SHREDDED CHICKEN FOR TACOS

Shredded Chicken for Tacos image

Just about any food that fits on a tortilla has found its way into some type of taco, but this shredded chicken remains an easy weeknight staple. Poached in a simple broth of onion, garlic and spices, the chicken stays moist and is infused with flavor. You could opt for boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts; add some fresh cilantro or sliced jalapeño to the liquid; use a glug of light beer, if you have some on hand. Shred the cooked chicken into bite-size pieces and it's ready to be tucked into a taco with little more than some pico de gallo. You could freeze the resulting stock for future use or even boil it until thickened to drizzle it over the meat. The rules here are far from ironclad, but the fail-proof method guarantees an easy building block for tacos and beyond.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Time 1h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless chicken thighs
1 large white onion, peeled and quartered
5 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 ancho or other mild dried chile (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps:

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and add water to cover. Turn heat to high, bring to a boil, and skim any foam that comes to the surface.
Partially cover and adjust heat so mixture simmers steadily. Cook until meat is very tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from liquid and cool.
Shred meat with fingers. Taste and adjust seasonings; use within a couple of days.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 265, UnsaturatedFat 12 grams, Carbohydrate 3 grams, Fat 19 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 19 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 315 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams