Vegetarian « hungry sofia

Archive for the 'Vegetarian' Category

Second Chances

I missed last month’s ñoquis del 29 post due to technical difficulties. I was in the middle of trying this recipe for bread and spinach gnocchi for the first time when a friend called after months of phone tag. Thirty minutes later, we’d finally caught up but I had a too soft mass of spinach flecked dough looking despondent in a mixing bowl. Having mis-measured, I made some adjustments so that they could be shaped but wasn’t hopeful that they’d stand up to boiling water. Continue reading ‘Second Chances’

Humitas Ecuatorianas

Published 18 July 2010 Appetizers , Basic Techniques , Breakfast/Brunch , Ecuador , General , Latin America-General , Light Lunch , Vegetarian 3 Comments
Tags: Tamales, Maria Baez Kijac, The South American Table, humitas, corn, humitas Ecuatorianas, Ecaudorian humitas

I’m a little late in posting this recipe for humitas. Though I read about them weeks ago and made my first batch a couple of days ago, a lot of have-tos (and a few want-tos) have gotten in the the way. Initially, I didn’t recognize them as the tamales I’d grown up with. They were of course and they weren’t. Depending on whether you’re in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela or the Caribbean, they’re known as humitas, humintas, tamales, tamalli, tamalitos verdes, chapanas, bollos, choclotanda, chumales, cachapas, chapanas, chiguiles, envueltos de mazorca, ayacas, hallacas, juanes, pamonhas. The filling can be sweet or savory, made with fresh or dried corn, plantains or potatoes, wrapped corn husks, banana leaves or parchment paper, steamed or baked, served as a snack, side dish, casserole or heavy stew. Continue reading ‘Humitas Ecuatorianas’

A Grilling Alternative

Published 3 July 2010 Appetizers , General , Light Lunch , Mexico , Vegetarian 3 Comments
Tags: steamed corn, Mexican crema, corn with chili, summer recipes, esquite, elote en vaso, Steamed Corn with Crema, Chile, and Cheese, Elote con crema

I was looking for grilling recipes when I heard about a great non-grilling suggestion from my Tio Raul. After giving me instructions on how to make grilled elotes slathered in crema and covered with cheese, he mentioned this version he’d had at the end of a long Mexican wedding where the reception ended with a second meal. Continue reading ‘A Grilling Alternative’

Ritual and Repetition

Published 3 March 2010 Brooklyn , Cuba , Light Lunch , Main Course , Soups/Stews , Vegetarian 2 Comments
Tags: Ad Hoc at Home, Black Bean Soup, Black Beans, Book Court, Cuban black beans, Cuban Orchids, Frijoles Negros, Peter Kaminsky, Sofrito, Thomas Keller

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a talk at my Brooklyn’s Book Court between Thomas Keller and Peter Kaminsky. Though technically about Keller’s latest cookbook, Ad Hoc at Home, it wasn’t strictly about food and cooking. From process and baseball analogies, he got to ritual and repetition and I realized what I’d been missing. Trying to post regularly, I’d become sharkish, cooking in constant motion. I’ve gotten used to being just a few clicks away from French-Italian-Regional-Seasonal-Indian-Mexican-Caribbean. It’s tempting to jump from one to the other, trying everything once then moving on. Having set out to write about traditional food in a new medium, I forget that the best part can be going back, trying again, and making it a little better. I had ritual, but my repetition was lacking. Continue reading ‘Ritual and Repetition’

Frituras de Malanga

Published 19 February 2010 Appetizers , Cuba , Light Lunch , Vegetarian 2 Comments
Tags: A Taste of Old Cuba, Fritters, Frituras, Malanga, Maria Josefa Lluria de O'Higgins, yautia

I bought the malanga by mistake. I’d considered adding it to my garbanzos last week but left it out at the last minute. Not wanting to let it go to waste, I decided to try making fritters instead. I’d stopped by a friends house unexpectedly when he was finishing a batch for salt cod fritters, and it looked so easy and simple that I wanted to try this variation. They’re the kind of last minute side dish that could be whipped up in a few minutes. I looked through a few different recipes that were very similar – malanga, eggs, a little garlic, maybe parsley. Reading A Taste of Old Cuba, I was reminded that frying 0f any kind was always left for last so that the fritters, plantains or croquetas could be served hot and crisp, never greasy . I hadn’t thought about it before but realized that I do associate the crackle and sizzle of frying with a great meal about to be had – a little music drawing everyone to the table. Continue reading ‘Frituras de Malanga’

