Cuban Style Salt Cured Beef With Crispy Plantain Chips Recipes

SWEET AND SPICY PLANTAIN CHIPS

Steps:

• Add the coconut oil to a large skillet. Add enough vegetable oil to come about a third of the way up the sides of the skillet and heat over medium-high heat until very hot.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Mix together the brown sugar, paprika, cayenne and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
• Add the plantain slices to the oil in batches and fry until golden brown on the outside, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oil and smash to a chip size with a wooden mallet or rolling pin. Return the plantains to the oil in small batches again so they do not stick together and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer the chips to the towel-lined baking sheet and top with the seasoning mixture.

CEVICHE (SHRIMP AND GROUPER) WITH SERRANO CHILES, MANGO, SMOKED TOMATOES, CRISPY PLANTAIN CHIPS

Steps:

• Place the grouper and shrimp in a large bowl. Toss with the lime and orange juice and let stand for 30 minutes. Strain the grouper and shrimp and place in a separate bowl.
• Add the Cold-Smoked Grape Tomatoes, cilantro, onions, chiles, mango, salt and pepper and toss gently to combine. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss.
• Place the ceviche on a serving platter or on individual plates. Drizzle with a bit more olive oil. Garnish with Pickled Red Onions, lime zest and plantain chips.
• Put a handful of hot coals in the bottom of a smoker. Scatter the hickory chips over the top. Put a try of ice on the bottom grate. Put the cooking grate above the ice tray. When the temperature of the smoker reaches 100 degrees F, toss the tomatoes with the canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes on the top grate. Close the smoker and smoke the tomatoes for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how smoky you want them.
• Bring the vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar and salt dissolves, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool for 10 minutes. Add the onions and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.

CUBAN VIA MIAMI FEAST: MASHED PLANTAINS WITH OH, BABY! GARLIC-TOMATO SHRIMP ON TOP, GRILLED FLANK STEAK WITH LIME AND ONIONS, QUICK RICE WITH BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan, and half of the finely chopped onion. Saute 3 minutes, then season with 2 teaspoons cumin, eyeball the measurement in the palm of your hand, and the thyme leaves. Pour in 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock and raise heat to bring to a boil. Add rice and lower heat to simmer when boil resumes. Cover pot tightly. After 12 minutes, stir in black beans and replace cover. Cook another 6 to 7 minutes. Turn off rice and beans, season with salt and stir to combine then let stand until ready to serve. While rice cooks, make plantains with shrimp and the meat.
• Preheat a grill pan over high heat. The meat can also be prepared in a hot, large cast iron or nonstick skillet if you do not have a grill pan.
• Place flank steak in a shallow dish and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil to coat ¿ about 2 tablespoons. Mix grill seasoning with 1 tablespoon cumin, eyeball the measurement in your palm. Add the zest of 1 lime to the grill seasoning and cumin. Rub the mixture over the steak evenly. Wash up and cut lime into wedges and reserve. Place the steak on hot grill or in hot pan and cook 4 to 5 minutes, turn and cook 3 minutes longer. Remove from heat and let juices redistribute 5 minutes.
• Slit the skins of the plantains from end to end to vent them for microwave cooking. Wrap them each in wax paper, twisting up paper at ends. Microwave the plantains 4 to 5 minutes together or 90 seconds each individually on high.
• While plantains and steak cook, place a medium nonstick skillet on the heat over a high flame. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and the sliced onions. Sear the onions up and heat through, but leave a bite to them. Place on a platter and cover with foil to reserve heat. Return pan to stove and reduce heat to between medium high and medium. Add 2 tablespoons extra, 2 turns of the pan, and the remaining finely chopped onion, the bell pepper, garlic and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and add the zest of 1 lemon. Cook until shrimp are firm and peppers begin to soften, 4 minutes or so. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon, the tomato sauce and parsley. Turn off heat.
• Peel and mash the steaming hot plantains with remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Season the plantains with salt and pile on platter or dinner plates then top with garlicky shrimp and tomatoes. Very thinly slice the cooked steak on an angle, working against the grain. Squeeze lime juice over the meat and arrange over the cooked sliced onions on serving platter. Fluff up rice and black beans a bit, transfer them to a bowl and pass at table.

FRIED PLANTAIN CHIPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the garam masala, smoked paprika, salt and pepper and set aside.
• Using a mandoline or a sharp knife, slice the plantains into very thin slices, about 1/8-inch thickness.
• Pour the oil into a large, heavy bottomed pot and heat it to 350 degrees F. The oil level should come one-third of the way up the sides of the pot. If there is too much oil, it will overflow when the chips are added. Alternatively, use a deep-fryer.
• Fry the plantain slices in batches in the hot oil until crispy and golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir them a bit while they fry to prevent them from sticking together. Remove the plantains and drain on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with the spice mixture and serve.
• Alternatively, the plantain chips can be cooled and stored in an airtight container for up to 10 days.

SPICY SEASONED PLANTAIN CHIPS

Steps:

• Place the plantains in a bowl of cold water to soak for 30 to 40 minutes (this will help make them easier to peel).
• Combine the salt, garlic, sugar, chile powder, cumin, paprika, thyme, pepper, allspice, cinnamon and clove in a dry pan and toast lightly until aromatic, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat a large pot of canola oil to 350 degrees F.
• Peel the plantains and, using a mandolin, finely slice lengthwise. Working in batches, deep fry the plantain slices in the hot oil until golden and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate.
• Once all of the plantain slices are fried, toss them in the toasted spice mixture and serve.