Red Chile Paste Recipes

Steps:

• Roast and Soak the Chiles
• Cut or tear the chiles into flat pieces and remove the seeds and veins. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and roast the chiles on both sides until they begin to release their aroma and soften up a bit, about 1 minute.
• Transfer to a blender and fill with boiling water. Allow the chiles to soak for 30 minutes, making sure to keep them submerged under water. (You may need to wedge the blender top into the opening to help keep the chiles under water.)
• Roast the Garlic
• Return the same skillet used to toast the chiles to the stove and place over medium heat. Add the garlic and roast, turning often, until the skin blackens and the garlic begins to smell toasty, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and peel. Set aside.
• Puree the Mixture
• Pour the water out of the blender jar, leaving behind the rehydrated chiles. Add the garlic along with cinnamon, bay leaf, cumin, pepper, oregano, salt, and vinegar and puree until smooth. (You may need to pulse and scrape down the mixture a few times to get the puree started.)
• Serve or Store
• Transfer to a serving bowl if using right away, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate if storing.
• COOKING NOTES
• INGREDIENTS
• Handling Chiles
• If you have sensitive hands, you may want to wear rubber gloves when handling chiles. If you chose to work with them with bare hands, make sure to wash your hands well before touching your eyes or other sensitive skin.
• TECHNIQUES
• Roasting Chiles
• Although you may not think it makes a difference, dry roasting or toasting dried chiles before rehydrating them adds an incredible richness to their flavor. However, you must be careful not to burn them, which will result in an undesirable bitter flavor.
• Since the chiles are dark, you cannot rely on their color to tell you if they are ready. Instead pay attention to their aroma and texture. As soon as they begin to release their scent and become soft and pliable, they are ready.
• ADVANCE PREPARATION
• This paste can be made well in advance and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It keeps almost indefinitely.

Steps:

• If cooking outdoors, prepare a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill to medium-high. Soak the bamboo skewers in cold water.
• Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Add the chiles, garlic and a pinch of salt. Cover partially, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the chiles have rehydrated and the garlic has softened, about 10 minutes.
• While the chile mixture simmers, coat the bell peppers, zucchini and tomatoes with 1 tablespoon oil in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the rehydrated chiles and softened garlic to a blender or food processor along with 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Add the achiote paste, liquid aminos, maple syrup, cumin and remaining ¼ cup oil, and blend until completely smooth. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Cut off the mushroom caps and cut the stems into 1/2-inch-thick coins. Halve or quarter the caps to match the diameter of the stems. Add the mushrooms to the chile paste and mix until coated.
• To assemble, load the vegetables onto all the skewers. Start and end each skewer with a piece of bell pepper and alternate among the mushroom slices, bell peppers, zucchini coins and tomatoes in between, going heavy on the mushrooms. Brush any remaining paste over the mushrooms.
• If cooking outdoors, set the skewers on the hot grill grate. If cooking indoors, turn gas burners to medium-high heat or heat a griddle or grill pan on an electric or induction stovetop over medium-high heat. If using a gas range, cook the skewers directly on the grates over the open flame. If using a griddle or pan, set the skewers on the hot surface. Cook until slightly charred and fragrant, turning occasionally with tongs to grill evenly, about 15 minutes. Grill the lemon halves until charred, if you'd like.
• Transfer the skewers to a serving dish and finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and pinch of flaky salt. Serve immediately.