Apricot Smoked Chile Glaze Lamb Tacos With Tomato Cucumber Salsa Recipes

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.
• 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.

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

COOL CUCUMBER SALSA

Steps:

• Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Add vinegar, ranch dressing, salt and pepper, and toss until well coated. Add a pinch of sugar to balance vinegary taste.

ROUND 2 RECIPE - CHICKEN TACOS WITH CUCUMBER SALSA

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add half of the onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add the red pepper flakes and chili powder and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the chicken and cook until it is heated through.
• For the salsa, in a bowl mix together the cucumber, tomatoes, the remaining onion, cilantro, and salt and pepper, to taste.
• Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage to use as the shells for the taco. Shred the inner portion of the cabbage and set aside. Add some of the shredded cabbage to the cabbage leaves. Top with some of the chicken mixture, salsa and 2 teaspoons of sour cream. Arrange on a serving platter and serve.
• Add canola oil to a heavy bottomed pot with a tight fitting lid and put it over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the chicken thighs, skin side up, fitting them in tightly. Add the thyme and rosemary sprigs, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and pour in 1/2 cup water. When it comes to a boil, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour. Remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool. When it is cool, shred the meat, discarding the skin and bones.
• In a large bowl combine the sugar, vinegar, red pepper flakes and mix together. Shred half of the cabbage and add it to the bowl, then season with salt and pepper, to taste. (Reserve the remaining cabbage half for the Round 2 Recipe Chicken Tacos with Cucumber Salsa.) Toss to coat all of the cabbage, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, mustard, and hot sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the shredded chicken and toss to coat.
• Divide the shredded chicken evenly among each roll bottom. Top with some of the cabbage, cover with the roll top, and insert a toothpick to hold it all together. Arrange on a serving platter and serve.
• Peel the length of each cucumber to form alternating stripes of unpeeled and peeled. Cut the cucumbers into 12 (3/4-inch) pieces. Scoop out the center using a teaspoon or a melon baller, leaving the bottom and sides intact to form a cup. Turn them upside down onto a towel and let them drain while you make the filling.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook until bright pink, about 3 to 4 minutes. Strain and rinse in cold water. Remove the shells and discard. (Reserve 12 shrimp for the Round 2 Recipe Shrimp and Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Bacon Dressing.)
• Chop the shrimp into small pieces and put them into a bowl. Add the horseradish, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, half the can of tomatoes (reserve the remaining half for the Round 2 Recipe Chicken Tacos with Cucumber Salsa) and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Evenly divide the shrimp mixture between the cucumber cups. Arrange them on a serving platter and garnish with remaining parsley.