Callos (Cow Tripe Stew)

One of most traditional dishes of the Madrid gastronomy, easy to find in many bars, taverns and restaurants from the humblest ones to the most elegant.

Ingredients for 4 people:

-1,5 Kg. (3.5 Lb) Cow Tripe.

-1 Kg. (2.3 Lb)Cow Snout.

-100 Gr. (3.5 Oz) Salt Pork Belly.

-1 Cured Ham Bone.

-2 Blood Sausages.

-2 Chorizos.

-1 Onion.

-1 Head of Garlic.

-1 Bay Leaf.

-Flour.

-Sweet Paprika.

-Ground White Pepper.

-Olive Oil.

-Salt.

It is pretty important with this recipe carry out a deep cleaning of the cow tripes and snout. It must be done by scraping them with salt and lemon or vinegar, and cleaning them with plenty of water. Boil them in a pot with water, when it starts to boil, switch the water and add the salt pork belly, the cured ham bone, the blood sausages, the chorizos, the onion, the bay leaf, salt and white pepper.

When the water starts to boil again, remove the foam from the top and lower the heat and let it cook slowly for about 3 hours.  Meanwhile in a pan prepare the saute with the olive oil, the onion, the peeled garlic,  1 tablespoon of paprika and 1 tablespoon of flour (add the paprika and the flour when the onion and the garlic get soft). When all of the ingredients are mixed add the chorizo and the blood sausages, stir it for a little while and add the saute to the bowl along with the tripe and the snout.  Take care the stew doesn’t run out of broth but it shouldn't be too soupy.

Salt to your liking and present it in a ceramic dish.

Sweet & Sour Pork

Today the posted recipe sounds more exotic than usual,  although it is familiar and we eat it often, it is not in our customary mediterranean diet. But, in this version we will use everyday ingredients.

 
Ingredients for 4 people:

-750 Gr. (26 Oz) of Diced Lean Pork.
-1 Carrot.  
-1 Onion.  
-1 Green Bell Pepper.  
-Soy Sauce.  
-Soy Sprouts.  
-Chicken Broth or Knorr Cubes.  
-Sugar.
-Vinegar.
-Olive Oil.

First of all, let the diced pork marinate in the soy sauce and olive oil for 2 hours. After this, stir fry it in a deep pan or wok, until the pork browns.

Place the pork pieces in a pot and pour chicken broth until it covers the meat and let it boil while cooking the veggies.  Saute the chopped veggies in the same pan where we cooked the pork on high. Add the drained pork after 15 mn boiling and mix with the veggies.

Reduce the rest of the broth until it is thicker and add 4 tablespoons sugar and a stream of vinegar. Add the soy sprouts to the pork and then the reduced broth, and...LISTO!!!