International Festival Recipes

Sancocho de Gallina (Chicken Soup – Stew) – Panama

Ingredients:
1 Patio chicken
1 Tbsp oil (your choice)
1 Chopped large onion.
1 Chopped green Pepper.
4 Chopped cloves of garlic
4 Chopped cilantro leaves
1 Tbs. salt (to taste)
3 Chopped ears of corn (broken into 1-in pieces)
2 Lbs. chopped ñame (Caribbean yam). Can be substituted with Otoe, yuca/cassava,
potatoes).
1 Tsp oregano leaves
1 Red pepper without seeds

Instructions:

Cut chicken into pieces and place in large pot over low flame and heat well. Add onion,
peppers, and garlic. Cover pot and leave on medium flame until cooked well. Add
enough water to cover the ingredients and let it boil for at least 40 minutes. Now add the
cilantro, salt, corn, and ñame. Let it all cook together until all the ingredients are soft. At
this point there should be enough soup stock. Add oregano and hot pepper. Boil for
another 8 minutes and serve.
Note: In some regions of Panama, yucca (cassava), Otoe, and squash is also added.

Arroz con Pollo (Rice with Chicken) – Panama

Ingredients:
1 Chicken cut into separate pieces.
1/3 Cup Oil
2 Chopped onions.
3 Chopped Peppers
4 Garlic cloves finely chopped.
10 Chopped small tomatoes.
1 Laurel leaf
½ Tsp. Ground pepper
½ Cup white wine
2 Tsp. salt
3 Cups uncooked rice
3 Cups water
1 Tbs. Annatto seeds

Instructions:

Heat the oil and stir fry the chicken pieces until brown. Add the onion, peppers, and
garlic and keep stirring. Add the tomatoes, laurel, pepper, wine and salt. Let the mixture
sit for 5 minutes. Wash the rice and add. Heat the water with the annatto seeds until
boiling, drain and add to the pan discarding the annatto seeds Cover and cook at a
medium heat until it begins to boil. Reduce the heat and let cook until the water is
absorbed, and the rice is dry and separates easily. Garnish with sweet peas and red
peppers.

Easy Carne con Papas (Cuba)

Ingredients:

  • 2-3lbs Stew Meat
  • 2 bay leaves,
  • oregano and cumin to taste
  • 1 12 oz can tomato sauce or tomato puree
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2-3 medium size potatoes cut in 2” pieces
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2/3 cup of water with a beef bouillon in it
  • ½ green pepper, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely diced
  • ½ cup of sherry or Spanish (Goya or Edmundo) cooking wine
  • 1 can LeSeur peas (need soft peas)
  • chopped parsley for garnish if desired.

Instructions:

Dry the pieces of stew meat and cut them if needed for uniform sized pieces, about 2”. Season
them with salt and pepper. Line a baking pan large enough to hold the pieces in one layer
without touching each other with parchment paper (easy cleaning). In a skillet, sautee the
onions, garlic and green pepper over medium heat so the onions caramelize, but do not burn.
Add the tomato sauce and spices and mix well. Add and mix in the wine. Simmer for a few
minutes, then pour the mixture into the baking pan. Place the pieces of meat on the sauce
leaving a small space in between. Do not cover with the sauce yet. Cover tightly with foil. After
1 hour, baste the meat with the sauce. Add the water around the edges and mix in. Add the
potatoes and baste with the sauce. Cover and braise for 1.5 hours. Check after an hour and add
water if needed (potatoes take in water). Uncover and let rest for a few minutes mixing
everything and adjusting the seasonings. Garnish wit the peas and parsley if desired. Serve with
white rice, microwaved frozen sweet plantains, and salad.

This is the Cuban version of beef stew. It represents the Spanish influence: protein in a tomato
base flavored with wine, bay leaf, oregano and cumin, as well as the Creole influence: a sofrito
made with onion, garlic and green pepper. Makes 6-8 servings. Can be adjusted for servings.

Pasta de Bocaditos (Cuba)

Ingredients:

  • 1 can deviled ham
  • 1 small jar of pimentos
  • 4oz cream cheese

Instructions:

In a food processor mix all ingredients.
That’s it! Relish or mustard can be added. Can also be made with chopped ham.

This is the Cuban version of Southern ham sandwich. It is served on soda crackers or sliders at
children’s birthday parties along with cake and Coca-Cola.