Johns Torta Azteca Recipes

TORTA AZTECA OR PASTEL DE POBRES

Steps:

• Quick fry tortillas in oil for 2 to 3 seconds on each side; drain.
• Line the bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan with 3 tortillas, then start layering sauce, creme cheese, and all of the ingredients. The top will only have sauce, cream and cheese.
• The ingredients from the refried beans down are all suggestions. You can put in any combination you like of the meats, depending on what you have on hand.
• Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350°.
• Garnish with onions, cilantro and avocado.

JOHN'S TORTA AZTECA

Steps:

• Grind the meat and fry thoroughly in 2 tablespoons shortening. In the rest of the shortening fry the garlic onion and tomatoes for about 5 minutes. Shred peppers, add ½ cup water peppers and meat. Beat egg whites then yolks and fold together. Fry the tortillas in butter till lightly browned and dip in egg mixture. Butter a glass baking dish and place 2 of the tortillas in. Spread a layer of the meat mixture and a layer of cheese - repeat until mixture is used up. Bake in hot oven 425 degrees for one hour - four to six servings

CHEF JOHN'S KOFTA KEBABS

Steps:

• Cut toasted bread slice into thin strips on a cutting board; cut strips across into a small dice.
• Place onion, parsley, and garlic on top of diced bread on the cutting board; chop until mixture resembles tabbouleh.
• Season beef and lamb with kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, paprika, cardamom, nutmeg, and cayenne. Add onion mixture and water. Mix and mash with your hands until well combined.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
• Remove meat from the refrigerator and roll ¼ of the mixture into a ball using wet hands. Pierce in the middle with a bamboo skewer. Shape meat into a uniform log, about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide.
• Meanwhile, preheat a charcoal grill until coals are very hot.
• Place kebabs on the hot grill until browned and cooked through, about 12 minutes, turning every 3 minutes or so. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a kebab should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Serve.

AZTEC LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Brown meat and drain.
• In same pan, stir in salsa, tomato sauce & taco seasoning. Simmer, stirring often for 5 minute.
• In seperate bowl, combine eggs, cottage cheese & oregano.
• Line bottom of greased 13 X 9 pan with half of tortillas, overlapping edges. Top with half of meat mixture. Spoon cottage chees mixture over meat. Arrange remaining tortillas over cottage cheese; spread rest of meat mixture over top . Place shredded cheese over all.
• Bake 30 - 35 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minute before cutting.

TORTILLA CASSEROLE (BUDIN AZTECA)

Steps:

• Place chiles directly over the flame of a gas-stove burner on high heat. Roast chiles, turning with tongs, until blackened all over. (Alternatively, broil chiles on a baking sheet, turning, until skin has charred.) Transfer to a bowl, and cover immediately with plastic wrap. Set aside to steam, about 15 minutes. Peel chiles; discard skins. Remove stems, seeds, and ribs; cut chiles into 1-by-1/2-inch strips. Transfer to a nonreactive bowl.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Brush tortilla halves on both sides with 3 tablespoons oil. Arrange on baking sheets. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until tortillas begin to bubble (before becoming crunchy), 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Wash spinach, and drain but do not dry. Add spinach to skillet. Cover, and cook until spinach has wilted, about 2 minutes. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Transfer to a cutting board; let cool slightly. Squeeze out liquid. Coarsely chop, and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in chiles; cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same skillet. Add garlic, and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add beans and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, mashing slightly with the back of a wooden spoon, 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.
• Line bottom of a 10 1/4-inch-round, 2 1/2- to 3-inch-deep baking dish with 12 tortilla halves, overlapping slightly. Layer with chile mixture, half the bean mixture, and half the crema. Spread 3/4 cup salsa over top. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese. Repeat for second layer, using spinach instead of the chiles. Top with remaining tortillas, 3/4 cup salsa, and 1/2 cup cheese.
• Bake until heated through, 45 minutes to 1 hour; cover with foil for last 15 minutes if browning too quickly or becoming too dry. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Serve with more salsa and crema.