in the kitchen

in the kitchen

Friday, July 16, 2010

Viva Fajitas!

Chicken Fajitas
1 cup lime fresh lime juice
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon lime zest
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced sweet onion
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced bell pepper
10 to 12 flour tortillas, wrapped tightly in 2 foil packets
Salsa, shredded lettuce, sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, avocado, black beans
 Mix lime juice, oil, cilantro, salt, garlic, zest and pepper together in a glass dish. Place chicken into mixture and submerge each piece. Add vegetables and toss everything together. Cover and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Heat outdoor grill to a high temperature. Place sealed foil packets of tortillas in a cooler area of grill (ie: top shelf or corner). Grill chicken for about 4 minutes on each side or until the middle is no longer pink but the chicken is still juicy. Remove chicken from grill, cover with foil and allow to sit for 5 minutes so juices will set. Remove packets of tortillas and keep warm as well. Meanwhile, indoors, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. When pan is hot, put in onions and peppers along with all the marinade. Cook, stirring frequently for about 8 minutes or until marinade has cooked off and veggies are tender.  To serve, slice chicken crosswise into thin strips, serve with warm tortillas, veggies and listed condiments.

Hints: Fresh lime juice is the only way to go here. If you don't have peppers, just increase the onions. Good tortillas make a big difference; homemade ones are fabulous if you have the time. You can use beef steak to marinate instead of chicken--I like flank steaks or skirt steaks. Cut these very thin on the cross grain after grilling. Salmon is also a real treat prepared this way. I have never tried pork (or buffalo or elk) but I bet that would be good, too!

I like these fajitas better than any I've had; they are more tender and terrifically limey. I made them up to suit my tastes exactly--you should adjust the recipe to suit your tastes exactly!

1 comment:

  1. These are my absolute favorite! A must each time I visit!!!

    ReplyDelete