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Category Archives: Mexican Inspired

Quick Pork Tacos with Poblano and Pineapple Salsa and Avocado Crema

OMG, I am so excited about this recipe- this screams summer to me!! I love using Latin/Mexican ingredients in the summer… so good and delicious… this is perfect for through the week or to entertain with…

  • 1 to 2 pounds pork tenderloin, cleaned and excess fat cut off and cut into 1 inch squares
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo and some sauce
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • Juice of one lemon
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Blend the peppers, honey, lemon juice, oil and salt together and marinate the pork pieces in the mixture for at least 2 to 3 hours.

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Heat a grill pan with the oil and cook the pork pieces on a high heat till they are golden brown and just cooked through- about 3 to 4 minutes. Keep warm.

Salsa

  • 1 cup pineapple, sliced
  • 1 poblano pepper, cut in half
  • 1 onion, cut in half with skin on
  • Drizzle of olive oil
  • Salt
  • Juice of a lime

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Transfer the vegetables to a lined cookie sheet and drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt. Mix well and roast in oven for about 20 minutes till the vegetables are soft. Take out and let cool. Take the skin off the poblano pepper and chop all the vegetables. Place in a bowl and add lime juice and more salt if needed. Set aside.

Avocado Crema

  • 1 avocado, cut in half
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, deseeded, chopped
  • ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • Juice on one lime
  • Salt

Transfer all the ingredients to a blender. Blend till a smooth consistency is achieved.

Serve the pork on warmed corn tortillas topped with the salsa and the crema!

 

Black Beans with Onion and Cumin

This is a very simple yet flavorful side dish to serve with any kind of protein or even just as a snack. I made these beans with the chicken enchiladas… yummy!

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 14 ounces can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 2 14 ounces cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  • Salt
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a wide frying pan with the olive oil. Add the cumin and coriander seeds and sauté on medium heat for 1 minute. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat. Add the tomatoes and sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the black beans, salt and the water. Bring to a boil and simmer with lid on for 15 minutes. Take the lid off and cook for another 5 minutes. Check the seasonings and garnish with cilantro.

Chicken Enchiladas

One of our favorite cuisines is Mexican- we all love it and I make a whole lot of it at home… this is one of our favs…

  • 1 pound chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Drizzle the olive oil all over the chicken thighs and rub them with the spices and salt. Marinate for at least 2 to 3 hours. Keep aside.

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cups homemade sauce or a 28 ounces can of crushed tomatoes
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • Salt
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a heavy saucepan with the olive oil. Add the chicken pieces and brown them on both sides until golden brown, at least 4 to 5 minutes on each side.

Take out of the pan and add the onion and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and the chicken back to the saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer with the lid on for 15 to 20 minutes or till the chicken is cooked through. Take the chicken out and let cool. Once thoroughly cooled off, shred the chicken with a fork and keep the meat aside. Add cilantro to the tomato sauce, check for seasoning and keep aside.

  • 6 to 8 small tortillas (I used a tortillas made with both flour and corn)
  • 2 cups shredded cheese (I used a mixture of Mexican cheeses) and more if needed

Use a 8X8 oven proof dish and start assembling the enchiladas. Dip a tortilla in the tomato sauce and then place half a cup of the shredded chicken in the middle and top with about a ¼ cup of shredded cheese. Roll it up tightly and place it in the dish seam side down. Repeat with all the tortillas you have using up all the chicken. Top with the tomato sauce and about one cup of shredded cheese.

Bake in a 350 degrees oven for 45 minutes covered with aluminum foil. Take out and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Shrimp with Pumpkin Seed Sauce

We have a local Mexican restaurant that my daughter absolutely loves.. I on the other hand, am not a fan… well, until recently. I found a delicious shrimp dish cooked in a pumpkin seed sauce. It was creamy but extremely light- unlike a lot of Americanized Mexican dishes… this was perfect.. so I thought why not try to make it at home. It was very delicious and easy to make…

  • 1 pound shrimp, cleaned and deveined
  • 1 cup raw green pumpkin seeds
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, deseeded and chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled
  • ½ teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 1 cup cilantro, chopped

Roast pumpkin seeds in a heavy skillet on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes or till the seeds are golden brown. Transfer the roasted seeds, green onions, jalapeno peppers, garlic, oregano, cumin seeds, salt and 2 cups of chicken broth in a powerful blender and blend till completely smooth. Heat a heavy saucepan with the oil and transfer the sauce into it. Cook on medium heat, stirring for 5 to 6 minutes or till the sauce thickens. Add another cup of chicken broth and continue to cook for another 20 minutes on medium heat. The sauce at this point may separate but don’t worry. Turn heat off and transfer back to the blender and add ¾ cup of cilantro and blend till the sauce is smooth again. Return to the saucepan and adjust seasonings. Cook the shrimp in the sauce and garnish with the remaining cilantro. Serve with lemon and cilantro rice.

Corn and Bean Salad with Broccoli Slaw

Unfortunately corn season is done, so use frozen corn for this recipe.. it will still be yummy as a side dish with the tacos from yesterday….

  • 2 fresh ears of corn, off the cob
  • 1 14 ounces can of black beans, rinsed
  • 1 cup grated broccoli slaw (cabbage can be substituted)
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 2 medium limes
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Transfer all the ingredients in a large serving bowl. Mix well and let it sit for an hour before serving.

Pulled Chicken Tacos

We love taco nights in our house. This one is especially yummy since I made my own pulled chicken- which btw is very easy to make…

  • 4 to 5 chicken thighs, skinless and boneless
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder

Sprinkle the salt and the ancho chili powder all over the chicken thighs and marinate overnight or at least 2 hours.

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 2 cups fresh tomato sauce
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a large saucepan with the oil over high heat. Add the chicken thighs and let brown for 3 to 4 minutes on medium high heat. Flip the chicken pieces and add the onion, garlic and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer and cover with lid. Cook for 30 minutes or till the chicken is tender. Let cool in the saucepan. Once the pieces are cool to the touch, shred with two forks and mix with the sauce right in the saucepan. Add cilantro. Check for seasonings and adjust if necessary. Shredded Chicken Tacos

Serve as a taco filling or over rice.