Seafood

Fish in Green Sauce

Posted on by Pati Jinich
fish in green sauce recipe
Print Recipe
4.50 from 6 votes

Fish in Green Sauce

Fish in Green Sauce recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 5, Episode 5 “Campeche: Tale of a Pirate City”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: bitter orange juice, cilantro, fish, fish broth, green sauce, pati's mexican table, snook
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the Fish:

  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 8-ounce snook filets skins removed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Sauce:

Instructions

  • In a blender, puree cilantro, water, lime juice, garlic, salt and pepper until smooth. Place fish on a rimmed plate and pour marinade over, turning to coat. Let sit 5 minutes.
  • To prepare the sauce, in a blender, puree olive oil, bitter orange juice, cilantro, parsley, chives, salt and a pinch of pepper until smooth. Pour into a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat. When sauce starts to boil, add broth and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Sear fish filets until golden and cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to plates and spoon over warm green sauce to serve.

Notes

Pescado en Salsa Verde, recipe courtesy of La Pigua

Banana Leaf Wrapped Whole Fish

Posted on by Pati Jinich
banana leaf wrapped whole fish
Print Recipe
4.63 from 8 votes

Banana Leaf Wrapped Whole Fish

Banana Leaf Wrapped Whole Fish recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 5, Episode 3 “Celestún: Coastal Cooking”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: banana leaves, bitter orange juice, cilantro, epazote, grill recipes, grilling, mint, red snapper, snook
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves
  • 1/4 cup bitter orange juice or its substitute
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or coarse salt plus more to season the fish
  • 6 Banana leaves stems removed
  • 1 whole 3-pound fish, red snapper or snook, scaled and gutted
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup dried oregano leaves
  • 2 cups packed fresh mint leaves
  • 1 cup fresh epazote leaves

Instructions

  • Preheat a grill or grill pan on medium-high heat.
  • To make the "mojo," place the garlic, cilantro leaves, bitter orange juice, olive oil and salt in a molcajete and mash into a paste. Alternatively, you may add these ingredients to a food processor or blender and process until fully combined but still chunky.
  • To make a wrap for the fish, arrange the banana leaves overlapping on a work surface. Season the fish all over with salt and pepper, and place in the center of the leaves. Pour the "mojo" over both sides of the fish, then top with the oregano, mint and epazote. Fold the banana leaves over fish to cover and tie or tuck leaves around fish to enclose.
  • Place the fish on the grill and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, then turn and continue to cook for another 15 to 20 minutes until the fish is cooked through. To serve, unfold leaves and filet the fish.

Notes

Pescado Envuelto en Hoja de Plátano, recipe courtesy of Pedro Evia

Seafood Broth

Posted on by Pati Jinich
broth or caldo
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Seafood Broth

Seafood Broth recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 5, Episode 3 “Celestún: Coastal Cooking”
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: fish broth, pati's mexican table, seafood broth
Servings: 5 to 6 cups
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 to 2 pounds fish heads, bones, and tails preferably from fresh white-fleshed fish
  • Shrimp shells and tails optional
  • 1 white onion peeled and halved
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled
  • 2 to 3 carrots peeled and halved
  • 3 celery stalks rinsed and halved
  • 1 ripe tomato
  • 5 to 6 sprigs fresh parsley or cliantro
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 5 black peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste

Instructions

  • Place all of the ingredients in a large, heavy soup pot. Fill with enough cold water to cover by at least 2 inches.
  • Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and skim away any foam. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover partially, and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.
  • Remove from heat and strain through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth-lined colander.

Notes

Caldo de Mariscos

Pan de Cazón

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Pan De Cason
Print Recipe
4.41 from 5 votes

Pan de Cazón

Pan de Cazón recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 5, Episode 1 “Chachi’s Champotón Kitchen”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: bitter orange juice, black beans, cazon, Cod, corn tortillas, dogfish, epazote, habanero, mahi mahi, pati's mexican table, swordfish, Yucatán Peninsula
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds cazon or dogfish fillets cut into 2-inch pieces (may substitute cod, swordfish or mahi mahi)
  • 3 sprigs fresh epazote
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 6 tablespoons lard divided, may substitute vegetable oil
  • 2 whole white onions 1 chopped and 1 havled and sliced thin
  • 1 cup fresh epazote leaves roughly chopped, plus another 1/4 cup for tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons bitter orange juice or its substitute
  • 8 large tomatoes chopped
  • 16 corn tortillas warmed
  • 2 cups black bean puree warmed
  • 4 habanero chiles roasted or charred
  • 1 ripe avocado pitted and sliced

Instructions

  • To prepare the cazon filling, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the fish, epazote sprigs and salt. Simmer on low until the fish is cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain the fish and set aside to cool slightly, then remove the skin and shred. Set aside.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons of the lard in a large sauté pan and cook the chopped onion and chopped epazote leaves until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the shredded fish and the remaining 3 tablespoons of lard, and cover and cook until warmed through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the bitter orange juice.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the tomato sauce. In a blender, puree 2 cups of the chopped tomatoes. Transfer the puree to a medium pot set over medium-high heat and add the remaining chopped tomatoes, 3 tablespoons of lard, thinly sliced onion, 1/4 cup chopped epazote leaves and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until the onions and tomatoes are soft, about 15-20 minutes.
  • To assemble, dip a tortilla into the black bean puree and coat lightly on both sides. Place in the center of a plate. Top with about 2 tablespoons of the cazon filling, then repeat the process of dipping a tortilla and topping with the cazon filling two more times for a total of 3 layers. ingredients.
  • Coat a fourth tortilla on one side only lightly with bean puree, and place bean-side down on the top of the stack. Ladle about 1 1/2 cups of the tomato sauce over the top. Top with a charred habanero, and garnish with avocado slices on the side. Repeat the process 3 more times for 4 servings.
  • NOTE: The most authentic version of this recipe uses roasted cazón or dog fish. However, substitutes work wonderful, as well.

Notes

Pan de Cazón, recipe Courtesy of Chachi

To Die For Ceviche

Posted on by Pati Jinich

My present career began with ceviche.

After years as an academic, with two degrees and many policy research papers under my belt, with a husband, two kids and one on the way, I resigned from a prestigious think tank to walk a completely uncharted path.

I had been professionally frustrated for over a year and just continued to get involved in more projects in the office thinking I just had to work harder.

What triggered my career change was this: I had been asked to write a research paper comparing the democratic transitions of Mexico and Peru. Yet something was really off with me. Instead of doing my research on the political processes and crisis resolution tactics, I felt myself pulled to research the differences between Mexican and Peruvian ceviche.

Both countries boast to have the best ceviches, and both countries insist that they came up with the dish. I wondered about the true origins of ceviche in both countries. It has been recorded that the people of both countries had been eating raw fish since pre-Hispanic times…

But who got citrus first? How did their people come to use citrus to “cook” the fish, since citrus is native to neither country? What about chiles? Why is the spelling “ceviche” in one country and “cebiche” in the other, and what is the meaning and origin of the word? Why do Mexicans marinate their fish for a while, whereas Peruvians serve the citrus-dressed fish right away?

All I wanted to do was research, write about, and cook Mexican food – the food I missed so much. I knew it was time to pursue my passion in a more serious way.

My dad was perplexed about this change of direction. “After so many years of study, Pati, you are going into a kitchen to rinse pots and pans?”

Now I give him a hard time and respond, “…and to make the best ever ceviches.”

I have made many a ceviche over the course of the more than a decade since I switched careers. And I’ve liked each and every one.

But this one is truly special. And it is my very favorite one.

Red Snapper Ceviche with Mango, Avocado and Tomatillo
Print Recipe
4.50 from 6 votes

To Die For Ceviche

I have made many a ceviche over the course of the more than a decade since I switched careers. And I’ve liked each and every one. But this one is truly special. And it is my very favorite one.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Avocado, cacao nibs, Ceviche, flounder, grouper, jalapeno, mango, pati's mexican table, red snapper, rock fish, sole, tomatillos, tortilla chips, trout
Servings: 2 to 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound red snapper filet (or another mild flavored fish like grouper, trout, flounder, sole or rock fish), cut in small (about 1/2 inch) dice
  • 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 jalapeno chile stemmed and coarsely chopped, or to taste, seeding optional
  • 1/2 cup celery sliced
  • 1/2 cup red onion halved and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves and upper part of stems, chopped
  • 1 cup (about 1 large) ripe mango diced
  • 1 cup (about 1 large) ripe avocado diced
  • 1/3 cup (about 2) tomatillos husked and scrubbed, and diced
  • 2 tablespoons cacao nibs optional
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse salt or to taste
  • Tortilla chips or tostadas

Instructions

  • Combine the lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, jalapeño, celery, 1/4 cup of the sliced red onion, 1/4 cup of the chopped cilantro, and the salt in a blender and puree until completely smooth.
  • Place the fish in a bowl, add the pureed mixture, and toss well. Cover and let marinate for 20 to 25 minutes outside the refrigerator before serving, stirring from time to time. If marinating for more than 25 minutes, cover and refrigerate.
  • When ready to serve, add the rest of the onion and cilantro, the mango, avocado, tomatillo and cacao nibs if using. Toss well, taste for salt and add more as needed. Serve with tortilla chips (totopos) or tostadas.

Notes

Ceviche Que Te Mueres

Shrimp, Mango, and Avocado Rolls in Mexican Today!

Posted on by Pati Jinich

This recipe and its accompanying photo make me so very happy, and I think that they will make you so very happy, too. Here’s why in case you are in need of a list of reasons to make such a beautiful looking and yummy thing.

  1. These shrimp rolls are gorgeous! And if I may say, this is a gorgeous photo too, isn’t it? It is bright and bold and colorful, and it has so much life and texture. Of course, I did not take the photo. Credit goes to Ellen Silverman, who I was lucky to work with on my upcoming cookbook Mexican Today which is out April 12th, that is: in a matter of hours!
  2. These rolls are so delicious it is almost ridiculous! Wait until you bite into one! Tender shrimp gets quickly seared in the rendered fat from bacon, until browned outside yet still plump and juicy inside. Then, that crisp and meaty bacon is broken into pieces and mixed with diced smooth avocados and tangy mangoes in a super tasty vinaigrette. Grab a soft bun or a hard roll, open it up, add the shrimp, generously spoon on some of that bacon, avocado, mango mix and you are set for one after another bite of bold flavors. Plus, brunch, lunch or dinner is ready in 15 minutes.
  3. These rolls help break misconceptions about what Mexican food is. They showcase the evolution of Mexican cuisine north and south of the border and the beautiful place where we stand today. Mexican cuisine has such strong pillars to stand on that it welcomes playful uses of its ingredients.
  4. I am taking these rolls on book tour! I will be making these rolls, and many other new recipes from my new book, and giving you all a taste in some of the 20+ cities I am headed to for the tour!  I hope you will be able to come meet me at some of these events! There are still some cities and events in the works, so please check back to see what cities have been added.

Mexican Today is a book three years in the making that I am so proud to share with you. It is a book that I am dying for you to see, to read and to cook from. I was so excited about it as I was working on it that I over delivered the number of recipes to my editor! I cannot wait to hear what you think of the tacos, enchiladas, tortas, soups, stews, salads, casseroles, sides, desserts and drinks. There are many traditional recipes and many new takes that are part of this new collection, which is fun and super accessible too.

Every single one of the recipes is a favorite at home, and I can’t wait for them to be part of yours. Please do tag #MexicanToday on social media, so I can connect with you and see what you are whipping up in your kitchen either from my book or from your own Mexican cooking inspiration.

Warmest, always,

Pati

shrimp mango and avocado rolls
Print Recipe
4.67 from 3 votes

Shrimp, Mango, and Avocado Rolls

Tender shrimp gets quickly seared in the rendered fat from bacon, until browned outside yet still plump and juicy inside. Then, that crisp and meaty bacon is broken into pieces and mixed with diced smooth avocados and tangy mangoes in a super tasty vinaigrette. Grab a soft bun or a hard roll, open it up, add the shrimp, generously spoon on some of that bacon, avocado, mango mix and you are set for one after another bite of bold flavors.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Avocado, bacon, mango, Roll, Sandwich, Shrimp, Torta
Servings: 6 rolls
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 12 bacon slices
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped shallot
  • 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon, sherry vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • Kosher or sea salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 large ripe Mexican avocados halved, pitted, flesh scooped out and diced
  • 2 ripe Champagne or Kent mangoes peeled, sliced off the pits, and diced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh or thawed frozen medium shrimp shells and tails removed
  • 6 hot dog buns or soft rolls

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until browned and crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate, leaving the fat in the skillet, and set aside.
  • Return the pan with the fat to medium heat, add the shallot and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, until fragrant, tender, and just beginning to brown. Scrape the garlic and shallot into a medium heatproof bowl, along with the fat. Don’t wash the pan; just set it aside.
  • To prepare the vinaigrette: Add the vinegar, honey, mustard, ½ tea-spoon salt, and pepper to taste to the bowl with the garlic and shallot. Whisk or mix with a fork until well emulsified. Add the avocados and mangoes, gently toss together, and set aside.
  • Heat the oil and butter over high heat in the skillet you used for the bacon until the oil is hot but not smoking and the butter has begun to foam. Add the shrimp, without crowding the pan (cook them in two batches if necessary). Season with ½ teaspoon salt and pepper to taste, and cook, flipping them over once, until seared and browned, no more than 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
  • Open the buns or rolls, trying not to separate the tops from the bot-toms, and arrange a layer of cooked shrimp on the bottom of each one. Top the shrimp with the avocado and mango mix and crown each with a couple of slices of bacon. Close the sandwiches and serve.

Notes

Rollos de Camarones al Ajillo, Mango, y Aguacate

Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Salad with Vanilla and Chile de Arbol Vinaigrette

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Salad with Vanilla and Chile de Arbol Vinaigrette

Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Salad with Vanilla and Chile de Arbol Vinaigrette recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 1, Episode 12 “Vanilla”
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: allspice, chiles de arbol, mexican vanilla, pati's mexican table, pineapple, red onion, red wine vinegar, Shrimp
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the vinaigrette:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove peeled
  • 1/2 vanilla bean chopped, or about a 2″ piece
  • 1 to 2 chiles de arbol stemmed and chopped
  • 1/4 cup safflower or corn oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/8 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 tsp kosher or sea salt or more to taste
  • ground black pepper optional
  • 1/4 tsp sugar or more to taste

For the salad:

  • 4 fresh pineapple slices peeled, about 1/2″ thick
  • Safflower or corn oil to brush the pan or grill
  • 1 lb large or extra large shrimp, fresh or thawed from frozen, rinsed, peeled, deveined
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp safflower or corn oil
  • Kosher or sea salt to taste
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • 12 oz mixed spring salad or your choice of mixed baby lettuces
  • 1/2 cup red onion slivered

Instructions

To make the vinaigrette:

  • Heat the olive oil in a saucepan set over medium heat, until hot but not smoking. Add garlic clove, vanilla bean and chiles, and cook about 15 seconds, stirring constantly. Be careful not to let them burn, remove the pan from the heat and pour its contents into a mixing bowl to cool.
  • Combine the safflower oil, red wine vinegar, salt pepper, allspice and sugar into the same bowl. Pour all the mix in the blender, puree until smooth, and reserve. The vinaigrette will be textured as the vanilla bean will not let itself be entirely pureed. But that makes it even more delicious! If you will not use the vinaigrette in the next couple of hours, cover it and refrigerate. It will keep for a week, but re-emulsify or thoroughly mix, before using.

To grill the pineapple:

  • Heat a grill pan, a grill or nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot and lightly coat with safflower or corn oil. Place the pineapple slices and cook for about 4 minutes per side until they are slightly charred. Remove from heat. Once they are cool enough to handle, cut in half, remove the core and cut into strips along the grain. Reserve.

To make the shrimp:

  • Sprinkle the shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat the butter and oil in a saute pan over high heat. Once the butter sizzles, add the shrimp, you may need to do it in batches so they they don’t overlap, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side. They should have plumped up and changed color on both sides, but be careful not to overcook them. Remove and reserve.

To assemble the salad:

  • Place the greens in a salad bowl. Drizzle some of the vinaigrette and toss, so that they are lightly coated but not soaked. Assemble on individual salad plates. Divide the shrimp, pineapple and red onion on top of each plate. You may drizzle a bit more of the vinaigrette on top and serve.

Notes

Ensalada de Camarón y Piña a la Parrilla con Vinagreta de Chile de Arbol y Vainilla 
 

Adobo Fish Tacos with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Posted on by Pati Jinich
adobo fish tacos with grilled pineapple salsa
Print Recipe
4.84 from 6 votes

Adobo Fish Tacos with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Adobo Fish Tacos with Grilled Pineapple Salsa recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 12 “Tacos, Tacos, Tacos”
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: ancho chiles, apple cider vinegar, cilantro, corn tortillas, fish, jalapeno, onion, pati's mexican table, pineapple, red snapper, rockfish, sea bass, serrano chiles, snook, tacos, Tilapia
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 oz or 3 ancho chiles rinsed, stemmed and seeded
  • 1/2 cup white onion coarsely-chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 pound of mild and firm fish fillets like snapper striped bass, rock fish, snook or tilapia
  • 4 pineapple slices
  • 1 jalapeño or serrano chile chopped, or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • To taste kosher or coarse sea salt
  • corn tortillas

Instructions

To make the Adobo Sauce:

  • Cover the chiles with boiling hot water and let them soak for 10 minutes. Pace the chiles along with 1/2 cup of soaking liquid, onion, garlic, oregano, vinegar, sugar and salt in the blender. Purée until smooth.
  • In a saucepan set over medium heat, heat the oil. Once hot, pour the sauce into the oil; cover the saucepan, leaving it slightly open, and let the sauce season and thicken for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring here and there. Remove from the heat.

