Central American Roasted Chicken Food

CENTRAL AMERICAN ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven 350°F.
• Put all veggies, tomato sauce and chicken bullion in blender and blend until smooth.
• Wash chicken and pat dry. Season chicken with salt, pepper and cumin. Place in a roasting pan and using your hands, rub butter in the pockets underneath the chicken skin. Pour enough sauce over chicken to cover it completly but not so much that it pools up at the bottom of the roasting pan. Cover with foil.
• Bake about 1 hr and take foil off. Baste chicken with pan juices and let cook about 20 more minutes or until chicken is brown and cooked thru (usually about 170-180 f. with a meat thermometer).

PERUVIAN-STYLE ROAST CHICKEN WITH TANGY GREEN SAUCE

Steps:

• Roast the chicken:
• Arrange rack in middle of oven; preheat to 400°F. Mix garlic, cumin, oil, paprika, pepper, oregano, 1/2 tsp. salt, and finely grated zest from 1 lemon in a medium bowl. Quarter zested lemon; set aside 2 quarters. Squeeze juice from 1 whole lemon and remaining 2 quarters to yield 2 Tbsp. juice; stir into spice mixture.
• Place chicken breast side down on work surface. Spatchcock chicken by cutting along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears. Remove backbone; reserve for stock. Turn chicken breast side up and splay open. Press down on breastbone with palms until you hear it crack and chicken is as flat as possible. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Rub chicken all over with 2 reserved lemon quarters. Squeeze juice over bird, then rub skin all over with inside of rinds.
• From both edges of cavity, loosen skin from breasts and thighs, being careful not to tear skin. Using your fingers, gently spread 2 heaping Tbsp. spice mixture under skin (reserve remaining spice mixture), then season chicken all over with remaining 1 tsp. salt. Transfer chicken, spread flat and skin side up, to a roasting pan or large skillet.
• Roast chicken 20 minutes, then brush with spice mixture and pan juices. Continue roasting, basting with spice mixture and pan juices every 20 minutes, until juices run clear when thigh is pierced with a fork or an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165ºF, 50-60 minutes total.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest 15 minutes, reserving pan juices.
• Make the green sauce:
• Purée cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, oil, lime juice, and salt in a blender until combined. Add mayonnaise and purée until well blended. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and chill until ready to use.
• Make the salad:
• Gently toss cucumbers, avocado, scallions, lime juice, oil, salt, and 1/2 cup cilantro in a large bowl. Sprinkle with more cilantro.
• Carve chicken and transfer to a platter; baste with reserved pan juices. Serve with green sauce and salad alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Green sauce can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

CENTRAL AMERICAN YELLOW RICE AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large cooking pot. Add chopped onions, bell pepper and rice. Stir fry about 1 1/2 minute being careful to stir constantly as rice can burn if left alone.
• Add water, frozen vegetables and shredded chicken.
• Add curry and salt to taste.
• Cover and cook rice about 20-25 minute Extend cooking time if water has not been completly absorbed.
• Let rice cool for 5 min and fluff with fork.
• Usually served as a side dish. Can serve with enchiladas, salad, refried beans, pork cops, etc -- .

CENTRAL AMERICAN TACOS

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a large saucepan, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• While the potatoes are cooking, crumble the ground beef into a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for a few minutes, then stir in the onion. Cook until meat is no longer pink, and the onion is tender. Drain excess grease, and gently stir in the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the tomatillos, garlic, jalapeno, and cilantro into a blender. Squeeze avocados out of their skins into the blender. Process until smooth.
• Heat tortillas in a skillet until warm and flexible. Spoon on some of the meat mixture, and top with the sauce. Roll up, and enjoy.

EASY SPICY MEXICAN-AMERICAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a small baking dish.
• Mix the hot sauce, paprika, ground cayenne pepper, and brown sugar in a bowl, and stir until the mixture is well combined. Place the chicken thighs in the baking dish, and coat them with a layer of sauce. Cover the dish with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake until the chicken has cooked through, and the sauce has thickened and started to brown, about 20 more minutes.