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Para este Día de la Candelaria, Tamales de Mango del Chef Paco
Tamales con queso de cabra, chipotle y salsa de mango como solo en New Rebozo. Foto: Brenda Storch Ya se acerca el Día de la Candelaria, y para ponerle un toque original a la tamaliza, les traemos esta receta del Chef Paco, dueño del conocido restaurante New Rebozo, en Chicago.
El Chef Paco generosamente nos compartió esta receta para hacer estos deliciosos tamales de queso de cabra y chipotle con salsa de mango. ¡Que los disfruten!
Masa
- 1 kilo de masa blanca de maíz para tamal
- 1 1/2 tazas de caldo pollo o agua
- 1 taza de aceite de olivo
- 1 cucharada de sal
- 150 gr. de queso de cabra
- 1 cucharadita de salsa de chile chipotle
- 35 rectángulos de hoja de tamal de unos 18 x 15 cm.
Salsa
- 2 mangos, pelados y cortados en cubitos
- 1 chile jalapeño
- 1/2 cebolla picada
- 1/3 pimiento rojo finamente picado
- 1/3 pimiento amarillo finamente picado
- 1/2 manojo de cilantro cortado en pedazos pequeños
- Sal y pimienta al gusto
Pon lo ingredientes en un recipiente hondo y mézclalos hasta que estén bien incorporados.
Preparación:
- Mezcla la masa en el caldo hasta que quede incorporado todo. Prueba la sazón.
- Con una cuchara sopera, pon en el centro de la hoja la masa, el queso de cabra y el chile chipotle.
- Envuélvelo como un burrito de 5 x 7 centímetros. Salen como 36 tamalitos.
- Prepara la vaporera con agua, pon los tamales y tápala.
- Pón los tamales a cocer con flama alta. Una vez que empiece a salir el vapor, baja la flama a fuego medio y deja cocinar durante alrededor de 50 minutos.
- Déja reposar los tamales hasta servirlos con la salsa.
Oh My God!
Receta publicada con el permiso del autor.
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Portable Party Staple : The Phenomenal Pastor
Photo: Enrico Bellomo – Mexico City, Mexico Tacos: El Tizoncito Anything is possible in Mexico. Think for example, about bringing tacos al pastor to your party with two-days notice. How about a giant piñata to go along? You got it. I giggled with joy when I saw the piñata of my dreams being quickly attached with string to my father´s very compact, city-appropriate car for transportation. My dad, trying to please me, nervously nodded when I excitedly mentioned the delivery truck was unavailable, but we could get a discount if we drove it ourselves…
Car and piñata made it safely.
My husband Enrico´s cultural shock, reminded me that this is not something he has experienced before. This is how I suddenly arrived at the conclusion that growing up in Mexico, where making things happen is a matter of “how” and not “if”, must be what turned me into such an optimist. After all, ¨when there’s a will, there’s a way.”
I had the good fortune to spend my birthday with my family in Mexico over the holidays. Overnight, my mother, sister and father organized a party complete with a mariachi band and over thirty guests. On a variety of levels, Mexico is a country with a solid, effective and reliable party infrastructure.
The issue of food was solved in an instant. No hesitation. Anyone who loves me knows that tacos al pastor had to be the choice. Luckily, pastor happens to be an incredibly portable and popular party staple. The taqueros arrived, set up and conjured these bundles of joy with impeccably choreographed movements. This was a birthday present in and of itself.
Pastor, piñata and pastel scored to mariachi music. This was to me, perfection. What else can a Mexican girl ask for?
Happy birthday to me!
Happy birthday to me! -
Nuestra Mesa – Recetas Típicas Navideñas: Pierna Navideña
Foto: Manuel Rivera – Ciudad de México, México Esta es la segunda receta de nuestra deliciosa serie. La preparación de este platillo requiere dos días.
