Yucca Mofongo with Creaola Fish Stew

Name: Yucca Mofongo with Creaola Fish Stew
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H50M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 8 to 10 cups vegetable or canola oil, for frying; 3 pounds yucca, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks; 3 to 4 cloves garlic, peeled; 2 cups pork rinds; Salt; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 5 to 6 leaves culantro, chopped, plus more for garnish, optional; 4 to 5 small sweet chile peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 1 small bunch fresh cilantro, chopped; 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped; 2 cups tomato sauce; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 1/2 pounds firm-fleshed oily fish, such as rainbow runner, skinned and cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 tablespoon adobo seasoning; Salt

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Level: Intermediate
Total: 50 min

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 25 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Intermediate
Total: 50 min

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 25 min

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Yucca Mofongo:

8 to 10 cups vegetable or canola oil, for frying

3 pounds yucca, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

3 to 4 cloves garlic, peeled

2 cups pork rinds

Salt

Creaola Fish Stew:

2 tablespoons olive oil

5 to 6 leaves culantro, chopped, plus more for garnish, optional

4 to 5 small sweet chile peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 small bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

2 cups tomato sauce

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 1/2 pounds firm-fleshed oily fish, such as rainbow runner, skinned and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tablespoon adobo seasoning

Salt

Directions

For the yucca mofongo: Add the oil to a small stockpot to fill it about 4 inches up the side. Place the pot over medium-high heat and preheat to 350 degrees F (adjust the heat as needed throughout cooking to maintain that temperature). Carefully add the yucca to the hot oil and fry until pale golden brown and tender when pierced with a knife, 8 to 10 minutes. While the yucca is frying, mash the garlic in the bottom of a serving bowl. When the yucca are ready, carefully remove about one-third of them from the oil and transfer to the serving bowl. Add some of the pork rinds, sprinkle lightly with salt and mash them into a chunky paste. Continue adding the remaining yucca and pork rinds to the serving bowl in 2 more batches, mashing them into a chunky paste. Adjust the final seasoning with salt as needed. Keep warm until ready to serve.
For the fish stew: Place a large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat with the olive oil. Add the culantro, chile peppers, garlic, cilantro and onions to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until aromatic, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and tomato paste and continue cooking until the vegetables are tender, 4 to 5 minutes more. Sprinkle the fish with the adobo seasoning and add it to the skillet. Simmer, gently stirring occasionally, until the fish is cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt as needed. Serve the fish stew with the mofongo.

Cook’s Note

Mofongo is traditionally prepared and served in a tall wooden mortar and pestle called a "pilon". If you don't have a pilon or mortar and pestle, it can be prepared in a normal mixing bowl and mashed with a wooden spoon or cocktail muddler.

This recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional. It has not been tested for home use.