To make the Fish:

  • Baste the fish fillets with the adobo sauce; you may refrigerate them and let them marinate for up to 24 hours.
  • In a large skillet coated with oil and set over medium-high heat, cook the fish for about 3 to 4 minutes per side.

To make the Salsa:

  • Heat a grill pan, a grill or a nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot and lightly coat with safflower or corn oil. Cook the pineapple slices for about 4 minutes per side until they are slightly charred. Remove from the heat, once cool enough to handle cut into bite-size chunks. Place in a mixing bowl and toss with the cilantro, chile, lime juice, oil and salt to taste.

To assemble Tacos:

  • Place the warm tortillas, the pineapple salsa and the fish on the table, then assemble the tacos!

Notes

Tacos de Pescado Adobado con Salsa de Piña

Hibiscus and Pecan Mole

Posted on by Pati Jinich
hibiscus and pecan mole
Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Hibiscus and Pecan Mole

Hibiscus and Pecan Mole recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 9 “Xochimilco: Cooking with Flowers”
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: ancho chiles, chicken broth, cinnamon, corn tortillas, hibiscus, jamaica, Mole, pasilla, pati's mexican table, pecans, piloncillo, Plantains, prunes
Servings: 10 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 9 oz ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 6 oz pasilla chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 6 cups boiling water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil or shortening
  • 1 cup white onion chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves chopped
  • 2 cups dried hibiscus flowers
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 1 cup pitted prunes
  • 1 1/4 cup ripe plantain peeled and sliced
  • 3 Corn tortillas cut into squares
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup grated or chopped piloncillo or brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 5 cloves whole
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Toasted sesame seeds to decorate

Instructions

  • Preheat a comal, cast iron pan or nonstick skillet over low-medium heat. Toast chiles gently for about 10 seconds per side, being careful not to let them burn. Place them in a mixing bowl, cover them with boiling hot water and let them soak for 20 to 30 minutes until rehydrated, place chiles and water in batches in the food processor or blender and puree until smooth.
  • In a large, extended sauté pan, add oil and set over medium-high heat until hot, 1 or 2 minutes. Add onion and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, until the onion starts to soften. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in the hibiscus flowers and cook for 3 to 4 minutes; until lightly crunchy.
  • Add the tortillas, let them cook for 1 minute. Stir in the pecans, and cook for 1 minute. Add the plantains and prunes, stir and let them start to cook and brown, for about 2 to 3 minutes. Each time you add a new ingredient, let it start to cook and season, before adding the next.
  • Stir in the puréed chiles along with the chicken broth.
  • Once the whole mixture starts simmering, add the piloncillo, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook for 20 to 25 minutes. In batches, purée the mixture in the blender or food processor until smooth. Serve over the cooked meat, poultry or seafood of your choice.

Notes

Mole de Jamaica y Nuez, adapted from Patricia Quintana

Tequila, Mexican Cream and Chipotle Shrimp

Posted on by Pati Jinich
tequila shrimp
Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Tequila, Mexican Cream and Chipotle Shrimp

Tequila, Mexican Cream and Chipotle Shrimp recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 8 “Tequila!”
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Total Time11 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chipotles in adobo, mexican crema, pati's mexican table, Shrimp, tequila
Servings: 3 to 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 clove garlic finely minced
  • 1/4 cup Tequila Reposado
  • 1/4 cup Mexican cream Latin style cream, crème fraiche or heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon chipotle chiles in adobo sauce or to taste
  • 1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce optional, seeded and minced
  • 10 chives sliced

Instructions

  • Peel and devein the shrimp. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • In a large and heavy sauté pan set over medium-high heat, let the butter melt. Once it starts to sizzle, add the garlic; stir and cook for 10 to 15 seconds, until it becomes fragrant.
  • Incorporate the shrimp, making sure that the pan is not overcrowded, and let them brown on one side and then the other, for about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Don’t let them overcook; they should be browned on the outside but barely cooked through.
  • Add the tequila, and slightly tilt the pan over the flame to ignite it. Let it cook until the flames disappear. Stir in the cream and the chipotle sauce (and the seeded minced chile if using).
  • Serve immediately, with the chives sprinkled on top.

Notes

Camarones al Tequila

Snapper in a Poblano Chile Sauce

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Pati Jinich Snapper in Poblano Chile Sauce
Print Recipe
4.86 from 7 votes

Snapper in a Poblano Chile Sauce

Snapper in a Poblano Chile Sauce recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 3 “A French Twist on Mexico”
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cheese, fish, grouper, lime, mahi mahi, mexican crema, nutmeg, pati's mexican table, poblanos, red snapper, sea bass, Tilapia
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 6 6-ounce red snapper filets or another mild-flavored fish like sea bass, grouper, tilapia or mahi-mahi
  • 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • Juice of 1 lime about 2-3 tablespoons
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • 1 cup Mexican cream or Latin style cream, crème fraiche or heavy cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 poblano chiles
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg grated
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (Monterey Jack, Muenster, or Mozzarella)

Instructions

  • Rinse the fish filets under a thin stream of cold water, drain and pat dry. Place in a container, drizzle with the lime juice, garlic, salt and black pepper. Let it marinate anywhere from 15 minutes up to two hours in the refrigerator.
  • Slice the poblanos in half, removing the stem, seeds and veins. Roughly chop and place in the blender along with the milk, purée until smooth.
  • In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the flour to make a roux. It should be nice and foamy. Cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chile purée, Mexican cream and nutmeg and cook on low heat until it thickens, about 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter the bottom of baking dish and place the marinated fish there, without extra marinade. Cover generously with the poblano sauce. If using cheese, sprinkle it on top.
  • Bake just until the fish is cooked and flakes with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the filets.

Notes

Pescado con Salsa de Chile Poblano

Salmon, Bacon and Avocado Sandwich

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Salmon Bacon and Avocado Sandwich
Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Salmon, Bacon and Avocado Sandwich

Salmon, Bacon and Avocado Sandwich recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 4, Episode 9 “Sami’s Big Day”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Avocado, bacon, chipotles in adobo, fish, honey, lime, maple syrup, mustard, pati's mexican table, salmon, Sandwich
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice divided
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil divided, plus more to grease dish
  • 1/4 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon agave or maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper divided, or to taste
  • 1/4 red onion slivered or thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons adobo sauce from chipotle chiles in adobo
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 3 garlic cloves pressed or finely chopped
  • 3 8-ounce salmon fillets
  • 12 slices bacon
  • 3 cups baby greens
  • 12 slices of whole-wheat sandwich bread
  • 1 large ripe Mexican avocado halved, pitted, meat scooped out and sliced

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, 3 tablespoons olive oil, Dijon mustard, agave syrup, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Incorporate the onion, mix, and let it sit so it will pickle or macerate while the rest of the ingredients are prepared.
  • In another medium mixing bowl, combine the adobo sauce from chipotle chiles in adobo, 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, cumin, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until well mixed. Taste for salt and add more if need be.
  • Brush a baking dish with olive oil, place the salmon on it, and pour the chipotle sauce over it, spreading it throughout. Bake anywhere from 12 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness of the fish, until the salmon is cooked through, yet still very moist. Remove from the oven and cut into 2 equal pieces.
  • On a large skillet or grill pan set over medium heat, cook the bacon for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until crisp and browned. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel.
  • When ready to make the sandwiches, mix the vinaigrette with the red onion and incorporate the baby greens, toss well. Toast the bread. On each bottom slice, place a cooked salmon filet, top with a couple bacon slices broken in half, a serving of a baby greens, 2 to 3 avocado slices, and the top bread layer to finish making the sandwich.

