The Taste of Christmas

The Taste of Christmas is nothing like a US dinner: Here are a couple of recipes that you could try for a “cool” Paraguayan meal served at 12:00 midnight (on the 24th)!

Milanesas – fried (Chicken Fried Steak)
2 lb. beef (round steak, loin)
Salt, pepper, garlic, nutmeg, oregano, lemon juice or vinegar
2 eggs
½ cup milk
Flour
Bread crumbs
Oil
Cut the meat in thin slices and pound each side. Season. Beat the eggs and add the milk. Dip the meat first in the flour, then the egg mixture, and then in the bread crumbs. Heat enough oil in a frying pan to cover the meat. Fry until brown, turn and brown the other side.

Chipa Guasu (Creamy corn custard)
1 ½ dozen ears of fresh corn cut off the cob but not cooked
3 eggs
¾ cups milk
1 medium onion, chopped
1 ½ cup shredded Farmer’s cheese (mozzarella will be fine)
¼ cup oil
Salt to taste
Cut the corn off the cob and add it together with the eggs and milk. Blend in a blender until creamy. Pour into a bowl and add the onion, cheese, oil and salt. Bake at 350 F until golden brown.

Ensalada de Arroz (Rice Salad)
2 cups of uncooked rice
4 cups of water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons of oil
Salt to taste
Cook until rice is done. Set aside to cool.
Add the following ingredients and mix well:
1 small onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 small red pepper
Parsley chopped fine
½ cup mayonnaise

Clericó (Wine and Fruit Punch)
This fruit salad is served traditionally at Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties.
1 bottle dry red wine or Cider Champagne
Sugar to taste (about 1/3 cup)
Melon
Grapes
Pineapple
Banana
Apples
Peaches
Chop the fruit very small. Mix all the ingredients. Refrigerate.

Budin de Pan (Bread Pudding)
3 small loaves of bread with no crusts
3 cups of milk
3 eggs
½ teaspoon of vanilla
1 cup of sugar
Grated lemon peel
Soak the bread in the milk. Cut bread into pieces. Add the eggs (beaten lightly), sugar, and vanilla. Caramelize ¾ cup of sugar. (Heat sugar in pan until caramel color, stir so it won’t burn) Pour caramel into a mold and then add the bread mixture. Set in a larger pan with water and bake at 350 F (approx. 1 hour) or until knife comes out clean. Cool 30 minutes and remove from mold. Serve cold.

Chipa (Cheese bread)
16 ounces Mandioca starch (tapioca or manioc flour) about 3 ½ cups
Salt and anise – to taste
1/2 cup Sunflower seed oil
3/4 cup low fat milk
3 eggs, large
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1-3/4 cups Mild cheddar, grated
Bring milk and oil to a boil in a small saucepan. Add to the mandioca flour. Mix and allow to cool a little. Incorporate the eggs, one at a time. Add the cheese and blend well. Divide into pieces the size of a walnut or small plum. Place a little oil on the hands and round dough into balls. Arrange on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 F until done, about 10 to 12 minutes. Serve warm.

Have fun! Merry Christmas!!