Chicken & Poultry

Red Gorditas with Creamy Chipotle Chicken

Red Gorditas
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5 from 3 votes

Red Gorditas with Creamy Chipotle Chicken

Red Gorditas with Creamy Chipotle Chicken recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 13, Episode 2 “Canyon Cuisine”
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Antojos, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, Chipotle, gorditas, masa
Servings: 10 gorditas
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 cups masa harina
  • 1 tablespoon ground dried colorado chile or guajillo, New Mexico or Hatch chile
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 1 1/2 cups hot water plus 2 tablespoons
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or vegetable shortening or lard
  • 1 batch Creamy Chipotle Chicken or filling of your choice, warmed up
  • Shredded lettuce to garnish
  • Ripe avocado slices to garnish
  • Crumbled queso fresco to garnish

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine the masa harina, ground chile and salt. Add the water and knead until completely incorporated and smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vegetable oil and knead until thoroughly combined. It should be as soft as playdough and hold its shape when rolled into a ball. Cover with a wet kitchen towel and let rest for at least 20 to 30 minutes to fully hydrate.
  • Preheat a comal, cast iron, or nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Line your tortilla press with a couple pieces of plastic cut into rounds (produce bags from the grocery store are perfect for this). Place a small bowl of water next to you. Divide the masa into 10 pieces, keeping it in the bowl and covered. One by one, roll each piece of masa into a ball of about 2¼ inches, using the water to moisten your hands as needed.
  • Open the tortilla press, set a piece of plastic on the base, place a ball of mass on top in the center, and cover with the second piece of plastic. Gently press down, one or two times, until you get a very chubby tortilla of about ¼ to ⅓ inch thick and about 4 to 4¼ inches around. Alternatively, you may shape the gorditas with your hands.
  • Transfer the gordita to the preheated comal and let it cook, without moving it, for about 5-6 minutes on the first side, until the bottom half seems cooked and has changed in color slightly and started to freckle. Flip and cook another 5-6 minutes, until the second side begins to freckle and brown. Flip again and cook another 2 minutes per side until they are ready, taking care not to burn the outside. You know they’ve cooked when they seem to want to puff if you press them with your fingers.
  • Remove from the comal. Holding with a kitchen towel, if need be, run a small sharp knife through the gordita about ⅔ of the way, without cutting all the way through, to create a pocket. You may want to wet the knife to help slice through, as the masa may still be doughy in some areas.
  • Wrap the gorditas in a clean kitchen towel, or place in a tortilla holder, as you move along to keep warm. Once ready, fill the gorditas with the Creamy Chipotle Chicken, or your preferred filling, and place back on the comal for a minute to completely heat through. Then garnish with shredded lettuce, avocado slices and crumbled queso fresco.
  • Note: To make your own chile powder: Remove the stems and seeds from 2 ounces dried colorado, guajillo, New Mexico or Hatch chiles. On a preheated comal or skillet, set over medium heat, toast the chiles for about 1-2 minutes, flipping as they toast and brown, being careful not to let them burn. Remove from the heat once they are fragrant, browned and toasted, and their fumes have released. When cool enough to handle, process in a spice or coffee grinder, or small food processor, until finely ground. This will make ¼ cup or about 4 tablespoons.

Notes

Gorditas Rojas con Pollo Enchipotlado

Creamy Chipotle Chicken

Creamy Chipotle Chicken
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Creamy Chipotle Chicken

Creamy Chipotle Chicken recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 13, Episode 2 “Canyon Cuisine”
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, Chipotle
Servings: 5 to 6 cups
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 white onion halved, half left whole, half thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 2 bay leaves
  • teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt divided
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 pound ripe plum tomatoes
  • 3 to 4 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce seeded, plus 3 to 4 tablespoons of the adobo sauce
  • ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 cup Mexican crema crème fraîche, or heavy cream
  • 1 batch Red Gorditas if serving in gorditas

Instructions

  • Put the chicken breasts, whole onion half, garlic cloves, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 3 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add the tomatoes, cover again, and cook for 10 minutes more, until the tomatoes are completely cooked, mushy and the skins start to break apart. Remove the chicken breasts and transfer to a bowl.
  • With a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes, garlic, onion, bay leaves and ½ cup of the cooking liquid (that the chicken cooked in) to a blender. Add the chipotle chiles and the adobo sauce, the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, and the pepper, and puree until smooth. Set aside.
  • Once the chicken has cooled enough to handle, finely shred with your hands or two forks. You should have about 5-6 cups.
  • Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet or casserole over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, add the sliced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened. Stir in the chicken and pureed tomato mixture, mix well, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes, until it darkens and thickens. Reduce the heat to low and slowly stir in the cream. Once incorporated, increase heat to medium-low and continue cooking for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will have thickened further.
  • Remove from heat and serve as a filling for Red Gorditas, tacos, tortas, or eat as is with a side of rice, or beans, or both.

Notes

Pollo Enchipotlado

Roasted Charred Chicken

Roasted Charred Chicken
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3.84 from 6 votes

Roasted Charred Chicken

Roasted Charred Chicken from Pati's Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 9 "A Day with Hugo"
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, oregano
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 10 garlic cloves
  • 1 serrano or jalapeño chile stemmed, cut into pieces (seeding optional)
  • 2 teaspoons dried piquín chiles
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 4-5 pound whole chicken patted dry
  • 1 celery stick coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 white onion coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup parsley leaves and upper part of stems coarsely chopped
  • Serve with Super Greens Salad with Oregano Vinaigrette or at least the Oregano Vinaigrette for dipping or drizzling over the chicken

Instructions

  • In the jar of a blender, add the lime juice, garlic, serrano chile, piquín chiles, oregano, cumin, Dijon, Worcestershire, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and oil. Puree until completely smooth.
  • Gently, use your fingers to separate the chicken skin from the flesh wherever possible, so you can add the marinade. Completely cover the chicken with the wet rub/marinade, inside the chicken cavity and under and over the skin. Stuff the cavity with the chopped celery, onion, and parsley. You can roast immediately or place in a container, cover, and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.
  • When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 450℉ with the rack in the lower position. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and place on a rack in a roasting pan. Crisscross the legs and tie with twine, and tuck the wings behind the back.
  • Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉, and when pierced with a knife, the juices run completely clear, if any. Remove from the oven, cover with foil and let sit for at least 10 minutes before carving.
  • Carve the chicken and serve with the Super Greens Salad and a generous amount of the Oregano Vinaigrette drizzled on top.

Notes

Pollo Rostizado Norteño

Fiesta Turkey with Chorizo and Cashew Stuffing

Fiesta Turkey with Chorizo and Cashew Stuffing
Print Recipe
4.60 from 5 votes

Fiesta Turkey with Chorizo and Cashew Stuffing

If you need a stunner for Thanksgiving dinner, here’s your recipe, which is modeled on the traditions of coastal Veracruz. It results in a moist, juicy bird, with an irresistible adobo marinade and a to-die-for stuffing.
Cook Time5 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: adobo, stuffing, turkey
Servings: 10 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the adobo marinade and turkey:

  • 4 dried guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 4 dried ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 8 garlic cloves peeled
  • 4 cups chopped peeled and cored fresh pineapple
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped white onion
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar or grated piloncillo
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground canela or cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt or more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice from 5 to 6 medium oranges
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 14- to 16-pound turkey rinsed and patted dry, giblets removed, neck reserved

For the stuffing:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 8 cups diced brioche or challah 1/2-inch dice
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more for the croutons
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more for the croutons
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 pound Mexican chorizo casings removed and chopped
  • 2 cups finely chopped white onions
  • 1 cup finely chopped celery
  • 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1 pound ripe tomatoes finely chopped, or 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground canela or cinnamon
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup pitted prunes finely chopped
  • 1 cup cashews finely chopped

For roasting the turkey and the gravy:

  • 1 pound ripe tomatoes chopped, or 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 4 celery stalks chopped
  • 3 medium carrots peeled and chopped
  • 2 medium white onions chopped
  • 2 cups chicken broth

Instructions

To marinate the turkey:

  • One to two days ahead, combine the ancho and guajillo chiles and garlic cloves in a medium saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the chiles and garlic are softened. Drain and transfer the chiles and garlic to a blender.
  • Add the pineapple, onion, brown sugar, vinegar, oregano, canela or cinnamon, salt, and pepper to the blender and puree until smooth.
  • Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chile puree and orange juice, stir, bring to a simmer, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened and darkened in color and the flavors have intensified. Add the chicken broth, stir, and set aside to cool to room temperature.
  • Slide the turkey and the neck into a large brining bag or plastic bag (you can use a kitchen garbage bag) and place in a large bowl, with the turkey breast side down. Open up the bag and pour in the marinade. Reach in and massage the marinade into and over the turkey, working it into the cavity and all the crevasses. Seal the bag (leave it in the bowl). Place the bowl in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 12 hours and up to 48 hours (the longer the better), turning the turkey in the bag a couple of times to redistribute marinade.

To make the stuffing:

  • Preheat the oven to 375℉, with a rack in the middle. Brush a large baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Put the bread in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over the bread, and toss well with your hands.
  • Spread the bread evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, turn the pieces of bread over, and return to the oven for another 5 to 6 minutes, or until golden. Return the croutons to the bowl and set aside. Move the oven rack to the lowest position and increase the heat to 400℉.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook, breaking it apart with a couple of wooden spoons or spatulas, until it has browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chorizo to the bowl with the croutons, leaving as much of the fat as you can in the skillet.
  • Add another 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to the skillet. Add the onions and celery and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened and just beginning to brown. Clear a space in the center of the skillet, add the garlic, and cook until fragrant, less than a minute, then mix with the onion and celery. Add the tomatoes and cook until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in the anise seeds, thyme, marjoram, oregano, cinnamon, 3⁄4 teaspoon salt, and 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for a minute or two.
  • Stir in the chicken broth and prunes and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes to heat through. Scrape the mixture into the bowl with the croutons, add the cashews, and stir until well combined. Let cool before stuffing the turkey.

To stuff and roast the turkey:

  • Spread the tomatoes, celery, carrots, onions, and turkey neck in a large roasting pan and pour in the chicken broth. Remove the turkey from the bag. Stuff it with as much stuffing as will fit. Scrape any remaining stuffing into a bowl and set aside. Close the cavity by crossing the legs and tying them with butcher’s twine. Set a roasting rack over the vegetables and place the turkey breast side up on the rack. Tuck the wing tips under the turkey. Pour all the marinade remaining in the bag over the turkey.
  • Transfer the turkey to the oven and roast for 30 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to 350℉, cover the turkey loosely with foil, and roast for about 3 1⁄2 to 4 hours longer, basting halfway through, until the temperature in the thickest part of a thigh reaches 165℉. Remove the turkey from the oven and move the oven rack to the middle. Transfer the turkey, on the roasting rack, to a baking sheet, cover loosely with foil, and let rest while you prepare the remaining stuffing and the gravy.
  • Strain the liquid in the roasting pan through a sieve set over a bowl, pressing on the solids with the back of a wooden spoon to get as much flavor as possible. Measure out 1 cup and pour that over the stuffing you set aside in the bowl. Mix well and spoon the stuffing into an oiled or buttered baking dish. Place in the oven and bake until it’s heated through and the top is lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, pour the remaining strained cooking liquid into a saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by half, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Carve the turkey and serve with the stuffing (from inside the turkey and the baking dish). Serve the adobo sauce on the side.

