Green Chile Chicken And Queso Empanadas Recipes

GREEN CHILE QUESO

Steps:

• Set a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add the onions and cook until starting to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the green chiles and chipotle peppers and cook for a minute. Add the cheese and let it melt. Add the enchilada sauce and give it all a stir. Transfer to a slow cooker to keep warm.

GREEN CHILE CHICKEN AND QUESO EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil; add the tomatillos, jalapeno, onion, and garlic. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the tomatillos are soft. Drain and cool slightly. Combine the tomatillos, jalapeno, onion, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice in a blender. Add 1/4 cup of water and process to a coarse puree; season with a generous pinch of salt. You should have about 3 cups of this salsa verde.
• Combine the shredded chicken and queso fresco in a large mixing bowl. Pour in 1 1/2cups of the salsa verde and fold the ingredients together to moisten. Use as a filling for empanadas. Serve the remaining salsa verde on the side.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, masa harina, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the melted butter. Gradually add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of water, working it in with your hands to incorporate; the dough should be easy to handle and not sticky. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes.
• Lightly flour your rolling pin and counter. Divide the dough in 1/2 so it will be easier to work with and roll it out to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 4-inch cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out 10 circles of dough; repeat with the other 1/2.
• Spoon 2 generous tablespoons of filling into the center of each pastry circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Brush the edges with the egg wash and then fold the dough over in 1/2 to enclose the filling and form a semi-circle. Tightly seal the edges by crimping with the tines of a fork. Chill at least 30 minutes before baking.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the empanadas on a buttered baking sheet and brush the tops with additional egg wash. Using a fork, prick a few holes in the top of the empanadas for steam to escape. Bake for 30 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown.

GREEN CHILE CHICKEN

Steps:

• First, make the marinade for the chicken: Combine the olive oil, lime juice, cumin, salt, pepper, chipotle peppers and garlic in a blender and mix until totally pureed. Pour into a large resealable plastic bag with the chicken breasts. Seal the bag, smush it around to coat the chicken and place it in the fridge to marinate for at least 4 hours (overnight if possible).
• After the chicken has marinated, roast the poblano chiles one-by-one over the flame of your stovetop, using metal tongs to hold them, until the skin is totally charred. (If you don't have a gas stove, you can use an outdoor grill OR place them on a baking sheet directly under your oven's broiler.) When the skin is totally blackened, place the chiles in a large resealable plastic bag and seal the bag to allow the chiles to sweat for a good 20 minutes. Remove the chiles and use a knife to scrape off most of the blackened skin. Slice the chiles in half lengthwise, and scrape out the seeds and membranes. Lay out the chile halves so they'll be ready for the next step.
• Preheat a grill pan to medium-high heat (or use a skillet). Grill the chicken (or saute in the skillet) for 4 minutes on the first side. Turn the chicken over and lay 2 chile halves and a nice slice of cheese on the cooked side of each piece. Turn the heat to medium low and allow the chicken to finish cooking until it's totally done in the center, 4 to 5 minutes. The cheese should melt on its own; if it needs a little help, invert an iron skillet over it (or put the lid on the skillet, if using). Serve!

BAKED CHICKEN EMPANADAS WITH HATCH CHILE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add chicken, corn, Hatch chile, and adobo seasoning. Cook until mixture is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Remove filling from heat.
• Set out empanada discs and place 2 tablespoons filling onto each disc. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons Oaxacan cheese. Brush edge of discs with water and fold over to create half circles. Crimp to seal. Arrange on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove empanadas and sprinkle Cheddar cheese on top. Continue baking until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 5 more minutes.