I have used brines before, but only for Turkey Breast.
I was pretty happy, therefore, when I was contacted by a representative of the Sweetwater Spice Company who asked if I would like to sample their products. I’ve tried two so far and all I can say is “Wow!” I think I have a new favorite product!
I was anxious to try their product, so first up was some boneless, skinless breasts marinated in their Lime Jalapeno brine. I grilled these breasts on, of all things, a George Foreman grill. There was the slightest touch of jalapeno in the chicken (fine for gringos) and the lime realy shone through well. Today, I had a bunch of boneless pork sirloin chops, so I did those in Apple Chipotle brine. I then grilled them quick over charcoal. Since they were pretty thick, I finished covered in the oven with a splash of apple juice mixed with a dash of brine mix. I let this cook/steam for about an hour so the pork would be tende but cooked through.
Woo hoooooooo! The chipotle brings some definite zing and the apple is definitely there. Here is the description from their website:
The Best Selling Apple Chipotle Brine blends the sweetness of Apple Juice with the smokiness of Chipotle and Ancho chilies. Perfect pairing for Chicken Breasts, Pork Tenderloins, and Steaks. More sweet and smokey than spicy, this brine recipe is family friendly and a kid favorite. You won’t believe the difference a brine makes in locking juices during the cooking process. In only 30 minutes, you can season and tenderize enough meat to feed the family or throw a bbq – 1 bottle covers 6 lbs of meat.
These brines are amazing and I can’t wait to try the rest. A bottle does several pounds of meat and will run you just under 10 bucks. The make the meat tender and moist, and the flavors are just right! In addition to more reviews, look for an upcoming interview with Scott Sapire – the man behind the brine!