PIERNA NAVIDEÑA
Según la receta de la señora Lilia Gómez Rojas, Ciudad de México, México
(20 Personas)
Ingredientes
- 1 Pierna de cerdo de 5 kg
- 300 ml de vino blanco
- 6 dientes de ajo
- Sal y pimienta al gusto
- 250 gr de chile ancho
- 1 cebolla
- 1 bolillo
- 5 tortillas
- 1 rajita de canela
- 2 zanahorias
- 8 hojas espinaca
- 15 ciruelas pasas
- 20 nueces
- 20 almendras
- 200 gr de jamón en trozos grandes
- 1 lt de refresco de cola
Preparación
Un día antes:
1. Inyecta la pierna con el vino blanco, por distintas zonas.
2. Mecha la pierna haciendo incisiones con un cuchillo,e introduce el tocino, la zanahoria, la almendra, la nuez, el jamón, la ciruela pasa y la espinaca.
3. Muele el ajo, mézclalo con sal y pimienta y unta la pierna con esta mezcla.
4. Deja reposar toda la noche .
Para el adobo
1. Desvena y asa el chile ancho. Pónlo a remojar en agua hirviendo por 10 minutos
2. Mientras, pon a freír la canela. Muélela con el chile y su agua de remojo, las tortillas, la cebolla, sal y pimienta.
3. Unta la pierna con la mitad del adobo y báñala con 250 ml de refresco de cola
4. Mete la pierna al horno precalentado a 200° (hornea 1 hora por cada kilo)
5. Baña la pierna cada 45 minutos con el adobo y el refresco restantes.
6. Cuando ya esté cocinada déjala reposar antes de partirla para que no pierda sus jugos
Encuentra más recetas navideñas haciendo click aquí
El chef Aldo Saavedra ha cocinado para huéspedes de establecimientos como el conocido Hotel Condesa D.F. y ha contribuído con sus recetas en proyectos con marcas de la talla de Larousse y Danone. En Nuestra Mesa, el chef Saavedra comparte con los lectores de La Vitamina T, su pasión por la cocina y por México. -
Calabaza en Tacha: Dulce Tradición
Foto: Manuel Rivera Si ustedes como nosotros alguna vez se han preguntado cómo es que la calabaza en tacha ha merecido tan peculiar nombre, el chef Aldo Saavedra nos saca de la duda al contarnos que en los ingenios azucareros de principios de la colonia, la calabaza era introducida en un cesto cónico o cilíndrico fabricado con hojas de palma conocido como “tompeate” ( del náhuatl “tompiatli” ), mismo que posteriormente era confitado en dos calderas de un horno muy grande en el que se hacía el azúcar, y en las que se juntaba un jugo muy concentrado al que hoy conocemos como piloncillo. Una de las calderas se conocía como la “melera” y la otra como la “tacha”. De aquí el nombre de este tradicional postre.
Y aunque las fiestas típicas del otoño en estas latitudes ya culminaron, y la calabaza en todas sus formas (desde el café de moda hasta el pie) abruptamente cede lugar a los sabores propios de invierno, la calabaza en tacha es un postre delicioso que puede disfrutarse siempre y cuando la calabaza fresca esté disponible.
INGREDIENTES
- 2 lbs (1 kg) de calabaza de Castilla
- 2 lbs (1 kg) de piloncillo
- 8 tazas de agua
- 1 raja de canela de 3 in. (10 cm)
- 1 naranja ( ralladura )
- 6 pimientas gordas enteras
- 4 anís estrella
- 3 rebanadas de jengibre
PROCESO
- Lava la calabaza y las naranjas.
- Parte la calabaza en trozos pequeños
- Pon el agua, el piloncillo, la canela, la naranja, la pimienta, el anís y el jengibre en una cacerola. Cocina a fuego lento hasta que se deshaga el piloncillo.
- Agrega la calabaza y cocina durante 5 horas a fuego medio. Mueve periódicamente.
- Confirma la sazón y asegúrate de que la calabaza esté cocida.
- Retira del fuego y deja enfriar.
- Acompaña con un vaso de leche o sírvela en un plato con leche.
