Americas Test Kitchen Mexican Rice Food

MEXICAN RICE(ATK)

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Process the tomatoes and onion in a food processor until smooth and thoroughly pureed, about 15 seconds, scraping down the bowl if necessary. Transfer the mixture to a liquid measuring cup; you should have 2 cups (if necessary, spoon off excess so that the volume equals 2 cups). Remove the ribs and seeds from 2 jalapenos and discard; mince the flesh and set aside. Mince the remaining jalapeno, including the ribs and seeds; set aside.
• Place the rice in a large fine-mesh strainer and rinse rice under cold running water until the water runs clear, about l 1/2 minutes. Shake the rice vigorously in the strainer to remove all excess water.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed straight-sided 12-inch ovenproof saute pan or Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Drop 3 or 4 grains of rice into the oil; if the grains sizzle, the oil is ready. Add the rice and fry, stirring frequently, until the rice is light golden and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add the garlic and seeded minced jalapenos, and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in the pureed tomato mixture, chicken broth, tomato paste, and salt. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and transfer to the oven. Bake until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, 30 to 35 minutes, stirring well after 15 minutes.
• Stir in the cilantro and reserved minced jalapeiio with seeds to taste. Serve immediately, passing the lime wedges separately.

BETTER THAN AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN SPANISH RICE

Steps:

• Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350.
• Process rotel and onion in processor or blender until pureed and thoroughly smooth. Transfer mixture to measuring cup and reserve exactly 2 cups. Discard excess.
• Place rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until water runs clear- about 1 1/2 minutes. Shake rice vigorously to remove excess water.This step removes the starch from the rice so it will not stick. IF YOU OMIT THIS STEP YOUR RICE WILL NOT BE DRY AND FLUFFY.
• Heat oil in heavy bottomed oven-safe straight sided 12" saute pan or Dutch oven with tight fitting lid over low-medium heat about 2 minutes. Drop a few rice grains in and if they sizzle then it is ready. Add rice and fry stirring until rice is light golden and translucent, about 6-8 minutes. Be careful that the oil doesn't get too hot too fast or the oil will splatter.
• Reduce heat to medium, add garlic, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Stir in broth, pureed mixture, corn and salt. Increase heat to medium high, and bring to a boil.
• Cover pan and transfer pan to oven to bake until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 30-35 minutes. Stir well after 15 minutes.
• Stir in cilantro, minced jalapeno to taste, and pass lime wedges separately.
• For Freezing Ahead: Cool, portion and freeze in a ziploc bag.
• To reheat from frozen: Place in a covered pyrex dish and warm in the microwave, stirring every 2-3 minutes until heated through.

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN SPICY MEXICAN SHREDDED PORK TOSTADAS - TI

Steps:

• Bring pork, quartered onion, smashed garlic, thyme, 1 tsp salt and 6 cups water to simmer in large saucepan over medium-high heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover and cook until pork is tender, 75-90 minutes. Drain pork, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Discard onion, garlic and thyme. Return pork to saucepan and using potato masher, mash until shredded into rough 1/2" pieces. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in 12" nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add shredded pork, chopped onion and oregano; cook, stirring often until pork is well browned and crisp, 7-10 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in tomato sauce, chipotle powder, reserved pork cooking liquid and bay leaves; simmer until almost all liquid has evaporated, 5-7 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaves and season to taste with salt.
• To fry tostadas, heat vegetable oil in 8" heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat to 350 degrees. Using fork, poke center of each tortilla 3-4 times (to prevent puffing and allow for even cooking). Fry 1 at a time, holding tortilla down to keep it submerged. Drain on paper towel lined plate and season with salt to taste.
• Spoon small amount of shredded pork onto center of each tostada and serve with garnishes.