El Jefes Glove Box Recado Recipes

EL JEFE

Steps:

• For the brisket: Preheat a smoker for smoking at 275 degrees F. (Don't beat yourself up trying to maintain the exact temperature. Stay within 25 degrees of your target, and you should be good.)
• Mix together the salt and pepper in a bowl, then rub it all over the brisket. Smoke brisket until it reaches 165 degrees F, about 8 hours. Wrap with foil and continue to smoke until internal temperature reaches 203 degrees F and the thermometer slides in and out of the brisket like it was butter, about 2 hours more.
• Let rest for at least 1 hour.
• Chop the brisket.
• For the queso: Set up a double boiler. Add the cheese, diced tomatoes and chiles and milk to the upper pan of the double boiler. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring continuously, until cheese is fully melted.
• For the veggies: Mix the onions and peppers in a bowl. Toss with oil, pepper, salt and granulated garlic. Cook veggies in a saute pan, stirring continuously, over medium-high heat until veggies are translucent.
• For the sandwiches: Toast buns. Add BBQ sauce to each half. Add nice handfuls of the chopped brisket to bottom buns. Add a little more of the BBQ sauce on top of the meat. Add queso, veggies and jalapenos to your desired heat. Add corn chips for a crunchy treat, if desired. Top with top buns.

GRILLED CORN ON THE COB WITH GLOVE-BOX RECADO

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot fire for direct-heat cooking in a grill. Place the ears of corn on the grill rack and grill, turning them as needed to color evenly, for 10 minutes, until they have a bit of char to them but haven't cooked so much that the kernels have wrinkled. You want to maintain the sweet, fresh corn crunch. Remove from the grill and cut in half crosswise.
• In a large bowl, mix together the recado and lime juice. Add the corn and toss until evenly coated. Take a bite of one ear and adjust the remaining ears with more recado and lime juice to taste. Serve hot.

TRADITIONAL ACHIOTE RECADO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan bring water and achiote seeds to a boil.
• Cook seeds, covered, at a bare simmer 30 minutes and remove from heat.
• (Steep seeds 2 hours, or until softened.) Heat a dry comal or flat iron griddle over moderately low heat until hot and pan-roast garlic and onion, turning them occasionally to ensure even roasting, until browned and soft throughout, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Discard garlic skins.
• In a small heavy skillet dry-roast oregano over moderate heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes and transfer to a small bowl.
• Cool oregano completely and in an electric coffee/spice grinder grind fine.
• Drain seeds and in a blender or food processor blend with garlic, onion, oregano, and remaining ingredients until smooth.
• Recado may be made 5 days ahead and chilled and covered.