Catalonian Shrimp Torta Recipes

TORTAS DE CAMARON

Steps:

• Soak ancho chilies in a bowl of warm water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.
• Whisk eggs and shrimp powder together in a bowl.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; pour egg mixture into small 2-inch circles in the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining egg mixture.
• Blend ancho chilies, onion, garlic, and water in a blender until smooth. Add more water if needed to make a soup consistency. Pour chile mixture into a pot over medium heat; add chicken bouillon and egg patties. Cook and stir until bouillon is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Add nopales, reduce heat to low, and cook until soup is heated through, about 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

CATALONIAN SHRIMP TORTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a medium mixing bowl mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
• In a mason jar with lid, or other container with lid, combine the next 9 ingredients (olive oil, butter, balsamic vinegar, water, garlic, brown sugar, salt, pepper, parmesan) and shake until the Italian dressing is well blended.
• Add mashed beans and dressing to the bowl with the first four ingredients and mix until blended.
• Using an ungreased 9x3-inch springform pan, spread combined mixture in bottom and 2 inches up sides; set aside.
• In a wide, shallow sauté pan over high heat, warm 4 tbsp olive oil and 4 tbsp butter. Add the shrimp and garlic and sauté quickly for 3 minutes - Add the lemon juice, paprika, pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Using a slotted spoon put shrimp in bottom of springform pan.
• Sauté onion and garlic over medium heat until translucent. Add bell pepper and green beans and sauté until beans turn a bright green. Place on top of shrimp.
• In a small bowl mix eggs and milk and pour over vegetables.
• Arrange sliced tomatoes on top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or Feta cheese.
• Bake for 40 - 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
• Allow 10 minutes to stand and then loosen sides of torta from pan.

CATALAN TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to medium.
• Cut the tomato in half and grate it on the coarse side of a box grater. Reserve the tomato pulp.
• Grill the bread slices on both sides until they are slightly charred. When the bread comes off the grill rub each slice with a garlic clove and drizzle generously with olive oil. Top each toast with tomato pulp and a tiny sprinkle of salt. Cover tomato with a slice of ham and serve.
• Cinchy!

TORTA DE MARISCOS: SEAFOOD TORTA

Steps:

• Place the unpeeled small onion and garlic, bay leaves, and about 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large saucepan or medium-sized stockpot with 2 quarts of water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce the heat to maintain a low rolling boil and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the shrimp and cook another 2 to 3 minutes (depending on their size), skimming off any froth that rises to the top. Quickly lift out the shrimp with a mesh skimmer or slotted spoon, letting them drain well. Place in a bowl and set aside to cool. Remove the onion and garlic from the simmering stock; discard. Add the squid and cook for 3 minutes. Lift out with a skimmer, letting them drain well, and set aside.
• Reserve the stock for another purpose (it will make a delicious fish soup).
• Peel and de-vein the cooked shrimp; chop fine and place in a large mixing bowl with the squid and crabmeat. Finely chop the peeled medium onion, tomatoes, jalapenos, and fresh herbs, and add to the bowl of seafood. Toss to distribute the ingredients evenly. Sprinkle the cracker crumbs and another 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt over the mixture and toss very thoroughly. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until they form glossy, not-quite-stiff peaks. Add the egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition to incorporate thoroughly. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the beaten eggs into the seafood mixture.
• In a heavy-bottomed, medium-sized (about 10-inch) omelet pan or well-seasoned skillet with rounded sides, heat the oil over medium-high heat until fragrant but not quite rippling. Reduce the heat to low. Pour or spoon the seafood mixture into the pan, smoothing it firmly with a spatula to spread it evenly without air pockets on the bottom. Cook, uncovered, for 8 minutes. Flip the cake by sliding it back into the pan. If necessary, loosen with a spatula. Cook for another 3 minutes, until golden, on the underside. Transfer to a platter or large plate and serve hot, cut into wedges.

BULLINADA (CATALAN FISH STEW WITH AIOLI)

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium. Add onions, stirring occasionally, and cook until they begin to soften, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly golden, 1 minute.
• Stir in saffron, and pour in fish stock and wine. Add potatoes, fennel seeds, orange peel, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 25 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
• Season fish with salt and pepper. Remove orange peels from soup and add fish. Cook, covered, over medium-low heat until fish is opaque and flaky, 4 to 14 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. Using a metal spatula or knife, break the fish into chunks.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, remaining garlic and Aleppo pepper. Slowly stir in a ladle of hot stock into mayonnaise mixture. Gently stir mayonnaise mixture into simmering soup. Heat through, without reaching a boil (the mayonnaise will curdle). Stir in parsley and taste, adding more salt if you'd like. When serving, garnish with more parsley and Aleppo.

BAJA SHRIMP TORTA

Steps:

• Directly over the flame of a gas burner, or in a cast iron pan set over high heat, char the poblano until the skin is completely blistered. Place pepper in a zip top bag and allow to steam for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together crema, lime zest, and salt. Once pepper has steamed, remove skin and seeds and finely chop. Stir into crema mixture and set aside.
• In a small airtight container, stir together spices. Place shrimp in a large bowl. Toss with 2 T. spice rub and set shrimp aside to marinate 10-15 minutes. Store remaining spice rub for another use.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk together lime juice and olive oil. Add cabbage, cilantro leaves, and scallions to the bowl and toss to thoroughly combine. Season with salt to taste and set aside.
• Heat a grill pan over high heat. Lightly brush with oil and grill shrimp, turning once, about 2 minutes per side. Toast buns alongside shrimp, about 1 minute, until desired color is achieved.
• To serve, spread poblano crema on top and bottom of buns. Divide shrimp among sandwiches and top with cabbage slaw and cilantro leaves.