Torta A Spanish Influenced Breakfast Food

GROUND PORK MENUDO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion, and sauté until the onion begins to soften, about 2 minutes.
• Add the ground pork and cook, stirring regularly, for 5 minutes or until the meat is lightly browned. Stir in the fish sauce.
• Add the tomato sauce and water. Stir, cover and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the carrots, potato and bell pepper, and cook for 10 minutes. Add the green peas and raisins, and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with steamed rice.

SPANISH TORTILLA

Steps:

• Peel and thinly slice potatoes and onions; it's easiest if you use a mandoline. Meanwhile, heat oil in an 8- or 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. After 3 or 4 minutes, drop in a potato slice. When tiny bubbles appear around its edges, add potatoes, onions, a good pinch of salt and a liberal sprinkling of pepper. Gently turn mixture in oil with a wooden spoon, and adjust heat so oil bubbles lazily.
• Cook, turning potatoes gently every few minutes, until they are tender when pierced with a small knife. Adjust the heat so they do not brown. If potatoes begin to break, they are overdone; stop cooking immediately. As potatoes cook, beat eggs with some salt and pepper in a large bowl.
• Drain potatoes in a colander, reserving oil. Wipe out skillet, and heat over a medium flame for a minute. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Gently mix warm potatoes with eggs, and add to skillet. As soon as edges firm up, after a minute or so, reduce heat to medium-low. Cook 5 minutes.
• Insert a rubber spatula all around edges of tortilla to make sure it will slide from pan. The top will still be runny. Carefully slide out onto a plate. Cover with another plate, and holding plates tightly, invert them. Add another tablespoon oil to skillet, and use the spatula to coax tortilla back in. Cook 5 minutes, then slide from skillet onto a clean plate. Serve warm (not hot), or at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.

TORTILLA ESPANOLA (SPANISH TORTILLA)

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add half of the potato slices, and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 15 to 20 minutes. When done, remove potatoes to a large bowl, leaving oil in the skillet. Cook the remaining potatoes in the oil until tender, then add to the bowl, leaving oil in the skillet. Gently toss potatoes with salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion rings, and gently cook until soft and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Spoon onions onto a plate, and allow to cool while the potatoes finish cooking.
• Whisk eggs in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in cooled onions, roasted peppers, and serrano ham. Gently fold in cooked potatoes.
• Heat the skillet with the reserved oil over low heat. Pour in the egg mixture, and gently cook until the sides have started to set and the bottom has turned golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Loosen the tortilla with a spatula if needed, then carefully slide onto a large plate. Turn the skillet upside down and place onto the uncooked side of the tortilla. Turn the skillet right-side-up, and remove the plate. Return the skillet to the stove, and continue cooking until the tortilla has set in the center, about 4 minutes.
• Slide the tortilla onto a serving plate and allow to cool to room temperature. Cut into six wedges and sprinkle with parsley to serve.

TORTA - A SPANISH INFLUENCED BREAKFAST

Steps:

• Slice potatoes thinly.
• Add olive oil to a deep 10" frying pan, add potatoes, chopped garlic, and red or white chopped onions.
• Make sure there is enough oil to cover potatoes.
• Saute uncovered until the potatoes are soft, but not brown.
• Drain oil.
• Save a couple tablespoons, discard the rest.
• A little before the potatoes are cooked, mix the eggs and milk.
• When potatoes are cooked and drained, add them to the eggs and milk mixture.
• Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Season mixture with a bit of salt and lots of black pepper.
• Heat a 10" non-stick frying and add the two tablespoons of olive oil.
• Add the potato and egg mixture and cook on low heat until the egg is set (fork will come out clean if inserted).
• Flip the tortilla using the lid of a large pan: Place lid over the frying pan; turn pan over; slide the tortilla cooked side up back onto the frying pan to finish cooking, just a couple of minutes longer.
• Remove from heat and let tortilla rest for 15 minutes before serving.
• May be served warm or at room temperature.
• Serve in pie like slices or cut into cubes if serving it to a larger crowd.
• Note: rather than flipping the tortilla you can cook on top of the stove until the egg is set on the bottom and then transfer the pan to a 400 degree oven to finish.