Chicken And Cilantro Pesto Empanadas Recipes

CILANTRO AND CHICKEN EMPANADAS RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare Empanada Dough as directed; set aside. Process next 5 ingredients in food processor until mixture forms thick paste. Stir in chicken.
• Heat oven to 400°F. Shape dough into 24 balls, using about 1 Tbsp. for each. Flatten each to 4-inch round. Spoon about 1 heaping Tbsp. chicken mixture onto center of each round. Brush edges evenly with half the egg; fold in half. Seal edges with fork; place on parchment-covered baking sheet. Brush with remaining egg.
• Bake 15 min. or until golden brown.

PAN-SEARED CHICKEN WITH CILANTRO PESTO

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the hot pan and cook until golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, place the pine nuts in a small dry skillet and set over medium heat. Toast the nuts until golden brown, about 3 minutes, shaking the pan frequently to prevent burning. Transfer the pine nuts to a blender or food processor and add cilantro, sour cream, the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Process until smooth, adding water, as necessary, to create a thick paste. Serve the chicken with the pesto spooned over the top.

AUTHENTIC CHICKEN EMPANADAS (EMPANADAS DE POLLO)

Steps:

• Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add water and 1/4 cup vegetable oil; mix with an electric mixer until well combined and a dough begins to form, about 3 minutes. Remove dough and knead on a lightly floured surface for about 3 minutes. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shredded chicken and saute until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add onion, bell pepper, cilantro, olives, garlic, sazon seasoning, tomato paste, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Divide empanada dough into 12 pieces and form each one into a 4-inch circle. Place about 2 tablespoons filling in the center of each circle, fold in half, and press down on the edges with a fork to seal.
• Heat 1 cup oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add empanadas, working in batches, and fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

CILANTRO PESTO CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Put it all filling ingredients in a skillet
• heat it till the cream cheese melts,
• fill the corn tortillas (you can use flour shells, but they tend to get a bit mushy.)
• If you want to stretch the recipe, add cooked rice to the chicken, and if you do, then use 2 pkg of cream cheese and 2 cans of chilies.
• Cilantro Pesto sauce.
• Puree the first three ingredients (it easiest in the food processor)
• slowly drizzle in oil with (if u pour it all in, it separates).
• In a bowl, mix cilantro pesto with broth and cream.
• pour sauce over enchiladas, I usually just pour it down the center of each row of shells -- if you put too much on, it becomes a bit soggy --
• add more when serving.
• Recipe makes more pesto sauce than what you will need so you can either use it for dressing or something else or freeze the extra.
• Top with grated parm cheese and bake for 30 minute at 350.

PESTO CHICKEN TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Unroll both tubes of crescent dough and cut each into 4 rectangles., In a large bowl, combine spinach, chicken, cheese and pesto; spoon 3/4 cup in the center of 4 of the rectangles. Top with remaining rectangles; pinch seams to seal. Place on greased baking sheets; cut 3 slits in top of each turnover. Bake 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Freeze option: Freeze cooled turnovers in an airtight freezer container. To use, reheat turnovers on a greased baking sheet in a preheated 375° oven until heated through.

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH PISTACHIO-CILANTRO PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Toast pistachios on baking sheet until golden, about 7 minutes. Transfer to processor. Maintain oven temperature. Add cilantro leaves, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and next 3 ingredients to processor. Using on/off turns, process until coarse paste forms. With machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup olive oil. Season pesto with pepper.
• Using fingers, gently loosen skin from 1 side of each chicken breast, forming pocket. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto evenly under skin of each. Sprinkle chicken generously with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, skin side down. Cook until skin is dark golden, about 5 minutes. Turn chicken over and transfer skillet to oven. Roast chicken until cooked through, about 25 minutes.
• Place 1/2 cup remaining pesto into small bowl. Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Drizzle pesto sauce over chicken breasts and serve.

SPICY CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Make filling: Place chicken breast, half the onion, and the bay leaf in a medium saucepan. Cover with cold water, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and poach until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate; reserve 1 cup cooking liquid, and discard onion and bay leaf. When chicken is cool enough to handle, shred meat from the bone with a fork; set aside.
• Roast poblano chile directly over a gas flame, turning as each side blackens and blisters. (Alternatively, roast chile under the broiler.) Transfer to a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap; let steam 10 minutes. Remove plastic wrap; peel off and discard blackened chile skin. Remove stem, seeds, and ribs; discard. Slice chile into 1/4-inch strips; set aside.
• Finely chop remaining onion. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic; saute until soft and translucent. Stir in cumin and canela; cook 1 minute. Add shredded chicken, tomatoes, chipotle, poblano, and reserved cooking liquid. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until liquid has thickened, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper; stir in cilantro and pepitas. Set aside to cool.
• Make empanadas: Break off a 1 1/2-inch ball of empanada dough. On a clean work surface, roll dough into a circle about 1/8 inch thick. Using a 3 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out a round of dough. (Or use an inverted glass as a guide, cutting around it with a sharp paring knife.)
• Place 1 teaspoon filling in center of each round; sprinkle with cheese. Using a pastry brush, moisten edges of dough with water; fold dough over to seal, pressing gently. Crimp edges with a fork; set aside. Repeat with remaining dough. Gather scraps and reroll. (Only do this once, to avoid toughening the dough.)
• Pour remaining oil into a medium saucepan; oil should be 2 inches deep. Place over medium heat until oil reaches 375 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working with a few empanadas at a time to avoid overcrowding, fry until golden, turning once, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to drain on a paper-towel lined baking sheet. While still hot, sprinkle tops with sugar. Serve immediately with crema pura or cream on the side, if desired.

CILANTRO PESTO CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• In a food processor, finely chop the walnuts and garlic.
• Add cilantro, parsley, salt and pepper and process until finely chopped.
• With processor running, slowly add the oil to create a smoothe puree.
• Place chicken in large, resealable bag plastic bag, add the marinade and seal tightly.
• Make sure marinade is evenly distributed on all the chicken tenders.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Remove chicken from bag and thread on skewers.
• Grill over direct high heat for about 6 to 8 mins, turning over once.
• Serve warm with lime wedges.

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH PISTACHIO-CILANTRO PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Toast pistachios on baking sheet until golden, about 7 minutes. Transfer to processor. Maintain oven temperature. Add cilantro leaves, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, garlic, cardamom, and 3/4 teaspoon salt to processor. Using on/off turns, process until coarse paste forms. With machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup olive oil. Season with pepper.
• Using fingers, gently loosen skin from 1 side of each chicken breast, forming pocket. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto evenly under skin of each. Sprinkle chicken generously with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, skin side down. Cook until skin is dark golden, about 5 minutes. Turn chicken over and transfer skillet to oven. Roast chicken until cooked through, about 25 minutes.
• Place 1/2 cup remaining pesto into small bowl. Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Drizzle pesto sauce over chicken breasts and serve.