Notes

Pavo de Fiesta con Chorizo y Nuez de la India

Sweet Lime Roasted Chicken with Broccolini

Sweet Lime Roasted Chicken with Broccolini
Print Recipe
4.15 from 7 votes

Sweet Lime Roasted Chicken with Broccolini

Sweet Lime Roasted Chicken with Broccolini recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 12, Episode 1 “The Nectar of the Mayan Gods”
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, chile de arbol
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 garlic cloves skin on
  • 3 to 4 chiles de árbol
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 cups sweet lime juice or substitute with half lemon juice and half lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste, plus more to season broccolini
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste, plus more to season broccolini
  • 1 3- to 4- pound whole chicken
  • 1 cup chicken broth or water
  • 1 1/2 pounds broccolini or broccoli cut into stems

Instructions

  • In a preheated comal set over medium heat, toast the garlic cloves, until skin is charred and garlic has softened, about 5 to 6 minutes. Also toast the chiles de árbol, about 20 to 30 seconds per side. And the oregano for a few seconds. Peel the garlic and place in the jar of a blender along with the chile de árbol, oregano, sweet lime juice (or lemon and lime juice), vinegar, oil, honey, salt and black pepper. Puree until smooth. Reserve 2/3 cup of the marinade.
  • Spatchcock the chicken – to do this, remove the chicken backbone with kitchen shears. Flip skin side up and flatten the bird by pressing down on the breast. Before flattening make a small cut into the breast bone plate, so that when you flatten the bird, it cracks evenly down the middle. You will hear a crack as you press.
  • Place the chicken in a roasting pan or on a baking sheet skin side up. Pour the rest of the marinade over the chicken. Marinate anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours. If more than 30 minutes, cover and place in the refrigerator, and you can flip a few times as it marinates.
  • When ready to roast, preheat the oven to 425°F.
  • Place the chicken skin side down, add the chicken broth and roast for 25 minutes. Pull the baking sheet out of the oven, flip the chicken and arrange the broccolini around it. Pour the reserved marinade over the chicken and broccolini, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place back on the oven for 20 minutes. The chicken should have browned on top and be fully cooked (at least 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh) and the broccoli should be roasted and tender.

Notes

Pollo Rostizado con Lima y Brócoli

Chicken Livers with Chipotle Caramelized Onions

Chicken Livers with Chipotle Caramelized Onions
Print Recipe
4.89 from 9 votes

Chicken Livers with Chipotle Caramelized Onions

Chicken Livers with Chipotle Caramelized Onions from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 2 “Sisters, Stew and Sass”
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: caramelized onions, Chipotle
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken livers
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 3 large white onions slivered
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt divided, or more to taste
  • 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons sauce from chipotles in adobo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • Chopped fresh chives for garnish, optional
  • Fresh oregano leaves for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Place the chicken livers in a bowl and gently cover with cold water. One by one, using a chopping board and a sharp knife, remove any connective tissue and cut them into lobes. Place them into a different bowl and cover with cold milk. Let them sit anywhere from 1/2 hour to overnight, if more than an hour, cover and place in the refrigerator.
  • When ready to cook the livers, gently drain and place on a chopping board or sheet pan covered with paper towels and pat dry.
  • In a large non-stick skillet set over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of oil. Once the butter has melted, add the onions and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook stirring regularly for about 35 to 40 minutes, until completely softened, caramelized, and their color has turned to light brown and they are slightly browning more along the edges. Scrape into a bowl and reserve.
  • Season the livers with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil and raise heat to medium high. Cook the livers for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, until just cooked through but browned outside. Scrape into a bowl and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium, add the remaining tablespoon of oil and butter. Once melted, add the vinegar and cook, scraping the pan for about 10 to 15 seconds. Add chicken broth, chipotle sauce, tomato paste, and Dijon and stir until well mixed, continuing to scrape the bottom of the pan. Cook for a minute, until it strongly bubbles. Add the cooked onions, stir well to thoroughly combine with the sauce. Incorporate the chicken livers and any of their juices, toss to combine, and let it all cook for a minute. Turn off the heat, garnish with fresh chives and oregano. Serve with rice.

Note:

  • I like to chop any leftover chicken livers into chopped liver. I also like to have some extra roasted cherry tomatoes to reserve. Then I’ll spread the chopped liver on some toasted slices of bread and top with roasted cherry tomatoes.

Notes

Higaditos Encebollados y Enchipotlados

Spicy Honey, Garlic and Orange Roasted Duck

Spicy Honey, Garlic and Orange Roasted Duck
Print Recipe
3.72 from 7 votes

Spicy Honey, Garlic and Orange Roasted Duck

Spicy Honey, Garlic and Orange Roasted Duck from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 11, Episode 6 “Pioneering from Farm to Table”
Cook Time2 hours 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: duck, garlic, honey
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 5-6 pound whole duck thawed
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt plus more to salt the water
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped dried piquín chiles or chiltepin or chile de árbol, plus 1 more teaspoon whole dried piquín chiles
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves or 2 teaspoons dried and crushed, plus 3 to 4 whole rosemary sprigs
  • Zest of an orange plus its juice
  • Zest of a lime plus its juice
  • 1 whole orange halved and each half cut into quarters
  • 1 whole head of garlic
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

To prepare the duck for roasting:

  • Make sure the duck is completely thawed (defrost in the refrigerator for a couple days). Remove giblets and neck from cavity. Rinse in cold water. Pat dry.
  • Bring salted water to a boil in a large soup pot or casserole that fits the duck. Once it comes to a boil, insert the duck and let it sit there for 3 minutes without turning the heat off. This will help tighten the skin. Remove from the water. Drain and pat dry.
  • With a sharp paring or small knife and taking a diagonal or side angle, prick the skin all over front and back without cutting into the meat. This will help release the fat as the duck cooks. Then, score the skin in a diamond shape with lines about every inch making sure you are cutting the skin and the fat, but not the meat, all over front and back.
  • Preheat the oven to 425℉ with the rack in the lowest position.

To prepare the spice mixture:

  • In a small bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, crushed dried Piquín chiles, chopped rosemary, and orange and lime zest. Mix well.
  • Rub the spice mixture all over the duck, making sure to go into the diamond pattern through the skin and fat as well as inside of the cavity. Stuff the cavity with the cut oranges, rosemary sprigs (reserving one sprig for the glaze), and lastly, the head of garlic.
  • Place the duck on a rack in a roasting pan, breast side up. Fold neck skin under the body. Crisscross the legs and secure with kitchen twine. Tuck the wings under their sides. Roast the duck for 30 minutes. Then remove the roasting pan from the oven, flip the duck back side up, reduce the heat to 350℉, and continue roasting for an additional hour and a half.

Meanwhile, make the glaze:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once it bubbles, add a teaspoon dried Piquín chiles, stir and cook for a minute, so they can gently brown. Add the orange and lime juices and the honey, and stir. Add the rosemary sprig. Let it all cook for about 7 to 8 over medium-low heat, or until it thickens to a syrup consistency. Remove the rosemary sprig and Piquín chiles with a spoon, or strain into a bowl.
  • Remove the roasting pan from the oven. Tilt the duck to get all the fat onto the roasting pan and scrape all the duck fat into a bowl. Cut the twine from the duck legs and remove the roasted garlic from the cavity.
  • Brush the duck with the glaze, generously, all over, and place back on rack, flipping it so it is breast side up again. Return to the oven and continue to roast for another 15 to 30 minutes, or until the thermometer reads 165℉ to 170℉ and the skin is golden brown. Remove from the oven. Cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving.

Notes

Pato Rostizado con Miel, Ajo y Naranja

Jalisco-Style Chicken Tamales

Jalisco-Style Chicken Tamales
Print Recipe
4.45 from 9 votes

Jalisco-Style Chicken Tamales

Jalisco-style Chicken Tamales recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 10, Episode 6 “Tradition and Innovation”
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Antojos, Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, jalapeno, masa, Poblano, Tamales, Tomato
Servings: 16 tamales
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

Tamal dough:

  • cups (326g) masa harina
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (184g) lard or vegetable shortening
  • cups (738g) chicken broth

Filling:

  • 3 poblano chiles
  • 1 pound ripe tomatoes or one 14.5-ounce can of fire roasted tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup (71g) chopped white onion
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled and finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 whole cloves stemmed and crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (70g) chopped manzanilla olives stuffed with pimentos
  • 1/4 cup (46g) coarsely chopped capers
  • 1/4 cup diced pickled jalapeños
  • 3 cups (330g) shredded cooked chicken

For assembly:

  • 30 to 36 dried corn husks

Instructions

To make the tamal dough:

  • Whisk together the masa harina, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
  • Place the lard or vegetable shortening in a mixer set with the paddle attachment and beat on high until very light, about 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the speed and add the chicken broth and masa harina mixture alternately, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Once it has all been added, raise speed to medium and continue beating for about 4 to 8 minutes, until the dough is homogeneous, very fluffy, and aerated.
  • To test if the dough is ready, drop 1/2 teaspoon into a cup of cold water. If it floats, it is ready. If it sinks, beat longer to aerate further.

To make the filling:

  • Place poblano chiles and tomatoes (if using fresh) on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil. Place under the broiler and char for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping a couple times in between, until charred, soft, and wrinkled.
  • Remove the poblanos and tomatoes from the oven. Place the poblanos in a plastic bag, close the bag, and set aside to allow the poblanos to steam and sweat for at least 10 minutes, and up to 2 hours. Remove the poblanos from the bag and in a bowl of water, or under a gentle stream of running water, peel away the charred skin. Next, cut a slit down the side of each poblano and remove the seeds and stems before cutting into strips of about 1” x 1/4”. Set aside.
  • Chop the broiled tomatoes into 1/2″ pieces. If using canned tomatoes, simply chop them.
  • In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, a minute or two longer.
  • Add the chopped tomatoes (including the skins, seeds, and juices), cumin, crushed tops of the whole cloves, and salt. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the mixture is dark red and thickened. Add poblanos, olives, capers, pickled jalapeños and chicken, stirring to combine. Cook for 5 more minutes.

To assemble tamales:

  • In a large bowl, soak the dried corn husks in hot water for at least 10 minutes, or until soft and pliable, drain.
  • Working with one corn husk at a time, lay it out with the tapered end pointing towards you. Portion about 1/4 cup (50g) masa onto the husk – a scone or muffin scoop works well here. Spread the masa into a rectangle, about 3” x 5”; the layer should be about 1/4” thick, leaving a border of at least 1/2” on the sides and at least 1” on the bottom. Place 2 tablespoons of the filling (about 40g) in the middle of the rectangle.
  • Pick up the two long sides of the corn husk and bring them together (the masa will start to swaddle the filling). Fold the joined sides of the husk together to one side of the tamal, wrapping them in the same direction around the tamal. Fold up the empty section of the husk, with the tapering end from the bottom up and spread the tamal gently so it is evenly distributed. This will form a closed bottom and the top will be left open. Place the tamales as vertically as you can in a container (open side up) and repeat the assembly with the remaining masa and filling.

