Puerto Rican Mofongo Food

MOFONGO RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Fry the plantains for 5-8 minutes, or golden brown on all sides. Transfer the plantains to a plate lined with a paper towel to remove excess grease.
• Using a large pilón (mortar and pestle) mash the plantains, garlic, and pork cracklins together, until the plantains are broken down. You might have to do this in small batches.
• Pack a serving into a small bowl and turn it over onto a plate for serving. Remove the bowl.
• Serve with extra pork cracklings (chicharrón) and garlic mojo on the side.
• Crush together garlic cloves and salt with a pilón (mortar and pestle), until you obtain a smooth paste. Transfer into a medium bowl.
• Stir in fresh bitter orange juice, olive oil, cumin, oregano, and chopped cilantro.
• Add more salt to taste, if desired.

MOFONGO

Steps:

• Heat up oil on the frying pan with bacon, garlic and simmer until brown. Remove from the pan.
• Chop plantains in thick slices and fry until golden (about 4 minutes) and dry on a paper towel.
• Put the garlic and bacon paste in a mixing bowl or mortar and add the fried plantains. Mash until thoroughly blended.
• Serve right out of the mortar or turn the mortar upside down and put on a plate.
• Enjoy warm with a broth and either shrimp or chicken.

CHICHARRON MOFONGO

Steps:

• For the chicken: Cut the chicken thighs into 1-inch chunks. Combine the olive oil with the chicken base, granulated garlic, adobo seasoning, Cajun spice, granulated onion, black pepper and all-purpose seasoning in a large bowl. Add the chicken and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
• Deep-fry the chicken until cooked thoroughly. Drain on paper towels.
• For the mofongo: Slice the plantains into 1-inch pieces. Lightly fry until golden brown with a slightly crisp outside, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Combine the olive oil with the minced garlic, adobo seasoning, Cajun spice, granulated garlic and black pepper in a medium bowl. Add the fried plantains to the bowl and mash with a wooden pestle or potato mashing tool. Add half of the fried chicken to the mashed plantain mixture. Form a rounded mound of the mofongo mix in the center of a large plate. Arrange the remaining fried chicken pieces around the mofongo. Drizzle the Puerto Rican Remoulade over top.
• Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, granulated garlic, minced garlic, sofrito, adobo seasoning, Cajun spice, granulated onion, cayenne, black pepper and onion in a blender. Blend until an even consistency.
• Peel and slice the onion. Remove the stem and seeds from the bell pepper. Remove the stems from the mini peppers. Combine the onion, peppers, garlic and cilantro in a blender and pulse for 30 seconds, or until an even consistency is achieved.

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.

MOFONGO

Steps:

• Prepare the guiso, if using: Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until simmering. Add sofrito, reduce heat to medium-low and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until liquid is evaporated.
• Pour in tomato sauce, partially cover with a lid, and simmer over low for 7 to 10 minutes. Sauce will thicken and darken in color.
• While sauce simmers, prepare the mofongo: Pour vegetable oil into a medium saucepan until it reaches a 3-inch depth, then heat over medium-high.
• Meanwhile, crush garlic and 1 teaspoon salt in a pilón or large mortar and pestle until a wet paste forms.
• In a separate, small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium until just simmering, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour this hot oil on top of the garlic, carefully stirring to incorporate. It'll sizzle, and the garlic may turn light green. Add lime juice to complete the mojo.
• Peel plantains by cutting off both ends, then make three lengthwise slices through the skin. Carefully pull up the peel and remove it, starting at one of the corners with the edge of your fingernail or the tip of your knife if tough, then cut the plantains into 1 1/2-inch rounds. (Be careful: Plantain skins will stain your hands and clothing.)
• Once the vegetable oil is simmering somewhere between 350 and 375 degrees - you can test by adding a small piece of plantain; it will sizzle when the oil is hot enough - add plantains in 2 or 3 batches, taking care not to crown the pot. Fry each batch for 6 to 9 minutes, stirring lightly a few times, until the plantains begin to brown. Be careful not to let them get too dark, or they'll be hard and dry. Use a slotted spoon or mesh strainer to transfer plantains to a towel-lined bowl.
• If you have a large enough pilón, add fried plantains and chicharrón, if using, until pilón is three-quarters full. Mash together, alternating pounding and grinding. Once mixture has condensed to about half its original size, add 1 heaping tablespoon of the prepared mojo (or to taste), and continue grinding and mashing until fully combined. The mixture will look like stuffing.
• If you don't have a pilón, combine plantains, chicharrón and mojo in a large wooden bowl. Using the bottom of a slender jar, such as an olive jar, mash together to incorporate, rotating the bowl after each mash. Pound, grind and mash until mofongo is blended.
• Form the mashed mixture into 4 individual mofongos, each roughly the size of a baseball, or press into the bottom of a small rice bowl, then turn each onto a plate or into a larger bowl.
• Serve immediately, garnished with extra chicharrón, lime wedges and cilantro, if you like. Spoon over guiso as desired.

MOFONGO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saute pan or large, deep skillet over medium heat to 350 degrees F. Fry the plantains in 2 batches until golden brown on each side, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towels. Set aside.
• Working in batches, crush the pork cracklings, garlic and salt in a wooden mortar and pestle (a pilon) or in a bowl with a wooden spoon. Add the plantains and mash together to incorporate. Mash in the margarine.
• Using your hands, shape the plantain mixture into 6 balls. Serve warm or hot.