Manchamantel Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Remove stems and seeds from chiles.
• With a comal or black iron skillet, roast chiles for 5 minutes.
• Shake once or twice and do not allow to blacken.
• Add to the water in a covered pan and simmer on very low heat for 30 minutes to rehydrate.
• Place chiles, tomatoes and remaining ingredients in a blender or food processor and purée.
• If necessary, add a little of the soaking liquid.
• Taste the chile water first; if it is not bitter, use it, otherwise add plain water.
• Add oil or lard to a high-sided pan and heat until almost smoking.
• Refry sauce at a sizzle for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly.

Steps:

• Prepare mancha manteles
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• On parchment-lined sheet pan, place tomatoes, onions, and sweet potato and put in oven. Roast tomatoes until blistered, about 25 minutes, then remove from oven. Roast onions until beginning to caramelize, about 35 minutes, then remove. Cook potato until knife easily slides in, about 45-55 minutes, then remove.
• In 10-inch, dry skillet over moderately low heat, toast ancho, guajillo, and mulato chiles, turning once, until slightly darker and beginning to puff, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Once chiles are cool enough to handle, halve lengthwise, then remove and discard seeds, stems, and ribs. Transfer chiles to medium bowl, cover completely with water, and let stand 20 minutes.
• In small, dry skillet over moderate heat, toast unpeeled garlic, turning once, until starting to turn golden brown, about 10 minutes total. When cool enough to handle, remove skins and set aside.
• In small, dry skillet over moderate heat, toast sesame seeds, stirring to prevent burning, until starting to turn golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Set aside.
• In small, dry skillet over moderate heat, toast almonds, cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns until light brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Drain chiles well and place in blender. Add 2 cups chicken stock and purée until smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Strain and set aside.
• In 10-inch skillet over moderate heat, heat 2 tablespoons oil until hot but not smoking. Add raisins and cook until puffed up, about 2 minutes. With slotted spoon remove raisins, place in small bowl, and set aside. Do not clean skillet.
• In same skillet, using oil leftover from cooking raisins, cook plantains, turning once, until golden brown, about 6 minutes total. Place in bowl and set aside.
• When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove skins, then quarter and remove seeds. Coarsely chop and place in blender. Add onions, toasted garlic, and 2 cups chicken stock, then purée until smooth. Strain and set aside.
• Rinse blender, then purée toasted sesame seeds and 1 1/2 cups chicken stock until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Strain and set aside.
• Rinse blender, then purée raisins, half of plantains, almonds, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and pepper until very smooth. Strain and set aside.
• In 6-quart, heavy pan over moderate heat, heat 2 tablespoons oil. Add chile purée and cook until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Add tomato purée, sesame purée, and raisin purée, then cook 30 minutes, stirring constantly. Keep over low heat, adding remaining 1/2 cup stock if mixture gets too thick.
• Poach chicken
• In heavy, 6-quart heavy pot, place chicken stock, carrots, onions, and celery and bring to a simmer. Add chicken and cook, uncovered, at bare simmer, until cooked through, about 14 to 18 minutes. Remove chicken from pot, place in bowl, and let cool. Discard cooking broth.
• To Serve
• Add chicken, sweet potato, remaining plantains, apple, pineapple, salt, sugar, orange juice and zest, and prunes to mancha manteles pot and simmer 10 minutes.

Steps:

• Place tomatoes under broiler for 4 minutes--they will blacken and look not too appetizing.
• Put all ingredients except oil into blender or food processor and puree.
• Add liquid if blender balks.
• Heat pot with oil over high heat.
• Watch carefully for smoke--not a desired result.
• Cook liquid ingredients over high heat for 5 minutes stirring frequently.

Steps:

• To make the kebabs:
• Let the skewers soak in water to cover for 1 hour. Toast the chili on a baking sheet in the middle of a preheated 250°F. oven for 5 minutes and transfer to a heatproof bowl. Pour enough boiling water over the chili to cover, let the mixture stand for 30 minutes, and drain the chili. In a blender blend together the chili, the 1 cup water, the garlic, the onion, the cumin, the thyme, the orégano, the salt, the peppercorns, the oil, and the lemon juice until the marinade is smooth.
• In a large heavy-duty resealable plastic bag combine the pork and the marinade and let the pork marinate, chilled, for at least 6 hours overnight.
• Drain the pork, pat it dry lightly, and thread each skewer loosely with 3 pieces of the pork, 3 chunks of the pineapple, and 3 chunks of the red onion. Grill or broil the kebabs on an oiled rack set about 4 to 5 inches from the heat for 8 to 10 minutes on each side, or until the pork is cooked through but still slightly pink. Serve the kebabs with the manchamantel sauce.
• To make the sauce:
• Toast the chilies on a baking sheet in the middle of a preheated 250°F. oven for 5 minutes and transfer them to a heatproof bowl. Pour enough boiling water over the chilies to cover, let the mixture stand for 30 minutes, and drain the chilies. In a heavy skillet cook the garlic, the onion, and salt and pepper to taste in 2 tablespoons of the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is soft and pale golden, add 1 tablespoon of the sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons of the vinegar, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Transfer the onion mixture to a blender, add the chilies, the broth, the 1/2 cup water, the pineapple, the banana, the cinnamon, the cloves, the additional sugar and vinegar if desired, and salt and pepper to taste, and blend the sauce until it is very smooth. In the skillet heat the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking, add the sauce, and simmer it, stirring, for 5 minutes. Makes about 3 cups.