Notes

Sandwich de Salmón, Tocino y Aguacate

Crab Cakes with Jalapeño Aioli

Posted on by Pati Jinich
jalapeno crab cakes
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4.84 from 6 votes

Crab Cakes with Jalapeño Aioli

Crab Cakes with Jalapeño Aioli recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 4, Episode 6 “Mexamericana”
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Total Time21 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: aioli, cilantro, crab, jalapeno, lime, pati's mexican table, serrano chiles
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the crab cakes:

  • 1 jalapeño or serrano chile seeded and finely chopped, or to taste
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves and upper part of stems
  • 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons mayonnaise
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • 1 pound jumbo lump crab meat cartilage removed and meat broken into smaller pieces with your hands
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the jalapeño aioli:

  • 1 jalapeño or serrano chile seeded optional, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 cup mayonnaise store bought or homemade
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

For garnish:

  • 2 cups watercress
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • kosher or coarse sea salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

To make the crab cakes:

  • In a mixing bowl, combine the jalapeño, lime juice, cilantro, breadcrumbs, egg, mayonnaise, salt and pepper, and mix well. Gently fold in the crab meat until blended and the mixture holds together. Using your hands, shape into six 3-inch cakes, about 1-inch thick and somewhat flattened on the top and bottom.
  • Set a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter and oil. When the butter begins to foam, add as many crab cakes as will fit without crowding. Cook 2 to 3 minutes per side. The outside should be lightly browned and the inside cooked, but moist and firm when pressed with a finger. Remove the crab cakes from the pan.

To make the jalapeño aioli:

  • Place the jalapeño, lime juice, mayonnaise, cilantro, salt and pepper in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.

To garnish:

  • In a medium bowl, mix the watercress with the lime juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss.

Notes

Tortitas de Cangrejo con Aioli de Jalapeño

Tilapia with Plums, Pasilla and Tequila

Posted on by Pati Jinich
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5 from 6 votes

Tilapia with Plums, Pasilla and Tequila

Tilapia with Plums, Pasilla and Tequila recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 4, Episode 2 “Adventures in San Miguel”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: grouper, orange juice, pasilla, pati's mexican table, plums, red snapper, rock fish, tequila, Tilapia
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil plus 2 more for cooking the fish
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups slivered white onion
  • 3 cloves garlic pressed or minced
  • 4 ripe plums halved, pitted, sliced
  • 4 to 6 pasilla chiles stemmed, seeded, sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar or to taste
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste, plus more to season the fish
  • 2 tablespoons silver tequila
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 6 tilapia fillets (about 6 ounces) skin on, or another flaky and mild tasting fish of your choice such as red snapper, rock fish, or grouper

Instructions

  • Heat the oil and butter in a large heavy skillet set over medium heat. Once the butter melts and begins to sizzle, before it browns, add the onion. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until it softens and begins to gently brown around the edges. Add the garlic, mix well and cook for another minute. Toss in the sliced plums and chiles, sprinkle in the sugar and salt, stir, and cook for about 6 to 7 minutes. The plums should be cooked and gently browned and the chiles softened.
  • Pour in the tequila, gently tilt towards the fire to ignite it, cook until flames disappear. Add the orange juice, stir, and cook for a couple minutes more. Set aside.
  • Heat a couple tablespoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Season the fish with a sprinkle of salt and freshly ground pepper. Sear the fish, skin side down first, for 2 to 3 minutes, until skin has crisped and browned. Flip the fish to the other side and cook until desired doneness, my choice is 2 to 3 minutes more.
  • Serve with a generous spoonfull of the chunky plum sauce on top.

Notes

Tilapia con Salsa de Ciruela, Pasilla y Tequila

Fish over Fennel Salad with Jalapeño and Olive Salsa

Posted on by Pati Jinich
fish over fennel salad with olive salsa
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4.43 from 7 votes

Fish over Fennel Salad with Jalapeño and Olive Salsa

Fish over Fennel Salad with Jalapeño and Olive Salsa recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 11 “Mex-Italian!”
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time7 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: fennel, fish, grouper, olives, oranges, pati's mexican table, pepitas, pumpkin seeds, raisins, red onion, red snapper, rockfish, tequila, Tilapia
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the salad:

  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
  • 1 fennel bulb thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion about 1/4 of a red onion
  • 2 oranges peeled and thinly sliced or cut into segments, plus juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • kosher or coarse sea salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the salsa:

  • 1/4 cup golden raisins
  • 1 tablespoon tequila
  • 1/4 cup pitted black Italian olives in brine, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno chile thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves and upper stems, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves and upper stems, chopped
  • Freshly squeezed juice of 2 limes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • kosher or coarse sea salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the fish:

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • kosher or coarse sea salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 4 6-ounce red snapper fillets or any mild fish of your choice, such as tilapia, rockfish or grouper
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

To prepare the salad:

  • To toast the pumpkin seeds, place them in an already hot, small sauté pan set over low heat. Stir often, being careful that they don’t burn, until you start to hear popping sounds (similar to popcorn), and they begin to turn from green to a toasty brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and place in a bowl.
  • Combine fennel, red onion, orange segments and juice in a mixing bowl. Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Add the toasted pumpkin seeds. Toss once more and wait to serve with the fish.

To prepare the salsa:

  • Place the golden raisins in a medium mixing bowl and pour the tequila over the raisins. Allow the raisins to plump up in the tequila for a few minutes while prepping the remaining ingredients. Then add the olives, jalapeño, cilantro, parsley, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper to the bowl with the raisins and tequila. Combine well and serve with the fish.

To prepare the fish:

  • Combine the flour, a pinch salt and a pinch pepper on a flat plate and spread. Using a small knife, score each fish filet, cutting 3 shallow horizontal lines into the skin of each fillet – do not cut through the fillets. Dust the fillets on each side with a thin layer of the flour mixture.
  • Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot and ready (test by dipping a piece of the fish to see if it happily bubbles), place the fillets in the pan skin-side down. Cook until the skin is crisped and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. If at any point the fish begins to curl, use a spatula to press the fish firmly down in the pan. Flip with a spatula or tongs and cook on the other side until done, about another 4 minutes. Transfer the fish to a plate covered in paper towels to drain. Serve on top of the fennel salad and with the salsa on the side.

Notes

Pescado con Ensalada de Eneldo y Salsa de Jalapeño y Aceitunas

Mexican-Style Gravlax with Cilantro and Tequila

Posted on by Pati Jinich
mexican style gravlax with cilantro and tequila
Print Recipe
4.84 from 6 votes

Mexican-Style Gravlax with Cilantro and Tequila

Mexican-Style Gravlax with Cilantro and Tequila recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 10 “Brunch at the Jinich House”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 days
Total Time2 days 10 minutes
Course: Antojos, Breakfast
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: brown sugar, Chipotle, cumin, flour tortillas, lime, pati's mexican table, salmon, tequila
Servings: 24 small toasts
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chipotle chile powder ancho chile powder, or a Mexican mix
  • 2 tablespoons kosher or coarse sea salt plus more for seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup finely chopped cilantro
  • Zest of 1 lime
  • 1 pound fresh salmon skin on, bones removed
  • 2 tablespoons silver tequila
  • 6 5-inch Flour tortillas or whole grain bread, toasted
  • 1 cup Mexican crema
  • 1 ripe avocado halved, pitted, chopped
  • 1 lime halved

Instructions

  • Combine the cumin, chile powder, salt, pepper, sugar, lime zest and cilantro in a small bowl. Place the salmon flat, skin-side up, in a long baking dish. Make 10 to 12 1-inch slashes in the skin with the tip of a knife, just deep enough to reach the flesh. Rub 1/3 of the salt mixture into skin, then flip the fish over, spoon the tequila over the fish and rub the remaining 2/3 of the salt mixture on the salmon.
  • Cover the fish tightly with plastic wrap, then place a slightly smaller baking dish directly on top of fish and weigh it down with heavy unopened cans. Refrigerate for 2-3 days, basting with the resulting juices each night and re-covering and weighing back down again.
  • When ready to serve, remove the gravlax from the refrigerator. Thinly slice the salmon flesh, taking care not to cut through the skin and arrange the pieces on a platter. Serve with lightly toasted flour tortillas or toasted whole grain bread (keep warm in a clean kitchen towel, bread basket or tortillero), and let everyone garnish with the crema, avocado and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Notes

Gravlax con Cilantro y Tequila

Crab, Cucumber and Jícama Salad

Posted on by Pati Jinich
crab, cucumber and jicama salad
Print Recipe
4.20 from 5 votes

Crab, Cucumber and Jícama Salad

Crab, Cucumber and Jícama Salad recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 9 “Pot Luck Party”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cayenne pepper, cilantro, crab, cucumber, honey, Jicama, lime, Peanuts, tostadas, vinegar
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Zest of 2 limes
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • kosher or coarse sea salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 small jícama peeled and julienned
  • 1 large English cucumber peeled, seeded and julienned
  • 3 scallions thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup roasted peanuts crushed , or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 1 pint jumbo lump crab meat picked through thoroughly for cartilage and shells
  • Romain lettuce to accompany (optional)
  • Tostadas homemade or store-bought, or crackers, to accompany (optional)

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the lime juice and zest, cayenne pepper, rice wine vinegar and honey. Whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add the jícama, cucumber, scallions, peanuts and cilantro and toss well to combine. Then, add the crab and gently toss, taking care not to break up the crab meat. Serve over lettuce or in individual cups accompanied by tostadas or crackers.

