Nopales Stuffed Chicken Food

SWEET PLANTAIN AND PEPPER STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• To make the marinade: In a small bowl, combine the juice of the lemons, garlic, dried oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper. Rub all over the chicken and allow it to set in the refrigerator 1 to 2 hours. To make the stuffing: Over medium-high heat, saute the bacon until crisp. Remove from the pan. Place the plantains to the pan and cook until lightly browned. Add the garlic, peppers and oregano and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour in the chicken stock to deglaze the pan, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the bread, salt and pepper. Stir gently to combine. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and stuff it with the plantain pepper mixture. Tie the legs together and place on a rack in a roasting pan, breast side down. Cook for 1/2 hour, turn the chicken breast side up and roast for another 1/2 hour or until the skin is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.

CHICKEN NOPALES TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE

Steps:

• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Stir in onion and garlic; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until onion is tender.
• Stir in nopales, chicken, salsa and adobo sauce. Cook and stir about 3 minutes or until mixture is hot. Stir in cilantro.
• Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture onto each tortilla. Roll up tortillas.

NACHO-RIFIC STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray and set aside.
• To make the filling: Combine beans, cheese wedges, and shredded cheese in a bowl. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
• Put chips in a sealable plastic bag and crush with your hands or a rolling pin. Add taco seasoning and give it a good shake to mix. Transfer crumb mixture to a plate and set aside.
• Place cutlets flat on a clean, dry surface, and season with salt and black pepper. Spoon filling onto the centers of the cutlets, dividing it evenly among them. Carefully roll each cutlet up over the filling (which may ooze a little, but don't worry!) and secure with toothpicks, if needed. Transfer to the baking sheet.
• Cover each stuffed cutlet with 1 tablespoon taco sauce, using the back of the spoon or your fingers to coat. Coat cutlets with crumb mixture.
• Cover the baking sheet with foil, and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
• Carefully remove foil. Bake until chicken is cooked through and outsides are crispy, about 15 additional minutes.
• Let cool slightly and top with sour cream and salsa, if using. Enjoy!

STUFFED BREAST OF CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• To make the filling: In a medium skillet heat the oil over high heat and saute the spinach until wilted, about 3 minutes.
• Drain the spinach squeeze dry and finely chop. Combine the ricotta, chopped spinach, Asiago, and nutmeg. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• To make the chicken: Place the chicken breasts skin side down on a cutting board with the tenderloin folded back. Place 2 tablespoons of spinach filling on the center of the breast and fold the tenderloin over to enclose. Arrange the stuffed chicken breasts, skin side up, in a baking dish.
• Mix the butter with the garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Rub the butter mixture over the chicken. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, until the butter hardens. Roast for 25 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes, at room temperature, before serving. Slice chicken breasts and serve with pan juices.

JALAPENO POPPER-STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cook the jalapeno poppers according to package directions. Set aside to cool.
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Set a baking rack into a rimmed baking sheet.
• Sprinkle the cutlets with salt and pepper. Put smooth side-down on a work surface with the short ends parallel to the edge of the countertop. Spread a fourth of the cream cheese over a cutlet, leaving about a 1/4-inch border. Lay a jalapeno popper across the short end closest to you and roll up to enclose the popper. Secure with a 6-inch wooden skewer. Sprinkle the cutlet with salt and pepper. Repeat with the remaining cutlets, cream cheese and poppers.
• Put the flour in a shallow dish. Beat the egg until very loose in a second shallow dish. Put the breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish.
• Coat the chicken roll-ups in the flour and the dip in the egg, letting any excess drip off. Then fully coat in the breadcrumbs. Transfer to a plate.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the roll-ups in the skillet, seam-side down, and cook until golden brown on all sides, turning as needed, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to the rack on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the skewers from the chicken, cut each roll-up in half and serve.

CHEESE STUFFED BREADED FRIED NOPALES (CACTUS PADDLES)

Steps:

• Mix first 3 ingredients and place this mixture betwen two nopal slices. You can also use just one slice, spreading filling on one side, rolling it and securing ends with a toothpick.
• Pass through beaten egg and then through bread crumbs.
• Fry in hot oil and serve.

CHICKEN AND STUFFED WAFFLES

Steps:

• For the waffles: Set a medium saute pan over high heat and coat with some canola oil. Sprinkle the chicken breast all over with salt and pepper and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from pan and allow to cool. Return the pan to high heat and coat with more oil. Add the onions and peppers and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Season with the cumin and some salt and pepper. Finely dice the chicken breast and fold in with the peppers and onions. Mix well, and then remove from the pan and set aside to cool.
• Preheat a waffle iron. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and add the milk, melted butter and eggs. Mix together with a whisk, working your way from the center out to gradually incorporate the dry ingredients. This helps avoid lumps. Fold in the pepper and chicken mixture. Ladle the mixture onto the waffle iron and cook until the waffles are puffy and golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Place on a wire rack over a sheet tray and keep warm in the oven as you cook the waffles and the chicken (this will also help them crisp up even more).
• For the chicken and gravy: Set up a breading station with a container each for the 1 cup flour, whisked eggs and panko breadcrumbs. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Then take each of the chicken breasts and lightly dredge in the flour. Dip in the eggs then coat in the panko. Pour the oil into a large nonstick saute pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, add the breaded chicken breasts. Cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes on each side, and then set aside to drain on paper towels. There should be about 3 tablespoons of oil remaining, if not pour some out. Then add the remaining 3 tablespoons flour, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, onion powder and cayenne. Whisk together to make a roux and cook until brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the milk while whisking, and then season well with salt and plenty of ground black pepper. Simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened and smooth. Serve the chicken on top of the waffles and pour the gravy over the top. Drizzle with some maple syrup and serve with Fiery Fieri Hot Sauce on the side.
• Remove the green stems of the chiles and split down the middle to open them up. Place in a medium saucepan with the onions, salt and 1 1/2 cups water. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Cook until the water has almost completely evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes. Place the mixture in a food processor and add the white vinegar. Pulse 6 or 7 times until the chiles have broken down. Pour into a sieve over a bowl to strain and use the back of a rubber spatula to squeeze out the chile pulp. Stir in the agave nectar. Cool the hot sauce. Use immediately or store in an airtight glass jar or bottle to keep. Makes about 1 cup.