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1
Annatto Oil - In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup corn oil and 1/4 cup annatto seeds and bring to a simmer over low heat. Remove from the heat, cover and let cool. Strain the annatto-infused oil into a jar. Makes 1 Cup.
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2
Tangy Corn Salsa - In a small saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the corn until just tender, about 3 minutes for fresh or 1 minute for frozen. Drain and let cool; pat dry. In a small bowl, toss the corn with the tomatoes, scallions, cilantro and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper and let stand at least 1 hour before serving. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
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3
Chowder - In a large, shallow glass or stainless-steel bowl, toss the shrimp with two-thirds of the minced garlic, the scallions, lime juice and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or for up to 3 hours.
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4
In a food processor, puree the corn with the milk. Pour the puree through a coarse strainer, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible.
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5
Heat the Annatto Oil in a large sauce-pan or enameled cast-iron casserole. Add the remaining garlic, onion, bell pepper and cumin and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the vegetables are slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes longer. Add the corn milk, stock, plantain, cilantro and cayenne and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat until very flavorful, about 20 minutes.
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6
Pour the soup through a coarse strainer. Working in batches, puree the vegetables in a blender. Return the puree and the strained broth to the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the shrimp and its marinade and cook over moderate heat until the shrimp are just opaque throughout, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and serve in warmed soup plates or bowls with the Tangy Corn Salsa.
