Mexican Coffee Flan

RECIPE: Mexican Coffee Flan (Flan Café De Olla)

The following recipe is from Claudia’s Cocina by Claudia Sandoval, winner of season 6 of Masterchef!

Certain smells have always been nostalgic to me. Coffee reminds me so much of my abuelito Rogelio. When my mom would take us to visit our abuelos (grandparents) in Tijuana, we would get up early and pile into the car.

I can still smell the wafting scent of coffee as we crossed the threshold of their front door. Abuelito Rogelio sat in his usual corner right by the china cabinet and next to the back door. Newspaper in hand, he would peek over and give us the warmest smile in the world. My abuelita might have been grumbling about something in the kitchen, but when we saw my grandfather, his whole face lit up, and there was his coffee, sitting right in front of him. I dedicate this recipe to my abuelo, who loved his coffee and whom I sorely miss. I think of him every time I make it.

Serves 8

FOR THE CARAMEL:

• 1 cup (200 g) sugar

FOR THE ESPRESSO CUSTARD:

• ¼ cup (30 g) Nescafe Café De Olla instant coffee powder

• 1 (12-ounce/340-g) can evaporated milk

• 6 large eggs

• ¾ cup (150 g) sugar

• 1 (14-ounce/400-g) can sweetened condensed milk

• 1 tablespoon Mexican vanilla extract

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

TO MAKE THE CARAMEL:

• In a medium saucepan, bring ½ cup (120 ml) water to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add the sugar and swirl the pan to combine. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until a medium-brown caramel forms, about 12 minutes, occasionally swirling the pan to color the caramel evenly. Remove it from the heat and divide the caramel among eight (6-ounce/180-ml) ramekins or silicone molds, swirling to make sure the bottoms and parts of the sides are fully coated.

• Bring a kettle of water to a boil.

TO MAKE THE ESPRESSO CUSTARD:

• In a small bowl, whisk the coffee powder into the evaporated milk. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved. Add the coffee-flavored evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla and whisk to incorporate. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher (this removes air bubbles).

• Very slowly fill each ramekin about two-thirds full with the custard mixture. Place the ramekins in a shallow baking pan and place it in the oven. Carefully pour the boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for about 40 minutes, until the custards are just set and tremble in the center a little when shaken. Use tongs to carefully remove the custards from the water bath and place them on a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Cover each one with plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 4 hours to chill (you can prepare the flans a day or two ahead).

• To unmold the flans, place the molds in a pan with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of warm water for 5 minutes. Loosen the custard by running a sharp, thin knife around the inside of the ramekins and place a rimmed plate upside down on top of each. Invert the plates, carefully lift the ramekins off to remove them and reveal the caramel, and serve.

WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Mexican Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients:

• 4 large Eggs

• 1/2 Onion, minced

• 1 Fresh Serrano/Jalapeño, minced

• 1 Tomato, chopped

• 1 avocado

• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

• 1 tablespoon oil

• salt

Makes 4 servings

Directions:

1. In a non-stick sauté pan, on medium heat, add oil, onion and fresh minced chile. Sauté for 1-3 minutes or until just browning.

2. Add Tomato to pan and sauté until tomatoes begin to release juices, approximately 2 minutes.

3. Add eggs whole and using a rubber spatula begin to scramble eggs slowly.

4. After 30 seconds of scrambling Remove from heat and continue scrambling for 30 seconds. Return to heat for 15 seconds, continously scrambling gently. Turn off heat and give eggs one final scramble and allow eggs to continue to set with residual heat. Season with salt to taste.

5. Plate with 1/4 of an avocado, garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve with a warm flour or corn tortilla.

Provecho! 

WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Ensenada Style Fish Tacos- Claudia's Cocina

Ensenada-Style Fish Tacos

Tacos de Pescado Estilo Ensenada

You can get fish tacos at most places in Southern California. However, I know that they aren’t as common across the rest of the United States and abroad, so I decided to share a little bit of Baja California with you through this recipe for Ensenada-style fish tacos.

What makes these tacos Ensenada-style is their unique sour cream sauce, a tangy mix of mayo and sour cream that they make in this port town on the Pacific Ocean. Crack open a beer, squeeze some fresh lime, and get transported to your own Baja vacation.

