This recipe is dedicated to my niece Ruth who lives in San Diego. When I visit we always drive down to Ensenada for fish tacos. The fish are fried in batter there. I’ve taken a few liberties and added beer and taco seasoning to the batter. I prefer the catfish nuggets because they are nice and firm, have a great taste and are usually the cheapest fish at the local market.
A south of the border blend of textures and flavors. serve hot as a main dish or a side dish with grilled meat or chicken.
This recipe halves easily. “If you have a cast-iron skillet, you can make so many things in it for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” says Willis, author of “Basic to Brilliant Y’all” It’s a roasting pan. It’s a baking dish. It’s a skillet.” To me, the cast iron skillet is symbolic of the south. If you’re not crazy about allspice or cloves, leave them out, though it is original to the recipe.
Are you craving that great Mexican rice from your favorite taco stand? Here it is. This is just like a good Mexican restaurant rice. Many recipes taste good… but the texture just isn’t right. You know how it is… you have prepared scores of Mexican rice recipes but always have been disappointed. It may be delicious but kinda “gloopy and wet.” Try this. Everything is pureed and cooked in. There are no chunks of anything… just dry fluffy rice with all the seasonings and just the tiniest hint of a tomato flavor. I will throw away all of my Mexican rice recipes- this is the one I have been looking for for years! I don’t own a rice cooker but some people have had disappointing results using one. You will also need to adjust your cooking time if you want to use brown rice. I recommend following the cooking instructions as directed. Proceed at your own peril if you stray. Enjoy.
Easy to assemble, deliciously creamy and a great choice for once-a-month cooking. And there is NO canned cream soup in my enchiladas — Hope you give them a try!
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