See Also: Another Mexican Feast; Mexican Cuisine; Mexican Food Festivals;
Alvin Starkman Articles from Oaxaca A MEXICAN FEASTFOOD FOR THOUGHT - May 20, 2009 - Mark R. Vogel - Epicure1@optonline.net - Mark’s Archive I love Latin food. Latin America is all of the beautiful land south of the United States. Latin cooking thus embraces the cuisines of Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. I particularly enjoy Mexican food, be it authentic Mexican or Americanized Mexican. It was Latin food and the guidance of a Puerto Rican chef named Felix who sparked my early interest in cooking and eventual pursuit of a professional culinary career. Latin food and Felix will always hold a special place in my heart.
I equate Latin cooking with bold and often spicy flavors. Good Latin food has a depth of flavor coupled with a bright intensity. I relish its reliance on fresh, aromatic herbs and vegetables: chile peppers, tomatoes, garlic, onions, cilantro, epazote, cumin, coriander, etc. I also love rice and beans and all the delicious and varied ways that Latin chefs can bring them to new heights.
In the recipes that follow I endeavor to capture those two features: a depth and intensity of flavor.
RECIPE: CHICKEN FAJITASIngredients • 1½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 cup beef broth or stock
• 2 – 4 oz, habanero sauce (see recipe below)
• 3 oz. tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1-2 poblano peppers, cut into thin strips
• 1 medium onion, sliced thin
• 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
• Flour tortillas, as needed
• Salsa, as needed for topping, (see recipe below)
• Mark’s hearty pinto beans ( see recipe below)
Directions Trim the thighs of excess fat and then slice into fajita-sized strips.
Combine the fluids and seasonings in a large bowl and whisk to fully combine.
Add the chicken and vegetables, stir, and allow to marinate for one hour.
Pour all of the contents into a pot and bring to a full boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Uncover and simmer another 15 minutes to reduce the fluid.
Spoon some of the mixture into a flour tortilla, top with some of the salsa and enjoy.
Serve with the beans.
RECIPE: MARK’S HEARTY PINTO BEANSIngredients • 1 lb. pork neck bones
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Olive oil, as needed
• 1 cup beef broth or stock
• 2 - 4 oz. habanero sauce (see recipe below)
• 3 oz. tomato sauce
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon coriander
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 1 (15.5 oz.) can Goya pinto beans
Directions Pork neck bones usually come with some adjacent meat still attached. This is preferable since we want the meat in addition to the bones, for flavoring and to nibble on with the beans.
Season the bones with salt and pepper and sear them in hot oil until browned. Once browned, drain some of the excess fat/oil if you like.
Add the fluids and bring to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze.
Add the onion, garlic, seasonings and additional salt and pepper. Cover and gently simmer for an hour.
Add the beans and simmer uncovered until the beans are hot and the fluid has reduced somewhat.
SALSA RECIPEIngredients • 5 large, ripe, on-the-vine tomatoes, chopped.
• 1 small onion, chopped.
• Half a green bell pepper, chopped, for mild salsa or 3-4 jalapenos for hot.
• Quarter cup cilantro, chopped.
• Juice from one whole lime.
• A splash of red vinegar.
• Kosher salt to taste
Directions Chop the tomatoes and place them in a fine mesh colander with an ample amount of salt. Place the colander into a larger bowl and let them rest while you prepare the other ingredients. Give them an occasional stir. This will enable their fluid to drain and prevent the salsa from being too watery.
Chop the onion, peppers, and cilantro and then combine them with the lime juice, vinegar and tomatoes. Add salt to the salsa until you achieve your desired degree of salinity.
Finally, to maximize flavor, allow the salsa to rest, covered with plastic wrap for an hour so the flavors can meld.
Leave the salsa at room temperature. Cold inhibits flavor.
HABANERO SAUCE RECIPEIngredients • 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup of red wine vinegar
• 1-3 fresh or dried habanero peppers, depending on how hot you like it
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
Directions Roughly chop the bell and habanero peppers, (or grind the habaneros if using dried).
Bring all of the ingredients to a boil, and then simmer, covered, for 8-10 minutes.
Finally, puree the mixture in a blender.
If you don’t want any heat, just eliminate the habaneros from the recipe. You will still have a delicious red bell pepper sauce. Visit Mark’s website: Food for Thought Online
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