Cuban Corn Recipes

BLUE CORN CUBAN TACO

Steps:

• Whisk together 3 tablespoons of the oil, orange juice, garlic and oregano in a baking dish, add the pork and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Heat the grill to high or a nonstick saute pan with a few tablespoons of canola oil over medium-high heat on the stove.
• Remove the pork from the marinade and place on the grill. Grill until golden brown and slightly charred and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the meat registers 150 degrees F, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before slicing into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Reduce the heat of the grill to medium. Place the tortillas on the grill and grill for approximately 10 seconds per side to make pliable. Lay the tortillas on a flat surface. Divide the ingredients evenly over 1 half of each tortilla. Start with 1 slice of the cheese, followed by the ham then a few slices of the pork, a few slices of the jalapenos and another slice of the cheese. Fold the top of the tortilla over the ingredients and press on it. Brush the tops of the tortillas with some of the remaining oil and place on the grill, oil-side down and grill until lightly golden brown, pressing on the tortillas to flatten, 3 to 4 minutes. Brush the tops of the tortillas with oil, flip over and continue grilling, pressing down on the tortillas until golden brown and the cheese has melted.

CUBAN TAMALES

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook and stir pork in hot oil until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Pour 1/2 cup white wine into saucepan and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
• Stir 2 cups water, 5 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 beef bouillon cube, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, and black pepper to pork mixture. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, partially cover the saucepan with a lid, and simmer until pork is very tender, 1 to 2 hours. Transfer pork to a bowl and reserve cooking liquid.
• Heat remaining olive oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat. Cook and stir chorizo and cooked pork in hot oil until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir onion, green pepper, and remaining minced garlic into chorizo mixture; saute until vegetables soften and onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add remaining white wine, olives, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, and remaining bouillon cube; cook, stirring frequently, until flavors combine, about 5 minutes more.
• Pulse corn and 1 1/2 cups reserved pork broth together in a blender or food processor until mixture has a thick and chunky consistency. Stir corn mixture into pork-chorizo mixture.
• Reduce heat to medium and stir masa harina, sugar, vinegar, and salt into pork mixture; cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture has a hearty cornmeal porridge-consistency. Season with salt and remove from heat.
• Make a pocket out of one corn husk and fill 3/4 full with pork mixture, leaving a top flap. Wrap another husk around the filled pocket. Fold top flap over the pocket. Tie twine length- and width-wise around the tamale several times so that packet is secure, but has room for filling to expand during cooking. Repeat with remaining husks and filling.
• Fill a pot with 2-inches of water; bring to a simmer. Place tamales upright in simmering water, cover the pot, and cook, adding water as necessary, until filling is hot and set, about 40 minutes. Cool tamales until completely set, at least 3 hours.

MEXICAN STREET CORN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place corn, in husks, directly on the oven rack.
• Roast in the preheated oven until tender and cooked through, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Peel down husks and rub each ear of corn with 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle each with Cotija cheese, cilantro, chili powder, and lime juice. Serve.