Smoked Lamb And Goat Cheese Enchilada With Almond Mole Sauce Recipes

MIXIOTE DE BORREGO EN MOLE COLORADITO: LAMB SHANK IN AN OAXACAN RED MOLE SAUCE

Steps:

• To prepare the mole sauce: In a blender or food processor, blend tomatoes and garlic cloves, adding water if necessary. Strain and set aside. In a spice grinder pulverize the sesame seeds, peppercorns, oregano and cinnamon; set aside.
• Make a lengthwise cut on 1 side of each ancho and guajillo chile and remove seeds. Put chiles in a bowl and cover with boiling water, letting soak for 20 minutes or until soft. Place chiles and soaking water in a blender. Puree, strain and set aside. In a medium stockpot, heat 3 tablespoons of canola oil. Add the dried spices stirring continuously. Add the two purees and bring to a boil. Add the chocolate, sugar, and salt to taste; let simmer for about 20 minutes.
• To prepare the lamb shanks: Season the lamb shanks with salt and in a hot skillet sear shanks in oil on all sides. In a bowl, dip each shank in mole sauce, sprinkle with some of the vinegar, chopped onion and salt, then wrap in a banana leaf and then in aluminum foil. Place shanks in a roasting pan and bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, or until the meat is falling off the bone. Place shank on a plate and top with additional warm mole sauce.

MOLE SAUCE, MY STYLE: MOLE SANCHEZ

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Begin by placing all the dry chiles on sheet tray and toasting them in hot oven for 2 minutes until they start to let off an aroma, remove quickly and submerge them in bowl with hot water. Set aside.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Place the onions, tomatoes, tomatillos, and garlic on sheet tray and allow until roast and allow to char in a salamander or broiler and the vegetables have roasted for about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan combine the prunes, apricots, and raisins with the red wine and allow to cook for 10 minutes or until the fruit has absorbed all the wine and set aside.
• In hot pan, toast all the spices, turning quickly as not to burn them. As soon as you see them smoking, remove, grind in a spice grinder, and set aside.
• To start assembling the mole combine the chiles, roasted vegetables, red wine-soaked dry fruit and the spices in large heavy bottom pot. And add the chicken stock and simmer for about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile peel the plantains and slice into 1-inch thick slices. In a saute pan with 3 inches of oil, fry the plantains until golden and add to the pot as well as chocolate and tortillas cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and puree the sauce until smooth. Serve with chicken, beef, or lamb.

ENMOLADAS (LAMB ENCHILADAS WITH MOLE SAUCE)

Steps:

• For the braised lamb: Combine the lamb, tomato juice, Dijon, salt, garlic, lime juice, vinegar, cumin, pepper, coriander, avocado leaves, oregano, thyme, shallots, jalapeno and enough water to cover in a large pot. Simmer on low heat, uncovered, for 3 hours.
• Remove meat and let cool, reserving liquid. Shred meat, removing as much fat and cartilage as possible.
• For the pickled shallots: Cover shallots in a bowl with water.
• Combine vinegars, cumin, garlic, oregano, salt, beet and chile in a saucepot and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and strain the liquid into the bowl with the shallots. Add the beet. Refrigerate until cooled, 4 to 6 hours. Strain the liquid and discard the beet.
• For the Oaxacan red chile-chocolate mole: Char tomatoes on a grill or over an open flame until blackened and splitting.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat oil in a large pot, then add corn, garlic, celery, carrot, poblano, onion and jalapeno and saute until soft.
• Spread pumpkin seeds, pecans, sesame seeds and corn and flour tortillas on a baking sheet and bake until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Blend tomatoes, blend with toasted nuts and seeds. Add to the pot, then add the tomato juice, tomatillos, ancho chile powder, raisins, chipotle chile powder, guajillo chile powder, cumin, salt, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, chocolate discs, bananas, bay leaves and 1 1/2 gallons water. Simmer on low heat, stirring frequently, for 2 hours.
• Puree in a blender until smooth.
• For the tinga spice: Mix paprika, salt, granulated sugar, cumin, pepper, brown sugar, chile powders, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and cayenne together in a bowl. Transfer to an airtight container.
• For the enmoladas: Place crushed peanuts in a large skillet and heat and toss until they begin to release their oils; add some tinga spice and toss to coat. Turn off heat and set aside.
• Put several inches of oil into a Dutch oven and heat up until hot. Dip enchilada shells into the oil with tongs until pliable, 5 to 8 seconds. Place on a large rimmed plate. Place 2 ounces warmed shredded lamb (including any jus) on each shell. Using your fingers, roll each shell. Ladle Oaxacan mole sauce over entire plate-enmoladas are about the sauce!
• Garnish the enchiladas with Cotija, spiced crushed peanuts and 2 ounces pickled shallots. (Save remaining meat, shallots, mole and tinga for another use.)