To steam tamales:

  • Fill a steamer with water right up to the bottom of the steaming base or basket and bring the water to a simmer over medium heat. Line the steamer base or basket with a layer of soaked corn husks. Place the prepared tamales as vertically as you can into the prepared steamer with the open end facing up. If there is space left in the steamer, tuck in some more corn husks, so the tamales will be snug and not shift around. Cover the tamales with more soaked corn husks and steam, covered with a lid, for about an hour.
  • Turn off the heat and let them rest and settle in the steamer for at least 10 minutes. You can test the tamales for doneness by unwrapping one and checking to see that it releases easily from the husk. If it doesn’t, return the steamer to the heat, checking them at 5-minutes increments. Finished tamales will stay warm for about 2 hours in the steamer.

Storage information:

  • Tamales can be made ahead several days before and stored in the refrigerator, well wrapped. They can also be frozen for months. In either case, reheat in a steamer; for refrigerated tamales, it will take about 20 minutes and about 45 minutes for frozen tamales.

Notes

Tamales Tapatíos

Chicken a la Valentina

Pollo a la Valentina
Print Recipe
4.75 from 8 votes

Chicken a la Valentina

Chicken a la Valentina recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 10, Episode 2 “Food Meets Art”
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, jalapeno, Potato, Tomato
Servings: 4 to 5 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 4-5 pound chicken cut into serving pieces
  • 1 half of a white onion
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 teaspoons kosher salt divided
  • 4 to 5 large potatoes peeled and cut into cubes
  • pounds ripe tomatoes
  • teaspoons dried oregano
  • 3 tablespoons brine from the pickled jalapeños
  • 5 tablespoons safflower oil divided
  • 1 head romaine lettuce leaves rinsed and dried, thinly sliced
  • 4 to 6 radishes halved, thinly sliced
  • Pickled jalapeños and carrots
  • Bolillos or birotes, homemade or store bought, to serve

Instructions

  • In a large pot, place the chicken pieces, along with the onion, garlic, bay leaves, and 2 teaspoons of the salt, and cover with water. Set over high heat. Once it comes to a boil, reduce to medium heat, add the cubed potatoes and simmer for 20 minutes, until the chicken is just cooked through and the potatoes are soft. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken into a strainer and let cool. Transfer the cubed potatoes into another strainer and let cool.
  • In a medium saucepan, add the tomatoes and cover with water. Set over medium-high heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until completely cooked and soft. Transfer the tomatoes to the jar of a blender along with the oregano, pickled jalapeño brine, and the remaining teaspoon of salt and puree until smooth.
  • Rinse and wipe dry the same saucepan used for the tomatoes and set over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil, once hot, add the pureed tomato sauce and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes until darkened in color and thickened in consistency. Scrape onto a bowl.
  • In a large non-stick saute pan set over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of the oil. Once hot, dunk the potatoes into the tomato sauce, then place in the saute pan and fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until crisped and browned. Scrape onto a large platter and set aside.
  • Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the saute pan, and one by one, dunk the chicken pieces into the tomato sauce, then add to the saute pan. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side, flipping as need be, until completely crisped and browned. Place on the same platter as the potatoes.
  • Reduce heat to medium, pour in the remaining tomato sauce and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, while it bubbles and thickens. Pour the thickened tomato sauce over the chicken and toss to coat.
  • Serve with the potatoes, shredded lettuce, radishes and pickled jalapeños. Bring bolillos or birotes to the table to eat along with the chicken, sides and garnishes.

Notes

Pollo a la Valentina

Chicken and Shrimp Fried Rice Mexicano

chicken and shrimp fried rice mexicano
Print Recipe
4.24 from 13 votes

Chicken and Shrimp Fried Rice Mexicano

A quick and easy fried rice with chicken and shrimp, incorporating a few Mexican ingredients I always have on hand.
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: chicken, Eggs, rice, Shrimp
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 pound peeled medium sized shrimp cleaned and patted dry
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar or grated piloncillo
  • 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons sauce from chipotles in adobo sauce more to taste
  • 4 garlic cloves peeled and pressed or finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
  • 1 serrano or jalapeño chile stemmed and finely chopped
  • 9 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 3 eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 cup diced carrots from about 2 medium sized carrots
  • cups diced fresh asparagus bottoms of stalks peeled and dry base cut off
  • 1 cup shelled peas
  • 8 to 10 scallions root ends removed, white, light green and green parts sliced, reserving a tablespoon or so for garnish
  • cups cooked white rice cooked from 1½ cups raw rice
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place the chicken in a bowl, season with salt and pepper to taste. In another bowl, place the cleaned shrimp and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, chipotle in adobo sauce, garlic, ginger and chile, and mix well to combine. Set aside.
  • In a medium non-stick skillet, heat one tablespoon of the oil. Once hot, add the beaten eggs, sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper. Cook, moving the edges towards the center as it cooks, to create a flat omelet. Once set and cooked in the bottom, flip so it cooks on the other side. Transfer to a chopping board and cut into bite size pieces. Set aside.
  • In an extended large sauté pan or wok, set over high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Once very hot but not smoking, add the chicken, cooking it in batches if need be to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, scrape onto a large bowl. Add 2 more tablespoons of the oil. Repeat with the shrimp, cooking them in batches if need be, for 1 to 2 minutes per side, just until browned and crisp on the outside but not over cooked. Scrape onto the bowl with the chicken.
  • In the same pan, add 2 more tablespoons the oil, reduce the heat to medium high and add the carrots and asparagus. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and let them cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened but still with a firm bite. Add the peas and the scallions, stir, and cook for another couple minutes. Scrape onto a separate bowl and set aside.
  • Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the same pan and raise heat to high. Once hot, add the rice, cook it in the oil for a minute or two as you stir. Whisk the soy sauce mixture and pour it over the rice. Add the vegetables, the chicken, the shrimp and the omelet pieces, and toss to combine. Let it all cook together for a minute or two and serve. Garnish with the reserved scallion slices.

Notes

Arroz frito mexicano con pollo y camarón


Three-Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

Three-Cheese Chicken Enchiladas
Print Recipe
4.12 from 9 votes

Three-Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

These enchiladas are typical of northern Mexico and use the region’s go-to red salsa, as well as three cheeses and crema.
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Antojos, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cheese, chicken, enchiladas
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 16 corn tortillas homemade or store-bought
  • Double recipe Colorado Chile Salsa
  • 4 cups shredded cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken
  • 1 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
  • 2 cups grated Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella (8 ounces)
  • 2 cups grated asadero or Muenster, or Monterey Jack cheese (8 ounces)
  • 1 cup crumbled Cotija cheese or grated Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano (4 ounces) 
  • 1 ripe avocado halved, pitted, and sliced, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400℉, with a rack in the middle. Heat a comal or large skillet over medium-low heat for at least 5 minutes.
  • One or two at a time, heat the tortillas on the comal or skillet, without overlapping, for about a minute per side, until malleable and warm. Cover or wrap in a kitchen towel to keep warm.
  • Pour about 1 cup of the salsa into a 9-x-13-inch baking dish and spread it evenly over the bottom. One by one, place each tortilla on a cutting board and sprinkle about 1/4 cup of the chicken evenly down the middle. Roll up into a chubby soft taco and place seam down in the baking dish. Pour the remaining salsa over the enchiladas and top with the cream. Cover with the grated cheeses and sprinkle the Cotija, Romano, or Parmesan over the top.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese has completely melted and begun to lightly brown around the edges. Serve hot.

Notes

Enchiladas de Pollo con Tres Quesos

Chicken in a Pecan and Ancho Chile Sauce

Chicken in a Pecan and Ancho Chile Sauce
Print Recipe
4.20 from 10 votes

Chicken in a Pecan and Ancho Chile Sauce

Chicken in a Pecan and Ancho Chile Sauce recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 9, Episode 9 "Cooking for my Crew in Sonora"
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: ancho chiles, chicken, Mexico, nuez, Pecan, Pollo, prunes, sauce
Servings: 4 to 5 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 dried ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1/2 white onion
  • 1 unpeeled garlic clove
  • 4 cups homemade chicken broth or store bought
  • 1 cup shelled pecans
  • 6 to 8 pitted prunes about 1/4 cup tightly packed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 4- to 5- pound chicken cut up, breasts split and cut in half (10 pieces)

Instructions

  • Heat a comal or small skillet over medium heat, and toast the stemmed, seeded ancho chiles until the skin changes color and the chiles begin to release fumes, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add the onion and garlic clove to the comal or skillet. Toast, flipping the onion and garlic clove from side to side, until charred on the outside and softened inside, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat, set aside and when cool enough to handle, peel the garlic clove. Alternatively, char the onion and garlic under the broiler. Preheat the broiler with the rack arranged at the highest setting and cover a small sheet pan with foil. Broil the garlic for 5 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through, and the onion for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • Bring the chicken broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Add the pecans, prunes and toasted ancho chiles. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, until the chiles and prunes have rehydrated and plumped, and the pecans have softened. Set aside and let cool. Transfer to a blender, add the charred onion and garlic, and puree. If your blender is small, do this in batches.
  • Season the chicken with the salt and pepper.
  • Heat the oil in a large casserole or wide, heavy lidded skillet over medium high heat. Once hot, brown the chicken pieces, in batches, skin side down first then skin side up, until nicely colored, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a bowl or plate as each batch is done.
  • Reduce heat to low, and using the lid of the casserole or pan as a shield for splatters, pour in the pureed pecan sauce. It should bubble and splutter dramatically. Stir well, scraping all the bits up from the bottom of the pan, and return the chicken pieces to the pan. Cover, turn down the heat to medium low, and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan from time to time, until the chicken is completely cooked through and the sauce is thick and delicious. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Notes

Pollo con Salsa de Nuez y Chile Ancho

Chicken, Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew

Chicken Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew
Print Recipe
4.72 from 7 votes

Chicken, Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew

Chicken, Hominy and Pinto Bean Stew recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 9, Episode 8 "Super Sonoran"
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Course: Soup, stew
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: anaheim chiles, chicken, frijoles de la olla, gallina, gallina pinta, hominy, Mexico, pati’s mexican table, pinto beans, pozole, Sonora, soup, stew
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound dried hominy soaked in water to cover for 8 to 24 hours, or 4 cups cooked (2 15-ounce cans )
  • 1 head of garlic with peel on, halved horizontally (if cooking hominy only)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt if cooking hominy
  • 1/2 recipe frijoles de olla using pinto beans (3 cups cooked beans), or 2 15-ounce cans

For the chicken:

  • 1 4- to 5- pound whole chicken cut up into 8 to 10 serving pieces
  • 1/2 white onion
  • 4 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1 fresh Anaheim chile stemmed, seeded, cut in quarters
  • 10 stems fresh cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt

For the Anaheim seasoning sauce:

  • 1 fresh Anaheim chile
  • 1/4 white onion halved
  • 2 garlic cloves unpeeled
  • 10 sprigs cilantro

For garnish:

  • 1 cup chopped white onion
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and top part of stems
  • Crushed chiletpin chiles may substitute finely chopped chiles de arbol, ground chile piquin or red pepper flakes
  • 2 limes quartered

Instructions

  • Strain soaked hominy and rinse. Place in a large pot, add water to cover by at least 4 to 5 inches, and add the halved head of garlic. Set over high heat and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce to medium heat, skim off foam, cover partially and simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the hominy “blooms” or opens up. Once the kernels are very soft and you see them opening on the top like a flower, add salt, stir, turn off the heat, and set aside and let cool. Do not continue to cook or the hominy will fall apart. If making the frijoles de olla, you may do so while the hominy cooks. If using canned hominy and beans, you may skip this step.

