Verde Chicken Tacos
Serving size for this recipe: 5-7 people
Average cost: $15 or less
I love the flavors that are spicy, sweet, crunchy, soft... you know, All the pairs of mouth feelings or tastes that contrast but match up so seamlessly when we eat! This is one of those dishes. Great as an appetizer or the main thing.
Okay, start with:
5 Boneless skinless chicken breasts (frozen is fine)
You're going to put on a deep pot of water to boil, once boiling add in all the chicken. This will cook for 10 to 12 minutes if frozen- and as little as 8 minutes if fresh. Once cooked, drain the chicken in a colander and set it aside.
Now its time for the salsa Verde!
you'll need:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion chopped
1 jalapeno diced
8 tomatillos, husked and chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Heat the oil in a large pan over med/high heat. Add the onions and jalapeno and cook them till they're soft. Add the tomatillos and cook them until they're soft,(10 to 15 minutes) Transfer the mixture to a blender, then add the lime juice, honey and cilantro, and then blend it till its a smooth consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
by this time the chicken should be cool enough to handle. shred the chicken and combine it with 1 and 1/2 cups of the salsa- mix it thoroughly. (you can save the remaining salsa in a mason jar for up to a 2 weeks)
Get your tortillas- because we are making a crispy taco shell with flour tortillas!
the small sized flour tortillas are good for this. you can use white corn if you want.
In a skillet- heat on medium; 1 and 1/2 cups of vegetable oil to 350 degrees.
one at a time!- add a tortilla for about 12 seconds then flip it. the other side for about a count of 5. Place on a plate with a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
Once these are done- they'll be crispy, but not firm- you should be able to fold them in half to eat as a taco.
Fill with the Verde chicken, some cilantro, and a little sour cream or crema and enjoy!
I hope you enjoy these tacos. They're one of my favorite things to eat.
Don't be afraid to cook and try new recipes- even the pro's started at home.
