Pinchos Recipes

PINCHOS (SPANISH KEBABS/TAPAS - PORK, LAMB, PRAWNS OR CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Place the onion, garlic, sweet and hot paprikas, 2 tsp of the salt, the oregano, peppercorns, thyme, cumin, cinnamon, bay leaf, vinegar, wine (if using) and olive oil in a mini food processor and process to a paste.
• Place the pork in a bowl and rub a little salt on it. Scrape the marinade into the bowl with the meat and toss to combine thoroughly.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pork for 4-6 hours, tossing a few times. Let the meat come to room temperature before grilling.
• Light the grill and preheat it to medium-high or preheat a large ridged grill pan to medium-high over medium heat.
• When ready to cook, thread the meat onto the skewers and brush it with a little olive oil.
• Cook the meat, brushing with olive oil and turning once, until it is just cooked through, 5-7 minutes. (If you are cooking lamb and would like it medium-rare, don't cook it quite so long). Serve the kebabs at once.

PINCHOS

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup sofrito, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 1/2 tablespoons each sazón and adobo seasoning, 1 1/2 teaspoons each onion powder and granulated garlic and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl.
• Toss with 2 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin (cut into 2-inch cubes); marinate overnight.
• Thread the meat onto skewers, leaving space at the bottom of each. Grill over medium-high heat for 3 minutes per side. Flip again and cook 2 more minutes. Brush with barbecue sauce, flip again and cook 2 more minutes. Remove from the grill, brush with more barbecue sauce and let rest 5 minutes. To serve, add a piece of grilled bread to each skewer.

PINCHOS

Steps:

• Combine the sofrito, oil, sazon, adobo, onion powder, granulated garlic and black pepper in a large bowl. Add the pork and toss to coat. Marinate the meat at least overnight or 12 hours for best results.
• When ready to cook, remove the meat from the refrigerator. Drain off and discard the marinade. Preheat a grill to 450 degrees F or medium-high heat. Thread the meat onto 12- or 14-inch skewers, leaving a 3-inch space at the bottom of each skewer.
• Place the skewers on the grill and grill for 3 minutes. Carefully flip the skewers and grill the other side for 3 minutes. Flip the skewers again and cook for an additional 2 minutes on the other side, then brush the pinchos with barbecue sauce. Flip once more and cook until the pinchos are browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the pork registers 145 degrees F, about 2 minutes more. Remove from the grill, brush again with barbecue sauce, and rest 5 minutes before serving. Toast the slices of bread on the grill; skewer one slice onto the top of each pincho.

ANDALUCIAN PINCHITOS MORUNOS - MOORISH SAFFRON MEAT SKEWERS

Steps:

• Cut the chicken breasts,lamb or pork into cubes about 1" in size. Flatten them slightly with the palm of your hand.
• Place the meat in a large bowl and add the dried spices, garlic & salt, saffron infused water, oregano, bay leaf and vinegar - mix thouroughly.
• Then add the olive oil - mix again thoroughly, cover with cling film and leave in the fridge for between 2 & 12 hours, so the flavours mingle and marinade into the meat.
• Light the barbecue about half an hour before cooking and allow the charcoal or wood to flare and then glow.
• If cooking inside, turn the grill up to high, or use a smoking hot griddle or griddle pan.
• Thread the meat on to the skewers.
• Grill for about 5 minutes on each side, or until the outside is charred and the inside is still juicy but cooked. (NOT pink for pork and chicken - but pink for lamb).
• Season well with salt and pepper and sprinkle with chopped flat leaf parsley or fresh coriander (Cilantro), serve with a selection of salads, flat breads, pickles and Sherry vinegar dressing.

PINCHOS MORUNOS

Steps:

• The size can also vary from being small skewers with 2 or 3 chunks of meat to larger ones with 7 or 8 chunks. This recipe is for the larger variety but again you may want to go for the small ones and get more pinchos out of the same mix. This recipe makes 8 large skewers
• Grind the cumin and the coriander seeds and put them in a large bowl. Add the garlic, paprika, oregano, a pinch of salt and then mix in the lemon juice and olive oil.
• Cut the pork into small cubes. Put the meat into the marinade and make sure it all covered by the marinade. Leave it to marinate for about 2 hours in a cool place.
• After about 2 hours put the meat onto skewers. You should get about 8 skewers from this quantity of meat depending on how much meat you put on each one. I used metal skewers but do remember if you are using wooden ones it is a good idea to soak them in water for a while as this should prevent them from burning.
• You can then cook them over a preheated grill or on the barbeque. Remember to turn them over part way through cooking and spoon the juices over them. Cooking time will depend on the heat of the grill or BBQ and also how big or small you cut the pork. I would estimate about 10 minutes under the grill.