Embutido

Okay, this is seasoned ground pork that has been rolled into a log and then baked.  The ingredients sounds kinda strange when you think about combining them, but actually, this is absolutely DELICIOUS!  This is my mother's recipe which I have taken some liberties ( I know she will yell at me later).  I've made two different versions, one using Spanish chorizo and another using andouille sausage.  The Spanish chorizo is part of the traditional recipe.  The andouille sausage adds a whole 'nother level.  If you like your foods with some spice, I highly recommend the andouille sausage, if not, go for the traditional Spanish chorizo.  Remember, do not use Mexican chorizo, totally different taste and seasoning.  It will not work on this dish.  This actually is not hard to make, just mix all the ingredients, roll into a log, wrap and then bake.


Ingredients:

1 1/2- 2 lbs of ground pork
1 cup bread crumbs soaked in 3/4 cup milk
2 Spanish chorizo or andouille sausage (cut into chunks)
2 eggs (beaten)
4 tblsp sweet pickle relish
4 tblsp raisins
1 small can (6oz) tomato paste
1 cup pork or chicken broth
2 tblsp of light brown or raw sugar
2 tblsp canola or olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 sheets of aluminum foil

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a food processor, add the chorizo/sausage and raisins. Process until minced but not pureed.  In a large mixing bowl, add the ingredients from the food processor, ground pork, soaked bread crumbs, eggs and sweet relish.  Mix well and season with salt and pepper.  On one of the aluminum sheets, place half of the mixture and proceed to stretch out and create a log.  It does not have to be perfectly round.  Wrap the log with the foil and crimp the ends closed. Place foil wrapped log in a baking dish.  Do the same withe other half.  Place the second foil wrapped log in the same baking dish.  Place in the heated oven and bake for 1 hour.  Remove the embutido from the oven and reserve the liquid at the bottom of the dish. 

Unwrap the embutido and remove the foil.  Place the rolled meat back into the baking dish.  Set the oven to broil - Low .  Brush each log with the oil and return to the oven for another 10 minutes to brown.  Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing. 

To make the sauce, in a sauce pan, add the tomato paste, sugar and broth.  Mix well to make a smooth sauce, and heat through using medium heat.  Pour the reserved liquid from the baking dish into the sauce.  Stir the sauce until the liquid is well incorporated.  Continue to heat until sauce is hot, season with pepper to taste.  Serve sauce with the sliced meat.  Enjoy with your favorite steamed jasmine or basmati rice.

Brown Rice with Chicken and Chorizo

This is a hearty one pot meal.  The chicken combined with the chorizo and rice is similar to the classic Spanish dish called arroz con pollo.  The brown rice adds a nice twist.  Check it out.

Ingredients:

2 lbs chicken thighs
3/4 lbs smoked or Spanish chorizo (cut into 1" thick slices)
2 tblsp olive oil
2 tblsp chopped fresh oregano or 1 tblsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper or less (to taste)
6 cloves garlic (minced)
1 large onion (minced)
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cups long grain brown rice (rinsed)
1/2 cup white wine
3 cups chicken broth
3 roasted red peppers (cut in strips)
1 cup frozen peas
Salt and pepper


Preheat oven at 400 degrees.  In a large dutch oven or a deep oven proof pan, heat the olive oil.  Add the sliced chorizo and cook for approximately 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove to plate with a slotted spoon.  Working in batches, add the chicken thighs.  Do not crowd.  Brown each side (about 4-5 minutes each). Remove from the pan and set aside. Once all the chicken thighs are done, Pour off some of the fat and grease, leaving approximately 3 tablespoon in the pot.  Add the onion and garlic stirring constantly until onions are lightly browned. Add the bay leaf, red pepper flakes and oregano and cook for another 30 seconds, then add the roasted red pepper.  Continue stirring for another 2 minutes, then add the brown rice.  Stirring constantly until rice is well coated and well mixed with the other ingredients.  Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes.  Add the wine and continue to cook for another minute.  Return the chicken and chorizo to the pan and add the chicken broth.  Season with salt and pepper and cover bringing it to a boil; add the peas. 

Transfer the covered pot to the oven and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes until chicken is done and rice is tender.  Remove from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes covered before serving.

Paella Valenciana

There are so many paella recipes out there it just boggles the mind.  I tried several that I found in cookbooks and have watched several chefs on the FoodNetwork take a stab at it. I find the short cut versions just does not have the flavors that you get when you fix the true version.  Even in Spain, depending on the regions, the paella can vary as well.  Paella Valenciana is from the Valencia region.  The ingredients are extensive and it can get expensive, but worth it for those special occassions.  Even if you do not have the paella pan, you can make this fabulous dish. Don't skimp on the ingredients, it's what make this dish fabulous. Eaten al fresco with chilled Sangria, what more can you ask for?

Ingredients:
1 lb of chicken (cut into pieces)
1 Spanish chorizo (sliced) - Chorizo de Balbao
1 medium onion (minced)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
3 tomatoes (chopped) or 1 14oz can of chopped tomatoes
1 large red bell pepper (chopped)
1 lb shrimp in shell or use 1/2 peeled/ 1/2 in shell
1 lb mussels or clams (bearded and clean or frozen in shell)
1 tblsp paprika
2 cups of long grain rice (soaked in cold water for 1 hour)
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 tsp saffron threads soaked in 1/4 cup warm water
1 1/3 cup shelled peas (fresh or frozen)
Salt and pepper
2 tblsp olive oil

3 cups of chicken broth
1 tblsp parsley (chopped) for garnish

Optional:
1 lb cooked lobster meat (reduce shrimp to 1/2; reduce shellfish in 1/2)
1/2 lb of pork shoulder (cut in pieces) can replace 1/2 of the chicken

