Meatballs De Corazon Recipes

MEATBALLS DE CORAZON

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Preheat a fryer or 3 inches oil to 300 degrees F.
• Double grind the heart, pork and fatback into a bowl set on top of an ice bath to ensure that the meat is cold throughout the meatball making process. Add the eggs, panko, chopped cilantro, garlic, kosher salt, cumin, ginger, smoked paprika, turmeric, cayenne and black pepper to taste. Portion the meatballs with a 1.25-ounce portion scoop, then smooth the meatballs out by tossing them between greased hands, creating a smooth round shape. Place on the greased baking sheets and bake for approximately 8 minutes.
• For the piri piri sauce: Pulse the chiles, garlic, peppers and onion in a food processor and set aside. In a heavy-bottom saucepot, heat the oil over medium-heat high. Add the tomato paste, stirring continuously to cook, about 1 minute. (The oil should turn a beautiful orange color.) Add the processed ingredients plus 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Cook down over medium heat until completely softened and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the honey, cumin seeds and paprika and turn to medium heat; let cook another 6 to 8 minutes. Add the vinegar and remaining tablespoon kosher salt, then cook for about 15 minutes. Finish the sauce with the lime juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Toss the meatballs and sauce together, then let simmer a couple of minutes to allow the flavors to marry.
• Meanwhile, toss the plantains into the fryer, and cook for about 2 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and dust with fine salt.
• Pile the meatballs in the center of a plate. Garnish with the plantain chips, cilantro sprigs and a touch of lime zest.

PERUVIAN ANTICUCHOS

Steps:

• Place the pieces of heart in a glass or ceramic tray.
• Previously, soak the chiles in hot water until they are soft, devein and take the seeds off. If you want you can keep some of the seeds to make it spicier. In Peru we use aji panca, but this works well too.
• Blend the vinegar, garlic, aji panca (or dried chile), and all other ingredients with 1/2 cup of the oil until you have a soft paste.
• Pour it on the pieces of heart and distribute evenly so all pieces are well covered and can absorb the marinade. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Do not let them marinade for too long or they will dry out because of the vinegar.
• In the meantime, place thick bamboo skewers to soak in water so they don't burn when they go on the grill.
• Use a charcoal grill and make sure the coals are very hot before you start.
• Stick three or four pieces of heart in each skewer, so that the meat lays flat.
• Save the rest of the marinade in a cup or small bowl and add the rest of the oil to it, mixing well. This will be used for basting the anticuchos on the grill.
• Tie some pieces of fresh corn husk with a string made out of some more husk and shred them half the way to make a kind of brush and use it for basting. (You can use dry husk too but you need to soak it for a while in warm water to make it flexible and then pat it dry before you use it).
• When the coals are ready and the grill is hot place the anticuchos flat on the grill and baste them generously with the leftover marinade and oil mix.
• This will drip and cause the coals to flame, make sure it flames over because this is what gives the anticuchos their distinctive flavor.
• Let anticuchos cook for about 1 minute and a half on each side. DO NOT OVERCOOK! They will dry out and become tough. Medium or medium well is fine. Turn them over continuously and keep basting and flaming until they are done.
• Hold two or three at a time to turn them over quickly.
• At the same time, place the pieces of corn and potatoes on a corner of the grill, baste them with the same marinade and allow them to be flamed too.
• Serve three skewers in each plate, accompanied by one piece of corn and one potato. You can also cut the potatoes in half (across not length wise) and stick a piece at the end of each skewer.
• Serve hot, right out of the grill, don't let it get cold! ENJOY! :P.
• What takes the longest time is to slice and cut the heart in squares and stick the pieces on the skewers; as you get practice doing this it will be faster, allow yourself some more time of preparation the first couple of times.
• You can also use regular beef, chicken, fish, prawns, or lamb to make anticuchos, but the original and traditional recipe calls for cow heart. Hope you like it! :).