Mexican Adobo Red Chile Paste Food

ADOBO SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Remove the stems from the guajillo and ancho peppers and remove the seeds. You may need to cut into the peppers for this, which is fine.
• Heat a large pan to medium-high heat and dry toast the dried peppers a couple minutes per side. They will become more pliable and slightly puff up. This helps to release the oils for more flavor.
• Place the dried pods in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Soak them for 15 minutes, or until they become very soft and rehydrate. Transfer the softened peppers to a food processor, but reserve the soaking liquid.
• While the peppers are softening, heat olive oil in a medium pan and add the onion. Cook it down for 4-5 minutes to soften.
• Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds to 1 minute, until you it becomes fragrant.
• Add the tomato paste, cinnamon, cumin, oregano, sugar and salt. Cook for 1 minute, stirring.
• Stir in 1/2 cup water. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the mixture to the food processor along with the softened peppers and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of fresh water, or you can use the dark liquid from soaking the peppers. Process until smooth.
• Adjust with salt and sugar to taste, and with a bit more water until you achieve your desired consistency. Strain if you'd like a thinner sauce, or use as-is.

GRILLED GIANT PORK CHOPS WITH ADOBO PASTE

Steps:

• Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking with medium-hot charcoal.
• Stir together all ingredients except pork chops in a bowl to form spice paste, then rub paste all over pork chops.
• Oil grill rack, then grill chops over coals, turning over occasionally and moving around if flare-ups occur, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes total.
• Move chops to area with no coals underneath, then cover with inverted roasting pan and grill, turning chops over once, until thermometer inserted horizontally into center of a chop (do not touch bone) registers 145°F, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

CHILE-GLAZED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Red Chile Adobo Paste: Remove the seeds and veins from the chiles. Heat a skillet over medium heat and roast the chiles on both sides until they begin to release their aroma and soften a bit, about 1 minute (As soon as you begin to smell them, they are ready. If you hesitate, they will have a bitter taste).
• Transfer to a blender and fill with boiling water. Allow the chiles to soak for 30 minutes, making sure to keep them submerged under water. (You may need to wedge the blender top into the opening to help keep the chiles under water.)
• Roast the garlic on the same pan used to toast the chiles over medium heat, turning often until the skin blackens and the garlic begins to smell toasty, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and peel. Set aside.
• Pour the water out of the blender jar, leaving behind the rehydrated chiles. Add the garlic along with cinnamon, bay leaf, cumin, pepper, oregano, salt, and vinegar and puree until smooth. (You may need to pulse and scrape down the mixture a few times to get the puree started.).
• Marinate the Pork Chops: Slather both sides of the pork chops with the chile paste and place in a large resealable plastic bag. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes (and up to a few hours).
• Sear the Pork Chops: Leave a light coating of the chile paste on the pork chops and season with salt and pepper. Place a large, well seasoned cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the pork chops in a single layer and sear for 2 minutes on each side, or until the meat turns golden brown.
• Braise in Beer: Pour in enough beer to barely cover the chops. Cover the pan ( with a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan if your pan does not have a lid) and decrease the heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Turn the pork chops over and cook for another 15 minutes.
• Reduce the Liquid to a Glaze: Uncover the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Alow the liquid to reduce almost completely, flipping the pork chops over every few minutes to ensure that both sides become glazed with the reduced sauce. This should take about 10 minutes. Serve warm.

MEXICAN ADOBO - RED CHILE PASTE

Steps:

• Red Chile Adobo Paste: Remove the seeds and veins from the chiles. Heat a skillet over medium heat and roast the chiles on both sides until they begin to release their aroma and soften a bit, about 1 minute (As soon as you begin to smell them, they are ready. If you hesitate, they will have a bitter taste).
• Transfer to a blender and fill with boiling water. Allow the chiles to soak for 30 minutes, making sure to keep them submerged under water. (You may need to wedge the blender top into the opening to help keep the chiles under water.)
• Roast the garlic on the same pan used to toast the chiles over medium heat, turning often until the skin blackens and the garlic begins to smell toasty, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and peel. Set aside.
• Pour the water out of the blender jar, leaving behind the rehydrated chiles. Add the garlic along with cinnamon, bay leaf, cumin, pepper, oregano, salt, and vinegar and puree until smooth. (You may need to pulse and scrape down the mixture a few times to get the puree started.).

