Apple Chipotle Chili Marinade

Apple Chipotle Chili Marinade 

This is a marinade recipe for an apple flavored yet slightly spicy marinade that is fantastic on pork.

photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sodexousa/  under:  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

This past weekend we finally had a fantastic weekend to get outside and grill. This 2013/2014 winter may well be the longest dry spell that I have not grilled. It was not just the weather there were other issues that kept me and my dear cooking companion apart. Here in Texas we can grill year round. I hardly go more than a week or two without going outside and cooking something, however, this winter we, the grill and I, just have not been able to get together. The only attention she has gotten in the last month or two is for me to ask her if I could place something on her side tray. An occasional few words like ‘maybe this weekend’ or ‘sorry it the stove tonight’. She has been very patient and understanding. 

Oh, she was so happy for me to pay her a little attention. I mixed a little vinegar, dish detergent and water together, and lathered her up until she was cover in bubbles. Then a nice tender mist with the water hose she sparkled from side tray to burner. Next, I lifted her top and exposed her neglected bare gates. They were just screaming take me. I gently take each one and rub them nice and clean. She rewarded me with kind warm breath on my face from her impassioned flames. We are ready to get cooking.

I had a pork loin roast to cook and apples and pork just pair together beautifully. However, the Texan in me will usually spice it some. Looking around I had fresh jalapenos, multiple chili powders and spicy seasoning from cayenne to a mild paprika and ten or more flavors of hot sauces and salsas. There was more than enough for the spicy seasoning. The apple flavoring was another story I had no apple juice, but I did have some apple balsamic vinegar from Texas Hill Country Olive Company, okay that will work great. 

The three things that are needed for a great marinade are one a light oil, two and acid or something to break down some of the tissue, and three flavoring. Here is what I went with for the oil I used extra virgin olive oil and a Jalapeno infused olive oil. For the acid, I used the apple balsamic vinegar, and a little apple cider vinegar. For the flavoring I sliced one apple very thin about 1/8 inch, some applesauce, and a little chipotle chili powder. 

The marinade 

1 tablespoon apple balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 

4 tablespoons of jalapeno olive oil

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil  

2 tablespoons applesauce

1 apple thinly sliced

1/8 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Mix all of the ingredients together put pork in a glass dish, plastic container or plastic bag.  Do not use a metal or aluminum container for marinating. Pour over pork coat all sides turn the pork over several times during the marinating, so the marinade can do it magic. 

I marinated mine for about 5 hours. I prefer for the meat to be close to room temperature at cooking time so for the last two hours the meat was not refrigerated. Between the vinegar, salt and oil the marinade is a very inhospitable environment for any bacteria that may have been present and if you keep the meat covered, everything will be good. By allowing the meat to be at room temperature, it will cook faster and more evenly.





Clifton

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