Café con Leche

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November 09, 2007

Baby Back Ribs

Ingredients
2 racks pork baby back ribs (about 2 pounds each)
Tamarind Glaze
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.

Sprinkle the ribs with salt and pepper and place them meaty-side up on an aluminum foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or shallow baking dish. Roast for 30 minutes and then drain off any accumulated fat from the baking sheet. Turn the ribs over and increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Return them to the oven for an additional 30 minutes.

After the ribs have cooked at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes, begin basting them with the glaze every 15 minutes until the ribs are tender, about 1 hour, turning the ribs meaty side up again after 30 minutes. Remove the ribs from the oven, brush with the reserved glaze and serve.

Posted by Rosa at 10:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sancocho

Ingredients
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


Directions

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

Posted by Rosa at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Skirt Steak with Moroccan Spice Rub and Yogurt Sauce

Ingredients
1 1/4 pounds skirt steak, cut into 6-inch lengths
3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons Moroccan Spice Rub
3/4 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, smashed
1 tablespoon chopped pickled jalapeños
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
4 large pita breads, for serving
Romaine lettuce leaves, for serving
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1. Light a grill. Rub the steaks all over with 3 tablespoons of the spice rub and let stand for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, scallions, garlic, jalapeños and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of the spice rub. Stir in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Brush the steaks lightly with olive oil and grill over high heat, turning occasionally, for 7 to 8 minutes for medium-rare meat. Brush the pitas with olive oil and grill until lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice the steaks across the grain. Transfer the steaks to a platter and serve with the toasted pita, yogurt sauce and lettuce leaves.

Posted by Rosa at 09:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 13, 2007

PEPPERCORN BEEF WITH GORGONZOLA CHEESE

Four 5-ounce trimmed beef tenderloin steaks, about 2 inches thick Salt
1 tablespoon crushed black peppercorns
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 pound Gorgonzola cheese, cut into pieces

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Generously season the tenderloin steaks with salt and pat the crushed peppercorns all over them. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil. Add the steaks and cook them over moderately high heat until they are browned, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the steaks to a rimmed baking sheet and roast them in the oven for about 12 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of 1 of the steaks registers 130° for medium-rare meat.

2. Meanwhile, wipe out the skillet with a paper towel. Add the balsamic vinegar and the sugar and boil over high heat until the vinegar is reduced to 1/3 cup, about 3 minutes.

3. Top the tenderloin steaks with the Gorgonzola cheese and roast them for 2 minutes longer, or until the Gorgonzola is just melted. Transfer the tenderloin steaks to plates, drizzle them all over with the balsamic reduction and serve right away

4 SERVINGS
TOTAL TIME 30 MIN

From Food & Wine Magazine

Posted by Rosa at 11:26 PM | Permalink

GRILLED FLANK STEAK WITH SOY-CHILE GLAZE

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
½ cup soy sauce
1/3 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 ¼ pounds flank steak
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Thinly sliced scallions and lime wedges

Directions

1. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. In a small saucepan, heat the oil. Add the garlic and ginger and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the garlic begins to turn golden. Add the soy sauce, sugar and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring, until syrupy, about 3 minutes; let cool.

2. Season the steak with salt and pepper. Grill the steak for 10 minutes for medium-rare meat, turning once; during the last minute, brush all but 2 tablespoons of the glaze over the steak. Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let stand for 5 minutes.

3. Thinly slice the steak and brush with the reserved 2 tablespoons of glaze. Transfer to a platter, sprinkle with scallions and serve with lime wedges.

6 SERVINGS
TOTAL TIME 25 MIN

From Food & Wine Magazine

Posted by Rosa at 11:25 PM | Permalink

GREEK MEATBALLS

2 medium slices of bread without crust
1 ¼ lbs ground beef
1 finely chopped onion
1 T dried thyme
1 T dried oregano
3 t hopped fresh flat leaf parsley, plus extra for garnish
1 egg lightly beaten
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon
¼ C plain all purpose flower
2-3 T vegetable oil
Instructions

1. Soak the slices of bread in a bowl of water for about ten minutes
2. Squeeze the bread dry with your hands before placing it in a large bowl
3. Add meat, onion, dried oregano, dried thyme, parsley, egg, salt and pepper to the bread and mix them all together using your hands
4. Shape the meat mixture into walnut size balls and roll the balls in the flour to lightly coat them making sure to shake off any excess
5. Heat oil in a large frying pay. Once the oil is hot add the meatballs and fry them turning them frequently until they are cooked through and look brown all over.
6. Get rid of the excess oil by placing the cooked meatballs on some paper towels
7. Sprinkle the meatballs with parsley and serve with lemon wedges


6-8 SERVINGS
TOTAL TIME 30 MIN

Posted by Rosa at 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)