Grilled Chicken With Cactus Recipes

POLLO CON NOPALES (CHICKEN AND CACTUS)

Steps:

• Fill a pot with water and bring to a boil. Cook the chicken breasts in the boiling water until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Drain and set aside to cool. Once cool, shred the chicken into small strands.
• Fill the pot again with water and bring to a boil. Cook the tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, and nopales in the boiling water until the vegetables are all tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
• Blend the tomatillos and jalapeno peppers in a blender until smooth; pour into the pot with the shredded chicken and place over medium heat. Cut the nopales into small dice and add to the mixture. Allow the mixture to simmer until completely reheated, about 5 minutes.

GRILLED LEMON-GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine oil, lemon juice, garlic, onion powder, pepper, and salt in a large, gallon-sized, zip-top bag. Seal and shake well. Add chicken and shake again. Place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Place the chicken on the grill over indirect heat, baste with marinade, and cover. Grill for 10 minutes. Baste again, then turn over and baste the other side. Cover and continue to grill until no longer pink in the centers and juices run clear, about 10 minutes more.

GRILLED CHICKEN PICCATA

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Whisk together the olive oil, capers, parsley and lemon juice in a bowl. Put the chicken in a resealable bag, pour the marinade into the bag and let marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• Prepare a grill for two-level heat. If using a gas grill, set to medium-high heat on one side and low on the other side. If using a charcoal grill, bank hot coals on one side of the grill.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade; reserve the marinade. Place the chicken skin-side up on the hot side of the grill, close the lid and grill for 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and grill for 1 minute, then move to the cooler side of the grill skin-side up.
• Pour the marinade and stock into a small saucepan and place on the hot side of the grill. Cover the grill and cook until the chicken measures 160 degrees F, about 10 minutes; make sure the marinade is simmering. During the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking, add the lemon halves cut-side down and cook until charred in spots. Remove the chicken and lemon to a plate.
• Whisk the butter into the marinade until combined, then pour over the chicken. Serve with the grilled lemon.

TAJíN GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high, direct heat; clean the grates well, then brush them with vegetable oil. Alternatively, heat a grill pan on medium-high and brush the pan with oil.
• Arrange the chicken on a sheet tray and generously season both sides with salt. Whisk together the agave syrup, orange juice, orange zest, chipotles, adobo, garlic, olive oil and Tajín in a medium bowl.
• Brush both sides of the chicken with the Tajín sauce. Grill the chicken, turning and basting often with the Tajín sauce, until cooked through, charred but brick red and glazed, 7 to 9 minutes. Grill the scallions, turning occasionally, until lightly charred on all sides, about 5 minutes.
• Serve the chicken with the grilled scallions, topped with cilantro.

EASY GRILLED CHICKEN WITH CITRUS MARINADE

Steps:

• Whisk 2 large shallots, finely chopped, 4 garlic cloves, finely grated, ⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oil, ¼ cup sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar, 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, 1 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, 1 tsp. sugar, and ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper in a medium bowl to combine. Set ⅓ cup marinade aside.
• Arrange 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1½ lb.) in a single layer in a baking dish. Pour remaining marinade over chicken and turn to coat. Cover dish and chill, turning chicken halfway through, at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; oil grate. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip back into dish; discard marinade in dish. Grill chicken, turning halfway through, until cooked through and blackened grill marks appear, 10-14 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5-10 minutes before slicing.
• Serve chicken with reserved marinade spooned over.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH CHARRED-SCALLION CHIMICHURRI

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium-high and lightly grease grates with vegetable oil.
• Meanwhile, toss romaine and scallions with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange in an even layer and grill, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and softened all over, about 5 minutes for the romaine and scallion greens, and about 10 minutes for the scallion bulbs. Transfer romaine to a large serving platter. Transfer scallions to a cutting board and let cool, then coarsely chop.
• Rub chicken with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden underneath, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until chicken is golden and cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a platter.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, prepare the chimichurri: Combine parsley, vinegar, garlic, oregano, red-pepper flakes, chopped grilled scallions and the remaining 3/4 cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide chicken and romaine among plates and drizzle with some of the chimichurri. Serve with lemon wedges and extra chimichurri on the side.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH CACTUS

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the tomato sauce. Reserve in the pan off heat. Cut the cactus strips into 1/2-inch pieces. Rinse well. 2. In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and cook the onion, stirring, until it starts to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, reserved cactus and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Reserve off heat. 3. Brush the chicken with the remaining olive oil and season with the remaining salt and pepper. Heat a stove top grill pan over medium-high heat and cook the chicken about 4 to 5 minutes per side or until well marked from the grill, firm to the touch, and no longer pink inside at the thickest part. 4. To serve, reheat the tomato sauce and cactus. Divide the cactus evenly among 4 serving plates and place 1 chicken breast on top of each serving. Spoon some of the heated tomato sauce over each chicken breast. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve hot. Pass remaining sauce at the table.From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH CACTUS

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the tomato sauce. Reserve in the pan off heat. Cut the cactus strips into 1/2-inch pieces. Rinse well. 2. In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and cook the onion, stirring, until it starts to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, reserved cactus and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Reserve off heat. 3. Brush the chicken with the remaining olive oil and season with the remaining salt and pepper. Heat a stove top grill pan over medium-high heat and cook the chicken about 4 to 5 minutes per side or until well marked from the grill, firm to the touch, and no longer pink inside at the thickest part. 4. To serve, reheat the tomato sauce and cactus. Divide the cactus evenly among 4 serving plates and place 1 chicken breast on top of each serving. Spoon some of the heated tomato sauce over each chicken breast. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve hot. Pass remaining sauce at the table.From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.