Mexican Meatballs With Red Chile Tomato Sauce And Queso Fresco Recipes

MEXICAN MEATBALLS WITH RED CHILE TOMATO SAUCE AND QUESO FRESCO

Steps:

• For the red chile tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a 12-inch high-sided saute pan over high heat. Cook the onions and jalapenos until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, and then stir in the chili powder and coriander and cook 1 minute. Pour in 1 cup water and cook until reduced. Mix in the chipotles and tomatoes and bring a boil, and then reduce to a simmer and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper and honey, if using. Whisk in the crema, followed by the cilantro, and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• For the mexican meatballs: Grind the cubed meats using a hand-operated meat grinder fit with a medium dye. Combine the ground meats with the garlic and egg in a large bowl, and then add in 1/4 cup of the cilantro, the cheese, New Mexico chili powder, Mexican oregano, cumin and cayenne pepper. Gently mix together until combined. Begin mixing in the breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds together. Mix in some salt and black pepper, and form the meat into 2-inch balls. Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Cook the meatballs, turning occasionally, until brown all over, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock and cook until the liquid is mostly reduced and the meatballs are just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes longer. Transfer to a serving platter and top with the Red Chile Tomato Sauce, queso fresco and additional cilantro leaves.

QUESO FRESCO QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Lay 2 tortillas on the work surface. Distribute the cheese evenly between the 2 tortillas. Arrange the sliced tomatoes over the cheese. Sprinkle the scallions and cilantro on top of the tomatoes. Place the remaining tortillas on top of each of the filled tortillas.
• Coat the interior of a large saute pan with clarified butter. Gently place 1 quesadilla in the pan. Brush the top with clarified butter. Cook over medium heat until the underside is golden brown. Using 2 spatulas, flip the quesadilla. Cook until golden brown. Cut into 6 pieces. Serve with Tomatillo Salsa.
• Preheat the broiler. Place the tomatillos on a baking sheet and broil until they begin to blacken. When the tomatillos are cool, place them in a blender with the jalapenos, lime juice, sugar and salt. Puree. Add to remaining ingredients and mix well.

MEXICAN MEATBALLS IN CHIPOTLE CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• For the meatballs, combine all meatball ingredients in a large bowl, mix with hands. Refrigerate and cover for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile for the sauce, if using fresh tomatoes, place on a cooking sheet and broil, turning once or twice until the skins bister and blacken, about 10 minutes. Peel the skin off tomatoes and place the peeled (or canned tomatoes) in to a blender or food processor.
• Put the garlic and onion into a hot, dry skillet and cook, turning occasionally, over medium heat, until the garlic is lightly browned and the onion is lightly scorched,.
• Add to the blender along with 1/2 cup broth, chipotles to taste (start with 1), cinnamon, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth, Taste, and add more chipotles if desired.
• Heat oil in a large , heavy and deep skillet over medium heat until quite hot but not smoking. Add the tomato mixture and "fry" until it thikckens (it will splatter), about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the remaning 2 cups broth and heat to a boil. Stir in mint. Taste again, adjust salt and pepper, and add some adobo from the canned chilies if not spicy enough.
• Shape the meat mixture into meatballs (about 1 inch diameter), the mixture should make 60 meatballs. Add the meatballs to the sauce, Shake the pan once or twice in the first 5 minutes of cooking to prevent sticking. Simmer slowly until the meatballs are done, about 30 minutes.