Yucatan Marinade Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S YUCATAN-STYLE GRILLED PORK

Steps:

• Place orange juice, lemon juice, and lime juice in a bowl. Add garlic, kosher salt, annatto powder, chipotle powder, ground cumin, cayenne, oregano, and black pepper. Whisk until well blended.
• Cut the tenderloins in half crosswise; cut each piece in half lengthwise. Place pieces in marinade and thoroughly coat with the mixture. Cover with plastic wrap with the wrap touching the surface of the meat and marinade. (Or transfer mixture to a resealable plastic bag.) Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours.
• Transfer pieces of pork from marinade to a paper-towel-lined bowl to absorb most of the moisture. Discard paper towels. Drizzle vegetable oil and a bit more annatto powder on the pork.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Place pieces evenly spaced on a hot grill. Allow meat to sear onto the grate until pieces can be easily turned, 4 or 5 minutes. Turn and grill on the other side another 4 or 5 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 135 to 140 degrees F (63 degrees C). Transfer onto a serving platter and allow meat to rest about 5 minutes before serving.

COCHINITA PIBIL (YUCATáN-STYLE BARBECUED PORK) RECIPE

Steps:

• Light 3/4 chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange coals on one side of charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill to medium-high, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes.
• Remove pork from grill and transfer parcels to a deep platter or shallow bowl. Unwrap banana leaves, shred pork with two forks, stir it into drippings, stuff it into tortillas with pickled red onions and salsa, and serve immediately.

YUCATAN MARINADE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. If using with poultry or pork, marinate for 3 to 4 hours before grilling. Fish and shellfish should marinate no longer than half an hour as the citrus will "cook" the seafood.

GRILLED YUCATAN CHICKEN SKEWERS

Steps:

• Skewer each half chicken thigh with 2 skewers so that they lay flat. Place the chicken in a large shallow baking dish.
• Whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, oil, chili powder, and garlic. Pour over the thighs and marinate in the refrigerator 1 to 4 hours.
• Prepare a charcoal grill to high heat.
• Remove the thighs from the marinade and sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides. Place the thighs directly over the coals and cook until each side becomes golden brown and slightly charred, about 4 minutes per side. Turn, cover the grill and cook for another few minutes until tender.
• Remove from the grill and let rest 5 minutes. Cut the thighs directly down the center creating 2 skewers. Remove the chicken from the skewers and serve garnished with scallions and lime wedges.

EASY YUCATAN CHICKEN (SHRIMP RECIPE INCLUDED)

Steps:

• For Marinade: In the blender, combine all of the ingredients for the marinade. Blend until smooth. Taste for salt and set aside.
• For Chicken: After you pound out the chicken, season it lightly with salt and pepper on both sides. Place into a large plastic storage bag and pour in the marinade. Place in refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour.
• When ready to cook chicken, remove from refrigerator at least 30 minutes before. Shake off excess marinade and place onto plate.
• Preheat stove stop grill pan at medium heat for 6-7 minutes. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil like grapeseed or canola. Grill the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate, tent and let rest for 5 minutes.
• For Shrimp: After cleaning shrimp, transfer to a bowl. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Pour in the marinade and let sit for 20 minutes.
• Add 3 tablespoons oil oil to cast iron pan and preheat to medium for 4-5 minutes. Shake off excess marinade from shrimp as you place it into the cast iron pan. Reserve marinade.
• Cook the shrimp for 2 minutes per side. Remove from pan onto a clean plate. To the pan add the reserved used marinade , minced garlic and 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter. As soon as butter melts, add in the beer. Stir well to combine and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour sauce over shrimp. Serve right away.

YUCATAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Blend marinade ingredients in a food processor until the mixture is thick. Pour into a sealable plastic bag, add the chicken and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Barbeque with marinade on chicken, being careful not to burn the chicken as it cooks. Watch closely. The finished chicken will have nice orange red color.

YUCATAN CHICKEN MARINADE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together and marinate chicken for 4 hours or preferably.
• over nite.
• BBQ as usual on the grill.