Description
Braising pork with pickled chiles, spices, coconut cream, and stock creates a rich curry for these tostadas influenced by cuisines around the world.
Ingredients
- 1 large (12-ounce) red onion, halved and sliced (3 cups)
- 3 fresno or jalapeno chiles, seeded and thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cups seasoned rice wine vinegar (from 1 12-ounce bottle)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon moroccan spice mix (such as this little goat moroccan spice mix)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium (11-ounce) while onion, halved and sliced (about 2 1/2 cups)
- 1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 thai chile, chopped
- 2 teaspoons yuzu juice or fresh lemon juice
- 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can coconut cream (such as savoy)
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 medium avocados, halved and pitted
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup masa harina (such as maseca)
- 2/3 cup lukewarm water
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
- vegetable oil, for frying
- 3 radishes, cut into matchsticks
- fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
- Place sliced onion and chilies in a 1-quart heat-proof container with a lid. Bring vinegar and water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour hot vinegar over onion and chiles, pressing down to completely submerge. Let cool completely at room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
- Combine Moroccan spice blend and salt in a medium bowl until evenly mixed, add pork and toss until pork is evenly coated. Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high. Working in 2 batches, add pork to pot and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes per batch. Transfer seared pork to a rimmed baking sheet.
- Reduce heat under pot to medium. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Return pork and accumulated juices to pot with onion.
- Place 1/4 cup Pickle Mix in a blender. Add tomatoes, olive oil, chile, and yuzu juice to blender and puree until smooth.
- Add puree and coconut cream to pot and stir. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until pork is tender when pierced with a fork, about 2 hours. Add stock and continue simmer until pork is very tender and juices are thick, about 30 minutes. Spoon fat from surface of curry.
- Cut avocado flesh into large chunks while still in the skin, then scoop into a medium bowl. Add lemon juice and coarsely mash; season to taste with salt. Press plastic wrap directly on top of smash and chill.
- Combine masa harina, water, and salt in a medium bowl, and mix until it forms a soft dough ball. Let dough rest about 5 minutes. Scoop 2 tablespoons dough and roll into a ball (about the size of a golf ball). Repeat with remaining dough, forming 10 balls.
- Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Add oil to a large skillet to depth of about 1/2 inch and place over medium heat. Heat oil to 325°F. Cut sides from a zip-top bag and position folded edge near hinge in a tortilla press. Place 1 dough ball in plastic bag and press into tortilla about 1/16-inch thin and 3 ½ to 4 inches in diameter. Alternatively, place dough ball in plastic bag on a work surface, and use a rolling pin and roll dough.
- Working with 2 tortillas at a time, add to oil and fry until pale golden brown, carefully turning once, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towel-lined baking sheet. Check oil temperature to maintain 325°F between batches. Return tortillas to oil, 2 or 3 at a time, and fry again until golden brown. Season tostadas with salt while warm.
- Spread each tostada with 1 to 2 tablespoons of avocado smash. Top with about 3 tablespoons pork curry and 1 tablespoon drained pickle mix. Garnish with radishes and cilantro and serve.