World Recipes

Colombian Potatoes with Tomato-Cheese Sauce (Papas Chorreadas)

4 to 6 large potatoes
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 scallion, green and white parts, finely chopped
1 cup chopped, peeled tomato
Salt and freshly-ground pepper, to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated Monterey jack, Muenster or other mild white cheese
Chopped parsley (for garnish)

Boil the potatoes in salted water until they are cooked through. Drain, peel and keep warm.

Heat the butter in a saucepan over moderate heat, and cook the onion and garlic until soft but not brown. Add the scallion, tomatoes, salt, and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cream and cheese and stir until the cheese is melted. Pour the sauce over the potatoes and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Serves 4 to 6.

Tortillas de Maiz (Corn Pancakes)

1 cup fresh corn kernels cut from 2 large
    ears of corn, or substitute 1 cup thoroughly
    defrosted frozen corn kernels
1/3 cup vegetable oil
8 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 to 6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

With paper towels, pat corn kernels completely dry.

In a heavy skillet, heat oil over moderate heat until a light haze forms above it. Drop in the corn and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, or until the corn is golden brown. drain corn on a double thickness of paper towels.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until they are well combined and foamy, then beat in flour, salt and pepper.

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a heavy skillet or crepe pan set over moderate heat. When the foam subsides, pour in 1/4 cup of the batter. As soon as the edges begin to set, sprinkle the tortilla with 2 tablespoons of corn. Then with a fork, push the edges of the tortilla toward the center of the pan and tip it slightly to allow the uncooked batter to run out and cover the exposed areas of the pan. When the tortilla is set and the bottom is light brown, turn it over with a spatula and cook for 1 minute to brown the other side. Slide the tortilla onto a heated platter and proceed in the same manner with the remaining batter, stirring the batter before making each tortilla. Add a teaspoon of the remaining butter to the pan for each one. As they are done, stack the pancakes one on top of the other.

Serve them on individual plates, topped with a tablespoon of sour cream and a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley.

Stuffed Rolled Steak (Carne Rellena)

This is known as "matambre" (hunger killer) in Argentina.

1 (1 1/2 pound) beef boneless round steak, 1/2 inch thick
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 ounces thinly sliced fully cooked smoked ham
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can mild green chiles, drained and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1 medium carrot
1 hardboiled egg, peeled and cut lengthwise into fourths
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf

Trim fat from beef. Pound until about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle beef with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, oregano and pepper. Arrange ham evenly on beef. Sprinkle tomatoes, chiles, onion, garlic and bread crumbs on ham.

Cut carrot lengthwise into halves; cut halves lengthwise into 3 strips. Arrange on ham. Place egg pieces down center of ham. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Carefully roll up beef. Fasten with metal skewers or tie with string. If the beef separates when rolled, fasten with wooden picks.

Heat oil in Dutch oven until hot. carefully transfer beef roll to Dutch oven; cook over medium heat until brown on all sides. Drain fat. Add water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaf. Cover and bake at 325 degrees F until beef is tender, about 1 1/2 hours.

Remove skewers. Cut beef into 1-inch slices; serve with cooking liquid.

Yields 8 servings.

South American Roast Turkey (Pavita Rellena a la Criolla)

1 medium onion, chopped
1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage
2 eggs
4 cups soft bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped pimento-stuffed olives
2 large peaches, peeled and coarsely chopped, or
    1 (16 ounce) package frozen unsweetened peach slices,
    thawed and coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (12 pound) turkey, giblets and neck reserved
Olive oil
Gravy

Cook and stir onion and sausage in skillet over medium heat until sausage is brown; drain. Beat eggs with fork in 2 1/2-quart bowl. Add sausage mixture, bread crumbs, olives, peaches, oregano, salt and pepper; toss.

Remove giblets and neck from turkey; prepare for Gravy. Fill wishbone area of turkey with stuffing. Fasten neck skin to back with skewer. Fold wings across back with tips touching. Fill body cavity lightly. Tuck drumsticks under band of skin at tail, or tie or skewer to tail.

Place turkey, breast side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle or thickest part of breast mead and does not touch bone. Brush with oil. Roast at 325 degrees F, brushing with pan juices every 45 minutes, until meat thermometer registers 185 degrees F, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Let turkey stand 20 minutes before carving.

Prepare Gravy; serve with turkey.

Yields 12 to 14 servings.

