Apricot Smoked Chile Glaze Lamb Tacos With Tomato Cucumber Salsa Food

APRICOT-SMOKED CHILE GLAZE LAMB TACOS WITH TOMATO-CUCUMBER SALSA

Steps:

• Heat a gas grill to high.
• For the tomato-cucumber salsa: Combine the tomatoes, serrano chiles, cucumbers and onions in a medium bowl. Add the olive oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Toss in the dill and mint.
• For the lamb: Mix together the apricot preserves, vinegar, chipotle puree and salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Brush the lamb with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill, covered, until nicely charred, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip, brush with the apricot glaze, cover and cook until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 125 degrees F for medium rare, another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, brush with more glaze and let rest 10 minutes.
• While the lamb rests, grill the tortillas for a few seconds on each side; keep warm. Slice the lamb into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Brush each tortilla with a little of the glaze, put a few slices of lamb into each, top with the salsa and serve immediately.

LAMB ADOBADO TACOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the lamb all over with salt and pepper and place in a single layer in a roasting pan. Pour on the adobo sauce and toss to coat. Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes, then cover and bake 45 to 60 minutes longer, until the meat is soft and flaky.
• Transfer the meat to a cutting board. Pour the pan juices into a bowl or measuring cup and skim and discard the fat. Shred the meat. The lamb and pan juices may be kept together in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Warm over moderate heat 5 to 7 minutes before assembling the tacos. When ready to make the tacos, preheat the oven to 350/.
• Roast, peel, seed and slice the poblano chiles (see Note). Mix together the grated cheeses. Dip a corn tortilla in some water and shake off the excess. Toast one tortilla at a time in a nonstick pan over medium heat for about 1 minute on each side. Wrap in a towel to keep warm while you dip and heat the remaining tortillas.
• Make 12 stacks of 2 tortillas each on a baking sheet. Divide the lamb evenly among the tortillas. Top with poblano strips, sprinkle evenly with the cheeses and bake 3 to 4 minutes, to melt the cheese and heat through. Serve immediately.
• Note: Fresh chiles and bell peppers can be roasted over a gas flame or on a tray under the broiler. Keep turning so the skin is evenly charred, without burning and drying out the flesh. Transfer the charred peppers to a plastic bag, tie the top closed and let steam until cool to the touch, about 15 minutes. (If you are rushed, you can place the bag in a bowl of iced water to speed things up.) The best way to peel is just to pull off the charred skin by hand and then dip the peppers briefly in water to remove any blackened bits. Do not peel the pepper under running water since that will wash away flavorful juices. Once peeled, cut away stems, seeds and veins.

TACOS DE PUERCO ENCHIPOTLADO CON SALSA DE JITOMATE PASADO (SPICY CHIPOTLE PORK TACOS WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO SALSA)

Steps:

• Butterflying and marinating the pork: Lay 1 tenderloin on your cutting board and cut it in half. Now, with a sharp knife, make a horizontal cut through 1 half (you'll be cutting parallel with the board) from one long side to within 1/4- inch of the other. This will allow you to fold open the meat like a book, utilizing that 1/4-inch uncut side as a hinge. Using a meat pounder or heavy mallet, pound the pork to between 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness.
• In a food processor or blender, thoroughly puree the chipotles and all the canning sauce. With a pastry or basting brush, liberally paint the meat on both sides with the pureed chipotles. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 24 hours). Repeat with the other tenderloin pieces. (There will be considerably more chipotle puree than you need; cover and refrigerate the leftover for up to 2 weeks and use it to marinate other meat, fish, poultry or vegetables.)
• Soaking the sun-dried tomatoes: In a small saucepan bring the orange juice just to a boil. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, stir well, cover and remove from the heat. Let stand, stirring once or twice, until softened, about 20 minutes.
• Salsa: Scrape the soaked tomatoes and the juice into a food processor or blender, and measure in 1 tablespoon of chipotle puree. Pulse the processor until the tomatoes are rather finely chopped (not pureed). Scrape into a small serving bowl. Rinse the chopped onion under cold water, shake off the excess liquid and add it to the salsa along with the olives, cilantro and the lime juice. Stir everything together, then taste and season with salt, usually about 1/4 teaspoon. Adjust the consistency to that of an easily spoonable salsa with additional juice or water if needed. Set aside at room temperature while you cook the meat.
• Searing the meat: Set a large (12-inch) heavy well-seasoned or non-stick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add the lard, oil or bacon drippings, brushing or spreading it around to evenly coat the surface. (If using a non-stick surface, oil the meat instead of the pan.) When the oil is very hot (it'll just begin to smoke), lay on one of the marinated meat pieces in a single layer. Sear on one side until beginning to brown (2 to 3 minutes), flip it over, and sear the other side about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet in a single layer and keep warm in the oven. Sear the remaining meat and add to the baking sheet.
• Chop or slice the meat into smallish pieces and scoop into a warm serving bowl. Set on the table along with the salsa and warm tortillas, and your meal is ready.

MAZATLAN SMOKED MARLIN TACOS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat and saute the red peppers, onions and garlic until the onions are translucent and the peppers are tender, about 6 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and let the mixture cook until it changes color, about 6 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato puree, olives, wine, parsley, capers, black pepper, chipotle chiles, guero chiles, bay leaves, oregano and thyme. Cover and cook until the flavors are well combined, about 6 minutes, and then incorporate the marlin. If it is dry, add a little more wine or water. Remove the bay leaves and oregano and thyme sprigs before serving.
• Shred the cabbage and warm the tortillas in a hot pan. Put the tortillas in a thermal tortilla server to keep warm. Assemble the tacos by placing 4 ounces of the marlin mixture in 2 warm tortillas, one on top of the other one. Top with a substantial amount of shredded cabbage. Garnish with some mayonnaise and lime wedges, if desired. Serve immediately.