Ajiaco Recipes

Steps:

• Put the chicken, corn cobs, garlic, onion, pepper, potatoes, spring onions and coriander in a pan with 2 litres water and bring to the boil, season well, then simmer for approximately 45 mins over a medium heat.
• Remove the corn and the chicken and transfer them to a plate. Blend the remaining ingredients in the pan with a hand blender until you get a creamy consistency.
• Add the papas criollas and the guascas to the pan and cook over a medium heat for around 10-12 mins, or until the papas criollas start to get soft but do not disintegrate.
• Meanwhile, shred the chicken breasts finely with your hands, and cut the corn cobs into thick slices. Put into separate small bowls.
• Put the cream, capers, avocado and extra chopped coriander in small bowls as well, so that everyone can help themselves to what they want. Pour the soup into four soup bowls and serve alongside the other ingredients. Don't forget napkins for eating the slices of corn.

Steps:

• Drain and rinse the tasajo. Place into a large pot, cover with fresh water and cook until almost tender. Add the pork cubes and cook until both meats are completely tender. Drain the meat, reserving 8 cups of the cooking liquid.
• In a tall stockpot, add all the vegetables, except for the pumpkin and the yellow plantain, all the meat stocks, bay leaves and cumin. Cook for approximately 30 minutes and add the pumpkin and yellow plantain. Cook for 15 minutes. Allow it to rest for a few minutes. Add salt and white pepper to taste.

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Saute onion, garlic for 5 minutes. Add the cumin, coriander and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add yuca, pumpkin, potatoes, malanga, boniato, plantains, corn and vegetable stock. Cook for 15 minutes until vegetables are tender. Check seasoning and adjust if necessary.
• To finish the dish, add mushrooms and parsley and cook for 2 minutes and serve.

Steps:

• THE DAY BEFORE:.
• Cut the beef jerky in large pieces and soak in water to cover.
• Soak overnight.
• SOUP:.
• Now drain jerky and place in a very large and deep stockpot.
• Add the 5 quarts of water and the cut up hen or chicken.
• Boil for one hour.
• Add the flank steak and pork pieces.
• Add the spare ribs.
• Boil for one more hour.
• Remove fat and froth that will rise to top.
• While meats are cooking, make the "sofrito", peel and cut the "viandas" (vegetables).
• PREPARE SOFRITO:.
• Add all ingredients, except for seasonings, to sauté pan and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
• Then add seasonings and simmer about 5 minutes longer.
• Discard the bay leaves.
• PREPARE THE VEGETABLES:.
• When meats are tender, add the viandas, except ripe plantains and pumpkin.
• Cook about one hour more.
• Add the sofrito and cook another 20-30 minutes.
• Add the ripe plantains and pumpkin and cook 30 more minutes or until pumpkin and plantains are tender.
• Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
• If broth is too thin, thicken by mashing some of the viandas in a little broth and adding it back to the pot.
• Serve in a large soup tureen and give each guest a large, flat rimmed soup bowl.
• You can place lime slices in little dishes along the table.
• The ajiaco tastes really good with freshly squeezed lime juice, but let each guest decide if they would like to squirt their own.
• This is so versatile, it can be served as a stew with rice and a salad of lettuce, tomatoe and cucumbers, or served with just the broth or served as is; meats and vegetables in a deep soup bowl.
• Buen Provecho!

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown chicken (seasoned with salt and pepper) in oil then add to Dutch oven or pressure cooker.
• Put potatoes, yucca and corn in pot and season with salt and pepper and cayenne, if using; pour chicken stock into pot.
• Meanwhile, cook onions and garlic in skillet until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Pour in 1 cup water and loosen the bits stuck to the bottom; pour all into pot.
• Cover pot and cook over medium heat 40 minutes for Dutch oven and 30 minutes in pressure cooker (you will have to lower the heat to low once the pressure is built up in the pressure cooker).
• Once done, taste for seasoning, stir in cream, capers, and cilantro, if desired.
• Ladle into bowls and serve with an avocado on the side.