Caldo De Costilla Recipes

Steps:

• Cut the meat from the beef bones into about 1/2 inch pieces, leaving some on the bones.
• Heat a heavy soup pot over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the oil, tilting the pan to coat the bottom. Add the meat and bones, and season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until thoroughly browned.
• Add 1 onion, and cook until onion is also lightly browned. Stir in the tomatoes and broth. The liquid should cover the bones by 1/2 inch. If not, add enough water to compensate. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour with the lid on loosely. If meat is not tender, continue cooking for another 10 minutes or so.
• Pour in the water, and return to a simmer. Add the carrot and 1/4 cup cilantro, and cook for 10 minutes, then stir in the potato, corn and chayote. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Push the cabbage wedges into the soup, and cook for about 10 more minutes.
• Ladle soup into large bowls, including meat vegetables and bones. Garnish with jalapenos, minced onion, and additional cilantro. Squeeze lime juice over all, and serve with radishes.

Steps:

• Score the ribs by slicing them at 1/4-inch intervals 1 way and then the other across the fatty tops, as if you were setting up a crossword puzzle.
• Remove the seeds and stems from the chiles, soak them in hot water for 20 minutes, drain and place them in a blender jar. Add the oregano, garlic, cumin, vinegar, oil and salt. Blend the mixture for 1 minute. (if the mixture is too thick to blend properly, add a little water and continue). Pour the chile sauce over the ribs and marinate, refrigerated for 2 hours.
• Cook the ribs at 2 to 2 1/2 feet from mesquite coals for 1 to 2 hours or until they are tender. If your barbecue will not accommodate this distance cook the ribs over very low direct heat, or in a Texas style smoker.

Steps:

• Reserve a small handful of cilantro and 5 scallions. To a large stockpot or Dutch oven, add the split onion, the garlic cloves, the cumin seeds and the beef. Cover with water by 2 inches (3 to 4 quarts total).
• Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce heat to maintain a very bare simmer. Using a ladle, skim off and discard any solid scum that has collected on the surface. Roughly chop the remaining cilantro and scallions, and add them to the pot. Cover and cook until the beef is tender and a skewer or knife shows no resistance when poked through the meat, 2½ to 3 hours.
• Using tongs or a skimmer, remove the meat with the bones to a large plate and set aside.
• Set a fine mesh strainer in a large bowl and strain the broth. Discard the solids. Scrub out the pot, then return the broth to it and season to taste with salt. (It should taste quite salty.) Proceed immediately to the next step, or return the beef to the broth and refrigerate in sealed containers for up to a week before continuing (or adapting into one of the alternate serving methods, see Note).
• Peel the potatoes, halve or quarter them lengthwise, then cut crosswise into ⅓- to ½-inch-thick slices and add them to the broth. Simmer the potato slices in the broth until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Return the beef to the broth.
• Roughly chop the reserved cilantro and scallions, and add to the broth. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Combine the beef chuck cubes and the bone with 10 cups water, garlic and onion in large pot. Sprinkle with the salt and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes. Then uncover and skim off the foam and grease. Add the carrots, celery stick, chayote squash, corn, zucchini and cabbage. Cover, and continue simmering for 30 more minutes. Turn the heat off and serve hot with lime wedges, hot sauce and warm corn tortillas.