Notes

Ensalada de Cangrejo, Pepino y Jícama

Rodrigo-Style Fish

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Print Recipe
4.88 from 8 votes

Rodrigo-Style Fish

Rodrigo-Style Fish recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 7 "Sugar for Hubby"
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cilantro, fish, jalapeno, Maggi sauce, Mexican, Mexico City, Pescado, Rodrigo, seafood, Tilapia
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the sauce:

  • 1/2 cup scallions thinly sliced, white and light green parts only
  • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves and upper stems chopped
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped jalapeño or serrano chile or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Maggi sauce or soy sauce
  • Kosher or sea salt to taste

For the fish:

  • 6 tilapia fillets about 6 ounces each, or other mild white fish fillets (sea bass, grouper, red snapper or rockfish), rinse and pat dry
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • All-purpose flour to coat fish fillets
  • Vegetable oil
  • 12 corn tortillas store-bought or homemade

Instructions

To make the sauce:

  • In a small bowl, combine the scallions, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, chile, and Maggi sauce, and stir to mix well. Set aside for at least 15 minutes. Season with salt to taste, if need be.

For the fish:

  • Sprinkle the fish fillets with the salt and pepper. Spread flour on a large plate and coat each fillet thoroughly on both sides.
  • Heat 1/4-inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the fish, in batches to avoid crowding, and sear for about 3 minutes, until crisped and browned on the bottom. Don’t fiddle with the fillets, let them brown so they don’t stick to the bottom and can be released. Turn and brown for about 3 minutes on the second side. The fish is ready when the thickest part is cooked through and it flakes easily with a fork. Put the fish on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Keep warm in a low (250°F) oven, if you won’t eat it in the next 10 minutes.
  • Transfer the fish to a platter and pour the sauce on top. Or, you can do as I do, flake the fish and serve drizzled with the sauce, ready to make tacos. Serve with corn tortillas.

Notes

Pescado Rodrigo

Shrimp Cocktail Pacifico

Posted on by Pati Jinich
shrimp cocktail pacifico
Print Recipe
4.25 from 8 votes

Shrimp Cocktail Pacifico

Shrimp Cocktail Pacifico recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 7 “Sugar for Hubby”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Antojos
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: jalapeno, ketchup, lime, Maggi sauce, olives, pati's mexican table, serrano chiles, Shrimp, soy sauce, Tomatoes, tortilla chips, Worcestershire sauce
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound medium shrimp peeled
  • 1 cup Ketchup
  • 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Maggi sauce or soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped white onion
  • 1 jalapeño or serrano chile finely chopped, or to taste
  • 1/2 cup pimiento-stuffed olives coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup ripe tomato seeded and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley chopped
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano preferably Mexican, or 1/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 1 ripe Mexican avocado halved, pitted, meat scooped out and cubed
  • Tortilla chips store-bought or homemade, or saltines

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 minute. Immediately drain the shrimp and let cool.
  • In a large bowl, combine the ketchup, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, Maggi sauce and olive oil. Add the shrimp and toss to combine. Add the onion, chile, olives, tomato, parsley, cilantro, oregano and salt, and mix gently until well blended. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 12 hours.
  • When ready to serve, stir the avocado into the shrimp cocktail. Serve with tortilla chips or saltines.

Notes

Coctel de Camarones del Pacífico

Tuna Minilla Casserole

Posted on by Pati Jinich
tuna minilla casserole pati jinich
Print Recipe
4.43 from 7 votes

Tuna Minilla Casserole

Tuna Minilla Casserole recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 4 “Meals in a Minute”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: capers, Casserole, olives, onion, pati's mexican table, Pickled Jalapeños, puff pastry, raisins, Tomatoes, tuna
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup chopped white onion
  • 1 garlic clove finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 pounds (about 6) ripe Roma tomatoes chopped
  • 2 7-ounce cans tuna drained and shredded
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 1/4 cup roughly chopped raisins
  • 1/4 cup manzanilla olives stuffed with pimientos roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup pickled jalapeño chiles store-bought or homemade, seeded and roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 3 tablespoons Italian or flat-leaf parsley chopped
  • 1 1.2-pound package frozen puff pastry thawed, or homemade puff pastry
  • all-purpose flour for rolling out the puff pastry
  • 1 egg optional
  • 2 tablespoons water optional

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Once hot, but not smoking, stir in the onion and cook until it is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cook, stirring often, until completely cooked, softened and mashed-up and pasty looking, about 15 minutes.
  • Toss in the tuna, and with a spatula or wooden spoon, mix it well with the tomato mixture, making sure there are no big chunks. Add the bay leaves, brown sugar, oregano, thyme, salt and mix well. Add the raisins, olives, pickled jalapenos, capers, fresh parsley and mix well. Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to medium low. Cook for about 10 minutes, the mixture should be very moist but not watery. Taste for salt and add more if needed. Remove the bay leaves and set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll out 1 thawed sheet of pastry about 1/8-inch thick to line the bottom and sides of a round baking dish (you may wish to add a pastry sheet in the bottom and top of the casserole, or only on the top!). Add the tuna filling to the puff pastry lined baking dish, using a rubber spatula to evenly spread the filling. Roll out another thawed sheet of pastry and use to cover the tuna filling – pinching the edges of the 2 sheets of pastry together to seal.
  • Optional: In a small mixing bowl, beat the egg along with the water. Brush the top of the casserole with the egg wash.
  • Cut 4 to 5 vents on the top. Place the casserole in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, until crisp, puffed up and golden brown.

Notes

Cazuela de Minilla de Atún

Mexican Rice with Prawns

Posted on by Pati Jinich
Print Recipe
4.41 from 5 votes

Mexican Rice with Prawns

Mexican Rice with Prawns recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 3, Episode 1 “Born in The Kitchen”
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: carrots, Corn, jalapeno, Mexican rice, onion, pati's mexican table, peas, rice, serrano chiles, Shrimp, Tomatoes
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 cups white rice or jasmine rice
  • 1 pound ripe tomatoes quartered
  • 1/3 cup roughly chopped white onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth or enough to make 4total liquid including the strained tomato puree, see step 2 below
  • 2 sprigs fresh parsley
  • 3/4 cup peeled and diced carrots optional
  • 1/2 cup shelled green peas fresh or frozen (optional)
  • 1/2 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen (optional)
  • 1 whole jalapeño or serrano chile optional
  • 6 to 8 head-on prawns
  • Half a lime optional

Instructions

  • Place rice in a bowl, cover with hot water, and soak for about 5 minutes. Strain and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear; drain well. If you don’t have time to soak and drain the rice, you can skip this step…
  • In a blender or food processor, puree the tomatoes along with the onion, garlic and salt until thoroughly smooth. Pass through a strainer into a measuring cup and reserve. In another measuring cup, add enough chicken broth to make altogether 4 cups of liquid, but keep the 2 measuring cups separate.
  • Heat the oil in a medium saucepan or casserole, over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the drained rice and cook, stirring often, until the rice becomes milky white and feels heavy in the pan as you stir, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Pour in the strained tomato puree, mix gently and cook until the color of the puree darkens, thickens, and is mostly absorbed, about 3 to 4 more minutes. Stir in the pre-measured chicken broth and add the parsley, carrots, peas, corn and whole chile, if using.
  • Bring to a rolling boil, reduce heat, add the prawns, squeeze the juice of half a lime all over if using, cover, and reduce heat to the lowest setting. Cook until most of the liquid has been absorbed, yet there is still some moisture in the pan. The rice should be cooked and tender; if not, but the liquid is totally absorbed, add a couple tablespoons of water, cover again, and continue to cook for a couple more minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for at least 5 minutes before you fluff with a fork and serve.

Notes

Arroz Rojo con Langostinos

Do You Want it Red or White? Mexican Style Gefilte Fish

Posted on by Pati Jinich

My paternal grandmother, Bobe, used to make two kinds of gefilte fish every Friday: white or traditional and red or a la Veracruzana. The moment you sat down, she made you choose, “which do you want mamele, white or red?”

Invariably, after you chose, she’d ask, “you don’t like the way I make the other one?”

She’d barge in, make room on your plate and serve you the kind you hadn’t picked, right next to the one you had chosen. She’d wait for you to taste it and tell her how good the one you hadn’t chosen was. Then, she would eat right off your plate.

Having come from tiny shtetls in the polish countryside, both her and my grandfather arrived in Mexico so very young. Mexico gave them an opportunity to start a life away from pogroms.

They worked hard and made a simple but good life for themselves. Though they were humble, and without much savings, every Friday they had a bountiful table full of food for their three grown children and their families – all together there were ten granddaughters. Nope. Not a single grandson!

