Ajiaco Criollo is a stew originating from the Spanish Canary Islands that consists of meat, chorizo, vegetables, herbs and spices. It is a flavorful dish that is a popular staple of Cuban home cooking. This hearty meal consists of slow-cooked meats, such as beef, pork and chicken, served with a variety of vegetables including yucca, potatoes, plantains and corn on the cob. It is typically seasoned with garlic, cumin, oregano and bell peppers and served with a side of white rice. Ajiaco Criollo is a delicious and filling dish that is sure to warm you up on a cold day.
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AJIACO: CUBAN SOUP MADE WITH BEEF, PORK, AND TROPICAL VEGETABLES
Provided by Food Network
Time 10h
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Drain and rinse the tasajo. Place into a large pot, cover with fresh water and cook until almost tender. Add the pork cubes and cook until both meats are completely tender. Drain the meat, reserving 8 cups of the cooking liquid.
- In a tall stockpot, add all the vegetables, except for the pumpkin and the yellow plantain, all the meat stocks, bay leaves and cumin. Cook for approximately 30 minutes and add the pumpkin and yellow plantain. Cook for 15 minutes. Allow it to rest for a few minutes. Add salt and white pepper to taste.
AJIACO CRIOLLO--CUBAN CREOLE STEW
Provided by Food Network
Time 11h20m
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Make the broth: Cover the tasajo with cold water and soak it for at least 8 hours. (There is no need to refrigerate it.) Change the water and continue soaking for another hour. Drain again and rinse under cold running water. Put the tasajo in a large, heavy pot and add about 6 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered for 1 hour. Add the pork, beef brisket, and bay leaf, and let the three meats cook together until tender. Remove the pot from the heat and skim as much fat as possible from the broth. (If you have time, the best way is to refrigerate the broth overnight until the fat solidifies and then remove it.)
- Make the Sofrito: Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and saute the onions and green pepper until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add the pepper, cumin, and tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the sofrito to the broth and simmer, covered, while you prepare the vegetables.
- Complete the Dish: Peel the malanga, boniato, name, yucca, and calabaza and cube them. Cut the corn and green plaintains into 1 1/2-inch pieces. With a knife, split the skin of each piece of green plantain and open it away from the center as if you were taking off a coat. Sprinkle the plantain pieces with the lime juice. Slit the semi-ripe and ripe plantains lengthwise and slice them crosswise into 1 1/2-inch rounds. Do not remove their skins or they will disintegrate in the stew. Add the green plantains to the simmering stew. After about 15 minutes, add the semiripe plantains. After another 15 minutes, add the ripe plantains and let them simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Serve hot in soup plates or, cocido-style, with the meats, vegetables, and broth in separate dishes. (Each diner removes the skin from the semi-ripe plantains themselves).
AJIACO CRIOLLO -- CUBAN COUNTRY-STYLE STEW RECIPE
Provided by á-25630
Number Of Ingredients 28
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the bacon until most of the oil is released; remove bacon from pan. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken, pork, and beef. Dredge in flour; brown the meat (chicken first) in the hot, bacon-flavored oil. Remove the browned meats from the oil. Put all the meats (including the bacon) in a large, heavy 8-quart stockpot; add the beef and ham stocks and red wine. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion and green pepper until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, cumin, and tomatoes, and cook for about 5 minutes. At about the 45-minute point in the cooking, add this sautéed vegetable mixture and the bay leaf to the cooking meat and the broth in the stockpot. Let simmer for 15 minutes while you peel and cut the vegetables. Peel the malanga, boniato, yuca, and calabaza; cut into cubes and add to the broth. Cut the corn and plantains into 2-inch chunks. Add the corn and green plantains to the simmering stew. After about 20 minutes, add the semi-ripe plantains and the lime juice; continue cooking for an additional 20 to 30 minutes. The plantain and root vegetables need to be tender! Thicken the stew slightly by whisking in the cornstarch mixed with water. Just before serving, stir in the cream. Serve hot in large bowls with Pan Cubano-Cuban Bread.
