Adobo Marinated Pork Chops

By kimvess

Ingredients

• 5 dried chipotle chiles
• 4 dried ancho chiles
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 1/4-inch piece cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 5 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 2 shallots, roughly chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons soft dark brown sugar, or to taste (optional)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 5 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• 4 to 6 bone-in, thin pork chops, or bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs, wings, breasts, or drumsticks)
• 1 lime, cut into wedges

Details

Servings 4
Preparation time 15mins
Cooking time 90mins
Adapted from leitesculinaria.com

Preparation

Step 1

Make the adobo
1. Toast the chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat. You don’t want to char them, you just want to make them more pliable, seeing as mild heat softens them.
2. Discard the stems and the seeds from all the chipotles and half the anchos. Place the chiles in a small saucepan and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and let soak for 30 minutes. Strain the chiles, reserving the soaking liquid.
3. Toast the whole spices in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 40 seconds. Now put all the ingredients for the adobo, minus the chile soaking liquid, into a food processor and whiz to a purée. Add just enough of the chile soaking liquid to get it to the consistency of a paste. Taste for seasoning and adjust if you think it needs it.
4. Scrape the adobo into a sterilized jar, seal with a lid, and refrigerate. (You should have enough to fill an 8-ounce jar. It will be fine there for up to 4 months, but you’ll have used it way before then.)
Make your dinner
5. Place the pork chops or chicken in a large bowl, add half the adobo paste, and use your hands to coat the meat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
6. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) if you’re making pork chops or 350°F (176°C) if you’re making chicken. Line a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan with parchment paper.
7. Place the pork or chicken on the baking sheet in a single layer. Roast the pork chops for 20 minutes or the chicken for 40 minutes. Cover with foil after 15 minutes, as the paste can burn. Transfer to a warm platter and spoon the thick pan juices over the top. Serve with the wedges of lime.