El Nuevo Recipes

NUEVO LATINO

Steps:

• In a large pot, over high heat, coat bottom of pot with oil and brown off the chicken breast until golden on both sides. The chicken may have to be browned off in smaller batches to brown evenly. Remove chicken from pot and set aside. Next, add the onion, jalapeno, and the poblano pepper to the pan and saute over medium high heat for 3 minutes. Deglaze with beer and add all other ingredients. Return chicken to the pot and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer for approximately 1 hour or until chicken is falling apart. Remove the chicken at this point and set aside to cool. Use a stick blender to puree the mole and continue to cook over medium heat until the sauce has become thick. Once chicken is cooled, shred chicken and toss with hot mole just before serving.
• For the arroz con pollo rice cakes:
• Place red bell pepper, onion, and garlic in a food processor and pulse ingredients until finely chopped. In a medium sized pot, heat oil over medium-high heat and saute red bell pepper, onion, and garlic mix for about 3 minutes. Next, add the basmati rice and continue to stir for about 3 more minutes. Add the chicken broth and the cumin seeds and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and cover and cook approximately 15 to 20 minutes until all liquid has evaporated. Spread the rice out onto a sheet try and let cool. Once rice is completely cooled, place rice in a medium sized mixing bowl and mix in all other ingredients. Form 8 even sized rice cakes (or patties). In a medium sized saute pan over medium-high heat, cook the rice cakes until golden brown on both sides and cooked through on the inside.
• For the red pepper sofrito:
• Place red bell peppers, onions, and garlic in a food processer and pulse ingredients until finely chopped. In a medium saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat and cook red bell pepper, onion, and garlic mix for approximately 10 minutes or until the raw onion flavor has mellowed. Season with salt and pepper and set mixture aside until ready to serve.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the poblano peppers, jalapenos, and the garlic on a sheet try and roast in oven until peppers are charred (almost black) and garlic is golden brown and soft. Set aside and allow to cool. Next, (using rubber gloves) remove seeds from the poblano peppers and the jalapenos. Place into a food processor along with garlic and all other remaining ingredients, except oil. While machine is running, slowly add enough oil to emulsify mixture. The mixture should be nice and smooth. Set aside until ready to serve.
• For the black bean ragu:
• In a medium pot over medium-high heat, heat oil and saute the poblano pepper and onion for about 5 minutes or until golden brown. Next, add all other remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium-low and cook approximately for 30 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated (it should resemble a thick chili). Turn heat to low (as low as you can) and still frequently until ready to serve.
• Place approximately 1/2 cup of black bean ragu on a plate and then place 2 rice cakes on top of the ragu. Put a spoonful of red pepper sofrito on top of each rice cake.
• Next toss the shredded chicken with the mole and place chicken on top of rice cakes. Drizzle a little of the roasted poblano pesto on top of the chicken and garnish with plantain chips. Serve immediately.

FIRE-ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH WHIPPED CHICKPEAS AND CILANTRO PISTOU

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Put a 14-inch cast-iron pan in the oven while it preheats.
• For the cilantro pistou: Combine the cilantro, parsley, lemon juice, 1 to 2 cloves garlic (depending on how spicy you like it), 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a blender. Turn on medium speed and drizzle in the olive oil to combine. Blend until it has a smooth consistency. Adjust with olive oil for desired thickness, or flavor with more salt and lemon as needed. Add the chile flakes, if using.
• Add the cauliflower and blended oil to a large bowl. Generously season with salt and toss to combine. Carefully pour into the preheated cast-iron pan and put back in the oven. Roast on the middle rack until brown and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Crank the heat to broil for last 2 minutes for added color, if desired. (It should have color and be tender but retain a bit of crunch.)
• For the whipped chickpeas: Meanwhile, strain the chickpeas, reserving the liquid in a separate bowl. In a food processor, combine the chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup reserved chickpea liquid (aquafaba) and blend on high for about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Add a bit more aquafaba (approximately 2 tablespoons) if the machine is struggling, then add 1 tablespoon at a time of water (up to 1/4 cup) until smooth and light. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the dukkah spice: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, sunflower seeds and fennel seeds to a small food processor and pulse until just combined. (Do not overprocess.) Add to a cast-iron skillet and toast in the oven for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and season with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Generously spread the pillowy chickpea mixture on a platter. Top with the roasted cauliflower, then drizzle over the cilantro pistou and sprinkle generously with the dukkah.

