Baja Chili Food

KILLER BAJA CHILI RELLENOS MARISCOS (ROASTED POBLANO CHILES STUFFED WITH SEAFOOD AND RICE)

Steps:

• Broil or roast the chiles over a flame until skins blister, wrap in a tea towel or put in a paper grocery bag for 10 to 15 minutes to sweat the skins loose. Remove skins and open pepper on 1 side. Remove seeds but do not remove stems. Arrange the prepared chiles in a lightly oiled 9 by 13-inch glass nonstick baking dish.
• Heat oil in a 10 to 12-inch skillet until hot. Add the onion and saute until translucent (about 2 to 3 minutes). Add the rice and the cumin seeds. Toast the rice and cumin in the oil with the onions for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the chicken broth, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Bring the rice to a boil and cover tightly. Turn down the heat and simmer for about 18 minutes, or until rice is cooked, but still a little firm to the bite. Do not overcook the rice. When the rice is cooked, remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
• While the rice is cooking, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter starts to foam, add the shrimp and the scallops and stir or toss to coat them with the butter. Keep the heat at medium-high and saute the seafood for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until just cooked through. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the lime juice. Toss to coat. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• After the rice has cooled a bit, put it in a large mixing bowl and fluff it with a fork. Add the shrimp and scallops, with the accumulated juices. Add the ground cumin, coriander seed, oregano, lime zest, chopped tomato with their juices, cotija cheese and chopped cilantro. Toss the mixture until thoroughly combined. Gently stuff the peppers with the rice and seafood mixture. Stuff them good and full! If there is any extra, let it spill over into the baking dish. Top the chiles with the Monterey Jack cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the chiles are heated through and the cheese on top is melted. Garnish with cilantro sprigs.

BAKED BAJA BEEF CHIMICHANGAS

Steps:

• Wrap tortillas in foil and warm in a 300* oven while making the filling.
• Brown ground beef and drain.
• Mix in vinegar and seasonings to the drained meat, but do not cook the mixture further.
• Remove tortillas from oven and increase oven temperature to 500*.
• Brush each side of tortilla with melted butter.
• Spoon about 1/4 cup ground beef filling onto center of each buttered tortilla.
• Fold in sides, then roll up tortilla from the bottom.
• Place seam-side down on a foil-lined and rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake at 500* for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown.
• Serve on a large bed of shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes.
• Top with sour cream, shredded cheese, and salsa.

BAJA VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• In a skillet, roast chilies for 20-30 seconds over high heat.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• In a large pot, heat 2 tsp olive oil over medium-high heat and sautee onions until golden.
• Add garlic and cumin and cook, stirring constantly for about 30 seconds.
• Add tomatoes, broth and chilies.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• In batches in a blender or with a stick blender, puree the soup.
• Pour through a fine sieve, cheesecloth or food mill, if desired.
• In a skillet, heat 2 tsp olive oil over medium-high heat.
• Add bell peppers, zucchini and corn.
• Season with salt and pepper and cook until tender- about 4 minutes.
• Add to broth mixture with the black beans and kidney beans.
• Simmer for 1-2 minutes, until vegetables are tender.
• Stir in the vingegar and garnish with cilantro, lime wedges and avacado.