Faux Fongo With Red Bean Gravy Food

MOFONGO

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.

FAUX "FRIES" WITH RASPBERRY "KETCHUP"

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Trim off a thin layer of the cake's brown exterior crust. Cut pound cake lengthwise into 1/4-inch slices. Turn slices on their side and cut into 1/4-inch strips. Trim to 4 to 5 inches in length (if this sounds confusing, just remember, you are creating French fry-shaped strips).
• Arrange strips on cookie sheet and bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until browned on top and bottom. Turn strips and bake for approximately 4 more minutes, or until remaining 2 sides are browned. Let cool, then arrange in fry container.
• Place raspberries in a blender or food processor, and puree (add a few tablespoons of water, or lemon juice, if necessary, to facilitate blending). Add sugar, 1 teaspoon at a time, to taste, until tartness is gone.
• Place raspberry puree in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Use a rubber spatula to force the puree through the strainer. Discard the seeds and transfer the puree to the squeeze bottle. Serve alongside "fries".

CHICKEN AND CHORIZO HASH WITH OJ GRAVY

Steps:

• To make the hash, put the chorizo in a large skillet over medium heat. Vigorously break up the sausage into bits with a potato masher or wooden spoon as it cooks. Once it resembles ground meat, add the plantain and carrots. Season with a tiny pinch of salt and some black pepper. Toss to coat everything in the fat and cook, without stirring, for a few minutes to develop color on the plantains and carrots, then toss and wait again. Cook this way until the plantains and carrots are caramelized on most sides and tender, and the chorizo is browned, about 15 minutes.
• Add the thyme, garlic, scallions, and jalapenos. Toss to coat and cook, stirring, until the garlic is tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken and stir to coat.
• To make the gravy, sprinkle the flour over the top of the hash and stir with a wooden spoon until it disappears, then cook for a few more minutes to remove the flour taste. Add the Worcestershire sauce and orange juice. Continue to stir, allowing the juices to thicken. Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream. Garnish with the parsley and serve.

MOFONGO STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, cubanelle, ají dulce and ají caballero peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes and cilantro and cook 1 minute. Add 1 cup water and the butter and let mixture simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Carefully transfer mixture to a blender or food processor and purée until smooth.
• Fill a large heavy-bottom pot with about 1 1/2 inches of vegetable oil and set over medium-high heat. Working in batches, deep-fry plantains until tender, about 3 minutes per batch; drain on a paper-towel-lined plate.
• Combine plantains, vegetable purée and pork rinds in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher until combined but still chunky. Transfer to a small baking dish and bake until top is just starting to brown, 10 to 15 minutes.