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Category Archives: Mexican Inspired

Bean Avocado and Shishito Pepper Salad

Shishito peppers are everywhere now.. they are these small Japanese peppers that can be quite mild or every once in a while, they can be a bit spicy.. this salad is delicious with black beans and avocados…

  • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 avocado, chopped
  • 3 to 4 shishito peppers
  • 1 medium pepper, yellow or red, chopped
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • ½ cup cilantro
  • Juice of a large lemon juice
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Transfer the shishito peppers to a heated cast iron pan. On medium high heat, char the peppers on all sides- about 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer the peppers to a chopping board and let cool and then chop. Transfer the beans, avocado, charred peppers, sweet peppers, green onions and cilantro to a serving bowl. Add the lemon juice, salt, honey and oil. Mix well and taste for seasonings and adjust. Let it sit for at least half an hour before serving.

Chicken Fajitas with Cilantro Avocado Sauce

I love, love, Mexican flavors and this recipe is a great example of the food I love to cook and eat. I made this dish this past summer and served it with a nectarine salsa- you can substitute apples or some pineapple for the summer fruit…

  • 2 cups cilantro
  • 3 green onions
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • Juice of 2 large limes
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Transfer all the ingredients into a blender. Blend well until a smooth sauce is formed. Taste for seasonings and keep aside. Take out 3 tablespoons of the sauce and keep aside.

  • 1 pound chicken breast, sliced into strips
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced
  • 1 green pepper, sliced
  • 1 orange pepper, sliced

Marinate the chicken in a bowl with half of the cilantro sauce. Marinate the onion and peppers in the other half of the cilantro sauce. Transfer them to a fridge and marinate for 2 to 3 hours. Take out an hour before cooking.

  • 1 medium avocado
  • ¼ cup full fat yogurt
  • Salt

Add the avocado and yogurt to the blender with the remaining cilantro sauce. Add a bit of water if needed and blend till smooth. Keep aside as a sauce for the fajitas.

  • 3 to 6 tablespoons oil
  • 4 to 6 corn tortillas

Heat a grill pan or regular pan with 2 tablespoons oil. Cook the chicken strips in 2 to 3 batches till golden brown and cooked through. Add more oil and cook the onion and peppers and add them to the cooked chicken.

Heat the corn tortillas and add some of the chicken and pepper mixture. Top with some avocado sauce and serve.

Mushroom and Scallion Enchiladas

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 cups Cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 bunch scallions, cut into 1 inch diagonal pieces
  • Salt

Heat a large skillet with the oil and the butter. Add the cumin and sauté on medium heat for 15 seconds. Add the mushrooms and sauté on high heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, scallions and salt. Continue to sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add salt, check for seasonings, turn off the heat and set aside.

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 medium onion, chopped fine
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 cups tomato sauce/passata, homemade or store bought
  • 1 cup water
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a saucepan with the olive oil. Add the ground cumin and paprika. Saute on medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes on medium heat till the veggies are soft and translucent. Add the tomato sauce/passata and water and bring to a boil. Add some salt and sugar to taste in case the tomatoes are too tart. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes with lid on. Take the lid off and check for seasonings. Add cilantro and turn the heat off and let the sauce cool.

  • 6 to 8 small corn tortillas
  • Grated cheese, Monterey Jack, cheddar or a mixture, about 2 cups

1 8X8 oven ready pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Divide the mushroom mixture into 6 to 8 parts (depending on how many tortillas you are using)

Put a dollop of tomato sauce in the bottom of the pan and spread it around evenly.

Dip each tortilla in the tomato sauce, place the mushroom filling in the middle and top with a tablespoon of grated cheese. Roll the tortilla and place it seam side down. Repeat with the rest and top the dish with the rest of the grated cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Take the foil off and broil for a few minutes to brown the top. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

 

Pork and Kale Chili

In spite of this dish having kale, this was a big, big hit. A great dish to make in this chilly weather.

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound good quality ground pork
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ancho chili
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 14 ounces can chopped fire roasted tomatoes with chili
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 2 14 ounces can of any kind of beans (I used black and pinto), washed and drained
  • Salt
  • 10 ounces baby kale, chopped

Heat a heavy large pan with olive oil. Add the ground pork and cook on medium heat, separating the meat with the back of a wooden spoon. Add the ground cumin, ancho chili and oregano and continue cooking and browning for 5 to 6 minutes on medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and a teaspoon of salt. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and beans and bring to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer and cover with lid and cook for 30 minutes, checking every 10 minutes to stir. Take lid off and add the kale and bring to a boil. Simmer for another 10 minutes until the kale is wilted and cooked through. Check for seasonings and garnish with cheese and serve.

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

  • 1 dried ancho chili pepper
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 14 ounces fire roasted tomatoes with chili
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 cup hominy, rinsed and drained
  • 1 14 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 3 medium zucchinis, washed, the seeds taken out and diced into ½ inch pieces
  • Salt

For Garnish

  • Tortilla chips
  • 1 avocado, chopped drizzled with lemon juice and sprinkled with salt
  • Crumbled queso fresco
  • Cilantro

Heat a small cast iron pan and break the chili into pieces and roast in the pan including the seeds on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Keep aside.

Heat a medium heavy pan with olive oil. Add the onion, garlic and ancho chili. Saute on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the cumin, tomatoes and stock. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the homini and simmer for 10 minutes. Take off heat and transfer to a blender and in batches, blend the soup until smooth with some chunks. Return to the pan and add the beans. Bring to a boil and add salt to taste.

Serve soup topped with avocado, tortillas chips, queso and cilantro.

 

Ground Turkey White Chili

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 1 pound dark meat ground turkey
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, ground
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 4 to 5 small tomatillos, husks removed and chopped
  • 1 4 ounces can of diced chilies
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 14 ounces can cannellini beans
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a heavy saucepan with the olive oil. Add the ground turkey and brown the meat on high heat while stirring constantly- for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the cumin, oregano and chili powder. Saute for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the onion, garlic and tomatillos. Saute for another 5 to 7 minutes. Add the diced green chilies, salt and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and add the beans. Simmer on a medium heat with the lid partially on for 20 minutes, checking every 5 minutes to ensure enough stock is remaining. Take the lid off and check for seasonings. Garnish with cilantro and serve with corn bread.

Mango Tomato Salsa

I made this with yesterdays fajitas and since it was made in the summer- I used mangos and nectarines. Mangos are still available although they are not as yummy as they are in the summer. You can substitute pineapple for mango and apple for the nectarine… so good!

  • 1 large mango, chopped
  • 1 large nectarine, chopped
  • 1 large tomato, chopped or 1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
  • 3 scallions, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, deseeded and chopped
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • Juice of one lime
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons salt

Mix all the ingredients and let the salsa sit for an hour before serving.