Mexican Feast For Cinco de Mayo

Chef Scott Linquist Prepares One On A Shoestring

(CBS) 

Chipotle-Marinated Chicken Tacos
Serves 3 (6 tacos)

1 Pound Chicken Thighs
1 Cup canola oil
6 corn tortillas (6 inch)

Chipotle Marinade

1 Plum tomato, cut in half lengthwise
1/2 Medium sized yellow onion
2 Cloves garlic
2 Canned chipotle chilies in adobo
1/8 Cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/8 Cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 Tbl. honey
1/2 Tbl. kosher salt

Roasted Corn and Avocado Pico de Gallo

1/2 Tbl. olive oil
1/2 Cup fresh corn kernels (about 1 ear) or defrosted high-quality frozen corn
1 Tomato, diced
1/2 Jalapeno or Serrano chile, stem removed and chopped
1/8 Cup chopped cilantro leaves
1 Tbl. freshly squeezed lime juice
Kosher salt to taste
1/2 Ripe Avocado peeled, seeded and diced

Method: For Marinade

Preheat the oven to 400ºF

Spread the tomatoes, onion and garlic on a medium sized metal baking pan, and roast until browned, about 15 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.
Remove the vegetables from the oven, let cool, and then transfer to the jar of an electric blender.

Add the chipotle chilies, orange juice, lime juice, and salt, and puree until smooth.

Put the chicken in a large mixing bowl, season with salt and pepper.

Pour the marinade over the chicken, toss to coat well, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Method: For Chicken

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Place the chicken into an oven proof baking dish and pour marinade over the top.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30-40 minutes until cooked through.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and let cool. Save the remaining cooking liquid.

Using a fork, pull the meat from the bone, and shred into one inch long pieces

Toss with about ½ cup of remaining cooking liquid.

Method: For Pico de Gallo

Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat until hot.

Add the oil and corn and cook until the kernels are lightly browned, about 3 to 4 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.

Remove the corn and let cool.

In a medium sized mixing bowl toss the corn with the diced tomato, chipotle chile, cilantro, and lime juice. Season to taste. Cover and refrigerate for one hour.

Just before serving peel and seed the avocado and cut into ¾ inch cubes.
Gently fold the avocado into the pico de gallo.


Tacos Al Pastor with Roasted Pineapple Pico De Gallo
Serves 3 (6 tacos)

1 Pound boneless pork loin, thinly sliced
6 Corn Tortillas (6 inch)

Al Pastor Marinade
1 Ancho chile
1 Guajillo chile
1 Garlic clove
1/4 Yellow onion
1/8 Teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 Black pepper
1/8 tsp. cumin
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 Cup water
1/8 Cup apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
Kosher salt

Grilled Pineapple Pico de Gallo

1/4 Yellow onion, peeled and cut into ½ inch thick slices
1/16 Fresh pineapple, peeled and cut crosswise
1/8 Cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/8 Cup thinly sliced Serrano chilies
1/2 Tbl. fresh squeezed lime juice

Method: For Marinade

Toast and rehydrate the chilies.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chilies to the jar of an electric blender along with the garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, pepper, cinnamon, water, apple cider vinegar, and salt, puree until smooth. Set aside.

Method: For Pork

Put the pork sliced between two sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap and, using a meat pounder or the pack of a heavy pan; flatten into ½ inch thick slices.

Season the pork with salt, and put in a large non reactive mixing bowl.
Pour in about ½ cup of the marinade, turning to coat evenly.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

The remaining marinade may be kept in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week or frozen for 3 months.

Preheat a barbecue grill or grill pan over medium heat.

Remove the pork from the marinade and grill on each side for 2 to 3 minutes.

Grill the onion and pineapple, then let cool.

Let the pork rest for 5 minutes then cut it into small cubes.

Method: For Pico de Gallo

Dice the grilled onion and pineapple into quarter inch cubes, and place into a medium sized mixing bowl.

Toss the onion and pineapple with the chopped cilantro, chopped Serrano chilies, and lime juice, and season to taste with salt.
Serve with warm tortillas and pineapple pico de gallo on the side.

[licht1]

Traditional Mexican breakfast on May 6th: Menudo, a hangover cure.

See

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/seis-de-mayo/

Salud.

[infairness-2009]

To Xalen54,
"It is a Mexican holiday, go to Mexico & celebrate it...."????
People move. People work hard and strive. How about - "Christmas: It is a Christian holiday, go to Bethlehem & celebrate it...."

