Cumin Crusted Chicken With Cotija And Mango Garlic Sauce With Green Onion Pesto Mashed Potatoes Recipes

CHICKEN COTIJA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a glass baking dish with vegetable cooking spray.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat; brown chicken on both sides. Place chicken in prepared baking dish. Mix together the tomato sauce and taco seasoning in a small bowl. Pour over chicken breasts. Sprinkle cheeses evenly over top.
• Bake in preheated oven until chicken has fully cooked and cheese has browned, 20 to 30 minutes.

CUMIN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Whisk together the whole cumin, lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, honey, and pepper in a medium baking dish. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Cover, and marinate for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat a large ovenproof saute pan over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and wipe off any excess. Combine the ground cumin, cotija, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Dust the chicken on the skin side with the mixture.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. Place the chicken, skin side down, in the pan and cook until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Turn over and place in the oven. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until just cooked through.

CUMIN-CRUSTED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH GRILLED TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs and oil. Toss to coat the thighs evenly. Transfer the thighs to a platter and sprinkle evenly on all sides with the cumin rub. Set aside at room temperature.
• 2. Prepare a charcoal or gas grill for indirect grilling over medium heat; the temperature inside the grill should be 350°-375°F (180°-190°C). If using charcoal, bank the lit coals on either side of the grill bed, leaving a strip in the center without heat, and place a drip pan in the center. If using gas, preheat the burners, then turn off 1 or more of the burners to create a cooler zone. Brush and oil the grill grate.
• 3. To make the salsa, place the tomatillos and chile over the direct-heat area of the grill. (You'll probably need a grill screen for the chile or you'll lose it through the grate.) Cook, turning as needed, until well charred on all sides, about 3 minutes. Transfer the tomatillos and chile to a blender, add the lime juice and oil, and pulse until combined but still chunky. Transfer to a bowl, fold in the cilantro, and season with salt. You should have about 2 cups (16 fl oz/500 ml). (The salsa can be made up to 1 week in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
• 4. Place the thighs, meaty side down, over the indirect-heat area of the grill. Cook, turning once, until the thighs are nicely grill-marked on both sides and firm to the touch and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh away from bone registers 170°F (77°C), 10-15 minutes on each side.
• 5. Transfer the thighs to a platter and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve at once with the tomatillo salsa.

ONION-CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH CARAMEL CITRUS GLAZE

Steps:

• Make the fried onions: Heat up to 1 quart of vegetable oil (2 to 3 inches deep) in a deep saute pan or skillet until it reaches about 350 degrees F.
• Put the flour in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the julienne onions and toss to coat. In batches, being careful not to crowd, add the onions to the hot oil to fry, making sure to lightly shake off excess flour prior to putting them in. When they are golden brown but not dark brown, 3 to 4 minutes per batch, use a slotted spoon to carefully remove the onions to paper towels. When the onions are done, give them a rough chop and set aside.
• Add the bacon and minced red onion to a nonstick saute pan and cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the sugar, 2 cups water and the tomato puree and reduce the mixture until it thickens, another 5 to 8 minutes. Add all the citrus juices and stir well to combine. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Heat the remaining 1/4 cup oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper. Fill one shallow bowl with the beaten egg and milk, and fill a second with the fried onions. Individually, dip the chicken breasts into the egg, then press into the fried onion. Place the chicken breasts in the heated skillet and cook until golden, about 10 minutes per side, carefully turning once.
• Pour the glaze over the breasts to serve. It goes great with rice or mashed potatoes.

PEPITA CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH MEXICAN CORN CAKES

Steps:

• For chicken:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Pound chicken breasts into 1/4-inch thickness. Place the eggs into a dish. The next dish mix flour, salt and pepper. In a third dish place pepitas and panko. Dip chicken into the eggs and then the flour mixture, back to the eggs and then into the pepita/panko mix to coat. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray and place chicken on top. Bake for about 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
• For corn cakes:
• In food processor mix 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons half-and-half, 3 tablespoons melted butter, egg yolk and half the corn until smooth. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Add remaining corn, onion, cilantro and jalapeno and set aside. In a separate bowl mix flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and gently mix. In a small bowl whisk egg white until slightly stiff peaks form. Fold whisked egg into other ingredients. In a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, place 2 tablespoons oil. Drop batter by tablespoons into hot skillet making 8 cakes. Cook approximately 1 minute on each side or until browned.
• For mango sauce:
• In a food processor place the mango, white onion, cilantro, sugar, jalapeno and salt and process until smooth. Add chicken broth and place in small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until bubbles form. Reduce heat to low and stir in half-and-half.
• To Serve:
• Place 1 chicken breast and 2 corn cakes on each plate. Drizzle with mango sauce and garnish with crumbled queso fresco.