Gravy
Giblets and neck of turkey
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup turkey drippings (fat and juices)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup half-and-half
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

Heat giblets, neck, water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. Remove giblets and neck; chop giblets and discard neck. Reserve broth for gravy. Pour and scrape all drippings from roasting pan. Pour 2/3 cup drippings into 3-quart saucepan; stir in flour. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and bubbly; remove from heat.

Stir in reserved broth, half-and -half and chopped giblets. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in salt and pepper.

Moqueca de Camarao (Shrimp Stew - Brazil)

2 tablespoons dende (palm) oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 pounds fresh medium size prawns, shelled and deveined
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 fresh red cayenne pepper
1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk

Heat the oil, and stir fry the onion until golden brown. Add the garlic and prawns. Stir fry for about 3 minutes.

Add the salt, lemon juice, tomatoes, parsley, pepper, cayenne and coconut milk. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. If you want to add fish to the moqueca, use sea bass, cut in small pieces, and cook it together with the coconut milk.

Brazilian Chuck Roast

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (3 pound) boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed
1 1/2 cups strong coffee
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
1 onion, peeled and sliced thick
4 small potatoes, unpeeled and cut into quarters
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour mixed with 1 tablespoon water

Heat oil in a heavy, 4-quart saucepan. Add chuck roast; brown on all sides. Add coffee, garlic, salt, pepper and thyme. Arrange onion slices on top of meat. Cook over high heat until boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, 1 hour.

Add potatoes; continue to cook until meat and potatoes are tender. Remove meat and vegetables from pan juices; keep warm.

Blend flour with water to dissolve flour; stir into pan juices. Cook over medium-high heat until thickened, stirring constantly.

Slice meat and serve with pan gravy and vegetables.

Jocon (Chicken in Green Sauce - Guatemala)

1 chicken, cut into serving pieces,
    loose skin and fat discarded
4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
2 tortillas, sliced
1 tablespoon pepitoria (squash seeds)
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup cilantro, packed
1 cup sliced scallions, green part only
1/2 cup sliced tomatillos
1 to 2 teaspoons hot green chile slices
1 tablespoon corn oil

Cook the chicken in the water with the salt in a covered kettle until soft, about 30 minutes.

Remove the chicken and set aside. Reserve broth and soak tortillas in it. Toast the squash seeds and sesame seeds in a dry skillet over moderate to low heat until they turn a light tan color, about 10 minutes.

Prepare sauce in processor. Grind the squash and sesame seeds. Add the cilantro, scallions, tomatillos, hot chile pepper and 1 cup of the reserved broth. Add the soaked tortillas and process to a smooth paste.

Brown the chicken pieces in oil over moderate heat for 5 minutes.

Add the green sauce and the balance of the broth, about 2 cups. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, until the sauce is reduced to a thick, rich, green consistency.

Serve warm.

Serves 4.

Hallacas

1 1/2 pounds diced beef
1 1/2 pounds diced pork
2 cups water
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup canned chickpeas
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 tomatoes, chopped
4 onions, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried ground chile peppers
4 tablespoons chopped parsley
4 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons capers
1/2 cup seedless raisins
1/2 cup sliced stuffed olives
3 cups cornmeal
4 cups boiling water
1/3 cup butter
2 eggs, beaten

Combine the beef, pork, water, and garlic in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook over medium heat for 45 minutes. Drain and chop coarsely. Add the chickpeas, mixing lightly.

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the tomatoes, onions, peppers, chile, parsley, 2 teaspoons of the salt, vinegar, sugar and the meat mixture. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the capers, raisins and olives. Mix lightly. Set aside.

Mix the cornmeal with a little cold water. Add to the boiling water in a saucepan, stirring constantly. Add the butter and remaining salt. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the eggs, beating until a smooth dough is formed.

Butter a 3-quart round or square baking dish. Line it with 2/3 of the cornmeal mixture and pour the meat mixture into it. Spread the remaining corn meal on top. Cover the dish with a piece of foil and tie it. Place in a pan of water. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.

Venezuelan method
The dish is prepared in the form of tamales. Banana leaves are used for wrapping the hallacas, but foil or parchment paper will serve as a substitute. Cut 10-inch squares of either paper. Spread about 4 tablespoons of the cornmeal dough in the center and press as thin as possible. Place 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture on the dough and fold over, sealing the edges as well as possible. If the dough breaks, patch it with a little more dough. Fold the paper around the hallacas carefully and tie it securely. If foil is used, it is not necessary to tie it. Boil in a large saucepan of salted water for 1 1/2 hours.

Serve in the papers.