Anticuchos

Description


Not a unique meat in itself, this Peruvian specialty dish turns the rather tough beef heart meat into a tender delicacy. Beef heart cleaned well removing all fat, marinated in red wine vinegar, red hot peppers, garlic and a host of other exotic spices for 8 hours, then grilled and skewered into tender Kebabs.

Ingredients

 * 1 beef heart about 4 pounds
 * 3 large clove garlic peeled
 * 1½ tbsp coarse salt
 * ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
 * 2 tsp ground cumin
 * 3 dry red chile peppers seeded
 * 1 dry ancho pepper seeded
 * ¾ cup red wine vinegar
 * ⅓ cup achiote oil
 * 2 to 3 slices bacon ( 2 oz)
 * 8 x 8" to 10" bamboo skewers

Directions

 * 1) Trim any fat from the heart and remove veins and membranes.
 * 2) Cut into 24 cubes.
 * 3) Place in a bowl and set aside.
 * 4) With a mortar and pestle pound the garlic and salt to a paste.
 * 5) Add the pepper and cumin and continue pounding.
 * 6) Place the seeded red chile and ancho peppers in a bowl, add the vinegar, and let soak for about 10 minutes, or until the peppers are soft.
 * 7) Place the softened peppers with the vinegar in a blender and puree until liquid.
 * 8) Add this mixture to the garlic paste and stir thoroughly.
 * 9) Allow to sit for 10 minutes.
 * 10) Add the achiote oil and pour the mixture over the cubed meat, stirring to coat all the pieces.
 * 11) Let marinate, covered, at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours, or in the refrigerator overnight.
 * 12) Thread 3 pieces of the marinated cubes of beef heart on each of the 8 skewers, reserving the marinade, and set aside.
 * 13) There are two ways of cooking the beef hearts.
 * 14) Both methods require quick searing.