Salsa Verde Seafood With Yellow Rice

SEAFOOD STEW WITH RICE AND SALSA CRIOLLA (ARROZ CON MARISCOS)

Steps:

• Make a paste from the roasted peppers by mincing them, then mashing them with the back of a fork. Mix in half of the Scotch bonnet. Save the other half of the chile pepper for the Salsa Criolla. Reserve the paste.
• Heat the stock in a pot. Add the mussels and clams. Cover the pot, but check after a few minutes and remove the mollusks to a bowl as they open. Once all they are all out of the pot, add the saffron to infuse the stock and remove from the heat.
• In a bowl, season the flour with salt and pepper. Lightly flour the sea bass. Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat with 1/4 cup of the annatto or canola oil. When it is quite hot, add the bass and sear until golden crisp. Remove the fish and reserve on a plate. Now add the calamari to the pan and cook for 1 minute and reserve with the sea bass. Next add the shrimp to the pan, with 2 tablespoons of the pepper paste and 1/4 cup of the beer. Saute until just cooked. Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon and reserve with the rest of the seafood. Now reduce the cooking liquid to a light syrup and pour over the seafood. Reserve.
• To a deep soup pot over medium-high heat add the remaining 1/4 cup oil. When it is hot add the garlic and onion. Cook until they start to caramelize, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat. Pour in the chicken stock, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Stir with a fork, and add the seafood, the rest of the beer, and cilantro and stir once more. Cover again and turn down the heat to medium-low, cooking for about 25 minutes. While the rice cooks, make the Salsa Criolla.
• When the rice is done, stir in the peas and serve with the Salsa Criolla on the side.
• Put the onion in a small bowl. Squeeze the limes over them; discard the rinds. To this add the garlic, Scotch bonnet, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

SEARED RIB EYE, SALSA VERDE, DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• For the salsa verde: First, dice the tomatoes, medium cut, then puree them in a food processor or blender. Next, add the cilantro, onions, balsamic, garlic, oil and jalapenos. Again, puree, taste, then season with salt and pepper. After seasoning, place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to merge.
• For the dirty rice: In a saute pan over medium-high heat, add the oil and allow to warm. Next, add the onions and cook, with stirring motion, until slightly translucent. This should take 3 to 4 minutes. Next, add the cooked beans and carrots and allow to warm. Then add the tomato juice and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue to cook until the juice has reduced to 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 minutes. Next, add the rice. Warm the rice and blend the flavors over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Once the rice has warmed and the juice has finished reducing, remove from the heat, add the celery leaves, taste and season to preference with the Cajun spice.
• For the steak: In a large saute pan over high heat, add and warm the oil for 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle the steaks on both sides with the salt and pepper, and add to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the steak and repeat the process on the second side for a final 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the pan, allow to rest and serve over the dirty rice. Finish with salsa verde.

PESCADO EN SALSA VERDE (FISH FILLETS IN GREEN SAUCE)

Steps:

• Blot the fillets dry--really dry--to avoid a watery sauce.
• In a blender, combine olive oil, wine, vinegar, parsley, onion, garlic, salt and pepper and blend on high until smooth.
• In a large skillet, arrange the fish snugly in a single layer and pour the sauce over the fish.
• If the fish won't fit in one layer, arrange the fish in two layers, pouring half the sauce over the first layer and the rest over the top.
• Bring the sauce to a boil over high heat.
• Immediately reduce the heat to low, partially cover the pan and gently simmer the fish for 15 to 20 minutes or until the fish flakes when pierced with a fork.
• Cooking time depends on the thickness of your fillets; if they are thin, they will be done in less time.