Plastered Pork Tacos With Apple Jalapeno Salsa Recipes

AL PASTOR TACOS WITH PINEAPPLE-JALAPENO SALSA

Steps:

• Slice off the bottom of the pineapple and stand it upright. Remove the rind in large pieces, cutting deep enough to remove all the prickles; reserve the rind. Quarter the pineapple and remove the core. Roughly chop half of the pineapple; reserve the other half for the Pineapple-Jalapeno Salsa.
• To a blender, add the orange juice, vinegar, cumin, salt, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic, chipotles and adobo sauce, the roughly chopped sweet onion and the chopped pineapple. Blend until smooth. Place the pork butt in a large resealable plastic bag and add the marinade. Seal and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Set a large Dutch oven over high heat and add enough canola oil to cover the bottom. Remove the meat from the marinade and wipe off the excess. Add to the pot and sear on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Pour in the chicken stock and the marinade from the bag (the liquid should come halfway up the meat; add a little water if required). Bring to a simmer, then place the reserved pineapple rinds, skin-side up, over the top to cover. Place, uncovered, in the oven and cook until the rinds are deep brown and the pork is fork-tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours (tent with foil if necessary).
• Discard the rinds and roughly chop the meat into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces. Toss with a little braising liquid and keep warm.
• Serve the pork in warm corn tortillas. Garnish with finely diced onion, cilantro, Pineapple-Jalapeno Salsa and cotija. Serve with a squeeze of lime.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the pineapple, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, salt and chile and mix well. Allow to sit for 10 to 20 minutes before serving so that all the flavors meld together.

"PLASTERED" PORK TACOS WITH APPLE-JALAPENO SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Season pork all over with rosemary and freshly ground black pepper.
• Stir flour, salt, egg white, and water together in a large bowl until very smooth. Adjust with more flour it's too runny. Add pork shoulder and coat thoroughly.
• Spread a few spoons of excess "plaster" into a baking dish or pan. Add, fat-side up. Use a spoon to re-apply plaster to any spots that need it, as well as to the top.
• Roast in the center of the preheated oven until the surface is dry and hard and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 185 degrees F (85 degrees C), about 3 1/2 hours.
• Let cool for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Break pork up into big chunks and transfer to plate. Add some of the pan juices that accumulated at the bottom of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.
• Combine apple, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, salt, lime juice, and cayenne in a bowl for salsa.
• Slice chilled pork into strips and then cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Heat a dry, nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Brown pork in the pan, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve pork on warm tortillas with the salsa and lime wedges.

"PLASTERED" PORK TACOS WITH APPLE-JALAPENO SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Season pork all over with rosemary and freshly ground black pepper.
• Stir flour, salt, egg white, and water together in a large bowl until very smooth. Adjust with more flour it's too runny. Add pork shoulder and coat thoroughly.
• Spread a few spoons of excess "plaster" into a baking dish or pan. Add, fat-side up. Use a spoon to re-apply plaster to any spots that need it, as well as to the top.
• Roast in the center of the preheated oven until the surface is dry and hard and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 185 degrees F (85 degrees C), about 3 1/2 hours.
• Let cool for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Break pork up into big chunks and transfer to plate. Add some of the pan juices that accumulated at the bottom of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.
• Combine apple, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, salt, lime juice, and cayenne in a bowl for salsa.
• Slice chilled pork into strips and then cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Heat a dry, nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Brown pork in the pan, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve pork on warm tortillas with the salsa and lime wedges.