Vera Cruz Tomatoes Recipes

GRILLED FISH TACOS WITH VERA CRUZ SALSA

Steps:

• Heat a charcoal or gas grill to high for direct grilling. Sprinkle the halibut with the ancho powder, salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown and charred on both sides, and just cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes.
• Using two forks, flake the halibut into large bite-size pieces and put in a large bowl. Pour over the olive oil and lime juice, and toss just to combine. Add the cabbage and cilantro and toss again.
• Serve the fish with the tortillas and Vera Cruz Salsa and let guests fill and wrap their own tacos.
• Heat a charcoal or gas grill to high for direct grilling. Toss the tomatoes and jalapenos with a few tablespoons of canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill both until charred on all sides and just soft. Remove from the grill and let cool slightly.
• Halve the tomatoes, remove the seeds and cut into small dice. Dice the jalapenos, including the skin and seeds. Put the tomatoes and jalapenos in a medium bowl. Add the onions, olives, capers, olive oil, vinegar, cilantro, oregano, and lime juice and season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

VERACRUZ-STYLE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add whole garlic cloves, and cook, stirring, until golden on all sides. Remove garlic and discard. Add minced garlic and the onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 15 minutes.
• Add olives, chiles, capers, bay leaves, parsley, thyme, marjoram, oregano, salt, canela, and wine. Cook until the sauce has thickened to desired consistency, 15 to 20 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning. If using fresh whole herbs, remove and discard before serving.

VERA CRUZ TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.
• Cut tops from tomatoes; remove seeds and membranes. Place tomato shells upside down on paper towels to drain until filling.
• Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate, reserve drippings. Crumble bacon and set aside. Return 2 tablespoons of drippings to skillet.
• Cook onion in the bacon drippings until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream, reserved crumbled bacon, and hot pepper sauce.
• Sprinkle tomato shells with salt; fill evenly with bacon and spinach mixture. Place tomatoes in prepared baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven until hot, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove, and top evenly with the shredded cheese. Return to the oven; bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

VERA CRUZ TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cut tops off tomatoes and scoop out centers, leaving tomato bowls. Sprinkle salt inside tomato to draw out some moisture, set aside.
• Cook the bacon till crisp in a frying pan. Drain; reserving 2 Tablespoons of the drippings. Crumble the bacon, set aside.
• Cook onion in drippings, stir in fresh spinach. Cover and cook till tender about 3-5 minute Remove from heat.
• Stir in sour cream, pepper sauce, and bacon.
• Pour any juice out of tomato bowls, fill with spinach mixture.
• Bake in pan at 375 for 20-25 minute.
• Top with cheese and heat till cheese melts and is bubbly.

FISH VERA CRUZ

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, boil the tomatoes, jalapenos, oregano, and garlic salt for about 8 minutes, or until tomatoes have cooked down to a liquid. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. *Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Return sauce to pan, add chopped onion and cilantro, and stir well. Heat through and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (you can use as little as 2 tablespoons oil to up to 1/2-inch deep). Season fish with salt and pepper and then carefully place in the pan; this may require adding the fish in 2 batches if your skillet is not large enough to hold all 4 fillets. Saute or pan-fry the fish until cooked on 1 side (fish will be opaque on that side). Carefully flip fish and continue cooking until cooked on second side and cooked through in the middle; the fish should be opaque in the middle. Cooking time will vary based on thickness of the fish fillets and the type of fish, but it should not take more than 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Transfer fish onto a serving platter or each of 4 dinner plates and top with the sauce. Serve immediately.