EASY ADOBO SAUCE

Steps:

• Wipe off any dusty crevasses on the chilis using a damp towel. De-stem and de-seed the chilis, but don't worry about getting rid of every last seed.
• I put the chilis in a 400F oven for 1-2 minutes to awaken some dormant flavors; you could also flash them on a hot, dry skillet for 15-30 seconds in place of the oven.
• Add the chilis to a bowl and cover them with hot tap water. Let them reconstitute for 20-30 minutes. If they float to the surface you can use a small plate or bowl to keep them submerged.
• Drain the chilis and add them to a blender, along with the remaining ingredients listed above. Update: I've been adding 2-3 chipotles in adobo lately for some heat, but you can consider this optional.
• Combine well; ideally you want a thick, paste-like substance so we are adding just enough liquid to get there. If it won't combine you can add another splash of water.
• Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge. It should also freeze quite well.

MEXICAN ANNATTO/ACHIOTE PASTE, ADOBO MEXICANO DE ACHIOTE MOLIDO

Steps:

• 1. First lightly toast in a dry frying pan Annatto seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black peppercorns,and cloves. Do not scorch just lightly heat to bring out the flavors. Pour into a spice mill or coffee grinder and pulverize.
• 2. Next add the sour orange juice or combination orange juice and lime juice and vinegar into a blender add the oregano, salt, garlic, and jalapeno or serano chiles and blend until all the garlic and peppers are liquified. Add the ground spices and blend again until all is smooth.
• 3. Rub this marinade onto chicken, pork, fish or beef. Put into a large plastic freezer bag and let marinade overnight. Next day grill or bake or cook as you like. You can add a little or a lot of heat by adding a one or more jalapenos, or serrano peppers to the mixture when blending. Just remember by taking the seeds out from the peppers you will get the flavor but not so much heat. If you leave the seeds in then you will get much more heat. You can also opt to use only one chile pepper if you do not desire a lot of heat. Enjoy
• 4. I will post an actual picture of annatto /achiote seeds tomorrow.

ACHIOTE ADOBO MARINADE

Steps:

• Stem and seed the guajillo chiles. Toast them on a pre-heated comal or skillet, set over medium heat, for about 1 to 2 minutes per side until they are toasted, but not burnt. Place the chiles in a saucepan, add enough water to cover them, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until the chiles are plumped up and rehydrated.
• In a blender, place the chiles along with 1/2 cup of their cooking liquid and the rest of the ingredients. Puree until smooth. Use as a marinade.

MEXICAN CHILI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne and chile paste and stir until the beef is coated with the seasonings. Add the tomatoes with their juices, beans, enchilada sauce and chocolate and stir. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Garnish the chili with your desired toppings and serve.

RED CHILE PASTE (MEXICAN ADOBO)

Steps:

• Roast and Soak the Chiles
• Cut or tear the chiles into flat pieces and remove the seeds and veins. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and roast the chiles on both sides until they begin to release their aroma and soften up a bit, about 1 minute.
• Transfer to a blender and fill with boiling water. Allow the chiles to soak for 30 minutes, making sure to keep them submerged under water. (You may need to wedge the blender top into the opening to help keep the chiles under water.)
• Roast the Garlic
• Return the same skillet used to toast the chiles to the stove and place over medium heat. Add the garlic and roast, turning often, until the skin blackens and the garlic begins to smell toasty, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and peel. Set aside.
• Puree the Mixture
• Pour the water out of the blender jar, leaving behind the rehydrated chiles. Add the garlic along with cinnamon, bay leaf, cumin, pepper, oregano, salt, and vinegar and puree until smooth. (You may need to pulse and scrape down the mixture a few times to get the puree started.)
• Serve or Store
• Transfer to a serving bowl if using right away, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate if storing.
• COOKING NOTES
• INGREDIENTS
• Handling Chiles
• If you have sensitive hands, you may want to wear rubber gloves when handling chiles. If you chose to work with them with bare hands, make sure to wash your hands well before touching your eyes or other sensitive skin.
• TECHNIQUES
• Roasting Chiles
• Although you may not think it makes a difference, dry roasting or toasting dried chiles before rehydrating them adds an incredible richness to their flavor. However, you must be careful not to burn them, which will result in an undesirable bitter flavor.
• Since the chiles are dark, you cannot rely on their color to tell you if they are ready. Instead pay attention to their aroma and texture. As soon as they begin to release their scent and become soft and pliable, they are ready.
• ADVANCE PREPARATION
• This paste can be made well in advance and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It keeps almost indefinitely.