New Mexican Style Soft Tacos With Hacked Chicken And Salsa Verde Food

CHICKEN SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• For the chicken: Preheat a cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle the chicken with 2 tablespoons of the canola oil. Season with 2 teaspoons of the salt and 1 teaspoon of the pepper; drizzle with the remaining 4 teaspoons canola oil.
• Place the chicken seasoned-side down on the grill. Season the side facing upwards with the remaining 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook the chicken until golden-brown and the exterior has formed a crust, turning midway through to form the cross-hatch pattern, 3 to 4 minutes. (Note: the chicken is not being flipped, the same side is still on the grill.) Flip the chicken and repeat until the other side is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. The center of the chicken should be firm to the touch when poked and the meat thermometer should read 165 degrees F.
• For the salsa verde: Combine the garlic and the anchovies on the cutting board. Put the parsley, chives and tarragon on the cutting board and coarsely chop to combine with the garlic mixture. Put the salsa mixture in a medium bowl and add the lemon zest. Add the red pepper and salt. Mix the herb mixture together while drizzling in the olive oil until thoroughly combined. Put the salsa in a serving bowl and set aside until the chicken is ready.

TORTILLA OMELET BURRITO WITH PULLED CHICKEN AND SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• On a baking sheet, toss the tomatillos, garlic, jalapenos and onions with 1/4 cup canola oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until everything is nice and soft, 20 to 25 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 200 degrees.
• Transfer the roasted vegetables to the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Pulse in the lime juice and honey. Set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet. Add the shredded chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring a bit, to just warm the chicken, about 2 minutes. Stir in the salsa and cook until warmed through, another 1 to 2 minutes. Cover and keep warm.
• Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a medium nonstick pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken skin and cook until golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 20 seconds. With a slotted spoon, remove the chicken skin to a paper-towel-lined plate and season with salt and pepper.
• Whisk together the eggs in a large baking dish until light and fluffy. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and add a few dashes of hot sauce if using.
• Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a large nonstick pan until it begins to shimmer. Dip a tortilla in the egg mixture and turn to coat; make sure the tortilla is totally submerged and fully covered in egg. Transfer the tortilla to the pan, letting excess egg run off; fry until golden brown on both sides, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
• Stir the chopped cilantro into the chicken mixture. Spoon some of the chicken and salsa verde across the center of the tortillas, leaving 2-inch borders on either end. Top the chicken with some Cheddar and Monterey Jack and some of the crispy chicken skin. Fold the short sides of the tortilla over the ends of the chicken, then roll up into a burrito and place, seam-side down, on serving plate. Keep the first two burritos warm in the oven while you repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
• To serve, dollop each burrito with some creme fraiche and garnish with cilantro leaves. Serve hot.

PRESSED CHICKEN WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• For the salsa verde: Put the parsley, tarragon, cornichons, garlic, anchovies, vinegar, capers and some salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse a few times to coarsely chop the herbs. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil to make a thick but pourable sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• For the pressed chicken: Heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium-low.
• Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Line up the breasts skin-side down on the grill and lay a piece of foil on top to cover; do the same with the thighs. Set a heavy skillet on top of the breasts and a second skillet atop the thighs. Weight each skillet with a foil-wrapped brick. Cover the grill and cook, checking for color once or twice, until the skin is deep golden-brown and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the bricks, skillets and foil and set aside. Flip the chicken, cover the grill and cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, another 5 to 10 minutes depending on thickness.
• Remove the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut each breast through the bone into 3 or 4 pieces and transfer to a platter along with the whole thighs. Drizzle the chicken with some salsa verde. Serve the remaining salsa verde on the side.

SOFT TACOS WITH CHICKEN AND TOMATO-CORN SALSA

Steps:

• Place the chopped onion in a small bowl, and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. Drain on paper towels. Cut the kernels off the steamed ear of corn.
• Toss together the tomatoes, minced chiles, cilantro, onion and steamed corn. Season to taste with salt, and add up to 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. Place the shredded chicken in a bowl, and season with 1 tablespoon lime juice and salt to taste.
• Heat the tortillas. Wrap in aluminum foil, and heat through in a 350-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes; or heat through one at a time in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until flexible. Place one or two on each plate, top with shredded chicken and a generous spoonful of the salsa, and sprinkle some cheese on top. Serve, passing additional salsa if there is any at the table.