La Cocina Latina Part 2: Lunches

Sandwich de Aguacate (Avocado Sandwich)

Ingredients:

loaf of french or cuban bread or kaiser rolls

butter

avocado

apple cider vinegar

Steps:

slice bread

cut bread into 4 equal parts (if kaiser roll cut it 2)

cut avocado down the middle, remove pit, slice the remaining halves

spread butter on bread

place avocado on bread

sprinkle a few drops of vinegar on the avocado (as desired)

Yanikekes (Johnny Cakes = fried dough)

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

3 table spoons of cold water

2 cups of oil

salt to taste

Steps:

mix flour, salt, and baking soda

add water slowly while mixing (do not over mix)

stretch the down and make small balls

take dough ball in hand, pat from hand to hand until you get a thin circle

heat oil in pan on low heat

make a few small holes on dough circle with a fork

fry circle on each side until golden brown

pull out of pan, drain oil, an place on paper towel

sprinkle salt and serve hot

Empanadas de Pollo or Carne (Chicken or Beef Bear Claws)

Ingredients:

Yanikeke dough (see recipe above)

cooked chicken or ground beef

oil

salt

2 tablespoons of water

Steps:

Make yanikeke dough

make small dough balls, flatten into thin circles

add a tablespoon of chicken or ground beef in the middle of the circle

put a bit of water around the edges of the circle with the tip of your finger

close the circle so that you have a half moon

take fork and press tongs along the edges to seal

fry

sprinkle salt to taste

Mangu Con Salami (Mashed Plantains with Spanish Salami)

Ingredients:

green plantains

water

salt

spanish salami or sausage

2 cups of oil

Steps:

fill large pot with water

wash green plantains, cut each one into 4 pieces

place plantains in water

boil until tender (about 20 mins)

drain water, peel and mash plantains

sprinkle oil and salt

cut salami into thin circle

fry until golden brown

drain oil and serve on top of mangu

Sandwich de Queso y Tomate (Cheese and Tomato Sandwich

Ingredients:

1 loaf bread

cheddar cheese

tomatoes

butter

ketchup (optional)

Steps:

cut cheese into thin slices

cut tomatoes into thin slices

place cheese and tomatoes on the bread

put some butter on both sides of bread

put sandwich on pan (toast both sides) or put in a toaster/regular oven

cut into triangles or rectangles

you can add some ketchup