TINGA DE POLLO TACOS

Tinga de Pollo Tacos image

Provided by Gabriela Cámara

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 pound chicken, boneless and skinless, breast, thighs, or a combo
2 pinches fine sea salt
1/2 large white onion
1 clove garlic
4 sprigs cilantro or parsley
1/4 cup safflower oil, or other neutral oil
2 medium white onions, slivered
6 ripe plum tomatoes, halved, or about 14 ounces canned whole tomatoes, drained
4 cloves garlic
2 chipotle peppers, from canned chipotles in adobo
1 cup chicken stock
Fine sea salt, to taste, 2-3 teaspoons
8 corn tortillas, preferably freshly made, see Homemade Corn Tortillas recipe video
1 ripe avocado
fine sea salt

Steps:

Poach chicken: In a saucepan, add chicken and enough water to cover by 1 inch. Add 2 pinches salt, onion, garlic, and cilantro. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until opaque and cooked through, 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, make Tinga Sauce.
Tinga Sauce: In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat until smoking, 2 minutes. Add the onions (you should hear a sizzle when they hit the pan). Stir until lightly caramelized, 20 minutes. Meanwhile, place tomatoes, peeled garlic cloves, chipotle peppers, and chicken stock in a blender. Purée on medium speed until smooth, 30 seconds; then add tomato mixture to the onions. Stir and simmer, 5 minutes.
Remove chicken from poaching liquid. When cool enough to handle, shred by hand and add to Tinga Sauce. Check for seasoning, and add salt to taste (Chef Cámara adds 2-3 teaspoons). Simmer, 5 more minutes.
Assembly: Divide Chicken Tinga evenly among the tortillas. Garnish each with an avocado slice and a sprinkle of sea salt before serving.