Pollo pibil

4 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1 Garlic Clove
3 Tbl. Vegetable Oil
1 Med. Onion, sliced
4 Lg. Banana leaf sections, including center rib
1 (3 Lb) Chicken, quartered
Salt

Directions

If you don't have banana leaves for this Yucatan specialty, use foil only.

Recado Colorado made with lime or lemon juice Prepare Recado Colorado.(See below) Add garlic. Mash to blend; set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet. Add onion. Cook until tender but not browned; set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut four 20 inch sheets of aluminum foil. Place 1 sheet of foil on a flat surface. Place banana leaf in center of foil. Rub 1 chicken quarter with some of the remaining oil. Place chicken on banana leaf.

Spread ¼ of the Recado Colorado mixture over chicken with back of a spoon. Sprinkle with salt. Add ¼ of the cooked onion. Wrap banana leaf around chicken to cover. Fold foil over banana leaf and crimp to close securely. If you use small pieces of banana leaf, overlap them to enclose chicken completely. Continue until all chicken quarters are seasoned and wrapped. Place in a single layer in a large baking pan. Bake 1 hour. Remove foil and drain off excess juices. Serve chicken wrapped in the leaves.

Makes 4 servings.

RECADO COLORADO **

1 Tbl Crushed Achiote seeds OR New Mexico Chili Powder 2 Tbl Lime juice, Lemon juice OR vinegar 1 Pinch Tumeric Combine all ingredients and mash to make a paste. Makes about 3 Tablespoons.

From "MEXICAN COOKING" by Barbara Hansen, HP Books, ISBN 0-89586-038-4

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