3 Recipes with Mezcal from Traeger Wood Pellet Grills

Tequila is a controversial topic! But if you like it, you should definitely give its spicy relative - mezcal - a chance. While tequila is distilled exclusively from blue agave and often by large commercial brands, mezcal mostly remains the preserve of small local producers who work with a wide variety of agave varieties. As a result, the Mexican spirit offers a wider range of flavors, ranging from herbal to spicy, sour to smoky, savory to bittersweet. As a shot with or without orange slices and sal de gusano (a mixture of salt, dried chilies and ground agave worms) or as a delicious mezcal cocktail - the complex liquor is ideal for getting creative. For those who like it particularly smoky, Traeger Wood Pellet Grills has now created 3 fine dishes & drinks with mezcal that can be prepared on the brand's smokers:

ROASTED MEZCAL LIME WINGS

Ingredients Wings:
• 1.5 kilos of chicken wings
• 2 tsp ancho chile powder
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp oil

Ingredients glaze:
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 3 tsp Mezcal
• 1 1/2 tsp hot sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp butter
• 1 1/2 tsp fresh lime juice

Preheat the Traeger to 500°F for about 15 minutes with the lid closed. If you bought whole chicken wings, remove the tips and separate the drumsticks and wings. Pat the pieces dry, discard the wing tips or save them for chicken stock. Mix all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the oil and mix to combine. Add the chicken wings and marinate generously.

For the glaze: Combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook until the mixture is reduced by about 1/3 and begins to thicken. Keep the glaze warm until it is time to glaze the chicken wings.

Place the wings directly on the grill and grill, turning once, until the internal temperature of the wings reaches 70° C for about 20 minutes. Brush the wings and grill the chicken pieces again for 5 to 10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 80° C. Serve warm and enjoy!

MEZCAL LIME CHICKEN THIGHS

Ingredients Chicken:
• 12 chicken thighs
• l 2 tsp ancho chile powder
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 3 tsp chopped parsley
• 1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

Ingredients glaze:
• 4 tsp honey
• 4 tsp pineapple juice
• 3 tsp Mezcal
• 1/4 tsp chili flakes
• 1 1/2 tsp hot sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp butter
• 1 1/2 tsp fresh lime juice

Preheat the Traeger to 190° C for about 15 minutes with the lid closed. Mix all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the chicken thighs and marinate generously. Add the oil and mix again. Place the chicken thighs meat side down directly on the grill and grill for about 15 minutes on that side.

For the glaze: Combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook until the mixture is reduced by about 1/3 and begins to thicken. Keep the glaze warm until it is time to glaze the chicken wings.

After the chicken thighs have been grilled for 15 minutes, brush them with some glaze. Turn the chicken over and brush the other side with the glaze. Grill the pieces for another 10 minutes until the internal temperature is around 80° C. Enjoy!

TRAEGERITA COCKTAIL

Ingredients:
• 2 limes, sliced
• 4 tsp granulated sugar
• 90 ML Mezcal
• 15 ML lime juice
• 15 ML lemon juice
• 120 ML Traeger Smoked Simple Syrup

Preheat the Traeger to 260° C for about 15 minutes with the lid closed. Sprinkle the lime slices with sugar & grill for 15 to 20 minutes until signs of rust appear. Combine the mezcal, fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice and Traeger Smoked Simple Syrup in a mixing glass and fill with ice. Shake vigorously! Strain over fresh ice & serve with grilled lime slices. Cheers!