Kabocha And Pork Stew Recipes

JAPANESE SIMMERED KABOCHA

Steps:

• Gather all the ingredients.
• In a small saucepan, boil the measured water for the dashi. Once boiling, add the katsuobushi.
• Mix together and turn off the heat. Set aside for 15 minutes. Then, strain the katsuobushi with a fine-mesh sieve. Now you have Katsuo Dashi. Set it aside for now. Reserve the spent katsuobushi to make furikake (rice seasonings).
• Remove the seeds and membrane from the kabocha and microwave it for 2 minutes to soften the outer skin. You can skip microwaving if you have a sharp knife and the strength to cut through the hard kabocha.
• Carefully cut the kabocha into wedges, then equal 2-inch (5 cm) pieces. Remember, we leave the skin on because kabocha skin is edible and nutritious.
• In a large pot, place the kabocha pieces in a single layer, skin side down.
• Add the dashi, sake, and sugar. Tip: Swirl the pot to mix the seasonings so you don't break the kabocha pieces.
• Cook on medium high heat and bring it to a boil.
• Add the soy sauce and salt, and swirl the pot again to mix the seasonings. The cooking liquid should come three-quarters up the sides of the kabocha pieces; if it does not, you can add a little bit of water. Bring it to a boil again.
• Once boiling, turn the heat to medium low to maintain a simmer. Cover with an otoshibuta (drop lid) and cook for 20-30 minutes (depending on the size of your kabocha pieces and how long it takes the skin to cook). You can tell it's done when the orange flesh of the kabocha has tiny, thin cracks near the skin or a bamboo skewer pierces the kabocha easily. If you feel that the liquid is evaporating too fast, you can cover the pot with a pot lid (with the otoshibuta still placed on top of the kabocha).
• Remove from the heat and let the kabocha sit covered with a pot lid until cool, about 30 minutes. This helps the kabocha absorb more flavor as it cools. You can serve it at room temperature or reheat before serving.

KABOCHA SQUASH AND PORK STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Steam squash in a steamer basket set in a pot of simmering water until tender, 6-8 minutes. Let cool slightly. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet and cook squash, turning occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in same skillet, add sausage, and cook, breaking into large pieces and stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add scallions, garlic, chile, and ginger and cook, stirring often, just until softened, about 2 minutes. Add squash, lime juice, fish sauce, and sugar; toss to combine.
• Serve stir-fry topped with peanuts and cilantro.

SANCOCHO

Steps:

• Peel and cut the yuca, yautia, green plantain and yellow plantain into 1-inch pieces. Scrape out the seeds, then chop the calabaza, skin on, into 1-inch pieces. Put each ingredient in a separate bowl, adding water to cover vegetables in order to prevent them from turning brown while you prepare the rest of the soup.
• Husk the corn, then slice it into 2-inch-thick segments. Set aside.
• Season pork (or beef) and chicken with 1/2 tablespoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot over medium-high. Add the pork and brown on all sides for 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a clean, large bowl, then add the chicken to the same pot, and brown on both sides for another 5 minutes, adding oil as needed if the pot gets dry. Transfer with a slotted spoon to the same bowl as the pork.
• Reduce heat to medium and add sofrito to the pot, scraping up any browned bits of meat and incorporating them into the mix. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until liquid has evaporated and mixture darkens in color.
• Return the pork, chicken and any accumulated juices to the pot. Add the stock, bay leaves and remaining 1 tablespoon salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Once simmering, reduce heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• To keep the vegetables from falling apart, add each one in order of firmness, cooking each for 5 minutes before adding the next. Begin with the yuca, then yautia, green plantain, yellow plantain, calabaza and corn, cooking the yuca for a total of 30 minutes and the corn for only 5 minutes.
• Add chorizo and stir well to incorporate. Cook for another 10 to 15 minutes over medium-low heat until meat and vegetables are tender and break easily with a fork. Because of all the starches and meat in this dish, this stew tends to be thick and rich. Some of the vegetables will fall apart, giving it a porridge consistency. This is a good thing.
• Adjust salt to taste, and serve with fresh bread or white rice on the side.