Mashed Plantains With Oh Baby Garlic Tomato Shrimp On Top Grilled Flank Steak With Lime And Onions And Quick Rice With Black Beans Recipes

MASHED PLANTAINS

Steps:

• Combine 3 chopped ripe plantains in a saucepan with 2 cinnamon sticks, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 4 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspon kosher salt. Cover with water and simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain, reserving the liquid. Mash the plantains. Brown 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet, 6 to 10 minutes. Mix into the plantains; add enough of the reserved liquid until creamy. Season with salt, pepper and ground cinnamon.

MASHED PLANTAINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sprinkle plantains with salt and cayenne; drizzle with oil to coat. Arrange, cut sides down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until cut sides of plantains begin to caramelize, about 20 minutes. Turn plantains; roast 10 minutes more.
• Mash hot plantains on baking sheet with a potato masher until somewhat smooth (some large chunks should remain). Transfer to a serving bowl, and drizzle with lime juice.

GRILLED GARLIC AND HERB SHRIMP

Steps:

• Whisk the paprika, garlic, Italian seasoning, lemon juice, olive oil, pepper, basil, and brown sugar together in a bowl until thoroughly blended. Stir in the shrimp, and toss to evenly coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, turning once.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil grill grate, and place about 4 inches from heat source.
• Remove shrimp from marinade, drain excess, and discard marinade.
• Place shrimp on preheated grill and cook, turning once, until opaque in the center, 5 to 6 minutes. Serve immediately.

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

Steps:

• Heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the EVOO (once around the pan), and half of the finely chopped onions. Saute for 3 minutes, then season with 2 teaspoons of the cumin and the thyme leaves. Pour in 2 1/2 cups of the chicken stock and raise the heat to bring to a boil. Add the rice and lower the heat to a simmer when a boil resumes. Cover the pot tightly. After 12 minutes, stir in the black beans and replace the cover. Cook for another 6 to 7 minutes. Turn off the heat, season the rice and beans with salt, and stir to combine, then let stand until ready to serve. While the rice cooks, make the 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 the flank steak in a shallow dish and drizzle with EVOO to coat-about 2 tablespoons. Mix the grill seasoning with the tablespoon of cumin (eyeball the measurement in your palm). Add the lime zest to the grill seasoning and cumin. Rub the mixture over the steak evenly. Place the steak on the hot grill or in the hot pan and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, then turn and cook for 3 minutes longer. Remove from the heat and let the juices redistribute for 5 minutes.
• Slit the skins of the plantains from end to end to vent them for microwave cooking. Wrap each in wax paper, twisting the paper at the ends. Microwave the plantains for 4 to 5 minutes together or 90 seconds individually on High.
• While the plantains and steak cook, place a medium nonstick skillet on the heat over a high flame. Add 2 tablespoons of the EVOO and the sliced onions. Sear the onions and heat through, but leave a bite to them. Place on a serving platter and cover with foil to keep them warm. Return the pan to the stove and reduce the heat to between medium high and medium. Add 2 tablespoons of the EVOO and the remaining finely chopped onions, the bell peppers, garlic, and shrimp.
• Season with salt and pepper and add the lemon zest. Cook until the shrimp are firm and the peppers begin to soften, 4 minutes or so. Add half of the lemon juice, the tomato sauce, and parsley. Turn off the heat. Adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
• Peel and mash the steaming hot plantains with the remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock and a drizzle of EVOO. Season the plantains with salt and pile on a 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 reserved cooked sliced onions on the serving platter. Fluff up the rice and black beans a bit, transfer them to a bowl, and pass at the table.
• Plantains look like green bananas and are available in the produce department.