Aji de Gallina: Traditional Peruvian Cuisine

PREP 

1 whole chicken, cooked with salt to taste

• SHRED and reserve broth (about 6 cups)
• Use the rest of the chicken broth to cook potatoes

18 slices (small loaf) of white bread

• Soak shredded bread in 1 cup of milk for at least 15 minutes (won’t hurt to soak longer)
• Add enough water to cover well and blend till smooth

10 red or golden red potatoes. Cooked whole

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 4 cloves of Garlic (pressed)
• ½ cup of parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup of vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. Turmeric
• 2 tsp. of Salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 tsp. Pepper
• 1/4 tsp. Cumin

PREPARATION

1. In a large pan heat oil and sauté onions for about 1 minute (med-high heat)
2. Add garlic and spices (turmeric, salt, pepper, and cumin) cook till onion is translucent (about 5 minutes).
3. Add shredded chicken and stir to coat chicken well and then add enough broth to cover the chicken; bring to a boil.
4. Add bread mixture and bring to a boil again.
5. Reduce heat (med-low) and stir constantly (it will stick if not stirred). Cook for 20 min. adding more broth as needed. Consistency should be thick, but loose.
6. Add parmesan cheese and cook 5 more minutes.

TIP: If you run out of broth and the mixture is too thick, heat some milk and add as needed. 

Serve over sliced potatoes or white rice (or in the Peruvian tradition, both). Garnish with a slice of boiled egg and an olive.

Hidden Valley Crockpot Roast

1 Beef Roast-
1 Pkg. Dried Brown Gravy Mix
1 Pkg. Dried Italian Salad Dressing Mix
1 Pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
1/2 Cup Water Or Beef Broth-
 Sliced Mushrooms (optional)
Garlic (optional)
Carrots (optional)
Put sliced mushrooms, small baby carrots and garlic on the bottom of crockpot.
Rub roast beef with Garlic In A Jar-or just sprinkle some garlic powder and pepper over the roast. ***Garlic In A Jar is better though.
Place roast beef in Crockpot.
Put onions and garlic around the roast.
Mix the Dried Brown Gravy Mix, Dried Italian Salad Dressing Mix and Hidden Valley Mix together in a bowl and sprinkle this mixture over the roast.
Pour water or beef broth around the roast-BEEF BROTH IS ALOT BETTER
Cook on low for 7-9 hours…

Chickenetta (or porketta roast)

I love porketta roast, but it isn't the healthiest of meat choices. I miss the flavor so I finally decided to create a chicken version. Same fennelly goodness of porketta without the guilt.

3 Tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 Tbsp lemon pepper

1 Tbsp fennel seeds

1 Tbsp dill seeds

1 tsp anise seeds

1 tsp caraway seeds

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp cracked black pepper

3-4 chicken breasts

2 Tbsp fresh sage, chopped

Mix together everything except sage. Marinate chicken breasts in mixture over night. In the morning, sear chicken and then toss in crockpot with red potatoes, onions, and carrots. Dust with fresh sage. Cook 4-6 hours. 

If you are feeling especially culinary, add some fresh, diced anise to the pot. You can also throw some haricots verts (french green beans) in the pot 30-45 minutes before you are ready to eat. They steam quite nicely and add great color.

Cajun Alfredo

I ordered an amazingly tasty cajun alfredo dish while I was in New Orleans and attempted to recreate it at home (with a few lower-fat changes). It came out tasting pretty close to the real deal.

INGREDIENTS

4 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 (8 ounce) container of tofutti

2 c. milk

2 tsp crushed garlic or garlic paste
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp ground white pepper
1/8 tsp ground red pepper
1/8 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp onion powder

1 c. corn
1 c. finely diced carrots
1/2 diced red bell pepper

5-6 c. cooked pasta

DIRECTIONS

Heat olive oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add tofutti and stir with wire whisk until smooth and creamy. Add milk a little at a time while stirring with whisk. Stir in spices (garlic, parmesan, the three ground peppers, paprika, and onion powder).

Continue stirring over medium heat until sauce thickens. Add corn, carrots, and bell pepper. Toss with hot pasta and done.

My pasta was served with grilled chicken.

Porketta Roast

4 lbs Boneless pork roast
2 Tbsp Olive oil
1 Tbsp Dill seeds
1 Tbsp Fennel seeds
1 Tbsp Anise seeds
1 Tbsp Parsley
2 tsp Sea salt
1 tsp Lemon pepper
1 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp Onion powder
1/2 tsp Garlic powder

Rub entire roast with olive oil.

In small bowl combine all seasonings. Roll roast in seasonings until all seasonings coat the roast. Toss roast in the crockpot with other yummy things like carrots and red potatoes. By the time you get home from church your house will smell yummy and the roast will be baked to perfection.

Emerald Chicken (Chino Bandido)

Emerald Sauce, Courtesy of Eve Collins, Chino Bandido
¼ cup finely minced peeled fresh ginger
¾ cup finely minced green onion
2 tsp. kosher salt (can be adjusted to taste, I would suggest 1tsp)
1 cup vegetable oil

Combine ginger, green onion and salt in small bowl. Add vegetable oil, stirring to combine and dissolve salt. Strain mixture thru cheesecloth to drain most of the oil. Oil can be reserved for other recipes. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

Chino Bandido serves this with chopped chicken. I steamed some tenders and chopped them up. I also sauted some chicken tenders in olive oil and they worked just as well as the steamed tenders. A side of rice and you've got a meal.

Peanut Noodle Dinner

This is a favorite meal at our house. It’s easy to switch up the meat and vegetables with whatever you have available. Dan calls this version “Porky Peanut Surprise”. Serves 4.

