Papadzules Eggs And Asparagus In Tortillas With Pepita Sauce Recipes

PAPADZULES

Steps:

• Have ready a warmed, not hot, serving dish or warmed individual dishes.
• Put the water, epazote, and salt into a small pan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.
• Spread the pumpkin seeds in a thin layer over the bottom of a large skillet and heat through gently over low heat, turning them over from time to time. The seeds will swell, but take care not to let them become even slightly golden or the sauce will lose its fresh green color. You might want to keep a lid handy because often some of the seeds will start jumping out of the pan. Spread the seeds onto a metal tray to cool completely before grinding to avoid the blades seizing up with the volatile oil.
• Using an electric coffee/spice grinder, grind a portion of the seeds at a time to a slightly textured consistency, 5 to 6 seconds. If the seeds are ground too fine, then it will be more difficult to extract the oil.
• Have a small glass bowl ready for the oil.
• Put the ground seeds onto a plate that has a slight ridge around the rim. Measure out 1/4 cup (63ml) of the epazote broth and little by little sprinkle it - don't, for goodness' sake, pour the whole lot - over the seeds and work it with your hands, first having put the telephone on automatic answering. Gradually add the liquid until you have a crumbly but cohesive paste.
• Tilt the plate a little to one side and put a folded cloth underneath to hold it in that position. Start squeezing the paste and you will see that drops of oil will begin to extrude. Add a little more warm liquid if necessary - you probably won't need the whole amount - and keep squeezing until you have collected almost 4 tablespoons of dark green oil. (This is pure vitamin E, and great for the hands.) Crumble the paste into a blender jar, add the remaining strained epazote broth, if desired, and blend until smooth.
• Transfer the sauce to a skillet and warm through over the lowest possible heat, stirring almost constantly because the starch content of the seeds begins to swell and the particles tend to coagulate in the bottom of the pan.
• Dip one of the warm tortillas into the sauce: it should be lightly covered. If the sauce is too thick, dilute it with a little extra warm water. Work as quickly as you can, dipping each tortilla into the sauce, holding it with tongs but supporting it with a spatula so you don't get left with a bit of broken tortilla in your tongs. Sprinkle some of the chopped egg across one-third of the tortilla, roll it up, and place it on the warmed dish.
• When all the papadzules are assembled, pour the remaining sauce over them. (If the sauce has thickened and become grainy looking, put it back into the blender with a little extra warm water and blend until smooth.) Now pour on the tomato sauce and sprinkle the chopped egg whites and yolks. Decorate with the optional epazote. As a final touch, spoon in little pools of the oil. Serve immediately or the oil will sink back into the sauce and all that work will have been for naught! Of course, it is more colorful and attractive to serve the papadzules together on one serving dish.

ASPARAGUS CASSEROLE WITH HARD-BOILED EGGS

Steps:

• To Make White Sauce: Melt butter in a small skillet over medium low heat; stir in flour, then milk. Cook until thickened and season with salt and pepper.
• Spread 1/2 of the browned bread crumbs in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add layers of asparagus and chopped egg, alternately. Pour White Sauce over all and top with remaining bread crumbs.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.

EGG TACOS WITH PUMPKIN-SEED AND TOMATO-HABANERO SAUCES

Steps:

• For pumpkin-seed sauce:
• Stir seeds in large skillet over medium-high heat until beginning to color and pop, about 6 minutes. Transfer to blender. Add 2 3/4 cups broth. Blend until smooth, scraping down sides of blender occasionally. Thin sauce to consistency of thin mayonnaise, adding broth by 1/4 cupfuls; season with salt.
• For tomato-habañero sauce:
• Combine tomatoes, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons water, oregano and chili in heavy medium saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until tomatoes fall apart, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Transfer tomato mixture to processor and puree. Season to taste with salt. (Sauces can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill.)
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Pour additional vegetable oil into medium skillet to depth of 1/4 inch. Heat oil over medium-low heat. Fry 1 tortilla in oil just until soft, about 1 minute. Transfer to baking sheet. Pat with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Repeat with remaining tortillas, adding more oil to skillet if needed.
• Rewarm pumpkin-seed sauce; remove from heat. Dip 1 tortilla into sauce; transfer to plate. Spoon 2 tablespoons chopped egg into center. Roll up to enclose egg. Place taco, seam side down, in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Repeat dipping and filling remaining tortillas. Cover dish with foil.
• Bake tacos until heated through, about 30 minutes. Rewarm tomato-habañero sauce and remaining pumpkin-seed sauce. Transfer 2 tacos to each of 6 plates. Spoon remaining pumpkin-seed sauce, then tomato sauce over tacos. Sprinkle with grated eggs and serve.
• *Also known as pepitas. Available at Latin American markets, natural foods stores and many supermarkets.