Mexico also brought so many flavors to Bobe’s traditional foods. At the table there was petchah (chicken foot jelly!) that could be garnished with a salsa verde cruda, gribenes (chicken cracklings) tucked into warm corn tortillas and a heaping spoonful of fresh guacamole, the crispiest potato kugel, a stew that always had falling apart meat and a soupy prune or carrot tzimes. To finish, it was her prized chocolate babka spiked with Mexican canela.

Yet, nothing beat her Mexican-style gefilte fish, aka the red one.

The red is different from the white in so many ways. The white, or traditional, is made by combining ground fish filets, white onion, carrots, eggs and matzo meal and shaping them into patties that are poached in a stock made with the head, tail, and bones of the fish. It is refrigerated, covered with this same fish stock, which turns gelatinous as it cools (a delicacy if you have the acquired taste!). It is served cold. The red has the same fish mixture, but it is poached in a thick and spiced up tomato sauce enriched with capers, green olives and mild pickled peppers. It is served hot. Everyone in my family is wild about it.

The red sauce is called Veracruzana because it comes from the state of Veracruz, which geographically seems to embrace the Gulf of Mexico. The Veracruzana sauce is traditionally served over large fish, and its flavors showcase the intermarriage of Spanish and Mexican ingredients that took place throughout the years of Spanish colonization. It was through the port of Veracruz that most European immigrants came into Mexico, like my Bobe.

One hell of a cook she was, with her treasured jar of shmaltz in the refrigerator ready to be scooped out and used on almost anything. She was as generous in her cooking as she was in life. After my parents divorced, when I was an early teen, she would put money in my backpack or my jacket, without me noticing, every time I visited. She knew I didn’t want to take it, as she didn’t have any extra to give out.

I never had the chance to serve Veracruzana, the red gefilte fish, from my kitchen to my Bobe. She passed away, just a couple months ago, and oh man, I wish I had. She would have been so proud. She would have probably asked me, “why, mamele, you didn’t like the white?”

My gefilte fish will always be for you, Bobe. And just so you know, I always make the red and the white. I miss you so bad.

Mexican Style Gefilte Fish
Print Recipe
4.80 from 5 votes

Mexican Style Gefilte Fish

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Jewish, Mexican
Keyword: capers, carrots, fish, flounder, Jewish Mexican, ketchup, matzo, olives, pepperoncini, Recipe, red snapper
Servings: 20 patties
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the fish patties:

  • 1 pound red snapper fillets no skin or bones
  • 1 pound flounder fillets no skin or bones
  • 1/2 white onion quartered, about 1/2 pound
  • 2 carrots peeled and roughly chopped, about 1/4 pound
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup matzo meal
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper or to taste

For the red sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons safflower or corn oil
  • 1/2 cup white onion chopped
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 3 cups fish broth or water
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper or to taste
  • 1 cup manzanilla olives stuffed with pimientos
  • 8 pepperoncini peppers in vinegar brine or more to taste, chiles güeros en escabeche
  • 2 tablespoons capers

Instructions

To prepare the fish patty mixture:

  • Rinse the red snapper and flounder fillets under a thin stream of cool water. Slice into smaller pieces and place in the food processor. Pulse for 5-10 seconds until fish is finely chopped but hasn’t turned into a paste. Turn fish mixture into a large mixing bowl. Then place the onion, carrots, eggs, matzo meal, salt and white pepper into same bowl of the food processor. Process until smooth and turn into the fish mixture. Combine thoroughly.

To prepare the red sauce:

  • Heat the oil in a large cooking pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion, and let it cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring, until soft and translucent. Pour the crushed tomatoes into the pot, stir, and let the mix season and thicken for about 6 minutes. Incorporate 3 cups water, 2 tablespoons ketchup, salt and white pepper. Give it a good stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and bring sauce to a gentle simmer. Continue to simmer while you roll the gefilte fish patties.
  • Place a small bowl with lukewarm water to the side of the simmering tomato broth. Start making the patties. I like to make them about 3” long, 2” wide and 1” high, in oval shapes. Wet your hands as necessary, so the fish mixture will not stick to your hands. As you make them, gently slide each patty into the simmering broth. Make sure it is simmering and raise the heat to medium if necessary to keep a steady simmer.
  • Once you finish making the patties, cover the pot and bring the heat to low. Cook them covered for 25 minutes. Take off the lid, incorporate the manzanilla olives, pepperoncini peppers and capers. Give it a gentle stir and simmer uncovered for 20 more minutes, so the gefilte fish will be thoroughly cooked and the broth will have seasoned and thickened nicely.
  • Serve hot with slices of challah and pickles.

Notes

Gefilte Fish a la Veracruzana

Tuna Minilla Empanadas

Posted on by Pati Jinich

Insanely practical, that’s what these empanadas are. Perfect to make ahead for gatherings, as you can eat them hot or not. And they are oh, so, comforting: think of a tuna casserole in the good old style, but revamped with great Mexican flair and then flipped and turned into individual size. They withstand hours of travel and will remain delicious until you are ready to take a bite.

With that in mind, I made a full batch last Saturday to bring to a friend’s house. So thrilled were the boys, and I, with the packets as they came out of the oven (crispy on top, soft layers of barely sweet dough as you get close to the middle and a rich tasting filling) that by the time we put our jackets on, and I went back to the kitchen to transfer the empanadas from the baking sheet to a platter, I gasped at the sight of the only two remaining…

Tuna Minilla Empanadas 1

Lessons learned:

1. Make a double batch.

2. If you don’t, refrain from telling your friends about the fabulous thing you prepared but couldn’t bring because you finished it before hopping in the car. They won’t like it.

A simple way to describe an empanada is a turnover-looking packet stuffed with one or another kind of filling. The story goes that they’ve existed since the Spanish Crusades as they were perfect travel food. It was the Spaniards who brought them to Mexico.

From the Spanish word “empanar,” which can translate as “the act of covering something with bread or bread dough,” aside from practical, they are also versatile. They can go from mini to giant, from savory to sweet, from a tasty appetizer or funky main meal to a sweet bite, depending on the fillings.

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I can think of three things that distinguish empanadas from quesadillas. First, whereas quesadillas are made with flour or corn dough (or flour or corn tortillas) empanadas are made with flour dough. That doesn’t make empanada variations limited. Oh no. There are as many fillings and as many flour doughs as one can think of. One of the fluffiest ones are made with puff pastry, called hojaldre in Spanish.

Delightful, because as it bakes, the seemingly flat dough develops its multilayered structure: paper-thin layers of dough puff up with air, and delicious butter, in between them.

You can make your own puff pastry or simply buy it at the frozen section at the store. Just be sure to thaw before you roll out.

Then make rounds. You can make them as big or as little as you like. Here I am cutting 5” rounds. Brush with egg wash (just a beaten mix of egg and water) around the edges. Then add the filling.

Tuna Minilla Empanadas 3

A second difference between empanadas and quesadillas is that it is pretty hard to find a quesadilla that is sweet, for a good reason. Whereas not only are there plenty of sweet empanadas but even when they are savory, they have a sweet element to them, like the Tuna Minilla that is going in here….

Tuna Minilla Empanadas 4

Minilla is a very popular way of cooking fresh fish and also canned tuna along the Mexican Gulf Coast, especially in Veracruz.

It is so tasty and its flavor shows the impact that kitchens in Veracruz received from it being a port of entry to the Spaniards. It has a base of cooked onion, garlic, plenty of tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, along with the capers, olives, raisins and herbs the Spaniards brought. Pretty much like the Fish a la Veracruzana style. The sauce gets cooked until moist and the flavors have been completely absorbed and combined.

You can eat Minilla as a main dish on top of rice. You can use it to make sandwiches or tortas. But my favorite way to use it is inside of empanadas. And I like to add generous amounts…

Tuna Minilla Empanadas 5

Then seal the empanadas by folding the circle over the filling. Then use a fork to not only decorate the edges but to seal them even better. In Mexico, many cooks know a fancy technique of decorating and sealing the edges of the empanadas so they look like encaje or embroidery. I go with the good old fork….

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The third thing that distinguishes empanadas from quesadillas, is that empanadas are mostly baked. Not fried or cooked over the stovetop on a comal or skillet.

Once in the oven, the puff pastry layers do what they must… puff and puff and puff, the top crisps, the middle gets moist, and the filling bonds with the packet.

Tuna Minilla Empanadas 7

Off you go!

