Salpicón Nicaraguan Minced Meat Food

SALPICóN (NICARAGUAN MINCED MEAT) RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large pot, combine beef, half of the bell pepper, half of the onion, salt, peppercorns, and garlic. Add enough cold water to cover ingredients by 2 inches. Bring mixture to boil over medium-high heat, then immediately reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until beef is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Strain beef mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over a large heatproof bowl; remove and discard bell pepper, onion, peppercorns, and garlic and discard liquid. Allow beef to cool for 10 minutes.
• In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine half of the beef, half of the remaining bell pepper, and half of the remaining onion and pulse until mixture is finely chopped. Transfer to large mixing bowl and repeat with remaining beef, bell pepper, and onion. Squeeze lime over beef and toss to combine. Season with salt to taste.
• Salpicón may be served immediately or toasted slightly in a skillet. To toast in a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook, stirring, until beef is beginning to crisp and dry out, about 15 minutes. Serve right away with white rice and small red kidney beans, or gallopinto .

SALPICON (SPICY MEXICAN BEEF SALAD)

Steps:

• Prepare brisket: In a Dutch oven or a small stockpot, combine meat with onion, stock, bay leaves, garlic, chipotles, salt and peppercorns.
• Bring mixture to a boil over high heat, skimming off any foam.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 3 1/2 to 4 hours or until the meat is falling-apart tender.
• Let cool 30 minutes in cooking liquid.
• Reserve 2 tablespoons cooking liquid for salad dressing and save remainder, refrigerated, for a Southweswtern soup or stew.
• Pull meat apart into shreds.
• (The dish can be made ahead to this point and refrigerated 1 or 2 days. Before proceeding, warm foil-wrapped meat in oven.) To make dressing: In a blender or food processor, combine reserved brisket liquid, chipotles, olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, ketchup, onion, garlic, salt and pepper and purée.
• To complete salad: In a bowl, mix brisket with about 3/4 of the dressing.
• Transfer brisket to a serving platter or bowl and toss it lightly with tomatoes, avocados, onion, cheese and cilantro.
• Drizzle additional dressing over top, enough to make the mixture moist.
• Garnish with radish roses if desired.
• Serve warm with fresh hot tortillas, or chilled with tortilla chips for dipping.