POACHED EGGS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Fill a saucepan half way full of water. Bring to a boil and stir in the bouillon cube until dissolved. Crack one egg into a measuring cup or large spoon and gently slip it into the boiling water. Repeat with remaining eggs. Simmer for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm
• Meanwhile, Place the asparagus into a saucepan and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until asparagus is tender, about 4 minutes. Drain.
• Toast the bread to your desired darkness. Spread butter onto each piece of toast. Top with a slice of cheese, then a poached egg and finally, asparagus. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

PAPADZULES (ROLLED TORTILLAS WITH PUMPKIN SEED SAUCE)

Steps:

• Place 3 cups water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the tomatoes. Let simmer until tomatoes are soft, about 8 minutes.
• Drain the tomatoes and reserve the water in which they cooked.
• When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove and discard the skins. Carefully scoop out the seeds and squeeze them to extract the juice. Discard the seeds. Add the juice to the tomato pulp, and mash or blend to make a purée. Set this aside.
• Meanwhile, place the chiles on a piece of aluminum foil and broil under a flame, turning frequently, until they are lightly toasted all over.
• Heat the lard and add the chopped onion. Cook slowly, stirring, until onion is translucent. Add the tomato mixture, the sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and toasted chiles. Do not split open the chiles, as the seeds add heat. Simmer the mixture over low heat for about 15 minutes. Set the sauce aside.
• Add the epazote, if available, to the water in which the tomatoes cooked. Simmer 3 minutes and set aside. Let it cool slightly.
• Place the pepitas in a skillet and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until they are lightly toasted. Do not let them burn (the seeds pop explosively as they cook). Set the pepitas aside to cool.
• Grind the pepitas until fine - the finer the better - or blend them (see note). Place them in a shallow dish and add a little of the warm epazote water, stirring with fingers to make a stiff paste. Continue kneading and squeezing the mixture with your fingers while adding about 1/4 cup of the warm liquid, until the paste becomes shiny and a dark color. Continue working and squeezing the paste between your fingers, and you will note that drops of oil accumulate from the paste. Once this state is reached, the oil accumulates quickly. If you tip the plate, the oil can be scooped out. About 2 tablespoons of the green oil should be separated from the paste and set aside.
• Slowly stir the remaining epazote liquid into the paste with a wooden spoon. Stir constantly until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Add salt to taste. At this point the sauce may be warmed over very low heat, but it is important that papadzules are served lukewarm.
• To assemble the dish, dip the tortillas, one at a time, into the pumpkin seed sauce. Spoon chopped egg down the center of each tortilla as each is prepared. Roll the tortillas loosely and arrange the rolls side by side in a serving dish. Pour the remaining pumpkin seed sauce over all. Spoon the tomato sauce across the center of the dish, and sprinkle the 2 tablespoons green oil over the top. Serve lukewarm.

PAPADZULES : MAYAN EGG ENCHILADAS WITH PUMPKIN SEED SAUCE

Steps:

• For the chiltomate:.
• ***Note: to roast the tomatoes, place them on a dry, hot griddle or skillet over med-low heat. Turn frequently until all the skin has blackened and blistered. Remove them from heat and let them cool a few minutes, then peel.
• In a blender, combine the roasted tomatoes, Habanero. Pass this mixture through a strainer onto a bowl to discard the seeds.
• Heat the corn oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion and cook until limp. Add the strained tomato-Habanero puree and salt and pepper to taste. Boil for 10 minutes over low heat, or until the chiltomate has thickened. Keep warm.
• For the papadzules:.
• Bring the water, salt and epazote to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook for a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, grind the pumpkin seeds in a food processor.
• Add the epazote and the warm cooking liquid to the pumpkin seeds in the food processor and puree, making a thick, creamy sauce. Pour into a shallow bowl. Next to the bowl, place a plate and then a serving platter. Have the chopped eggs close by.
• To assemble:.
• Dip the tortillas, one by one into the pumpkin sauce, covering them completely. One by one, place a tortilla on the next plate, fill with chopped eggs and roll like and enchilada. Place on serving platter. Pour any remaining pumpkin sauce evenly over the papadzules.
• Serve warm or at room temperature, accompanied with the chiltomate.

