Nuevo Leon

Candied Orange and Pineapple Empanadas

Candied Orange and Pineapple Empanadas
Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

Candied Orange and Pineapple Empanadas

Candied Orange and Pineapple Empanadas from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 4 “Maestros del Pan”
Cook Time1 hour 35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Empanadas, orange, pineapple
Servings: 18 empanadas
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 1 pound (or 3 ½ cups ) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon grated piloncillo or dark brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter diced
  • ¼ cup vegetable shortening diced
  • 1 cup light beer

For the filling:

  • 1 orange
  • 1 lime
  • 1 large pineapple peeled, cored and cut into small dice (about 6 cups)
  • 1 cup piloncillo about 7 ounces (can be in a chunk or grated), or dark brown sugar

For the topping:

  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground canela or true cinnamon

Instructions

To make the dough:

  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter and vegetable shortening and mix them with your hands with the flour mixture, you will get a crumbly consistency. Pour the beer into the mixture and knead with the rest of the ingredients, until it is all well incorporated, it may feel a bit lumpy. Shape into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.

To make the orange and pineapple filling:

  • Peel the rind from the orange and lime. Reserve. Peel the pith from the orange and lime and discard. Cut oranges and limes into segments, removing membranes in between with the help of a paring knife or small sharp knife. Place the rinds and seeds (if any) in a cheesecloth and tie with kitchen twine.
  • Place the pineapple, orange and lime segments and piloncillo in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Tuck the cheesecloth with the rind and seeds amongst the fruit. Cook until it starts boiling and you see a considerable amount of juices on the bottom of the pan, about 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking for about an hour until the pineapple looks caramelized, and the orange and lime segments have broken down into the mixture and there is very little juice, which will have turned into a runny syrup in the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat, set aside and let cool.

To make the empanadas:

  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Divide the dough into 18 portions and shape them into balls placing each one on a baking sheet as you form them. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350℉ and set racks on the upper and lower thirds. Cover two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Flour your countertop and one by one, roll out each ball of dough to about a 5-inch round. Set a small bowl with water on the side. Spoon a very generous tablespoon of the orange and pineapple filling in the center of the round, wet the edges with water using a brush or your fingers. Tightly close the edges and shape the empanada either using the folding method or by pressing the edge with a fork. Place on the parchment-lined baking sheets as you move along.
  • In a small bowl, beat an egg. In another bowl, combine the sugar with the cinnamon. Brush the empanadas with the egg wash and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Eat solo, or with ice cream!

Notes

Empanadas de Naranja con Piña

Roasted Charred Chicken

Roasted Charred Chicken
Print Recipe
4.34 from 6 votes

Roasted Charred Chicken

Roasted Charred Chicken from Pati's Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 9 "A Day with Hugo"
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, oregano
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 10 garlic cloves
  • 1 serrano or jalapeño chile stemmed, cut into pieces (seeding optional)
  • 2 teaspoons dried piquín chiles
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 4-5 pound whole chicken patted dry
  • 1 celery stick coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 white onion coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup parsley leaves and upper part of stems coarsely chopped
  • Serve with Super Greens Salad with Oregano Vinaigrette or at least the Oregano Vinaigrette for dipping or drizzling over the chicken

Instructions

  • In the jar of a blender, add the lime juice, garlic, serrano chile, piquín chiles, oregano, cumin, Dijon, Worcestershire, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and oil. Puree until completely smooth.
  • Gently, use your fingers to separate the chicken skin from the flesh wherever possible, so you can add the marinade. Completely cover the chicken with the wet rub/marinade, inside the chicken cavity and under and over the skin. Stuff the cavity with the chopped celery, onion, and parsley. You can roast immediately or place in a container, cover, and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.
  • When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 450℉ with the rack in the lower position. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and place on a rack in a roasting pan. Crisscross the legs and tie with twine, and tuck the wings behind the back.
  • Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉, and when pierced with a knife, the juices run completely clear, if any. Remove from the oven, cover with foil and let sit for at least 10 minutes before carving.
  • Carve the chicken and serve with the Super Greens Salad and a generous amount of the Oregano Vinaigrette drizzled on top.

Notes

Pollo Rostizado Norteño

Grilled Queso Fundido Potatoes

Grilled Queso Fundido Potatoes
Print Recipe
4.60 from 5 votes

Grilled Queso Fundido Potatoes

Grilled Queso Fundido Potatoes from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 1 “The Fire Kings”
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: cheese, chile piquín, potatoes, sausage
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds baby potatoes halved
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter diced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • ½ pound smoked Kielbasa or another cooked sausage
  • 1 pound Oaxaca cheese shredded
  • ½ cup Mexican crema or to taste
  • ¼ cup crumbled Cotija cheese or to taste
  • ½ cup crisp and browned chopped bacon
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh chives or to taste
  • Ground dried piquín chile or chiltepín chile or red chile flakes

Instructions

  • Preheat the grill to medium or medium high.
  • Place the potatoes in the middle of a large piece of aluminum foil. Top with butter, salt, and pepper. Close the aluminum foil and completely seal the edges as if folding an envelope (or twisting the edges of an empanada). Place on the grill, close the lid, and cook for 15 minutes, until potatoes are cooked, soft and a sharp knife can cut through any one piece.
  • Place the Kielbasa on the grill turning until lightly browned on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and cut into bite size pieces.
  • Remove the potato packet, open carefully. Add the kielbasa pieces and cover entirely with the Oaxaca cheese. Close the packet again, place on the grill and close the lid. Let it cook for 15 to 20 more minutes, until the cheese has completely melted.
  • Remove the packet from the grill, open it and dress it with the crema, Cotija, bacon, chives and ground piquín. Bring it to the center of the table and share!

Notes

Papitas con Queso Fundido

Potato Hash with Corn, Chorizo and Eggs

Potato Hash with Corn, Chorizo and Eggs
Print Recipe
4.50 from 6 votes

Potato Hash with Corn, Chorizo and Eggs

Potato Hash with Corn, Chorizo and Eggs from Pati's Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 7 "Cantina Culture"
Cook Time40 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: Chorizo, Eggs, Potato
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Mexican chorizo or longaniza casings removed, chopped
  • 1 cup corn kernels fresh or thawed from frozen
  • 1 to 2 jalapeños stemmed and sliced
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large white onion halved and slivered
  • ¾ pound Yukon Gold or russet potatoes peeled and grated
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste, divided
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 eggs

Instructions

  • In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, cook the chorizo for about 3 to 4 minutes, breaking it into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until it starts to crisp and brown. Add the corn and jalapeños, stirring to coat in the rendered chorizo fat, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the jalapeños soften and corn begins to brown. Scrape the chorizo, corn, and jalapeños into a bowl and set aside.
  • Pour the olive oil into the same skillet and reduce heat to medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, until they are completely wilted and their edges have begun to brown. Incorporate the potatoes, add ½ teaspoon salt and pepper and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for another 15 minutes, until the potatoes are completely cooked and mixture has browned a bit more. Incorporate the chorizo, corn and jalapeño mixture.
  • In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Pour over potato and chorizo mixture and cook, stirring to give it your desired scrambled texture and until it cooks to your liking. I like my eggs soft cooked, not runny, but not dry, which takes about 3 to 4 minutes. Serve while hot.

Notes

Huevos con Hash de Papa, Elote y Chorizo

Red Tacos with Queso Fresco and Piquín Salsa Verde

Red Tacos
Print Recipe
4.25 from 4 votes

Red Tacos with Queso Fresco and Piquín Salsa Verde

Red Tacos with Queso Fresco and Piquín Salsa Verde from Pati's Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 7 "Cantina Culture"
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Antojos
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: red tacos, tacos, tacos rojos
Servings: 16 tacos
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the filling:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • ½ cup finely chopped white onion
  • 1 serrano chile stemmed and finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove pressed or finely chopped
  • 2 ripe Roma tomatoes (½ pound) cored and finely chopped
  • 2 to 3 tomatillos (⅓ pound) cored and finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 2 cups crumbled queso fresco (8 ounces)

For assembling:

  • 1 batch Red Tortillas
  • Vegetable oil for greasing the comal
  • 1 batch Salsa Verde con Piquín to sauce the tacos
  • Mexican crema to drizzle over the tacos
  • Crushed dried chile piquín optional, garnish

Instructions

To make the filling:

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the onion and serrano and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until wilted. Stir in the garlic, stir and cook for a minute, until fragrant but not burnt. Add the tomatoes, tomatillos, and salt and cook stirring often, until they have completely softened and released their juices and then begin to dry up turning into a moist but mushy paste, about 7 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the queso fresco and combine well. Set aside.

To assemble and dress the tacos:

  • Set your comal, cast iron, or nonstick skillet over medium heat. If desired, add a tablespoon of oil and spread throughout (you can also make the tacos without oil). Place a couple tortillas and add a couple tablespoons of the queso filling in the center of each. Fold the tortillas to close, and let the tacos cook and begin to crisp for a couple minutes on each side. Repeat with all the tortillas.
  • Serve, completely sauced with the Salsa Verde con Piquín. You may drizzle on Mexican crema and sprinkle some crushed dried Piquín on top.

Notes

Tacos Rojos de Queso Fresco con Salsa Verde con Piquín

Piquin Salsa Verde

Piquín Salsa Verde
Print Recipe
4.20 from 5 votes

Piquin Salsa Verde

Piquin Salsa Verde from Pati's Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 7 "Cantina Culture"
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Salsa
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chile piquín, Salsa
Servings: 2 1/2 cups approximately
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • pounds tomatillos husks removed, rinsed
  • 2 garlic cloves unpeeled
  • ¼ white onion
  • 1 to 2 serrano chiles stemmed
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons dried piquín chiles
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and upper part of stems
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt

Instructions

  • Place the tomatillos, garlic, onion, and serranos on a small baking sheet. Place under the broiler and char or roast for about 10 minutes, flipping as needed in between, until charred on the outsides and completely softened. Remove from the oven.
  • Alternatively, you can char or roast on a preheated comal set over medium-low heat or directly on the grill.
  • Once cool enough to handle, peel the garlic cloves. Place tomatillos, peeled garlic, onion, and serranos along with piquín chiles, cilantro, and salt into a blender and puree to your desired consistency (I like it to still be able to see the tomatillo seeds).

Notes

Salsa Verde con Piquín

Avocado and Panela Cheese Salad

Avocado and Panela Cheese Salad
Print Recipe
3.40 from 5 votes

Avocado and Panela Cheese Salad

Avocado and Panela Cheese Salad from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 2 “Sisters, Stew and Sass”
Cook Time0 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Avocado, panela cheese, salad
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 finely chopped shallot
  • 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped capers
  • ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
  • ¼ cup chopped pickled jalapeños
  • 2 tablespoons brine from pickled jalapeños
  • cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 ripe avocados halved, pitted and diced
  • 5 ounces panela cheese diced

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, place the shallot, capers, cilantro and pickled jalapeños and cover with the pickled jalapeño brine, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Whisk until well incorporated. Add diced avocados and panela cheese and toss to coat. You can refrigerate up to 24 hours until ready to eat.

Notes

Ensalada de Aguacate con Panela

Sugar and Cinnamon Cookies

Sugar and Cinnamon Cookies
Print Recipe
4.86 from 7 votes

Sugar and Cinnamon Cookies

Sugar and Cinnamon Cookies from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode9 “A Day with Hugo”
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cinnamon, cookies, hojarasca, piloncillo
Servings: 30 cookies
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the cookies:

  • 8 ounces piloncillo (about a generous cup)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 inch stick true cinnamon or canela
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • cups masa harina
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup milk

For the coating:

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground canela or true cinnamon

Instructions

  • Place the piloncillo in a small saucepan along with the cinnamon stick. Cover with 1 cup water and set over low-medium heat, and let it cook and strongly simmer, covered with a lid, for about 10 minutes. Remove the lid, the piloncillo should be mostly dissolved, and continue cooking at a strong simmer, now uncovered, for another 3 to 4 minutes. Strain the piloncillo syrup into a measuring cup and discard the cinnamon stick. (You should have about ½ cup. If you have less, add a bit of water. If you have more, use only ½ cup.) Set aside.
  • In a bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, masa harina, and salt.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer set with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and vegetable shortening over medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes until very creamy. Reduce speed to low, add the piloncillo syrup (it may have solidified a little bit, but it should still be soft and malleable) and continue beating for a minute until it incorporates. Add the egg and beat for another minute until it is completely incorporated.
  • Using a large spoon or measuring cup, add the flour mixture in batches. Lastly, add the milk and continue beating for a minute or two until you have a soft, malleable, and homogeneous dough. Gather it into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours.
  • When ready to bake, remove dough from refrigerator. Place two racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350℉. Cover two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • To make the coating, in an extended bowl, mix the sugar with the cinnamon.
  • Generously flour your countertop, your hands, and a rolling pin. Split the dough into four pieces. One at a time, roll the dough out to about ⅓-inch thickness. You may flip it gently once or twice as you do. The dough will look as if it cracks as you roll, that is ok! You can pinch it or press it back together.
  • Use a cookie cutter of any shape you like, to cut the dough into pieces of about 2-inches in diameter. One by one, dip the cookies, gently, as they may want to crumble, in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Place on the parchment-lined cookie sheets and bake for 20 minutes, until they turn a light golden brown on the edges. Remove from the oven, sprinkle more cinnamon sugar on top if you want, and let cool.

Notes

Hojarascas

Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast Pizza

Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast Pizza
Print Recipe
3.34 from 6 votes

Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast Pizza

Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast Pizza from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 5 “The Magic of Piloncillo”
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, Mexican
Keyword: adobo, pizza, pork
Servings: 2 12-inch pizzas
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 500℉.
  • Working with one ball of pizza dough at a time, place on a generously floured countertop. Stretch the dough into a 12-inch circle, by pressing it from the center and pushing it to the edges as you go in a circular motion, leaving a rim around the edge. Then stretch it to make a round. Transfer to a floured pizza stone or baking sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes until the top has browned and started to create pockets of air. Don’t turn off your oven.
  • Spread about ⅔ of the pizza sauce onto each pizza crust. Top each pizza with 1 cup Oaxaca cheese, 1½ cups shredded pork roast, and cover with another cup of Oaxaca cheese. Lastly, top each with ¼ cup Cotija cheese and ¼ cup sliced pickled jalapeños, or to taste. Place the pizzas back in the oven for another 8 to 9 minutes until the cheeses are completely melted. Remove from the oven, slice, and serve topped with slices of ripe avocado.

Notes

Pizza de Pierna de Cerdo en Adobo de Naranja y Piloncillo

Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast

Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast
Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Orange and Piloncillo Adobo Pork Roast

Cook Time5 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: adobo, pork
Servings: 10 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 10-pound pork picnic shoulder bone in, with skin and fat on
  • 8 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 6 ounces piloncillo
  • 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
  • ¼ white onion coarsely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 8 whole cloves stems discarded
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • ½ teaspoon whole allspice
  • ½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 2 dried bay leaves

Instructions

  • To make the adobo sauce, on a preheated comal set over medium-low heat, toast the guajillos for about a minute per side. Place them in a medium saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until chiles plump up and rehydrate. Set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, place the piloncillo and pour a cup of water over it. Set it over low heat, cover and let it simmer 6 to 8 minutes until the piloncillo has completely dissolved into the water creating a syrup. Set aside.
  • In the jar of a blender, add the chiles along with 2 cups of their cooking liquid, orange juice, piloncillo syrup, onion, garlic, stemmed whole cloves, oregano, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, allspice, black peppercorns, and salt. Puree until completely smooth.
  • Preheat oven to 450℉ and place a rack in the lowest part of the oven.
  • With a very sharp knife, score through the skin and fat of the pork shoulder, but not into the meat, in a diamond pattern. Place in a large dutch oven or braiser, with the skin side up. Cover with the adobo sauce, making sure there is sauce under the meat as well. Toss in the bay leaves.
  • Roast in the oven uncovered for 1 hour. Then remove from the oven, flip the pork skin side down, and cover with a lid. Reduce the oven temperature to 350℉, return the pork to the oven, and cook for 2 more hours. Remove from the oven, flip the pork again so it’s back to skin side up. Cover with the lid and return it to the oven for another 2 hours.
  • At this point, the meat should be falling from the bone if you insert a fork or take a piece with a pair of tongs. If not, place back in the oven for another half hour. Remove from the oven, uncover, and let cool slightly (skim 4 tablespoons of fat from the surface and set aside to make the Orange Adobo Pizza Sauce).
  • Once cool enough to handle, remove the pork from the braiser and place on a large chopping board. Leave the adobo sauce in the braiser (set aside 1 cup of adobo sauce for the Orange Adobo Pizza Sauce). Discard the bay leaves.
  • Using a meat fork and a sharp knife, thinly slice the meat, which should be falling apart. Discard the bone. Place all the meat back in the adobo sauce left in the braiser. Toss to coat.
  • Eat the meat with tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, nachos, on top of rice, or use it as a topping for pizza!

Notes

Pierna de Cerdo en Adobo de Naranja y Piloncillo

Skillet Corn Tamal with Duck Fat and Roasted Garlic

Skillet Corn Tamal
Print Recipe
4.41 from 5 votes

Skillet Corn Tamal with Duck Fat and Roasted Garlic

Skillet Corn Tamal with Duck Fat and Roasted Garlic from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 6 “Pioneering from Farm to Table”
Cook Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: duck, garlic, honey
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 8 cups corn kernels fresh or thawed from frozen, preferably white corn, divided
  • ½ cup chicken broth divided
  • 1 whole head of garlic roasted until completely soft and peeled (can use the roasted garlic from the duck recipe linked below)
  • 1 ½ cups masa harina
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 1 cup duck fat rendered from Spicy Honey Garlic and Orange Roasted Duck divided, or can use unsalted butter or lard
  • 2 tablespoons grated piloncillo or brown sugar

Instructions

  • In the jar of a blender, coarsely puree 4 cups of the corn kernels with ¼ cup of the chicken broth and the peeled roasted garlic and puree until completely smooth, scrape onto a bowl. Add the remaining 4 cups of corn kernels and ¼ cup chicken broth and pulse to blend into a very coarse mixture. Scrape onto the same bowl. Set aside.
  • In a bowl, mix the masa harina, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • To the bowl of a stand mixer set with the paddle attachment, add 3/4 cups of the duck fat and the piloncillo or dark brown sugar. Start beating over low speed until well mixed. Incorporate the masa harina mixture and beat for a minute. Incorporate the corn mixture, increase speed to medium, and continue beating for 5 to 6 minutes. Until completely mixed.
  • Preheat the oven to 375℉ with the rack in the middle position. Set a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the remaining ¼ cup duck fat. Once hot but not smoking, pour in the corn mixture. Let it cook over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Then carefully cover with aluminum foil, transfer to the oven, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and cook for another 5 to 8 minutes, until the top gains a bit of a golden brown color. Remove from the oven and serve hot.

Notes

Tamal de Elote en Cazuela con Manteca de Pato y Ajo Rostizado

Chimichurri with a Mexican Accent

Chimichurri Mexa
Print Recipe
4.86 from 7 votes

Chimichurri with a Mexican Accent

Chimichurri with a Mexican Accent from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 3 “The World Cup of Tacos”
0 minutes
Course: Dip, Garnish, Salsa
Cuisine: Latin American, Mexican
Keyword: jalapeno, oregano, pepitas
Servings: 2 cups approximately
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 4 scallions or 2 spring onions, rooted ends removed, white and light green parts finely chopped
  • 1 fresh jalapeño or more to taste, stemmed and finely chopped
  • 1 to 2 pickled jalapeños stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves and upper stems finely chopped
  • 1 cup parsley leaves and upper stems finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves finely chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried
  • ½ cup pepitas or pumpkin seeds chopped
  • Zest of 1 lime
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • ½ cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Let sit for at least 5 minutes before serving. Can be refrigerated for up to a week.

Notes

Chimichurri Mexa

Pork Stew Stacked in Corn Tortillas

Pork Stew Stacked in Corn Tortillas
Print Recipe
4.20 from 5 votes

Pork Stew Stacked in Corn Tortillas

Pork Stew Stacked in Corn Tortillas from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 3 “The World Cup of Tacos”
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: beans, chile, corn tortillas, pork
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the asado de puerco:

  • 3 pounds pork loin fat on, cut into 3/4” cubes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 peeled garlic cloves
  • 10 whole allspice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt

For the chile sauce:

  • 4 ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 4 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 pound ripe Roma tomatoes
  • 2 unpeeled garlic cloves
  • 1 thick slice of a white onion about 2 ounces
  • 1 jalapeño or serrano chile
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • Rind of an orange

To make empalmes (corn stacks):

Instructions

To make the asado de puerco:

  • Place the meat in a large, heavy casserole. In a piece of cheesecloth, wrap the bay leaves, 2 peeled garlic cloves, and the whole allspice. Tie with a piece of kitchen twine and place over the pork. Cover the pork with water and add 1 teaspoon salt. Give it a stir. Set over high heat and let it come to a boil. Remove any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat to medium high and continue cooking until water has completely cooked off, about 45 minutes.

To make the chile sauce:

  • Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. On a preheated comal or medium skillet set over medium heat, toast the ancho and guajillo chiles for about a minute per side. Until they toast, change color and begin to fume, but don’t let them burn. Transfer them to a small saucepan and cover them generously with water. Place over medium-high heat and let cook for about 10 minutes, until they plump up and rehydrate. Turn off the heat and set aside.
  • On the same comal, place the tomatoes, 2 unpeeled garlic cloves, onion and jalapeño. Let them cook for about 8 to 10 minutes, and flip every 2 to 3 minutes as they char (alternatively you roast or char them under the broiler or on a grill for a similar amount of time). Once the skin is completely charred, and the tomatoes are very mushy and the onion and jalapeño are very soft, transfer them all to the jar of a blender, making sure to remove the skin of the charred garlic cloves. Add the rehydrated ancho and guajillo chiles along with 1 cup of their simmering liquid, an additional cup of water, the oregano, cumin seeds, and 1 teaspoon salt. Purée until completely smooth.
  • Once the water has completely cooked off from the pork, remove the cheesecloth packet and let the meat cook in its own fat for about 3 to 4 minutes, until it has browned on all sides. You may add a bit of lard or oil if the pork didn’t have much fat to begin with.
  • Reduce the heat to medium low and add the chile sauce. Stir well and incorporate the orange rind. Let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and seasoned and the pork is completely tender. The stew should be very saucy.

To make the empalmes:

  • For crunchy empalmes – In a skillet or comal preheated over medium heat, place a couple of corn tortillas and spread a tablespoon of Frijoles con Veneno on each tortilla. Top them generously with asado de puerco and cover with another corn tortilla on top. Let the tortillas gently brown on the bottom for about a minute or two. Gently flip and let them brown on the other side for a minute or two. You have a single-stack empalme. If you want a double-stack empalme, add one tortilla, frijoles, asado, another tortilla, frijoles, asado, and another tortilla on top.
  • For a soft empalme platter – Serve a hot corn tortilla on a plate, spread Frijoles con Veneno onto the tortilla, and add a generous amount of asado de puerco on top. Then add 3 to 4 more warm corn tortillas on top of the asado.

Notes

Asado de Puerco con Empalmes

Poison Beans

Poison Beans
Print Recipe
4 from 5 votes

Poison Beans

Poison Beans from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 3 “The World Cup of Tacos”
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: beans
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried pinto beans or three 19.75-ounce cans pinto beans
  • Half of a white onion
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 14 cups of water
  • 3 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
  • Dried chile piquín or crumbled chicharrón, optional garnish
  • ½ cup sauce from Asado de Puerco
  • or Substitute for Sauce from Asado de Puerco

Instructions

  • Rinse and drain the beans. Place in a large cooking pot and cover with 14 cups of water and add half of a white onion. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium, cover partially and cook for about an hour and a half, or until beans are completely soft and broth has become soupy. Add salt, and stir.
  • Or you may use 3 cans of pinto beans and begin from the next step.
  • Transfer the cooked beans to the jar of a blender, along with 3 cups of their cooking liquid (if you don’t have enough liquid, you can add water). Puree until smooth, or until coarsely smooth if you like your refrieds with more texture. You may puree the beans in batches if necessary.
  • Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add lard, once it has melted, add the pureed beans. Incorporate the sauce from Asado de Puerco (or its substitute) and cook until the beans have seasoned and thickened considerably, stirring often, to a texture of potato puree, about 12 to 15 minutes. Serve with chile piquín or crumbled chicharrón, or both, to garnish.

Note:

  • Rather than incorporate the Asado de Puerco sauce, you can choose to add it to the cooked refried beans once you serve them as a topping.

Notes

Frijoles con Veneno

Argentinian Chorizo and Carne Asada Torta

Argentinian Chorizo and Carne Asada Torta
Print Recipe
3.75 from 4 votes

Argentinian Chorizo and Carne Asada Torta

Argentinian Chorizo and Carne Asada Torta from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 3 “The World Cup of Tacos”
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: carne asada, Chorizo, Torta
Servings: 6 tortas
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds skirt steak
  • Olive oil for brushing the steak
  • Kosher or sea salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 6 Argentinian chorizo sausages
  • 6 telera or bolillo breads cut in half
  • 1 cup Frijoles con Veneno
  • 1 ripe avocado halved, pitted and thinly sliced
  • 1 batch Chimichurri Mexa

Instructions

  • Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Clean the grill grates by rubbing them with half or a quarter of a white onion. Brush the skirt steak with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Once the grill is hot, add the skirt steak. Cook for about 4 minutes per side for medium, or more or less depending on desired doneness. Once cooked, transfer to a chopping board and cover with aluminum foil until ready to slice.
  • Place the chorizos on the cooler sides of the grill, or on the second level of indirect cooking if your grill has one, and cook them for about 15 minutes, turning a couple times in between. Remove when ready.
  • When ready to make the tortas, cut the skirt steak into strips of about 2 inches, then slice each of the strips into thin pieces against the grain and set aside. Slice the chorizos in half from tip to tip.
  • Place the bread on the grill for about a minute per side. Spread a couple tablespoons of the Frijoles con Veneno on the bottom half, top with a generous amount of the skirt steak and a sliced chorizo. Garnish with slices of avocado and copious amounts of Chimichurri Mexa.

Notes

Choripan con Carne Asada

Roasted Tomato Rice with Cumin and Oregano

Roasted Tomato Rice with Cumin and Oregano
Print Recipe
4.38 from 8 votes

Roasted Tomato Rice with Cumin and Oregano

Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: rice
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the roasted tomatoes:

  • 1 ½ pounds ripe cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 6 garlic cloves thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon crushed dried piquín chiles
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds crushed with a mortar or knife
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt

For the rice:

  • 2 cups jasmine white rice
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup finely chopped white onion
  • 3 cups chicken broth vegetable broth or water
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt

Instructions

To make the roasted tomatoes:

  • Preheat oven to 450℉. Place tomatoes on a small baking sheet and cover with the garlic, piquín, oregano, cumin, olive oil and salt. Toss well. Place in the oven and let the tomatoes roast until completely wrinkled, mushy and slightly charred, about 25 minutes. Remove them from the oven.

To make the rice:

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium to medium-high heat. Once hot, add the rice and stir to coat as it cooks for a minute. Make room in the middle and add the onion, stir to mix with the rice, and continue cooking until the rice grains change color to a deep bright white and feel heavier and make a louder sound as you stir, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth, orange juice, and salt and stir. Increase heat to medium high, and once it is bubbling strongly, add the roasted tomatoes with all their juices on top. Give it the gentlest stir, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes, or until all liquid has been absorbed and you see no more at the bottom of the pan. Turn off heat and keep covered until you serve.

Notes

Arroz con Jitomates Rostizados en Comino y Orégano

Super Greens Salad with Oregano Vinaigrette

Super Greens Salad
Print Recipe
4.60 from 5 votes

Super Greens Salad with Oregano Vinaigrette

Super Greens Salad with Oregano Vinaigrette from Pati's Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 9 "A Day with Hugo"
Cook Time0 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cilantro, oregano
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

Oregano Vinaigrette:

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 garlic clove pressed or finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons capers finely chopped
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed lime juice
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon grated piloncillo or dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 shallot thinly sliced

Salad:

  • 2 cups arugula rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups baby spinach leaves rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups watercress rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup basil leaves rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves and upper part of stems rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup parsley leaves and upper part of stems rinsed and drained
  • ½ cup mint leaves rinsed and drained
  • 4 to 5 radishes rinsed and drained, bulbs thinly sliced, leaves coarsely chopped

Instructions

To make the oregano vinaigrette:

  • In a small saucepan preheated over medium-low heat for a few minutes, toast the oregano and cumin for 20 to 30 seconds, stirring occasionally, just until fragrant and toasty, don’t let them burn. Remove from heat set aside to cool. When cooled, finely chop or crush with a sharp knife.
  • In a small bowl, combine the oregano, cumin, garlic, capers, lime juice, olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire, piloncillo, salt and pepper. Whisk well until completely emulsified. Add the shallots, mix and let sit for at least 10 minutes.

To make the salad

  • In a large salad bowl, place the arugula, spinach, watercress, basil, cilantro, parsley, mint, radish leaves, and sliced radish bulbs. Pour the vinaigrette over, toss well, and serve.

Notes

Ensalada Verde con Vinagreta de Orégano

Chicken Livers with Chipotle Caramelized Onions

Chicken Livers with Chipotle Caramelized Onions
Print Recipe
4.89 from 9 votes

Chicken Livers with Chipotle Caramelized Onions

Chicken Livers with Chipotle Caramelized Onions from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 2 “Sisters, Stew and Sass”
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: caramelized onions, Chipotle
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken livers
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 3 large white onions slivered
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt divided, or more to taste
  • 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons sauce from chipotles in adobo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • Chopped fresh chives for garnish, optional
  • Fresh oregano leaves for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Place the chicken livers in a bowl and gently cover with cold water. One by one, using a chopping board and a sharp knife, remove any connective tissue and cut them into lobes. Place them into a different bowl and cover with cold milk. Let them sit anywhere from 1/2 hour to overnight, if more than an hour, cover and place in the refrigerator.
  • When ready to cook the livers, gently drain and place on a chopping board or sheet pan covered with paper towels and pat dry.
  • In a large non-stick skillet set over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of oil. Once the butter has melted, add the onions and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook stirring regularly for about 35 to 40 minutes, until completely softened, caramelized, and their color has turned to light brown and they are slightly browning more along the edges. Scrape into a bowl and reserve.
  • Season the livers with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil and raise heat to medium high. Cook the livers for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, until just cooked through but browned outside. Scrape into a bowl and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium, add the remaining tablespoon of oil and butter. Once melted, add the vinegar and cook, scraping the pan for about 10 to 15 seconds. Add chicken broth, chipotle sauce, tomato paste, and Dijon and stir until well mixed, continuing to scrape the bottom of the pan. Cook for a minute, until it strongly bubbles. Add the cooked onions, stir well to thoroughly combine with the sauce. Incorporate the chicken livers and any of their juices, toss to combine, and let it all cook for a minute. Turn off the heat, garnish with fresh chives and oregano. Serve with rice.

Note:

  • I like to chop any leftover chicken livers into chopped liver. I also like to have some extra roasted cherry tomatoes to reserve. Then I’ll spread the chopped liver on some toasted slices of bread and top with roasted cherry tomatoes.

Notes

Higaditos Encebollados y Enchipotlados

Spicy Honey, Garlic and Orange Roasted Duck

Spicy Honey, Garlic and Orange Roasted Duck
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Spicy Honey, Garlic and Orange Roasted Duck

Spicy Honey, Garlic and Orange Roasted Duck from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 6 “Pioneering from Farm to Table”
Cook Time2 hours 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: duck, garlic, honey
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 5-6 pound whole duck thawed
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt plus more to salt the water
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped dried piquín chiles or chiltepin or chile de árbol, plus 1 more teaspoon whole dried piquín chiles
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves or 2 teaspoons dried and crushed, plus 3 to 4 whole rosemary sprigs
  • Zest of an orange plus its juice
  • Zest of a lime plus its juice
  • 1 whole orange halved and each half cut into quarters
  • 1 whole head of garlic
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

To prepare the duck for roasting:

  • Make sure the duck is completely thawed (defrost in the refrigerator for a couple days). Remove giblets and neck from cavity. Rinse in cold water. Pat dry.
  • Bring salted water to a boil in a large soup pot or casserole that fits the duck. Once it comes to a boil, insert the duck and let it sit there for 3 minutes without turning the heat off. This will help tighten the skin. Remove from the water. Drain and pat dry.
  • With a sharp paring or small knife and taking a diagonal or side angle, prick the skin all over front and back without cutting into the meat. This will help release the fat as the duck cooks. Then, score the skin in a diamond shape with lines about every inch making sure you are cutting the skin and the fat, but not the meat, all over front and back.
  • Preheat the oven to 425℉ with the rack in the lowest position.

To prepare the spice mixture:

  • In a small bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, crushed dried Piquín chiles, chopped rosemary, and orange and lime zest. Mix well.
  • Rub the spice mixture all over the duck, making sure to go into the diamond pattern through the skin and fat as well as inside of the cavity. Stuff the cavity with the cut oranges, rosemary sprigs (reserving one sprig for the glaze), and lastly, the head of garlic.
  • Place the duck on a rack in a roasting pan, breast side up. Fold neck skin under the body. Crisscross the legs and secure with kitchen twine. Tuck the wings under their sides. Roast the duck for 30 minutes. Then remove the roasting pan from the oven, flip the duck back side up, reduce the heat to 350℉, and continue roasting for an additional hour and a half.

Meanwhile, make the glaze:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once it bubbles, add a teaspoon dried Piquín chiles, stir and cook for a minute, so they can gently brown. Add the orange and lime juices and the honey, and stir. Add the rosemary sprig. Let it all cook for about 7 to 8 over medium-low heat, or until it thickens to a syrup consistency. Remove the rosemary sprig and Piquín chiles with a spoon, or strain into a bowl.
  • Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Tilt the duck to get all the fat onto the roasting pan and scrape all the duck fat into a bowl. Cut the twine from the duck legs and remove the roasted garlic from the cavity.
  • Brush the duck with the glaze, generously, all over, and place back on rack, flipping it so it is breast side up again. Return to the oven and continue to roast for another 15 to 30 minutes, or until the thermometer reads 165℉ to 170℉ and the skin is golden brown. Remove from the oven. Cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving.

Notes

Pato Rostizado con Miel, Ajo y Naranja

Green Piquin Chile and Oregano Salsa

Green Piquin Chile and Oregano Salsa
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Green Piquin Chile and Oregano Salsa

Green Piquín Chile and Oregano Salsa from Pati's Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 1 "The Fire Kings"
Cook Time0 minutes
Course: Salsa
Keyword: chile piquín, Salsa
Servings: 1 1/2 cups approximately
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled and minced or pressed
  • 1/3 cup fresh oregano leaves finely chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh green piquín chiles stemmed and finely chopped (may be substituted for fresh serrano or jalapeño chiles)
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk until well emulsified. You may keep this in a closed glass jar or container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Notes

Salsa Cruda de Chile Piquín Verde con Orégano

Chile-Lime Baby Back Ribs

Chile Lime Babyback Ribs
Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Chile-Lime Baby Back Ribs

Chile-Lime Baby Back Ribs recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 1 "The Fire Kings"
Cook Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: pork, ribs
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds baby back ribs
  • 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 10 to 12 garlic cloves peeled
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons dried piquín chile or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Green Piquín Chile and Oregano Salsa to serve

Instructions

  • Ask your butcher to cut the baby back rib racks in half, making them half their width. Once at home, remove their back membrane. Cut them into pieces with 3 ribs per piece and place them in a bowl.
  • Make the marinade: In the jar of a blender, add the lime juice, vinegar, oil, garlic, dried piquín, oregano, salt, and pepper. Puree until completely smooth.
  • Pour the marinade over the ribs and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator anywhere from 2 to 24 hours.
  • When ready to cook, remove the ribs from the refrigerator. Preheat your grill to medium. Brush the grill grates clean with a large piece of white onion.
  • Place the ribs in 3 to 4 large pieces of aluminum foil, in a single layer and seal the tops tightly, making flat packets. Place them over direct heat and cook for 1 hour, flipping the packets over once in between.
  • Remove the packets from the grill, open them up, and place the ribs directly on the grates, bone sides down first. Grill for about 4 to 5 more minutes per side, with the lid closed, until they char and brown for a delicious crunch along the edges.
  • Serve with the Green Piquín Chile and Oregano Salsa on the side, to dip the ribs as you eat them.

