Pork and jicama rolls with zinfandel barbecue sauce

6 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
2 eaches To 3 fresh jalapeno peppers or to taste
4 pounds Pork spareribs, trimmed of excess fat
2 cloves Garlic; crushed through a press
½ teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
¾ cup Chili sauce
2 tablespoons Cider vinegar
¾ teaspoon Chili powder
6 tablespoons Robust young Zinfandel
24 eaches Wide, soft lettuce leaves, such as Boston
6 larges Scallions; cut into Julienne strips, about 1 cup
3 ounces Jicama, cut into thin julienne strips (about 1 c)
36 eaches Fresh coriander leaves (1 small bunch)

Directions

Preheat the broiler. Place the jalapeno peppers on a broiler tray and broil about 4 inches from the heat, turning frequently, until blackened all over, about 5 minutes. Put the peppers in a paper bag for 10 minutes to loosen the skins. Rinse off the blackened skins under cold running water. Discard the stems, ribs, and seeds; finely chop the peppers.

Rub the spareribs with the garlic. Season with the salt and the black pepper. Place the ribs on a rack and broil about 4 inches from the heat with the oven door slightly ajar, turning every 5 minutes until evenly browned, about 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Let cool.

Meanwhile, in a heavy nonreactive saucepan, combine the chopped jalapenos, chili sauce, cider vinegar and chili powder. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until thick, about 5 minutes. Stir in the Zinfandel and cook until hot but not boiling. Remove the barbecue sauce from the heat.

Cut the meat off the ribs, discarding any fat and gristle. Cut into long ¼ inch wide strips. Lay 12 of the lettuce leaves on a work surface. Generously brush 1 side with the barbecue sauce. Divide the meat, scallions, jicama, and coriander evenly among the lettuce leaves. Roll up each leaf to enclose the filling. Then place each roll, seam-side down, inside a second lettuce leaf Roll up and serve 2 per person.

David Rosengarten in _The Best of Food and Wine_ American Express Pub. Co. 1990 ISBN 0-916103-11-0 Typos by Jeff Pruett Submitted By JEFF PRUETT On 06-20-95

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