Latkes With Ancho Chile Salt And Watercress Guacamole Recipes

Steps:

• Wash the chiles in warm water, carefully slit them open on one side, and remove the seeds and veins.
• Bring the white vinegar, red vinegar, and water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the piloncillo, oil, and salt. Heat until the piloncillo melts. Add the garlic, onions, bay leaves, thyme, peppercorns and allspice. Cook about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the chiles. Place all of the Chiles Anchos en Escabeche in a covered container and marinate one day at room temperature. They will hold, refrigerated, at least 1 week.
• Prepare the Avocado Filling just before serving.
• Drain the chiles and stuff with the Avocado Filling. Arrange on a serving platter and drench with the marinade. Decorate with the onion and garlic drained from the marinade. (The chiles may be sliced in half lengthwise and stuffed, for smaller portions.)
• Mash the avocados with a fork and stir in the onions, cilantro, chiles, and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Slit the ancho chiles carefully down one side, leaving the chiles intact. Discard all the seeds. Heat the canola oil in a skillet until not hot but not smoking. Add the chiles and fry for 1 minute or until they puff. Drain on paper towels.
• Discard all but 1 or 2 tablespoons of the oil in the skillet.
• Sauté the onion in the reserved oil in the skillet. Add the brown sugar, orange juice, vinegar, water, salt and peppercorns to the skillet. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Pour over the chiles in a bowl. Marinate in the refrigerator for several hours to 12 hours.
• For guacamole, combine all guacamole ingredients.
• Drain chiles and spoon guacamole into them. Garnish with cilantro.

Steps:

• Toast chiles in small skillet over medium heat until darker and aromatic, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Cut in half with scissors. Stem, seed, and tear chiles; grind finely with 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt in spice mill.
• Drape smooth kitchen towel over large bowl. Blend potatoes and 1 cup onions in processor until potatoes are very finely ground, scraping down bowl often. Scrape mixture into towel. Gather towel around tightly and squeeze out at least 1 cup liquid.
• Scrape dry potato mixture from towel into another large bowl. Add cilantro, egg, masa, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt, and 1 cup onions. Stir until mixture becomes moist and sticks together.
• Heat 6 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. For each latke, drop 1 rounded tablespoonful potato mixture into skillet; flatten to 2 1/2-inch round. Fry latkes until golden brown, adding oil as needed, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 400°F oven until crisp, about 5 minutes per side.
• Arrange 3 latkes on each plate; sprinkle with chile salt. Spoon Watercress Guacamole into center. Garnish with watercress sprigs.
• Available at many supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Latin markets.
• ** Also known as masa harina; available at many supermarkets and at Latin markets.