Miami Heat Recipes

CUBAN VIA MIAMI FEAST: MASHED PLANTAINS WITH OH, BABY! GARLIC-TOMATO SHRIMP ON TOP, GRILLED FLANK STEAK WITH LIME AND ONIONS, QUICK RICE WITH BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan, and half of the finely chopped onion. Saute 3 minutes, then season with 2 teaspoons cumin, eyeball the measurement in the palm of your hand, and the thyme leaves. Pour in 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock and raise heat to bring to a boil. Add rice and lower heat to simmer when boil resumes. Cover pot tightly. After 12 minutes, stir in black beans and replace cover. Cook another 6 to 7 minutes. Turn off rice and beans, season with salt and stir to combine then let stand until ready to serve. While rice cooks, make plantains with shrimp and the meat.
• Preheat a grill pan over high heat. The meat can also be prepared in a hot, large cast iron or nonstick skillet if you do not have a grill pan.
• Place flank steak in a shallow dish and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil to coat ¿ about 2 tablespoons. Mix grill seasoning with 1 tablespoon cumin, eyeball the measurement in your palm. Add the zest of 1 lime to the grill seasoning and cumin. Rub the mixture over the steak evenly. Wash up and cut lime into wedges and reserve. Place the steak on hot grill or in hot pan and cook 4 to 5 minutes, turn and cook 3 minutes longer. Remove from heat and let juices redistribute 5 minutes.
• Slit the skins of the plantains from end to end to vent them for microwave cooking. Wrap them each in wax paper, twisting up paper at ends. Microwave the plantains 4 to 5 minutes together or 90 seconds each individually on high.
• While plantains and steak cook, place a medium nonstick skillet on the heat over a high flame. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and the sliced onions. Sear the onions up and heat through, but leave a bite to them. Place on a platter and cover with foil to reserve heat. Return pan to stove and reduce heat to between medium high and medium. Add 2 tablespoons extra, 2 turns of the pan, and the remaining finely chopped onion, the bell pepper, garlic and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and add the zest of 1 lemon. Cook until shrimp are firm and peppers begin to soften, 4 minutes or so. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon, the tomato sauce and parsley. Turn off heat.
• Peel and mash the steaming hot plantains with remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Season the plantains with salt and pile on platter or dinner plates then top with garlicky shrimp and tomatoes. Very thinly slice the cooked steak on an angle, working against the grain. Squeeze lime juice over the meat and arrange over the cooked sliced onions on serving platter. Fluff up rice and black beans a bit, transfer them to a bowl and pass at table.

MIAMI HEAT

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners.
• Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and eggs into the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Whip the ingredients for 8 minutes on high speed. Scrape down the bowl, and add the liquid shortening, milk and passion fruit paste. Mix 8 more minutes at medium speed. Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until golden brown and baked through, about 25 minutes.
• For the vodka syrup: Bring the sugar and 1 ounce water to a gentle simmer. Remove from the heat and stir in the passion fruit vodka. Liberally douse the baked cupcakes with the syrup immediately upon removing the cupcakes from the oven. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• For the mango whipped cream: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a whip attachment, combine the heavy whipping cream and sugar. Whip on high speed until medium peaks form. Add the mango puree, and continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Place in a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip.
• To assemble: Using an apple corer, remove the center core of the baked cupcakes and fill with raspberry marmalade. Pipe mango whipped cream generously on top of the cupcakes. Lightly sprinkle ghost chile salt evenly over the cupcakes. Place 2 pieces passion fruit crispies and a white chocolate wave on top of each cupcake.

MIAMI HEAT MARTINI

Steps:

• Combine vodka, lemon juice, sugar and grenadine in a cocktail shaker, half filled with ice cubes.
• Shake well and pour into glasses.
• Garnish with maraschino cherry and orangel slice.