Best Chicharron Mofongo Recipes

CHICHARRON MOFONGO

Steps:

• For the chicken: Cut the chicken thighs into 1-inch chunks. Combine the olive oil with the chicken base, granulated garlic, adobo seasoning, Cajun spice, granulated onion, black pepper and all-purpose seasoning in a large bowl. Add the chicken and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
• Deep-fry the chicken until cooked thoroughly. Drain on paper towels.
• For the mofongo: Slice the plantains into 1-inch pieces. Lightly fry until golden brown with a slightly crisp outside, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Combine the olive oil with the minced garlic, adobo seasoning, Cajun spice, granulated garlic and black pepper in a medium bowl. Add the fried plantains to the bowl and mash with a wooden pestle or potato mashing tool. Add half of the fried chicken to the mashed plantain mixture. Form a rounded mound of the mofongo mix in the center of a large plate. Arrange the remaining fried chicken pieces around the mofongo. Drizzle the Puerto Rican Remoulade over top.
• Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, granulated garlic, minced garlic, sofrito, adobo seasoning, Cajun spice, granulated onion, cayenne, black pepper and onion in a blender. Blend until an even consistency.
• Peel and slice the onion. Remove the stem and seeds from the bell pepper. Remove the stems from the mini peppers. Combine the onion, peppers, garlic and cilantro in a blender and pulse for 30 seconds, or until an even consistency is achieved.

MOFONGO

Steps:

• Prepare the guiso, if using: Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until simmering. Add sofrito, reduce heat to medium-low and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until liquid is evaporated.
• Pour in tomato sauce, partially cover with a lid, and simmer over low for 7 to 10 minutes. Sauce will thicken and darken in color.
• While sauce simmers, prepare the mofongo: Pour vegetable oil into a medium saucepan until it reaches a 3-inch depth, then heat over medium-high.
• Meanwhile, crush garlic and 1 teaspoon salt in a pilón or large mortar and pestle until a wet paste forms.
• In a separate, small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium until just simmering, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour this hot oil on top of the garlic, carefully stirring to incorporate. It'll sizzle, and the garlic may turn light green. Add lime juice to complete the mojo.
• Peel plantains by cutting off both ends, then make three lengthwise slices through the skin. Carefully pull up the peel and remove it, starting at one of the corners with the edge of your fingernail or the tip of your knife if tough, then cut the plantains into 1 1/2-inch rounds. (Be careful: Plantain skins will stain your hands and clothing.)
• Once the vegetable oil is simmering somewhere between 350 and 375 degrees - you can test by adding a small piece of plantain; it will sizzle when the oil is hot enough - add plantains in 2 or 3 batches, taking care not to crown the pot. Fry each batch for 6 to 9 minutes, stirring lightly a few times, until the plantains begin to brown. Be careful not to let them get too dark, or they'll be hard and dry. Use a slotted spoon or mesh strainer to transfer plantains to a towel-lined bowl.
• If you have a large enough pilón, add fried plantains and chicharrón, if using, until pilón is three-quarters full. Mash together, alternating pounding and grinding. Once mixture has condensed to about half its original size, add 1 heaping tablespoon of the prepared mojo (or to taste), and continue grinding and mashing until fully combined. The mixture will look like stuffing.
• If you don't have a pilón, combine plantains, chicharrón and mojo in a large wooden bowl. Using the bottom of a slender jar, such as an olive jar, mash together to incorporate, rotating the bowl after each mash. Pound, grind and mash until mofongo is blended.
• Form the mashed mixture into 4 individual mofongos, each roughly the size of a baseball, or press into the bottom of a small rice bowl, then turn each onto a plate or into a larger bowl.
• Serve immediately, garnished with extra chicharrón, lime wedges and cilantro, if you like. Spoon over guiso as desired.