Pineapple Green Chili Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

1 Pablano pepper

1 large tomatillo

1 bunch cilantro

1 4oz can diced green chilies

1 can pineapple tidbits (fruit and juice)

2 Tbs sugar

1 Tbs apple cider vinegar

4 Tbs Olive Oil

1/2 tsp Chili Powder

1/2 tsp Cumin

Salt and pepper

1 large onion, finely chopped

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup lime juice

1 head lettuce, shredded

4 tortillas

4oz Mexican blend cheese (I used one with pepper jack)

crushed tortilla chips (I use the remnants at the bottom of a bag)

Directions:

Pre-heat the broiler in your oven. Peel the paper skin off the tomatillo and remove the stem. Place the pablano pepper and tomatillo on a sheet pan and place under the broiler. Broil until their skin is blackened (5-7 minutes). Rotate around to the other side. Broil until blackened (5-7 minutes). Remove from oven. Place pablano in a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to sit and steam for 15 minutes. Remove the pablano from the bowl and peel off the blackened skin. Remove the stem and seeds. Roughly chop the pepper into smaller pieces. Add the pepper and the tomatillo to the blender.

Add to the blender: the juice from the can of pineapple, sugar, apple cider vinegar, 1 Tbs Olive oil, chili powder, cumin, diced green chilies, 1/4 cup cilantro, salt and pepper. Blend until mostly smooth. Pour into a small saucepan, set over medium heat. Simmer for 10 - 15 minutes, until thickened. Pour in a small bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Thinly slice the chicken breasts. Place the lime juice, 1 Tbs olive oil, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the chicken. If there isn't enough lime juice to cover the chicken add water so that the chicken is completely submerged. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.

Pre-heat a medium skillet over medium heat with 1 Tbs olive oil. Finely chop the onion. Add the onion to the pan, season with salt and pepper. Saute 5 minutes until lightly golden brown. Reduce heat to medium low and saute for 20 minutes, until caramelized.

Pre-heat a large skillet over medium heat with 1 Tbs olive oil. Remove chicken from the marinade and add to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes (until cooked through).

While chicken is cooking, shred the head of lettuce using a knife. Wash and dry (I use a salad spinner). Roughly chop the remainder of the bunch of cilantro.

Place a small skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tortilla and sprinkle with 1 oz shredded cheese. Allow cheese to melt. Remove tortilla, place it on a plate. Repeat for each tortilla.

To assemble the salad, place 1/4 of the lettuce on the tortilla. Spoon on 1/4 of the green chili sauce over the lettuce. Top with 1/4 of the chicken strips, 1/4 of the pineapple tidbits, 1/4 of the caramelized onions, 1/4 of the chopped cilantro, and some tortilla chips. Repeat for remaining servings.

Serves 4

To see what I spent on this recipe, visit my other blog here.