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two chicken enchiladas in flour tortillas with green salsa on top on a metal oval late with a glass of beer on the side

Chicken Enchiladas

achiote chicken, tomatillo salsa, spanish quinoa

STARS

Season chicken thighs in an achiote marinade then grill and shred them. Mix the chicken with roasted poblanos, sliced onions, and a little cheese. Wrap the filling in flour tortillas and top with tomatillo salsa and creamy oaxaca cheese.
difficultyDifficulty Level
IntermediateIntermediateIntermediate
difficulty
Total Time:  4 hours
Active Time:  40 minutes
Ingredients

Chicken

  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon achiote spice paste
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 orange, juiced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Salsa

  • 3 cups tomatillos, husks removed
  • Canola oil
  • 2 poblano peppers
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup cilantro

Quinoa and Black Beans

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoon achiote paste
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

Serving

  • 1 cup Oaxacan cheese
  • 8 6-inch flour tortillas

Pickled Cabbage Slaw

  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups shredded red cabbage
  • 2 jalapeño peppers, sliced thinly
  • 1 red onion, sliced thinly
Directions
1
To make the marinade, blend the canola oil, achiote paste, garlic, rice vinegar, orange juice, cumin, oregano and salt in a blender. 
2
Cover the chicken in the marinade in a bowl or zip-top bag and marinate in the fridge for 4-12 hours. 
3
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
4
On one baking sheet, toss the tomatillos with 1 tablespoon canola oil, salt and pepper and roast for 12-15 minutes, until golden.
5
On a second baking sheet, rub the poblanos with 2 teaspoons canola oil and the oregano. On the other side of the baking sheet, toss the onion with 1 tablespoon canola oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast for 12-15 minutes, until soft. Slice the poblanos.
6
Reduce the oven to 350°F. Arrange the chicken on a baking sheet, discarding the marinade. Roast for 15 minutes, until cooked through. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before shredding. 
7
Meanwhile, make the quinoa by heating the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the tomato paste and achiote paste and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add the quinoa and toast, stirring, fro 3 minutes. Add 2 cups of water, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover and cook until the grains are tender, about 12 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork, then stir in the black beans. 
8
Place the roasted tomatillos in a blender, along with cilantro and purée until smooth. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
9
In a large bowl, toss the shredded chicken with the roasted poblanos and onions, half of the tomatillo salsa and half of the cheese.
10
Lay the tortillas on a work surface and divide the chicken filling between them. Roll to close and place the filled enchiladas seam side down in a large baking dish. Pour any remaining tomatillo salsa on top, sprinkle with the remaining cheese, and bake for 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
11
In a large bowl, whisk together the cumin, vinegar, salt and pepper. Fold in the cabbage, jalapeños, and red onion.
12
Serve the enchiladas hot, over a bed of quinoa and black beans. Top with pickled cabbage slaw.

Chicken Enchiladas

achiote chicken, tomatillo salsa, spanish quinoa

STARS

Season chicken thighs in an achiote marinade then grill and shred them. Mix the chicken with roasted poblanos, sliced onions, and a little cheese. Wrap the filling in flour tortillas and top with tomatillo salsa and creamy oaxaca cheese.
difficultyDifficulty Level
IntermediateIntermediateIntermediate
difficulty
Total Time:  4 hours
Active Time:  40 minutes
Servings:  4

Ingredients

Chicken

  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon achiote spice paste
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 orange, juiced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Salsa

  • 3 cups tomatillos, husks removed
  • Canola oil
  • 2 poblano peppers
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup cilantro

Quinoa and Black Beans

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoon achiote paste
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

Serving

  • 1 cup Oaxacan cheese
  • 8 6-inch flour tortillas

Pickled Cabbage Slaw

  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups shredded red cabbage
  • 2 jalapeño peppers, sliced thinly
  • 1 red onion, sliced thinly

Directions

1
To make the marinade, blend the canola oil, achiote paste, garlic, rice vinegar, orange juice, cumin, oregano and salt in a blender. 
2
Cover the chicken in the marinade in a bowl or zip-top bag and marinate in the fridge for 4-12 hours. 
3
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
4
On one baking sheet, toss the tomatillos with 1 tablespoon canola oil, salt and pepper and roast for 12-15 minutes, until golden.
5
On a second baking sheet, rub the poblanos with 2 teaspoons canola oil and the oregano. On the other side of the baking sheet, toss the onion with 1 tablespoon canola oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast for 12-15 minutes, until soft. Slice the poblanos.
6
Reduce the oven to 350°F. Arrange the chicken on a baking sheet, discarding the marinade. Roast for 15 minutes, until cooked through. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before shredding. 
7
Meanwhile, make the quinoa by heating the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the tomato paste and achiote paste and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add the quinoa and toast, stirring, fro 3 minutes. Add 2 cups of water, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover and cook until the grains are tender, about 12 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork, then stir in the black beans. 
8
Place the roasted tomatillos in a blender, along with cilantro and purée until smooth. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
9
In a large bowl, toss the shredded chicken with the roasted poblanos and onions, half of the tomatillo salsa and half of the cheese.
10
Lay the tortillas on a work surface and divide the chicken filling between them. Roll to close and place the filled enchiladas seam side down in a large baking dish. Pour any remaining tomatillo salsa on top, sprinkle with the remaining cheese, and bake for 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
11
In a large bowl, whisk together the cumin, vinegar, salt and pepper. Fold in the cabbage, jalapeños, and red onion.
12
Serve the enchiladas hot, over a bed of quinoa and black beans. Top with pickled cabbage slaw.