Tacos de Cecina (Pounded Pork Tacos)

By djwaldroop

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/aaron-sanchez/tacos-de-cecina-pounded-pork-tacos-2383208

Ingredients

• 2 guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
• 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 1/4 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Vegetable oil, for oiling grill
• 4 corn tortillas
• 1 medium white onion, chopped, for garnish
• 1/2 cup torn fresh cilantro, for garnish
• 2 limes, cut in wedges, for garnish

Details

Adapted from cookingchanneltv.com

Preparation

Step 1

Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. In a dry cast-iron skillet, toast the chiles over medium-low heat until fragrant, turning them and shaking the pan so they don't scorch, about 2 minutes. Put the toasted chiles in a bowl, cover with the boiling water and let them soak until softened and reconstituted, about 15 minutes.

Using a sharp knife, make a deep slit down the length of the tenderloin and open it up so it lays flat. With the smooth side of a mallet, pound the pork between 2 pieces of plastic to a 1/4- to 1/8-inch thickness. Transfer to a baking dish.

In a blender, combine the guajillo chiles, olive oil, vinegar, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 2 tablespoons of the reconstituting liquid and puree to form a paste. Rub the paste on both sides of the pork. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat an outdoor grill or a griddle pan over a medium-high flame. Drizzle the grill with a little vegetable oil to prevent the meat from sticking. Re-season the pork with a sprinkle of salt and pepper and grill for 2 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and let rest for 2 minutes to allow the juices to settle. Dice into 1/4-inch pieces.

Heat a large dry skillet over a medium flame. Warm the tortillas until toasty and pliable, about 30 seconds on each side.

To make the tacos, lay about 4 ounces of the pork down the center of 1 tortilla, sprinkle with chopped onions and cilantro and finish with a spritz of lime juice. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and pork.