Mofongo With Chicken Recipes

Steps:

• Heat canola oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Mash the garlic with the olive oil in a mortar and pestle. Combine garlic mixture with the pork rinds in a large bowl; set aside.
• Fry the plantain chunks until golden and crispy, but not brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer the fried plantains into the bowl with the garlic mixture. Toss to coat. Mash the coated plantains with the mortar and pestle until smooth. Season with salt. Roll the plantain mixture into two large balls or several small balls before serving.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saute pan or large, deep skillet over medium heat to 350 degrees F. Fry the plantains in 2 batches until golden brown on each side, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towels. Set aside.
• Working in batches, crush the pork cracklings, garlic and salt in a wooden mortar and pestle (a pilon) or in a bowl with a wooden spoon. Add the plantains and mash together to incorporate. Mash in the margarine.
• Using your hands, shape the plantain mixture into 6 balls. Serve warm or hot.

Steps:

• First make tostones: Cut plantains in wedges. Fry until tender. Flaten with a "tostonera" or with a second cutting board. Fry for a second time, until light golden.
• Using a mortar, crush garlic cloves and add adobo.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the garlic/adobo paste, olive oil and chicharron or bacon.
• Mash the tostones, a few at a time (never use a food processor!).
• Add some of the garlic mixture.
• Mash tostones in separate bowls. This will allow the garlic mixture to spread evenly.
• If too dry, add more oil.
• Shape like small balls.
• Serve with pork meat, soups, seafood or solo.

Steps:

• Make the mofongo: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a standard-size 6-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray.
• Pour 1-2 inches of vegetable oil into a pot. Heat over medium heat until the oil temperature reaches 350°F (180°C).
• Peel the plantains and cut into 1-inch pieces. Working in batches, add the plantains to the hot oil and fry for 2 minutes, or until the centers are soft. Remove from the pot and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain while you repeat with the remaining plantains. Let cool for 15 minutes.
• Transfer the plantains to a mortar and pestle (also known as a pilón), and add the ground pork rinds, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mash together until fully incorporated, 5-8 minutes. If needed, remove the plantain mixture from the pilón and mix with your hands.
• Roll the plantain mixture into 6 balls. Place a ball into the center of each prepared muffin cup and press evenly against the bottom and up the sides to make a cup.
• Bake the mofongo cups for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes, then remove from the muffin tin.
• Meanwhile, make the shrimp sauce. Heat the olive oil in a medium pan over medium-low heat. Add the onion, garlic, and red bell pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, sofrito, adobo sauce, paprika, and coriander, and stir until combined and the mixture begins to deepen in color, 1 minute.
• Increase the heat to medium-high heat. Immediately add the white wine and simmer for 20 seconds. Stir in the water and simmer for another 4-6 minutes, until slightly reduced.
• Add the salt and shrimp. Cover and cook until the shrimp turn pink, about 3 minutes.
• Fill the mofongo cups with the warm shrimp and sauce. Garnish with cilantro, then serve.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Prepare the guiso, if using: Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until simmering. Add sofrito, reduce heat to medium-low and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until liquid is evaporated.
• Pour in tomato sauce, partially cover with a lid, and simmer over low for 7 to 10 minutes. Sauce will thicken and darken in color.
• While sauce simmers, prepare the mofongo: Pour vegetable oil into a medium saucepan until it reaches a 3-inch depth, then heat over medium-high.
• Meanwhile, crush garlic and 1 teaspoon salt in a pilón or large mortar and pestle until a wet paste forms.
• In a separate, small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium until just simmering, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour this hot oil on top of the garlic, carefully stirring to incorporate. It'll sizzle, and the garlic may turn light green. Add lime juice to complete the mojo.
• Peel plantains by cutting off both ends, then make three lengthwise slices through the skin. Carefully pull up the peel and remove it, starting at one of the corners with the edge of your fingernail or the tip of your knife if tough, then cut the plantains into 1 1/2-inch rounds. (Be careful: Plantain skins will stain your hands and clothing.)
• Once the vegetable oil is simmering somewhere between 350 and 375 degrees - you can test by adding a small piece of plantain; it will sizzle when the oil is hot enough - add plantains in 2 or 3 batches, taking care not to crown the pot. Fry each batch for 6 to 9 minutes, stirring lightly a few times, until the plantains begin to brown. Be careful not to let them get too dark, or they'll be hard and dry. Use a slotted spoon or mesh strainer to transfer plantains to a towel-lined bowl.
• If you have a large enough pilón, add fried plantains and chicharrón, if using, until pilón is three-quarters full. Mash together, alternating pounding and grinding. Once mixture has condensed to about half its original size, add 1 heaping tablespoon of the prepared mojo (or to taste), and continue grinding and mashing until fully combined. The mixture will look like stuffing.
• If you don't have a pilón, combine plantains, chicharrón and mojo in a large wooden bowl. Using the bottom of a slender jar, such as an olive jar, mash together to incorporate, rotating the bowl after each mash. Pound, grind and mash until mofongo is blended.
• Form the mashed mixture into 4 individual mofongos, each roughly the size of a baseball, or press into the bottom of a small rice bowl, then turn each onto a plate or into a larger bowl.
• Serve immediately, garnished with extra chicharrón, lime wedges and cilantro, if you like. Spoon over guiso as desired.