Smashed Garlic Plantains Mofongo Recipes

Steps:

• Mix handful of salt into a bowl of cold water and soak plantain chunks. Place stock in saucepan over low heat to warm. Bring at least 1 inch of oil to about 350 F degrees in a deep skillet.
• Meanwhile, cook chicharrones or bacon until crisp; remove from heat and drain. Remove plantains from water, drain and dry them on towels, then deep fry the pieces (careful, they may spatter) until golden brown and tender. Remove from oil. Flatten the plantains using the bottom of a flat-bottomed glass bottle or a tostonera if you have one. Fry the plantains again for 30 seconds on each side until slightly crispy.
• While the plantains are still hot use a wooden mortar and pestle to mash them with the garlic and the chicharrones. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• You can also use a food processor - add the plantains to food processor with bacon, garlic and some salt and pepper. You may have to work in batches. Process to consistency of mashed - not whipped - potatoes. Do not over process!
• Place the mixture in soup bowls or wooden pilons, douse with broth, garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.

Steps:

• In a large pot, boil the cut up plantains till they soften. The skin keeps it moist so leave it on. You'll know when its ready when the fork easily goes in.
• Meanwhile, on low heat, add the olive oil, smash the garlic cloves, and saute for a couple minutes. Only saute until combined and a little soft, do not burn it (it becomes bitter).
• Drain the plantains reserving 1 cup of the water and remove the peels. Put them back into the pot and mash like you would for mashed potatoes. Next, add the olive oil and garlic and keep mashing. While mashing, add the reserved water little by little till you get a nice thick consistency. Add salt & pepper to the taste and enjoy.

Steps:

• Heat canola oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Mash the garlic with the olive oil in a mortar and pestle. Combine garlic mixture with the pork rinds in a large bowl; set aside.
• Fry the plantain chunks until golden and crispy, but not brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer the fried plantains into the bowl with the garlic mixture. Toss to coat. Mash the coated plantains with the mortar and pestle until smooth. Season with salt. Roll the plantain mixture into two large balls or several small balls before serving.

Steps:

• Fill a 1-quart pot with water; boil plantains with a pinch of salt until easily pierced with a fork, about 25 minutes.
• Mash plantains with tomato sauce, cilantro, sofrito, 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, and sazon in a mortar or glass bowl. Incorporate the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and enough vegetable broth to ensure that mofongo sticks together but is dry enough to easily slip out of a container. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve mofongo on top of the remaining 5 tablespoons vegetable broth in a bowl.

Steps:

• Heat 1 inch oil in deep 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until oil starts to shimmer (about 350°F). Add plantain slices; cook until golden brown and tender. Remove from oil.
• Flatten the plantains using the bottom of a flat-bottomed glass bottle or a tostonera, if you have one. Return flattened plantains to skillet; cook for 30 seconds on each side or until slightly crisp. Remove from skillet; place in large bowl. Cool slightly.
• Place plaintains, garlic and 1 cup of the broth in food processor. Process until mixture has the consistency of chunky mashed potatoes, adding broth 1/4 cup at a time. Add salt and pepper; process until mixed.
• Spoon into serving bowl; garnish with cilantro. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• In a large soup pot combine the potatoes and garlic with enough water to cover them by several inches.
• Bring the water to a boil, cover the pan, and lower the heat.
• Let the pototoes simmer steadily for 20 minutes or until they are tender when pierced with a skewer.
• Set the oven at 450 degrees.
• Have on hand a 12-inch baking dish.
• Rub the dish with a thin film of oil.
• Drain the potatoes and garlic and set them aside until they are cool enough to handle- do not let the potatoes become cold.
• Cut the potatoes into quarters and squeeze each one with your fingers or set the potatoes on a board and tap them lightly with a mallet.
• Transfer the potatoes to the baking dish, packing them tightly into the dish.
• Chop the garlic and scatter it on the potatoes.
• Drizzle the oil on top of the potatoes and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the dish to the hot oven.
• Roast the potatoes for 20 minutes or until the top is crusty and golden brown.
• Serve at once.