Tostones on the Fly

Published 20 January 2010 Appetizers , Basic Techniques , Cuba , Fruits/Vegetables , Miami , Vegetarian 6 Comments
Tags: Bunuelos, chatinos, Churros, Deep fryer, Empanadas, maduros, Plantains, tostonera, tostones

Until recently, I rarely fried anything at home. I hated the smell, the splatter, the guilt. When I started writing about Latin American food, I knew I couldn’t avoid it much longer and finally bought a deep fryer. While it produces perfect batches of churros, empanadas and buñuelos, it’s the SUV of fryers requiring such a massive amount of oil that I keep it parked most of the time. It wasn’t practical for smaller, any-night batches of plantains. Maduros I can handle. Overly ripe, they caramelize Continue reading ‘Tostones on the Fly’

Fairest of Them All

Published 10 November 2009 Desserts , Spain , Vegetarian Leave a Comment
Tags: Asturias, Baked Apples, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mario Batali, Pilar Sanchez, Snow White, Spain...A Culinary Road Trip

I really miss apples when they’re gone. I try to follow the seasons, stay local, only buy what’s available at the farmer’s markets but have to admit that I cheat all the time when it comes to apples. Not that I have to these days – the markets are bursting with every variety. My great grandmother, who grew up on a farm in Asturias where they made their own cider, lived to be a very healthy and graceful 103. It could have been the apples or the Estée Lauder but its definitely worth a try. Having found a simple recipe for baked apples, I looked for variations with added butter, custard, almonds, or preserves. They all looked great, and I’ll Continue reading ‘Fairest of Them All’

Ñoquis del 29

Published 29 October 2009 Argentina , Light Lunch , Main Course , Vegetarian , Ñoquis del 29 2 Comments
Tags: Ñoquis del 29, Brown Butter Sauce, Gnocchi, Gourmet Magazine, Noquis, Sage, Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Fried Sage

A few weeks ago, I read about Argentina’s ñoquis del 29, the day of the month to prepare and eat gnocchi and wanted to try it. Unfortunately, I would invariably remember this on the 30th of each month. I was determined not to forget this time and with all the fall vegetables weighing down the markets, I was looking for something in a pumpkin-squash-sweet potato to start a new monthly tradition. I found a recipe for sweet potato gnocchi in October’s Gourmet (still can’t believe it’s gone) issue that was exactly what I wanted. I’d only made gnocchi once before and while they were okay, I had that nagging feeling when you first try a recipe that you just didn’t do it right. To avoid this, I read the recipe a few times, cross referenced similar ones for tips and techniques, gathered up the few necessary ingredients and got ready to make a mess. Continue reading ‘Ñoquis del 29′

Once Upon A Fig

Published 21 September 2009 Cuba , Desserts , Spain , Vegetarian 5 Comments
Tags: Calimyrna Figs, Compota de Higos con Vino Tinto y Especias, Fig Compote with Red Wine and Spices, Figs, Ines Ortega 1080 Recipes, Yaguajay

There was a fig tree in the backyard of the house where my grandfather was born in Yaguajay, Cuba. I know this because he told me the story-often. Having moved with his family to Havana, he found himself in the province years later and decided to knock on the door of his old house. He asked the family living there if they had a fig tree, and they brought him through the house and showed it to him. Only then did he tell them who he was and how he knew it was there. I always wondered why they’d let him go through the house in the first place and pictured their polite confusion while they waited to see Continue reading ‘Once Upon A Fig’

Corn at Last

Published 1 September 2009 Light Lunch , Main Course , Mexico , Vegetarian Leave a Comment
Tags: Corn Tart, Lourdes Castro, Simply Mexican

I’ve wanted to try this corn tart recipe from Lourdes Castro’s Simply Mexican for weeks. Unfortunately, I’d only remember this when I’d just left the market cornless, mid-pool at the gym, or ten minutes before I fell asleep. With summer winding down, I realized it was now or never if I wanted to take advantage of the piles fresh summer corn that were getting smaller each week. Similar to a soufflé but less temperamental, I had it with the achiote chicken roasted in banana leaves. Having read it cover to cover, I should have known the tart would be easy to make. A straightforward collection of recipes, it’s a great introduction to cooking Mexican at home. Continue reading ‘Corn at Last’

hungry sofia

Archive for the 'Vegetarian' Category

Second Chances

Humitas Ecuatorianas

A Grilling Alternative

Ritual and Repetition

Frituras de Malanga

Tostones on the Fly

Fairest of Them All

Ñoquis del 29

Once Upon A Fig

Corn at Last

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