8 ounces flat noodles (udon, lo mein, or linguine)
2 pork chops, cut into thin strips
1 cup carrots, chopped julienne style
1 cup zucchini, chopped julienne style
1 cup bean sprouts
½ cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 ½ tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
¼ cup chopped green onions
¼ cup chopped peanuts

1. Cook noodles until tender according to package directions. Drain.

2. Add a tablespoon of oil to a deep skillet and stir-fry the pork chops, carrots, zucchini and bean sprouts until meat is cooked through and vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove from skillet.

3. Using the same skillet, combine chicken broth, soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, ginger, garlic and cayenne pepper. Cook over medium heat until peanut butter melts and is heated through. Add stir-fry and noodles and toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and peanuts. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Coconut Curry

Ingredients
4-6 c. cooked Jasmine Rice (Add a pinch of saffron to the water for extra flavor and color)
2 Tomatoes, chopped
1 English Cucumber, chopped
2 Lemons, sliced
2 c. Plain Yogurt
1 med. Yellow Onion, finely chopped
2-3 Garlic Cloves, crushed
1 c. Milk
2 cans Garbanzo Beans/Chick Peas
4 Tbsp. Taco Seasoning
1 Tbsp. Curry (Sambar is my preference)
1 c. Coconut (I prefer sweetened, but non-sweetened will work)

In a large skillet, saute onion, garlic, and olive oil. When the onions start to brown, add milk, garbanzo beans, taco seasoning, curry, and coconut. Simmer in skillet 15-20 minutes or until most of the milk is cooked out and the garbanzo beans are soft.

To serve, spoon the saute over a bed of jasmine rice. Squeeze a wedge of lemon over saute, then sprinkle with tomatoes and cucumbers. Top with several spoonfulls of yogurt.

Yield: 4-6 Servings

This is one of my most requested recipes and seems to please even those eaters who usually won't try ethnic or interesting foods. It's a great potluck meal as the saute can be prepared early and stashed in a crock pot.

Grilled Lemon Salmon

* 2 teaspoons fresh dill
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1 1/2 lbs salmon fillets
* 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 chicken bouillon cube, mixed with
* 3 tablespoons water
* 3 tablespoons oil
* 3 tablespoons soy sauce
* 4 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
* 1 lemon, thinly sliced

1. Sprinkle dill, pepper, salt and garlic powder over salmon.
2. Place in shallow glass pan.
3. Mix sugar, chicken bouillon, oil, soy sauce, and green onions.
4. Pour over salmon.
5. Cover and chill for 1 hour, turn once.
6. Drain and discard marinade.
7. Put on grill on med heat, place lemon.
8. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until fish is done.

White Chicken Chili (a-Ward winning)

I searched on line until I found what looked to be the best white chicken chili recipe. I probably used Pepper Jack cheese because we seem to have a lot of that in the freezer, then you could probably cut down on the green chilies.
White Chicken Chili
(As cooked by Karen)

This is a recipe that's so good that I never bother to try any other white chicken chili recipes. This is the one. The end all, be all recipe. I got it off the web, and it's attributed to "The Kitchen for Exploring Foods." I have altered it slightly, I cook the chicken in spices, I add an extra onion, and they called for dried beans and I use canned. Also, I rarely actually do any measuring.

INGREDIENTS:

16 oz or so of canned white beans
2 large onions, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter
1/4 c all-purpose flour
3/4 c chicken broth
2 cups half and half
1 tsp Tabasco
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin (I usually put in more)
1/2 teaspoon salt (I usually put in more)
1/2 teaspoon pepper (I put in more)
two 4-oz cans whole mild green chilies, drained and chopped
5 boneless, skinless chiken breasts (about 2 pounds)
some extra butter and oil to cook them in
1 1/2 c grated Monterey Jack
1/2 c sour cream

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat a large skillet (I like cast-iron) over moderately high heat and put in some butter and oil. Meanwhile coat your chicken with salt and pepper and maybe some chili powder. Throw them in the skillet and resist the urge to turn them over. Leave them for five minutes, or until nicely browned, then flip them. Leave it there until browned and then flip them every few minutes until they are done (which you can tell by poking a knife into the thickest part and seeing if it's white instead of pink).

2. Remove the chicken from the pan. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it with your fingers and set aside.

3. While waiting for chicken to cool, cook the onion in the same pan with 2 Tbs of butter until softened.

4. In a heavy pot, large enough to hold all the ingredients, melt remaining 6 Tbs of butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour. Cook the roux, whisking constantly, for three minutes. Stir in the oinoin and gradually add the broth and half and half, whisking the whole time. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes, or until thickened. (It will be nicely and obviously thick.) Stir in Tabasco, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Add beans, chilies, chicken and cheese, and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Add sour cream. May be served immediately -- though like all chilis this tastes awesome the next day.

5. Serve with the usual chili garnishes--cilantro, cheese, jalapenos, tomatoes, etc. 

For a crockpot version, check this link: http://plantoeat.com/recipes/186086.

Three-Cheese Calzones

1 pound refrigerated pizza dough (I just use homemade)
1 c. fresh ricotta
1 c. grated mozzarella
1/4 c. grated Parmesan
1 bunch spinach, thick stems removed and roughly chopped (I use closer to a small handfull chopped)
Black pepper
1/4 pound thinly sliced salami
2 T. olive oil
1 c. jarred marinara sauce, warmed (I use jarred pizza sauce)

Heat oven to 400° F. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into 4 equal portions and roll and stretch them into 8-inch rounds.

In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, spinach, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Layer the salami on one side of each round of dough and top with the cheese mixture. Fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges to seal.

Brush the tops of the calzones with the oil. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve with the sauce.

-- everyone loved these and the kids each made their own variation depending on what they like to eat.