Scorpion Tails With Pequillo Pepper Sauce Recipes

SCORPION TAILS WITH PEQUILLO PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Slice the stems off of the jalapeños and reserve near their bottom (so you can reassemble later). Using a paring knife, slice a vertical V-shaped opening into the side of each pepper. Using your fingers, gently spread the opening and use a paring knife to remove the pepper's ribs and seeds. Repeat process with remaining peppers.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the Neufchatel at medium-high speed, just to soften. Add the cotija, corn, egg, garlic, and basil and beat at a low speed until blended. Cover filling with plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes (or up to several hours).
• Using a butter knife, fill each pepper with about 2 tablespoons of cheese filling. Top pepper with stem (frost the stem with filling so it will adhere to the pepper, if necessary) and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet; repeat with remaining peppers. Cover sheet with plastic and refrigerate peppers at least one hour before broiling.
• Meanwhile, place the drained pequillo peppers, olive oil, and sherry wine vinegar in a blender and puree. Transfer puree to a small saucepan. Heat gently just before serving peppers.
• Just before serving, turn on broiler and place an oven rack on its highest shelf. Place the sheet of peppers under the broiler and cook until blistered (but not overly blackened). If the bottoms of the peppers are still green, reduce heat to 200°, place peppers on a lower oven rack, and finish warming through. To serve, spread a few tablespoons of the warmed pequillo sauce onto a small plate. Place two peppers on each plate and serve.

BUTTERFLIED SQUAB WITH PIQUILLO PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the squab with salt and black pepper and place in the pan, breast-side down. Add the butter and cook the squab until the skin is golden brown. Flip the squab, and continue to cook until medium rare. Transfer to a plate and let rest.
• Drain off any excess oil from the pan, and then heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook the carrots, celery and onions until lightly browned. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute. Increase the heat to high, and then pour in the port and red wine and cook until reduced by three-quarters, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the stock and cook until reduced by half, then stir in the creme fraiche. Strain the sauce into a bowl, and then heat gently in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once bubbling, remove from the heat and add the parsley, thyme and piquillo peppers. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

TUNA-STUFFED PIQUILLO PEPPERS

Steps:

• Drain the tuna and put it in a medium mixing bowl. Use a fork to break tuna into large flakes and push to one side of the bowl.
• Put capers, parsley, mint, celery and onions on the other side of the bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add red-pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice and olive oil, then stir the mixture to coat tuna well.
• Use a teaspoon to fill each pepper with some of the tuna mixture.
• Arrange stuffed peppers on lettuce leaves on a platter. Garnish with quartered or halved hard-cooked eggs sprinkled with salt. Serve at cool room temperature.

PIQUILLO PEPPER CHICKEN WITH SPANISH RICE

Steps:

• In a small pan over medium heat, lightly toast the almonds and reserve.
• In a small saucepan, bring the broth, raisins, 1 tablespoon of the EVOO, the turmeric, and the saffron to a boil. Stir in the rice, cover the pot, and simmer over low heat for 18 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through and the liquid is absorbed.
• While the rice cooks, in a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of EVOO, over medium-high heat. Season the chicken liberally with salt and pepper, add to the skillet, and cook for 6 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. Add the piquillo peppers to the pan and heat through, about 2 minutes. Add the sherry and boil for 1 to 2 minutes until slightly reduced. Add the butter and half the parsley and turn off the heat, stirring to melt the butter. Spoon the sauce over the chicken.
• Add the remaining parsley and the almonds to the rice and fluff with a fork. Serve the rice alongside the chicken.