"Tamal en cazuela is our ultimate comfort food," insists Acela Matamoros, one of Cuba's top cooking teachers and food historians. A kind of Cuban polenta -- or a stove-top tamal -- at its most basic, tamal en cazuela can be just a soft mush of water, cornmeal, and salt, sometimes eaten with milk and a sprinkle of sugar. Other versions use grated corn or the strained "milk" of the corn puree, which thickens when cooked. The flavorings range from classic pork, such as here, to chicken to seafood. This recipe, using pork ribs and a combination of grated corn and some cornmeal to thicken it, is easy and fairly quick but delivers plenty of that comforting, grandmotherly flavor.
This recipe is admittedly a little basic, but sometimes, basic is good. Basic is a garlicky, white winey, tomatoey broth that will take care of your expensive seafood, cook it gently, and make everything taste delicious.
This dish can be made wet and soupy if serving with fish, or firmer and more creamy like risotto if serving with chicken.
Chef Omar Allibhoy's friends and family say his is one of the very best seafood paellas they have tasted. The intensity of flavour in the stock you make will be the most important thing, as well as how wide your paella pan is. Believe it or not, it makes all the difference.
An everyday cooking sauce for any type of meat, fish or protein. Blend the ingredients and store the uncooked sauce for later use, or cook it and then leave to cool.
Potatoes, chiles and shrimp sit so well together in this effortless, comforting salad. Eat it just as it is, or serve it as a side salad if you like.
Note: Can be served cold/vegan.
Francis originally published this recipe in a post for Salon. As with his recipe for Ginger Scallion Sauce, his exuberant and unusual approach to recipe writing makes it sing. As does the accompanying video.
Hoagie, grinder, submarine, or hero -- whatever you choose to call those long, usually drippy, and always delicious meals in a bun, this recipe is one you can make your own. Chickpeas are combined with ground meat, basil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano to make tender meatballs, which are just as good served atop pasta, too.
This is a simple stew that delivers big flavor.