Grilled Chicken Tacos with Smoky Salsa Verde
Ingredients
- 1 bulb garlic, top cut away to expose cloves
- Olive or vegetable oil, for drizzling plus about 3 tablespoons
- Salt and pepper
- 1 pound tomatillos, husked
- 1 onion, peeled and cut into wedges with root attached
- 2 jalapeño peppers
- 4 limes
- 2 teaspoons green chili or other mild chili powder, such as Ancho
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
- 1 rounded teaspoon (1/3 palmful) ground coriander
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or small, 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 round teaspoon light agave or Acacia honey
- A small handful cilantro tops
- 12 to 16 6-inch corn tortillas
Fixins
- Quick-pickled red onions (Thinly sliced red onions tossed with lime juice, salt and pepper)
- Shredded Jack and/or Pepper Jack or Chihuahua cheeses
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Diced avocado, dressed in lemon juice
- Mexican crema or sour cream
- Cilantro leaves
Preparation
Prepare/preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high.
Drizzle garlic with a little olive or vegetable oil, season with salt and pepper and wrap tightly in foil. Grill until tender, 25-30 minutes, turning occasionally. Let cool then squeeze out cloves and paste.
Grill limes cut-side down to char and get their juices flowing.
Whisk up chili powder, 1 teaspoon each of cumin and coriander, half the grill-roasted garlic paste, the juice of 1 grilled lime and 3 tablespoons oil in a small bowl. Coat chicken in marinade and season with salt and pepper.
In a food processor, combine charred tomatillos, remaining half the grill-roasted garlic, grilled onion, 1 teaspoon cumin, cilantro, juice of remaining charred limes, honey or agave and the 2 roasted jalapeños (remove ribs and seeds for milder salsa). Process into a slightly chunky, saucy salsa and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Char tortillas to blister and blacken at edges and to soften. Wrap them in a clean towel to keep warm.
Grill chicken 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally. Slice chicken and serve with wedges of charred lime.
Assemble and arrange the fixin’s—the taco bar is officially open!