Roast Suckling Pig Tacos with Tomatillo–Avocado Salsa

Name: Roast Suckling Pig Tacos with Tomatillo–Avocado Salsa
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 12-15
Ingredients: 1 (18-lb. or smaller) suckling pig, split and butterflied; 5 white onions, large dice; 1 large head celery, large dice; 6 carrots, peeled and chopped; 1 ⁄ 2 bunch thyme, roughly chopped; 1 cup garlic cloves, smashed; 6 cups apple juice; 6 cups chicken stock; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 medium white onion, peeled and quartered, plus 1/2 white onion, sliced; 14 tomatillos, peeled and rinsed; 2 ripe avocados; 1 ⁄ 2 bunch cilantro, plus more; 1 jalapeño, halved and seeded, plus 1 jalapeño, julienned; 6 bunches watercress; 1 ⁄ 4 cup shaved radishes; Lemon juice and olive oil, to taste; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; Flour tortillas, to serve; Grilled Corn Salad , for serving

Serves
serves 12-15

SAVEUR

Ingredients

For the Suckling Pig

1 (18-lb. or smaller) suckling pig, split and butterflied
5 white onions, large dice
1 large head celery, large dice
6 carrots, peeled and chopped
¹⁄₂ bunch thyme, roughly chopped
1 cup garlic cloves, smashed
6 cups apple juice
6 cups chicken stock
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Tacos

1 medium white onion, peeled and quartered, plus 1/2 white onion, sliced
14 tomatillos, peeled and rinsed
2 ripe avocados
¹⁄₂ bunch cilantro, plus more
1 jalapeño, halved and seeded, plus 1 jalapeño, julienned
6 bunches watercress
¹⁄₄ cup shaved radishes
Lemon juice and olive oil, to taste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Flour tortillas, to serve
Grilled Corn Salad, for serving

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Juicy roast suckling pig paired with a sweet corn salad is an inspired combination from chefs Jimmy Bradley and Bill McDaniel, of New York City's The Red Cat.

Ingredients

For the Suckling Pig

1 (18-lb. or smaller) suckling pig, split and butterflied
5 white onions, large dice
1 large head celery, large dice
6 carrots, peeled and chopped
¹⁄₂ bunch thyme, roughly chopped
1 cup garlic cloves, smashed
6 cups apple juice
6 cups chicken stock
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Tacos

1 medium white onion, peeled and quartered, plus 1/2 white onion, sliced
14 tomatillos, peeled and rinsed
2 ripe avocados
¹⁄₂ bunch cilantro, plus more
1 jalapeño, halved and seeded, plus 1 jalapeño, julienned
6 bunches watercress
¹⁄₄ cup shaved radishes
Lemon juice and olive oil, to taste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Flour tortillas, to serve
Grilled Corn Salad, for serving

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Instructions

Step 1

For the suckling pig: Pre-heat oven to 325°. Fill bottom of a large roasting pan with all the vegetables, garlic, and thyme. Season the pig on the flesh side. Place the pig, skin side up, on the vegetables. Pour apple juice and chicken stock over the pig and season liberally with kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Cook in oven for approximately 5 hours or until the meat easily pulls from the bone.

Step 2

Remove from oven; gently remove pig from the roasting pan and let cool on a large pan or cooling rack. When cool enough to handle, begin pulling all the meat from the carcass. Save the skin for other preparations and set meat aside. You can discard juices, or use to cook something else, like beans.

Step 3

For the tomatillo salsa: Small-dice 6 tomatillos and reserve. Small-dice 1⁄2 of 1 avocado and reserve. Add remaining tomatilos, remaining avocado, quartered onion, 1⁄2 bunch cilantro, halved jalapeño, and 1⁄4 cup water to a blender and purée. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into bowl and add the reserved tomatillos and avocado; mix. Reserve cold.

Step 4

In a separate bowl, toss watercress with radishes, lemon juice and olive oil. Reserve.

Step 5

For the tacos: Sauté sliced onion and julienned jalapeños in olive oil until transparent. Add approximately 3 cups shredded pig. Sauté with salt and pepper until meat starts to caramelize, then sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Fill tortillas with meat and tomatillo salsa, top with watercress salad. Repeat process until desired number of tacos are made; serve with grilled corn salad.

For the suckling pig: Pre-heat oven to 325°. Fill bottom of a large roasting pan with all the vegetables, garlic, and thyme. Season the pig on the flesh side. Place the pig, skin side up, on the vegetables. Pour apple juice and chicken stock over the pig and season liberally with kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Cook in oven for approximately 5 hours or until the meat easily pulls from the bone.
Remove from oven; gently remove pig from the roasting pan and let cool on a large pan or cooling rack. When cool enough to handle, begin pulling all the meat from the carcass. Save the skin for other preparations and set meat aside. You can discard juices, or use to cook something else, like beans.
For the tomatillo salsa: Small-dice 6 tomatillos and reserve. Small-dice 1⁄2 of 1 avocado and reserve. Add remaining tomatilos, remaining avocado, quartered onion, 1⁄2 bunch cilantro, halved jalapeño, and 1⁄4 cup water to a blender and purée. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into bowl and add the reserved tomatillos and avocado; mix. Reserve cold.
In a separate bowl, toss watercress with radishes, lemon juice and olive oil. Reserve.
For the tacos: Sauté sliced onion and julienned jalapeños in olive oil until transparent. Add approximately 3 cups shredded pig. Sauté with salt and pepper until meat starts to caramelize, then sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Fill tortillas with meat and tomatillo salsa, top with watercress salad. Repeat process until desired number of tacos are made; serve with grilled corn salad.