Vaca Frita With A Tropical Tuber Hash Cake And Caramelized Onions Food

VACA FRITA (PAN-FRIED BEEF)

Steps:

• Cut 1 onion in half and thinly slice the remaining onion. Set aside.
• Combine flank steak, halved onion, bell pepper, and bay leaf in a large saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and let simmer until meat is easily shredded with 2 forks, about 20 minutes. Transfer flank steak to a work surface and let cool, about 10 minutes. Strain beef broth and save for another use. Shred cooled meat using 2 forks and place into a separate bowl.
• Mix garlic with 1/2 teaspoon salt in another bowl. Apply paste onto the meat, along with lime juice, olive oil, and sliced onion. Let stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add butter. Working in small batches, spread shredded beef in a thin layer into the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, turning once or twice, until sizzling and crispy, about 7 minutes per batch. Transfer to a platter and serve with lime wedges.

ROAST RACK OF PORK WITH CARAMELIZED MAPLE ONIONS

Steps:

• Season both sides of rack with salt and pepper 20 minutes before cooking. Sear in heavy saute pan with olive oil until rack is well caramelized. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In same pan, add sliced onions, ginger, cinnamon, star anise and butter. Slowly cook until onions are well caramelized. Add maple sugar and cook for 2 minutes.
• Deglaze with cider, adjust salt and pepper to taste and reduce until a glaze forms. Completely cover rack with half of onion compote. Transfer to roasting pan and place in oven. Cook at 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature is 150 degrees F. Halfway through cooking time, pour over remaining half of onion compote. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Discard the cinnamon stick and star anise.

CRISPY ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the deep fat fryer, a stovetop fryer or high sided pot with the recommended amount of oil to 360 degrees. Combine the flour and paprika evenly in a flour sifter and sift into a large bowl. Add the thinly sliced onions to the flour and toss and shake well to coat the onions evenly in seasoned flour. Put the onions into a strainer and shake off any excess flour so that what remains is the thinnest coat possible. Cooking in small batches, put the coated onions in a fryer basket and carefully submerge in the hot oil. Shake the basket to insure even frying and remove from the fryer when the onions have cooked to a deep golden, but not dark brown, color. Continue in this manner until all the onions have been cooked. Season each batch with salt as it's removed from the fryer. Drain on paper toweling.;

ITALIAN BURGERS WITH ROASTED TOMATOES AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Make the aioli: Blend the mayonnaise, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, fresh herbs and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a mini food processor or blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the roasted tomatoes: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pat the tomatoes dry with paper towels and arrange on the prepared baking sheet; drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the dried basil, oregano and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Roast until the tomatoes start caramelizing, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the caramelized onions: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sugar and toss to coat. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 20 minutes. Increase the heat to medium high and cook, stirring, until browned and caramelized, 15 to 20 more minutes; season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Make the burgers: Preheat a grill to medium high and brush the grates with vegetable oil. Put the beef and sausage in a large bowl and combine with your hands. Form four 3/4-inch-thick patties; season with salt and pepper. Grill the burgers until the edges begin browning, 3 to 5 minutes, then flip and top each patty with a slice of cheese. Cover and cook until the cheese is melted and the burgers are done, 3 to 4 more minutes for medium.
• Lightly toast the buns on the grill. Spread the aioli on the top and bottom buns. Sandwich with the burgers, roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions and arugula.

CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and toss to coat with butter. Cover and slowly cook onions, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until a golden Color is reached. Turn heat up to medium high and begin to brown the onions, stirring constantly about 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

VACA FRITA

Steps:

• To a large pot, add steak, bay leaves, carrot, tomato, cumin, and oregano and cover with water. Boil the meat until it becomes tender, then remove from the liquid, and shred the meat. Into a very hot saute pan pour 1/8 cup olive oil, then add the meat, making sure to spread it out evenly. Flip it over and cook until both sides become crispy. In a separate pan, add the remaining oil and cook the onions until caramelized, then mix in the meat, cilantro, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.