Barbecue Lamb Butt Tacos

Total Time: 3 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted and ground
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted and ground
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon dried ancho chile powder or 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (or more to taste)
• 1 (3 lb) lamb butt (bone in or bone out)
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup apple cider
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 12 corn tortillas
• 6 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced small
• 1/2 cup finely diced onion
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 jalapeno chile, seeded and minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• kosher salt

Recipe

• 1 fire up your grill.
• 2 combine all the spice rub ingredients in a bowl.
• 3 rub the lamb butt all over with the spice mixture.
• 4 grill the lamb butt over indirect heat, with the grill covered and the vents fully open.
• 5 to help keep the meat moist, fill a small metal pan with the water, cider, and orange and onion slices and place it under the meat to catch the drippings and provide steam.
• 6 if your grill has a thermometer, keep the temperature of the grill at about 350°.
• 7 barbecue the lamb slowly, turning it occasionally adn adding coals as necessary, for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the meat is very tender and shreds easily with a fork.
• 8 remove the lamb from the grill and wrap it in foil; let meat rest for at least 10 minutes, then slice it across the grain, pulling off and discarding any large chunks of fat.
• 9 using a large knife or chinese cleaver, chop the sliced meat into 1/2-inch chunks.
• 10 while the meat is resting, you can fry the tortillas--heat the oil in a saute pan over med-high heat.
• 11 fry the tortillas until crispy, about a minute per side; drain on paper towels.
• 12 on the plate--set out the crispy tortillas, a platter of chopped lamb, and a bowl of pico de gallo (in a small bowl, toss together the tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeno, and lime juice; season to taste with salt; best used the day it is made).
• 13 allow everyone to make their own tacos.
• 14 you can set out bowls of sour cream, diced avocados, chopped lettuce, cooked pinto or black beans, and grated pepper jack cheese.
• 15 don't forget the margaritas:-).