SOFRITO MIX RECIPES

Steps:

• Prepare the plantains: Line a sheet pan with paper towels; set aside. Cut off the ends of each plantain. With the tip of a knife, score plantains lengthwise and peel off the skin. Using a serrated knife or chef’s knife, cut each plantain in half lengthwise, and then halve again lengthwise so you end up with 24 long slices. (If some of the slices break or are unevenly shaped, that’s OK! Carry on.)
• In a large cast-iron or heavy skillet, heat 1 cup oil over medium-high to between 350 and 375 degrees. Working with 4 to 6 slices at a time, depending on what fits, fry plantains until deep golden brown, turning halfway through, about 6 minutes total. Transfer fried plantains to the prepared sheet pan and cook remaining plantains; set aside. (Let oil cool, then strain and reserve for another use.)
• Prepare the sofrito: Put onion, bell pepper, ají dulce chiles (if using), garlic, cilantro and culantro (if using), in a food processor; blend until it becomes a rough, wet purée. (You should have about 1 cup sofrito).
• Prepare the picadillo: In a large, heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium until it shimmers. Add the sofrito and cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the beef and stir in the salt, pepper, cumin, paprika and oregano. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is evenly cooked and no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Turn off heat. Push meat mixture to one side, and carefully tilt skillet so that the fat from the meat collects at the bottom of the tilted pan; spoon off and discard as much of this excess fat as you can.
• Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the chopped tomatoes, wine and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes fall apart and the liquid starts to reduce, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in olives and raisins, if using. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Picadillo can be made up to 2 days in advance. Rewarm it in a pan on the stove before proceeding with recipe.)
• Prepare the pastelón: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with butter. Whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt and set aside.
• Lay half the fried plantain slices along the bottom of the baking dish crosswise, piecing any broken pieces together to form an even layer. (If there are small gaps in the plantain layer, this is OK.) Top with half the picadillo (about 2 cups), smoothing it into an even layer, then sprinkle half the cheese on top in an even layer. Repeat with another layer of plantains then the remaining picadillo. Pour the whisked eggs evenly over the picadillo layer and spread it so it settles down into the pastelón. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
• Bake the pastelón until the egg is cooked, the cheese is melted and the layers are set, 20 to 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve hot.

Steps:

• Saute the celery, carrots, onions, herbs, garlic, bay leaf, paprika and salt, pepper and sugar to taste (this is called a sofrito) in a medium saute pan, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool until ready to use.
• Pulse the shrimp in a food processor, leaving some larger shrimp pieces. Mix with the sofrito and sprinkle with salt.
• Form the shrimp mixture into 4 to 6 burger patties. Sprinkle both sides of the burgers with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large saute pan with the butter over medium-high heat. Cook the burgers until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Pull the burgers from the pan and toast the buns in the butter (you may need to add a little more butter at this step, depending on how much is left in the pan).
• To serve, top the burger with Aioli and Cabbage-Apple Slaw.
• Place the egg yolks, lemon juice and hot sauce in a food processor and pulse to combine.
• While the food processor is running, slowly add the oil to form an emulsion. Once the egg yolks and oil have emulsified, thin out with water (about 1/4 cup) and season with salt and pepper. Fold in the herbs. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Mix together the cabbage and apples in a large bowl and season with salt.
• Combine the lemon juice, olive oil and thyme in a small bowl. Season with salt, pepper and sugar. Mix the slaw with the dressing.