To cook the chicken:

  • Do this while the hominy and beans are cooking. Place the cut up chicken in a large soup pot or casserole. Cover generously with water by at least 2 to 3 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium-low, skim off foam and add the halved onion, 4 peeled garlic cloves, the quartered fresh Anaheim chile, 10 stems of cilantro and 2 teaspoons salt. Cover partially and simmer for 1 hour, until the chicken is falling away from the bone. Remove from heat, transfer the chicken pieces to a bowl and let cool until you can handle them. Strain the broth, set aside 1 cup, and return the rest to the soup pot.
  • Discard the onion, garlic, Anaheim and cilantro. Remove the skin from the chicken and discard. Remove meat from the bones, tear it into small pieces, and return it to the strained broth.

To make seasoning sauce:

  • Preheat the broiler with the rack adjusted at the highest setting. Cover a baking sheet with foil and top with the fresh Anaheim chile, the onion quarter, and the 2 unpeeled garlic cloves. Broil for about 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the vegetables over halfway through, until completely charred on the outside and soft on the inside. The garlic will be done before the other ingredients, usually halfway through, and should be removed from the baking sheet when you see that it is charred and softened. Alternatively, you can roast the vegetables on a comal over medium heat, flipping them over every 4 to 5 minutes, until charred.
  • Place the chile in a plastic bag and let it sweat for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the skin, stem and seeds from the chile and peel the garlic. Cut the chile into pieces and place it in a blender along with the charred onion, the peeled roasted garlic cloves and 10 sprigs of fresh cilantro. Add the cup of strained chicken broth that you set aside, and puree until completely smooth. Pour back into the soup pot or casserole with the chicken and remaining broth.
  • Remove the onion from the pinto beans and stir the beans into the soup pot, along with 1 cup of their broth (or more, to taste). If using canned beans, rinse and add to the soup pot. Discard the halved head of garlic you added to the hominy and add the cooked hominy along with 1 cup of its liquid (or more to taste) to the soup pot. If using canned hominy, drain, rinse, and add to the pot.
  • Return the pot to medium heat, bring to a simmer and simmer, partially covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. You will know it’s ready when the seasoning sauce pools on the surface into tiny dark green puddles that are a darker green than the rest of the soup. Taste and adjust salt.
  • Serve and let everyone garnish with chopped white onion, cilantro, chiltepin chiles and a squeeze of fresh lime.

Notes

Gallina Pinta

Sonoran Hot Dogs

Sonoran Hot Dog
Print Recipe
3.15 from 7 votes

Sonoran Hot Dogs

Sonoran Hot Dogs, courtesy of Daniel Contreras of El Güero Canelo Restaurant, from Pati's Mexican Table, Episode 13, "How Do You Say Tucson?"
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Antojos, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: Arizona, bacon, Hot Dog, Mexican, Sonoran, Tucson, Turkey Hot Dog
Servings: 4 hot dogs
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon
  • 4 turkey hot dogs
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup chopped white onion
  • 4 güero chiles or banana peppers
  • 4 hot dog buns
  • 1 cup cooked pinto beans warmed up

Toppings:

  • Chopped raw white onion
  • Chopped tomato
  • Jalapeño hot sauce or salsa of your choice
  • Mustard
  • Mayonnaise

Instructions

  • On a cutting board, roll one slice of bacon around each hot dog. Place the tip of the hot dog over one end of the bacon slice, then roll the hot dog around and around on the diagonal so that the bacon wraps around it and covers it entirely. If you get to the end of the hot dog and there is still some bacon left, roll back in the other direction until the whole strip of bacon is rolled around the hot dog.






  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon-wrapped hot dogs and cook, turning every 2 to 3 minutes, until crisped and browned on all sides. Remove from the skillet and set aside.



  • In the same skillet, heat the vegetable oil and add the 1 cup chopped white onion. Sauté the onion until it softens and becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Scrape into a small bowl and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, char the güero chiles on a hot comal or skillet set over medium heat for 3
    to 6 minutes. Turn it once or twice, until its skin has lightly charred. Remove from heat.

To assemble:

  • Place one bacon-wrapped hot dog in a bun, then spoon on a generous tablespoon of warm pinto beans and about a tablespoon of the cooked onion. Top with some chopped raw onion, chopped tomato, hot sauce or salsa, mustard, and mayonnaise. Repeat with the remaining hot dogs and serve each one with a charred güero chile on the side.

Notes

Hot Dogs Sonorenses, recipe courtesy of Daniel Contreras of El Güero Canelo Restaurant

Milanesa Torta with Matador Guacamole and Melty Cheese

Milanesa Torta with Matador Guacamole and Melty Cheese
Print Recipe
5 from 8 votes

Milanesa Torta with Matador Guacamole and Melty Cheese

Milanesa Torta with Matador Guacamole and Melty Cheese recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 8, Episode 5 "A Taste of Mazatlán"
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: bolillo, chicken, chiltepín chiles, cotija cheese, fried, fried chicken, guacamole, mayonnaise, Oaxaca cheese, pati’s mexican table, Sandwich, telera, Torta
Servings: 4 tortas
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
  • Kosher or sea salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 eggs
  • A splash of milk
  • 2 cups crushed butter crackers
  • 8 to 10 dried chiltepín chiles crushed (or substitute 3 to 4 chiles de árbol)
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 cups grated Oaxaca cheese
  • 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese
  • 4 bolillo or telera rolls split in half with insides scooped out
  • 2 cups baby arugula
  • 1 batch Matador Guacamole
  • 1/4 cup soy and lime mixture from the Matador Guacamole

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, add 1/2-inch of vegetable oil and heat until very hot but not smoking, for at least 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Make a breading station using three shallow dishes: place the flour in one, whisk the eggs with a splash of milk in another, and mix the cracker crumbs with salt, pepper and the crushed chiles in the third one. One by one, dredge the chicken breasts in the flour, then pass through the egg mixture, and then coat well with the cracker crumbs mixture, pressing it onto the chicken as you do. Place them on a baking sheet and continue with the remaining chicken.
  • Fry the chicken breasts in the heated oil one or two at a time, making sure the pan is not over crowded, for about 3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate or rack and repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
  • In another bowl, mix the mayonnaise with Oaxaca and Cotija cheeses.
  • To build the torta, place the split bread rolls on a baking sheet. Spread the cheese and mayonnaise mixture on the split sides of the rolls. Bake until the cheese is bubbling and melted, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Toss the arugula with 1/4 cup of the soy and lime mixture from the Matador Guacamole. Top the bottom half rolls, with the cheese already melted on them, with the chicken, Matador Guacamole, and the dressed arugula. Cover with the top half of the rolls.

Notes

Torta de Milanesa con Guacamole de Chiles Toreados y Chicharron de Queso

Garlic and Cumin Rubbed Chicken

Garlic and Cumin Rubbed Chicken
Print Recipe
4.34 from 9 votes

Garlic and Cumin Rubbed Chicken

Garlic and Cumin Rubbed Chicken from Pati's Mexican Table, Season 7, Episode 5 "Mexican Wine Country"
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, cumin, garlic, pati's mexican table
Servings: 4 to 5 Servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 4 ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried chipotle chiles stemmed and seeded, moritas
  • 15 garlic cloves
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt or more to taste
  • 1/3 cup olive oil plus more for greasing the baking sheet
  • 1 3-4 pound chicken cut up into 10 serving pieces (breasts cuthalf)
  • 1 cup chicken broth

Instructions

  • Place the ancho and chipotle chiles in a saucepan, cover with water and set over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Simmer at medium heat for 10 minutes, until the chiles are completely rehydrated.
  • Place the rehydrated chiles into the jar of a blender, along with 1/2 cup of their simmering liquid, the garlic, cumin seeds, salt and olive oil. Puree until completely smooth. Scrape into a bowl and let it cool.
  • Place the chicken in a container and cover completely with the garlic and cumin marinade. You can marinate it covered in the refrigerator up to two days. But you may also roast it right away without marinating ahead of time.
  • If you marinated the chicken ahead of time, remove it from the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Generously grease a baking pan with oil. Place the chicken on the pan skin side down and sprinkle with a little salt. Put it in the oven and roast for 15 minutes. Carefully remove it from the oven, reduce the temperature to 375 degrees, flip over the chicken pieces and spoon any of the marinade on the bottom of the pan over the chicken pieces. Pour the chicken broth onto the bottom of the pan and return to the oven. Roast for 45 to 50 more minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear – and there are barely any juices when pierced with a knife.

Notes

Pollo Ajocomino

Sanborns’ Swiss Chicken Enchiladas

Sanborns’ Swiss Chicken Enchiladas
Print Recipe
4.41 from 10 votes

Sanborns’ Swiss Chicken Enchiladas

Sanborns’ Swiss Chicken Enchiladas, from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 7, Episode 12 "Photographic Food Memories"
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, corn tortillas, Enchilada, Oaxaca cheese, pati's mexican table, Recipe, serrano chiles, tomatillos
Servings: 6 Servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds tomatillos husked, scrubbed and rinsed, and quartered
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped white onion
  • 1 to 2 serrano chiles stemmed, seeding optional
  • 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and upper part of stems
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon canola or safflower oil
  • 1 cup chicken broth, or vegetable broth, or water homemade or store-bought
  • 1 cup Mexican style cream, Latin-style cream or heavy cream
  • 12 Corn tortillas
  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 3 cups Oaxaca or Muenster cheese, grated

Instructions

  • In a blender, combine the tomatillos, garlic, onion, chiles (start with 1 and add another if desired), cilantro, salt and water. Puree until completely smooth.
  • Heat the oil in a medium saucepan set over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add the pureed tomatillo mixture, being careful as it will sear and splutter. Cover partially with a lid and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and darkens, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the broth, cover partially, and simmer for 5 minutes more. Turn off the heat and stir in the cream. Set aside.
  • Prepare the tortillas for enchiladas by either heating them on a comal or passing them through hot oil.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Pour about 1 cup of the cooked salsa verde into a 9”x13” baking dish. One by one, place a tortilla on a plate or cutting board and arrange about ¼ cup shredded cooked chicken down the middle. Roll up into a soft chubby enchilada and place seam down in the baking dish. Continue with the rest of the tortillas.
  • Pour the remaining cooked salsa verde over the enchiladas and sprinkle the grated cheese on top. Place in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese has completely melted and begun to lightly brown.

