Plantains With Crema Espesa Thick Cream Recipes

FRIED PLANTAINS

Steps:

• Preheat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat.
• Peel the plantains and cut them in half. Slice the halves lengthwise into thin pieces.
• Fry the pieces until browned and tender. Drain excess oil on paper towels.

PLANTAINS WITH CREMA ESPESA (THICK CREAM)

Steps:

• Peel and bias-slice plantains or bananas into 1/2-inch thick slices (about 2 cups).
• Melt margarine or butter in a large skillet.
• Add plantains or bananas to melted margarine or butter.
• Heat about 5 minutes for plantains (2 minutes for bananas) or just until warm & tender; gently stirring occasionally.
• Sprinkle with brown sugar. Stir gently until sugar melts.
• Carefully stir in vanilla & cinnamon.
• Sprinkle with nuts.
• Serve immediately with Crema Espesa.
• Crema Espesa:.
• In a small saucepan heat whipping cream over low heat until warm (90 degreesF to 100 degreesF).
• Pour the cream into a small bowl; stir in the buttermilk.
• Cover & let the mixture stand at room temperature for 24 to 30 hours. DO NOT STIR or until the mixture is thickened.
• Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Stir before serving.

SWEET PLANTAIN SALSA WITH TOSTONES

Steps:

• In a bowl combine beans, corn kernels, pepper, red onion, jalapenos and cilantro. Add lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Cut ends off plantains and peel. Cut plantains on the bias so that resulting slices are about 1/2-inch thick. In a large nonstick sautepan over medium to high heat, heat oil. Saute plantains in batches until golden, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove fried plantains to paper towels to drain and sprinkle with salt, if desired. Chop cooled plantains into ?-inch dice and add to bean mixture. Serve with Tostones (see recipe below)
• TOSTONES: Cut ends off plantains and peel. Cut plantains so that resulting slices are 1-inch round pieces. In a large nonstick sautepan over medium to high heat, heat about 1/2-inch oil. Fry plantains in batches until golden and softened, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from sautepan and drain. Flatten cooked plantain pieces by pressing with heavy sautepan, until they are about 1/4-inch thick. Briefly dip in a bowl of warm salted water and drain. Return flattened plantains to hot oil and fry again, in batches, until golden, about 3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Serve with Sweet Plantain Salsa (see recipe above Yield: about 3 dozen tostones.)

SMOKY PLANTAIN CREMA

Steps:

• Toast the chipotle in a small skillet over medium heat. Remove the stem and seeds.
• Combine the vinegar and toasted chipotle in a small bowl. Set aside to soften.
• In a medium pot, cook the bacon in the olive oil over medium-low heat until beginning to crisp. Turn the heat up to medium, add the poblano, onion, carrot, garlic, and Scotch bonnet, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add the annatto seeds and stir. Then add the chipotle-vinegar mixture, the bay leaf, cumin, and 1 teaspoon pepper, and simmer until almost all of the liquid has evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the orange juice and simmer until only a small amount of liquid remains, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock and reduce almost to a glaze, about 7 minutes (you'll know it is done when the bubbles start getting bigger). Add the heavy cream and vanilla bean, stir, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cream in quite thick. Pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer; discard the solids. Reserve.
• In a sauté pan, heat the canola oil. Add the plantain, season with salt and pepper, and cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until dark golden brown on all sides. Transfer to a paper towel to drain.
• In a blender, puree the plantain with the strained liquid. If any lumps of plantain remain, strain one more time. Refrigerate until needed; this will keep for 4 or 5 days.

HOMEMADE THICK CREAM

Steps:

• 1. Preparing the cream. Pour the cream into a small saucepan, set over low heat and stir just until the chill is off; do not heat above 100°F (lukewarm). Stir in the buttermilk and pour into a glass jar.
• 2. Ripening the cream. Set the lid on the jar (but don't tighten it) and place in a warm (80-90°F) spot. Let the cream culture and set for 12 to 24 hours, until noticeably thicker (perhaps almost set like yogurt or sour cream). Stir gently, screw on the lid and refrigerate at least 4 hours to chill and complete the thickening.

PLANTAINS WITH SPICY BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic until golden, about 5 minutes. Add beans, vegetable stock, cumin, coriander seeds, and salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for about 15 minutes, or until aromatic.
• Meanwhile, slice each plantain in half lengthwise, and peel off skin. Heat enough oil for frying in large skillet. Fry plantain halves until golden on one side, turn over, and continue frying until golden. Remove from heat and place on paper towels to absorb extra oil.
• To serve, place plantain halves on each plate. Spoon beans over plantains, or, alternatively, place scoop on the side. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons of salsa, 2 tablespoons of sour cream, and sprinkling of cilantro.
• *You can heat up this dish with a few dashes of hot sauce or some diced jalapeno chiles.