Pasilla Chile Sauce Recipes

PASILLA CHILE SALSA

Steps:

• Wipe off any dusty crevasses on the Pasillas using a wet paper towel, then de-stem and de-seed them. Roast them in the oven at 400F for 1-2 minutes. Add the roasted Pasillas to a bowl and cover them with the hottest tap water you've got. Let them reconstitute for 20-30 minutes
• Pull the husks off the tomatillos and give them a good rinse. I usually cut the stems out knowing that any juice leftover in the roasting pan will go in the blender. Roast the tomatillos in a 400F oven for 10-20 minutes or until they turn army green in color.
• Drain the reconstituted chiles and add the chile pieces to a blender along with the roasted tomatillos, 2 peeled garlic cloves, and 1/2 cup water. Combine well, adding more water to thin it out if necessary.
• Salt to taste and if you want to balance the earthy flavor then add a single chipotle in adobo and 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, combining well in the blender.
• Serve immediately and store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

PASILLA CHILI SAUCE (AUTHENTIC MEXICAN SALSA)

Steps:

• Heat the lard or oil in a heavy skillet and cook the chilies until they change color, turning constantly and taking care not to burn.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Let cool then remove seeds and veins and puree in a blender with oil, vinegar, oregano and salt.
• Serve with cheese on top, or serve with cheese separate.

PORK BELLY IN PASILLA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the pork belly rub: Combine the brown sugar, salt, mustard and paprika in a bowl.
• For the pork belly: Trim the pork bellies and cut them into 6-inch squares. Score them horizontally and vertically on the fat side of the belly. (The score should be roughly 1/4-inch deep made with the tip of the knife.) Coat the bellies heavily with 1 cup rub and place inside a vacuum seal bag. Add the fat, garlic and thyme to the bag. Vacuum seal airtight and cure, refrigerated, overnight, or for up to 24 hours.
• Set a thermal circulator to 190 degrees F.
• Add the pork belly in the bag to the water bath. Cook 24 hours, then transfer to an ice bath and chill until the pork is under 40 degrees F. Remove the bellies from the bag, then pat dry with a towel and cut into roughly 6-ounce portions. Reserve for deep frying later.
• For the pasilla sauce: Preheat a grill to medium-high heat and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place tomatoes and onions in a bowl and sprinkle with salt, pepper and olive oil. Place on grill and cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
• Place macadamia nuts in a baking pan and bake 5 to 10 minutes.
• Saute garlic and chiles in a pot on medium heat until the flavors begin to meld, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock, lime juice, cumin and bay leaves and bring to a simmer. Puree in a blender until the sauce is very fine and smooth. Season to taste and finish the sauce with lime juice until the desired acidity has been reached. (Be careful when blending a sauce that is hot! It has a tendency to make a mess of your kitchen if you do not start off blending on slow. Also make sure blender is covered. Gradually work your speed up to full blast to get the velvet texture of the sauce, about 2 minutes total in the blender.)
• For the pickled carrots: Heat the vinegar, brown sugar and salt in a saucepot until it boils, 5 to 6 minutes. Pour the hot liquid over the carrots in a heatproof container and chill overnight.
• For the sour apple slaw: Julienne the cucumber on a mandoline into a bowl. Core the apples (leave the skin on) and julienne on the mandoline into the same bowl. Shave the cabbage paper-thin and add to the bowl. Add the salt, granulated sugar, pepper, lime juice, cilantro and 1 cup pickled carrots. Adjust salt, sugar and lime as needed.
• For the pork belly in pasilla sauce: Heat the oil in a 6- to 8-quart pot to 350 degrees F.
• Fry 6 ounces pork belly until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove to paper towels and dab with additional paper towels to remove any extra grease.
• Heat up 3 ounces pasilla sauce. Place sauce in a circle on a plate. Plate 2 tablespoons slaw in the center of the sauce, followed by the fried pork belly. Place 2 tablespoons slaw on top. Garnish with the micro greens on the very top of the slaw and drizzle Paprika Oil around the plate.
• Steep paprika in oil in a small saucepan over low heat until it comes to a boil or 30 minutes. Allow to chill at room temperature for a few hours, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer.

FILET OF BEEF IN PASILLA CHILE SAUCE:

Steps:

• Toast the chiles in a dry saute pan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.
• Cool, stem, seed and break into pieces.
• Place onion, tomato and garlic in large saute pan.
• Put under broiler until well browned/blackened-about 15 minutes.
• Cool slightly, scrape into blender or processor.
• Deglaze pan with stock and pour into blender.
• Add chiles, process until you get a coarse puree.
• Set aside.
• Salt and pepper steaks, sear in pan with a little oil until a nice crust forms.
• Remove steaks to plate.
• Pour any oil out of pan, pour in sauce and fry sauce stirring with wooden spoon.
• Once boiling, reduce to simmer, add sugar, S&P to taste and cook for 20 minutes.
• If sauce becomes too thick add a tbl or so of water.
• Can be made ahead to this point.
• Keeping the sauce at the barest simmer, add cilantro and steaks.
• Continuously spoon sauce over steaks and poach them to desired doneness.
• About 5 minutes to med rare.
• Pool sauce on plate, place steak on plate, spooning a little sauce over.
• Top steak with avocado relish and sprinkle plate with grated cheese.