Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Lime-Marinated Chicken and Tomatillo-Corn Salsa

I came across this recipe and thought it would be a fun one to try. The salsa sounded really different and good. I didn't realize it would require so much TLC- a little too many steps for my typical cooking, but I thought it was delicious. The chicken marinade was simple and it gave the chicken such a fresh burst of flavor. I am also now a BIG FAN of grilled corn-- really like! This isn't your typical salsa either- had the spice, but a sweet taste in there too- kind of fun for a change! Over-all this one is a little too labor intensive for me to want to make very often, but so good if you have the time... or decide to make the time.

Lime-Marinated Chicken and Tomatillo-Corn Salsa (Better Homes and Gardens)
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup olive oil
Juice and zest of one lime
1 Tbsp. minced garlic (about 6 cloves)
1-1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
Tomatillo-Corn Salsa
2 1/2-inch-thick slices yellow onion
5 tomatillos, (about 1/2 lb.) papery skins removed, rinsed
1 ear fresh sweet corn, husked
1 medium poblano chile, 3 to 4 inches long
1/4 cup tightly packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 cup sour cream (I was low on sour cream so I used about half ranch and it was really good!)
Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Fresh lime wedges, sliced jalapeƱo peppers, and cilantro sprigs

1. Remove tenders from underside of each breast if present (save for another use). One at a time, place each breast, smooth side down, between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Pound to even 1/2-inch thickness (see "pounding chicken," below).
2. In large resealable bag combine the 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 Tbsp. of the lime juice, the garlic, salt and pepper. Add chicken, press air out of bag, and seal. Turn to coat evenly. Marinate, refrigerated, for 1 to 2 hours.
3. Prepare grill for direct cooking over medium heat (about 400 degrees F). Prepare Tomato-Corn Salsa: Brush onion, tomatillos, corn, and chile with olive oil. Grill vegetables over direct medium heat, with lid closed as much as possible, until onions are lightly charred, tomatillos soften and begin to collapse, corn is tender, and chile is softened and lightly charred, turning as needed. (About 10 minutes for onion, and 12 to 15 minutes for tomatillos and chiles.) Place chile in bowl. Cover with plastic; let steam 10 minutes.Peel off skin from chile; discard. Remove stem and seeds. Place vegetables (except corn), cilantro, brown sugar, and 1/4 tsp. salt in food processor or blender. Whirl until pureed; stir in corn. Add more brown sugar or salt to taste.
4. Increase grill temperature to high (about 500 degrees F) or add additional coals and heat until high heat is reached. Remove chicken from bag, letting excess liquid drip back into bag; discard liquid. Grill chicken, smooth side down, over direct high heat, with lid closed as much as possible, until well marked, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn; grill just until cooked all the way through, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a platter.
5. In bowl whisk together sour cream, the 1 Tbsp. olive oil, lime zest, remaining juice, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. To serve, spoon salsa over chicken. Pass lime sour cream, lime wedges, sliced jalapeƱos, and cilantro. Makes 6 servings.
Pounding Chicken:Jamie pounds his chicken, so that it cooks faster and more evenly. Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap. Using a flat meat mallet or rolling pin, gently pound meat, starting at the thicker end of the breast and pounding to an even 1/2-inch thickness.
Direct Grilling:For this method, the food is placed on the grill rack directly over the heat source. Direct grilling is best for searing and cooking small, tender cut that cook in 30 minutes or less, such as steaks, burgers, or boneless chicken.

Nutrition Facts
Calories 328,
Total Fat (g) 16,
Saturated Fat (g) 4,
Monounsaturated Fat (g) 9,
Polyunsaturated Fat (g) 2,
Cholesterol (mg) 96,
Sodium (mg) 579,
Carbohydrate (g) 10,
Total Sugar (g) 2,
Fiber (g) 1,
Protein (g) 37,
Vitamin C (DV%) 1.07,
Calcium (DV%) 5,
Iron (DV%) 10,
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

No comments: