Puerto Rican Prawns With Lobster Yucca Mofongo And Sofrito Broth Recipes

COSTA RICAN ENYUCADOS

Steps:

• To peel the yucca, slice the root in half, then make a cut on the long edge. Peel back the outer skin. Alternatively, use a peeler to remove skin. Slice the yucca into 2-inch rounds.
• Put the yucca in a 3-quart stockpot. Add 1 teaspoon salt and cover with water, about 6 cups. Bring to a boil and simmer until the yucca is very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Drain excess water from the yucca, then mash until a puree is formed. Allow the puree to cool before forming the croquettes.
• Flatten about 1/2 cup (3 to 4 ounces) of yucca in your hands (you can use a bit of flour on your hands or food-safe gloves so the yucca doesn't stick). Place about 1 ounce of mozzarella in the middle and form the yucca around the cheese into a flat oval patty; set aside. Repeat with the remaining yucca and mozzarella.
• Pour about 1 inch of oil into a frying pan and heat over medium-high heat until bubbling. Carefully place half of the patties in the oil and fry, flipping about halfway through, until golden brown on the outside but still tender on the inside, about 5 minutes per side. Using tongs, remove the enyucados from the oil and allow excess oil to drain; sprinkle with salt. Place the enyucados on a plate covered with a paper towel to absorb additional oil. Repeat with the remaining patties.
• Serve with salsa rosada or your preferred dip, if desired.

PLANTAIN MASH (MOFONGO) W PUERTO RICAN SHRIMP

Steps:

• 1. peel and cut plantains into one inch cubes,set in cold water as you cut to prevent oxidation,drain and dry w a paper towel,fry at med high heat for about 5 minutes,then remove from oil and cool.cook tocino/bacon until crispy.mix together olive oil and minced garlic,salt and pepper (about 1 tsp salt,1 tsp pepper)
• 2. now clean shrimp and season w salt and pepper,set aside.in a saute pan add 1 tbsp canola oil,when it is hot add sofrito and crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce,cook for 3 minutes then add cumin and paprika cook for 2 minutes,stir in water and salt and pepper to taste,simmer on med high for 2 minutes when bubbly add shrimp,cover and lower heat,cook on med low for 7 minutes or until shrimp is cooked and sauce is slightly thickened.turn off flame.
• 3. now refry plantains for 8 minutes or until golden,remove and put in a large bowl,add bacon and mash well while mixing in bacon,then mix in garlic/oil.
• 4. now to construct the dish,in an oven safe bowl add half of the shrimp with sauce, take half of the plantain mix on a flat surface and form into a dome shape,the size of your bowl,and leave the bottom inside shallow,place on top of shrimp stew.bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown on top.serve hot.***i like to make another batch of the sauce and serve on the side in order to pour over mofongo or dip each bite.

MOFONGO

Steps:

• Prepare the guiso, if using: Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until simmering. Add sofrito, reduce heat to medium-low and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until liquid is evaporated.
• Pour in tomato sauce, partially cover with a lid, and simmer over low for 7 to 10 minutes. Sauce will thicken and darken in color.
• While sauce simmers, prepare the mofongo: Pour vegetable oil into a medium saucepan until it reaches a 3-inch depth, then heat over medium-high.
• Meanwhile, crush garlic and 1 teaspoon salt in a pilón or large mortar and pestle until a wet paste forms.
• In a separate, small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium until just simmering, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour this hot oil on top of the garlic, carefully stirring to incorporate. It'll sizzle, and the garlic may turn light green. Add lime juice to complete the mojo.
• Peel plantains by cutting off both ends, then make three lengthwise slices through the skin. Carefully pull up the peel and remove it, starting at one of the corners with the edge of your fingernail or the tip of your knife if tough, then cut the plantains into 1 1/2-inch rounds. (Be careful: Plantain skins will stain your hands and clothing.)
• Once the vegetable oil is simmering somewhere between 350 and 375 degrees - you can test by adding a small piece of plantain; it will sizzle when the oil is hot enough - add plantains in 2 or 3 batches, taking care not to crown the pot. Fry each batch for 6 to 9 minutes, stirring lightly a few times, until the plantains begin to brown. Be careful not to let them get too dark, or they'll be hard and dry. Use a slotted spoon or mesh strainer to transfer plantains to a towel-lined bowl.
• If you have a large enough pilón, add fried plantains and chicharrón, if using, until pilón is three-quarters full. Mash together, alternating pounding and grinding. Once mixture has condensed to about half its original size, add 1 heaping tablespoon of the prepared mojo (or to taste), and continue grinding and mashing until fully combined. The mixture will look like stuffing.
• If you don't have a pilón, combine plantains, chicharrón and mojo in a large wooden bowl. Using the bottom of a slender jar, such as an olive jar, mash together to incorporate, rotating the bowl after each mash. Pound, grind and mash until mofongo is blended.
• Form the mashed mixture into 4 individual mofongos, each roughly the size of a baseball, or press into the bottom of a small rice bowl, then turn each onto a plate or into a larger bowl.
• Serve immediately, garnished with extra chicharrón, lime wedges and cilantro, if you like. Spoon over guiso as desired.

SHRIMP MOFONGO

Steps:

• Make the mofongo: Fit a large pot with deep-fry thermometer. Pour in enough canola oil to reach 2 inches up the side of the pan. Heat over medium-high until thermometer registers 325 degrees. Add plantains and fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Carefully transfer plantains to a paper-towel-lined rimmed baking sheet to drain.
• In a mortar and pestle, smash 2 garlic cloves, making sure you have a thin coating of garlic on the bottom. Transfer plantains to the mortar, add adobo seasoning and pork rinds and mash until softened and well combined.
• Make the shrimp: Place the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add 4 smashed garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring frequently so the garlic doesn't burn.
• Add the shrimp and cook until pink and opaque, 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side. Pour in wine and lemon juice and let reduce on low heat until a thick sauce forms, about 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Firmly pack the mofongo into a small bowl to mold and turn over onto a plate. Spoon the shrimp and sauce on top of the mofongo and garnish with cilantro. Serve immediately.

PRAWNS PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil. Brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Carefully remove shells and legs of prawns; leave the tail attached. To butterfly the prawns, cut a slit with a small sharp knife lengthwise down the belly side of shrimp, almost to the skin on the back. Open out like a book.
• Place chopped garlic, large pinch kosher salt, oregano, and thyme in a mortar; pound and stir with a pestle a few seconds. Add 1 tablespoon fresh parsley. Pound and stir mixture until it turns into a paste, 1 or 2 minutes. Add 1/3 cup olive oil; mix about 1 minute to infuse olive oil with herbs and garlic.
• Place bread crumbs in a mixing bowl. Transfer herb-garlic mixture to breadcrumbs. Add a pinch of salt, black pepper, pinch cayenne, remaining chopped parsley, and grated cheese. Mix with a fork to distribute ingredients evenly. Pinch a bit of the mixture; if it feels a bit dry and doesn't stick to your finger, drizzle in a bit more olive oil. Stir until mixture reaches desired consistency. 2 to 3 minutes.
• Lightly but thoroughly coat cut side of prawns with crumb mixture; place on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until cooked through and tails curl up, 8 to 10 minutes.