Karelianhotpotfinnishthreemeatstew Recipes

KARELIAN PASTIES - KARJALAN PIIRAKAT

Steps:

• Rice Filling. Start making filling by bringing water to the boil. Add rice and simmer until water is absorbed in rice. Add milk, bring mixture to the boil and let it cook for a couple of minutes, stirring continually with a wooden spoon. Reduce heat to the minimum - or turn it off completely - cover pan with lid and let mixture simmer for about 30 - 40 minutes, stirring every now and then. Filling is ready, when it has thickened into a velvety, white porridge. Add a lump of butter, mix, cover pan with lid and set aside to cool. After cool, Mix egg(s) or yolk(s) in rice porridge and season with salt. Note: filling mustn't be too runny, it should hold its shape when spread on pie disks.
• Potato Filling: Cook potatoes in water until tender. Reserve liquid. Puree potatoes through food mill and let cool a bit. Add eggs and enough cooking liquid and cream to get smooth mixture. Amount of liquid depends on the quality of potatoes - filling mustn't be too runny. Add a lump of butter and mix. Season with salt, cover and set aside to cool.
• Prepare pasty dough: mix flour and salt, add oil and water little at a time and mix to get a non-sticky dough. Divide dough in 15 - 20 equal pieces and roll them into small balls. With a tapered rolling pin, roll out balls one at a time into very thin disks, about 1 mm thick and 10 - 15 cm in diameter. (You could also try and use a pasta machine for rolling.) Cover pie disks lightly with plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.
• Spread filling (either potato or rice) on centre of pie disks. Raise edges of pie disks towards the centre, pinching with your fingers to make an oval ridge - center will be open.
• Place pasties on baking sheet covered with parchment paper and bake at 255 - 300°C for about 5 - 7 minutes or until pasties start to turn darkish brown. Meanwhile, heat about 150 ml whole milk in saucepan, add big lump of butter and let it melt. Dip hot pasties one at a time into hot milk-butter mixture and place them in large bowl. Cover bowl tightly with parchment paper and towel, and let pasties soften for about half an hour.
• Warm pasties are traditionally served with egg and butter spread. Pasties may also be eaten topped with plain butter, cheese, ham or reindeer roast slices, gravlax, shrimps or whatever you happen to like! Pasties can be reheated in oven or toaster.
• Egg & Butter Spread: Cook eggs in boiling water for 10 minutes. Rinse eggs with cold water and shell them. Using a fork, finely mash warm eggs together with the butter. Season with salt, if necessary. You can use an egg slicer to slice the eggs before mashing. Slice them first crosswise and then lengthwise.

EASY PORK CARNITAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Trim excess fat from pork shoulder and cut pork into 2-inch cubes. Season with salt and pepper on all sides.
• Heat a cast iron braiser over medium-high heat. Pour oil into the pot and brown pork on all sides, about 10 minutes. Cover with the lid.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pork is crispy on the outside and soft, but fully cooked, on the inside, about 1 hour.

KARITHOPITA (GREEK WALNUT CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F; butter and flour a 13 x 9 baking pan.
• In a bowl combine the walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, breadcrumbs, flour, and baking powder.
• In a small glass, dilute the soda with the cognac.
• Beat the egg whites in a bowl until stiff peaks form.
• In a large bowl mixing bowl, cream the butter with the sugar and then add the eggs yolks; mix in the soda with the cognac, and add the milk and the walnut mixture, beating until well combined; fold in 1/4 of the beaten egg whites to lighten batter, then carefully fold in the rest; it is ok if a few white streaks show in the batter; spread into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the cake tests done. Cool cake completely (it is very important that the cake is cooled before pouring on hot syrup because otherwise it will turn mushy).
• For the syrup: Mix all the ingredients together in a medium saucepan; bring it to a boil and boil for 5-7 minutes; remove cinnamon stick and pour hot syrup over cooled cake; let the cake cool completely (from the addition of the hot syrup) before serving.

KARITHOPITA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch square baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup of sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Cut in the shortening until it is in very small pieces, then mix in the milk and egg using an electric mixer on low speed. Mix for about 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the bowl at least once to avoid lumps. Stir in walnuts by hand. Pour into the prepared pan, and spread evenly.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool cake in the pan for about 30 minutes while you prepare the honey syrup.
• In a saucepan, stir together 1/4 cup of sugar and the water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in the honey and lemon juice, and remove from heat.
• Make slashes in the top of the cake in a diamond pattern using a knife. Pour the hot syrup over the top of the cake.

KARI-KARE (MEAT AND VEGETABLE STEW IN PEANUT SAUCE)

Steps:

• Place hocks or oxtail pieces in a large pot.
• Add enough water to cover.
• Bring to boil, lower heat and simmer for 1-1/2 hours or until tender.
• If using achute water, soak 1 tablespoon of achute seeds in water for 30 minutes.
• Squeeze seeds between your thumb and finger tips until the water turns red.
• Strain and set red water aside.
• OR Heat 2 tablespoons oil, saute achute seeds in oil until oil turns red, discard seeds.
• Use oil for sauteing rest of ingredients.
• Heat oil in a skillet and saute garlic and onions.
• Add cooked meat and 2 cups of the broth.
• (Save the rest of the broth for other uses.) Add salt and achute water.
• Simmer for 15 minutes.
• Stir in peanut butter and toasted rice powder, bring back to simmer cook, stirring for 5 minutes.
• Add green beans and eggplant.
• Cook 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
• Correct the seasonings.
• Serve with hot rice and bagoong, plain or sauteed.

CHEF JOHN'S ROOT VEGETABLE GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the vegetables, and cook uncovered for 3 minutes. Drain in a colander, then immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Once the vegetables are cold, drain well, and set aside.
• Cook garlic and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until garlic starts sizzling, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth, heavy cream, thyme, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper; cook until mixture begins to simmer, about 5 minutes.
• Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil and spread vegetables evenly over the oil.
• Pour broth and cream mixture over vegetables and top with half of the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
• Cover baking dish loosely with aluminum foil, place on a baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
• Remove baking dish from the oven and top with remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake uncovered until vegetables are browned, bubbling, and tender, about an additional 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let rest for 20 minutes.