Yucatán Cabbage Salsa Recipes

CABBAGE SALSA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients.
• Chill for a few hours.
• Serve with tortilla chips.

YUCATAN CHICKEN PUFFY TACOS WITH PEANUT-RED CHILI BBQ SAUCE AND RED CABBAGE SLAW

Steps:

• Whisk together orange and lime juices, chili and garlic in a shallow baking dish, add the chicken thighs, turn to coat and marinate 1 to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
• Preheat grill to high or grill pan over high heat. Remove thighs from the marinade and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until just cooked through. Brush with some of the peanut sauce during the last few minutes of grilling.
• Place tacos, chicken, peanut-red chili sauce, red cabbage slaw and relish in bowls and on serving platters and serve.
• Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan. Add the onions and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for an additional 30 to 40 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.
• Transfer the mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth, season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool at room temperature. Sauce will keep for 1 week in the refrigerator stored in a tightly sealed container.
• Heat the oil in medium saucepan over medium heat; add the ginger and cook until soft. Increase heat to high, add the BBQ sauce and chicken stock and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half.
• Whisk in the soy sauce and peanut butter and cook for 5 to 7 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place cabbage and onion in a large bowl. Whisk together the vinegar, orange juice, oil and honey and pour over the cabbage. Add the cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with mint. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
• Combine the masa mix, salt and warm water in a large bowl and mix until a smooth dough forms. Pull off pieces of dough and roll them into balls about the size of a ping pong ball.
• Cut a quart size resealable plastic bag open down both sides, to form a rectangle. Use the bag to line the tortilla press as you shape the tortillas so they do not stick: Lay 1 side of the plastic over the bottom of the press. Place a ball of dough in the center, and fold the other side of the plastic over the dough. Shut the top of the tortilla and press firmly down on the dough to shape the tortilla.
• Meanwhile, pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a large deep pot and heat to 350 degrees F.
• Drop a tortilla into the hot oil and, using a metal spatula, repeatedly douse the tortilla with the hot oil until it begins to puff up. Flip it over and, using the spatula, make an indentation in the center of the tortilla to form a taco shape. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Fill each taco with 2 tablespoons of shredded chicken, guacamole, beans and cheese or your favorite filling.
• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl just before serving.

YUCATAN SALSA

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a medium bowl; stir until well combined. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature before serving.

CABBAGE ROLLS WITH RED SALSA

Steps:

• Prepare salsa: Heat the oil in a saucepan over moderate heat. Add the onion and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeno and salt and saute for 1 minute longer. Add the tomatoes with their juices and reduce the heat to low. Cook the tomatoes, stirring occasionally, until soft and juices have reduced by half, about 10 to 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings with salt, pepper and sugar to taste. Transfer the tomato mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.
• Prepare cabbage rolls: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Core the cabbage and drop it into the boiling water. Boil the cabbage until the leaves loosen and come off easily, using tongs to separate the leaves. Immerse the leaves in cold water, then drain completely on paper towels.
• Heat the oil in a large saute pan over moderate heat. Add the onion and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin and oregano, and saute 1 minute longer. Remove from heat and let cool.
• In a bowl, combine the pork, beef, cooled onion, egg, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix well and divide into 12 portions.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare the cabbage leaves by cutting out the tough part of the central stem from the lower part of each leaf. Spread each leaf with a portion of the filling and roll into a cylinder, enclosing the filling completely. (You may need to overlap a few small leaves if you run out of big leaves).
• Place the stuffed cabbage rolls in a 9 by 13inch baking dish, folded side down. Pour the salsa over the cabbage rolls and bake, covered, for 1 hour or until the cabbage is very tender.
• Transfer cabbage rolls to individual plates or a serving platter, sprinkle with the Cotija cheese and serve warm.

YUCATáN-STYLE HABANERO SALSA

Steps:

• Char chiles in broiler or over a gas flame until blackened all over. Place in a medium bowl; cover with plastic. Let steam for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a large dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Toast garlic until tender and skins are charred, about 8 minutes. Let cool.
• Wearing gloves, peel chiles; discard stems. Peel garlic cloves.
• Pulse chiles, garlic, lime juice, and 2 tsp. salt in a blender until a coarse purée forms. Season with salt.

FISH TACOS WITH CABBAGE SALSA AND YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine cabbage, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups cilantro, jalapeno pepper, honey, and 3/4 of the lime juice in a big bowl. Mix well and season with salt and pepper.
• Mix yogurt and 1 tablespoon mayonnaise in a small bowl. Add remaining 1/2 cup cilantro, remaining lime juice, dill, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne and season with salt. If it's too tart for your taste, add more mayonnaise.
• Mix oregano, sumac, cumin, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon cayenne in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Rub spice mix onto both sides of the tilapia fillets.
• Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add tilapia and cook until blackened and fish flakes easily with a fork, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from the heat.
• Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium-high heat for 30 to 60 seconds per side.
• Put some blackened tilapia in each tortilla and top with cabbage salsa. Fold in half and return to the hot skillet to lightly crisp on each side. Serve immediately with yogurt sauce on the side, to be used as a dip.

YUCATáN CABBAGE SALSA

Steps:

• Put all of the ingredients in a medium glass or ceramic bowl, and mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate the salsa about 2 hours before serving. Serve cold. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CHEF JOHN'S YUCATAN-STYLE GRILLED PORK

Steps:

• Place orange juice, lemon juice, and lime juice in a bowl. Add garlic, kosher salt, annatto powder, chipotle powder, ground cumin, cayenne, oregano, and black pepper. Whisk until well blended.
• Cut the tenderloins in half crosswise; cut each piece in half lengthwise. Place pieces in marinade and thoroughly coat with the mixture. Cover with plastic wrap with the wrap touching the surface of the meat and marinade. (Or transfer mixture to a resealable plastic bag.) Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours.
• Transfer pieces of pork from marinade to a paper-towel-lined bowl to absorb most of the moisture. Discard paper towels. Drizzle vegetable oil and a bit more annatto powder on the pork.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Place pieces evenly spaced on a hot grill. Allow meat to sear onto the grate until pieces can be easily turned, 4 or 5 minutes. Turn and grill on the other side another 4 or 5 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 135 to 140 degrees F (63 degrees C). Transfer onto a serving platter and allow meat to rest about 5 minutes before serving.