Blackened Chicken Quesadillas Cranberry Mango Salsa Recipes

BLACKENED CHICKEN QUESADILLAS & CRANBERRY MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• For the Salsa (yields about 3 cups):.
• Toss the cranberries with the brown sugar then chop coarsley in a food processor, transfer to a heat resistant bowl and set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine granulated sugar and water over medium-high heat; bring to a boil while stirring; once boiling, stop stirring and allow to cook for 3 minutes, then immediately pour syrup over cranberries and allow to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, peel and dice kiwi and mango.
• Combine mango, kiwi, red onion,cilantro, lime juice, serrano chile, garlic and honey; mix well and add to cranberry mixture.
• Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to blend.
• For the Quesadillas:.
• Place blackening seasoning in a shallow dish.
• Between two sheets of plastic wrap, flatten chicken breasts with a meat mallet or heavy skillet to a flat even thickness; rub each breast with a few drops of oil and dredge in the blackening seasoning to coat.
• Heat 1 tbl of peanut oil in a heavy skillet over high heat; add chicken and cook until blackened on both sides and cooked through- set aside to rest.
• In a separate skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat, add onions and saute until just translucent; turn heat to low and cook for 15 minutes until onions are soft but not browned.
• Stir in basil and honey and cook for 5 more minutes.
• Add chicken broth and turn up heat high enough for broth to simmer; cook until almost all of the broth has evaporated; remove from heat and set aside.
• Slice chicken into small pieces and mix with onions.
• To assemble: Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on one tortilla, then spoon on 1/4 of the chicken mixture; sprinkle with 2 tbl more cheese and place another tortilla on top.
• Lightly brush a skillet with peanut oil and heat over medium high heat; slide the quesadilla into the skillet and heat until cheese begins to melt; brush upper tortilla with peanut oil and flip quesadilla in skillet.
• When cheese is melted, remove from skillet, cut into quarters and serve with cranberry-mango salsa.
• Note: quesadillas (top brushed with oil) can also be cooked on a parchment lined sheet pan in a 350 degree oven until cheese melts.

BLACKENED SALSA

Steps:

• On a grill or dry pan put on the tomatoes, jalapenos, tomatillios and onions.
• Keep turning until all sides are blackened.
• Chop off the ends of the garlic, wrap in foil and bake in oven at 350 until soft or put on grill until soft.
• Remove tomatoes, jalapenos, onions and tomatillos when black and let cool.
• Remove garlic when soft.
• In a food processor combine tomatoes (make sure stems of tomatoes and jalapenos are removed) jalapenos, onions and tomatillos.
• Squeeze the roasted garlic into the processor.
• Puree until smooth.
• add salt, chiplote peppers and cumin.
• Puree again.
• Serve cold.

BLACKENED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Let the chicken come to room temperature before using.
• Cover chicken with butter until well coated.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot.
• Roll each chicken breast into about 1/2 tsp. seasoning mix (I use my hands).
• Immediately place the chicken pieces skin side down in the skillet to sear.
• Pour about 1 teaspoon of the butter on top.
• Cook about 2+ minutes, until a crust forms on the underside.
• Turn and pour another 1 teaspoon of the butter on each of the chicken pieces.
• Cook until just cooked through.

BLACKENED CHICKEN & MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• Dice mango, peppers, onion, and cilantro.
• Combine diced ingredients with minced garlic, lime juice and olive oil. Add salt and pepper if necessary.
• Heat grill to medium-high. Season both sides of chicken breasts with blackened seasoning.
• Grill chicken on both sides until no longer pink.
• Serve with mango salsa.