In a large pan, heat oil.  Lightly fry chorizo until edges are a light brown. Remove from pan and set aside.  Fry chicken pieces in batches until evenly browned. Do not crowd. (If using pork, fry pork pieces until evenly browned and transfer with chicken).  Remove chicken pieces and transfer to the same plate as the chorizo. Add onions and stir constantly until translucent (2-3 minutes), then add the garlic.  Continue to fry for another minute, stirring constantly.  Add paprika and stir for 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes and bell peppers.  Cook for 6-8 minutes.  Mixture should start to thicken.  Drain rice and add to the pan. Stir until rice is coated with the spices and tomato mixture for approximately 3 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add the chicken broth, lemon juice and the saffron thread soaked in warm water.   Bring to a boil.  Cover and reduce the heat to low/simmer.  Add the chicken, chorizo and peas to the pan. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occassionally.  Add the shell fish and shrimp (I usually arrange it to make it look like the picture), continue to cook for another 10 minutes or until liquid is completely absorbed.  If using lobster, add them to the last 5 minutes of the cooking process. Remove cover, sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve in the pan. 

Note: If rice is not tender, add a 1/4 cup of chicken broth or water, stir and continue to cook covered in low heat for another 10 minutes. If using fresh mussels or clams, discard any unopen shells.

Cuban Chicken with Chorizo and Rice

Don't let the long ingredients list scare you. Remember, you are making an entire meal in one dish.  The dish will be prepared in stages which makes it more manageable, marinading the chicken first, then preparing the rice. I tried it with andouille sausage for some interest and WOW! It was great. The andouille sausage gave the rice a nice bite. Do not use Mexican chorizo. The spices will overpower and not mix well with the other seasonings.  We had leftovers, and this was even better the next day. 

Ingredients for the chicken:

1/3 cup fresh lime juice (or key lime juice)

1/3 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

3 tblsp olive oil

1 tsp thyme

2 tblsp paprika

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp allspice

Salt and pepper

4lbs chicken pieces

Combine all the ingredients above except for the chicken. Whisk until thoroughly mixed. place chicken pieces in a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade. Seal the bag and rub marinade around chicken. Place in refrigerator and allow to marinade for at least 4 hours turning bag occasionally.

Ingredients for rice:
1/4 lbs fully cooked Spanish chorizo or Portuguese linguica (chopped) (for spicier version, try andouille sausage)
2 cups onions (minced)
1 yellow bell pepper (chopped)
5 cloves of garlic (minced)
2 cups arborio rice or short grain white rice
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 medium tomato (chopped)
1 1/2 tblsp paprika
4-5 saffron threads
1 whole pimiento or roasted red bell pepper (thinly sliced)
1 tblsp olive oil
Lime wedges

Take chicken out of bag and save the marinade.  In a large deep frying pan heat 1 tblsp of olive oil. Gently fry the linguica/chorizo/sausage until lightly brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.  Fry chicken pieces skin side down about 2-3 pieces at a time.  Do not crowd. Brown each side approximately 4 minutes. Remove from pan and continue to cook the rest of the chicken pieces.  Transfer chicken pieces to a plate.  Pour off about half of the oil from the pan, leaving the othe half and return to the stove top.  Add onions and bell peppers.  Saute for approximately 4 minutes scraping the bottom of the pan to get all the browned pieces.  Add garlic and paprika, continue to stir for another 2 minutes.  Add the rice and continue to saute for another minute.  Add the chicken broth and tomatoes with their juice, saffron thread and the reserved marinade. Continue stirring and bring to a boil. Return the chorizo and stir, press the chicken pieces lightly into the rice mixture.  Reduce heat to low, cover and let cook for 20 minutes checking frequently to ensure bottom does not burn.  Add more broth or water (about 1/4 cup) if rice appears dry and stir to mix the liquid. Season with salt and pepper, stir and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Serve rice and chicken in a bowl with sliced limes.

Fried Rice with Chorizo and Eggs

This is a classic breakfast from the Philippines.  It is a filling and hearty meal to start out the day.  The chorizo used is the Spanish version (very different from the Mexican Chorizo; they don't come close) or longaniza (Philippine sweet sausage).  This is great for using up leftover rice.  We occasionally do this for breakfast on the weekends. It is a great comfort food.  Many serve it with coconut vinegar and patis (fish sauce) to dip the chorizo in.  Note: Fish sauce can be purchased at your local Asian grocery store.

Ingredients:

2-3 cups leftover cooked rice

3-5 tblsp canola or olive oil

3-4 cloves of garlic (minced)

1 small onion (finely chopped)

2 small chorizo or longaniza (cut diagonally)

4 eggs

Salt and pepper to taste

coconut vinegar and patis (fish sauce) for dipping.

Heat the 2-3 tblsp of oil in a deep non-stick skillet.  Add onion and garlic; cook stirring occasionally until onion and garlic are brown (do not burn).  Add the rice, breaking up the lumps.  Stir-fry until the garlic and onions are incorporated and the rice is heated through.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

In a separate frying pan or wok, add 1 tblsp of oil and fry the chorizo/sausages until lightly crisp on both sides.  Remove from pan and allow to drain on paper towel.

In another pan, heat the remaining oil and fry the eggs.  Fry either sunny side up or over easy (turning the eggs over carefully without breaking the yolk). Cook eggs to preferred doneness.  Season eggs with salt and pepper.

Spoon rice into a small bowl and pack lightly, turn bowl over on a plate to create a small mound of rice.  Arrange chorizo/sausage around the rice.  Top the rice with an egg.  Serve with coconut vinegar and patis for dipping the chorizo/sausage.