Green Chili Chicken Tacos
A double punch of jalapeno and tomatillo makes for a spicy-tangy salsa that's tossed with chicken and piled into warm tortillas.Yield: 6 tacos
Active Time: 30 minutes
Start to Finish: 1 hour, 10 minutes
For this recipe you’ll need:
1 small onion, quartered
2 cloves garlic
1/2 pound fresh tomatillos, husks removed and rinsed
1 jalapeño, quartered (leave the seeds in if you want more heat)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
3 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 to 3/4 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, rough chopped
6 corn tortillas, warmed
1/2 cup queso fresco, crumbled
To prepare the tomatillo sauce, set the broiler to high. Place the onions, garlic, tomatillos and jalapeño on a sheet tray. Place it under the broiler and cook, turning occasionally, until nicely charred.
Transfer the vegetables to a blender and puree until smooth. Stir in the ground cumin, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Heat a wide, heavy pan over medium-high heat, and add the grapeseed oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste, and sear in the hot pan, presentation-side down, until golden brown. Flip and repeat.
Pour the sauce and chicken stock into the pan with the chicken.
Bring the sauce to a boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover, and cook until the chicken is tender, about 40 minutes.
Stir in the cilantro, and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, and cut into thin strips. Return the chicken to the sauce.
To build the tacos, nestle the chicken and some of the sauce into the tortillas. Top with a sprinkling queso fresco and serve.