Plantains With Crema Espesa Thick Cream Recipes

PLANTAINS WITH CREMA ESPESA (THICK CREAM)

Steps:

• Peel and bias-slice plantains or bananas into 1/2-inch thick slices (about 2 cups).
• Melt margarine or butter in a large skillet.
• Add plantains or bananas to melted margarine or butter.
• Heat about 5 minutes for plantains (2 minutes for bananas) or just until warm & tender; gently stirring occasionally.
• Sprinkle with brown sugar. Stir gently until sugar melts.
• Carefully stir in vanilla & cinnamon.
• Sprinkle with nuts.
• Serve immediately with Crema Espesa.
• Crema Espesa:.
• In a small saucepan heat whipping cream over low heat until warm (90 degreesF to 100 degreesF).
• Pour the cream into a small bowl; stir in the buttermilk.
• Cover & let the mixture stand at room temperature for 24 to 30 hours. DO NOT STIR or until the mixture is thickened.
• Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Stir before serving.

HOMEMADE THICK CREAM

Steps:

• 1. Preparing the cream. Pour the cream into a small saucepan, set over low heat and stir just until the chill is off; do not heat above 100°F (lukewarm). Stir in the buttermilk and pour into a glass jar.
• 2. Ripening the cream. Set the lid on the jar (but don't tighten it) and place in a warm (80-90°F) spot. Let the cream culture and set for 12 to 24 hours, until noticeably thicker (perhaps almost set like yogurt or sour cream). Stir gently, screw on the lid and refrigerate at least 4 hours to chill and complete the thickening.

SMOKY PLANTAIN CREMA

Steps:

• Toast the chipotle in a small skillet over medium heat. Remove the stem and seeds.
• Combine the vinegar and toasted chipotle in a small bowl. Set aside to soften.
• In a medium pot, cook the bacon in the olive oil over medium-low heat until beginning to crisp. Turn the heat up to medium, add the poblano, onion, carrot, garlic, and Scotch bonnet, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add the annatto seeds and stir. Then add the chipotle-vinegar mixture, the bay leaf, cumin, and 1 teaspoon pepper, and simmer until almost all of the liquid has evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the orange juice and simmer until only a small amount of liquid remains, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock and reduce almost to a glaze, about 7 minutes (you'll know it is done when the bubbles start getting bigger). Add the heavy cream and vanilla bean, stir, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cream in quite thick. Pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer; discard the solids. Reserve.
• In a sauté pan, heat the canola oil. Add the plantain, season with salt and pepper, and cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until dark golden brown on all sides. Transfer to a paper towel to drain.
• In a blender, puree the plantain with the strained liquid. If any lumps of plantain remain, strain one more time. Refrigerate until needed; this will keep for 4 or 5 days.

SWEET PLANTAINS

Steps:

• Peel and pit the avocado and scoop the flesh into the bowl of a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients, seasoning to taste with salt, and purée until smooth. Set aside while you fry the plantains.
• In a large pan over medium-high heat, heat ⅛ inch oil to 350°F. Add the plantains and cook, flipping every 3 minutes or so, until deeply golden brown, soft, and juicy, about 12 minutes total. Remove the fried plantains to a plate lined with paper towel, and sprinkle with salt.