Showing posts with label sausage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sausage. Show all posts

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Recipe: Chorizo-Potato Hash with Poached Egg

I love Chorizo! It's adds wonderful flavor to dishes. I grew up eating corned-beef hash, so I developed this twist with chorizo. Chorizo is a spicy Mexican sausage made from pork or beef. I usually prefer the pork. When you buy chorizo, you can pick it up prepackaged in the refrigerated section near the sausages. But if you're as fortunate to live in an area similar to Los Angeles, with a dense latino population, you can probably find the real thing. Go to your local carneceria (butcher shop) and pick up fresh chorizo.


I'm going to show you how to make this great breakfast dish. It also makes a great stuffing for breakfast burritos - just add some cheese a wrap in a tortilla! This is

So let's make some chorizo-potato hash topped with poached egg!

This recipe makes a serving for two.

1/4 Pound Chorizo Sausage (removed from casing)
1 Large Russet Potato (small dice)
2 Cloves of Garlic (chopped)
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Paprika
Chives (chopped finely)
2 Tbsp Olive Oil -or- Vegetable Oil
Salt and Pepper
Crema Mexicana -or- Sour Cream
2 Tortillas

2 Eggs
4 tsp White Vinegar (1 tsp per each cup of water)
4 cups Water
You will also need a ladle (a teacup or small ramekin will also work) and a slotted spoon.

1. BOIL WATER FOR EGGS
Bring 4 Cups of Water and 4 tsp of White Vinegar to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Prepare has while water comes to a boil.

2. PREPARE YOUR CHORIZO 
When cooking with chorizo, I remove the meat from the outer casing, by slicing the casing with a knife and then scooping it out with a spoon. Set aside in a bowl.

3. PREPARE YOUR POTATOES
We want a small dice of potato. First take your potato and cut it in half lengthwise. Take one half and put it flat side down. Hold your knife parallel to the cutting board and hold your palm flat on top of the potato. Keep your fingers up and be careful! Starting at one end slice the potato about 1/4" from bottom and then again another 1/4" above that piece. Continue to make 1/4" slices until you are at the top. Now cut the potatoes into 1/4" strip lengthwise from top. Turn the potato so that the strips are perpendicular to you. Starting at one end make cuts every 1/4" and you will see perfect little cubes start to fall onto your cutting board. Now you have a small dice! Repeat with other half.

4. SAUTEE CHORIZO
Add chorizo to a large skillet over medium heat. Separate meat with a wood spoon and cook until evenly heated for about 4-5 minutes. Set aside but keep any juices from chorizo in skillet.

NOTE: While my chorizo is cooking is when I like to chop my fresh chives and garlic.

5. COOK POTATOES
Over med-high heat add 2 Tbsp Oil to the skillet the chorizo was cooked in. When oil is hot, add potatoes. Add and gently mix together the Cumin, Paprika, Salt and Pepper. Let potatoes cook for about 3 minutes and give a good stir. Cook for about 6 more minutes, stirring occasionally. Add about 3 Tbsp water and quickly cover and let potatoes steam for a few more minutes. Add Chorizo and chopped garlic and stir together. Cook on high heat for 1 minute. Turn off heat and cover to keep warm.

4. POACH EGGS
Once your water is boiling, lower the heat to a low rolling boil. Crack your egg into a ladle. You can also have multiple eggs ready in tea cups or small ramekins. Gently lower the ladle into the water, letting a little hot water in around the egg. When it starts to set (you will see it turning white) gently release it into the water. It will need to cook for about 3-4 minutes, until all the white is set. You may need to use a spoon to gently move it in the water so it doesn't stick the side by accident. Stay with your little egg and watch it. When the white is cooked, remove and serve immediately.

NOTE: You may want to lightly spray your ladle with cooking spray. But it's not necessary.

5. TORTILLAS!
Tortillas are a perfect accompaniment for this dish. You can use then to sop up all the deliciousness. I heat my tortillas while the eggs are poaching. You can heat them on a skillet or that way I prefer is directly on the burner of my gas stove. Keep them moving circularly and flipping them so they don't burn. Fold them into quarters (in half and half again) and fold in dish towel to keep warm.

6. PLATING
I like to use a colored plate for this dish, because there is alot of white with the egg and the cream. So a colored dish really adds nice contrast.

