Ajiaco Cubano: Traditional Cuban Stew

Ajiaco Cubano: Traditional Cuban Stew

Ajiaco Cubano is a quintessential Cuban dish that embodies the country's diverse cultural tapestry. This hearty stew combines an array of meats and root vegetables simmered in a seasoned tomato-based broth, making it a perfect blend of flavors and textures. It is said that a good bowl of Ajiaco can "raise the spirits," offering warmth and comfort in every bite.

Ingredients

🍗 2 chicken drums
🥩 Half pound beef shank bone
🐷 Half pound pork
🥓 2 strips smoked bacon diced
🥔 2 pieces white sweet potato boniato
🥔 4 pieces potatoes
🌽 2 corn cobs cut into pieces
💧 2 large taro roots malangas
🍌 1 sweet plantain pintón - semi-ripe
🍌 1 green plantain
🎃 1/2 piece butternut squash calabaza
🥥 1 piece cassava yuca
🧅 1 small onion chopped
🧄 4 garlic cloves minced
🌶️ 1/2 piece red pepper chopped
🌶️ 1/2 piece green pepper chopped
🌿 1 teaspoon cumin
🌿 1 teaspoon oregano
🍃 2 bay leaves
🫕 1 packet Goya seasoning Sazón with Saffron Goya
🍅 1 can tomato sauce or 7 tablespoons
🧄 Salt
🌶️ A little bit freshly ground black pepper
🍋 1 lime half for the stew, half for garnish
💧 Water enough to cover ingredients

Instructions

1- Prepare Vegetables:

• Peel and chop the white sweet potatoes, malangas, green plantain, potatoes, and cassava into small pieces.
• Cut the corn cobs into smaller rounds. Place all chopped vegetables (except butternut squash) in a bowl of water with squeezed lime juice to prevent browning.

2- Brown Meats:

• Place a large pot on the Frigidaire stove.
• Add the beef shank, pork, and chicken drumsticks. Season with salt and a small amount of oil.
• Brown and sear the meats on all sides using a wooden spoon.

3- Soften Meats:

• Cover the pot and allow the meats to soften.

4- Debone Meats (Optional):

• Once the meats are tender, uncover the pot.
• Optionally, remove the bones from the beef shank and chicken drumsticks and discard them.
• Break down the meat into smaller pieces using the wooden spoon and a fork.

5- Build Sofrito:

• Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot with the browned meat and rendered fat.
• Sauté until fragrant.

6- Add Peppers and Spices:

• Incorporate the chopped red and green bell peppers, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, and Goya seasoning.
• Stir well to combine.

7- Add Tomato Sauce and Bacon:

• Pour in the tomato sauce/puree and season with a little black pepper.
• Add the diced smoked bacon. Stir everything together thoroughly.

8- Add Lime Juice:

• Squeeze half a lime into the stew, mixing to distribute the tangy flavor.

9- Add Main Vegetables and Simmer:

• Add the reserved chopped corn, yuca, malanga, potatoes, and plantains to the pot.
• Pour in enough water to completely cover all ingredients.
• Stir gently.

10- Cook Vegetables:

• Cover the pot and simmer for approximately 45 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

11- Add Butternut Squash:

• Once the other vegetables are softened, add the chopped butternut squash.
• Stir gently to incorporate.

12- Finish Cooking:

• Cover the pot again and continue simmering until the butternut squash is tender.

13- Serve:

• The Ajiaco is ready when all ingredients are tender and the broth is rich and flavorful.
• Serve hot in a white bowl with lime wedges on the side.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories per Serving: ~350
Proteins: 26g
Fats: 15g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Equipment:

• 🍲 Large pot
• 🔪 Kitchen knife
• 🧼 Cutting board
• 🥄 Wooden spoon
• 🍴 Ladle
• 🥣 Bowl for soaking vegetables and serving
• 🍽️ Plate for serving
• 🔥 Frigidaire stove

Cooking Tips

• Soaking peeled and chopped starchy vegetables in water with lime juice prevents oxidation.
• Browning the meats first, especially the bacon, helps render fat which forms a flavorful base for the sofrito.
• Deboning meats can make it easier to eat and enhances the broth's flavor.
• Add lime juice for a pleasant acidity that balances the flavors.

#cuban #ajiaco #stew #comfortfood #familyrecipe

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Ajiaco Cubano: Traditional Cuban Stew