Filed under: Main Dishes

Grilled Chicken Fajitas

What will you be grilling on the BBQ for Labor Day weekend?


My sister turned me on to the fabulous grilled fajita recipe from Cook’s Illustrated. Everything is cooked on the grill, right down to heating up the tortillas. This recipe saves clean up time and keeps the house from heating up.

The marinade is not spicy. If you prefer more heat add some jalapeno seeds. When grilling the tortillas have a large sheet of foil ready to wrap the tortillas in to keep them warm.

Chicken Fajitas for the Grill

1/3 cup Lime juice , from 2 to 3 limes

6 tablespoons Vegetable oil

3 Medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons Brown sugar

1 Jalapeño chile , seeds and ribs removed, chile minced

1 1/2 tablespoons Minced fresh cilantro leaves

Table salt and ground black pepper

3 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed of fat, tenderloins removed, breasts pounded to 1/2-inch thickness

1 Large red onion (about 14 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds (do not separate rings)

1 Large red bell pepper (about 10 ounces), quartered, stemmed, and seeded

1 Large green bell pepper (about 10 ounces), quartered, stemmed, and seeded

8 – 12 plain flour tortillas (6-inch)

1. In medium bowl, whisk together lime juice, 4 tablespoons oil, garlic, Worcestershire, brown sugar, jalapeño, cilantro, 1 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade in small bowl; set aside. Add another teaspoon salt to remaining marinade. Place chicken in marinade; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 15 minutes. Brush both sides of onion rounds and peppers with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper.

2. Light all burners on gas grill and turn to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes; scrape grill grate clean with grill brush. Leave one burner on high heat while turning remaining burner(s) down to medium.

3. Remove chicken from marinade and place chicken smooth side down on hotter side of grill; discard remaining marinade. Place onion rounds and peppers (skin side down) on cooler side of grill. Cook (covered) chicken until well browned, 4 to 5 minutes; using tongs, flip chicken and continue grilling until chicken is no longer pink when cut into with paring knife or instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers about 160 degrees, 4 to 5 minutes longer. Meanwhile, cook peppers until spottily charred and crisp-tender, 8 to 10 minutes, turning once or twice as needed; cook onions until tender and charred on both sides, 10 to 12 minutes, turning every 3 to4 minutes. When chicken and vegetables are done, transfer to large plate; tent with foil to keep warm.

4. When grill is empty, set all burners to medium. Working in batches, if necessary, place tortillas in single layer on grate and grill until warm and lightly browned, about 20 seconds per side. As they are done, wrap tortillas in kitchen towel or large sheet of foil.

5. Separate onions into rings and place in medium bowl; slice bell peppers lengthwise into 1/4-inch strips and place in bowl with onions. Add 2 tablespoons reserved unused marinade to vegetables and toss well to combine. Slice chicken into 1/4-inch strips and toss with remaining 2 tablespoons reserved marinade in another bowl; arrange chicken and vegetables on large platter and serve with warmed tortillas.

Recipe from Cook’s Illustrated

Leave a Comment August 30, 2010

Tomatoes

My garden is full of ripe, juicy tomatoes. They are so numerous that they have graduated from salad status to main dish. I add them to pasta and slice them up with fresh mozzarella. The flavor of a fresh picked, vine ripened tomato is intensely sweet and mildly acidic. Most store bought tomatoes are picked green and ripen en route to local stores which diminishes the taste of the fruit. The flavor of a home grown, vine ripened tomato is unsurpassed.

Fresh tomatoes pair perfectly with extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic and fresh basil. Toss this in some warm pasta until the tomatoes are slightly wilted. The warm pasta intensifies the flavors of the tomatoes, basil and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

When I have at least four of five tomatoes I will slice them up and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. If I want a more substantial dish I add fresh mozzarella and basil. My favorite part of eating this salad is using bread to mop up the olive oil and tomato juices.

115 Comments July 19, 2010

Zucchini and Summer Squash


What do I do with all this zucchini and summer squash?

I have asked myself this question many times. Especially when I’ve missed one day of harvesting squash and I’ve arrived in my garden to find a zucchini as long as my arm. I am on the lookout for recipes other than zucchini bread, stuffed zucchini and grilling them. I have also sauteed them with onion.

Recently, I found a new recipe on how to prepare squash in an inventive way. This recipe was inspired by an article I read in delicious living magazine, Pizza on the grill, written by Leather Storrs. I adapted the recipe to fit my needs because I didn’t have all the ingredients that were suggested.

This is a nice change from traditional pizza toppings. The squash has a light, moist flavor which absorbs the flavor of spices nicely. You wouldn’t know you were eating squash except for the color.

Squash Pizza Topping
5 cups grated zucchini summer squash( 5-6 medium squash)
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh, ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon paprika

Combine squash and spices in a large bowl. Mix well. Allow squash mixture to marinate approximately two hours at room temperature. Stir every thirty minutes. After two hours, pour squash mixture in to a colander and squeeze out excess liquid. Use as a topping for your favorite pizza crust.

Become friends with your local growers and fisherman, so you can keep in touch about what’s just been picked or caught~Martha Stewart

Leave a Comment July 6, 2010


TwitterRSS

Email Subscription

Categories

FoodieBlogRoll

CookEatShare