Tag: Latin American

Arroz Amarillo (Instant Pot)

Arroz Amarillo (Instant Pot)

Arroz Amarillo (Instant Pot)

Ecuadorian-style yellow rice takes a fraction of the time when cooking in an Instant Pot. Sauté the onions and garlic, followed by the annatto powder and rice. Pour in the water and set to 4 minutes on the pressure cooker setting. That simple. You can also cook the rice on the stove top if you don’t have a pressure cooker. It will take about 25 minutes from start to finish.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Ecuadorian
Keyword: Ecuadorian, instant pot, Latin American, rice, side dish, vegan
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • instant pot

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 medium white onion finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp annatto powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups long grain white rice washed
  • 2 1/4 cups water

Instructions

  • Turn your Instant Pot to the sauté function on medium heat. Sauté the onions and garlic for 3 minutes.
    Ecuadorian, side dish, rice
  • Add in the annatto powder. Sauté for 1 minute.
    Ecuadorian, side dish, rice
  • Add in the rice. Sauté for 2 minutes. Season with salt.
    Ecuadorian, side dish, rice
  • Pour in the water. Turn the Instant Pot to the pressure cooker function to high heat. Set for 4 minutes. Seal the lid and push start.
    Ecuadorian, side dish, rice
Ecuadorian, side dish, rice
Fluff with a fork and serve immediately.
Langostino Ceviche

Langostino Ceviche

Langostino Ceviche

Langostinos are a crustacean that’s related to the hermit crab, but are more like a cross between a shrimp and a lobster. Sweet in flavor, langostinos make a great ceviche. The problem is finding good quality langostino. Unless you live on an ocean coastline in South America, you are going to have a hard time trying to find fresh whole langostinos. You can find big bags of tail meat at Costco in the frozen section that is good quality. If you have uncooked tail meat, you can simply drop the langostino in boiling water for no more than 30 seconds, then shock in an ice bath to stop the cooking. They cook that quick. If you have cooked tail meat, skip this process. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl and let marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Serve the ceviche with plantain or tortilla chips.
Prep Time10 minutes
Marinating Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Chilean
Keyword: appetizer, Chilean, Latin American, main course, seafood
Servings: 2
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • mandolin slicer

Ingredients

  • 8 oz langostino meat
  • 1/4 medium red onion sliced 1/8” thick on a mandolin
  • 5 limes juiced
  • 3 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 serrano pepper thinly sliced
  • 3 tbsp cilantro chopped
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Placd the sliced red onions in a bowl of salted warm water for 10 minutes.
    Chilean, appetizer, main course, seafood
  • Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Boil the langostino meat for 30 seconds.
    Chilean, appetizer, main course, seafood
  • Scoop out the langostinos and place in ice water to stop the cooking process.
    Chilean, appetizer, main course, seafood
  • Drain the red onions and the langostino meat. Placd in a bowl with the lime juice, garlic, serrano, cilantro, and salt. Let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
    Chilean, appetizer, main course, seafood
  • Place the ceviche in a serving bowl. Mix in the olive oil.
    Chilean, appetizer, main course, seafood
Chilean, appetizer, main course, seafood
Serve the ceviche with plantain or tortilla chips.
Gorditas

Gorditas

Gorditas

Gorditas are a popular Mexican street food. Gorditas are a tortilla that is thicker than a normal. The name actually translates from Spanish to “small fatty”. The dough is similar to a regular tortilla, arepa, or huaraches; except it also contains butter. Instead of pressing to a thin tortilla, it is pressed to about 1/2” thick. They are then fried until they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are then sliced open, much like pita for a gyro, and stuffed with pretty much anything you want. The ones in the picture are stuffed with chicken, avocado, cheese, chipotle peppers, and mixed greens.
Stop eating Taco Bell.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Latin American, main course, Mexican, sandwich
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • tortilla press

Ingredients

  • 1 cup masa harina flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp butter melted
  • 1 cup hot water plus more
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Mix together all of the ingredients. Form into 2 dough balls.
    Mexican, main course, sandwich
  • Place a dough ball in between wax paper on a tortilla press.
    Mexican, main course, sandwich
  • Press down until it is just under 1/2” thick.
    Mexican, main course, sandwich
  • Heat up the cooking oil on a griddle over medium heat. Place the gorditas on the griddle.
    Mexican, main course, sandwich
  • Cook for 3-4 minutes a side.
    Mexican, main course, sandwich
  • Take a sharp knife and slice in half.
    Mexican, main course, sandwich
Mexican, main course, sandwich
Stuff with your favorite meats, cheese, and accompaniments.