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Baked Eggs in Creamy Corn Sauce with Basil August 18, 1999
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Discuss this column in Post &
Riposte. Previously in Corby's Table:
Hail to the Chef -- July 15, 1999
Persian Appeal -- June 3, 1999
Help! My Child Is a Vegan! -- April 28, 1999
Seasons and Seasonings -- March 3, 1999
Seductions of Rice -- January 27, 1999
A Passion for Pastry -- December 17, 1998
Soup With Style -- November 11, 1998
Mangia, Mangia in the Mountains -- October 7, 1998
Adventures in Grains and Greens -- August 26, 1998
Vegging Out -- July 9, 1998 More by Corby Kummer in Atlantic Unbound
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Like most of Central and South America, Chile's cuisine is influenced by "two opposing cultures: the native Indians and the Spanish conquistadores." The Arab Moors who occupied Spain and the French cooks the Chilean aristocracy hired at the turn of the century have left traces too. The book's recipes are straightforward and inviting, and many take advantage of the summer produce still filling local farmer's markets (the height of Chilean summer is Christmastime, when school break begins and everyone heads for the beach). Corn, both dried and fresh, is central to many Chilean dishes. One of the most delicious-looking recipes from The Chilean Kitchen is eggs baked with fresh kernels, onion, and basil that can be served either at brunch -- the author says it "has become my favorite brunch dish" -- or for a summer supper. Chile peppers enliven a salad of ripe tomatoes and the thinly sliced fresh onions Chileans love; despite the country's name, however, chiles do not permeate its cuisine and are rarely used at full heat. The sweetness of corn and the sweet-acid balance of tomatoes play against the natural sweetness of pork in a fresh-tasting pork stew spiced with cumin, oregano, and a bit of serrano or jalapeño. Many South American countries use mild, full-fat cheeses in surprising ways, as shown in a recipe for grilled sea bass -- Chile's most famous fish, endangered by its popularity and now being widely farmed -- stuffed with Gouda and chorizo sausage. Try this as a surprise before putting away the grill for the season, and be sure to make enough for your guests -- a lesson the newly arrived author learned the hard way when she first encountered the seemingly limitless native appetite for meat. -- Corby Kummer
Excerpts from The Chilean Kitchen, by Ruth Van Waerebeek-Gonzalez Huevos con Pilco de Choclo
El pilco, a native corn dish, has a name that sounds like a song. This thick, creamy corn sauce, somehow always flavored with basil, turns up in many local dishes. Sometimes meat is cooked in the sauce, sometimes it is paired with other vegetables such as green beans, potatoes, or white beans for a purely vegetarian meal; and sometimes it is simply served as a side dish with roasted meats or poultry. The following recipe has become my favorite brunch dish. The chunky, tasty corn mixture makes a wonderful accompaniment to baked eggs. It's easy, healthy, and surprisingly good. Just don't forget to serve a pungent fresh tomato salsa, for example, Chancho en Piedra, alongside in the pure Chilean tradition.
Preheat the oven to 400F (205C). Butter 4 individual earthenware dishes or 1 large one. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened but not browned, 4 minutes. Add the corn and milk. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the corn is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes. (Frozen corn will take a little longer than fresh because it releases more water.) Season generously with salt, black pepper, and basil. (The dish can be prepared in advance up to this point. Reheat the corn mixture, adding a little milk if necessary, before continuing.) Spoon the corn mixture evenly into the prepared dishes. Make an indentation in the corn mixture in the center of each dish for the eggs. Carefully break 1 or 2 eggs at a time into a bowl, and let them slide into each indentation. Season with salt and black pepper, and dot with the butter, Bake 7 to 10 minutes, until the egg white is milky and the yolk is set but still soft. Serve immediately. Chancho en Piedra
Select juicy red tomatoes, pungent green chiles, sweet onions, and young garlic to capture the Chilean summer on your table. This is the national salsa. It's an exhilarating complement to the grilled meats and roasted chicken or fish and a zesty companion to Chilean specialties, such as empanadas, humitas, and Pastel de Choclo. Indeed, this delicious salsa combines with nearly everything, and it easily becomes a hot addiction!
In a large mortar, crush the garlic, chile peppers, and salt to a paste, using a circular motion with your pestle. If you don't have a mortar, use a knife to chop the garlic and chiles with the salt as fine as possible; then use the broad side of the knife against the chopping board to purée the mixture. In the same mortar or in a serving bowl, add all the other ingredients and combine well. To control the heat, set some of the puréed chile mixture aside and add at the end to taste. This salsa is best when freshly prepared, but leftovers will keep well 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Ensalata a la Chilena
This salad is without a doubt the queen of the Chilean salads. Juicy red tomatoes are paired with lots of paper-thin onion fans, and the flavors are heightened with a sprinkle of hot chiles and cilantro. In the Central Valley we are blessed with a warm and endless summer and sun-ripened, sweet tomatoes are abundant in our country markets for several months a year. The sweet tomato offers us el regalo de su color fogoso y la totalidad de su frescura, "the gift of its fiery color and its total fresh coolness," as Pablo Neruda sings in his "Ode to the Tomato."
