Lamb Shoulder Barbacoa Recipes

LAMB BARBACOA

Steps:

• Toast the chiles in a dry cast iron skillet on medium heat for a few minutes on each side and then turn off the heat and fill the skillet with water. Let the chiles soak for 20 minutes or until soft.
• Cut the lamb into three-inch cubes and rub the meat with salt.
• Drain the chiles from the soaking water and place in a blender. Add to the blender the garlic, the coffee, the water, the cinnamon, the oregano, the cumin and the agave nectar. Puree until smooth.
• Coat the lamb with the chile puree, and let it marinate in the refrigerator for four hours.
• Heat the oven to 250°F.
• In a roasting pan, coat the bottom with some of the marinade. Place the onions and carrots on top of the marinade and then top this with the lamb.
• Tightly cover the pan with foil, and then cook in the oven covered for four hours or until fork tender.
• Shred meat with forks and serve in tortillas with cilantro, onions and salsa.

LAMB BARBACOA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325F.
• Score the fat on the lamb (see photos) Generously season all sides of the lamb shoulder with salt. Set on counter while you make the marinade.
• To make the marinade, de-stem the dried chilies, break them in half and discard the seeds ( you don't need to remove every single one, a few strays are OK). Break the chilies apart into smaller pieces and add to the blender ( dry) with the remaining ingredients. Blend until very smooth, for a full minute.
• Heat a skillet or dutch oven to medium-high heat and add oil. Sear the salted lamb shoulder, patiently browning each side to create a deep colored crust. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! ( It is the secret to sealing in the juices and creating flavor!)
• Once all sides are seared, place lamb shoulder in the dutch oven. Nestle the onion and orange slices all around it along with bay leaves. Pour the marinade over top and shake the pan to get the marinade to the bottom.
• Cover tightly and bake in a 325F oven for 3½-4 ½ hours. See notes on timing!
• Roast is done when meat pulls apart easily. Pull the meat off the bones and discard any fat. Tear into smaller pieces and place into an oven proof serving dish. Strain 1-2 cups of the marinade and pour over the meat keeping it moist. Taste the lamb and adjust salt and heat. If it tastes bland add salt.
• Keep warm in oven until ready to serve. I like to leave this uncovered so the meat gets a little crispy on the top. Garnish with onions and cilantro if you like.

LAMB BARBACOA TACOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven 350 degrees F.
• Seed the ancho chiles and boil them in water. Add them to a heavy-duty blender to blend.
• Remove the lamb from the fridge and let sit out for 15 to 20 minutes. Score the fat with a sharp knife, creating a crisscross pattern. Rub thoroughly with salt and pepper, then some of the ancho liquid and chipotle chiles. Place celery, garlic, tomatoes, carrots, thyme, oregano, bay leaves and 1 onion in a roasting pan along with the beer, stock and chile powder. Put a roasting rack on top of the vegetables and liquid and place the lamb in the roasting pan.
• Roast until the lamb starts to turn deep brown, approximately 4 hours. Cover tightly with foil and continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part (do not touch bone) registers 180 degrees F. Let stand for 20 to 30 minutes to cool. Once cool enough to handle, remove the roast from the roasting pan and begin to shred all of the meat off to a bowl with forks and your fingers.
• Strain the liquid from the roasting pan into a blender and blend thoroughly until smooth (this is what I call lamb butter). Pour over the lamb and mix together, adding some water if it becomes too thick.
• Chop your cilantro and remaining onion and mix together in a small bowl.
• Serve the lamb on corn tortillas with homemade Salsa. Top with cilantro-onion mixture, Cotija and radish. Enjoy.
• Heat a grill for cooking at medium heat. Grill or roast the garlic, tomatillos, tomatoes and onions, turning occasionally, until charred. Let cool.
• Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a medium pot over medium heat, then add garlic, tomatillos, tomatoes, onions, chiles de arbol, anchos, guajillos, cilantro and sugar and boil together for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, and then drop into a blender and blend until pureed, but a little bit chunky. Season to taste.

LAMB SHOULDER BARBACOA

Steps:

• Place chiles in a bowl; pour enough hot water over them just to cover. Let stand until softened, 10 minutes. Reserve 3 tablespoons soaking liquid; drain. Transfer chiles to a blender with brown sugar, chipotle, lime zest and juice, oil, spices, 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper, garlic, onion, and reserved soaking liquid. Blend to a fine paste.
• Cut lamb into two equal-size pieces; season both with salt and pepper. Rub prepared chile paste all over both pieces, place in a resealable plastic bag, and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. Bring to room temperature 1 hour before grilling.
• Prepare grill for direct- and indirect-heat cooking. Place a banana leaf on top of two sheets of heavy-duty foil. Lay a piece of lamb in center of leaf, folding leaf up and over to fully cover. Repeat with remaining banana leaf and piece of lamb. Place over indirect heat, cover grill, and cook, maintaining a temperature of 325°F to 350°F, until lamb is fork-tender, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Carefully open parcels and continue to cook, with grill still covered, until juices have reduced and lamb begins to crisp at edges, about 20 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, lightly drizzle poblanos and halved limes with oil and season with salt. Grill over direct heat, turning occasionally, until charred in places and poblanos are tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Just before serving, grill tortillas over direct heat, uncovered, flipping once, until charred in places, about 1 minute.
• Immediately wrap in a clean kitchen towel to keep warm and pliable. Remove parcels from grill and shred lamb into large pieces. Serve with tortillas, grilled poblanos, limes, onion, salsa, radishes, and crema.

LAMB TACOS (BARBACOA STYLE)

Steps:

• Rehydrate the anchos and chipotles in a bowl and cover with hot, boiling water. Soak the chiles until they are soft, about 20 minutes.
• Add the chiles, paprika, oregano, cinnamon and garlic to a food processor. Pour in the oil and process until smooth. If the puree is too thick, add a tablespoon or 2 of the chile soaking liquid to thin to desired consistency.
• Place the lamb in a roasting dish and sprinkle all over with salt and pepper. Pour the puree on top, cover and marinate in the fridge for 3 to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Thaw the banana leaves (if frozen) by running them under warm water. Line a turkey roaster or braising dish with the banana leaves, slightly overlapping them on one another.
• Remove the lamb from the marinade and place on the banana leaves. Wrap up the lamb with the banana leaves, tucking in the edges so it is completely covered. Add 1 1/2 cups water to the baking dish, then cover the entire pan with aluminum foil.
• Bake until the meat is tender and falling apart, 4 hours. Remove the foil and open the banana leaves. Shred the lamb with a fork and season with salt and lime juice. Serve with the warm flour tortillas, cilantro leaves, queso fresco, radishes and onions and pair with the Malbec.