White Bean And Pumpkin Seed Masa Appetizer Recipes

POLKANES

Steps:

• Make the masa into a dough by adding salt and 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water. Stir it well and knead it a bit - it should not be sticky or dry - and then let it rest, covered, for at least 15 minutes. Mix together all the remaining ingredients except the oil.
• Flatten about 1/8 of the dough on your hand, then fill it with a bit of the stuffing. The dough will be flexible, so you'll be able to make an egg-shaped dumpling by enclosing some of the filling within. (Even if the dumpling is imperfect - that is, with some of the filling escaping - it'll be fine. Just shape it nicely and don't worry about beans or bits of onion on the surface.) Repeat with the rest of the dough and the filling.
• Fry in about 1/4 inch of oil or lard, turning as needed to brown beautifully. Serve hot or at room temperature with tomato-pumpkinseed salsa (recipe here).

WHITE BEAN AND PUMPKIN SEED MASA APPETIZER

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the tomatillo salsa. Cover and reserve. Then prepare the tortilla dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a dry skillet, toast the pumpkin seeds until they start to brown and pop in the pan. Transfer to a plate. 2. When the pumpkin seeds are cool, grind them coarsely in a food processor and put in a bowl. Add the beans, chives, salt, and pepper. Mix well. The mixture will be thick and hold its shape on a spoon. Reserve. 3. Line a tray with plastic wrap. Prepare the tortilla dough to make 8 tortillas. Press 1 (4 1/2-inch) tortilla. Peel off the top piece of plastic, and lay the tortilla on a flat work surface with the bottom piece of plastic still attached. Put about 1 tablespoon of the reserved bean filling on one half of the tortilla. Carefully fold the tortilla over, using the plastic as a guide, and press the edges together to form a crescent. Unfold the piece of plastic. Seal the edges of the filled crescent. Place on the tray. Repeat, pressing, filling, and folding the tortillas until all are finished. 4. In a deep skillet, pour oil to a depth of about 2 inches and heat until the oil shimmers. Fry the filled tortillas 1 or 2 at a time, until deep golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot, topped with the salsa. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

WHITE BEAN AND SAUSAGE STEW IN PUMPKIN BOWLS

Steps:

• Put beans into a medium bowl; cover with cold water by 2 inches. Refrigerate 8 hours (up to overnight). Drain beans and transfer to a large stockpot.
• Make bouquet garni: Place bay leaves, thyme sprigs, and the peppercorns on a square of cheesecloth; tie into a bundle with kitchen twine. Add stock, onion, and bouquet garni to pot with beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer until beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Drain beans, reserving cooking liquid. Discard bouquet garni.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a keyhole saw, cut out tops of pumpkins, and reserve. Remove seeds. Rub inside of each pumpkin with the oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place pumpkins and tops right side up on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake 25 minutes. Remove tops; let cool completely on a wire rack, and reserve for garnish. Turn pumpkins upside down, and bake until flesh is tender but firm, about 25 minutes more. Let cool completely on rack.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add sausage. Cook, stirring, until sausage is browned, about 7 minutes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the pearl onions, potatoes, carrots, leeks, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened, about 12 minutes. Stir in mushrooms and peas. Stir in flour, and cook 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add milk; simmer 5 minutes. Stir in beans, reserved cooking liquid, sage, thyme leaves, and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer; cook until thick, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Divide the stew among pumpkin shells. Place on baking sheets, and bake until pumpkins are soft, about 15 minutes. Garnish with tops.

POTATO MASA CAKES

Steps:

• 1. In a small saucepan, cook the potato in salted water to cover until very tender, about 8 minutes. Drain and mash potato with the butter while still hot. Cool until lukewarm. 2. In a mixing bowl, using clean hands, mix the masa harina, salt, and water together to make a soft dough. If too dry, add additional water 1 to 2 teaspoons at a time until the dough is moist and soft, but not sticky. Add the mashed potato and work it into the masa with your hands. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces and form into balls. 3. Put 1 ball between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and gently press and pat lightly with your hands to make a 4-inch round cake about 1/3-inch thick. 4. Preheat the oven to 200°. In an 8-inch nonstick skillet, heat about 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Remove the plastic and fry the cake until golden brown and crisp on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Put on a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while shaping and frying the remaining cakes. Serve hot. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.