Recipe Categories
Tex Mexican
Tex Mex Quesadillas
James's Pork Shoulder Quesadillas Mozzarella Avocado Salmon
1 x Salmon fillet, about 5 ounces
3 tbl Sea salt
2 tbl Thinly sliced scallions
1 x Maui onion, finely diced
3 x Roma tomatoes, peclcd, seeded and finely diced
2 lb Pork shoulder or pork butt
3 tbl Sea salt or kosher salt
8 x Corn tortillas
8 x Ounecs smoked mozarella cheese, thinly sliced
L/2 cup Garlic Spinach, (See recipe, below)
2 x Avocados, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
Method :
The Hawaiian word kalua refers to the traditional method of cooking food in a
rock-lined underground oven called an imu. Kalua pig-a whole pig that has been
baked in an imu-is the highlight of any luau. We don't bave a real imu at tbe
restaurant (I call our wood buming pizza oven an imu because it produces tbe
same smoky effect as tbe pit technique), but I have found tbat pork sboulder or
pork butt can be cooked in a covered grill or smoker with a result that tastes
just like the real thing. In tbis recipe, Hawaii meets tbe Southwest, by way of
the Mediterranean.
Sprinkle the salmon f=EDllet with the sea salt, submerge in cold water, and
refrigerate for 4 to 12 hours (overnight works well). Drain off the water and
finely chop the salmon. At th=EDs point, the almon can be held in the
refrigerator for a day. Shortly before serving, combine the salmon with the
scallions, onion, and tomatoes and reserve in the refrigerator.
Prepare the grill. Coat the pork heavily with the salt, place in a heavy
all-metal pot or saucepan, and add enough water to come about one third of the
way up the sides (the meat should not be covered with water). Place the pot on
the grill, cover the grill, and slowly cook over low heat for about 3 hours.
(Replenish the coals by adding dry fresh coals periodically.) The meat should be
pale in color, plump, and soft. (The meat can also be cooked in a smoker.)
Remove the pork and, when cool enough, shred the meat in long strips. To prepare
the quesadillas, place 4 tortillas on a work surface, layer with the cheese,
Garlic Spinach, avocado, and pork (about 1/2 cup pork per
quesadilla), and top with another tortilla. Heat a cast iron or nonstick skillet
and cook the quesadillas over low heat for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side, or
until the cheese melts and everything is warmed through.
To serve, cut each quesadilla into quarters and arrange in the center of each
serving plate. Garnish with the Lomi Lomi Salmon.
Yield: Serves 4