Roasting Spicket Cabrito Food

OVEN SPIT PORK AL PASTOR

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the ancho chiles. Toast, turning halfway through, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the orange juice, honey, tomato paste, garlic, yellow onion, chipotle, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the peppers and onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Cool completely.
• Combine the cooled marinade with the pork chops in a large resealable bag and massage to coat the meat. Marinate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut off the top of the pineapple and reserve. Cut the remaining pineapple in half crosswise. Peel both halves with a knife. Slice three 1/8-inch-thick rounds from the top half of the pineapple and set the rest aside. Place the bottom half of the pineapple in a medium cast-iron skillet and insert a long wooden skewer pointed tip up into the core of the pineapple. Thread one-quarter of the pork chops on the skewer, then slide on 1 cube of butter. Repeat with the remaining pork chops and butter, ending with the meat on top. Top with the 3 pineapple rounds and press the meat down firmly to compress the layers.
• Carefully transfer to the oven and cook until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat stack registers 160 degrees F, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, core and dice the remaining pineapple. Combine with the cilantro, red onion, lime juice, habanero and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl.
• Transfer the stack of pork and pineapple to a cutting board and thread the reserved pineapple top on the skewer. Holding the pineapple top to stabilize the stack, use a sharp carving knife or electric knife to shave off thin pieces of meat. Serve with the tortillas and pineapple salsa.

TACOS AL PASTOR (MARINATED, SPIT-ROASTED TACOS)

Steps:

• The day before you plan to eat, place the pork in a large bowl and toss with the lime juice and salt. Heat a comal or nonstick skillet to medium-high heat. Add the onion wedge and garlic, placing the garlic near the edge, away from direct heat. Cook until soft and blackened in spots, turning occasionally, about 7 minutes. Peel the garlic and place both items in a blender jar. Crumble the achiote paste into the blender and add the vinegar, cumin seed, peanuts and bay leaf along with the cinnamon stick, cloves and allspice. Blend until smooth. Pour the marinade over the meat and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• The next day, prepare the garnishes: Chop the pineapple, slice the limes into wedges, prepare the salsa, and chop the cilantro and onion.
• Heat a large heavy skillet to high heat and add 1 teaspoon lard. When smoking, add one piece of marinated steak. The meat should sizzle and smoke, so make sure you have a working fan and vent on your stove. Cook until the meat starts to release its juices and lighten slightly in color, 2 to 3 minutes, then flip and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Both sides should have dark-brown charred spots; if they don't, raise the heat higher.
• Transfer to a cutting board and repeat with the remaining steaks, scraping the pan well to remove any burned bits between frying.
• Scrape out the pan once more and cook the pineapple until soft and charred in spots. Remove to a bowl.
• Warm the corn tortillas on a comal or nonstick skillet and place in a dishcloth to keep warm. Chop the meat into small pieces. Serve on a platter and let guests feed themselves, passing the tortillas and garnishes.

SPICY BREAKFAST BURRITOS WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• Wrap the flour tortillas in paper towels and microwave them for 1 minute to make them pliable. Set them aside.
• Crumble the sausage finely into a large skillet over a medium heat and cook until brown, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Add the butter to a large nonstick skillet over a medium heat. Beat the eggs in a large bowl with the salt and pepper. Stir in the hot sauce, jalapenos and a splash of jalapeno juice. When the butter has melted, turn the heat to low and pour in the eggs, then add the sausage. Slowly cook the mixture, using a wooden spatula to push it around the skillet, until the eggs are totally cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Place approximately 1/2 cup of the egg and sausage mixture into a warm tortilla, then add a pinch of cheese and roll up (do not tuck in the ends). Wrap in a foil square and keep warm until ready to serve. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Serve with more hot sauce, jalapenos and salsa.

QUEALY WATSON'S CABRITO

Steps:

• Light a charcoal grill or smoker, or heat oven to 250. If goat is too large for your grill, smoker or oven, cut it in half across the backbone at the top of its rear legs to create two halves.
• Season the meat aggressively with salt and pepper. If smoking, place the goat on the smoker and cover, keeping the heat around 220 to 250. If grilling, move coals to one side of the grill, and place goat on the other, away from the direct flame, then cover the grill. If oven-roasting, put goat on a sheet pan and place in the oven.
• Cook the goat for 2 hours or so, until it has taken on some color, then remove from the heat and place on a large sheet of aluminum foil. Scatter the avocado leaves across the meat, and wrap the goat in the foil, using another sheet of foil if necessary.
• Place the covered goat on a sheet pan, and put in the oven to continue cooking for 3 or 4 more hours, until the meat is tender and pulls away from the bone. Serve with tortillas and salsas.