Jorge Castillo: This Ajiaco recipe is quicker and easier to prepare.

Raúl Musibay: The secret to speeding up the whole process is a pressure cooker.

Jorge Castillo: Every Cuban abuela has a pressure cooker and a rice cooker in her kitchen!

1 to 2 pounds beef cut in small squares

2 potatoes

3 malangas

3 ripe plantains

1 sweet potato or yam

1 can tomato puree

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

salt and pepper to taste

1 cube beef boullion, broken up

1 cube (or equivalent) ham boullion

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

Take it off the stove and add the ham bouillon, beef bouillon, tomato puree, potatoes, yams, malangas, and plantains.

Fill the pressure cooker with water to full mark as indicated. Put the lid on and let it cook (following pressure cooker manufacturer's instructions) for about 20 minutes.