Plantain Chips With Mojo Recipes

CHICHARITAS OR MARIQUITAS (CUBAN PLANTAIN CHIPS)

Steps:

• 1. Pour the oil to a depth of 2 or 3 inches in a deep - fat fryer, a dutch oven or heavy skillet such as cast iron. Heat oil to 350 degrees.
• 2. Peel the plantains, slice lengthwise for Mariquitas or in round chips for chicharitas, as thinly as possible, Using a mandolin if you have one, with the blade at it's thinnest opening. Slide them into the hot oil in small batches. You don't want them to clumb together. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes, turning with a metal skimmer. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and/or mojo. Serve at once.
• 3. Mojo: Heat oil in a deep sauce pan over medium low heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, do not let the garlic get brown or it will be acrid tasting. Add the sour orange juice, cumin, and the salt and pepper. Stand back; the sauce may sputter. Bring to a rolling boil. taste to see if correct seasoning salt if needed.
• 4. Cool before serving. Mojo is best when served within a couple of hours of making, but will keep in the frig for several days, well capped in a jar. When cool sprinkle over your plantain chips. Can be used to flavor Cuban sandwiches, boiled yucca, grilled seafood and meats and of course fried green plantain chips. Note: I prefer to use more lime juice then orange juice, as I like it very tart. I have seen some recipes for Mojo using cilantro in it, but that is not traditional to the Cuban Cuisine. Enjoy
• 5. Above you see the Cuban Chicharitas and Mariquitas. I have also included some green plantains to show how green they should be. Green Plantains can be difficult to peel if you don't know how to do it. Run a sharp steak knife the point only down the seams of the plantain from the top to the bottom. Make sure you stick the point of the knife down to where you can feel the plantain under the peel. After doing this on all the seams take the point of the knife and gently pry up the peel where you cut working the knife gently all along the cut under the peel and prying up the peel as you go down the cut. The peel will give way and come off all in one piece. Then go to the next seam and do the same thing until you have pryed the peel off all the way around the plantain. Then you can go to your mandolin and start slicing. Good Luck

PLANTAIN CHIPS

Steps:

• Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Deep fry the plantain slices, about a dozen at a time, until golden brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain in a large bowl lined with paper towels, and salt to taste while still warm.

ROPA VIEJA JOSES (CUBAN SLOPPY JOES), SLICED TOMATOES, PLANTAIN CHIPS AND MOJO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the mojo sauce: put the garlic and onion in a food processor with cumin, lemon zest and juice. Turn processor on and stream in about 1 cup of extra-virgin olive oil and 1/4 cup of water. Turn off processor and reserve.
• Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and brown. Add half of the mojo and crumble the meat as it cooks, about 3 minutes. Add olives and pimientos, paprika, Worcestershire, hot pepper sauce, tomato sauce and grill seasoning. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cook over low heat 10 minutes.
• Split Cuban rolls and pile the bottoms with hefty spoonfuls of Sloppy Ropa Vieja Jose mix. Cover meat with sliced dill pickles and bun tops. Serve the plantain chips and sliced tomatoes along side to finish your plates and drizzle tiny spoonfuls of raw mojo sauce over the chips when passing out the plates. Season the tomato slices with a pinch of salt as well.

PLANTAIN CHIPS WITH MOJO

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle or garlic press, crush the garlic and place in a small bowl. Add 2 teaspoons of salt, the pepper and oregano. Stir in the juice and olive oil. Set aside. Peel the plantains. Use a peeler or mandolin to slice the plantains as thin as possible (think potato chip). The plantains can be cut crosswise or lengthwise. In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high, heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil to 360 F. In batches, fry the plantain chips, turning occasionally, until lightly browned on both sides, about 5 to 7 minutes. Don't crowd the pan or the chips will stick together. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chips to a paper towel-lined plate. After several minutes, sprinkle the chips with salt, then transfer to an oven-safe serving plate or bowl. Place the chips in the oven to keep warm while frying remaining chips. Serve chips with mojo sauce for dipping. (Recipes from Emilio and Gloria Estefan's "Estefan Kitchen," Celebra, 2008)

SPIRAL PLANTAINS WITH MOJO SAUCE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the mojo sauce: In a high-powered blender, combine the orange juice, lime juice, cilantro, salt, oregano, cumin, and garlic. Turn the blender on to medium speed and slowly drizzle in the olive oil until emulsified. Set aside until ready to use. The sauce will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Make the accordion plantains: Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until the temperature reaches 325°F (160°C). Set a wire rack over a baking sheet.
• Use a sharp knife to remove the tips of the plantains, then peel and cut the plantains in half crosswise. Place a plantain half between two chopsticks or skewers on a flat surface. Slice the plantain crosswise at ¼-inch intervals, using the chopsticks to avoid cutting all the way through. Flip the plantain over and slice diagonally at ¼-inch intervals, again using the chopsticks to avoid cutting all the way through. Gently thread a 6-inch skewer through the center of the plantain and carefully separate the layers with your fingers so that they are evenly spaced. Repeat with the remaining plantains.
• Fry the plantain skewers in the hot oil until light golden brown, using a slotted spoon or tongs to rotate for even frying, about 5 minutes total. Carefully transfer the skewers to the wire rack.
• Increase the heat to high to bring the oil temperature to 375°F (190°C).
• Return the plantains to the hot oil and fry until a deep copper color, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the wire rack and immediately season with salt.
• Serve the accordion plantains with the mojo sauce and mayoketchup for dipping.
• Enjoy!