Makes 16 tacos

Canola oil

For the Ensenada-style sour cream:

1/2 cup (120 ml) sour cream

1/3 cup (75 ml) mayonnaise

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon cold water

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the dry dredge:

2/3 cup (80 g) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon granulated garlic

For the fish batter:

2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon granulated garlic

2 large eggs

2 1/2 cups (600 ml) cold Mexican beer, plus more if needed

For the tacos:

2 pounds (910 g) skinless red snapper fillets

16 (6-inch/15-cm) corn tortillas

2 cups (190 g) shredded cabbage

Lime wedges (optional)

Fill a deep fryer with xx inches (xx cm) canola oil and heat it to 375°F (190°C).

To make the sour cream: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, and water until completely incorporated and a little runny but not watery. If it’s too runny, add little more sour cream and mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.

To make the dry dredge: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, and granulated garlic to incorporate.

To make the fish batter: In large shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and granulated garlic. Whisk in the eggs and beer. The mixture should be the consistency of pancake batter. If it is too thick, add a little more beer to thin it out.

To fry the fish: Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet to drain any residual fat (if you don’t have a cooling rack, paper towels set over a flat plate will work too).

One at a time, add the red snapper fillets to the dry dredge and toss to coat. Transfer them to a plate or baking sheet. Working in batches, dredge the fish into the wet batter, letting any excess drip off, and carefully place them in the deep fryer. Fry for 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown on both sides, flipping them once the underside is browned. Remove them to the wire rack to drain and immediately sprinkle with salt.

To heat the tortillas: While the fish is frying, preheat a skillet or comal over high heat to get it nice and hot. Reduce the heat to low and warm the tortillas for about 1 minute on each side, until malleable, placing each in a kitchen towel as they are heated to keep them warm.

To serve: Place a piece of fried fish on each tortilla, top with shredded cabbage and Ensenada-style sour cream, and serve with lime wedges alongside if you like.  

WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Salsa Verde - Tomatillo Salsa

Tomatillo Salsa

Salsa Verde

It’s no secret that we Mexicans are known for our salsas. While the most common salsas are tomato-based red salsas, there is nothing in the world quite like a tart and spicy salsa verde (green salsa). Salsa verde and tomatillo salsa are actually the same thing, as the green color comes from the green skin and flesh of the tomatillo.

This is our family’s recipe for salsa verde. I use it in a number of dishes, from Braised Pork  to Chilaquiles or as a topping for tacos. You can adjust the heat level by reducing or increasing the number of chiles you include. But cuidado (careful)—the spiciness of the serranos and chiles de árbol may have you looking for the closest ice-cold beverage.

Makes about 3 cups (720 ml)

12 ounces (340 g) fresh tomatillos

1 to 2 whole serrano chiles, stemmed

½ medium yellow onion, peeled

2 to 3 small garlic cloves, peeled

5 to 6 whole chiles de árbol, stemmed

Salt

Peel the husks off the tomatillos and rinse them thoroughly under lukewarm water until their skin is smooth and they are no longer tacky or sticky.

Place the tomatillos, serrano chiles, and onion in a large saucepan and add enough hot water to cover. Place over medium-high heat, bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the tomatillos change color and just start to soften, about 5 minutes. Remove the ingredients from the pan using a slotted spoon and place them in blender along with the garlic. Reserve the cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, heat a skillet or comal over low heat. Add the chiles de árbol, and toast for 1 to 2 minutes, turning often, until they darken in color but don’t burn. The seeds will come out as you toast the chiles—you can use them or not depending on your heat preference.. What you are looking for is a darker, almost black, red color. Keep your windows open as you toast the chiles, as the fumes from the chiles can affect the strangest parts of your throat and cause cough attacks for the family . . . ahhh, the memories.

Add the toasted chiles de árbol and seeds to the blender, pour in ¼ cup (60 ml) of the reserved tomatillo cooking liquid, and blend on medium-low speed until your desired consistency has been reached (see Notes). If your salsa is too thick, add more of the tomatillo cooking liquid.

Pour the salsa into a bowl and season with salt, starting with about 1 teaspoon and adjusting the amount as needed to balance the tartness of your tomatillos.

