Best Cumin Crusted Chicken Thighs With Grilled Tomatillo Salsa Recipes

GRILLED TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Prepare a grill over medium heat.
• Put the tomatillos, onion and garlic on the grill (put the garlic on a metal skewer or small piece of aluminum foil to keep it from slipping through the grates.) Grill the vegetables, removing them as they are ready, until the tomatillos, turning as needed, are soft but not bursting, the onion is tender and the garlic skin is charred, 5 to 15 minutes. Cool slightly.
• Peel the garlic and put in a blender with the tomatillos, onion, cilantro, chipotle chile and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Blend until well incorporated but slightly chunky.

BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH TOMATILLOS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add to pot, skin side down and cook, without disturbing, until skin has rendered most of the fat and is a nice golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. (You want it to be very deeply golden brown so that it stays nice and brown as it braises.)
• Using tongs, flip the chicken and continue to cook until nicely browned on the other side, another 5 or so minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a plate or cutting board, leaving all the fat and golden bits behind. Add smashed garlic and half of the sliced onion. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomatillos and half of the jalapeño and season with salt and pepper. Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and add chicken back in, skin side up (they will not submerge all the way; that's fine). Simmer, uncovered, until tomatillos have completely broken down and the sauce has thickened, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Add hominy and continue to cook until flavors have melded and the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon (it should be looser than tomato sauce, thicker than soup), another 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine radish, remaining onion, remaining jalapeño and 2 tablespoons lime juice. Season with salt and pepper and toss to combine.
• Serve each piece of chicken with sauce spooned around. Top with radish mixture, some cilantro and tortillas alongside for sopping up all the goods.

GRILLED-CHICKEN TOSTADAS WITH TOMATILLO-CILANTRO SALSA

Steps:

• Smashed Kidney Beans: Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high. Add onion; cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add coriander, chipotle in adobo, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook 30 seconds more. Add cinnamon, beans with liquid, and broth; bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened slightly, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat.
• Smash beans with a fork or potato masher until creamy and spreadable, leaving some intact. Let cool until warm but no longer hot before serving (if beans are too hot, tostada shells will become soft), or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days (return to room temperature before serving). (Makes 2 1/4 cups.)
• Tostadas: Heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over high. Add tomatillos, onion, garlic, and jalapenos in a single layer and cook, turning a few times, until blistered in places, about 5 minutes. Let cool slightly, then transfer to a blender with 1 cup packed cilantro leaves and stems, broth, lime juice, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Puree until smooth.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Return skillet to medium-high heat; swirl in oil. Add chicken in a single layer and cook, flipping once, until golden brown in places but not cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add 2 cups salsa (reserve the rest); reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, turning chicken a few times, until just cooked through and salsa has thickened and darkened slightly, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool 10 minutes. Using 2 forks, shred chicken in skillet into bite-size pieces, tossing to evenly coat.
• Spread 2 tablespoons smashed beans onto each tostada shell. Top with shredded-chicken mixture, avocado, crema, cabbage, remaining salsa, and more cilantro; serve with lime wedges.

CUMIN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix 1 teaspoon cumin, oregano and garlic salt; sprinkle over both sides of chicken. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Brown chicken on both sides. , In a small bowl, mix picante sauce, water, bouillon and remaining cumin; pour over chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165°, 8-12 minutes., Remove chicken from pan; keep warm. Bring sauce to a boil; cook, uncovered, until thickened, stirring occasionally, 3-4 minutes. Serve with chicken.