Potato Stew Ajiaco Recipes

AJIACO CRIOLLO--CUBAN CREOLE STEW

Steps:

• Make the broth: Cover the tasajo with cold water and soak it for at least 8 hours. (There is no need to refrigerate it.) Change the water and continue soaking for another hour. Drain again and rinse under cold running water. Put the tasajo in a large, heavy pot and add about 6 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered for 1 hour. Add the pork, beef brisket, and bay leaf, and let the three meats cook together until tender. Remove the pot from the heat and skim as much fat as possible from the broth. (If you have time, the best way is to refrigerate the broth overnight until the fat solidifies and then remove it.)
• Make the Sofrito: Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and saute the onions and green pepper until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add the pepper, cumin, and tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add the sofrito to the broth and simmer, covered, while you prepare the vegetables.
• Complete the Dish: Peel the malanga, boniato, name, yucca, and calabaza and cube them. Cut the corn and green plaintains into 1 1/2-inch pieces. With a knife, split the skin of each piece of green plantain and open it away from the center as if you were taking off a coat. Sprinkle the plantain pieces with the lime juice. Slit the semi-ripe and ripe plantains lengthwise and slice them crosswise into 1 1/2-inch rounds. Do not remove their skins or they will disintegrate in the stew. Add the green plantains to the simmering stew. After about 15 minutes, add the semiripe plantains. After another 15 minutes, add the ripe plantains and let them simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Serve hot in soup plates or, cocido-style, with the meats, vegetables, and broth in separate dishes. (Each diner removes the skin from the semi-ripe plantains themselves).

AJIACO (BEEF AND PEPPER STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in shallots, garlic, and red pepper; cook until the shallot has softened and turned translucent, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle in the chipotle powder and cumin; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Add the roast beef and red potatoes, pour in the water and beef broth. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Stir in the oregano, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Stir in chopped parsley before serving. Garnish each bowl with a few slices of hard-cooked egg.

AJIACO (COLOMBIAN CHICKEN STEW)

Steps:

• Place all ingredients, except cream and cilantro, in a large stockpot or dutch oven, and cover with 10 cups of water; cook about 30 minutes until chicken is tender but not falling off the bone, adding additional water as needed to maintain a soup consistency.
• Stir in cilantro and cream.

COLOMBIAN CHICKEN, CORN, AND POTATO STEW

Steps:

• Put chicken in a 6- to 8-quart pot and add water, broth, onion, guascas, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, skimming foam, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until chicken is cooked through, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool slightly (reserve broth).
• Add papas criollas to reserved broth (if using russet potatoes, peel and coarsely grate first) and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are falling apart and beginning to thicken broth (mash if necessary), 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel Yukon Golds and boiling potatoes and cut into 1-inch pieces, then add to pot and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until almost tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add corn, 1/4 cup cilantro, and 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper and simmer, covered, until corn is tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
• While corn cooks, coarsely shred chicken, discarding skin and bones.
• Add chicken to stew and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Season with salt.
• Serve stew with crema, capers, avocados, and remaining 1/2 cup cilantro, each in separate bowls (or add them to stew in pot just before serving).