Churrasco Sandwich Food

NICARAGUAN-STYLE CHURRASCO

Steps:

• To make the chimichurri, combine the garlic, bay leaves, jalapenos, and salt in a mortar and mash with a pestle until a smooth paste is formed (or you can puree with a small amount of vinegar in a blender). Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the parsleys and oregano. Whisk in the vinegar and olive oil until well combined. Set aside.
• Prepare a medium-hot fire in the grill.
• Trim the meat and remove any silverskin. Cut into 2 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Take the boning knife and cut in a circular motion so each round becomes one flat, long strip. Then, with a butcher's mallet, pound the meat lightly. Season each strip generously with salt and pepper on each side.
• Lightly oil the grate and place meat on the grate. Grill for 3 minutes on each side for medium-rare.
• Transfer the meat to a serving plate. Serve with the chimichurri on the side.

CHURRASCO

Steps:

• Cut the fillet, jelly-roll fashion, into a wide, flat steak. Separate into serving portions (how many pieces will depend on how the steak "unfolds"). Place the parsley, garlic, olive oil and oregano in a food processor. Puree. Season with salt and pepper. Combine the parsley marinade and the steaks in a wide, shallow bowl. Cover and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes. Grill steaks. Serve rare.;

CHURRASCO (GRILLED MARINATED SKIRT STEAK)

Steps:

• Pat the steaks dry and place in a large zip-top bag.
• Combine the garlic, oregano, vinegar, olive oil, adobo seasoning and salt in the bowl of a pilón or mortar and pestle, or a small food processor. Grind into a thin paste, then pour the marinade over the steak. Zip the bag then shake well to coat the meat, rubbing in gently as needed. Let rest on the counter for 10 to 20 minutes, or refrigerate overnight if you have time. Be sure to let the steak come to room temperature before grilling.
• If using a charcoal grill, start by building a fire with hardwood and kindling, then adding lump hardwood charcoal once the fire is kicking. Allow the fire to mellow. If using a gas grill, set the temperature to 500 degrees.
• Meanwhile, make the wasakaka: Combine the lime juice, parsley, cilantro, oregano, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk to incorporate. If you'd like a creamier sauce, blend in a small food processor or blender. (Wasakaka will keep for 3 or 4 days in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.)
• Once the grill is ready, remove skirt steak from the bag and shake off excess marinade. Place on the grill and sear for 1 to 3 minutes. Using tongs, pull up the corner to ensure the steak has a good dark char, bordering on burned in places, before flipping, then cook for 1 more minute for rare, 2 minutes for medium-rare. Be careful not to overcook or steak will be tough.
• Remove steak from grill and let rest for 5 to 7 minutes. Slice into strips and pour over wasakaka, or serve sauce on the side. Taste and sprinkle with additional salt, if desired.

CHURRASCO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Marinate steak with 1/2 cup Chimichurri sauce and refrigerate until cooking, 5 to 7 minutes. Pan-fry or grill steak to your desired degree of doneness. Place steak in the baguette and top with lettuce, tomato, onions, if using, and remaining Chimichurri Sauce.
• In a blender, add olive oil, vinegar, basil, crushed red pepper, garlic and parsley, and blend for approximately 15 seconds. Repeat for another 15 seconds. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.

CHURRASCO

Steps:

• For the chimichurri sauce: In a blender, add the parsley, cilantro, garlic, lime juice and oil and blend until almost smooth.
• Cover the skirt steak with the chimichurri sauce and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
• For the arroz con gris: Soak the black beans in water overnight. Strain the beans, reserving the liquid.
• In a saucepot, saute the onions, garlic, peppers, pancetta and cumin over medium heat until the onions are translucent and the pancetta has rendered all its fat. Add the rice and toast, making sure to coat all the rice with the fat. Add the reserved black bean water and black beans and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Add the bay leaf and cook, covered, until the liquid has evaporated and the rice is cooked.
• To serve: Place a grill pan over medium heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Grill the steak to desired doneness. When the steak is almost done, fry the quail eggs sunny-side up.
• Cut the steak into 4 servings and top with the Guacamole. Serve the arroz con gris topped with the fried eggs alongside.
• Mash the avocados, add the tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice and oil and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

CUBAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• To make the Cuban Roast Pork: Mash the garlic and salt together using a mortar/pestle.
• Place the mash mixture in a small bowl; add in oregano, onion, and sour orange juice; mix thoroughly.
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat; add in the mash mixture and whisk to blend.
• Remove from heat and set marinade aside.
• Pierce the pork roast with a sharp knife or fork.
• Set aside a small amount of the marinade for use during the roasting period.
• Pour remaining marinade over the pork, cover, and refrigerate 2-3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325°; remove pork from marinade and place on a rack in a roasting pan.
• Sprinkle reserved marinade over pork.
• Roast until completely cooked and a meat thermometer registers 160° (about 20 minutes per lb).
• Baste occasionally with the pan juices.
• Remove pork from oven and let rest for at least 20 minutes before thinly slicing the meat.
• Bring remaining pan juices to a boil and simmer until juice is reduced by half; use this juice to sprinkle onto the meat in the sandwiches.
• To make the sandwiches: cut the bread into 4 sections, each about 8 inches long; slice these sections in half horizontally; spread butter on the inside of both halves.
• Generously layer sandwiches with filling ingredients in the following order: pickles, roasted pork, ham, and cheese.
• Spread with the optional mustard or mayonnaise if desired.
• Preheat a pancake griddle or large skillet.
• Lightly coat hot griddle or skillet with cooking spray; add in the first sandwich (make sure that your griddle or skillet is not too hot or the crust will burn before the cheese melts).
• Place a heavy iron skillet on top of the sandwich to flatten it (you want to smash the sandwich, compressing the bread to about a third of its original size).
• Grill the sandwich for 2-3 minutes on each side, until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden.
• Repeat the process for each sandwich.
• Slice each sandwich in half diagonally and serve.
• Note--Additions like Genoa salami, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and onion have become popular in the past forty years but are considered heresy by purists; in the old days, the sandwich was brushed on the outside with a small amount of pork drippings.