Tuna Minilla Empanadas main
Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Tuna Minilla Empanadas

Minilla is a very popular way of cooking fresh fish and also canned tuna along the Mexican Gulf Coast, especially in Veracruz. It is so tasty and its flavor shows the impact that kitchens in Veracruz received from it being a port of entry to the Spaniards. It has a base of cooked onion, garlic, plenty of tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, along with the capers, olives, raisins and herbs the Spaniards brought. Pretty much like the Fish a la Veracruzana style. The sauce gets cooked until moist and the flavors have been completely absorbed and combined.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Antojos
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: capers, Empanadas, olives, onion, pati's mexican table, Pickled Jalapeños, puff pastry, raisins, Tomatoes, tuna
Servings: 16 empanadas
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the filling:

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup chopped white onion
  • 1 clove garlic finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 pounds chopped ripe tomatoes or about 6 roma tomatoes
  • 2 7-ounce cans tuna drained and shredded
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • 1/4 cup roughly chopped raisins
  • 1/4 cup roughly chopped manzanilla olives stuffed with pimientos
  • 1/4 cup seeded and roughly chopped pickled jalapeño chiles store bought or make your own, more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 3 tablespoons chopped Italian or flat-leaf parsley

To form the empanadas:

  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 1.2 pound package frozen puff pastry thawed, or homemade puff pastry

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Once hot, but not smoking, stir in the onion and cook until it is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cook, stirring often, until completely cooked, softened and mashed up and pasty looking, about 15 minutes.
  • Toss in the tuna and with a spatula or fork, mix it well with the tomato mix, making sure there are no big chunks. Add the bay leaves, sugar, oregano, thyme, salt and mix well. Add the raisins, olives, pickled jalapenos, capers, fresh parsley and mix well. Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 10 minutes, the mixture should be very moist but not too watery. Taste for salt and add more if needed. Remove the bay leaves and set aside.
  • Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350. In a small mixing bowl beat the egg along with the water.
  • Gently flour your countertop and rolling pin and roll out one thawed sheet of pastry to about 1/8” thick. Cut out 5” to 6” rounds with a cookie cutter or anything that can act as a mold. With a pastry brush, brush the edges of the rounds with the egg wash. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of tuna in the center of each round, fold as a turnover or quesadilla to make a half moon, pushing the tuna inside of the empanada at the same time as you press the edges of the dough to seal it. Gently press the edge with the tip of a fork, this will act as decoration but also help seal the edges. Place the empanada on a lined baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the rounds and the second sheet of puff pastry. When all empanadas are formed, brush their tops with the remaining egg wash.
  • Place them in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until crisp, puffed up and golden brown.

Notes

Empanadas de Minilla de Atún

Where to Find Caldo de Camarón? Make Your Own…

Posted on by patiadmin

When I was in high school in Mexico City, Tecamacharlie’s was one of the most popular meeting spots. The name came from Tecamachalco, the neighborhood where it sits tucked away in a corner, and the chain of Restaurants it belongs to, Anderson’s Carlos & Charlies. There, my friends and I would meet some Friday afternoons after school, to have a late and long lunch or comida and embrace the weekend.

Even before school started those Friday mornings, there would be one thing in my mind: Tecamacharlie’s top notch Caldo de Camarón. A rich and thick soupy broth made with dried and salted shrimp, and seasoned with a base of Guajillo chile sauce.

A soup so flavorful and filling, it was served as a courtesy as soon as you finally sat down in that incredibly busy and loud place. The waiters brought it out of the kitchen still simmering, served in a little caballito, the little glass shots used to serve Tequila.

There were plump limes already quartered at the table, waiting to be squeezed into the soup before you drank it in one gulp. If you were lucky, the bottom of the shot had a shrimp, and maybe a couple pieces of potato and carrot. Then you could stick your fork or finger in there, to eat those little treasures that tasted like adventures at the sea port. Far away from the City.

Caldo de Camaron 1

 

That was 20 years ago and I haven’t been back to that Restaurant since those teen years. So I can’t vouch for how good it is these days… Plus, nostalgia has its way of overpowering memories sometimes too.

But one can find that Caldo de Camarón, with slight variations in many restaurants in Mexico city, and it is even more popular throughout the long Mexican coasts.

The latest one I’ve tried and I think even a better one, regardless of the power of nostalgia, is at one of the Guadiana Restaurants, which I always visit each time I go to the city.

Caldo de Camaron 2
As much as I have looked, there is no Caldo de Camarón to be found around DC. But one can find the handful of ingredients that the soup calls for. Although they are just a handful, they have enough personality to power a rock band.

The dried shrimp, of course, pictured above. Which need to be soaked for 5 to 10 minutes, as they have been salted not only to concentrate their flavor but also to preserve them, so the salt is, truly, intense.  Then the shrimp are rinsed and cooked in water, creating a broth which provides the main and matchless flavoring of the soup.

Then, the Guajillo chiles, with their mild heat and crowd pleasing taste. After they are quickly stemmed, seeded and toasted…

…beautifully toasted, really, look at the color…

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They are then simmered with one of Mexico’s workhorse combinations: onion, garlic and tomato. Some people add parsley to the mix. Some add Bay Leaf, like me.

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That goes into the blender, and then strained into a pot with some hot oil waiting to season the mix.

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Once seasoned, in goes that deep amber colored dried shrimp broth.

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The traditional cubed potatoes and carrots…

I like to add more than the usual recipes call for, so that neither me nor my guests have to be hunting those little soft chunks in the soup bowl.

Caldo de Camaron 7
When the shrimp have cooled, remove their heads, tails, and legs. Most cooks keep the shells on. They are a salty and crunchy addition in the soup. However, you can remove the shells if you feel like it. For a softer feel. Then cook for 10 more minutes so all of the flavors can come together.

Caldo de Camaron 8
Do serve the soup really hot. And always, always, always, have fresh limes ready to be squeezed in the soup.

Caldo de Camaron 9
That fresh squeezed lime juice is what makes all of the flavors in the soup, truly shine.

Print Recipe
4.75 from 4 votes

Dried Shrimp Soup

A rich and thick soupy broth made with dried and salted shrimp, and seasoned with a base of Guajillo chile sauce. A soup so flavorful and filling, it was served as a courtesy as soon as you finally sat down in that incredibly busy and loud place. The waiters brought it out of the kitchen still simmering, served in a little caballito, the little glass shots used to serve Tequila.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: achiote paste, garlic, guajillo chiles, lime, onion, potatoes, Recipe, seafood, Shrimp, soup, Tomatoes
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Mexican dried shrimp
  • 3 ounces guajillo chiles about 8-10 chiles
  • 1/4 pound ripe tomatoes
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 large slice of onion or about 3 tablespoons, roughly chopped
  • 1 pound potatoes rinsed, peeled and cubed
  • 1/2 pound carrots rinsed, peeled and cubed
  • 3 to 4 limes
  • 2 tablespoons oil

Instructions

  • Cover the shrimp with cold water and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain the shrimp, rinse them and place them in a medium pot. Cover the shrimp with 10 cups of water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Once at a simmer, lower the medium heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the broth, reserving both the broth and the shrimp. Allow everything to cool.
  • Once the shrimp have cooled, remove the heads, tails and legs from the shrimp. Be sure to keep the shells on the shrimp if you want them to add some crunch to the soup.
  • Remove the stems and seeds from the chiles and place them on a hot comal. Toast until their color changes to opaque, for about 10 to 15 seconds and flip to the other side.
  • Place the chiles, tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, and onion into a saucepan and cover with water. Simmer for 10 minutes over medium heat, then puree until smooth.
  • Over medium heat, add two tablespoons of oil to a large soup pot. Strain the puree over the oil and then simmer for 8 to 10 minutes over medium-high heat, allowing the puree to season and thicken.
  • Add the shrimp broth, potatoes, carrots, and shrimp to the puree and simmer for 10 minutes over medium-high heat.
  • Serve the soup with fresh lime to drizzle over the top.

Notes

Caldo de Camarón

Tequila, Mexican Cream and Chipotle Shrimp

Posted on by patiadmin

Shrimp tend to be perceived as a treat. That fancy item on a menu.

Think about what happens at a shrimp station on a Sunday buffet. It gets crowded. Even if you didn’t feel like eating shrimp, if there’s a shrimp station, chances are you will eat them. Your mom, your dad, your husband or friends will look at your shrimp-less plate and push some shrimp onto your plate.

Growing up in Mexico City, family Sunday lunches with the dozens and dozens members of our immediate family included giant shrimp from the Mercado de la Viga.  There was so much anticipation as to when they would majestically appear on that huge platter carried by my grandmother. Before they got to the table, people started sneaking away some. So my grandmother decided to set a pre-lunch agreement on the number of shrimp per head, to avoid childish grown up wording snaps like “YOU always get the extra shrimp” or sudden door slams.

So when I was asked to develop a Mexican menu for the 2010 RAMMYS Awards I just had to include shrimp. I paired them with some signature Mexican ingredients: smoky and hot Chipotle Chiles in Adobo, tangy and salty Mexican Cream and the iconic Tequila Reposado.

And so, they were served to the 1600 attendees.

Tequila Shrimp 1
But before that day, the cooking staff under the expert guidance of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Executive Chef Horst Lummert, had to test the recipe.