Notes

Enchiladas de Pollo Suizas Sanborns

Spicy Mexican Southern Fried Chicken

Spicy Mexican Southern Fried Chicken
Print Recipe
3.89 from 9 votes

Spicy Mexican Southern Fried Chicken

Spicy Mexican Southern Fried Chicken, from Pati’s Mexican Table Season 7, Episode 13 "Mex’d Up American Regional Favorites"
Prep Time4 hours 10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time4 hours 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: chicken, chiles de arbol, fried chicken, Guajillo, habanero, honey, pati's mexican table, Recipe
Servings: 4 to 5 Servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 4 chiles de arbol, stemmed
  • 4 guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
  • 1 3-4 pound chicken cut into 10 pieces
  • 3 cups buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup sauce from chipotles in adobo
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt plus more to season the chicken
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper plus more to season the chicken
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup canned sliced habanero chiles

Instructions

  • Heat a comal or cast iron skillet over medium high. Toast the chile de arbol and the guajillo until both sides are slightly charred. Remove from heat and let cool. Once the chiles have cooled, add them to a spice or coffee grinder and finely grind.
  • Add chicken pieces to a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and 1 tablespoon of the ground chile mixture (reserve the rest). Pour the buttermilk and sauce from chipotles in adobo over the chicken and mix gently to combine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 48 hours. The longer the chicken marinates, the more the flavors will soak in.
  • When you are ready to cook the chicken, fill a dutch oven or heavy bottomed pan a little less than halfway full with oil and preheat until the temperature reaches 365 degrees Fahrenheit on a fry thermometer (or test the oil by dropping in a small piece of chicken, it should actively bubble around it).
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet with a rack.
  • Add the remaining chile mixture to a large bowl, along with the flour, paprika, salt and pepper, and whisk to combine. Remove the chicken one piece at a time from the buttermilk - shaking off any excess buttermilk - and put it into the bowl with the flour mix, rotating it to coat.
  • Once all the chicken is in the bowl and fully coated with the flour mix, one at a time, place 2 to 3 pieces into the hot oil, depending on the size of your pan. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, then flip and fry for 3 more minutes, or until it is a dark golden brown. Transfer to the sheet pan with a rack and place into the oven. Let the oil return to 365 degrees Fahrenheit and repeat the process with remaining chicken pieces.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. They should all be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If the chicken is not fully cooked, leave it in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • When chicken is ready to serve, heat the honey in a saucepan or in the microwave. Add habaneros with a little of their liquid and stir together. Place the fried chicken on a serving platter and drizzle the habanero honey over the chicken. Serve immediately with extra habanero honey sauce on the side.

Notes

Pollo Empanizado Mexa

Almendrado with Chicken

Print Recipe
4.63 from 8 votes

Almendrado with Chicken

Almendrado with Chicken recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 6, Episode 7 "The Art of Mole"
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: almonds, canela, capers, chicken, cinnamon, olives, pati's mexican table, Pickled Jalapeños, raisins
Servings: 4 to 5 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1/2 large white onion cut into pieces
  • 6 cloves garlic unpeeled
  • 2 pounds (about 7 or 8) roma tomatoes
  • 5 whole cloves
  • 12 black peppercorns
  • 1 1-inch stick ceylon cinnamon or canela
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 3-pound chicken cut into serving pieces (wings removed for later use and breasts cut in half)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • 2 cups chicken broth divided
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/2 cup black raisins
  • 1/2 cup manzanilla olives stuffed with pimiento sliced
  • 1/4 cup capers chopped
  • 1/2 cup pickled jalapeño rajas or slices

Instructions

  • Place onion, garlic and tomatoes under the broiler, or on an already heated skillet, griddle or comal set over medium heat. Roast or char for about 10 minutes, flipping in between, until ingredients are completely charred, cooked and mushy. Set aside and peel the garlic cloves when cool enough to handle.
  • In a small skillet set over medium heat, toast the cloves, peppercorns and cinnamon stick for a couple minutes, moving and flipping them around to toast evenly. Set aside. Toast the oregano for 10 to 15 seconds and remove from the heat.
  • In the jar of a blender, place the charred onion, peeled garlic and charred tomatoes, along with the tops from the whole cloves (discard the stems), the peppercorns, cinnamon and oregano. Puree until completely smooth.
  • Heat the oil in a large casserole set over medium-high heat until very hot, but not smoking. Season the chicken with the salt and brown the chicken pieces for 2 to 3 minutes per side. You may need to do this in batches in order to not to crowd the casserole. Once you have removed all the chicken, immediately pour the tomato sauce into the hot oil and cover, as it will splatter. Reduce heat to medium.
  • Add a cup of chicken broth to the blender and puree for a few seconds to get all the remaining thick sauce out of the blender, pour into the simmering sauce and cover again. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Incorporate the remaining cup of chicken broth, almonds, raisins, olives and capers. Add the browned chicken pieces, cover and reduce heat to low and cook for 20 more minutes.
  • Remove the lid and add the pickled jalapeño slices. Increase heat to medium and cook for another 10 minutes, allowing all the flavors to blend and the sauce to thicken. Serve with rice.

Notes

Almendrado con Pollo

Three Cheese Chicken Pasta

Print Recipe
4.67 from 9 votes

Three Cheese Chicken Pasta

Three Cheese Chicken Pasta recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 6, Episode 12 "Cheesy"
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: ancho chiles, cheese, chicken, cotija cheese, Muenster cheese, Oaxaca cheese, pasta, pati's mexican table, queso anejo
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 garlic cloves minced or pressed
  • 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon kosher or coarse sea salt plus more for salting the water
  • To taste freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 pound dried spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup cubed Oaxaca cheese
  • 1 cup cubed asadero or muenster cheese
  • Fresh cilantro chopped, for serving
  • 1/2 cup crumbled queso añejo or cotija for garnish

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat.
  • In a medium bowl combine the garlic, chili powder, oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Add chicken to the bowl and toss until chicken is coated in the rub.
  • Once the water is boiling, cook the spaghetti until al dente, or according to package instructions. Strain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
  • In a large casserole set over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Once it melts, add the chicken and cook until all sides are browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the flour and continue to brown for another 30 seconds.
  • Pour in the milk and cream, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan to remove browned bits. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water – or more if desired. Let the liquids come to a simmer and reduce until they begin to thicken.
  • Add the Oaxaca and muenster cheese, saving the cojita for the topping. Once the cheese is slightly melted, take off the heat and stir in pasta. Stir until the pasta is completely coated and the cheese is melted. Serve hot. Garnish with a sprinkle of cilantro and cotija cheese.

Notes

Pasta con Pollo a los Tres Quesos

Coloradito Chicken and a New Season

Oaxaca is a place I have been to countless times, but always leave wanting to go back.  No wonder I was eager to bring the crew, so they could experience all that I kept telling them about. And mostly, so they could help me capture it to bring to you.

My series director, Dan, must have been dizzy from me telling him how things are “different” in Oaxaca so many times. There is something in the air, and there is something in the way the light hits Oaxaca. It makes everything you think is familiar gain a completely different dimension. Maybe that is why Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s main cradles of art.

The blue in the sky seems a deeper shade of blue. The green in the plants, mountains and herbs looks more intense and has more saturated hues of green. When you wake up in the morning and open a window, the air smells fresher and feels more crisp. The sun shines brighter. And the word “diverse” has never had a better match.

Oaxaca is one of the – or the – most ethnically and culturally diverse places in all of Mexico. It has eight defined and distinctively different regions and 18 ethnic communities – each with their own culture, cuisine, language and pre-Hispanic forms of self governance and organization for life and society.

To put it simply, as my dad would say, Oaxaca is another world.

One of the common sayings related to Oaxaca is “the land of 7 moles.” But, the irony is that there are many more moles than that. There are dozens and dozens of them. Each mole has so many different versions, depending on the cook, the family or the town.

Here, I am sharing a Coloradito Mole with Chicken. I tested it many times at home to get the exact taste I experienced in the city of Oaxaca. So many times that Sami, my middle son, would joke “coloradito, mami, coloradito?” every time he walked in the kitchen and saw a large pot simmering.

Silky, delightfully sweet, savory, tangy, and with a light spice, it is a small window into the beautiful complex layers that Oaxaca has all around.

Try it at home and join me for the new season that is about to premiere! Check your local listings here.

pati jinich coloradito chicken
Print Recipe
4.50 from 8 votes

Coloradito Chicken

Here I am sharing a Coloradito Mole with Chicken. I tested it many times at home to get the exact taste I experienced in the city of Oaxaca. Silky, delightfully sweet, savory, tangy, and with a light spice, it is a small window into the beautiful complex layers that Oaxaca has all around.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Ancho, chayote, chicken, Chiles, Coloradito, green beans, Guajillo, Mole, Oaxaca, Pollo, Tomato
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe plantain
  • 6 ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 5 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 pound (or 3 to 4) ripe Roma tomatoes
  • 5 cloves garlic unpeeled
  • 1 1/2-inch thick slice of white onion
  • 1 1-inch-long stick ceylon cinnamon or canela (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ceylon cinnamon)
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 6 black peppercorns
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds
  • 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons raisins
  • 1 tablespoon grated piloncillo or dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt divided
  • 1 3-pound chicken cut into 8 serving pieces (wings removed for later use and breasts cut in half)
  • Vegetable oil for cooking the chicken
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 3-ounce bar of Mexican chocolate broken into pieces
  • 1 pound chayote squash peeled and sliced into 1-inch strips
  • 1 pound green beans trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • Tortillas or rice to serve

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 400°F. Place the plantain in a baking dish lined with aluminum foil and make a couple of 1/2-inch slits on its skin. Bake until completely cooked through, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, when cool enough to handle, peel and slice. Set aside.
  • Heat a comal, griddle or skillet over medium heat. Once hot, toast the ancho and guajillo chiles for about 30 to 45 seconds per side, until fragrant and lightly toasted. Place chiles in a saucepan along with the whole tomatoes, cover with water and set over medium-high heat. Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, until the chiles are rehydrated and plumped up, and the tomatoes are cooked and mushy.
  • On the same comal, griddle or skillet, char the unpeeled garlic cloves and the onion slice, until completely charred and softened, about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping a couple of times in between. Set aside to cool. Peel the garlic when cool enough to handle.
  • On a small skillet set over medium heat, toast the cinnamon stick for a minute or two until fragrant, flipping once. Next, toast the cloves and peppercorns for a minute, moving them around the entire time. Toast the almonds for a couple of minutes, until lightly browned, as well as sesame seeds. Lastly, toast the oregano for 5 to 10 seconds.
  • As each ingredient is finished being toasted, place it in the jar of the blender: the cinnamon, garlic, onion, cloves, peppercorns, almonds, sesame seeds, and oregano. Add the rehydrated chiles, cooked tomatoes and 1 cup of their cooking broth, and the plantain to the blender, as well. Incorporate the raisins, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt, and puree at least for a couple minutes until completely smooth. If your blender is on the smaller side, puree it in batches.
  • Set a large casserole over medium-high heat and heat enough oil to have about 1/8-inch of depth. Season the chicken with the remaining teaspoon of salt. Once the oil is hot, brown the chicken pieces in batches, making sure to not crowd the casserole. Cook until they have created a crust on the skin and are easy to flip, about 3 minutes per side. Place the finished pieces in a large bowl.
  • Once you are done browning the chicken, reduce the heat to medium-low. Carefully, and using the casserole’s lid as a shield (there will be splatters), pour the mole sauce into the oil. Stir and cover with the lid, leaving it slightly open, and cook for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally (still protecting yourself with the lid), until the sauce is very thick and seasoned. Add the chicken broth, chocolate pieces, and the browned chicken pieces, and cook for another 20 minutes. Add the chayote squash and green beans, give it a good stir, and cook until vegetables are cooked yet tender, another 10 minutes.
  • Serve with tortillas and/or rice.

