Eggplant Puerto Rican Food

BACALAO GUISADO CON BERENJENA (STEWED CODFISH WITH EGGPLANT)

Steps:

• Soak cod overnight in covered container of cold water in fridge changing water 3 times OR boil for 10 minutes to remove excess salt
• Chop all veggies and set aside. Heat large skillet with olive oil. Sautee onions, garlic. Add peppers and eggplant. Add tomatoes. Add tomato paste and sauce. Add cod. Simmer until cod is tender and flaky.
• Use fork to break cod into smaller flakes. Serve with rice or with sweet or green plantains.

STEWED SALT COD WITH EGGPLANT

Steps:

• In a saucepan, add oil, sofrito, seasoning envelopes, minced garlic, tomato sauce and cilantro. Stir well and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add sliced onions, cooked shredded pollock fillets and chunks of eggplant to the saucepan. Stir until the shredded pollock fillets and eggplant chunks are completely coated with the tomato-oil based sauce.
• Cover saucepan with lid. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• After 20 minutes of cooking, check to see if the chunks of eggplant are tender. If not, cover saucepan with lid and continue simmering for an additional 20 to 30 minutes or until the chunks of eggplants forms a smooth creamy texture.
• Check the eggplant again after 10 to 30 minutes of simmering. If you barely see any chunks of eggplant and a creamy consistency is formed, then stewed salt cod with eggplant is ready to be served.
• Serve this dish with cooked white rice, steamed/boiled root vegetables or boiled breadfruit.

PASTELóN RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• To the bowl of a food processor, add the cilantro, culantro, onion, red and green bell peppers, garlic, oregano, and cumin. Pulse until combined. The sofrito should have the consistency of a tapenade.
• Heat ¼ cup (60 ml) of canola oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the sofrito and fry, stirring constantly, until deepened in color but not brown, about 3 minutes. Add the olives to the pan and stir to combine.
• Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Season with the ½ teaspoon salt.
• Add 1 teaspoon of adobo seasoning, the Sazón seasoning, and the tomato sauce and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed into the meat, about 7 minutes. Transfer the beef mixture to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, discarding any excess liquid. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel and set aside.
• Peel the plantains, cut in half crosswise, then slice each half lengthwise to get 4 thin slices.
• Heat the remaining cup of canola oil in the same pan over medium-high heat until the oil starts to shimmer. Test one plantain slice in the oil--if it bubbles and sizzles, the oil is ready.
• Fry the plantains in batches until they are lightly browned on the edges and tender in the centers, 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally with a fork. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Season on both sides with salt.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Arrange a single layer of plantains in the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish. Using a slotted spoon, top with about half of the meat mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella over the meat sauce. Repeat with more plantains, the remaining meat sauce, and another cup of mozzarella. Finish with the remaining plantains.
• In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the remaining teaspoon of adobo seasoning.
• Pour the egg mixture over the plantains, then cover the baking dish with foil.
• Bake the pastelón until the eggs are set and the cheese is bubbly, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and turn the oven to broil. Uncover the dish and sprinkle the remaining cup of mozzarella over the top. Broil for 5 minutes, or until cheese on top is golden brown. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
• Enjoy!