That day of testing and tasting was incredibly fun. Here we were, as we watched how the tequila drunken shrimp were ignited…

Tequila Shrimp 2
And here we were, watching a crowded shrimp station serve hundreds of plates.

Tequila Shrimp 3
And here is how you can get a taste of those shrimp, right at home. Along with some igniting which is such a thrill.

First of all. Get some good shrimp. Though it is always  better to use fresh ingredients, truth is, it is hard to get fresh shrimp. Although sold thawed, they tend to traveled frozen. A wonderful thing about shrimp though, different from fresh fish, is that shrimp freeze well and can survive the thawing process in great shape, keeping their crispness and flavor.

Here is a suggestion: If you are using them today, buy them thawed, but ask your fishmonger how long they have been sitting there. It should be 1 or 2 days tops. They shouldn’t seem limp or sad and should have a light saltwater smell. Get them with the shrimp and tail on.

If you are using them tomorrow or further on, buy them frozen. Then you are on top of how long they have been thawed.To thaw, have them in the refrigerator a day before using and rinse them under cold running water.

Don’t thaw them at room temperature or in a microwave, or you will end up with shrimp ready for a Halloween party.

Tequila Shrimp 4
Once thawed, peel and season them with Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Tequila Shrimp 3

Heat a large pan over medium high heat, once your butter is sizzling, toss in some fresh minced garlic. Let it become fragrant, 10 seconds or so… and add the shrimp.

Cook the shrimp just 1 or 2 minutes per side, so they will be soft, crispy and sweet instead of chewy, rubbery and boring.

Then pour your Tequila. This is what I have at home… The Gran Centenario. Different from the Blanco or White tequila, the Reposado is darker in color because it is aged in wooden barrels. It has a bolder flavor. But feel free to use whatever you have handy. You can also use Mezcal.

Tequila Shrimp 4
Now: Watch it. Once you add the Tequila, slightly tilt the pan to the flames of your burners as you lightly step back. It will ignite fast and furiously, but only for less than half a minute. Igniting the Tequila gets rid of the alcohol presence and retains the bold flavors from the Tequila.

Continue to cook the shrimp until the flames disappear and add the Mexican cream…

 

Tequila Shrimp 7
…and the Chipotle Chile in Adobo sauce. If you feel like it, drop in a Chile too.

Tequila Shrimp 8
Stir it and turn off the heat.

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Plate the shrimp covered in the sauce, just like that, while they are hot, hot, hot! And toss some fresh chopped chives…

Tequila Shrimp 10
… right on top. The chives not only add a fresh flavor and color, but add a vibrant contrast to the creamy sauce.

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Here is a close up of for you…

Tequila Shrimp 12
Crispy and sweet, smoky and tangy, and oh so bold with the presence of the Tequila. Plus they are, sooooooo much fun to prepare! Go on and impress someone…

Print Recipe
4.25 from 4 votes

Tequila, Mexican Cream and Chipotle Shrimp

So when I was asked to develop a Mexican menu for the 2010 RAMMYS Awards I just had to include shrimp. I paired them with some signature Mexican ingredients: smoky and hot Chipotle Chiles in Adobo, tangy and salty Mexican Cream and the iconic Tequila Reposado. And so, they were served to the 1600 attendees.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Course: Antojos, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chipotles in adobo, mexican crema, pati's mexican table, Recipe, seafood, Shrimp, tequila
Servings: 12 appetizer portions
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound large shrimp in shell thawed, peeled and deveined (about 25 shrimp)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 garlic clove finely minced
  • 1/4 cup Tequila Reposado
  • 1/4 cup Mexican style cream such as Rio Grande
  • 1 teaspoon Chipotles in adobo sauce or add more to taste
  • 1 bunch chives chopped

Instructions

  • Peel and devein the shrimp. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a large and heavy saute pan set over medium-high heat, let the butter melt. Once it starts to sizzle, add the garlic. Stir and cook for 10 to 15 seconds, until the garlic becomes fragrant. Incorporate the shrimp, making sure that the pan is not over crowded, and let them brown on one side and then the other, just for about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Don't let them over cook, they should brown on the outside, but barely cooked through.
  • Add the tequila, and slightly tilt the pan over the flame to ignite the tequila. Let it cook until the flames disappear. Stir in the cream and the chipotle sauce and turn off the heat. Serve immediately sprinkled with the chives on top.

Notes

Camarones al Tequila

Chef Solis’s Mexican Crab Cakes with Jalapeño Aioli

Posted on by patiadmin

I was invited to design a Cinco de Mayo menu for Ceiba Restaurant along with their Chef de Cuisine, Alfredo Solis. The invitation included teaching a class covering that menu. As always, I was eager to teach whatever I know. But as always, I learn much more as I go. This time, I also learned, that you never know what foods you are going to like the best.

Solis and I were thrilled with the class menu. He was going to feature a tasty Shrimp Ceviche and some succulent Shredded Beef Tacos. I was going for a Red Snapper with a simple yet stylish Almond and Chipotle sauce, with a side of the ever exuberant Poblano Green Rice and a fresh Radish Salsita. I was also covering dessert: a textured and sweet coconut flan paired with fresh mangoes. And whipped cream. With a hint of Rum.

The whole experience was fun, from beginning to end. From meeting Solis for the first time -who shared his to die for mussels in a spicy tomato broth with chorizo, along with fascinating bits and pieces of his life story as he went from being a dishwasher to Chef de Cusine-  to designing the menu, to tasting and testing it a week before class for a full dinner run, to prepping for class and lunch the day of. Day which, with the excuse of needing sweetened condensed milk for the coconut flan, I kept splashing some in their good coffee and sipping it all along.

And there we were, laughing it out, as we set up the demo stations, before we even started the class…

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And there we were, ready and steady, a couple minutes before the guests were seated…

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But when all was said and done and the guests were gone -hopefully happy and with a full belly- I looked at Solis and said what my friends know me for: what are WE eating now?

Solis responded: Anything you want to try from our menu!

Having eyed the already shaped crab cakes in the refrigerator that morning, I asked him what was in their mix.  Just with the word Habaneros, I knew I was going for those.

So yes, I loved the menu we designed. And yes, I think it was a fun and yummy class. But I can tell you, those crab cakes are a pair of Rock Stars.

If you are not near DC or can’t go to Ceiba anytime soon, Solis graciously shared the recipe for you to sample at home. I just did as I posted those for you.

To make them, here we go: Lump crab meat, chopped Habanero -yes with seeds for me please-, cilantro, just a bit of bread crumbs and mayonnaise to bind the meat together, as well as the egg I am cracking there…

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Then I am adding the juice of that shinny and juicy lime, some salt and fresh ground pepper.

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That’s all that goes into the crab cakes.  Shape them up and you can keep them in the refrigerator for a couple of days, covered, until you are ready to cook them up.

When ready, prepare Solis’s tangy and light Jalapeño aioli, to drizzle over them.  Just place the ingredients into a blender or food processor: mayonnaise, lime juice, Jalapeños, cilantro, salt and pepper…

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And there you go, Mexican style crab cakes fit for Emperor Montezuma. I bet you he would have liked them.

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Just as I did…
Print Recipe
4.60 from 5 votes

Mexican Crab Cakes with Jalapeño Aioli

Having eyed the already shaped crab cakes in the refrigerator that morning, I asked him what was in their mix.  Just with the word Habaneros, I knew I was going for those. So yes, I loved the menu we designed. And yes, I think it was a fun and yummy class. But I can tell you, those crab cakes are a pair of Rock Stars. If you are not near DC or can’t go to Ceiba anytime soon, Solis graciously shared the recipe for you to sample at home. I just did as I posted those for you.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Course: Antojos, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: aioli, cilantro, crab, habanero, jalapeno, lime, mayonnaise, pati's mexican table
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the crab cakes:

  • 1 pound jumbo lump crab meat
  • 1 habanero chile seeded (optional), chopped
  • 2 teaspoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons fresh cilantro chopped
  • 3 teaspoons bread crumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons mayonnaise
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt more or less to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper more or less to taste
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the jalapeño aioli:

  • 1 or 2 jalapeño chiles seeded if desired
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 2 cups mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt more or less to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper ground

Instructions

  • Combine the crab meat, habanero chile, cilantro, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, egg and lime juice in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Form 4 to 6 crab cakes, depending on how chubby and big you want them. You can prepare them in advance and keep them refrigerated for up to 2 days.
  • Heat a large skillets set over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter into 1 tablespoon of oil. Once it starts to sizzle, add as many crab cakes as will fit without being crowded. Cook anywhere from 2 to 3 minutes per side.
  • To prepare the aioli, place all the ingredients in the blender and process until smooth. Drizzle over the crab cakes and if you want, sprinkle the top with freshly chopped cilantro.

Notes

Croquetas de Cangrejo con Aioli de Jalapeño, Adapted from Ceiba's Chef Alfredo Solis