One of the most traditional proteins served for Easter dinner is lamb. This year, you can put a twist on tradition and surprise your guests with Lamb Barbacoa Tacos, a traditional Mexican dish, courtesy of Chef Alex Chen and All-Clad Canada.

The delicious seasoning blends familiar flavours like cumin, peppercorn and cinnamon with exotic spices like star anise and ancho chillies. Check out ther recipe below.

Adobo Seasoning Paste

Yields 200ml or 3 recipes worth

• 1 dry chipotle
• 2 pieces guajillo peppers
• 2 pieces ancho chilli peppers
• 1/3 of a white onion
• 10 garlic cloves
• 2 cloves
• 1-star anise
• 1/3 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorn
• 1 inch piece of a cinnamon stick
  

Adobo Seasoning Paste

1. Toast dry chillies over a grill on low heat for 1 minute.
2. Soak the chillies in hot water for 20 minutes to soften.
3. Remove the chillies from the water and remove all the seeds.
4. Grill the onion and garlic on medium heat until slightly blistered.
5. In a dry saucepan, gently toast the cumin, cloves, star anise, peppercorn and cinnamon stick over a gentle heat for 3 minutes, gently moving the pan around the stove to agitate the spices.
6. Blend all ingredients together until smooth in a high-speed blender and set aside.

Lamb shoulder

• 3 lbs boneless lamb shoulder
• Banana leaves
• Butchers Twine
• 70 ml of Adobo
• A generous amount of kosher salt
  

1. Preheat oven to 325˚F.
2. Wipe the wax off the banana leaves with a damp cloth.
3. Overlap the banana leaves, at least 2 layers.
4. Season the lamb with a generous amount of salt.
5. Spread the adobo paste on the lamb until fully covered.
6. Wrap the banana leaves around the lamb to form a tight parcel and tie with butcher’s twine.
7. Add 2 cups of water to the bottom of your HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Roaster and put in the roasting rack.
8. Place lamb parcel on the rack, cover with a lid.
9. Cook for 4 hours, checking after 3 hours – the meat should be fork tender.
10. Add more water if needed and cook further until desired tenderness.
11. Let rest for 30 minutes.
12. Combine the lamb with the liquid from the bottom of the roaster in a bowl and shred the lamb into small pieces with a fork.
13. Adjust seasoning, adding in more adobo if desired.

Pico de gallo

• 2 whole Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1/3 of a medium red onion, diced
• Cilantro, chopped
• 1/3 of a lime’s juice
• Lime zest
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Cracked black pepper
  

1.     Combine all ingredients in a bowl.

Assembly

• 20 fresh corn tortilla shells
• 4 lime wedges
• 20 pieces shaved radish
• Chopped cilantro leaves
• Cooked and shredded lamb
• Pico de gallo

1. Grill tortilla shells spraying with water from a spray bottle to steam the tortilla.
2. Place 1 large tablespoon of lamb on the tortilla and garnish with pico de gallo, shaved radishes and cilantro. Put lime wedge on the side.

About Chef Alex Chen

Alex Chen is one of Canada’s most respected chefs and an All-Clad Canada Ambassador. Chen spent six years as executive chef at the legendary Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel and currently heads the kitchen at Vancouver’s Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar.

In 2013, he led Team Canada to a top 10 finish at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France. More recently, in November of 2018, Alex became the first challenger whose “cuisine reigned supreme” on the inaugural season of Iron Chef Canada when he defeated Iron Chef Hugh Acheson in the fourth episode of the Food Network Canada cooking competition television show.

Alex’s culinary vision is an inspired recipe of family tradition, classical technique and an artful infusion of casual West Coast flair and international influences.

With the holiday season officially upon us, it’s time to start thinking of creative ways to entertain friends and families.  Here are some holiday cocktail recipes featuring Quartz Vodka.

Stray Dog

45 ml (1.5 oz.) Quartz Vodka
15 ml (0.5 oz.) Kayak white vermouth
60 ml (2 oz.) grapefruit juice
15 ml (o.5 oz.) maraschino liqueur
2 g of fleur de sel
Grapefruit wedge
Basil leaf
Ice cubes

1. Rim an old-fashioned glass with salt
2. Add a few ice cubes to the glass
3. Combine vodka, vermouth, grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur in a shaker filled with ice
4. Shake vigorously
5. Double filter into the glass using an ice strainer and a sieve
6. Garnish with grapefruit wedge and basic leaf
7. Enjoy

Martini Vesper

45 ml (1.5 oz.) Ungava premium gin
15 ml (0.5 oz.) Quartz vodka
15 ml (0.5 oz.) de vin apéritif Lillet blanc
Twist of lemon
Ice cubes

1. Place a few ice cubes in a martini glass to cool it
2. In a shaker filled with ice cubes, combine all ingredients except for the lemon zest. Shake for several seconds
3. Remove ice from the martini glass
4. Strain into the chilled martini glass
5. Garnish with a twist of lemon

As Halloween is just around the corner, here are some cocktail ideas featuring Chic Choc Spiced Rum.

With its deep amber colour and tempting aromas, Chic Choc Spiced Rum is the first Canadian spiced rum crafted with a unique blend of 100% Canadian indigenous spices.  Straight from the Chic Choc mountains on the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, this blend of aged rum is the perfect flavour for fall recipes.

Bloody Boulevardier

• Mix 1 oz. Chic Choc Spiced Rum, 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth and 1 oz. Campari in a glass.
• Add candied floating eyeball as a garnish, then serve.

Death by Coffee

• Combine 1 oz. Chic Choc Spiced Rum and 1 oz. Kahlua.
• Next, add 1 tsp. of pumpkin puree
• Top with 1 oz. of espresso, then serve.

Out of Time

• Combine 2 oz. Chic Choc Spiced Rum, ¾ tbsp. lime juice, and ¾ tbsp. cinnamon apple syrup.
• Top with ginger beer.
• Garnish with Angostura spray and a dehydrated apple slice with cinnamon sprinkled on top.
• This drink can be served in a small punch bowl with dry ice.