YUCATáN CHICKEN WITH ACHIOTE

Yucatán Chicken with Achiote image

Yield makes 8 tacos

Number Of Ingredients 14

Previous Next

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano, toasted and ground
16 cloves garlic, dry-roasted (page 158)
1 or 2 habanero chiles, dry-roasted (page 154), stemmed, and seeded (use more chiles and/or leave seeds if want more heat)
2 teaspoons achiote paste (page 149)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon lemon-infused olive oil (page 162)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Lime or orange wedges
8 (5 1/2-inch) soft white corn tortillas (page 13), for serving
Garnish: Pickled red onions or orange or pineapple segments

Steps:

Cut the chicken into 1/2-inch-wide strips. In a large bowl, mix together the orange juice, oregano, garlic, chile, achiote paste, salt, pepper, allspice, and olive oil to make the marinade. Add the chicken strips to the mixture and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
To cook the chicken, remove the strips from the marinade and drain off any excess liquid. In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the chicken strips, turning once or twice, until thoroughly cooked (cut one to test), about 9 minutes total.
Remove from the heat, squeeze fresh lime juice over the strips, and serve immediately or keep warm in the pan until ready to serve.
To serve, lay the tortillas side by side, open face and overlapping on a platter. Divide the filling equally between the tortillas and top with salsa and pickled onions. Grab, fold, and eat right away. Or build your own taco: lay a tortilla, open face, in one hand. Spoon on some filling, top with salsa and pickled onions, fold, and eat right away.