Smoky Tomato Greek Yogurt Crema Food

MANGO-AGAVE GRANOLA WITH GREEK YOGURT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Mix the canola oil, agave syrup, honey, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Combine the oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, wheat germ and salt in a large bowl. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir, making sure everything is evenly coated. Spread the mixture evenly on the prepared baking sheet; bake, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove the granola from the oven and let cool slightly, then break into clumps while still warm. Let cool completely, then toss with the dried mango in a bowl. Serve with the yogurt. Store leftover granola in an airtight container in a cool place.

CORN CAKES WITH CRAB AND SMOKY AVOCADO YOGURT

Steps:

• For the avocado yogurt: Put the avocados, yogurt, cilantro, chipotle puree, lime juice and some salt and pepper in a blender. Blend until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours to let the flavors meld.
• For the corn cakes: Combine the milk, butter and honey in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook until butter has melted. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the corn flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne in a large bowl.
• Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl until smooth. Add the cooled milk mixture and mix until smooth, then stir in the corn. Stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture until a batter just comes together. In a clean, dry bowl, beat the 3 egg whites until stiff (they should hold their shape), then fold them completely into the corn mixture.
• Heat some butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat until almost smoking. Working in batches, make the cakes with 2 tablespoons of batter each, leaving a few inches of space between them as they spread quite a bit. Cook until browned on the bottom and starting to bubble around the edges, about 2 minutes. Flip the corn cakes with a spatula and cook until lightly browned on the reverse side, about 1 minute. Remove to a baking rack to drain.
• To assemble: Top each corn cake with a dollop of avocado yogurt, a few pieces of crab and some microgreens.

EASY LIME CREMA

Steps:

• Stir all ingredients together in a small bowl. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

CREMA CATALANA

Steps:

• Combine milk, lemon peel, orange peel and cinnamon sticks in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Discard lemon peels, orange peels and cinnamon sticks.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar in large bowl until light and lemon colored. Beat in cornstarch. Gradually whisk in hot milk. Return mixture to same saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils, whisking constantly, about 10 minutes. Divide custard among six 2/3 cup custard cups. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Preheat broiler. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over custards. Broil until brown sugar caramelizes. (Or caramelize with round branding iron). Serve.

SWEET POTATO AND ROASTED PLANTAIN SOUP WITH FRIED PLANTAIN AND SMOKED CHILE CREMA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place plantain on a baking sheet and roast until skins are black and plantains are soft, remove and let cool. Peel and cut into chunks. Heat maple syrup over medium heat, add the roasted plantain and saute until caramelized. Remove with slotted spoon and place food processor and process until smooth.
• Place potatoes, plantains and vegetable stock in a medium saucepan and cook for 30 minutes. Add the coconut milk and cook for 5 minutes. Place in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Smoked Chile Crema: 1 cup creme fraiche 2 teaspoons chipotle pepper puree Salt Combine creme fraiche and chipotle puree in a small bowl and season with salt. Assemble: Cilantro leaves Ladle soup into 8 bowls. Drizzle with smoked chile crema and garnish with fried plantains and cilantro leaves.
• Heat oil to 365 degrees F. in a medium skillet.
• Add plantains in batches and cook until golden .
• brown. Remove to a plate lined with paper towels and season with salt.

CORNBREAD WAFFLES WITH RANCH-STYLE EGGS AND CILANTRO CREMA

Steps:

• Make the waffle batter: Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and honey in a small bowl. Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, cumin, fine sea salt and cayenne in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients and gently whisk together until just combined (do not over mix). Fold in the butter, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the batter for 30 minutes.
• While the waffle batter rests, make the red chile sauce: Put the garlic on a cutting board, sprinkle with kosher salt, and use the flat side of your knife blade to smear the garlic and salt to a coarse paste. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, the ancho and pasilla chile powders and some salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes. Use a potato masher to mash the tomatos and cook slightly thickened, about 10 minutes longer. Mash again to make a chunky sauce. Stir in the chipotle puree, honey, vinegar and salt and pepper to taste, cook another 1 to 2 minutes then remove from the heat.
• Make the crema: Combine the cilantro, garlic, cotija and pine nuts in a small food processor and puree the mixture until it is smooth. Whisk together the crema and goat cheese in a medium bowl until smooth. Stir in the cilantro mixture and lime zest and set aside. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make the waffles: Heat the waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. Spray with nonstick pan spray, then ladle about 1/4 cup of the batter into each grid, close, and cook until golden brown on both sides and steam stops coming out from the iron, about 4 minutes. Transfer the waffles to a baking sheet.
• Make the eggs: Preheat the broiler to high. Crack 4 eggs into each of 2 small bowls. Heat 2 medium nonstick skillets over medium-high heat (or use 1 skillet and cook the eggs in 2 batches). Add 2 tablespoons butter to each skillet; once the bubbles mostly subside, slip 4 eggs into each skillet and season the tops with salt and pepper. When the whites start to set, after 1 to 2 minutes, cover the skillet and cook until the whites are set and the yolks are still runny, about 2 minutes longer.
• While the eggs cook, assemble the waffles: Combine the Cheddar and Moneterey Jack cheeses in a medium bowl, then top each waffle with about 1/2 cup of cheese and broil until the cheese is bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Top each waffle with a fried egg, a generous amount of chile sauce and a dollop of crema. Garnish with scallions and cilantro leaves and serve immediately.

SMOKY TOMATO CARBONARA

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine eggs and egg yolks, cheese, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and whisk well.
• Heat a large skillet over medium. Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to crisp, about 5 minutes. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons bacon grease (reserve any extra for another use). Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until sizzling and starting to brown, about 1 minute. Add cherry tomatoes and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until softened and juices start to release, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Return pasta to pot (off the heat) and add the bacon-tomato mixture. (If necessary, use 2 tablespoons of pasta water to stir up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet.)
• While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water into the beaten egg mixture until well blended. Slowly drizzle the tempered egg mixture into the pasta, tossing the pasta constantly and vigorously, until well incorporated and saucy. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle in more pasta water if a thinner consistency is desired.
• Serve in bowls with more cheese and black pepper.