Calabaza Recipes Crock Pot

CALABACITAS

Steps:

• Give the tomatoes a good rinse and let them roast in a 400F oven for 20 minutes or until you need them. I usually de-stem the tomatoes knowing that any juices leftover in the roasting pan will be used.
• Finely chop a small onion and get it cooking in some oil over medium heat. Let it cook until it's starting to brown, approx. 7-10 minutes. Add three minced garlic cloves and cook for 30-60 seconds.
• Take a couple spoonfuls of the onion-garlic mixture from the pan and add it to the blender -- this will eventually be combined with the roasted tomatoes.
• Give the zucchinis a good rinse and cut them up into 1/4" sized pieces -- be sure to cut off the ends of the zucchinis and discard. Add the chopped zucchini to the onion-garlic mixture in the pan, along with 3/4 teaspoon salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano. Stir well and let it saute for a couple minutes as you put the tomato mixture together.
• Rinse the jalapeno and chop it up into quarters, discarding the stem. Add the roasted tomatoes to the blender along with 1/4 of the jalapeno. (There should also be a couple spoonfuls of the onion-garlic mixture in the blender.) Combine well and take a taste. Add additional slivers of the jalapeno until the heat tastes right to you. I used a larger jalapeno for this batch and only needed about half of it.
• Add the tomato mixture back to the saucepan and let the zucchini simmer in it for a couple more minutes or until the zucchini is tender but still a little firm -- this batch cooked for a total of 7-8 minutes. If using canned corn you can add it in now as it doesn't need much time to heat up. If using fresh corn kernels you can add them in when you add the zucchini. (I usually drain and rinse canned corn but this is optional.)
• Take a final taste for seasoning. I added another generous pinch of salt to this batch.
• Serve immediately with your choice of garnish. Cotija cheese and freshly chopped cilantro are good options.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge where they will keep for a few days.

CALABAZA CON POLLO (CALABAZA SQUASH AND CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add chicken thighs. Continue to boil until no longer pink in the centers and juices run clear, 15 to 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Drain, reserving 2 cups broth. Shred or chop chicken and set aside.
• Mix salt, garlic powder, cumin, and black pepper together in a bowl and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add calabaza squash, zucchini, yellow squash, tomato, and onion. Cook and stir until tender, about 10 minutes. Add corn, followed by tomato sauce, dry spice mixture, and chicken. Pour in reserved 2 cups chicken broth. Mix well.
• Cover the pan and let simmer over medium heat, 20 to 30 minutes.

POLLO CON CALABAZA

Steps:

• Wash and cut off ends of squash, peel and cut into cubes.
• Measure out spices -- add a little water and put aside.
• Brown chicken in oil, add salt, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add squash cubes, spices and diced tomato.
• Cover and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Add drained corn.
• Mix the 1 TBS flour with 1/3 cup water to make a paste -- add to pot to thicken.
• Enjoy.

CALABACITA CON PUERCO (PORK WITH SQUASH)

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook pork chops until no longer pink in the center, about 4 minutes per side. Cool until easily handled, about 5 minutes. Cut the pork into bite-sized cubes.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in the saucepan. Add cubed pork, calabaza squash, corn, onion, tomatoes, and garlic and cook until onion is transparent, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, cumin, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Pour in chicken stock and simmer, covered, until flavors are combined, about 2 hours. Stir occasionally and check periodically to see if more chicken stock is needed.

CALABAZA CON POLLO (SQUASH WITH CHICKEN)

Steps:

• 1. Wash chicken and boil until cooked, set aside.
• 2. Wash all squash, cut into cubes, set aside.
• 3. Wash tomato, cut into cubes, set aside
• 4. Dry Spice Mix - Mix salt, pepper, garlic powder and cumin in bowl, set aside.
• 5. In large pan, add oil, tomato, all squash and onions. On medium-high heat (#7 if you have a dial from 1-10) saute for approximately 10 minutes or until everything look lightly tender.
• 6. Add drained can corn, tomato sauce and dry spice mixture.
• 7. Add chicken and 2 cups of chicken broth from the chicken boil.
• 8. Gently mix all the ingredients to coat everything well. Cover and let simmer on medium-low heat (#3 on dial that has 1-10) for approximately 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!

CALABAZA CON POLLO

Steps:

• Wash chicken and boil until cooked, set aside.
• Wash all the squash, cut up into cubes, set aside.
• Wash tomato, cut up into cubes, set aside.
• Cut onion into cubes, set aside.
• Mix salt, pepper, garlic powder and cumin in a bowl, set aside.
• Get a large pan, add 2 tbs cooking oil, tomato, cubed squash and cubed onion.
• On medium high heat sautee for approximately 10 minutes or until you can see that everything is nice and tender.
• Add drained corn.
• Add tomato sauce.
• Add dry spice mixture.
• Add chicken.
• Add 2 cups chicken broth from chicken boil.
• Gently mix all the ingredients to coat everything well.
• Cover and let simmer on medium heat for approximately 20-30 minutes.