Spanish Spirals Food

CHURROS (DEEP FRIED DOUGH SPIRALS)

Steps:

• Prepare frying oil:
• Heat 2 inches oil in a 4-quart Dutch oven or a wide 4-inch-deep heavy pot over high heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers 400°F (oil will be just beginning to smoke). Drop in citrus peel (oil will bubble vigorously) and leave in oil until browned, about 1 minute. Remove with tongs.
• Prepare dough:
• While oil is heating, bring water with salt to a boil, covered, in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons olive oil and remove from heat. Immediately add flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until flour and water are combined well (mixture will be stiff and not very smooth). Fill churrera with some hot dough and wrap a kitchen towel around churrera canister to protect your hands.
• Make churros:
• Turn screw handle of churrera until dough emerges from star opening. Holding opening about 2 inches above oil, turn handle to squeeze dough into oil in a continuous stream, making a spiral shape. (Spirals take practice; have a helper coax dough into a spiral in oil with a chopstick, keeping dough away from side of pot. For beginners, small coils or any kind of curvy shape is fine.) Stop when dough stream breaks naturally or pot is full.
• Cook until underside is golden, about 1 1/2 minutes, and turn over with chopsticks. Then cook until golden, about 1 1/2 minutes more. Transfer churro with chopsticks to paper towels to drain and sprinkle with sugar.
• Make more churros in same manner, returning oil to 400°F between batches.
• Break churros into pieces if desired and serve immediately.

MEXICAN SPIRALS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, chicken, monterey jack, coriander, jalapeno peppers, and cumin.
• Spread mixture evenly over tortillas.
• Roll up each tortilla tightly around chicken mixture.
• Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Just before serving, cut each tortilla roll into 1/2 inch slices.
• Arrange on greased baking sheet, brush with oil, bake in 350 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Serve hot with salsa and sour cream.

MEXICAN SPIRALS

Steps:

• Gently pulse cream cheese, cilantro, cumin, Chicken, red pepper, and jalepeno in food prosessor until finely chopped.
• Fold in grated cheese.
• Season to taste with salt.
• Spread on tortillas, and roll up tightly, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cover cookie sheet with silpat or foil treated with cooking spray.
• Slice tortillas diagonally 1/2 inch thick and place on sheet.
• Brush with oil and bake 12 -15 min or until light golden.
• Serve hot with sour cream and salsa for dipping.

SPINACH FILO SPIRAL PIE

Steps:

• Heat a large non-stick pan over a medium heat. Tip in the spinach and cook, stirring, until wilted (you won't need any oil or water as it will steam in its own moisture). Leave to cool a little, then tip into a clean tea towel and squeeze out as much water as possible. Chop and put in a bowl.
• Heat the knob of butter in a non-stick frying pan. Add the onion and cook for about 10 mins until softened. Tip into the bowl with the spinach, then stir in the feta using a fork until fully combined. Taste for seasoning.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Brush a 24 x 4cm deep metal pie dish with some of the butter.
• Lay a filo sheet on your work surface. Brush with some of the melted butter, then spread about 2 tbsp of the filling in a line along the longest edge of the pastry. Roll loosely into a long sausage (don't roll it too tight as this might cause the pastry to split), then coil the pastry and put in the centre of the tin.
• Repeat with the rest of the pastry and filling, arranging the coils around the central one. Brush the tops with more butter, then sprinkle with the nigella seeds. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden and crisp.