• Make-Ahead

Ingredients

AJÍ

1. 1 large red onion, sliced paper thin
2. Kosher salt
3. 1 cup boiling water
4. 1 large plum tomato, seeded and finely chopped
5. 1 large jalapeño or serrano chile, seeded and minced
6. 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
7. 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
8. Freshly ground pepper

CHICKEN STEW

1. One 14 1/2-ounce can whole plum tomatoes, drained
2. 6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
3. 1 large red onion, coarsely chopped
4. 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
5. 3/4 cup chopped cilantro
6. Kosher salt
7. 2 tablespoons Annatto Oil or corn oil
8. 4 pounds chicken drumsticks and thighs, excess fat trimmed
9. Freshly ground pepper
10. One 12-ounce bottle full-flavored beer, such as Dos Equis or Corona

Directions

1. MAKE THE AJÍ: In a medium heatproof bowl, toss the onion slices with 2 teaspoons of salt and let stand for 5 minutes. Add the boiling water and let stand for 10 minutes longer. Transfer to a colander and drain. Rinse under cold water and drain well; pat dry. 
2. Dry the bowl and return the onion to it. Stir in the tomato, jalapeño, lime juice and cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Cover with plastic and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. 
3. PREPARE THE CHICKEN STEW: In a food processor, coarsely puree the canned tomatoes with the garlic, chopped red onion, cumin, 1/2 cup of the cilantro and 1 teaspoon of salt. 
4. Heat the Annatto Oil in a large enameled cast-iron casserole. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Working in 2 batches, cook the chicken over moderate heat, turning once, until golden, about 7 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the oil in the casserole. 
5. Add the tomato puree to the casserole and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Return the chicken and its juices to the casserole and add the beer. Cover the casserole and simmer over low heat until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. 
6. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate. Cook the sauce over moderate heat until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Return the chicken to the sauce and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon the chicken onto a platter or plates and garnish with the remaining 1/4 cup of cilantro. Pass the aj¡ at the table.

Make Ahead

The aj¡ can be refrigerated for up to 1 week. The chicken stew can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and gently reheated.

Notes

Beer Recommendation: A rich but thirst-quenching Mexican beer will highlight the beer in this stew. Look for an ale with good body, a subtly sweet maltiness and a bright finish, such as Casta Dorada, or opt for a lager, such as Bohemia by Cervecer¡a Cuauhtémoc.