May 15, 2012

Neuva Cocina Makes Latin Cuisine Easy

Sometimes spice, soup, and rice mixes make our life easy, but you have to watch out for nasty ingredients like MSG. Neuvo Cocino focuses their efforts on Latin cuisine.

We were sent the following samples to try:
Nueva Cocina Rice Mix for Seafood

Directions
Recipe Necessities: Seafood (3/4 lb) (You may use one type of seafood [for example, shrimp, or scallops] or, try a combination of your liking. If using fish select a firm variety, such as sword fish, and cut into 1- inch pieces then lightly brown in olive oil and set aside until remaining seafood is added). White Cooking Wine (1/2 cup). Olive Oil (2 tablespoons). Water (2 cups). 1. In a large saucepan, combine water, wine, olive oil and the two Nueva Cocina pouches. 2. Bring to boil on High heat. Cover and boil for 1 minute. Reduce heat to Low and cook, covered for 10 minutes. 3. Add the Seafood and cook, covered, on Low heat about 15 minutes more or until seafood is done and rice is tender. Stir once halfway through cooking. If rice is still not tender and water has evaporated, add 1/4 cup of water. Rice should be saucy not dry. Stir and serve.

Nueva Cocina also makes instant soup mixes. We were sent:
Nueva Cocina Sweet Corn Soup with Green Chiles:

Ingredients
Dried Sweet Corn and Corn Powder [Corn, Maltodextrin, Corn Starch, Soy Lecithin}, Whey, Dehydrated Onion, Corn Starch, Yellow Corn Flour, Dextrose, Nonfat Milk, Salt, Sweet Cream Solids, Sunflower Oil, Sugar, Milk, Dehydrated Butter (Cream, Nonfat Milk, Salt, Annatto), Dehydrated Garlic, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Dehydrated Green Bell Pepper, Natural Flavor, Spice, Dehydrated Jalapeno Pepper, Annatto.

This product does not claim to be MSG-free, as autolyzed yeast extract is hidden MSG.

Nueva Cocina Beef Seasoning, Picadillo

Ingredients
Dehydrated Onions, Freeze Dried Raisins, Sugar, Salt, Dehydrated Red Bell Peppers, Dehydrated Garlic, Dehydrated Green Bell Peppers, Freeze Dried Sliced Green Olives, Spices, Garlic Powder, Apple Cider Vinegar Powder (Maltodextrin, Modified Food Starch, Vinegar Solids).

I don't eat fish, and the rice mix contains anchovies, so I didn't try it. The taco seasoning can be used with tofu or beans and is gluten-free. I am not one to like soup mixes. They just don't compare to the real deal.

I wish these products were organic. They are made in Miami.

disclosure: The products described above were sent to us as free samples. Prior assurances as to the nature of the reviews, whether positive or negative, were not given. No financial payments were accepted in exchange for the reviews. The reviews reflect our honest, authentic opinions.