After your chorizo-potato hash is finished keep it warm. About 30 seconds before your eggs are done. Add a generous scoop of hash to the center of the plate and with the back of the spoon press the center slightly down, making a place for the egg to rest. Dip a fork into the crema and quickly drizzle back and forth on one side of the plate, making a white line across the hash and plate. Top the hash with the poached egg. Sprinkle with chives. Add tortilla to one side of plate and serve immediately.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Local Heros: Berlin Currywurst

Hardeep tops currywurst with yellow curry spice powder
Yesterday the residents of Silver Lake were blessed with the opening of Berlin Currywurst. The Sunset Junction's neighborhood now has simple, delicious food and affordable prices thanks to three beautiful people from Germany taking over the old Pupuseria and giving it a modern overhaul.

Local Heros: Hardeep, Lena & Haike making food and new roots in LA.
Hardeep, Lena and Haike have brought the flavor of Berlin's streets to Los Angeles. They have perfected authentic recipes from Germany for Currywursts topped with tantalizing sauces that will make your taste buds sing. They have four levels of spice and you get to determine the heat level. Be warned trying Level Four, your taste buds might scream.
Paprikawurst with Jambalaya Sauce
Basically a currywurst is a sausage sliced up and topped with a tomato-based sauce. The sauces are all made in-house from organic sources. The sausages made by a supplier with traditional German methods. The meat is 100% natural with no added hormones or antibiotics. It's served with shepards bread to sop up all the sauce. Make sure to try the Fritten - homemade fries from organic potatoes with minced onions. They're great with ketchup or mayo.



Here's how it works:

FIRST - You pick your currywurst (it's a sausage). They have a variety of meat selections, as well as, vegetarian tofu options. What ever you're in the mood for - pork, beef, chicken, tofu - they make it delicious.

Choose your currywurst from the Chalkboard Menu

SECOND - Choose your heat level. They have four heat levels, two of which you must be 16 years or older to try. They are all named aptly:
- Berlin Calling (heat level 1)
- Bear Bender (heat level 2)
- Kiezgrösse - Local Hero (heat level 3) *
- Break the Wall (heat level 4) *
*must be 16yrs or older

Choose your heat level

THIRD - You Flavor. Pick from four disctinctive sauces flavors: fruity, chipotle, garlic or jambalaya.



Mini wood forks from Germany

FOURTH - Eat with their little wood forks imported from Germany one tasy bite at a time. You'll be wanting more when you eat your last bite of sauage.

Try the Fritten with minced onion
Located on Sunset on the corner of Hyperion, you enter a sparse space, but with a very warm feeling and smiles from the wonderful owners. The tall white walls are covered with black and photos of Berlin taken by a friend of the owners. Brickwork, wooden communal style tables, old school chairs and casual chalkboard menu give charm and warmth to this little space. They also have a wonderful patio if you would like to sit in the warm California sun while munching on some delectable food.

Enjoy the afternoon sun on the patio.


Get it to go.



Berlin Currywurst is located at 3827 W Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026. Located on the corner of Hyperion next to Pazzo Gelato at Sunset Junction.



See more photos of food from Berlin Currywurst on Foodspotting.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Come to Papa's

** UPDATE** JULY 2011 - Papa's Place has had a lot of changes on their menu recently and may becoming something called Community Burger. The food has changed, the people have changes and I no longer recommend Papa's Place as one of my favorite places to eat.

Kilbasa with Fries

One of my favorite places to eat in the Silverlake / Los Feliz neighborhood is Papa's Place. You can get a wonderfully fulfilling meal for under $10. Though it's called Papa's Place, their tag line is "Mom's Cooking" and when you eat there you can see why. The staff is always friendly as they serve up delicious food that is German-Mediterranean inspired. The food takes a little time as it always prepared fresh and made with much love.

Bratwurst with Fries
Burger with Fries
Tasty Skinny Fries
 They offer a wide selection of sausages, burgers, sandwiches, salads and side dishes. Vegetarians shouldn't be intimidated by the enormous wieners, they have plenty of vegetarian offerings.

One of my favorites, the PaPeRa bowl
A taste of Spicy Shrimp Ceviche

The sausages are always good. I tend to go for the spicy ones. One of my favorite dishes there is a PaPeRa. It's a bowl of bread cubes topped with braised beef, yogurt, browned butter and fresh herbs. It's wonderful. 


Orange-Walnut Puff Pastry

Cookies
Leave room for some treats too. Last night we were treated to an Orange-Walnut Puff Pastry, which left me wanting more of it's zesty tang all night.

The kind staff collects can tabs for medical patients.

See more photos of food from Papa's Place on Foodspotting.


Check out Papa's Place on Twitter to find out about daily specials.