Sorullo Food

DEEP FRIED CORN MEAL STICKS (SORULLITOS DE MAIZ) WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and stir in sugar, butter, and salt until sugar has dissolved. Turn heat to low and whisk in 1 cup of cornmeal until smooth. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup cornmeal to make a very thick, workable dough.
• Heat 3 cups vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease your hands well with 2 teaspoons of oil and scoop about 3 tablespoons of cornmeal dough; roll the dough into a ball, then shape into a 3-inch long stick about 1/2 inch wide. Repeat with remaining dough, oiling your hands as needed. Deep-fry the cornmeal sticks until golden brown, working in batches of 3 or 4 at a time. Drain fried cornmeal sticks on paper towels and keep warm.
• Mix mayonnaise, ketchup, and garlic salt in a bowl until well combined; serve cornmeal sticks with the sauce for dipping.

SORULLITOS DE MAíZ Y QUESO

Steps:

• Heat the sugar, salt and 2 cups water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar and salt dissolve and the water begins to boil. Mix in the cornmeal, stirring constantly with a sturdy rubber spatula until everything is incorporated, about 1 minute. Turn off the burner and add the butter and 1/2 cup of the Gouda. Continue stirring until the cheese and butter melt and a cohesive mass of dough forms, about 3 minutes. The mixture should be somewhat resistant to mixing, gummy and malleable, but not sticky. Let the corn and cheese dough cool down for about 3 minutes.
• When the dough is cool enough to handle, form 2 tablespoons of dough into a 2-by-3-inch rectangle. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of the remaining Gouda to the center of the rectangle and roll into a small 3-inch cigar-shaped stick. Repeat the process. The recipe should yield about 25 corn sticks.
• If frying right away, heat about 1 inch oil in a small to medium heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 325 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer or it bubbles when it comes in contact with a wooden spoon.
• Fry the sorullitos until golden all around and the cheese is melted on the inside, about 5 minutes. Drain the sorullitos on paper towels. They are best served right away.
• To make ahead to fry at a later time, line a baking sheet that is small enough to fit in your freezer with wax paper. Lay the sorullitos in a single layer without touching on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze until hard, then transfer to freezer bags or containers and freeze for up to 2 months.
• If cooking the sorullitos from frozen, there is no need to thaw them out before frying. Heat the oil following the above instructions and fry the frozen sorullitos until golden brown and the cheese is melted on the inside, about 6 minutes.

SORULLO

Steps:

• Take a handful of dough (small to medium size scoop) and shape into ball. Pat dough down.
• into a flat ball on work surface.
• Add a couple strips of chicken, and a small to medium size dab of cream cheese; sprinkle with shredded cheese (or you can just use chicken and cheese). Seal; to do this, bring sides up; if necessary add more dough and pat until filling is completely covered (make sure there is no filling poking out). Continue doing this with each pastry until all of filling and dough is used.
• Fill saucepan or shallow saucepan with 3 inches of oil (vegetable or peanut); heat until boiling. Add sorullos (do not crowd; depending on size, use three to four per batch.) Fry until dough is crispy and golden brown. Transfer to plate that is lined with paper towels to drain excess grease.
• VARIATION:You could use cooked ground beef in place of the chicken strips. You could also.
• add VERY finely chopped bell pepper to the filling. If using beef, use 1 t each ground.
• paprika and chili powder (adjust seasonings to taste).