Best New Mexican Style Soft Tacos With Hacked Chicken And Salsa Verde Recipes

NEW MEXICAN-STYLE SOFT TACOS WITH HACKED CHICKEN AND SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and ancho chile powder. Sear, skin-side down, in the oil until golden brown. Turn over and brown on the other side. Remove the chicken to a plate.
• Add the onion to the pan and cook until lightly golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Add the chicken back to the pot, add the chiles, stock, and cilantro, and bring to a boil. Cover and roast in the oven until the chicken easily falls away from the bone, about 40 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and strain the cooking liquid into a bowl.
• When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove bones and cut or shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Place the reserved cooking liquid into a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the shredded chicken, turn off the heat and let warm.
• Divide the warm chicken among the warm tortillas, top with Salsa Verde and chopped cilantro.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and jalapeno and cook until soft. Add the tomatillos and cook until soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a blender, add the lime juice, honey, and cilantro, and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

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.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken: Place chicken parts in a large saucepan with onion, garlic and salt, and cover with water. Heat pan over high heat until liquid comes to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and let simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove chicken and let cool, reserving stock for another use. Using your fingers or two forks, shred meat from chicken and reserve, discarding skin and bones. (Alternatively, shred meat from leftover or store-bought roast chicken and set aside.)
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 375, and make the salsa verde: Combine tomatillos, onion, garlic, serranos and cilantro in a blender or food processor and purée until smooth, adding water as needed to thin it out a little. Season with salt to taste.
• Prepare the tortillas: In medium sauté pan set over medium-high heat, heat oil until it begins to shimmer. Using tongs or a wide spatula, place a tortilla in the hot fat; it should start to bubble immediately. Heat tortilla for about 10 seconds a side, until soft and lightly browned. Remove tortilla and set on a rack set over a baking pan, or just on a baking pan if you don't have a rack. Repeat with remaining tortillas, working quickly.
• Assemble the enchiladas: Use a ladle to put about 1/2 cup salsa verde in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and spread it out a little. Roll a few tablespoons of shredded chicken into each tortilla with a teaspoon or so of salsa verde and place it seam-side down in the pan, nestling each one against the last. Ladle salsa verde over top of rolled tortillas and sprinkle with about half the crumbled cheese.
• Transfer to oven and bake until sauce bubbles and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Dot with crema, sprinkle with remaining cheese and, if using, chopped onion, then serve immediately.