Notes

Mole Coloradito con Pollo

Coloradito Chicken

pati jinich coloradito chicken
Print Recipe
4.86 from 7 votes

Coloradito Chicken

Coloradito Chicken recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 6, Episode 6 “Women of Oaxaca”
Prep Time50 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: almonds, ancho chiles, canela, chayote, chicken, Chocolate, guajillo chiles, mexican chocolate, Mole, pati's mexican table, piloncillo, Plantains, raisins, sesame seeds
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe plantain
  • 6 ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 5 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 pound (or 3 to 4) ripe Roma tomatoes
  • 5 cloves garlic unpeeled
  • 1 1/2-inch thick slice of white onion
  • 1 1-inch-long stick ceylon cinnamon or canela (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ceylon cinnamon)
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 6 black peppercorns
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds
  • 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons raisins
  • 1 tablespoon grated piloncillo or dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt divided
  • 1 3-pound chicken cut into 8 serving pieces (wings removed for later use and breasts cut in half)
  • Vegetable oil for cooking the chicken
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 3-ounce bar of Mexican chocolate broken into pieces
  • 1 pound chayote squash peeled and sliced into 1-inch strips
  • 1 pound green beans trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • Tortillas or rice to serve

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the plantain in a baking dish lined with aluminum foil and make a couple of 1/2-inch slits on its skin. Bake until completely cooked through, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, when cool enough to handle, peel and slice. Set aside.
  • Heat a comal, griddle or skillet over medium heat. Once hot, toast the ancho and guajillo chiles for about 30 to 45 seconds per side, until fragrant and lightly toasted. Place chiles in a saucepan along with the whole tomatoes, cover with water and set over medium-high heat. Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, until the chiles are rehydrated and plumped up, and the tomatoes are cooked and mushy.
  • On the same comal, griddle or skillet, char the unpeeled garlic cloves and the onion slice, until completely charred and softened, about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping a couple of times in between. Set aside to cool. Peel the garlic when cool enough to handle.
  • On a small skillet set over medium heat, toast the cinnamon stick for a minute or two until fragrant, flipping once. Next, toast the cloves and peppercorns for a minute, moving them around the entire time. Toast the almonds for a couple of minutes, until lightly browned, as well as sesame seeds. Lastly, toast the oregano for 5 to 10 seconds.
  • As each ingredient is finished being toasted, place it in the jar of the blender: the cinnamon, garlic, onion, cloves, peppercorns, almonds, sesame seeds, and oregano. Add the rehydrated chiles, cooked tomatoes and 1 cup of their cooking broth, and the plantain to the blender, as well. Incorporate the raisins, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt, and puree at least for a couple minutes until completely smooth. If your blender is on the smaller side, puree it in batches.
  • Set a large casserole over medium-high heat and heat enough oil to have about 1/8-inch of depth. Season the chicken with the remaining teaspoon of salt. Once the oil is hot, brown the chicken pieces in batches, making sure to not crowd the casserole. Cook until they have created a crust on the skin and are easy to flip, about 3 minutes per side. Place the finished pieces in a large bowl.
  • Once you are done browning the chicken, reduce the heat to medium-low. Carefully, and using the casserole’s lid as a shield (there will be splatters), pour the mole sauce into the oil. Stir and cover with the lid, leaving it slightly open, and cook for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally (still protecting yourself with the lid), until the sauce is very thick and seasoned. Add the chicken broth, chocolate pieces, and the browned chicken pieces, and cook for another 20 minutes. Add the chayote squash and green beans, give it a good stir, and cook until vegetables are cooked yet tender, another 10 minutes.
  • Serve with tortillas and/or rice.

Notes

Mole Coloradito con Pollo

Oaxacan Chicken with Oregano and Garlic

oaxacan chicken with oregano and garlic
Print Recipe
4.16 from 13 votes

Oaxacan Chicken with Oregano and Garlic

Oaxacan Chicken with Oregano and Garlic recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 6, Episode 3 "A Queen in the Land of Gods"
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, garlic, oregano, pati's mexican table
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 30 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup fresh oregano leaves
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
  • To taste freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 3-pound chicken cut into 10 serving pieces breasts cut in half
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Using a food processor or molcajete, process or mash the garlic, oregano, olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper until coarse and well mixed, yet not completely pureed.
  • Rub the garlic mixture all over chicken and place skin side down on a non-stick baking sheet. If you don’t cook right away, you may marinate the chicken up to 24 hours, covered in the refrigerator.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and reduce temperature to 375 degrees. Flip over the chicken pieces, pour the chicken broth on the bottom of the sheet, and return to the oven for 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear when pierced with a knife.

Notes

Pollo Oaxaqueño con Orégano y Ajo

Thanksgiving Turkey

Right after we got married, we moved from Mexico City to Dallas, Texas. It was in the middle of the very hot summer, oh how I remember that.

I had always been a great eater… but not a great cook. The youngest of four daughters, I had always been labeled the intellectual one, while each one of my older sisters jumped into the cooking and lifestyle field in one way or another.

Back then, I was focusing all my efforts on finishing my political science thesis to become an academic. But not knowing anyone, with my husband traveling all the time, and sort of locking myself in the duplex we lived in to write most of the time, I became insanely nostalgic for my family and the foods that we ate back home. So I jumped in the kitchen, and started to chat with anyone and everyone who seemed open to share recipes with me, in an attempt to recreate the soups, the stews, the dishes, and the nurturing flavors that I knew would help me feel at home.

Then came October. Like a sudden rain fall, I started seeing luscious Thanksgiving menu images everywhere: in stores, at the mall, on TV, on glossy books and cooking magazines in grocery stores. “A festive turkey meal in October,” I wondered. In Mexico, turkey is eaten for Christmas! “Oh boy,” I thought, “here they really do plan ahead of time.”

I had never heard of Thanksgiving before. Yet intrigued by the photos and recipes I was seeing, I made a full Thanksgiving meal for my husband and I. That was the very first one. Since then, we have sat down for a Thanksgiving meal every single year. Fast forward 19 years, and by now, I can tell you that Thanksgiving has become my favorite American holiday.

It is not only because of the food, but because of how friends and family come together around the table. How everyone seems to contribute in what is almost a communal effort. How the holiday is so timeless, with classic dishes that need to remain classics. But there is also an open window for flavors and ingredients that can enrich the meal.

Now, so many years later, I get the meaning of Thanksgiving more than ever. Here is my humble offer for your table: a turkey recipe packed with the sazón of some of my favorite flavor combinations and the tastiest Chorizo, Apple and Cornbread Stuffing.

Oh, by the way, for Season 5 of Pati’s Mexican Table, we made a Thanksgiving episode. I really do hope you catch it! Here is the episode.

Thanksgiving Turkey

Achiote Adobo Thanksgiving Turkey
Print Recipe
3.67 from 6 votes

Thanksgiving Turkey

Thanksgiving Turkey recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 5, Episode 11 “Turkey Day”
Prep Time12 hours
Cook Time5 hours
Total Time17 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: achiote paste, allspice, banana leaves, bitter orange juice, cumin, oregano, pati's mexican table, Thanksgiving, turkey
Servings: 10 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the marinade:

  • 6 tablespoons achiote paste from a bar
  • 6 cups bitter orange juice or its substitute
  • 6 cups homemade chicken broth or store bought
  • 12 cloves garlic charred, broiled or toasted with the skin on, and then peeled
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

For the turkey:

  • 1 16- to 18-pound turkey rinsed and patted dry
  • 4 whole red onions peeled and sliced
  • 8 ripe tomatoes roughly chopped
  • 2 to 3 banana leaves (optional)
  • 1 brining bag large enough for a turkey (or an extra-large plastic bag)
  • Chorizo, Apple and Corn Bread Stuffing

Instructions

To make the marinade:

  • In a blender or food processor, working in 2 batches, add the achiote paste, bitter orange juice or its substitute, chicken broth, garlic, oregano, cumin, allspice, salt, and pepper and puree until smooth.
  • Slide the turkey, with the breast side down, into the brining bag. Pour the marinade into the bag and massage it into the bird, working it into the cavity and all the crevasses. Place the bag in a mixing bowl or roasting pan and refrigerate for 12 to 48 hours, turning the turkey a couple of times to redistribute the marinade.

To make the turkey:

  • Set the oven rack at the lowest position and preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Spread the onions and tomatoes in a large roasting pan. Sit the turkey on the vegetables breast side up. Stuff the main cavity with as much stuffing as it can hold and place the rest in a buttered baking dish. Close the cavity by crossing and tying the legs with butcher’s twine. Tuck the wing tips under the turkey. Pour as much of the remaining marinade over the turkey as will fit halfway up the pan.
  • Roast the turkey for 30 minutes. Cover the turkey with layers of banana leaves, if you are using them, and then cover the entire pan with aluminum foil, sealing it as best as you can. The less steam that is able to escape the better.
  • Reduce the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place turkey back in the oven and roast for 3 1/2 hours, or for at least 12 minutes per pound. Remove from the oven and carefully remove the leaves and/or the foil, being careful as the steam is hot. Return to the oven and roast for 20 more minutes. The turkey should be completely cooked through and nearly falling off the bone.
  • Remove turkey from the oven and let it rest for at least 15 to 20 minutes, loosely covered with the aluminum foil.
  • Strain all the cooked vegetables and juice into a medium 3-quart saucepan, pressing with the back of the spoon to get as much liquid as possible. Set aside 1 cup for the stuffing. Simmer the remaining sauce for 15 to 20 minutes, until it has reduced by half.
  • While the turkey rests, pour the reserved marinade over the stuffing in the baking dish and place it in the oven for 20 minutes, or until it is hot and the top is crisped.
  • Carve the turkey and serve with the stuffing.

Notes

Pavo de Acción de Gracias

Lima Soup

lima soup or sopa de lima
Print Recipe
4.25 from 8 votes

Lima Soup

Lima Soup recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 5, Episode 8  “Valladolid: A Day to Explore”
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, cilantro, corn tortillas, habanero, lima, pati's mexican table, sofrito, soup
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the broth:

  • 5 cloves garlic unpeeled
  • 2 chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
  • 12 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the sofrito:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil plus more for frying tortilla strips
  • 1/2 red onion chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 green or yellow bell pepper stemmed, seeded and chopped
  • 1/2 pound ripe tomatoes chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt

To serve:

  • 6 to 8 Corn tortillas cut into 2"x1/2" strips
  • 1 thinly sliced lima (lemon or lime) for garnish
  • 2 to 3 limas (lemon or lime) to add right before serving
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves and upper stems chopped, for garnish
  • 1 habanero chile finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

For the broth:

  • Place the unpeeled garlic cloves under the broiler, or on a pre-heated comal set over medium heat, and roast or char for 10 minutes, flipping a couple times in between, until completely blackened. Set aside.
  • Place chicken breasts in a soup pot and cover with 12 cups water. Add the charred garlic cloves, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, whole cloves, salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Partially cover with a lid and cook for 40 minutes, until the chicken is completely cooked through yet still tender. Remove from the heat. Remove the chicken breasts and once cool enough to handle, shred into fine pieces. Strain the broth into a large bowl, incorporate the shredded chicken, and reserve.

For the sofrito:

  • Rinse and dry the soup pot. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the onion, bell pepper, tomato and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are completely cooked through and practically mashed and mushy.
  • Pour the reserved chicken broth and shredded chicken into the pot with the sofrito, bring back to a simmer, and cook partially covered for 8 to 10 minutes, until all the flavors have come together.
  • Heat about 1/4" of oil in a deep skillet or casserole and set over medium heat. Once hot, working in batches, flash fry the corn tortilla strips for 10 to 15 seconds until lightly golden, and remove with a slotted spoon or spider. Place on a plate covered with paper towels, drain and lightly season with salt. Alternatively, you spread the tortilla strips on a baking sheet and bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes, flipping once in between.

To serve:

  • Ladle the soup into bowls and add a couple very thin slices of lima. Top with tortilla strips, and give everyone a half a lima to squeeze into their soup right before they eat it. Additionally, you may set out chopped cilantro and habanero for everyone to garnish as they please.

