Molcajete Preparado

Step 1

First! While your grill pan preheats at medium, prep your ingredients. They should be sliced and diced to desire size. Slicing the bottom of cactus paddle prevents it from curling up while it grills. Also adding a light sprinkle of salt onto cactus(nopales) ahead will pull out some of the baba(sticky liquid) from the cactus before grilling.

Step 2

Lightly coat the vegetables with oil. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Place on hot grill pan and avoid touching them for 3-4 minutes or until you see some grill marks, Don't overcrowd the pan or the vegetables will just steam. Turn as needed. Place in shallow baking pan or on a plate. Loosely cover with foil. Set aside. if you have a lot of vegetables, you may have to cook them in batches.

Step 3

Remember, multi tasking is the key to finish this recipe in a timely manner! Transfer peeled and washed tomatillo to a pot with the onion. Cover with water. Bring to a light boil and cook just until tomatillos turn color 3/4 of the way.

Step 4

Preheat a small skillet to medium for a few minutes. When ready brush lightly with oil. Place the jalapeños and serranos in skillet. Roast for 20 minutes, turning as needed.

Step 5

Drain out 3/4 of the water from the tomatillos and transfer to the blender. Also to the blender add the roasted chile peppers, garlic, cilantro and salt to taste. Blend on high until mostly smooth. Taste for salt. Transfer to medium pot. Set aside.

Step 6

Hold off cooking the shrimp until the molcajete is hot enough. After about 45 minutes or so. Season the cleaned shrimp with seasoning listed. Drizzle with enough oil to coat evenly. Set aside.

Step 7

Preheat skillet to medium/high heat for a few minutes.

Step 8

Add a single layer of shrimp in preheated skillet. Drizzle 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of oil over shrimp. Turn shrimp as needed. This is a quick cook. About two minutes. Very important that you don't overcook the shrimp. Transfer the shrimp to a resin tortilla warmer(if you have one) or covered dish. Set aside.

Step 9

Take the reserved salsa in a pot and heat on medium/high. After a few minutes, salsa will begin to lightly simmer. Reduce heat to low.

Step 10

Using two thick pot holders, carefully flip the extra hot molcajete over onto a thick sturdy board. If you are adding some ingredients to the bottom(sauteed onion, roasted poblano strips, cheese), add them now.

Step 11

Pour in just enough salsa to go up 1/2 of the way up the molcajete. Add the previously cooked meat or seafood in the center. If adding longanizo or chorizo, add it to one side. Fill spots with semi soft cheese(panela or queso fresco or melting cheese), cebollitas, drape nopales over the side. Top with grilled chile peppers(chiles toreados), fresh avocado or your favorite grilled ingredients. The ingredients in the center will be extremely hot! Serve with warm corn or flour tortillas and extra salsa. Serves 2 as a meal or 4 as an appetizer.