CRISTA'S CORNMEAL-CRUSTED CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• For the crab cakes: Place a medium cast-iron pan over medium heat. Add the butter and shallots and sweat until softened and just starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine the crab, cracker crumbs, parsley, dill, softened shallots and a sprinkle of salt and pepper in a bowl. Set aside. Mix the egg, creme fraiche, mayonnaise and Dijon in a medium bowl until combined. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the crab and mix well until incorporated. Form 6 equal sized balls and flatten into discs.
• For the dredge: In a bowl, combine the cornmeal, smoked paprika, white pepper, salt, seafood seasoning and celery salt. Gently coat the exterior of each crab cake disc in the cornmeal mixture and place on a tray. Chill the crab cakes in the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour or up to 4 hours to help them stay together while cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the celery root remoulade: Meanwhile, thinly slice the celery root and apples on a mandoline and cut into matchsticks. Place both in a large bowl and cover with the lemon juice to coat so they do not brown or oxidize. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, creme fraiche, hot sauce, tarragon, Dijon and salt, then season with the pepper. Add the creme fraiche mixture to the celery root and apples and gently toss to combine. (For a thinner sauce, feel free to add more mayonnaise and adjust seasoning.)
• In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet on medium heat, then add the olive oil and butter and heat until hot. Place the crab cakes in the skillet and sear to crispy, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer the cast iron to the oven for 5 minutes to warm through.
• For the pea shoot salad: Add the pea shoots and radishes to a medium bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil and lemon juice to coat. Add the mustard seeds, then season with salt and pepper and mix gently.
• Spread a generous amount of remoulade on a platter. Place the crab cakes on top and garnish with the salad.

NEW MEXICO CHILE-RUBBED TRI-TIP WITH CHARRED GREEN ONION AND AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• For the dry rub: Add the dried chiles, brown sugar, salt, pepper and cumin to a bowl and mix well.
• Cover the tri-tip generously with the spice mix on all sides. Wrap the tri-tip in plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge for 3 hours or up to 2 days. Prior to cooking, remove the meat from the fridge and let come to room temperature, approximately 1 hour.
• Preheat a smoker (or the oven) to 225 degrees F.
• Add the tri-tip and cook until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F, 60 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.
• For the charred green onion and avocado salsa: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• Toss the chiles and green onions with the oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Place on the grill and cook until charred, 6 to 8 minutes. (Leave the grill on.)
• Add the charred onions to a food processor. Set the chiles aside until cool enough to handle, then stem, seed and chop. To the food processor, add the cilantro, parsley, juice from 1/2 lime and 1 tablespoon kosher salt and puree, slowly streaming in the olive oil until combined. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add the avocados and chopped green chiles and gently fold in. Adjust seasoning with the remaining lime juice and salt.
• Remove the tri-tip from the smoker and add to the grill. Cook on both sides to get a crisp exterior, about 4 minutes per side. Let rest 10 minutes, then slice against the grain and on the bias. Sprinkle with flakey salt and serve with the charred green onion and avocado salsa on the side.

CAMARONES CON CREMA (MEXICAN SHRIMP IN CREAM)

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place bell peppers, onion, and garlic in the butter and saute until tender and onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and set aside. Save pan and juices and keep warm.
• Combine broth and green chiles in a separate pan and bring to a simmer. Turn off heat and add cream cheese, stirring slowly until incorporated. Add Mexican crema, chile de arbol, cumin, and oregano. Stir again. Add peppers, onion, and garlic; stir to incorporate. Remove from heat.
• Heat reserved pan with juices over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp until they are bright pink on the outside and the meat is opaque, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Stir shrimp into cream mixture and serve.