Notes

Sopa de Lima

Fast Track Chicken Pibil Sandwich

Fast Track Chicken Pibil Sandwich
Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Fast Track Chicken Pibil Sandwich

Fast Track Chicken Pibil Sandwich recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 5, Episode 6 “Ancient Yucatán with my Boys”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: achiote paste, Avocado, chicken, pati's mexican table, pibil, pickled red onions, Sandwich, Tomatoes, Yucatán Peninsula
Servings: 4 to 5 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound ripe tomatoes
  • 1/4 red onion outer layer removed
  • 3 cloves garlic unpeeled
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 2 cups homemade chicken broth or store bought, divided
  • 2 tablespoons canola or safflower oil
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons achiote paste chopped (the paste that comes in a bar, not a jar!)
  • 6 cups cooked shredded chicken from homemade broth or rotisserie chicken (may substitute turkey)
  • Soft buns (hamburger or potato buns)
  • Avocado Crema
  • Pickled Red Onions a la Yucateca

Instructions

  • Preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet or roasting pan with foil. Place the whole tomatoes, onion and unpeeled garlic cloves on the foil and set under the broiler, 3 to 4 inches from the heat. Broil for 4 to 5 minutes, until charred on one side. Flip over and broil for another 4 to 5 minutes, until the skin is blistered and completely charred. The tomatoes should be very soft with the juices beginning to run out. Remove from heat.
  • Once cool enough to handle, quarter the tomatoes and place in a blender jar along with any juices from the baking sheet. Peel the garlic cloves and add to the blender along with the onion, salt and 1 cup of the chicken broth. Puree until completely smooth.
  • Heat the oil over medium heat in a casserole or soup pot until hot but not smoking. Pour in the puree and cover partially, as the sauce will sizzle and jump. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and darkens considerably.
  • Meanwhile, combine the grapefruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, vinegar, oregano, cumin, allspice, pepper, chopped achiote paste, and the remaining cup of chicken broth in the blender and puree until completely smooth.
  • Stir the puree into the tomato sauce and bring back to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes, then add the shredded chicken. Mix together well and continue to cook, uncovered, until the chicken has absorbed most of the sauce, about 5 minutes. The finished dish should be very moist but not wet or soupy.
  • To serve, scoop about 1 cup of the chicken pibil onto the bottom half of a soft bun. Top with avocado crema and a few pickled red onions a la Yucateca. Cover with the top half of the bun to form a sandwich.

Notes

Sandwich de Pollo Pibil Rápido

Mini Pibis

Mini Pibis
Print Recipe
4.60 from 5 votes

Mini Pibis

Mini Pibis recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 5, Episode 1 “Chachi’s Champotón Kitchen”
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time2 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: achiote paste, banana leaves, chicken, masa, onion, pati's mexican table, Tamales, Tomatoes, Yucatán Peninsula
Servings: 14 to 16 tamales
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 1/4 cups (about 1 pound) corn masa flour for tortillas or tamales (masa harina)
  • 2 3/4 cups chicken broth for masa, plus 1/2 cup for chicken filling
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste, divided
  • 1 cup lard or vegetable shortening
  • 3 tablespoons (or 2 ounces) achiote paste
  • 3/4 pound (about 3) ripe Roma tomatoes cut into chunks
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup white onion coarsely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • Banana leaves, fresh or thawed from frozen cut into 15 pieces, 10-inches in length, plus more for covering the steamer

Instructions

To make the masa:

  • In a large bowl, combine the masa flour with 2 3/4 cups chicken broth using your hands, kneading the dough until thoroughly mixed and very smooth, not “grainy.”
  • Put 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in a large casserole or pot and set over medium heat. Once it begins to simmer, reduce heat to low and add the masa in batches, working it as you go with the wooden spatula to blend with the water, until it is all incorporated. Add the lard, and work it with the wooden spatula for about 3 to 4 minutes until it is all incorporated and the masa appears “cooked." The masa should smell like cooked corn tortillas and appear to be lightly browning and very thick. Remove from heat.

To make the filling:

  • In a blender, add the remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth, achiote paste, tomatoes, garlic cloves, white onion, oregano, allspice, remaining teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Puree until completely smooth.
  • Heat the oil in a pot or casserole over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add the puree (because it will splatter) and cook partially covered for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until it thickens and darkens. Add the shredded chicken, stir, and continue to cook for 8 to 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is very moist but not wet – like a sloppy Joe - and most liquid has been absorbed. Set aside.

To make the tamales:

  • Turn a burner on to low heat. Using tongs, slowly pass each banana-leaf piece over the flame on both sides and set aside (so they will be resilient, malleable and not break).
  • One by one, set each leaf piece on your counter with the shiny, outer side down. Spoon about 1/4 cup of masa into the center and spread to form a rectangle of about 4”x 3”. With the spoon, make a shallow channel down the middle, creating a stripe in the masa. Spoon a couple tablespoons of the seasoned shredded chicken right down the middle. Gently close each tamal by folding the longer sides first and then the sides as if making a flat and tight package, but being careful not to press on the tamal too much.
  • Prepare your tamalera or steamer: Add just enough water to touch the bottom of steaming basket and a coin (it will jump and make noise to let you know if water runs out). Line the steaming basket with a few banana-leaf pieces to gently cover the base. One by one, add the tamales, stacking them as evenly as you can, staggered in the same position as when you made them: laying them flat, with opening side on the top. Once you are done, cover with a few more pieces of banana leaves.
  • Set the steamer uncovered over high heat, once there is a bit of steam coming out and the water starts boiling a few minutes later, cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 50 minutes to an hour. The leaves will have changed to a much darker color and will have completely wilted to wrap themselves as a second skin over the tamales, and the tamales should feel firm. Turn off the heat.
  • Let the tamales sit covered for 10 to 15 minutes - so they firm up - or until ready to serve. The tamales can be made ahead of time, and reheated in steamer. They can be refrigerated up to 5 days, or frozen in sealed plastic bags for 6 months, and reheated the same way.

Notes

Tamales Colados de Pollo

Chicken in Green Salsa Tamales

chicken in green salsa tamal
Print Recipe
4.29 from 7 votes

Chicken in Green Salsa Tamales

Chicken in Green Salsa Tamales recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 4, Episode 5 “Tamaliza!”
Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, masa, pati's mexican table, salsa verde, Tamales
Servings: 18 tamales
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the tamal dough or masa:

  • 3/4 cup lard, vegetable shortening, or seasoned oil (see note at end of recipe)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon cold water
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 pound (about 3 1/4 cups) instant corn masa flour (masa harina) for tortillas or tamales
  • 3 1/2 cups homemade chicken broth add more if needed

For the filling:

  • 1 batch salsa verde
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken from homemade chicken broth

To assemble the tamales:

  • 25 dried corn husks soaking in hot water

Instructions

To make the tamal dough or masa:

  • Place lard, vegetable shortening or seasoned oil in an electric mixer and beat until very light, about 1 minute. Add salt and 1 teaspoon of cold water and continue beating until it is white and spongy, a couple more minutes. Add the baking powder and then alternate adding the instant corn masa and the chicken broth a little at a time. Continue beating until dough is homogeneous and as fluffy as can get. You know the tamal masa is ready when you can drop 1/2 teaspoon of the masa in a cup of cold water and it floats.

To make the filling:

  • Combine the salsa verde with the cooked shredded chicken.

To assemble the tamales:

  • Soak the dried corn husks in hot water for a couple minutes, or until they are pliable, and drain. Lay out a corn husk with the tapering end towards you. Spread about 3 tablespoons of masa into about a 2 to 3-inch square, the layer should be about 1/4-inch thick, leaving a border of at least 1/2-inch on the sides. Place 1 tablespoon of filling in the middle of the masa square.
  • Pick up the two long sides of the corn husk and bring them together (you will see how the masa starts to swaddle the filling) and fold the folded sides to one side, rolling them in same direction around tamal. Fold up the empty section of the husk, with the tapering end, from the bottom up. This will form a closed bottom and the top will be left open.
  • Assemble all the tamales and place them as vertically as you can in a container.

To prepare the tamalera or steamer:

  • Place water in the bottom pan of a steamer (so that water is under the steamer) and bring it to a simmer. Line the steamer with one or two layers of soaked corn husks.

To cook the tamales:

  • When you have all tamales ready, place them, again as vertically as you can, into the prepared steamer with the open end on top. If there is space left in the steamer, tuck in some corn husks, so the tamales won’t dance around. Cover with more corn husks, and steam covered with a lid for 50 minutes to an hour. You know the tamales are ready when they come easily free from the husks. They will still be moist, and as they are released from the husks, you will see the moisture, like when you remove good moist muffins from their paper baking cups.
  • Finished tamales will stay warm for about 2 hours in the steamer. They can be made ahead several days before and stored in refrigerator, well wrapped. They can also be frozen for months. In either case, reheat in a steamer. For refrigerated tamales, it will take about 20 minutes and about 45 minutes for frozen tamales.
  • Note: To make seasoned oil, in a medium saucepan, heat 1 cup vegetable oil over medium heat, add a thick slice of onion and 4 garlic cloves. Cook for 15 minutes until completely browned. Remove onion and garlic before using the oil.

Notes

Tamales de Pollo en Salsa Verde

Chicken Tinga

chicken tinga or tinga de pollo
Print Recipe
4.80 from 5 votes

Chicken Tinga

One of the tastiest ways to eat chicken in Mexican kitchens, no doubt about it, is Chicken Tinga. Although it comes from the state of Puebla, it is so popular, that it is eaten throughout the country. So of course there are countless variations. I have a favorite version. One that I have tweaked through the years until I found a balance of flavors that needs no more tweaking, if you ask me…
Prep Time1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Antojos, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, chipotles in adobo, Pollo, Puebla, quesadillas, Recipe, tacos, tinga, tortas, tostadas
Servings: 4 servings (makes about 5 cups)
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons safflower or corn oil
  • 1/2 white onion about 1/4 pound, slivered
  • 2 garlic cloves chopped
  • 8 roma tomatoes or about 2 pounds, rinsed
  • 2 tomatillos or about 1/4 pound, husks removed, rinsed
  • 1/2 teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
  • 2 tablespoons sauce from chipotle chiles in adobo can add whole chiles if more heat is desired
  • 5 cups cooked shredded chicken

Instructions

  • Place the rinsed tomatoes and tomatillos in a medium saucepan and cover them with water. Set the saucepan over medium heat. Once it comes to a simmer, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes and tomatillos are soft, thoroughly cooked, and smooshy but not coming apart. Remove them with a slotted spoon. Place in the jar of a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
  • Heat the oil in a large and deep pan over medium heat. Once it is hot but not smoking, stir in the onion and cook until soft and translucent, for about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until it becomes fragrant and lightly browned, about 1 minute.
  • Pour the tomato/tomatillo sauce on top and sprinkle the oregano, marjoram, thyme, salt and black pepper. Spoon in the chipotle Chiles in Adobo sauce. If you want it spicy, you may drop a whole Chipotle Chile in Adobo in there as well. Let the sauce simmer, stirring now and then until it seasons and deepens its red color, about 10 to 12 minutes. You may want to partially cover the pan as the sauce may want to jump out over your burners.
  • Toss in the chicken and combine with the sauce. Let it cook, stirring casually, until the chicken has absorbed almost all of the juices and the mix is moist but not juicy.

