Cumin Crusted Chicken Breasts With Chipotle Peach Salsa Recipes

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.

CUMIN-CRUSTED MONSTER PORK CHOP WITH PEACH CHIPOTLE SALSA

Steps:

• Make salsa
• In medium bowl, toss together all ingredients. Transfer to serving dish and set aside.
• Prepare grill
• If using charcoal grill, open bottom vents. Light charcoal. Leaving about 1/4 of grill free of charcoal, bank lit charcoal across rest of grill so coals are about 3 times higher on opposite side.
• If using gas grill, open hood, light all burners, and set on high. Close hood and preheat 10 minutes.
• While grill is heating, coat chops
• Using electric spice grinder, pulse cumin seeds 2 to 3 times to crack. (Alternatively, place seeds on cutting board and crush lightly with small sauté pan, using gentle rocking motion.) Rub chops with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and coat with cumin seeds, pressing firmly to adhere.
• To cook chops using charcoal grill
• Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack over area where coals are piled highest for 3 to 4 seconds. Sear chops on lightly oiled grill rack directly over hottest part of coals, turning over once, until well browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Move chops to coolest part of grill, then cover with inverted roasting pan and grill, turning over once, until thermometer inserted diagonally into center of each chop (avoid bone) registers 145°F, about 12 minutes total. Transfer chops to platter and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 5 minutes (temperature will rise to 150°F). Serve, passing salsa on side.
• To cook chops using gas grill
• When grill is preheated, sear chops on lightly oiled grill rack, turning over once, until well browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Turn off 1 burner (middle burner if there are 3) and put chops above shut-off burner. Reduce heat on remaining burner(s) to moderate and grill pork, covered with lid, until thermometer inserted diagonally into center of each chop (avoid bone) registers 145°F, about 12 minutes total. Transfer chops to platter and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 5 minutes (temperature will rise to 150°F). Serve, passing salsa on side.

CORNMEAL CHICKEN WITH PEACH SALSA

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix all salsa ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until serving time.
• In shallow dish, mix cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the pepper. Coat chicken with cornmeal mixture.
• In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until juice is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F). Serve with salsa.

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.

PECAN CRUSTED CHICKEN BREAST WITH CHILI CUMIN BUTTER

Steps:

• For the breading process: Three separate containers (preferably flat and wide baking dishes or gratin dishes) will be needed; one for the flour, one for wet ingredients and one for the breading ingredients.
• Place the flour into its chosen dish. Whisk the eggs together with the milk and 2 tablespoons oil. Combine the bread crumbs, pecans, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese until uniformly mixed.
• Using a meat tenderizer or other flat object to pound the chicken breasts to a flat and uniformly 1/4-inch thick cutlet. Dip the cutlets, one at a time into the flour first, next the egg mixture and finally the dry breading mix. Try to keep one hand dry and work one hand wet or use tongs to transfer the chicken from one dish to another. When all of the chicken has been coated, place on a dish and refrigerate until ready to cook. This may be done in advance.
• Make the flavored butter by placing the butter, chili paste, cumin seed, parsley, cilantro, lime juice and ground black pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to combine well and remove. Lay a piece of waxed paper 12 by 16 inches out flat and scrape the flavored butter onto the waxed paper, at about 1/3 the length up, into a sausage shape. Roll the edge of the paper over the butter and enclose the butter to form a tube-shape. Roll the remaining paper up as you would a cigar and place this log of butter into the freezer for at least 3 hours until it is brick hard. This butter may be made well in advance and keeps, frozen, for up to 1 month.
• To cook the chicken, heat a large saute pan over medium heat, with the 1/4 cup of oil until hot. Add the chicken to the oil, cooking in batches to avoid over crowding the pan, and cook until golden brown about 6 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook the second side for an additional 6 minutes until the center is cooked and the juices run clear. Transfer to a platter and keep warm.
• Remove the butter from the freezer, unwrap, and cut into 1/4-inch thick round slices. After all the chicken has cooked, place 1 or 2 slices of butter on each piece of chicken, allowing the heat from the chicken to melt the butter into the chicken coating. Serve with lemon-steamed asparagus and herb scented rice.

ROASTED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH CHIPOTLE, CUMIN, AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Line bottom of broiler pan with foil, place broiler pan rack on top; set aside.
• In small bowl, mix minced chipotle chiles in adobo, ground cumin, chopped fresh cilantro leaves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and butter until combined.
• Sprinkle underside of chicken breasts liberally with salt and pepper.
• Gently loosen bottom portion of skin covering each breast. Using small spoon, place a quarter of softened butter under skin, directly on meat in center of each breast half. Using spoon, spread butter evenly over breast meat.
• Rub skin of each whole breast with 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and sprinkle liberally with pepper.
• Set chicken breasts on broiler pan rack, propping up breasts on rib bones.
• Roast until thickest part of breast registers 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Carve.
• Serve immediately.

PEACH SALSA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix first six ingredients. In a small saucepan, bring broth and 1/4 cup peach mixture to a boil. Stir in rice; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 15-18 minutes., Meanwhile, sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat; brown chicken on both sides. Add remaining peach mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165°, 7-9 minutes. Serve with rice.

CHICKEN WITH PEACH-CUCUMBER SALSA

Steps:

• For salsa, in a small bowl, combine peaches, cucumber, 2 tablespoons preserves, onion, mint and 1/4 teaspoon salt., Sprinkle chicken with pepper and remaining salt. On a lightly oiled grill rack, grill chicken, covered, over medium heat 5 minutes. Turn; grill 7-9 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 165°, brushing tops occasionally with remaining preserves. Serve with salsa.