Smashed Garlic Plantains Mofongo Recipes

MOFONGO RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Fry the plantains for 5-8 minutes, or golden brown on all sides. Transfer the plantains to a plate lined with a paper towel to remove excess grease.
• Using a large pilón (mortar and pestle) mash the plantains, garlic, and pork cracklins together, until the plantains are broken down. You might have to do this in small batches.
• Pack a serving into a small bowl and turn it over onto a plate for serving. Remove the bowl.
• Serve with extra pork cracklings (chicharrón) and garlic mojo on the side.
• Crush together garlic cloves and salt with a pilón (mortar and pestle), until you obtain a smooth paste. Transfer into a medium bowl.
• Stir in fresh bitter orange juice, olive oil, cumin, oregano, and chopped cilantro.
• Add more salt to taste, if desired.

MOFONGO

Steps:

• Heat canola oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Mash the garlic with the olive oil in a mortar and pestle. Combine garlic mixture with the pork rinds in a large bowl; set aside.
• Fry the plantain chunks until golden and crispy, but not brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer the fried plantains into the bowl with the garlic mixture. Toss to coat. Mash the coated plantains with the mortar and pestle until smooth. Season with salt. Roll the plantain mixture into two large balls or several small balls before serving.

SMASHED GARLIC PLANTAINS - MOFONGO

Steps:

• Mix handful of salt into a bowl of cold water and soak plantain chunks. Place stock in saucepan over low heat to warm. Bring at least 1 inch of oil to about 350 F degrees in a deep skillet.
• Meanwhile, cook chicharrones or bacon until crisp; remove from heat and drain. Remove plantains from water, drain and dry them on towels, then deep fry the pieces (careful, they may spatter) until golden brown and tender. Remove from oil. Flatten the plantains using the bottom of a flat-bottomed glass bottle or a tostonera if you have one. Fry the plantains again for 30 seconds on each side until slightly crispy.
• While the plantains are still hot use a wooden mortar and pestle to mash them with the garlic and the chicharrones. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• You can also use a food processor - add the plantains to food processor with bacon, garlic and some salt and pepper. You may have to work in batches. Process to consistency of mashed - not whipped - potatoes. Do not over process!
• Place the mixture in soup bowls or wooden pilons, douse with broth, garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.

MOFONGO WITH GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Boil the plantains. Peel the plantains and cut them into 1/4-inch thick coins. Place in a saucepan, cover them with cold water, add salt, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer. Cook until a fork easily slides in and out when you poke a piece of plantain, about 10-15 minutes.
• Prep the flavorings. While the plantains simmer, peel and crush the garlic and place in a mixing bowl. Place the pork rinds in a large ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin or the bottom of a ramekin to make pork dust. Add to the mixing bowl.
• Sauté the plantains. When the plantains are tender, drain them and set aside. Place 4 teaspoons cooking fat in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, 2 minutes. Add the plantains and sauté, tossing occasionally with two wooden spoons, until they're yellow color deepens, but don't let them brown. When they're a darker, golden yellow, transfer them to the mixing bowl, along with any fat remaining in the pan.
• Mix the mofongo. With a potato masher or an electric mixer set on medium, gently mash the plantains and pork rinds together. You want some bumpy texture, rather than a smooth paste. Add about additional fat, 1 teaspoon at a time, to help the mofongo stick together; it shouldn't be dry. Taste and add more salt, if necessary. Using moistened hands, form into 3-inch balls or mound on a plate; serve warm.
• Place all the ingredients in a food processor and purée, or combine them in 1-pint Mason jar and whirl with a stick blender.

MOFONGO DOMINICANO (MASHED PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Heat 1 inch oil in deep 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until oil starts to shimmer (about 350°F). Add plantain slices; cook until golden brown and tender. Remove from oil.
• Flatten the plantains using the bottom of a flat-bottomed glass bottle or a tostonera, if you have one. Return flattened plantains to skillet; cook for 30 seconds on each side or until slightly crisp. Remove from skillet; place in large bowl. Cool slightly.
• Place plaintains, garlic and 1 cup of the broth in food processor. Process until mixture has the consistency of chunky mashed potatoes, adding broth 1/4 cup at a time. Add salt and pepper; process until mixed.
• Spoon into serving bowl; garnish with cilantro. Serve immediately.

VEGAN MOFONGO (FRIED MASHED PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Fill a 1-quart pot with water; boil plantains with a pinch of salt until easily pierced with a fork, about 25 minutes.
• Mash plantains with tomato sauce, cilantro, sofrito, 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, and sazon in a mortar or glass bowl. Incorporate the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and enough vegetable broth to ensure that mofongo sticks together but is dry enough to easily slip out of a container. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve mofongo on top of the remaining 5 tablespoons vegetable broth in a bowl.

GARLIC-SMASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a very large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 40 minutes. Drain.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Arrange potatoes close together in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Use a fork to press about 1 inch deep in the center of each potato until inner flesh is exposed.
• Whisk 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, and salt together in a small bowl to blend. Drizzle over potatoes.
• Bake in the preheated oven, basting occasionally with the oil mixture, until potatoes are crisp and brown on top, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Add additional oil if potatoes seem dry.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot.

GARLIC SMASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large soup pot combine the potatoes and garlic with enough water to cover them by several inches.
• Bring the water to a boil, cover the pan, and lower the heat.
• Let the pototoes simmer steadily for 20 minutes or until they are tender when pierced with a skewer.
• Set the oven at 450 degrees.
• Have on hand a 12-inch baking dish.
• Rub the dish with a thin film of oil.
• Drain the potatoes and garlic and set them aside until they are cool enough to handle- do not let the potatoes become cold.
• Cut the potatoes into quarters and squeeze each one with your fingers or set the potatoes on a board and tap them lightly with a mallet.
• Transfer the potatoes to the baking dish, packing them tightly into the dish.
• Chop the garlic and scatter it on the potatoes.
• Drizzle the oil on top of the potatoes and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the dish to the hot oven.
• Roast the potatoes for 20 minutes or until the top is crusty and golden brown.
• Serve at once.