Notes

Tinga de Pollo

Chicken with Tamarind, Apricots and Chipotle Sauce

Print Recipe
3.84 from 6 votes

Chicken with Tamarind, Apricots and Chipotle Sauce

Chicken with Tamarind, Apricots and Chipotle Sauce recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 1, Episode 11 “Middle Eastern Influences”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: apricot, chicken, chipotles in adobo, Tamarind
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken quarters or 8 chicken pieces of your choice with skin and bones
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste, plus more to season chicken
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste to season chicken
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 pound dried apricots roughly chopped (about 3/4 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons apricot preserves
  • 3/4 cup homemade Latin-style tamarind syrup or store bought
  • 2 tablespoons sauce from chipotles in adobo or more to taste

Instructions

  • Thoroughly rinse chicken pieces with cold water and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the chicken pieces skin side down in one layer, and slowly brown the chicken pieces for 40 minutes. Flip them over, once they have crisped and created a crust, halfway through. This is not a quick sear or browning, this is low heat cooking for a good 40 minutes.
  • Pour water over the chicken, raise the heat to medium-high to bring to a simmer. Incorporate apricots, apricot preserve, Latin-style tamarind syrup, chipotle sauce, and 1 teaspoon salt, stir, and keep it at a medium simmer for 35 minutes until the sauce has thickened to a thick syrup consistency and can coat the back of a wooden spoon. You may need to reduce the heat.
  • Taste for salt and heat and adjust to your liking.

Notes

Pollo con Salsa de Tamarindo, Chabacano y Chipotle

Amarillito Mole with Chicken

Print Recipe
4.75 from 8 votes

Amarillito Mole with Chicken

Amarillito Mole with Chicken recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 1, Episode 10 “Cinnamon”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: ancho chiles, chicken, cinnamon, dumplings, garlic, guajillo chiles, hoja santa, masa, Mole, pati's mexican table, tomatillos, Tomatoes
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 2 ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 2 guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 lb, or about 8 to 10 tomatillos husked and rinsed
  • 1 Roma tomato
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 2 tsp kosher or sea salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper ground
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 8 chicken pieces with skin and bones
  • 1/4 cup white onion chopped
  • 5 cups chicken broth
  • 3 medium fresh hoja santa or 5 dried optional
  • Corn Masa Dumplings optional

Instructions

  • On an already hot comal or dry skillet set over medium heat, toast the chiles for about 10 to 15 seconds per side. They will become more pliable and release their aroma. Remove the chiles from the pan and place them in a cooking pot along with the tomatillos, tomato and garlic cloves. Cover with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and simmer for 10 minutes, until they are soft and cooked. Transfer to a blender along with 2 whole cloves, ground cinnamon, oregano, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth and set aside.
  • In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Gently add the chicken pieces skin side down first, and brown on each side for 3 to 4 minutes. Incorporate the onion and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until soft and translucent. Pour the reserved pureed sauce on top, add the hojas santas if using, and cook until it has seasoned and thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add the chicken stock, bring to a simmer and keep at a steady simmer on medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the masa dumplings one by one to the pan. Cook for another 12 to 15 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked and the mole thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.

Notes

Mole Amarillito con Pollo

Chicken in a Tomatillo, Chipotle and Brown Sugar Sauce

chicken in tomatillo salsa
Print Recipe
4.13 from 8 votes

Chicken in a Tomatillo, Chipotle and Brown Sugar Sauce

Chicken in a Tomatillo, Chipotle and Brown Sugar Sauce recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 1, Episode 4 “Tomatillos”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: brown sugar, chicken, chicken broth, chipotles in adobo, garlic, onion, pati's mexican table, piloncillo, tomatillos
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 3 chicken leg quarters or 3 drumsticks and 3 thighs, rinsed and patted dry
  • 1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt more or less to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 1/4 cup safflower or corn oil
  • 2 cups white onion sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves chopped
  • 2 lbs tomatillos husks removed and rinsed, quartered
  • 4 tbsp piloncillo shredded, or substitute for brown sugar
  • 1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce plus more sauce if desired
  • 2 cups chicken broth or water

Instructions

  • Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
  • In a thick and tall heavy skillet or casserole dish, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken pieces. Brown on one side, for about 4 to 5 minutes and then flip and brown on the other side, for another 3 to 4 minutes. Don’t try to flip too soon or the skin will stick to the skillet. Remove the chicken pieces and place in a bowl. You may remove the skin if you wish, I don’t.
  • Add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring for about 3 to 4 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, for about 20 seconds. Make room in the pan and add the tomatillos. Let it cook all together, for about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the piloncillo, the chipotles and their sauce and stir well. Once it comes to a simmer incorporate the chicken pieces along with the chicken broth and cook for about 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should be chunky and thick, and the chicken fully cooked.

Notes

Pollo con Tomate Verde, Chipotle y Piloncillo

Lime-Rubbed Chicken Tacos with Corn Guacamole

lime rubbed chicken tacos
Print Recipe
4.15 from 7 votes

Lime-Rubbed Chicken Tacos with Corn Guacamole

Lime-Rubbed Chicken Tacos with Corn Guacamole recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 12 “Tacos, Tacos, Tacos”
Prep Time40 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Avocado, chicken, Corn, corn tortillas, guacamole, jalapeno, lime, pati's mexican table, tacos, Tomatoes
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the chicken:

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, or 1/4 teaspoon dried

For the corn guacamole:

  • 2 large ripe Mexican avocados halved, pitted and diced
  • 1 jalapeno chile roasted, chopped, or to taste
  • 2 garlic cloves roasted with the skin on, peeled and minced
  • 3/4 cup corn kernels shaved from corn, or cooked from thawed
  • 3/4 cup cherry or grape tomatoes halved or chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste

To assemble tacos:

Instructions

To make the chicken:

  • Mix the lime juice with the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper and rosemary in a bowl. Pour on top of the chicken, in a container. Cover and refrigerate anywhere from 1/2 hour up to 12 hours.
  • Heat a medium-sized sauté or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add corn or safflower oil; once it is hot but not smoking, add the chicken. Sauté until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from the pan, place on chopping board to cool. When cool enough to handle, slice into diagonal strips about a 1/2-inch wide.

To make the guacamole:

  • Place the jalapeño and garlic cloves in a small baking dish under the broiler, for 6 to 9 minutes, until completely cooked through, soft and skin is charred. Once cool enough to handle, peel garlic and mince along with chiles.
  • Place diced avocado in a mixing bowl. Add the charred and minced garlic and jalapeños, gently tossing everything together well. Incorporate the corn and tomatoes. Squeeze the lime juice on top and sprinkle the salt. Mix it all together.

To assemble tacos:

  • In an already hot skillet or comal set over medium-low heat, heat the tortillas. It will take about 1 minute per side.
  • Place the tortillas in a tortilla warmer or wrap them in a clean kitchen towel or cloth napkin. Serve them together with the guacamole and the chicken at the table and assemble your tacos!

Notes

Tacos de Pollo con Guacamole y Elote

Chicken Tinga

Pati Jinich Chicken Tinga
Print Recipe
4.86 from 7 votes

Chicken Tinga

Chicken Tinga recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 11 "Puebla: Food From a Colonial Jewel"
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, chipotles in adobo, tomatillos, Tomatoes, tostadas
Servings: 5 cups
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

For the Chicken Tinga:

  • 3 tablespoons safflower or corn oil
  • 1/2 white onion slivered
  • 2 garlic cloves chopped
  • 8 roma tomatoes or 2 lbs, rinsed
  • 2 tomatillos or 1/4 lb, husked and rinsed
  • 1/2 teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon sea or kosher salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons sauce from chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
  • 1 whole chipotle chile in adobo sauce, optional
  • 5 cups cooked shredded chicken

To Serve: quantities as desired

Instructions

To make the Chicken Tinga:

  • Place tomatoes and tomatillos in a medium saucepan, cover with water. Bring it to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, or until tomatoes and tomatillos are soft, thoroughly cooked and mushy but not falling apart.
  • Remove tomatoes and tomatillos with a slotted spoon, and place them in the jar of a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
  • Heat the oil in a large and deep pan over medium heat; once it is hot but not smoking, stir in the onion and cook until soft and translucent, for about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until the onion and garlic mixture becomes fragrant and lightly browned, about 1 minute.
  • Pour the tomato/tomatillo sauce on top and add the oregano, marjoram, thyme, salt, black pepper and the chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (if you want more heat add an entire chipotle chile in adobo sauce). Let it simmer, stirring now and then, until it seasons and deepens to a deep red color, about 10 to 12 minutes. You may want to partially cover the pan as the sauce will want to jump out onto your burners.
  • Add the shredded chicken and combine it with the sauce. Let it cook, occasionally stirring, until the chicken has absorbed almost all of the juices and the mixture is moist but not juicy.

To assemble the Tostadas:

  • Spread refried beans on a tostada, add the chicken tinga mixture, top with shredded lettuce, avocado slices, crumbled cheese and, if you want some, cream too. You may also serve with salsa verde on the side.

Notes

Tinga de Pollo

Chicken À La Trash

chicken a la trash
Print Recipe
3.67 from 6 votes

Chicken À La Trash

Chicken À La Trash recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 10 “Lip-Smacking Mexican Meal”
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: chicken, onion, pepitas, poblanos, potatoes, prunes, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 6 skinless and boneless chicken breast halves
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups white onion roughly chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 pound poblano chiles charred, sweated, peeled, seeded, cut into strips, 3 to 4
  • 1 1/2 pounds red potatoes about 4 cups, peeled, cubed, and cooked in salted water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt divided, or to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2/3 cup prunes pitted and chopped
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/4 cup raw and hulled pumpkin seeds
  • 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds

Instructions

  • Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon of salt, or to taste, and black pepper.
  • Heat the oil in a large non-stick, 12-inch skillet or casserole over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, brown the chicken pieces for about 2 minutes on one side. Flip to the other side and stir in the onion; cook until the onions are completely softened and beginning to brown, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring the onions often. Add the garlic; and cook for another minute.
  • Add the poblano chiles and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the potatoes and give the entire mixture another good stir. Add the prunes. Pour in the water, add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt (or to taste) into the mixture, cover and cook for 12 to 15 minutes more, stirring once or twice in between.
  • Meanwhile, toast the seeds. Place a small, sauté pan over medium-low heat. When hot, add the pumpkin and sunflower seeds, stirring often and taking care not to burn them, until you hear popping sounds and they begin to brown lightly, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the seeds from the heat and place in a small bowl.
  • Once the chicken is ready, add the pumpkin and sunflower seeds, gently mix. Taste for seasoning and serve.

Notes

Pollo a la Basura

Hibiscus and Pecan Mole

hibiscus and pecan mole
Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Hibiscus and Pecan Mole

Hibiscus and Pecan Mole recipe from Pati's Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 9 “Xochimilco: Cooking with Flowers”
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: ancho chiles, chicken broth, cinnamon, corn tortillas, hibiscus, jamaica, Mole, pasilla, pati's mexican table, pecans, piloncillo, Plantains, prunes
Servings: 10 servings
Author: Pati Jinich

Ingredients

  • 9 oz ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 6 oz pasilla chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 6 cups boiling water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil or shortening
  • 1 cup white onion chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves chopped
  • 2 cups dried hibiscus flowers
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 1 cup pitted prunes
  • 1 1/4 cup ripe plantain peeled and sliced
  • 3 Corn tortillas cut into squares
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup grated or chopped piloncillo or brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 5 cloves whole
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste