Goat In Chile Marinade, Pit-Barbecue Style

Serves: 5

Ellsworth Rath

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

56

Spice

52

Sweetness

52

Sourness

40

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.9

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2 tsps

Cumin Seed

1 tsp

Salt

Directions:

1

Preheat the oven to 325°F

2

Wash and griddle-dry the chiles by the directions below

3

Place in a deep bowl and cover generously with boiling water

4

Let soak for at least 20 minutes

5

Grind the cumin, cloves, allspice, oregano, and dried thyme (if using) together in an electric coffee or spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle

6

Drain the soaked chiles

7

Working in batches as necessary, place them in a blender with the ground herbs and spices (add fresh thyme at this point if using), garlic, onion, vinegar, salt, and about 1/2 cup water (or enough to facilitate the action of the blades)

8

Process to a smooth purée (about 3 minutes on high), stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula

9

With a wooden spoon or pusher, for the purée through a medium-mesh sieve into a bowl

10

It should have the consistency of a thick but still moist paste

11

Season the pieces of goat or lamb with salt and pepper

12

Slather the seasoning paste all over the meat

13

Arrange in a large bowl (or any non-reactive container that's large enough), cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours

14

Remove from the refrigerator about 2 hours before beginning the cooking, to let the meat come to room temperature

15

Preheat the oven to 325°F

16

Choose a deep roasting pan or baking dish large enough to hold the meat snugly

17

Scatter half of the avocado leaves across the bottom of the pan and arrange the meat on them

18

Scatter the remaining leaves over the meat

19

Cover the pan (wrapping very tightly with several layers of foil if there is no lid) and bake 6 to 7 hours (4 to 4 1/2 hours for the lamb)

20

The meat should be almost falling off the bone

21

Wash and griddle-dry the chiles by the directions below

22

Place in a deep bowl and cover generously with boiling water

23

Let soak for at least 20 minutes

24

Grind the cumin, cloves, allspice, oregano, and dried thyme (if using) together in an electric coffee or spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle

25

Drain the soaked chiles

26

Working in batches as necessary, place them in a blender with the ground herbs and spices (add fresh thyme at this point if using), garlic, onion, vinegar, salt, and about 1/2 cup water (or enough to facilitate the action of the blades)

27

Process to a smooth purée (about 3 minutes on high), stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula

28

With a wooden spoon or pusher, for the purée through a medium-mesh sieve into a bowl

29

It should have the consistency of a thick but still moist paste

30

Season the pieces of goat or lamb with salt and pepper

31

Slather the seasoning paste all over the meat

32

Arrange in a large bowl (or any non-reactive container that's large enough), cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours

33

Remove from the refrigerator about 2 hours before beginning the cooking, to let the meat come to room temperature

34

Choose a deep roasting pan or baking dish large enough to hold the meat snugly

35

Scatter half of the avocado leaves across the bottom of the pan and arrange the meat on them

36

Scatter the remaining leaves over the meat

37

Cover the pan (wrapping very tightly with several layers of foil if there is no lid) and bake 6 to 7 hours (4 to 4 1/2 hours for the lamb)

38

The meat should be almost falling off the bone