Taco Yucateco Recipes

YUCATAN CHICKEN PUFFY TACOS WITH PEANUT-RED CHILI BBQ SAUCE AND RED CABBAGE SLAW

Steps:

• Whisk together orange and lime juices, chili and garlic in a shallow baking dish, add the chicken thighs, turn to coat and marinate 1 to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
• Preheat grill to high or grill pan over high heat. Remove thighs from the marinade and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until just cooked through. Brush with some of the peanut sauce during the last few minutes of grilling.
• Place tacos, chicken, peanut-red chili sauce, red cabbage slaw and relish in bowls and on serving platters and serve.
• Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan. Add the onions and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for an additional 30 to 40 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.
• Transfer the mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth, season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool at room temperature. Sauce will keep for 1 week in the refrigerator stored in a tightly sealed container.
• Heat the oil in medium saucepan over medium heat; add the ginger and cook until soft. Increase heat to high, add the BBQ sauce and chicken stock and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half.
• Whisk in the soy sauce and peanut butter and cook for 5 to 7 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place cabbage and onion in a large bowl. Whisk together the vinegar, orange juice, oil and honey and pour over the cabbage. Add the cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with mint. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
• Combine the masa mix, salt and warm water in a large bowl and mix until a smooth dough forms. Pull off pieces of dough and roll them into balls about the size of a ping pong ball.
• Cut a quart size resealable plastic bag open down both sides, to form a rectangle. Use the bag to line the tortilla press as you shape the tortillas so they do not stick: Lay 1 side of the plastic over the bottom of the press. Place a ball of dough in the center, and fold the other side of the plastic over the dough. Shut the top of the tortilla and press firmly down on the dough to shape the tortilla.
• Meanwhile, pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a large deep pot and heat to 350 degrees F.
• Drop a tortilla into the hot oil and, using a metal spatula, repeatedly douse the tortilla with the hot oil until it begins to puff up. Flip it over and, using the spatula, make an indentation in the center of the tortilla to form a taco shape. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Fill each taco with 2 tablespoons of shredded chicken, guacamole, beans and cheese or your favorite filling.
• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl just before serving.

TACO YUCATECO

Steps:

• For the marinade: Mix the orange juice, lime juice, annatto, vinegar, oregano, black pepper, salt, cumin, garlic and onion in a blender.
• For the cochinita pibil: Remove some fat off the pork butt and cut into 3- to 4-inch square chunks.
• Cut the banana leaf in to 5 to 6 pieces. Cover the inside of a pressure cooker with the banana leaves. Put the pork chunks in the pressure cooker and cover with the banana leaves. Cover the pork with the marinade and cook on medium-low pressure until the meat can be shredded with a fork, about 1 1/2 hours.
• For the pickled red onions: Mix the habanero, onion, orange juice, salt, pepper and oregano in a bowl and let it rest for at least 1 1/2 hours.
• For the beans: Fill a pot with 6 quarts of water and add the beans, garlic and 1/2 onion. Boil for 40 minutes to 1 hour, moving the beans every 10 minutes.
• Cook the remaining onion in a skillet for 5 minutes. Add the caramelized onions to the beans and blend.
• For the corn tortilla: Mix together the masa and 3/4 cup hot water until thoroughly combined. Shape into balls about the size of a golf ball.
• Using a tortilla press, place each masa ball in between two sheets of plastic wrap and press.
• Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add a tortilla and cook for about 30 seconds; flip and cook for another 30 seconds.
• To assemble the taco: Put a full spoon of the black beans on a warm tortilla, then top with the cochinita pibil and finish with 3 to 4 pieces of pickled red onions.

SALBUTES, A YUCATECAN TORTILLA

Steps:

• For the Masa:.
• Mix the first four ingredients until they are well blended.
• Divide the dough into 12 equal size balls and press them lightly in a wax paper lined tortilla press.
• They should be smaller and thicker than regular tortillas, about 1/8" thick and 2 1/2 " in diameter.
• In a deep skillet, fry them on both sides in hot oil, they will inflate as they cook.
• Remove each one as it inflates and drain well on paper towels.
• For the Pickled Red Onions:.
• Place onions in a sauce pan, add water to cover, bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
• Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Place the onions in a glass container with lime juice, dried oregano and salt and pepper.
• Allow to sit for several hours before serving, they keep for one week refrigerated.
• Assemble Salbutes:.
• Mix 1 tablespoon of lime juice with cabbage, salt and peppr to taste.
• Top each salbute with a layer of cabbage, then pickled red onion, then slices of avocado, and top with a tomato slice.
• Serve immediately.