Mexican Vinegar Food

MEXICAN BIRRIA

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Toast all of the chiles on a hot griddle or in a skillet over medium heat until browned, but not burned.
• Remove the seeds and veins and discard; place the chiles in a bowl, cover them with very hot water, and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• When the chiles have rehydrated, drain them.
• Place the chilies and vinegar in a blender and process to make a paste.
• In a small bowl, mix together all of the rub ingredients. Rub the meat well with this mixture.
• Coat the meat with half of the chile paste.
• Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let the meat marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the oven to 350 F. Pour the 1 cup of water into a Dutch oven or deep casserole dish. Add the coarsely chopped onion, bay leaves, chopped garlic, and the remaining chile paste.
• Place the meat on a rack or steamer basket that sits just above the liquid mixture.
• Place the lid on the pot, making sure that it covers tightly, and bake for 4 hours.
• Remove the meat from the Dutch oven to a cutting board. Cut or break into pieces a little larger than bite size. Distribute the meat among 6 to 8 bowls. Add a bit of the broth to each serving, more if serving as a stew, less if for tacos.
• Serve as a soupy stew or as a taco filling with warm corn tortillas, garnished with the chopped cilantro and onion.

CILANTRO LIME VINAIGRETTE {ZESTY MEXICAN SALAD DRESSING}

Steps:

• Measure ingredients into the bowl of a mini food processor (or blender). Pulse until well-blended and emulsified. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt and pepper if necessary. (Alternatively, you may measure all ingredients into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously, OR whisk the ingredients together in a bowl.)
• Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator; allow to come to room temperature and shake well before using.

ESCABECHE RECIPE (MEXICAN PICKLED VEGETABLES)

Steps:

• Cut the vegetables and place them in a pint sized mason jar (or two). Use more or less of any vegetable as desired.
• If using whole seeds, toast them in a small pot over medium heat until fragrant, approximately 2 minutes.
• Add the vinegar, water, sugar, and salt to the pot (and add the ground spices here if using ground instead) and bring to a boil.
• Remove the pot from the heat and pour the vinegar mixture into the jars over the vegetables. Let cool and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

MEXICAN PICKLED ONIONS (CEBOLLA EN ESCABECHE)

Steps:

• Bring the water to a soft boil and immediately remove from the heat.
• Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Mix the sugar-water with the vinegar, salt, oregano.
• Slice the onion into thin rings.
• Put the onion slices in a jar.
• If you'd like the onions to be spicy, add in strips of habanero, serrano, or jalapeño peppers.
• Add the bay leaves.
• Pour the mixed liquid into the jar and stir.
• Close the jar and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

MEXICAN VINEGAR

Steps:

• Pour vinegar over bruised herbs. Cover tightly and steep 2-3 weeks.
• Strain into decorative bottle. Add a whole red pepper for decoration.

EVERYDAY MEXICAN SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl (or shake together in a mason jar) until combined. Use immediately or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
• Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl, drizzle evenly with the salad dressing, and toss until evenly combined. Serve immediately and enjoy!

TINGA

Steps:

• Add the garlic, chipotles, tomatoes, oregano, and cumin to a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
• Heat up 1-2 tablespoons oil in a frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, slowly, until caramelized and brown, stirring every so often, 5-8 minutes.
• Stir in the blended sauce, the chicken stock, bay leaves, and the cooked chicken. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Enjoy in tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, flautas, with tortillas and rice, or just as is!Alternately, if you want to just cook the chicken in the sauce, add the boneless skinless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts to the sauce and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from the sauce, shred and add back into the sauce.

EASY MEXICAN COLESLAW

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss the colelsaw mix with the sliced onion and chopped cilantro. In a small bowl or jar with a fitted lid, mix the canola oil, lime juice, garlic, honey, cumin, oregano, coriander, hot sauce, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper. Pour over the coleslaw mixture and toss. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. This recipe is best eaten day of, but can be refrigerated overnight.

MEXICAN MARINADE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Combine vinegar, oil, cilantro, water, garlic, lime, salt, pepper, and spices.

PICKLED RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Toast Mexican oregano in a small skillet over medium-high heat for about 30 seconds. Set aside to cool.
• Peel onions and thinly slice them. Place 4-5 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• When water starts bubbling, add sliced onions, and turn the heat off.
• After 2 minutes, quickly drain the onions into a colander over the sink.
• Place the drained onions in a glass bowl and add the vinegar, water, oregano, bay leaf and the rest of the spices. Season with salt and mix well. Refrigerate for a couple of hours, and they are ready to eat. They keep well refrigerated for about a week. And they taste best when prepared at least one day in advance.
• Enjoy with your tacos, tostadas, subs, sandwiches or grilled meats.

SPICY CURTIDO (PICKLED CABBAGE SLAW)

Steps:

• Thinly slice the 1/2 head of cabbage, 1/2 onion and 1/2 jalapeno. Grate the carrot.
• Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl: 1 cup vinegar, 1.5 cups water, 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano, freshly cracked black pepper, 2 teaspoons salt (Kosher or sea salt).
• Add the liquid mixture to the veggies and combine well. Crush the cabbage a bit so that it will fit into the jars.
• Fill two pint-sized Mason jars with the veggies and top with the brine.
• Seal well and let pickle overnight in the fridge.

SIMPLE MEXICAN COLESLAW

Steps:

• Place cabbage and carrots in a colander and rinse in cold water; let drain for 5 minutes.
• Whisk rice vinegar, olive oil, and cilantro together in a large salad bowl. Stir cabbage and carrots into dressing; season with salt. Slaw can be served immediately or covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day.