Cuban Turkey In The Caja China With Sweet And Sour Pineapple Marmalade Recipes

TURKEY CUBANO

Steps:

• Place a rack in the center of the oven and another rack directly below it. Place a rimmed baking sheet on each rack. Once the pans are inside, heat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a small bowl, add the mayonnaise and stir in hot sauce or mustard to taste - it should have a kick. Spread mayonnaise mixture inside the rolls, coating both the top and bottom halves. Layer rolls with turkey, ham, cheese, pepperoncini (if using) and pickle slices.
• Using your hands, press the sandwiches down and make sure nothing slides out. (If it does, poke it back in.) Then, use a brush to butter the top and bottom halves of the rolls.
• Remove a hot baking sheet from the oven and place the sandwiches on top. Layer the other hot baking sheet on top of the sandwiches. Place a small pot cast-iron skillet or other heavy heatproof item on top of that second hot baking sheet to create a press.
• Carefully return to oven and bake until sandwiches are warm, toasted and golden brown and the cheese is melted, 8 to 13 minutes. (You'll have to lift off the second pan to check on the sandwiches.) Cut sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

CAJA CHINA TURKEY RECIPE: HOLIDAY COOKING WITH LATIN TOUCH

Steps:

• Place the turkey on top of the rack, breast down if cooking whole, or skin down if cooking split. Attach top rack using the 4 S-Hooks.
• Place turkey inside the caja china roaster, skin or breast down, (attach probe from wired thermometer or insert meat thermometer here should you have one).
• Cover your La Caja China style Roasting Box with the ash pan and charcoal grid.
• Add 15 lbs. of charcoal and light up.
• Once lit (20-25 minutes) spread the charcoal evenly over the charcoal grid of your caja china box.
• Cooking time starts now.
• After one hour, open the box by removing the complete set of ash pan and grid together and place it on top of the long handles.
• Now flip the turkey(s) over, skin or breast side up.
• After one hour (2nd hour) add 10 lbs. of charcoal.
• After one hour (3rd hour) add 10 lbs. of charcoal.
• Do not add any more charcoal; continue cooking the turkey until you reach the desired temperature reading on the thermometer of 175 f. Should you not have a thermometer, check the turkey after approximately 30 minutes. Cook until desired tenderness.
• Carve and enjoy with those you love most! (Added that last one myself.)

MOJO TURKEY

Steps:

• Rinse turkey well in cold water and pat very dry with paper towels.
• Make the marinade: Combine garlic, cumin, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl and mash the mixture together with the back of a kitchen spoon to make a kind of paste. Stir sour orange juice (or orange and lime juices) and oil into the paste and whisk to combine. Add oregano leaves and mix again. Reserve 1/2 cup of marinade and put aside.
• Put turkey in a roasting pan that can fit in the refrigerator and cover with remaining marinade, making sure to get a lot of it into the turkey's open cavity. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least a few hours. Baste a few times with marinade.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 450 degrees. Remove turkey from marinade and place on a clean cutting board. Discard marinade and clean roasting pan well. Return turkey to roasting pan, tuck the tips of the wings under the bird and shower it with salt and pepper. Place orange, lime and onion quarters in the turkey's cavity, then truss its legs together with cotton string. Roast turkey, uncovered, in the oven for 30 minutes.
• Reduce oven heat to 325 degrees. Baste turkey with pan juices, and add remaining marinade to the pan. Continue roasting turkey, basting every 30 minutes and tenting it with foil if the skin is turning too dark, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 165 degrees, approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours more. Transfer to a cutting board or platter and allow to rest at least 30 minutes before carving.

SWEET AND SOUR PINEAPPLE PORK

Steps:

• Cut pork into bite-size pieces and marinate for 30 minutes in mixture of soy, vermouth, garlic, ginger, and 2 tablespoons oil. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the sweet and sour sauce:
• In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients except the cornstarch mixture, blend well and bring to a boil. Add cornstarch mixture. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently until thickened. Be sure and bring your sauce to a boil before adding the cornstarch, otherwise the sauce may retain an unpleasant starchy taste.
• Heat oil in a Dutch oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove pork pieces from marinade and roll in cornstarch to coat well. Deep fry in hot oil until golden brown and crispy.
• In a large saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil on medium-high heat. Stir-fry red and yellow pepper and diced onion for 2 minutes, then add sweet and sour sauce and fold in fried pork. Let simmer for 2 minutes, arrange on serving platter and garnish with long strips of green onion and toasted sesame seeds.

