Yankee Rancheros Recipes

HUEVOS RANCHEROS

Steps:

• For the ranchero sauce: Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F and put the tomatoes, garlic cloves and onion on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast the vegetables, turning occasionally, until blistered and charred in spots, about 35 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove the papery skins from the garlic.
• Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the ancho chiles, cover, and remove from the heat. Let sit for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
• Put the vegetables and any juices from the baking sheet into a blender. Add the ancho chiles, 1/2 teaspoon each chopped chipotle and adobo sauce and 1/2 teaspoon salt and blend until fairly smooth. Taste; if you want the sauce spicier, stir in the remaining chopped chipotle and adobo sauce.
• Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the sauce (it will sizzle) and 1/3 cup water and cook, stirring, until thickened but pourable, about 5 minutes. Taste and season with salt as necessary. Cover and keep warm over low heat. If the sauce thickens too much, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time to thin it out.
• For the refried beans: Put the beans in a medium bowl with about half of their reserved liquid and mash with a potato masher until smooth. Heat the vegetable oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering, then add the mashed beans and a big pinch of salt and mash again until smooth. Cook, stirring and scraping with a rubber spatula, until heated through. If the beans seem dry, add some more of the reserved liquid until they are creamy. Taste, season with salt if necessary and cover and keep warm over low heat.
• For serving: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F and line a baking sheet with paper towels. Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 tortilla and cook until the underside blisters, about 15 seconds. Flip the tortilla with tongs and continue to cook until the underside blisters, about 15 seconds. Remove from the pan to the lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining 7 tortillas, adding more oil if necessary. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the refried beans on each tortilla and keep warm in the oven.
• Using the same skillet the tortillas were fried in, heat 1 tablespoon oil until shimmering, about 1 minute. Crack 4 eggs into the skillet and cook until the edges are crispy and whites are almost set. Cover the skillet with a big pot lid and cook until the whites are completely set, 1 more minute. Remove the tortillas from the oven, top four with an egg, then return to the oven and repeat with the 4 remaining eggs.
• Top the remaining tortillas with the remaining eggs. Sprinkle each with a pinch of salt, some ranchero sauce, Cotija cheese, cilantro and onion. Serve immediately.

RANCHERO BEANS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over high heat for 2 minutes. Add the bacon and fry until crispy, about 6 minutes, stirring frequently. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, discard all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat. Add the bay leaves, oregano, cumin, onions, chile, tomatoes and beans to the skillet. Cook the beans on a low flame for about 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Serve hot in bowls.

YANKEE RANCHEROS

Steps:

• Cook potatoes according to package directions for stovetop., Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, mix beans and salsa. Microwave, covered, on high until heated through, 1-2 minutes, stirring once. In a large nonstick skillet, heat naan over medium-high heat until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes per side; remove from pan. Keep warm., Coat same skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat. Break eggs, 1 at a time, into pan; reduce heat to low. Cook until whites are set and yolks begin to thicken, turning once if desired., To serve, spread bean mixture over naan. Top with potatoes, eggs and cheese. If desired, serve with additional salsa.

STEAK RANCHEROS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except oil and beef in blender or food processor until very smooth. It will be a thin sauce.
• Heat oil in skillet until very hot. "Fry" the sauce stirring constantly. Beware of splatters. Cook down about 10 minutes.
• Place steaks in pan with sauce and cover with sauce. Place lid on skillet. Simmer on medium covered about 15-25 minutes until cooked through. Periodically can spoon more sauce over meat.
• Serve over rice. I particularly like Goya's Spanish Rice.

BREAKFAST HUEVOS RANCHEROS

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 of the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomato, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes more. Set salsa aside.
• Heat about 1 teaspoon oil in a pan. Add tortillas one at a time; cook until heated through, about 20 seconds each. Keep warm.
• Heat remaining oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Pour in eggs. Cook until set to your desired consistency, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Spread a thin layer of refried beans onto each tortilla. Add a spoonful of salsa. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Add a fried egg and sprinkle some more cheese, chopped jalapeno, and cilantro on top. Serve immediately with avocado and remaining refried beans and cheese on the side.

AUTHENTIC HUEVOS RANCHEROS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Fry tortillas one at a time until firm, but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain grease.
• Meanwhile, combine the refried beans and butter in a microwave-safe dish. Cover, and cook in the microwave until heated through. When tortillas are done, fry eggs over easy in the skillet. Add more oil if the tortillas have absorbed it all.
• Place tortillas onto plates, and spread a layer of beans on them. Top with cheese, a fried egg, crumbled bacon and if desired, salsa.

CAMARONES RANCHEROS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet, and combine bell pepper, onion, jalapeno, and mushrooms. Saute until all vegetables are tender.
• In the last three minutes of cooking, add shrimp and tomato. Cook until the shrimp are pink in color.
• Serve over rice.