Calabacita Cups Recipes

CALABACITAS

Steps:

• Give the tomatoes a good rinse and let them roast in a 400F oven for 20 minutes or until you need them. I usually de-stem the tomatoes knowing that any juices leftover in the roasting pan will be used.
• Finely chop a small onion and get it cooking in some oil over medium heat. Let it cook until it's starting to brown, approx. 7-10 minutes. Add three minced garlic cloves and cook for 30-60 seconds.
• Take a couple spoonfuls of the onion-garlic mixture from the pan and add it to the blender -- this will eventually be combined with the roasted tomatoes.
• Give the zucchinis a good rinse and cut them up into 1/4" sized pieces -- be sure to cut off the ends of the zucchinis and discard. Add the chopped zucchini to the onion-garlic mixture in the pan, along with 3/4 teaspoon salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano. Stir well and let it saute for a couple minutes as you put the tomato mixture together.
• Rinse the jalapeno and chop it up into quarters, discarding the stem. Add the roasted tomatoes to the blender along with 1/4 of the jalapeno. (There should also be a couple spoonfuls of the onion-garlic mixture in the blender.) Combine well and take a taste. Add additional slivers of the jalapeno until the heat tastes right to you. I used a larger jalapeno for this batch and only needed about half of it.
• Add the tomato mixture back to the saucepan and let the zucchini simmer in it for a couple more minutes or until the zucchini is tender but still a little firm -- this batch cooked for a total of 7-8 minutes. If using canned corn you can add it in now as it doesn't need much time to heat up. If using fresh corn kernels you can add them in when you add the zucchini. (I usually drain and rinse canned corn but this is optional.)
• Take a final taste for seasoning. I added another generous pinch of salt to this batch.
• Serve immediately with your choice of garnish. Cotija cheese and freshly chopped cilantro are good options.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge where they will keep for a few days.

CALABACITAS

Steps:

• Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, bell pepper, onion, and zucchini, and cook until the zucchini begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper, half and half, and corn. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese over top. Replace the cover on the skillet and allow to sit until the cheese melts, 2 to 3 minutes.

CAPPUCCINO CUPS

Steps:

• Place the non-tempering chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not quite simmering, water. Melt the chocolate, stirring until it is smooth. Remove the boiler from the heat. Pour the chocolate into 1/2-inch circular molds and prepare the molds as directed on the chocolate packaging (reserve some melted chocolate for making the handle as directed below). Once hardened, pop the cups out of the mold.
• To make the handle of the coffee cup, put some melted chocolate in a pastry bag. Using a fine-point tip, pipe out a "C" for each mug on a piece of waxed paper. Allow the chocolate to harden.
• Using a fine point tip, pipe out a dollop of melted chocolate onto each pastille and place a cup on each to glue them together, making a coffee cup shape. Do the same for each handle and allow to harden.
• Place the 3 ganaches in 3 different pasty bags. Using a circular motion, pipe 1/3 of the Cognac Caramel Ganache in the bottom of each mug. Next, pipe the Coffee Ganache up to the top of the mug. Then, pipe the White Chocolate Ganache on top. Dust each cup lightly with cocoa powder and serve.
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons corn syrup
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons Cognac
• Heat a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the water, corn syrup, and sugar and bring the mixture to a boil. Do not stir the mixture once the sugar begins to boil. When the sugar begins to caramelize on the sides, remove the pan from the heat and slowly stir until the color is a medium brown. Carefully add the heavy cream and stir; then add the cognac and stir until well blended. Store the ganache at room temperature until ready to use.
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee
• 1 cup chopped white chocolate
• 1 tablespoon coffee liqueur
• 1/2 teaspoon coffee extract
• Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the heavy cream and instant coffee and slowly bring to a simmer. Put the white chocolate in a bowl and pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir. Add the coffee liqueur and stir well; then add the coffee extract and stir until it is blended. If you need to melt the chocolate more, use a double boiler (as described above).
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup chopped white chocolate
• Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the heavy cream and slowly bring to a simmer. Put the white chocolate in a bowl and pour the hot cream over the chocolate, stirring until it is melted.

CALABACITAS CON ELOTE (MEXICAN-STYLE ZUCCHINI WITH CORN)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• Stir zucchini and corn into the onion mixture. Cover the skillet and continue cooking until the zucchini is tender, about 10 minutes more.
• Pour buttermilk into the skillet. Season the corn mixture with salt and pepper; stir. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and continue cooking until hot, about 5 minutes more. Sprinkle with Chihuaua cheese.

CALABACITAS (SOUTHWESTERN SQUASH SAUTE)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onion in butter and oil over medium heat about 4 minutes.
• Add the garlic and saute about 2 minutes more.
• Stir in the diced squash and zucchini; saute until just softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the corn and poblano (or green chilies)and saute 3-5 more minutes.
• Stir in the cilantro and heat until just heated through.
• Season with salt and pepper; serve.

MEXICAN CALABACITAS

Steps:

• Place oil and chopped garlic in a large skillet, over medium heat.
• Add zucchini and onion, cooking until onion is tender.
• Add corn and tomatoes.
• Cover skillet, and simmer over low heat 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• When mixture is well heated, add cheese, mix and serve.