CUBAN TURKEY IN THE CAJA CHINA WITH SWEET AND SOUR PINEAPPLE MARMALADE

Steps:

• Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Combine the rub ingredients in a small bowl and rub the turkey with the mixture on the inside and outside.
• Make the marinade: Put all the marinade ingredients in a blender and blend to combine. Fill an injector with the mixture and inject the turkey all over. It will plump with the fluid.
• Place the turkey, breast side down, in a disposable aluminum pan. Put the pan inside the Caja China box. Place the lid tray in position and build a charcoal fire in the tray (I use a chimney starter to make this easy). Roast the turkey in the box (no peeking!) for 1 1/2 hours, continuously adding charcoal as it burns out. You will use about 8 pounds of charcoal per hour.
• While the turkey is roasting, make the marmalade: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk the orange juice, vinegar, 2 tablespoons water, and the brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Add the pineapple, onion, and jalapeno. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened, about 15 to 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Carefully remove the lid from the Caja China (have a safe place to set it down, as the charcoal is still burning on top). Use the tongs to flip the turkey breast side up. Replace the lid and allow the turkey to roast for another 40 minutes, until the internal temperature of the thigh meat reaches at least 165 degrees. Remove the turkey and tent it with foil for 15 minutes. Slice and serve on buns if desired, with pan juices and pineapple marmalade.

HAM SLIDERS WITH SWEET-AND-SOUR PINEAPPLE MARMALADE

Steps:

• Whisk the orange juice, vinegar, brown sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Add the pineapple, red onion and jalapeno. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, 15 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
• Divide the ham among the buns. Top with the pineapple marmalade.

TURKEY MERCEDES

Steps:

• Crush the peeled garlic cloves, and place into a large bowl. Season with pepper, cumin, oregano, and salt. Pour in lemon juice, wine, and orange juice concentrate; whisk together until well mixed.
• Using a sharp paring knife, pierce the turkey breast, thighs, and legs; creating holes for the marinade to penetrate. Pour the marinade over turkey, and into the holes. Finally, stuff garlic pieces into the holes. Cover the turkey well, and refrigerate overnight to marinate.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Roast turkey in the preheated oven until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh measures 180 degrees F (80 degrees C), about 5 hours. Baste the turkey every 30 to 45 minutes. Once the breast has browned, cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent it from becoming burnt.

CUBAN STYLE TURKEY PICADILLO

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat.
• Add the onions and saute for 6 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for another 4 minutes until the onions are soft and golden.
• Add the tomato paste and stir, cooking for another 2 minutes until the tomato paste is caramelized.
• Add the turkey and cook, stirring to break up any lumps for another 3 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, vinegar, spices and season with salt and pepper.
• Add 1/4 cup of water and stir to combine.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, and reduce to a simmer.
• Cook, uncovered for 10 minutes, until mixture is thick.
• Stir in the raisins and the olives.
• Serve

BRINED PORK SHOULDER COOKED IN A CAJA CHINA WITH SOUR ORANGE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together the water, salt, sugar, and peppercorns in an extra large stockpot or large plastic container until most of the salt and sugar have dissolved. Place the pork shoulder in the mixture, making sure it is completely submerged, and refrigerate for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. Remove pork, rinse well with cold water then pat dry. Season pork with cilantro and achiote seasoning.
• Prepare a Caja China according to the manufacturer's directions. Place pork, skin side down, in the box and carefully fill tray to its full capacity with lit charcoal. Cook for 1 hour, carefully uncover (you will need to protect yourself from the heat) the Caja China, and turn the meat over. When you turn the pork shoulder, make some small cuts in the skin. Cover the Caja China, add more charcoal as needed, and continue roasting for 2 to 2 1/2 more hours. Do not uncover until pork is done. Alternatively, you can grill the pork; start out on high heat to char it and then reduce the heat, cover, and cook until desired degree of doneness. You can also use a rotisserie.
• When the pork is done, remove it from the Caja China and let rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing. Slice and serve with the Sour Orange-Habanero Dipping Sauce.
• Heat grill to high. Bring orange juice and lime juice to a boil in a medium non-reactive saucepan on the grates of the grill and cook until reduced to about 2 cups. Let cool slightly. Transfer the mixture to a blender and add the onion, garlic, habanero, vinegar, and honey and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and blend until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let cool to room temperature before serving.