Place the onion slices and salt in a bowl; cover with cold water, and soak for about 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse briefly under cold running water. Shake well. This step will eliminate most of the sharpness of the onion. Arrange the tomatoes on a platter. Salt generously. Top with the onion, chile, and cilantro. Sprinkle the oil evenly over the salad, toss to combine, and serve at once.
Tomaticán con Pulpa de Cerdo
It's common knowledge in Chile that the country folk eat better and healthier than do their counterparts living in the big cities. Their diet is based on myriad vegetables, mostly grown in their own backyards; little meat; and hearty legume dishes in the damp winter months. This should be inspiring for the health conscious among us! This summer stew is a perfect example: Little nuggets of pork are cooked until tender in juicy tomatoes, onions, and sweet corn. A handful of minced cilantro, parsley, and pungent chili peppers sprinkled over the stew before serving gives the dish an extra, welcome bite. Tomaticán is often prepared with chicken or beef for an equally tasty dish. Arroz Graneado makes a perfect accompaniment, or serve tomaticán with a variety of Chilean salads.
Heat the lard over high heat in a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven. Add the pork, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Reduce the heat to low, add the onions, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, 8 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, and tomatoes with their juices; simmer partly covered over low heat until the pork is tender, 45 minutes. Add the corn and simmer 15 minutes more. Taste for seasonings. Before serving, sprinkle with the cilantro, parsley, and chile.
Arroz Graneado
Ever since the Spanish settlers introduced rice, Chile has produced this versatile grain in the northern provinces. It soon became a staple in the people's diet. Chileans like their ricegraneado, meaning the rice grains are fluffy, separated, and delicately flavored with onion, bell pepper, or carrot. To prevent the grains from clinging together, the rice is rinsed under cold running water before cooking. I try to stay away from converted rice, which has been soaked and pressure steamed; the procedure reduces the surface starch but eliminates most of the flavor as well.
Rinse the rice thoroughly under cold running water and drain. Heat the lard in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and carrot; sauté, stirring, 2 minutes. Add the rice, and cook until the rice has absorbed the flavorful oil, 1 minute. Pour in the hot water, and add the salt and parsley. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes. Do not stir, and cook the rice as slowly as possible. Use a heat diffuser, if you have one. The rice is done when the water has been completely absorbed and the rice is tender. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve at once.
Cancata de Corvina
I actually discovered this dish by following my nose! Irresistibly intrigued by aromas reminiscent of pizza and grilled fish, we entered a tiny restaurant. We were greeted with"Pasa no mas, la cocina esta abierta" ("Come right in, the kitchen is open"), which led us to believe we were in the right place. And there it was, a huge fish grilled over smothering charcoal with all my favorite pizza toppings: cheese, spicy sausage, and tomatoes seasoned with garlic and oregano. An odd combination that, surprisingly, tasted great. The origin of the name cancato -- from the Indian word canca, meaning "grilled" or cancay, meaning "grilling or toasting" -- makes me believe that it's a dish with history. Cancato is a specialty of southern Chile. It's usually prepared with a big fish; but I've found it more practical to use smaller fish, because they don't fall apart and are easier to serve. Sometimes the fish is folded in half to enclose the filling, but traditionally, it's grilled open-faced. Both versions are delicious and recommended for your next cookout. Serve it with a variety of Chilean salads.
Prepare the coals for grilling. Cut each fish along the sides, detaching the bones from the flesh, leaving the sides attached at the back. Carefully open the fish like a book. Discard the bones. Place the fish on a fine meshed grill, skin side down. Season with salt and black pepper. Arrange the chorizo, tomatoes, and cheese evenly over each fish. Sprinkle with the garlic and oregano. Drizzle with the melted butter. Grill the fish until the cheese starts to melt, 10 to 15 minutes. Brush the fish a few times with the parsley sprigs dipped in white wine to give the dish a special touch. Serve at once.
Corby Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly and the author of The Joy of Coffee More by Corby Kummer in Atlantic Unbound Copyright © 1999 by Corby Kummer. Recipes and links from The Chilean Kitchen by Ruth Van Waerebeek-Gonzalez. HPBooks: New York, New York, 1999. Paperback, 324 pages. ISBN: 155788-307-6. $16.95. Copyright © by Ruth Van Waerebeek-Gonzalez. |
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