El chef Aldo Saavedra ha cocinado para huéspedes de establecimientos como el conocido Hotel Condesa D.F. y ha contribuído con sus recetas en proyectos con marcas de la talla de Larousse y Danone. En Nuestra Mesa, el chef Saavedra comparte con los lectores de La Vitamina T, su pasión por la cocina y por México.
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Méx-O-Logy – Receta para Hacer Mezcalina de Pepino
Ya se acercan las fiestas decembrinas, y si estás pensando agasajar a tus invitados con una bebida original y deliciosa, hoy te tenemos una con mucho sabor a México.
Sirve: 12
- 6 caballitos de mezcal
- 1 pepino pelado
- 1 manzana verde pelada
- 3 limones verdes (el jugo)
- 6 caballitos de miel de manzana o de licor de manzana
- 1 refresco de toronja
- 1 botella agua mineral
- Sal de gusano de maguey
- Hielo
PROCEDIMIENTO
- Licúa el mezcal, el pepino, la miel o el licor de manzana, y el jugo de limón.
- Sirve en un vaso en las rocas con refresco y agua mineral.
- Escarcha el vaso con limón, y sal de gusano de maguey.
¡Salud!
Según la receta de la chef Atzimba Pérez, reproducida con el permiso de la autora. Para más información sobre Atzimba, visíta su página de Facebook haciendo click aquí.
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A Party to Die For: Negra Modelo Celebrates Día de Muertos with Rick Bayless
- In Mexico, ordering a ´dead´Negra Modelo, means you are looking for a really cold one. Photo: Neal Agustin
Undoubtedly, one of my favorite rituals of el Día de Muertos, is cooking with the family, along with setting up the ofrenda (literally, “offering”) in honor of those who have departed. Ofrendas are created to remember, invoke and delight our deceased relatives, and are the centerpiece of this symbolicaly-rich celebration.
My maternal grandmother took this festivity very seriously, and since her unexpected departure a few years ago, my uncle and my mother make a yearly pilgrimage to my grandma’s native Puebla, to continue on this three-thousand-year old tradition.
- Ofrenda in honor of my grandma Julia.
I did not make it to Mexico this time around, but luckily for me, Mexico came to Chicago. I had the privilege to be invited to celebrate el Día de Muertos with one of my favorite Mexican imports, Negra Modelo. Negra Modelo drafted no other than Chef Rick Bayless to delight us with a walkthrough of this fantastic Mexican celebration through a few dishes.
During the event, I had the privilege to chat with Bayless, and hear his point of view on Mexican food and its execution outside of Mexico. An anthropologist at heart, this celebrated ambassador of Mexican cuisine, understands the cultural forces that have shaped Mexican food across the US.After the mariachi serenaded guests, (what a perfect touch!) Bayless delivered a cooking demonstration from a stage designed to look just like an ofrenda.
- Photo: Neal Agustin
- Photo: Neal Agustin
Guests were later delighted with a variety of fantastic Mexican dishes from this presentation. We are very excited to share one of these recipes with you so that you can bring it to life in your own kitchen.
Sugar skulls are a ubiquitous element of el Día de Muertos. They serve as a reminder that death awaits us at any corner. Negra Modelo invited local artists to create personalized handcrafts for guests to take home.
I was already a fan of the creamy, malty flavor of Negra Modelo, and after this party, I have no doubt I will continue to like it in the afterlife.
Disclosure: I am a blogger sponsored by Negra Modelo. All opinions are my own. -
La Vitamina T Celebrates el Día de Muertos with Negra Modelo and Rick Bayless!
It is virtually impossible to stumble upon any particular element of Mexico´s, Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) that does not have a deliberate purpose or meaning. From the bread that symbolizes the circle of life and communion with the body of the dead, to the flowers that make a nod to the ephemeral nature of life, this ritual, especially in rural Mexico, is rich in both form and content.
Along with pan de muerto (literally, “bread of dead”) and cempasúchil flowers, sugar skulls are staples of this festivity. Like any other Mexican celebration, food is at the center of this celebration.
Undoubtedly, one of my favorite parts of el Día de Muertos, is cooking with the family, and setting up the ofrendas (literally, “offerings”). My grandma Julia took this ritual very seriously, and since her unexpected departure a few years ago, my uncle and my mother have taken on the tradition.
I cannot always make it to Mexico, so this time around, I am honored to celebrate this ancient tradition with another one of my favorite Mexican imports: Negra Modelo. Who will be cooking? No other than Chef Rick Bayless, who will share with us authentic Mexican recipes that promise to delight (as the tradition requires it) both, dead and alive. Stay tuned next week for details, check out our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. We will be tweeting live information to #NegraModelo.
This will be a party to die for. I can´t wait to tell you all about it!
Disclosure: I am a blogger sponsored by Negra Modelo. All opinions are my own.
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Recipe: Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken Beans)
Photo courtesy of Red Stag Hardcore Cider Jonathan Zaragoza found his way into his destiny babysitting for his parents while they worked. “I saw how my mother and grandmother cooked at home and I had to quickly learn so that I could prepare meals for my siblings,” said Zaragoza. At the age of 12, he learned from his dad how to make birria tatemada, a Jalisco staple served at his family’s restaurant, and even how to butcher whole animals.
Now a rising star with several accolades under his belt, Jonathan Zaragoza says when asked about his career, “I was not looking for the kitchen. The kitchen found me.”
Appointed Executive Chef at Logan Square’s Masa Azul since 2012, the Chicago native taps into his Jalisco roots to bring to life Mexican-inspired dishes with a creative twist. To a nostalgic transplant like me, his dishes come across as a loving interpretation of a Mexican mother’s cookbook through the lens of a young Chicago urbanite- respectful, yet bold and accurately original.
Recently, Jim Beam tapped into Zaragoza’s talent to create an incredible menu crafted to introduce their new flavor-infused bourbon, Red Stag by Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider. Luckily for us at La Vitamina T, we were treated to a phenomenal dinner featuring small plates and pairings, of which we have secured the recipes. If you don’t like or have never tried bourbon before, you might just become a fan. Below is the first one of a magnificent series. Enjoy!
Frijoles Borrachos
- 4 cups dried pinto beans
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 8oz applewood smoked bacon, sliced
- 6 oz chorizo, chopped
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 10 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 serrano chiles, seeded and minced
- 5 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
- 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
- 12 quarts of water
- 1 can of Mexican beer
- ½ cup Jim Beam Hardcore Cider
- Salt to taste
- In a large pot, combine beans, water, beer and Jim Beam Hardcore Cider and cook over medium heat until all the beans are tender (about 2 hours).
- In a separate pan, combine the oil, bacon and chorizo and cook meats until crispy. Remove the meat from the pan leaving the rendered fat.
- Add the onion, garlic and serrano chiles into the pan and cook until slightly caramelized (about 12 mins).
- Once the beans are tender, fold in the crispy meat, caramelized vegetables, and the tomatoes and cilantro, and cook for 10 mins so the flavors can marry.
- Finally, season with salt.
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Receta: Pastel de Elote
Foto: Chef Atzimba Pérez Hace unas semanas tuve el privilegio de conocer a la chef Atzimba Pérez, orgullosa embajadora de la comida mexicana en Chicago. Para esta extraordinaria michoacana, (cuyo nombre significa “princesa de agua” en Purépecha), la gastronomía ha sido una constante en su vida.
Parte destino, parte camino, Atzimba nos cuenta que su mamá preparaba la comida para celebrar las fiestas patronales, mientras ella ayudaba y observaba cómo se les daba vida a los platillos típicos de su pueblo. Atzimba nos dice: “Yo tenía mucha inquietud por descubrir nuevos sabores, y probar formas diferentes de hacer las cosas. Desde chica yo coleccionaba mis recetarios y mis libros de cocina.” Más tarde, Atzimba abrió una lonchería para pagarse la carrera en gastronomía: “La comida era mi sustento físico y mi sustento económico. En la escuela vendía pies de queso para poder costear mis prácticas semanales.”
Su comida es tan hermosa como su nombre, y plato a plato, Atzimba ha conseguido un lugar como representante de la cocina mexicana en Chicago, donde recientemente estableció su propia compañía de banquetes.
Hoy, para celebrar lo que queda del mes patrio, les comparto con mucha emoción la receta de la chef Atzimba Pérez para preparar pastel de elote.
Ingredientes
- 3 tazas de elote tierno
- 5 huevos
- 1 lata de leche condensada
- 1/2 barrita de mantequilla
- 1/4 de taza de aceite de maíz
- 1 cucharadita de vainilla
- 1 taza de harina
- 1 1/2 cucharadita de polvo para hornear
Procedimiento
- Cierne la harina y el polvo para hornear.
- Derrite la mantequilla y licúala con el resto de los ingredientes
- Mezcla con la harina y el polvo para hornear
- Engrasa y enharina 1 molde refractario rectangular mediano ó 2 moldes pequeños.
- Vacía la mezcla y pónla a hornear a 320° durante 45 minutos hasta que obtenga un color miel.
Disfrútalo con un vaso de leche fría.
Según la receta de la chef Atzimba Pérez, reproducida con el permiso de la autora. Para más información sobre Atzimba, visíta su página de Facebook haciendo click aquí.
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Carnitas Uruapan – The Best of Michoacán in Pilsen
Pride and Joy: Inocencio and Marcos Carbajal personally host patrons at their famous Pilsen restaurant Carnitas Uruapan. Inocencio Carbajal becomes emotional as he shares a very personal story. In the late 70s, as a recent transplant from Uruapan, Michoacán, he had to make the decision to let go of his most precious possession- a medal of the Virgin of Guadalupe. “I asked Her to bless my choice,” says Inocencio, his eyes tearing up. “We bought our first piece of equipment with that money.”
Fast-forward four decades later, and Inocencio’s hardship has paid off. As we arrived at the Pilsen eatery, a long line of patrons had already assembled. Marcos Carbajal, Inocencio’s son, kindly invited us to tour the kitchen while we found a spot to talk.
The state of Michoacán in southwestern Mexico, is famous for its carnitas, one of Mexico’s favorite folk dishes. Usually cooked in large copper containers brought in from a specific neighboring town, it is not uncommon to find this treat also being prepared in large stainless steel pots. “In many villages, eating carnitas is a Sunday morning ritual,” said Marcos, who periodically visits family in Uruapan, his father’s birthplace. “People know to arrive early, as typically only one pig is prepared, and they gather to eat after church. Many of our customers still follow this custom, but we cook a fresh batch every two hours.”
Although he kept in his heart the desire to go back to Michoacán at some point, Inocencio’s family and his growing business kept him in Pilsen. “All of a sudden, Marcos was ready to go to college, and I was happy that he had the opportunity,” said Inocencio. For Marcos, the word “pigskin” is not merely a seasonal one- with a degree in Economics from the University of Michigan, and thinking of helping his dad, Marcos left his corporate job to work in the restaurant full time, while also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from Northwestern University.
Although Inocencio has not returned to Uruapan, he has brought Uruapan to Chicago with him. The path he chose was not easy but, he says smiling, “I would do it all over again”.
His eatery’s menu is perfectly simple, with many well-achieved crowd pleasers. From mouthwatering pork carnitas, to menudo, chicharrón en salsa de tomate ( chicharrón in tomato sauce, of which I took a big container home), cacti salad and even quesadillas de sesos (brain-stuffed quesadillas), this place is the real deal. In fact, the cueritos I tried here are the best I have ever had in both, texture and flavor.
Carnitas Uruapan did not disappoint. My stomach was full and happy, and after talking to Inocencio and Marcos, my heart was too.
¡Viva México!
1725 W 18th St Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 226-2654
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