Notes

Costillitas con Sal, Chile y Limón

Ginger and Pistachio Guacamole

Ginger and Pistachio Guacamole
Print Recipe
4.84 from 6 votes

Ginger and Pistachio Guacamole

Ginger and Pistachio Guacamole from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 10 “Top Chefs and Ancient Cliffs”
Cook Time0 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: guacamole
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons dried piquín chiles crushed or chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 3 large ripe avocados halved, pitted and diced
  • ¼ cup coarsely chopped pistachios plus a couple tablespoons for garnish
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, mix the ginger with the honey, lime juice, dried piquín, and salt until thoroughly combined. Add the diced avocado, mash and mix. Add the pistachios and mix until well combined. Pass to serving bowl and garnish with the remaining pistachios and fresh chives.

Notes

Guacamole con Pistaches y Jengibre

Nuevo León

An adventure destination with dazzling mountains, a distinctive cuisine, and a cosmopolitan capital

The sprawling northeastern state of Nuevo León, which borders Laredo, Texas, is draped in dazzling rocky mountain peaks and miles of desert making it a destination for adventure sports like rock climbing and rappelling. Neslted in a valley of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range is the state’s capital, Monterrey, the second-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and an important entrepreneurial and industrial hub. Defined by its sparse ingredients, proximity to the US, and influences from Sephardic Jewish culinary roots, the flavors here are truly distinctive.

Dive into Nuevo León Content →

Episode 1101: The Fire Kings

Retired mechanic Gualberto Elizondo, “Weber,”  surprised his grown kids when suddenly his grilling hobby turned him into a local celebrity and internet sensation. He drives Pati through the mountains of La Huasteca in his old car, then to his famous back patio where he and his family treat us to cabrito en salsa and short ribs. But local chef Chuy Villareal of Cara De Vaca wants the world to know that the north of Mexico isn’t just carne asada and he’s putting a Mediterranean twist on his traditional dishes.  

Full Episode

Episode 1102: Sisters, Stew, and Sass

Don’t complain, don’t ask for the bathroom, and definitely don’t ask for salt. On the river Ramos, two sisters – who didn’t ask for your opinion – have taken a shack that serves one dish, traditional cortadillo stew, and made it into a must-visit restaurant. Just watch out for their parrot, he bites. And about 10 minutes down the road in the town of Allende is another restaurant that uses traditional stews in their famous empalmes, or stacked tacos.

Full Episode

Episode 1103: The World Cup of Tacos

Much like the deep and bitter divide of Salsa Roja vs Salsa Verde, the state of Nuevo León is divided between two pro soccer teams: Los Tigres and Los Rayados. Pati tries the food at each stadium with stars from each team to be the judge on who wins in the battle of tortas and tacos.

Full Episode

Episode 1104: Maestros Del Pan

The man who literally wrote the book on Mexican bread, Irving Quiroz, brings Pati into his workshop in Monterrey to teach her how to make traditional campechanas and rich conos de crema. Then we meet one of Irving’s students, Chuy Elizondo, who is using bread as a vehicle to make his brunch place one of the hottest in town. Finally, we get an up-close look at a key ingredient in Chuy’s famous chilaquiles verdes: chicharrón. Here in Monterrey, we meet the family who owns the butchery known to have the best chicharrón in town.

Full Episode

Episode 1105: The Magic of Piloncillo

The Garza family invites Pati to a once-a-year tradition at their vineyard when they open the doors to the whole community to help make piloncillo, the traditional way. And it takes everyone to help stir because you can’t stop and it’s hard work. Then we’re off to the oasis of Nuevo León, the lush Bustamante magic town, where we meet three sisters who own a famous panadería and make us bread in adobe ovens. Oh, and pizza too!

Full Episode

Episode 1107: Cantina Culture and the Morning After?

Cantinas have historically been bars that act as men’s clubs where men come together to drink, eat and be merry. Or talk about their broken hearts. Pati meets with local author and cantina historian David Canales, who takes Pati to two very different styles of cantinas in Monterrey to have a taste of the stories and food they offer.

Full Episode

Episode 1108: Texas BBQ in the Orange Belt

Nobody wants to go to Mexico for Texas-style BBQ! Or do they? For the first time ever in the prestigious Houston Rodeo BBQ competition, a Mexican from Linares placed third. Luis Rivas is bringing all that flavor home with his BBQ restaurant Riv’s. Pati visits the restaurant to taste the difference between carne asada and ‘Texas-style’ BBQ. Then she visits his family’s orange grove where she learns about the “Orange Belt,” the nickname for this part of Mexico known for its orange exports. Riv invites all his family and some friends over for a carne asada on his massive grill setup. Then Pati is off to learn how the original Gloria’s candies are made.

Full Episode

Episode 1109: A Day with Hugo

Chef Hugo Guajardo of El Jonuco is pushing the envelope on Norestense cuisine, researching around the state and finding the best ingredients. First, he takes us to where he sources his carne seca from the family-owned restaurant El Caminante, which has perfected the art of drying meat. Then Pati has lunch at El Jonuco, where she tries his spin on local delicacies and continues on to his home where he teaches her his take on charred chicken.

Full Episode

Episode 1110: Top Chefs and Ancient Cliffs

Pati’s new mountain climber friends take her on an adventure to see the mountains up close and personal. Then they grab a quick elote snack dressed in wild norteño ways — a concoction popular with climbers. Later, Pati connects with four top chefs in the area and invites them to a carne asada against the backdrop of the gorgeous Huasteca mountains.

Full Episode