Puerto Rican Style Ají Dulce Sauce Ajilimójili Recipes

PUERTO RICAN-STYLE AJí DULCE SAUCE (AJILIMóJILI)

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process to a coarse emerald-green sauce. The sauce will keep in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for 2 to 3 days.

BOILED YUCA (YUCA HERVIDA)

Steps:

• Place the yuca, 3 quarts water, and salt in a 4-quart saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook at a gentle boil until either fork-tender (Paraguayan style), about 25 minutes, or very tender (Cuban style), 30 to 40 minutes. Drain, quickly removing the spindles, and serve at once; or keep warm in the cooking water over very low heat until ready to serve. Douse with a table sauce if you wish, and serve piping hot.

PUERTO RICAN PASTELES (PASTELES PUERTORRIQUEñOS)

Steps:

• Making the Recado
• Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree. Set aside. DO AHEAD: You can make the seasoning base (recado) the day before.
• Making the Sofrito
• Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and brown for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the pork and cook, stirring, until it begins to release its fat, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the recado, reduce the heat to low, and cook, covered, for about 50 minutes, or until the pork is tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Add some chicken broth if the sauce thickens too much during cooking. When the meat is done, transfer it to a plate with a slotted spoon. Set the sauce aside. DO AHEAD: You can make the sofrito the day before.
• Making the Masa
• Working in 2 or 3 batches, puree the milk, malanga, green bananas, green plantain, and calabaza in a blender or food processor and pour into a large bowl. Add the oil and salt and mix well to color the masa evenly. Stir in the reserved sauce. Taste for seasoning and set aside.
• Wrapping the Tamales
• Place one plantain leaf square on a work surface with the veins perpendicular to you. Brush generously with achiote oil. Place 3 heaping tablespoons of masa in the center of the leaf and spread into a 6-inch square, leaving a 3-inch margin on all sides. Place 3 tablespoons of the diced pork on top, forming a rectangle. Garnish with 4 raisins, 4 chickpeas, a strip of red pepper, and 4 olive halves. Tie the tamal following the instructions for the pastel wrap (see Cooks' notes). Repeat with the remaining wrappers and ingredients. DO AHEAD: You can prepare the plantain leaves the day before.
• Cooking the Tamales
• Using two steamers (or working in batches), steam for about 1 hour (see Cooks' notes).