Recipe 6: Roasted Goat

"So where roasting - or burning - food distinguished us from animals, boiling was proof of civilization" - William Sitwell


 My inspiration for this meal was this recipe for  Goat in Chile Marinade on Epicurious. I loved the story and detailed directions on how to make an authentic Barbacoa de Cabrito. I made a simplified version and chose to use dried California peppers, mostly because that was all I could find. They were not very spicy but added a nice toasty flavor to the dish.  Honestly, I don't know anything about peppers. My mother is Scandinavian, growing up the norm was boiled potatoes and fish sticks.  Depending on the level of spice you are looking to achieve, you can substitute different kinds of peppers.

 

Goat with a Chili Marinade

• 2 dried California chilies
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon oregano 
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 medium onion
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2.5 lbs bone-in goat or lamb
• 1 bayleaf 
• 14 oz can of chopped tomatoes

 

Remove tops and seeds from chilies. Soak in boiling water for at least 20 minutes.

In a blender or food processor combine chilies, cumin, allspice, fennel, oregano, thyme, garlic, onion, vinegar, salt and pepper. Blend until it becomes a smooth puree. If the mixture isn't blending add a few tablespoons of water.

In a non-reactive air tight container, add goat, marinade and bay leaf. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Remove meat from refrigerator two hours before cooking. 

 Preheat oven to 325°F

Roast for 5 to 6 hours in an airtight container. If you don't have a lid, use tightly wrapped tin foil.

Remove meat from the oven and shred. Place the roasting pan on the stove on low heat. Deglaze the pan by adding a can of chopped tomatoes. Scrape down the sides to incorporate the brown bits and simmer until the tomatoes melt into a sauce.

Serve shredded meat with tomato sauce and potatoes.