Notes:

The consistency of salsa verde varies depending on the dish you use it in. For Chilaquiles, make it a bit more on the liquidy side so your tortillas can soak up the salsa. For tacos, stick to a coarser and chunkier consistency to avoid a runny mess.

Keep in mind that chiles can vary in spice depending on the season, so you may want to cut off the edge of one of your chiles and taste it for heat. If it’s too hot for your liking, remove the seeds and veins to turn the heat down. To turn up the heat, add more chiles.

 Make sure not to touch your eyes after handling spicy chiles or to wear gloves when working with them to protect your hands. The last thing you want is to start crying like a novela (soap opera) star.

WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Mexican Sweet Bread Conchas

Conchas are a signature type of Mexican sweet bread, known for their seashell-like scores on a sweet crumb coating. If you have never had Mexican sweet bread, you are in for a treat. Conchas have the texture of a soft dinner roll, but with an irresistible sugar topping that will make you want to double the batch the next time around! This recipe gives you the option to make both standard white and chocolate conchas. Try both, and then decide on your favorite.

Makes twelve 4-inch (10-cm) conchas  

For the conchas:

3 ½ cups (440 g) all-purpose flour, plus more if needed

½ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons active dry yeast

2/3 cup (135 g) granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup (2 sticks/225 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature

Vegetable oil, as needed

For the topping:

½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour

½ cup (65 g) unsifted confectioners’ sugar

½ cup (1 stick/115 g) unsalted butter, softened, cut into walnut-size pieces

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

To make the conchas: Clean a work surface large enough for kneading your dough. Combine the flour and salt in a bowl and pour it onto your work area in a mound. Create a well in the center.

Heat ½ cup (120 ml) water in a small saucepan over low heat until warm but not boiling. Pour the water into a nonmetallic bowl, add the yeast and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar, and stir to combine. The sugar will help to activate the yeast. Set it aside until the yeast mixture doubles in volume, about 5 minutes.

Pour the yeast mixture into the well in the center of the flour. Add the eggs and mix using your hands until they are incorporated into the flour. Add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time, incorporating each addition into the dough before adding the next. Add the remaining sugar and continue to knead the dough until incorporated. Your dough will be soft and sticky. If it’s too sticky, give it a little more flour to help it take shape, but do not add more than ½ cup (65 g) of additional flour.

Knead the dough for 15 to 30 minutes to develop the gluten and form a very soft but cohesive ball. Place the dough in a greased glass or nonmetallic bowl. Add a bit of oil to the dough, if necessary, and cover it with plastic wrap to make sure it does not develop a skin. Place it near your oven or in a warm spot so the heat will help the yeast to rise. Allow the dough to rise for 2 hours.

Meanwhile, make the topping: Sift the flour and confectioners’ sugar into a large bowl. Add the butter and knead just until it is fully incorporated, so the heat of your hands won’t continue to melt the butter. Divide the dough into two equal portions. Take one half of the dough and add the cocoa powder. Mix until the cocoa is well blended and the color is uniform. Wrap each portion of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate them until ready to use.

To form the conchas: After the dough has risen for 2 hours, remove it from the bowl. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough into a large baguette shape. Cut the dough into three equal pieces, then cut each of those into four equal pieces to make twelve equal pieces of dough.

On a lightly floured surface, form and roll each piece into a ball. Drizzle a bit of oil on your hands, if needed, and continue to roll the ball between your hands until it is smooth and uniform. Using only your fingers, flatten the ball of dough into a patty shape that is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. Place the dough patty on a parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough balls, allowing at least 2 inches (5 cm) between each patty. Cover with plastic wrap and set them in a warm, draft-free location to rise for an additional 30 minutes.

Pull your topping from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature while you wait, about 10 minutes. Do not set it by the oven.

