Have a Great Cinco De Mayo Party, from BR to you
Chorizo, Bean and Cheese Nachos
1 pound Mexican chorizo, removed from casings and crumbled
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups cooked pinto beans
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Water
Homemade Tortilla Chips, recipe below, or large, restaurant style corn tortilla chips
1 1/2 cups grated pepper jack
1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar
1 small white onion, sliced into thin rings
5 large jalapenos, stemmed, seeded, and chopped, or to taste
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
In a large skillet, cook the chorizo, garlic, and cumin, stirring, over medium-high heat until the sausage is browned and the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. To the fat in the pan, add the pinto beans, chili powder, salt, and 1 to 1 1/2 cups water (depending on the moisture in the beans). Cook over medium heat until warmed through, smashing with the back of a heavy wooden spoon or potato masher until chunky/smooth. Remove from the heat.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large, oval ovenproof platter or in a large baking dish, spread 1 layer of chips. Top with a layer of 1/2 of the beans, then 1/2 of the sausage, cheeses, onion rings, and chopped jalapenos. Repeat with another layer of chips, beans, sausage, cheese, onions and jalapenos. Bake until the cheeses are melted and the mixture is hot, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and lime juice, with a pinch of salt. Drizzle over the nachos, garnish with cilantro, and serve immediately.
Homemade Tortilla Chips:
9 corn tortillas, cut into quarters
4 cups corn or vegetable oil
Essence, recipe follows
In a large, heavy saucepan, heat the oil to 360 degrees F.
In batches, add the tortillas to the oil, being careful not to overcrowd, and cook until golden brown, turning once, about 1 minute. Remove and drain on paper towels. Season lightly with Essence. Serve warm or use to make nachos.
Yield: 3 dozen chips
Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Pork and Rice Quesadillas with Orange Salsa
Cooking spray
1 cup instant rice, cooked according to package directions
2 cups diced roasted pork loin
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
1 cup chopped arugula leaves
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup diced oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
6 burrito-size flour tortillas, regular or flavored
1 recipe Orange Salsa, recipe follows
Coat a stove-top griddle with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat to preheat.
In a large bowl, combine rice, pork, beans, arugula, cheese, and tomatoes. Mix well to combine.
Arrange tortillas on a flat surface. Top 1 side of the tortillas with pork mixture. Fold the other side over to cover filling. Transfer quesadillas to hot pan and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown and cheese melts. Serve with orange salsa.
Orange Salsa:
1 (11-ounce) can Mandarin oranges, drained and chopped
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
2 tablespoons freshly chopped scallions
2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and toss to combine
Marinated Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Orange Vinaigrette and Black Beans and Rice
Black Beans and Rice:
1 pound dried black beans, picked over and soaked overnight, drained
1 ham hock
1 (12-ounce) bottle beer or ale
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Spanish onion finely chopped
1 1/2 cups converted rice
3 1/2 cups water
Salt
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoons pine nuts
4 cloves garlic
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup Grana Padano cheese
Pepper
Parsley
Place the soaked beans in a large saucepan, cover with water, add the ham hock and beer. Cook over medium-high heat until tender, about 11/2 hours. Drain. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until almost smoking. Add the onions and cook until soft. Add the rice and cook, stirring until it is coated with the oil, about 2 minutes. Add the water and 1 tablespoon salt, stir, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Place the basil, pine nuts and garlic in a food processor and process until smooth. Slowly add the oil to make a smooth paste. Combine the cooked rice and beans in a large saucepan and cover with water, cook over medium heat until almost dry. Add the pesto and stir to incorporate. Stir in the cheese, parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Spicy Orange Vinaigrette:
3 cups fresh orange juice
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1 cup olive oil
Heat orange juice in a medium saucepan and reduce to 1/4 cup. Let cool slightly. Combine the orange syrup, vinegar, mustard and ancho chile powder in a blender and blend 30 seconds. With the motor running slowly add the oil until the dressing emulsifies. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Marinade:
2/3 cup fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons ancho chile powder
3 tablespoons pasilla chile powder
2 teaspoons cayenne
1 cup olive oil
1 teaspoons salt
2 (2 pound) pork tenderloins
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade, pour the remaining marinade into a large baking dish, add the tenderloin and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. Preheat grill pan until almost smoking. Remove pork from marinade and grill for 10 to 12 minutes basting with the reserved marinade. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Spoon rice and beans onto a large platter, top with sliced pork and drizzle with Spicy Orange Vinaigrette.
Roasted Corn, Jicama and Mango Salad
4 ears fresh corn, unshucked
1 large jicama, peeled and thinly julienned
1 ripe mango, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
Citrus vinaigrette, recipe follows
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Put the ears of corn on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove and let cool. When the corn has cooled, shuck it and stand it on end. Using a sharp knife, run the blade down the cob to cut the kernels off. Rotate the cob and repeat until all the kernels have been cut off.
Combine the jicama, mango, red onion and cilantro in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooled corn, and toss with the vinaigrette. Chill until ready to serve.
Citrus Vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
2 teaspoons sugar
Dash hot sauce
1 cup olive oil
Salt pepper
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
In a large bowl combine the lime juice, orange juice, orange zest, sugar and hot sauce. Whisk together and slowly add the olive oil, whisking as you go. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and cilantro and whisk until combined.
