Chicken And Roasted Poblano Quesadilla With Avocado Cream Recipes

CHICKEN AVOCADO QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Heat a large heavy duty pan to high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place 1 tablespoon olive oil in pan. Add chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes per side or until coked through. Remove from pan and set aside to rest.
• In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, the diced onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Add the tomatoes and fajita seasoning. Cook for 2 minutes or until tomatoes are softened. Dice the cooked chicken and return to the pan. Stir until mixture if fully combined.
• To assemble:Add 1 teaspoon oil to a hot pan. Lay 2 tortillas on pan. Spread 1 teaspoon sour-cream over one side of each tortilla, top with cheese, avocado, chicken mixture and squeeze of lime and sprinkle of minced cilantro. Fold the tortillas over to cover the fillings and form a half-moon shape. Cook until the tortillas are crisp and golden and the cheese has melted, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Repeat to make 2 more quesadillas.
• Cut the quesadillas into wedges. Serve with lime wedges, sour-cream, salsa or guacamole and enjoy immediately.

ROASTED POBLANO QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Start by rinsing 2 poblano peppers. Roast the poblanos in the oven for 25-30 minutes at 400F.
• If you are building the Avocado Salsa Verde, you can also roast 4 tomatillos in the same pan as the poblanos. But remember that the tomatillos will need less time roasting. Take them out when they start to turn army green, approx 10-15 minutes.
• Add the roasted tomatillos to a blender along with 1/2 onion, 1 garlic clove, 10-12 sprigs cilantro, and 1/2 of a serrano pepper (or 1/2 of a jalapeno pepper). Pulse blend and taste for heat, adding the additional 1/2 of the serrano (or jalapeno) if you want more heat. Add the avocado to the blender and combine well. Salt to taste.
• Once the poblanos have roasted, let them cool and then pull off any loose bits of skin, but don't worry about getting rid of every last piece.
• De-stem and de-seed the poblanos, cutting them into thin, bite-sized strips.
• Saute 1/2 an onion in a dollop of oil over medium heat. When the onion is tender (4-6 minutes) add the poblano strips along with a generous pinch of salt and some freshly ground pepper. Let this mixture saute for a few minutes.
• Heat up a wide skillet over medium heat. Warm up the tortillas before building the quesadillas (I usually give them 30-60 seconds in the skillet right before building).
• Each quesadilla gets a layer of refried beans, cheese, poblano-onion mixture, cilantro, and cheese. Fill only half of the tortilla so you can fold it onto itself.
• Cook the quesadillas for 2-3 minutes per side or until the cheese is melted and they start to turn golden brown.
• Serve immediately.

QUINOA BOWL WITH CHICKEN AND AVOCADO CREAM

Steps:

• Make the quinoa: Bring the quinoa and 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and gently simmer until the quinoa is tender (the little tails will pop out) and most of the water is absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes Drain off any excess water. Stir in the chopped cilantro, scallions, oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Serve warm or at room temperature. (The quinoa can be cooked, cooled and refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 days. Microwave just enough to take the chill off, about 2 minutes, stirring about halfway through.)
• Make the avocado cream: While the quinoa cooks, process or blend the avocado, sour cream, Parmesan, lime juice, 1 tablespoon water, cayenne and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor or blender until smooth and creamy.
• If the corn still has a chill, microwave it for about 1 minute.
• Build the bowls: Divide the quinoa evenly among 4 bowls. Top each with neat piles and/or rows of chicken, tortilla chips, corn, salsa and pepitas. Top with some sauce, a sprig of cilantro and a lime quarter.

CHICKEN WITH POBLANO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Roast the chile over a gas burner or under the broiler, until charred all over. Wrap in a paper towel; steam for 5 minutes. Rub off the skin; remove the seeds and ribs. Chop coarsely.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the canola oil in a small saucepan over medium heat; add the onion and garlic; cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the chile and cream. 3 Purée in a blender; add water if too thick. Season with salt and pepper.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining tablespoon canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken until it is golden and the juices run clear, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve with the sauce.

CHICKEN QUESADILLAS WITH AVOCADO-CUCUMBER SALSA

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix together the avocado, cucumbers, red onion, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, jalapeño, salt and pepper.
• Sandwich some of the chicken and cheese between two tortillas; repeat with the remaining chicken, cheese and tortillas. Brush the top and bottom of each quesadilla lightly with oil.
• Heat a large, nonstick skillet over high heat until very hot. Cook the quesadillas, in batches, if necessary, until the cheese melts and the tortillas are crisp and golden, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side.
• Cut into wedges and top with some of the salsa.