[bhappy2-2]

So bhappy2-2 you should read a little history. We jigged up a war with Mexico to steal most of what we call the western US. Then afterwards we made a token payment to them to establish our "legal" right to the land. Not that the truth means anything to you I''''m sure, but you anti-immigrant argument is tainted by your lies.

Posted by jumkey

Since mexico accepted the "token payment" for the property it IS the legal property of The United States of America. The ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS are in violation of the law by entering OUR country. If I agree to let you PURCHASE my home and I then sneak back in and try to live in the home I would be breaking the law, just as the ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS are doing.But apparently this does not bother the traitors who support ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS.

[cdimice]

I work at a predominately hispanic school on the border of El Paso and Juarez Mexico and we are not getting May 5 off.....
But the food can be a feast for anytime...you don''t have to celebrate anything to enjoy the wonderful tastes of mexican food....

[xalen54]

It is a Mexican holiday, go to Mexico & celebrate it....

[battleroaron]

sorry,my misunderstanding on the reason for the celebration.seems my foot is somewhat in my mouth, but do the schools really need to close for this?

[underdogus]

Quetzal0666 that''s right!!

[quetzal0666]

battleroaron..

5 De mayo was not independance from France, it was a Battle Fought in the city of Puebla, againts foreign french troops, the outnumbered army held out and won, but eventually lost the invasion,
It is celebrated because few stood against so many and won despite overwhelming odds.

[underdogus]

Hitler had the right idea to bad he''''s not here to get rid of the mexicans!!!!!!
Posted by maedean ...he wanted to get rid of white Americans too!! what are you inhaling??

[underdogus]

what a bunch of losers on this post, remember when a Nation does that which is right and good in the sight of God, then God blesses that Nation. When they do evil, then God curses the people with STORMS,TORNADOES,EARTHQUAKES,FLOODS,WARS,TERRORISM,HIGH TAXES,UNEMPLOYMENT,DEPRESSION A''COMING to the UNITED STATES......

[jumkey]

Well, first off Cinco de Mayo isn''t the "most important national holiday" - that would be September 16th, Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo is an American drinking holiday. Most Mexicans don''t celebrate it and are confused as to why we do.

Oh and for all the racists here no one in the US gets this "holiday" off.

So bhappy2-2 you should read a little history. We jigged up a war with Mexico to steal most of what we call the western US. Then afterwards we made a token payment to them to establish our "legal" right to the land. Not that the truth means anything to you I''m sure, but you anti-immigrant argument is tainted by your lies.

[battleroaron]

hey ,why don''t we just celebrate all countries independence. it makes just as much sense as celebrating mexico''s . that''s what cinco de mayo is. a celebration of mexico''s independence from france. do they celebrate the 4th of july there? do they have big holiday where kids don''t go to schoolin Americas honor?i doubt it. while our holidays are being removed from schools (ie: holloween, banned???? in most schools across country) yet we celebrate mexicos independence from france??? kids don''t go to school tomorrow ,here in colorado.what a waste of american time.

[hypnotoad72]

First of all, this article has more to do with preparing food than discussing the history/point behind Cinco de Mayo. That holiday is now devolved to the level of St Patrick''s Day...

Also, those who come here illegally also tarnish everyone who is here legally. THAT is the problem. Indeed, why leave, go to another country illegally, do whatever, and thanks to the media we know some illegals put their home country''s flag over the country they are inhabiting?! If their home country is that important, their actions suggest otherwise.

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[truthyness]

All you Mexicans who are over here illegally....GET T OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!

And take your violent rapists, child molesters and drugs with you! You make those of us who came over here legally look bad!!!

[mojito6]

I tuned in specifically to watch the Chef prepare the Cinco de Mayo Mexican feast. I thought the dishes he chose were lively and interesting. HOWEVER ..who was that rude guy standing next to him incessantly interrupting the chef and trying to hog attention for himself? The focus during cooking instructions is on the food and not on over bloated attention hogs. Many times the chef very politely tried to get the guy to stop interrupting because his time was short & the guy just ignored him and kept disrupting. What is the point o having a chef on if some attention hog is going to interrupt the whole time? It was very very rude...rude to the chef and rude to those who were actually interested in watching him prepare the food.

[wlmrtpatriot]

Bahajohn it''s not that people dislike mexicans. Become legal like we all have to be. You might receive minimum wage and health care, plus social security and some kind of reirement plan. It''s your employers fault.