AJIACO CUBANO
Ajiaco is a Cuban stew consisting of different indiginous root vegetables. It is incredibly tasty and nutritious. A native dish that symbolizes who Cubans are as a people and how diverse their ethnic backgrounds came to be formed. According to famed Cuban scholar Fernando Ortiz, the Amerindians gave us the maiz (corn), papa(potato), malanga (arum), boniato(sweet potato), yuca (cassava),and aji(pepper). The Spaniards added calabaza(pumpkin) and nabo (turnip), while the Chinese added spices. The Africans contributed name(yams). He says, that Cubans are " a mestizaje(mixture) of kitchens, a mestisaje of races, a mestisaje of cultures, a dense broth of civilization that bubbles on the stove of the Caribbean." The Cuban ajiaco retains the unique flavors of its diverse ingredients, which enrich one another. Some ingredients may dissolve completely, while others may remain more distinct. Yet all provide flavor to this hearty simmering stew, which by its very nature is always in a state of flux. The cuts of meat all have something in common aside from being "Cuban-style-cut" they are cheaper cuts, as this is the dish of the "common man." I have used many sources to come up with this recipe for you, from books published in 1925 to ones that I found on the internet. Also, used A Taste of Cuba recipe by Sonia Martinez, from El asere.com.,Ms Ramona V. Abella's "The Cuban Food Fairy", and Srta Maria Antonieta Reyes Gavilan y Moenk's "Delicias del la Mesa - Manual de Cocina y Reposteria". All you need with this dish is some good Cuban bread, a French baguette or even Foccaccia and some sliced fresh fruit, if you aren't too stuffed by this point! Cuban food is highly seasoned but never HOT! The ajiaco is/was made every Saturday(Before Castro)and was served as a noon meal which would have a longer lasting effect and in the evening they would have something light. This is very good and appetizing. Hope you will enjoy!
Provided by Manami
Categories Pork
Time 5h10m
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 27
Steps:
- THE DAY BEFORE:.
- Cut the beef jerky in large pieces and soak in water to cover.
- Soak overnight.
- SOUP:.
- Now drain jerky and place in a very large and deep stockpot.
- Add the 5 quarts of water and the cut up hen or chicken.
- Boil for one hour.
- Add the flank steak and pork pieces.
- Add the spare ribs.
- Boil for one more hour.
- Remove fat and froth that will rise to top.
- While meats are cooking, make the "sofrito", peel and cut the "viandas" (vegetables).
- PREPARE SOFRITO:.
- Add all ingredients, except for seasonings, to sauté pan and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
- Then add seasonings and simmer about 5 minutes longer.
- Discard the bay leaves.
- PREPARE THE VEGETABLES:.
- When meats are tender, add the viandas, except ripe plantains and pumpkin.
- Cook about one hour more.
- Add the sofrito and cook another 20-30 minutes.
- Add the ripe plantains and pumpkin and cook 30 more minutes or until pumpkin and plantains are tender.
- Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
- If broth is too thin, thicken by mashing some of the viandas in a little broth and adding it back to the pot.
- Serve in a large soup tureen and give each guest a large, flat rimmed soup bowl.
- You can place lime slices in little dishes along the table.
- The ajiaco tastes really good with freshly squeezed lime juice, but let each guest decide if they would like to squirt their own.
- This is so versatile, it can be served as a stew with rice and a salad of lettuce, tomatoe and cucumbers, or served with just the broth or served as is; meats and vegetables in a deep soup bowl.
- Buen Provecho!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 767, Fat 31.8, SaturatedFat 10.9, Cholesterol 95.9, Sodium 891.2, Carbohydrate 88.5, Fiber 13.9, Sugar 14.2, Protein 39.1
Tips:
- Use a variety of meats for a richer flavor. The traditional Cuban ajiaco includes beef, pork, and chicken, but you can also use lamb, goat, or turkey.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different vegetables. The recipe calls for potatoes, carrots, and green beans, but you can also add other vegetables like corn, peas, or bell peppers.
- Use a flavorful broth. The broth is the base of the ajiaco, so make sure it's packed with flavor. You can use a store-bought broth or make your own by simmering bones, vegetables, and herbs in water.
- Season the ajiaco generously. Cuban cuisine is known for its bold flavors, so don't be shy with the spices. Add a generous amount of garlic, cumin, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Let the ajiaco simmer for a long time. The longer the ajiaco simmers, the more flavorful it will be. Aim to simmer it for at least 2 hours, or even longer if you have the time.
- Serve the ajiaco with your favorite sides. Cuban ajiaco is traditionally served with white rice, but you can also serve it with cornbread, tostones, or fried plantains.
Conclusion:
Cuban ajiaco is a delicious and hearty stew that is perfect for a cold winter day. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give Cuban ajiaco a try. You won't be disappointed!
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