Funche Puerto Rican Polenta Recipe 45

FUNCHE (PUERTO RICAN POLENTA) RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• 1. In a medium sauce pan, heat oil at medium high until it shimmers. 2. Add onions, garlic, green peppers, cilantro, cumin, oregano and black pepper and cook until the onions are translucent, about 2-3 minutes. 3. Add the cornmeal and stir until it's combined with the veggies. 4. Add the 2 cups of water and the bouillon cube. 5. Keep stirring until most of the water is absorbed and it turns into a thick porridge, (3-4 minutes). 6. Take off the heat, remove the cilantro sprigs, and stir in the 2 tablespoons of butter.

BACALAO A LA VIZCAINA (BASQUE STYLE CODFISH STEW)

Steps:

• Soak the salted cod in about 2 quarts of water, changing the water 3 times over the course of 8 hours. Drain and cut the fish into bite-size pieces.
• Layer the half of each ingredient in the following order: potatoes, cod fish, onions, hard-boiled eggs, capers, garlic, olives, roasted red peppers, and raisins. Place the bay leaf on top, then pour half the tomato sauce and half the olive oil. Repeat with the remaining ingredients in the same order. Pour the water and white wine on top. Do not stir.
• Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.

MAMA'S PUERTO RICAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Sprinkle chicken with cumin, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. In a shallow bowl, mix bread crumbs with remaining garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place flour and eggs in separate shallow bowls. Dip chicken pieces in flour to coat all sides; shake off excess. Dip in eggs, then in crumb mixture, patting to help coating adhere., In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Stir in butter. Add chicken in batches; cook until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side. Place chicken on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, until chicken is no longer pink, 30-35 minutes.

QUESITOS (PUERTO RICAN CHEESE-STUFFED PUFF PASTRY)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut cream cheese into 1/4-inch thick slices; place cut side-down on a board and cut into logs.
• Place 1 cup sugar into a small bowl; place cream cheese logs into sugar and roll to coat. Set aside.
• Cut each puff pastry sheet evenly into 3 to 4 squares, no bigger than 5 to 6 inches each. Place 1 square in front of you with 1 corner pointing down. Place 1 sugar-covered cheese log about 1/3 up from the bottom corner; proceed to fold pastry around it in the same manner as an egg roll, with the bottom corner over cheese, side corners towards the center, then roll from bottom, up. Brush some water in the last corner to seal roll.
• Place quesito on the prepared pan, seam-side down. Repeat with all squares, making sure there is at least 1-inch between them.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Brush tops with corn syrup.