CASUELA RECIPES

Steps:

• Cut the piece of beef into 6 large chunks (one per serving). Place the beef into a large saucepan; pour in the beef broth and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer until nearly tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir the polenta into the stew along with the potatoes and onion. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Cut the pumpkin into 6, serving-sized pieces, and add to the stew along with the corn, carrot, bell pepper, celery, and leek; simmer until the vegetables are tender, adding more water if needed to barely cover. Stir in the oregano and paprika during the last 5 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle into serving bowls, and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Steps:

• In a large enameled cast iron or other flameproof casserole, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, and peppers and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened. Stir in the prosciutto and cook for 3 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes and increase the heat to medium high. Stirring frequently to prevent the mixture from scorching, cook until the liquid from the tomatoes has evaporated. Stir in the ground almonds, saffron, thyme, rosemary, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, and wine. Reduce the mixture until the wine has almost all evaporated. Add the fish stock and lemon juice, bring the mixture to a boil and add the clams and mussels. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes. Add the shrimp, scallops, and squid and cook for 5 minutes more, by which time all of the shellfish should have opened. Remove and discard any that have not. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary, and serve straight from the casserole into heated soup bowls, garnished with a wedges of lemon and toasted bread.