Lunch: Cabrito El Pastor

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health benefits of Cabrito El Pastor

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

8 bay leaves
3 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/4 pounds kosher salt
Zest and juice of 4 oranges
1 teaspoon pink curing salt
1 whole cabrito (kid goat), cut into 8 pieces (most kids weigh between 9 and 10 pounds)

Instructions

Toast the bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, star anise and black peppercorns in a large stock pot over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add 4 quarts water and the kosher salt and bring to boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the salt. Remove from the heat and stir in the orange zest and juice, 8 quarts water and the curing salt. Stir until the curing salt is dissolved. Cool. Add the cabrito to the brine and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 hours. (Brining longer than 3 hours may result in a salty cabrito.) Prepare a charcoal grill for direct grilling over high heat (about 425 degrees F.) Remove the goat pieces from the brine. Grill the goat, turning regularly to prevent charring, until a meat thermometer registers 155 degrees F, 1 1/2 to 3 hours depending on the size of the piece. Cabrito is best served right on the bone; use a meat cleaver to chop the large pieces into smaller serving pieces.
NotesAsk your butcher to cut the kid into 8 pieces.
This recipe has been updated and may differ from what was originally published or broadcast.
This recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional and may have been scaled down from a bulk recipe. The Food Network Kitchens have not tested it for home use and therefore cannot make any representation as to the results.