STUFFED TORTILLAS WITH TWO SAUCES

Steps:

• Make tomato sauce:
• Preheat broiler.
• Toss tomatoes with 1 tablespoon oil in a shallow baking pan and broil 4 to 5 inches from heat, turning once, until softened and skins are charred in spots, 15 to 20 minutes total.
• Blend tomatoes, water, onion, garlic, vinegar, chile, and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth (use caution with hot liquids).
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium- high heat until it shimmers, then add sauce and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Make pumpkin-seed sauce:
• Toast pumpkin seeds in a dry 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring, until all seeds have expanded but are still green, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool slightly.
• Coarsely chop 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds and set aside. Bring water, epazote, onion, garlic, and 1 1/4teaspoons salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Blend this mixture with remaining 1 3/4 cups pumpkin seeds in 2 batches in cleaned blender until smooth (use caution with hot liquids), about 5 minutes, transferring to a heavy medium saucepan. Season with salt.
• Make filling:
• Cook zucchini and onion in 2 tablespoons oil in heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring, until softened, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then remove from heat. Add eggs, gently tossing to combine.
• Fry and fill tortillas:
• Heat remaining cup oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then soft-fry tortillas, 1 at a time, turning over once with tongs, until softened (not crisp or browned), 5 to 10 seconds. Transfer to paper towels to drain, blotting both sides, then stack tortillas to keep moist.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. 3Working with 1 tortilla at a time, dip in pumpkin-seed sauce to coat both sides, then transfer to a plate. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons egg filling down middle of tortilla, then roll up and arrange in a 13- by 9-inch baking dish.
• Cover with foil and bake until heated thourough, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, reheat sauces over low heat, stirring pumpkin-seed sauce frequently, just until hot. (Thin pumpkin-seed sauce with water if very thick.)
• Top papadzules with pumpkin-seed sauce. Sprinkle with chopped pumpkin seeds and serve tomato sauce on the side.

EGG NOODLES WITH ASPARAGUS AND GRATED EGG YOLKS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until crisp-tender and bright green, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add pasta to water; cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups pasta water. Return pasta to pot with asparagus. Stir in zest and juice and both cheeses; toss to coat. Add pasta water, little by little, to adjust consistency until creamy. Sprinkle with grated yolks and pepper; serve.

ASPARAGUS-POTATO HASH WITH GOAT CHEESE AND EGGS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add the potatoes, spreading them out into an even layer, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pan, until potatoes are nicely browned, 7 to 9 minutes.
• Lower the heat to medium, add the fennel and leek, and cook, tossing occasionally, until leeks are translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. If the skillet looks dry at any point, add a splash of olive oil.
• Add the asparagus, along with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few more grinds of black pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the asparagus, fennel and potatoes are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Off the heat, add the lemon juice and toss, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Use a spoon to create 4 small hollows in the hash. Carefully crack an egg into each, season the eggs with salt and pepper and bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the egg whites are just set. (Don't overcook.)
• Sprinkle with goat cheese, herbs, fennel fronds and lemon zest, if using. Sprinkle with additional lemon juice, if desired, and a pinch of salt, and serve hot. (A spatula works best for serving.)

EGG-TOPPED SOBA NOODLES WITH ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; stir 30 seconds. Add prosciutto strips; cook until slightly crisp. Remove from heat. Set aside.
• Heat 1 teaspoon oil in each of 2 nonstick skillets over medium heat. Crack 4 eggs into each skillet. Cook on 1 side until eggs begin to set, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover; set aside.
• Cook soba noodles in large pot of boiling salted water 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sliced asparagus to pot; cook until noodles are cooked through and asparagus is just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain noodles and asparagus, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.
• Add drained noodles and asparagus to prosciutto mixture in skillet. Cook over medium heat until heated through, tossing and adding reserved cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls to moisten.
• Remove skillet from heat. Add grated Parmesan cheese and remaining 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil and toss to coat. Divide among 8 plates. Top each serving with 1 egg and cheese shavings. Serve immediately.