Rotisserie Lamb Tacos With Apricot Chipotle Baste Food

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.

ROTISSERIE LAMB TACOS WITH APRICOT-CHIPOTLE BASTE

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium-high. Brush the leg of lamb with oil, season with salt and pepper and place directly on the grill to brown on all sides, about 5 minutes each side. Remove leg and attach to rotisserie rod. Let the lamb cook on the rotisserie for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until just cooked to medium-rare doneness. During the last 20 minutes of grilling, begin basting with the glaze. Remove the lamb from the grill and baste again with the glaze and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Slice the lamb across the grain into 1/4-inch thick slices. Serve folded in warm tortillas with shredded romaine, goat's cheese, charred corn guacamole and tomato salsa.
• Preheat grill or use side-burners of grill. In a saucepan combine oil, onion, garlic, vinegar and sugar. Cook until the sugar is dissolved and the vinegar is reduced by half. Add chopped apricots and cook for 10 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a food processor and add chipotles. Puree until smooth. Return to pot. Use to baste rotisserie leg of lamb.
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Yield: 8 servings
• Remove the outer husk from the corn and loosen the silks without removing. Dunk into water and place directly onto a hot grill for 15 minutes. Remove from grill. Remove remaining husks and silks and cut the kernels off of the cob.
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Yield: 8 servings

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 TAGINE WITH CHICKPEAS AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Place chickpeas in a medium saucepan. Add water to cover by 2". Let soak overnight.
• Drain chickpeas; return to same saucepan. Add 2 whole garlic cloves and cinnamon stick. Add water to cover by 2". Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until chickpeas are tender, about 45 minutes. Drain; set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Season lamb with salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown lamb on all sides, about 4 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb to a medium bowl. Add onion to pot; reduce heat to medium, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until soft and beginning to turn golden, about 5 minutes. Add chopped garlic, Ras-el-Hanout , and ginger. Stir for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and lamb with any accumulated juices. Bring to a boil. Add 2 1/2 cups stock. Return to a boil, reduce heat to low, partially cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lamb is tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Stir in chickpeas; simmer until heated through, about 10 minutes. Stir in apricots; simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon couscous onto a large, shallow platter, forming a large well in center. Spoon tagine into center. Sprinkle cilantro over.