned low-sodium broth
1 1/2 pounds small red or white potatoes, peeled
3 cups diced pumpkin or butternut squash
10 (2-inch) long pieces frozen yucca
4 ears of corn, husked and quartered
White rice, for serving, optional
1 medium Hass avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and sliced for serving, optional
Arepas or tortillas, for serving, optional
For the aji:
Directions
Place the cilantro, scallions, chiles, onions, lime juice and 3/4 cup water in a small glass bowl or jar with a tight fitting lid. Add the tomato, if using, season with saltm to taste and stir all of the ingredients together. Cover and set the aji aside at room temperature for several hours to allow the flavors to release into the liquid, then refrigerate until serving.
For the Soup:
Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the onions and garlic and cook until they're soft and transparent, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, and thyme and continue to cook 5 more minutes. Add the chicken and the beef ribs and cook until the tomatoes have disintegrated, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and skimming the foam from the top of the broth when necessary. Add the green plantains, cilantro, and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the plantains are tender, 30 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside. Add the potatoes, pumpkin, ripe plantains, yucca and corn and simmer, uncovered, until both are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the cilantro and the bay leaves and return the chicken to the pot to re-heat it. To serve, arrange a piece of chicken, some beef, plantains, and a few pieces of yucca and potatoes on each plate. Serve the broth in a small bowl, and the aji sauce on the side, along with a bowl of rice, corn, some avocados and arepas or tortillas on separate plates.
Basic Sofrito
Serves:
1 1/2 cups
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
12 scallions, white and light green part only, finely chopped
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 large tomato, cored and chopped
1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the scallions, onions and tomato. Cook until the onions are soft and golden and the tomatoes have broken down, about 10 minutes, stirring often. Add cilantro, and salt and pepper.
Transfer to a bowl. Use warm or at room temperature.
Brazilian Feijoada
Serves: 10
Ingredients
2 pounds dried black turtle beans, picked through and rinsed
1 pound salt cured beef, such as carne seca or corned beef
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound salt pork, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 medium white onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 serrano pepper, halved
2 bay leaves
1 pound smoked ham hocks
1 pound linguica or Spanish chorizo sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound pork ribs, separated into individual ribs
1 pound beef stew meat, top round or chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes
Hot sauce
2 oranges, peeled and cut in segments
Collard Greens, recipe follows
Cooked white rice, for serving
Directions
Starting a day ahead, place the dried beans in a large bowl and cover with cold water; soak the beans overnight in the refrigerator. In a separate bowl, soak the salt cured beef in cool water to cover to tenderize the meat, do this overnight also but change the water a couple of times. Drain the beans and carne seca; cut up the cured beef into chunks.
Coat a large heavy pot with the oil and place over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the salt pork, onions, garlic, pepper, and bay leaves. Cook and stir for 5 minutes to render out the pork fat and soften the vegetables. Add the ham hocks, sausage, ribs, cubed beef, carne seca, and black beans. Cover with just enough cold water to cover (about 21/2 quarts). Bring the liquid to a boil and then reduce to medium-low heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours, stirring now and again. Skim any foam that rises to the surface during cooking and add more water if necessary to keep the ingredients covered during cooking.
Dig the ham hocks out of the pot, discard the rind and fat, shred the meat, and return the ham to the pot. The beans should be really tender, like they are almost bursting. Mash about 1 cup of the beans against the side of the pot to cream them out. Give the stew a good stir, taste and check for seasoning.
To serve, ladle some of the bean broth into shot glasses or little cups, add a dash of hot pepper sauce and drink – this is traditionally done to get the palate prepared for the feijoada. Serve feijoada in large wide bowls, garnished with orange segments and accompanied by collard greens and white rice.
Sauteed Collard Greens:
2 bunches collard or kale greens, about 2 pounds
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves
1 cup chicken broth
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
To prepare the greens: cut away the tough stalks and stems from the collards and discard any leaves that are bruised or yellow. Fill the sink with water and salt, the salt helps to remove any impurities. Wash the collards thoroughly to remove the grit, 2 or 3 times, until the water runs clear. Dry thoroughly. Stack up several leaves and roll up lengthwise in a bundle, cut them into 1-inch ribbons. Repeat until all the leaves are shredded.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; blanch the collard greens for 3 minutes until tender but still bright green. Drain the greens well.
Heat a large deep skillet over medium flame and coat with the oil. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes to soften. Add the blanched greens and toss well with the oil and garlic. Pour in the chicken broth and cook for 5 minutes until the greens are wilted and tender; take care not to overcook. Season with salt and pepper and serve with the feijoada.
Yield: 8
Arroz con Leche
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
1 cup long-grain white rice
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon lemon zest
3 whole cloves
4 cups water
1 egg
3 cups whole milk
1 (12-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup raisins, optional
Directions
Soak the rice, cinnamon sticks, lemon zest and whole cloves in the water in a heavy saucepan for 1 hour.
After soaking, bring the rice mixture to a boil on high heat, uncovered. When it starts to boil (about 5 minutes), lower the heat to medium and cook for 10 to 12 more minutes or until water is almost evaporated.
While rice is cooking, beat the egg in a bowl. Add the milk and stir well to mix. Add the egg mixture, vanilla extract and condensed milk to the rice and cook over medium-low heat, stirring carefully, until it thickens slightly or until desired consistency, about 25 to 35 minutes.
Let cool uncovered.