As the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

To assemble the conchas: Line two baking sheets with plastic wrap. Cut both the chocolate and traditional white toppings into six equal pieces to make twelve pieces. Shape the pieces into balls and lay six balls onto each prepared baking sheet, leaving an equal amount of space between them. Cover with another layer of plastic wrap, (so you’re placing the balls of topping between two sheets of plastic wrap). Using a tortilla press or the flat bottom of a plate, press the balls flat until they are big enough to cover the top of the dough. Carefully peel back the plastic wrap from each side of the topping. If the topping gets too soft, refrigerate it for 5 minutes and proceed again. Place the topping directly onto the dough and repeat until all twelve breads have been covered.

Using a thin fillet or paring knife, score the surface of the topping. Begin at one edge and score outward, as if you were drawing claws, to create a shell-like design.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the conchas to rest for about 3 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Note

This recipe can also be made in a stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment.  Follow the general instructions for the manual method, but let the mixer do the elbow work for you! Start mixing on low speed until the dry and wet ingredients are combined, then increase the mixer speed to high as you slowly add the butter. Continue to mix on high speed for 15 to 20 minutes, until the gluten in the dough is developed.

Copyright © 2016 Claudias Cocina LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Tajín Citrus Green Beans

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 lbs. of Green Beans, trimmed

• 6 Garlic cloves, thinly sliced

• 2 Shallots, thinly sliced

• 1 Grapefruit, zest and segmented

• 2 Oranges, segmented

• 1 ½ cup of Pomegranate seeds

• ½ cup pomegranate juice

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar

• 2 tblsp. Granulated sugar

• ¼ cup Grapeseed oil, plus two tablespoons

• 1 tblsp. TAJÍN®

PREPARATION:

For 8 servings

1. In a bowl, whisk together pomegranate juice, grapefruit zest, vinegar, sugar, and ¼ cup of grapeseed oil. Whisk together until sugar dissolves and set aside.

2. In a large sauté pan set to medium-high heat, add grapeseed oil, shallots, garlic, and green beans. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until green beans soften but are still crisp. Remove from heat.

3. In a large bowl, toss green bean sautee with pomegranate vinaigrette.

4. In a large serving platter, arrange all green beans, garnish with grapefruit and orange segments, TAJÍN® and pomegranate seeds.

 WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Copyright © 2016 Claudias Cocina LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

Tajín Watermelon Pineapple Granita

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups chopped Fresh Pineapple

• 2 cups chopped Seedless Watermelon

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 1 ½ cup water

• 2 teaspoons TAJÍN®

PREPARATION:

1. In a blender, add chopped pineapple. Cover and blend on high speed 1 minute until smooth. Strain pineapple puree into measuring cup. Measure out 1 cup pineapple juice and add to medium saucepan.

2. Separately, blend chopped watermelon, and blend on high speed for 1 minute until smooth. Strain into a measuring cup and measure 1 cup of watermelon juice. Add to a separate saucepan.

3. To each saucepan, add ¼ cup sugar and ¾ cup water. Bring to boil over medium-high heat; cook 1 minute, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon TAJÍN® to each saucepan when cool.

4. Strain mixture into 8-inch baking dish. Cover and freeze at least 8 hours.

5. When ready to serve, scrape mixture with fork until fluffy. Serve by layering 1 inch layers of Pineapple Granita and sprinkling with Additional TAJÍN®, followed by Watermelon Granita, sprinkling with TAJÍN® and repeating until glass is full. Serve immediately.

 WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Copyright © 2016 Claudias Cocina LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

Tajín Chicken Avocado Salad

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 slices Wheat Bread

• 1 ½ cup boiled Chicken, shredded – skin removed

• ¼ cup Greek Yogurt

• ½ cup Avocado, diced

• ¼ cup Yellow Corn kernals

• 2 tablespoons fresh Cilantro, chopped

• 1 tablespoon Mayonnaise

• 2 teaspoons Lime juice

• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp TAJÍN®

• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper

PREPARATION:

For 4 Servings

1. In a large bowl, put in Chicken, Corn, Avocado, and Cilantro. Mix to distribute evenly.

2. Add Yogurt, Mayo, Lime Juice and Spices. Mix until well incorporated and well coated.

3. Serve by making sandwiches on whole wheat bread and cutting into shapes for kids lunch boxes. Pair with cubed Mango and Pineapple sprinkled with TAJÍN®.

WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Copyright © 2016 Claudias Cocina LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

Tajín Broccoli Hummus

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups raw Broccoli florets, washed and trimmed

• 1 15oz. can Chick Peas

• ¼ cup packed Cilantro leaves

• 2 Garlic cloves, peeled

• 1 medium Lemon, juice and zest

• 4-6 tablespoons Tahini

• 4-6 tablespoons Olive oil, plus more for drizzling

• 1 teaspoon TAJÍN®, plus more for sprinkling salt

PREPARATION:

For 6-8 servings

1. Set a vegetable steamer on medium-high heat and add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Add broccoli florets to basket. Steam for 6-8 minutes or until fork tender. Remove broccoli from steamer and place into a food processor.

2. Add the chickpeas, cilantro, garlic, lemon zest and juice, tahini paste, olive oil, and TAJÍN®. Pulse 4-6 times to break up larger items and then blend together until well combined and smooth. Check for salt and season to taste.

3. To serve, place hummus in a serving dish and drizzle more olive oil and sprinkle with an additional helping of TAJÍN®!

WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store  

Copyright © 2016 Claudias Cocina LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

Tajín Avocado Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 large avocados, pitted

• 1 can of full fat coconut milk

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1 tsp lemon zest

• 2 tsp. TAJÍN® seasoning, plus more for sprinkling

PREPARATION:

For 4 Servings

1. Take a spoon and remove the flesh from the avocado skins. Place the flesh into a blender along with all of the can of coconut milk (include cream). Add the granulated sugar and lemon juice to the blender.

2. Blend until smooth. Using a rubber spatula remove the contents and place into a large bowl. Fold in lemon zest and TAJÍN® seasoning. Making sure to incorporate well.

3. Place mixture into an ice cream maker. Allow to freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

4. Remove from ice cream maker and serve or store in refrigerator for later use.

5. When serving, dust with an additional sprinkling of TAJÍN® Seasoning

 WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Copyright © 2016 Claudias Cocina LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

Tajín Deviled Eggs

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 large boiled eggs

• 4 tablespoons Mayonnaise

• 1 teaspoon Mustard whole grain

• 1 tablespoon Scallion, thinly sliced

• 1 tablespoon Lime juice

• 1 tablespoon Cilantro, chopped

• ½ teaspoon TAJÍN®

PREPARATION:

For 24 servings

1. Peel eggs carefully and slice down the middle using one intentional slice with a clean sharp knife. Remove yolks and set in a separate bowl. Place egg white halves on a plastic lined cookie sheet to prevent sticking and damage to whites.

2. Prepare filling by adding Yolks, Mayonnaise, Mustard, TAJÍN® and Lime juice to a bowl and mixing until incorporated. Put filling in a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3. Fill each egg half with Filling and Garnish with Cilantro, Scallions and an additional sprinkle of TAJÍN®.

Find More Recipes at Tajin.com

 WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Copyright © 2016 Claudias Cocina LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

Tajín Cauliflower Ceviche

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Cauliflower head, cut into florets

• 4 Roma tomatoes, seeds removed, diced

• 1 large Cucumber, peeled, diced

• ½ cup Red onion, minced

• ½ cup Cilantro, chopped

• ½ cup Fresh Lime juice

• ¼ cup Fresh Orange juice

• 1 tablespoons TAJÍN®

• 2 Avocados salt

PREPARATION:

For 4-6 servings

1. Fill a large stock-pot with hot water and add salt. Set stock-pot on high heat until a rolling boil is achieved. Add Cauliflower Florets and boil for 3-4 minutes until fork tender. Strain and allow to cool completely.

2. Dice cauliflower florets into small bite size pieces or desired size. Place cauliflower into a large bowl and add both lime and orange juice. Season with TAJÍN® and salt to taste.

3. Fold in Tomatoes, Cucumber, Onion, and Cilantro. Mix until thoroughly incorporated.

4. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

5. Serve with tostadas, saltine crackers, and garnish with avocado slices.

http://www.tajin.com/recipes/cauliflower_Ceviche

WANT MORE RECIPES LIKE THESE? ORDER CHEF CLAUDIA’S COOKBOOK AT http://www.chefclaudiascocina.com/store 

Copyright © 2016 Claudias Cocina LLC. All Rights Reserved.