Chicken In A Pecan And Ancho Chile Sauce Food

CHICKEN IN A PECAN AND ANCHO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a comal or small skillet over medium heat, and toast the stemmed, seeded ancho chiles until the skin changes color and the chiles begin to release fumes, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add the onion and garlic clove to the comal or skillet. Toast, flipping the onion and garlic clove from side to side, until charred on the outside and softened inside, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat, set aside and when cool enough to handle, peel the garlic clove. Alternatively, char the onion and garlic under the broiler. Preheat the broiler with the rack arranged at the highest setting and cover a small sheet pan with foil. Broil the garlic for 5 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through, and the onion for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Bring the chicken broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Add the pecans, prunes and toasted ancho chiles. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, until the chiles and prunes have rehydrated and plumped, and the pecans have softened. Set aside and let cool. Transfer to a blender, add the charred onion and garlic, and puree. If your blender is small, do this in batches.
• Season the chicken with the salt and pepper.
• Heat the oil in a large casserole or wide, heavy lidded skillet over medium high heat. Once hot, brown the chicken pieces, in batches, skin side down first then skin side up, until nicely colored, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a bowl or plate as each batch is done.
• Reduce heat to low, and using the lid of the casserole or pan as a shield for splatters, pour in the pureed pecan sauce. It should bubble and splutter dramatically. Stir well, scraping all the bits up from the bottom of the pan, and return the chicken pieces to the pan. Cover, turn down the heat to medium low, and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan from time to time, until the chicken is completely cooked through and the sauce is thick and delicious. Taste and adjust seasoning.

POBLANO AND PEPPER JACK-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH ANCHO CHILE CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• For the poblano and pepper jack-stuffed chicken breasts: Roast the poblano peppers over an open flame until completely charred, transfer to a plastic bag and seal for 10 minutes. Peel the charred skin, remove all the seeds and cut each pepper in half.
• Meanwhile, put chicken breasts on a cutting board and pound with a meat mallet to 1/4-inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil, heat, then add the chicken and cook until the first side is golden-brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until the second side is golden-brown, another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until just cooked through, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the ancho chile cream sauce: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan and cook until reduced by 1/3. Add the Cajun spice and ancho chile powder and simmer for another minute or so. Keep warm.
• When the chicken is done, cut each piece into 2 equal halves. Lay one piece in the centers of 2 dinner plates and top each with 2 poblano halves, 1 piece of pepper jack, and another piece of chicken. Pour half of the Ancho Chile Cream Sauce over the tops and serve immediately.

SOUTHWESTERN LIME CHICKEN WITH ANCHO CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine first 9 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Place chicken in 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Remove chicken breasts from marinade. Grill chicken until just cooked through, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes. Place 1 cheese slice atop each chicken breast half; cover barbecue and cook until cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Transfer chicken breasts to plates. Serve with Ancho Chili Sauce.

PECAN CHICKEN WITH MAPLE PECAN SAUCE

Steps:

• To toast pecan pieces, bake in 375F oven for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Keep oven preheated.
• For chicken: In a shallow bowl, mix together buttermilk and egg.
• Place chicken breasts in buttermilk mixture.
• In a second mixing bowl, combine pecans, cracker crumbs and salt.
• Turn chicken breasts in buttermilk, then coat with pecan mixture.
• Place chicken breasts in a greased shallow baking dish and drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink inside.
• Serve with Maple Pecan Sauce.
• Maple Pecan Sauce: In a small saucepan, mix sugar, maple syrup, water, soy sauce and cornstarch; bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Remove from heat and add lemon juice and orange rind; stir.
• Just before serving, bring sauce to a boil; remove from heat and stir in toasted pecans.
• Makes 1 cup.

ANCHO CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Place chile in medium bowl. Pour enough boiling water over to cover; let soak until soft, about 30 minutes. Drain, reserving soaking liquid.
• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste; stir 2 minutes. Add garlic and stir 30 seconds. Add wine and softened chile; simmer 2 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons reserved chile soaking liquid, ketchup and all remaining ingredients. Simmer 3 minutes, stirring often. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• Puree sauce in blender, adding more reserved soaking liquid by tablespoonfuls if too thick. May be made 3 days ahead; cover and chill.

ANCHO-CHILE CHICKEN BITES IN ANCHO-CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• Salt and lightly pepper both sides the chicken breast.
• Liberally add the ancho chili pepper onto both sides of the breasts.
• Cut the breasts into 1 inch cubes.
• Whisk the egg whites.
• In a Ziploc bag or mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and 2 tablespoons of Acho Chili Pepper.
• Take a handful of the cut chicken and dip into the egg whites. (coat well).
• Place the chicken in the flour mixture and shake well. (coat well).
• Place the chicken in the deep fryer at 355 degrees for 6 to 7 minutes. Drain on rack and set aside on paper towel. (NOTE: You do not have to fry all at once. Fry in batches for best results.).
• For sauce:.
• Melt butter in non stick pan. (medium heat).
• Stir in honey and brown sugar until well blended.
• Stir in Chili and Barbeque sauces.
• Add remaining tablespoon of Ancho Chili pepper. Stir.
• Bring to boil then let simmer for 5 minutes.
• Place the chicken in a Tupperware bowl.
• Pour sauce over chicken.
• Put the top over Tupperware and shake chicken and sauce until chicken is evenly coated with sauce.
• Serve over rice, with cajun fries, or food of your choice.

SOUTHWESTERN LIME CHICKEN WITH ANCHO CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Chicken: Combine first 9 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Place chicken in 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Pour marinade over. Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Remove chicken breasts from marinade. Grill chicken until just cooked through, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes. Place 1 cheese slice atop each chicken breast half; cover barbecue and cook until cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Transfer chicken breasts to plates. Serve with Ancho Chili Sauce.
• Make the Sauce: Place chilies in medium metal bowl. Pour enough boiling water over chilies to cover. Let stand until chilies are soft, about 30 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup soaking liquid.
• Puree chilies, 3 tablespoons soaking liquid and lime juice in blender until smooth. Transfer to small bowl. Whisk in mayonnaise, brown sugar, oregano, rosemary and cumin. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using, adding water by tablespoonfuls and stirring if very thick.).

PECAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine the pecans, bread crumbs, thyme, paprika and salt. Place Dijon mustard in another shallow bowl. Coat chicken with mustard, then roll in pecan mixture. , Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until juices run clear. In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients; serve with chicken.