Bobby Flay's Cinco De Mayo Feast
Cinco de Mayo is all about big fun and bold food. And nobody knows big and bold like "The Early Show"'s resident chef, Bobby Flay.
He appeared on the broadcast Wednesday with a flavorful, Mexican-inspired feast to help kick off the celebration.
The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, on May 5, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862.
It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population.
It is not, as many people think, Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually September 16th.
RECIPES
Hacked Chicken with Mole, Habanero-Cilantro Butter and Pickled Red Onions
Serves: 4 to 6
INGREDIENTS: Pickled Red Onions
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
3/4 cup distilled white vinegar
3 tablespoons super fine sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 serrano chile, slit down center
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano
1 large red onion, peeled, halved, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
METHOD: Pickled Red Onions
1. Combine lime juice, vinegar, sugar, salt and chile in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.
2. Put the onion slices in a small bowl. Pour the warm vinegar mixture over and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 48 hours, stirring the mixture a few times.
INGREDIENTS: Mole
1/4 cup slivered raw almonds
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 small Spanish onion, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 cup pureed plum tomatoes
3 cups chicken stock, plus more if needed
Scant 1/4 cup pureed chipotle in adobo
2 tablespoons ancho chile powder
1 tablespoon New Mexico chile powder
1/2 teaspoon ground chile de arbol
1 cup chopped fresh mango
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup crushed blue corn tortilla chips
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons molasses
1 ounce semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
METHOD: Mole
1. Put the almonds in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook until lightly golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove the almonds to a plate. Increase the heat to high, add the oil to the saucepan and heat until it begins to shimmer. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes, chicken stock, chipotle and chile powders, bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
2. Add the mango, raisins, tortillas and almonds and cook, stirring occasionally, until mangoes are soft and mixture is reduced by half, about 25 minutes.
2. Carefully transfer the mixture to a blender and blend until smooth. Return the mixture to the pan over high heat, add the honey, maple syrup, molasses and chocolate and cook until reduced to a sauce consistency, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Keep warm
INGREDIENTS: Habanero-Cilantro Butter
1 stick unsalted butter, slightly softened
1/2 habanero, finely diced
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
2 teaspoons honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
METHOD: Habanero-Cilantro Butter
Stir together the butter, habanero, cilantro and honey until combined, season with salt and pepper.
INGREDIENTS: Hacked Chicken
1/4 cup canola oil
3 bone-in, skin on chicken breasts
4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
2 chicken legs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cups homemade chicken stock or low sodium canned chicken broth
1/4 cup ancho powder
1/2 cup queso fresco
Cilantro leaves
METHOD: Hacked Chicken
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Sear, in batches if pan isn't large enough, until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the legs and thighs to a large roasting pan, skin side up and brush with some of the butter. (the breasts which cook more quickly will be added 10 minutes later)
2. Whisk together the chicken stock and ancho powder in a bowl and pour around the chicken in the roasting pan. Cook the thighs and legs for 10 minutes. Add the breasts to the pan, brush the skin-side with some of the butter and cook another 12 to 15 minutes or until the breast meat is cooked through and the thigh and legs are fork tender.
Mesa Margarita
INGREDIENTS:
2 oz white tequila
1 oz orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Triple Sec
1 oz fresh lime juice
Ice Cubes
Coarse salt, optional
Lime wedge
METHOD:
Place tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds..Rub the rim of a rocks glass with the lime wedge and dip in salt.. Strain the mixture into the glass and garnish with the lime wedge.
For a Tomatillo-Green Onion Guacamole recipe, go to Page 2.
Tomatillo-Green Onion Guacamole
INGREDIENTS:
3 large ripe Hass avocado, peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely diced
1 serrano chile, finely diced
Juice of 2 fresh limes
2 tomatillos, husked, scrubbed and diced
2 green onions, (green and pale green part) thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fried or baked tortilla chips
METHOD:
Combine avocado, red onion, chile and lime juice in a medium bowl and coarsely mash with a fork. Fold in the tomatillos, green onions, cilantro and season with salt and pepper.