Best Tamarind Glazed Duck Tacos With Grilled Pineapple Relish And Pickled Onions Recipes

TAMARIND GLAZED DUCK BREAST WITH THAI RED CURRY TAMALE GREEN PAPAYA AND CORN SALSA

Steps:

• In a small saute pan, dry roast the cumin, coriander, and pepper until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes and then grind into a powder. In a food processor, puree the shallots, garlic, lemon grass, galangal, and cilantro. Add the pureed chiles, tomato paste, lime juice, shrimp paste, ground spices, and blend until smooth.;
• In a heavy bottomed pot over high heat, season the duck legs with salt and pepper and sear until golden brown. Remove the duck legs and using the same pot, saute the onions until they are translucent. Add the curry paste to the onions and cook over medium heat for 4 minutes. Add the coconut milk and simmer for another 2 minutes. Return the duck legs to the pot and fill with enough water to just cover the duck. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until the meat falls off the bone. Remove from heat and when cool, pick all of the meat off the bones and add only the meat to the remaining broth.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the duck broth, rice, scallions, and red bell pepper. Season with the salt and pepper. Lay a banana leaf shiny side down, and place about 1 cup of the rice mixture in the center of the leaf. Fold the ends over the rice to form a sealed packed. Continue making the tamales. Using a wok or a double boiler, steam the tamales until the rice is very hot, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the corn, red onion, papaya, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, fish sauce, cumin, salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for about 1 hour for the lime juice to soften the papaya.
• TAMARIND GLAZE: 1 cup tamarind paste 1/4 cup sliced shallots 2 tablespoons garlic, chopped 1/2 cup lemon grass, sliced 2 Kaffir lime leaves 2 Thai bird chiles 1/2 cup crushed rock sugar 1 tablespoon whole cumin seed, toasted 2 quarts chicken stock or water Salt and pepper, to taste
• In a medium, non-reactive pot, combine the tamarind paste, shallots, garlic, lemon grass, Kaffir lime leaves, Thai bird chiles, rock sugar, cumin seed, water, salt and pepper. Simmer lightly for about one hour until the glaze is thick and syrupy. Strain and season with salt.
• DUCK BREAST 4 (6 1/2-ounce) duck breasts 1 cup tamarind glaze Salt and pepper, to taste
• Using a sharp knife, score the duck skin, in half- inch intervals. Season the duck with the salt and pepper and place skin side down on a hot grill. Be careful of the errant flames that may flare up. Continuously brush the duck with the tamarind glaze as it cooks. Flip the duck when the skin is very golden and continue to brush with the glaze. Cook for about 7 minutes more for medium rare. Allow the duck to rest for 3 minutes before slicing.
• GARNISH: Red corn tortillas Canola oil, for frying 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup sliced scallions
• Using a sharp knife, cut the tortilla into thin strips. Fill a fryer or medium heavy pot 1/3 full with oil and heat over high heat to 350 degrees. Add the tortillas and fry until crispy. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with the cumin and salt.
• PLATING Place a hot tamale on each plate and make a cut down the center. Squeeze the 2 sides together, like you would to a baked potato. Thinly slice each duck breast and fan it out, skin side up, around each tamale. Place a mound of the salsa in the center between the duck and tamale, and top with the tortilla. Drizzle some of the remaining glaze around the plate and sprinkle with the sliced scallions.
• Wine suggestion: Bedford Thompson Cabernet Franc 1995

SLOW-COOKED PORK TACOS WITH FIRE-ROASTED TOMATOES AND PICKLED ONIONS

Steps:

• For the pork:
• To the sleeve of a slow cooker add onion, garlic, tomatoes, chipotle peppers, Worcestershire sauce, and cilantro. Add pork and season with salt and pepper. Cover and slow cook on high for 4 to 6 hours until tender.
• For the pickled onions:
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, add vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes and salt, heat until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add onions and dried oregano. When mixture is cool pour into a quart container. You may need to add a bit of water just to cover. (Keep at room temperature for about 6 hours then place in the refrigerator.)
• Remove pork from slow cooker and shred using 2 forks. Toss with 1/2 cup of the liquid from the slow cooker.
• To serve, place 1/4 cup of the pork on a tortilla, top with cabbage, avocado, onions, sour cream and cilantro. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

SPICE-RUBBED CHICKEN BREAST TACOS WITH GRILLED POBLANOS, BBQ ONIONS AND COLESLAW

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high.
• Brush the poblanos with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the chiles on the grill and cook until charred on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove from the grill, place in a bowl and cover with plastic for 10 minutes. Remove the skin, seeds and stem and cut into thin slices.
• Brush the onions with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on the grill and cook until lightly golden brown and just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Brush with some of the bbq sauce during the last few minutes. Most of the skin should come off on the grill, but if not, take it off when the onions come off the grill.;
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, celery salt, celery seed, vinegar and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cabbage, carrot, onion and scallion and stir to combine, season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Let slaw sit at least 15 minutes before serving.
• Heat the grill to high.
• Whisk together the ancho, cinnamon, cumin, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper in a small bowl.
• Season top side of the breasts with the rub mixture, turn over and season the back with the remaining salt. Drizzle with some of the oil and place on the grill, rub side down and grill until lightly golden brown and a crust has formed, about 3 minutes. Turn the chicken over, close the lid and continue cooking until just cooked through, about 6 minutes longer. Remove from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
• Grill the flour tortillas briefly, just to mark and heat. To build the tacos, fold each tortilla around some of the chicken, poblanos, onions, coleslaw and guacamole.
• Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper.

PINEAPPLE AND GRILLED ONION RELISH

Steps:

• Preheat grill. Brush the green onions with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the onions until almost cooked though and finely slice. Place the onions, pineapple, jalapeno in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Add the lime juice, the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and cilantro. Serve at room temperature.