Caldo De Bolas De Verde - Green Plantain Dumpling Soup

Ingredients

Beef broth

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 white onion, diced
• 6 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 tomatoes, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon achiote
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
• 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons chili or hot black pepper
• 10 cups water or broth
• 1 1/2 lbs beef bones
• 1 lb beef, stew style, cut in pieces
• 4 green plantains, peeled and cut in half
• 2 carrots, peeled
• 1 large fresh yuca cassava, peeled and cut in large chunks or 20 ounces frozen yuca cassava
• 3 fresh ears of corn, cut in half
• 4 cabbage leaves, cut in large pieces (optional)

Filling

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 red onion, finely diced
• 1 tomato, peeled and diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1/2 bell pepper, diced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon achiote
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter, toasted and blended with 1/4 cup of broth or 1/2 cup raw peanuts, toasted and blended with 1/4 cup of broth
• 4 tablespoons broth
• 1/2 cup cooked peas
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, diced (optional)
• salt and pepper, to tastes

Green plantain balls or dumplings

• 2 green plantains, peeled and grated (raw)
• 2 eggs
• salt
• pepper

Directions

1. 1

   Heat the butter over medium heat in a large pot, make a refrito or base for the broth by adding the diced onions, garlic, tomatoes, bell pepper, cumin, achiote, cilantro, oregano, salt and pepper.

2. 2

   Add the 10 cups of water/broth, the beef bones, the meat chunks, and plantains pieces.

3. 3

   Bring to a boil, reduce temperature and simmer for about 30 minutes.

4. 4

   Add the yuca pieces and continue simmering for another 30 minutes or until the meat is tender.

5. 5

   Add the carrots, corn and cabbage, cook for another 15 minutes or until all the ingredients are fully cooked.

6. 6

   Remove from the heat and let cool until safe to handle, then remove the bones from the broth and discard them.

7. 7

   Remove the meat, carrots, corn and yucas from the broth, leave the plantains in the broth until ready to use them – keeping them in the broth will prevent them from drying out and make it easier to mash them.

8. 8

   Remove the meat and chop it into very small pieces.

9. 9

   Cut the cooked carrots into small pieces.

10. 10

    Remove the strings from the yuca and cut them into small bite size pieces.

11. 11

    Chop the cooked cabbage and cut the corn in smaller slices; reserve the corn, yuca and cabbage for later.

12. 12

    To make the meat filling for the green banana balls or dumplings make a refrito or base by heating the butter or oil over medium heat, add the onions, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, cumin, achiote and salt.

13. 13

    Add the chopped meat, carrots, peas and cilantro.

14. 14

    Mix in the peanut butter and 4 tbs of the broth, as well as the raisins and hard boiled eggs if using, mix all the ingredients well and save the filling until needed.

15. 15

    Meanwhile remove the plantains from the broth and mix them in the food processor until a sticky dough is obtained.

16. 16

    Mix the cooked plantain dough with the grated raw plantains, the eggs and some salt and pepper, you can either mix these by hand or in the food processor.

17. 17

    Using your hands, try to keep them wet, form the plantain dough into medium to large sized balls, stuff each one with a generous spoonful or two of the meat filling.

18. 18

    Strain the broth and return to the heat until it boils, reduce to a simmer and add the dumplings, cook over low heat for about 10-15 minutes, be very careful not to stir the soup to avoid breaking the dumplings.

19. 19

    Using a ladle remove the dumplings from the soup and place them on a plate.

20. 20

    Add the chopped yuca, chopped cabbage, corn slices and any leftover filling back to the broth, cook until all the ingredients are re-warmed.

21. 21

    Add the finely chopped cilantro to the broth.

22. 22

    Place a green plantain dumpling or two in each bowl; add a ladleful of broth with yuca, cabbage and corn.

23. 23

    Serve with lime slices, aji and pickled onions.