Pepita Crusted Cheddar Jack Southwest Chicken Mac Recipes

SOUTHWEST MAC & CHEESE WITH OPTIONAL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Boil the pasta until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking, and return to the pan you boiled it in. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Set out six individual, oven-safe ramekins or gratin dishes for individual servings, two 5"x8" baking dishes if you're cooking up one dish with meat and one without, or an 8"x8"/two-quart baking dish if cooking it all in one big batch.
• In a medium bowl, toss together the cheddar, monterey jack, and Parmesan cheeses. Set aside.
• Over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour, salt, dry mustard, chili powder, pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika. Stir constantly over medium heat for about three minutes.
• Slowly whisk in the milk. Continuing over medium heat, whisk frequently for about 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens (as the sauce gets thicker, I recommend going from frequent stirs to constant stirs to help avoid burning).
• Remove from heat, and stir in 2 cups of the cheese. Continue stirring until cheese is melted, then add the green chilies and corn. Stir until combined. Select your version from the options below to continue.

HABANERO MAD MAC

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat until the oil ripples. Add the habaneros and cook until they turn yellow. (To make the dish hotter, you can adjust the amount of diced habanero and/or habanero powder.) Add the Mac Sauce, Cheese Mix and habanero powder. Stir constantly until all the cheese is incorporated and the sauce thickens. Then add the bowtie pasta. Once everything is mixed together, portion the mac into a bowl. Top each dish with the Hell Fire Crunch. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top. Place in the oven until the cheese starts to slightly brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Garnish with the whole habanero.
• Saute the onions in a little olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and continue to saute until translucent. Add the cream, half-and-half granulated garlic, granulated onion, nutmeg and cayenne. Stir until the spices are incorporated. Let simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Mix the cheeses together in a medium bowl until combined.
• In a blender, place the tortilla chips and habanero powder and pulse a few times until well blended.

PEPITA CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH MEXICAN CORN CAKES

Steps:

• For chicken:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Pound chicken breasts into 1/4-inch thickness. Place the eggs into a dish. The next dish mix flour, salt and pepper. In a third dish place pepitas and panko. Dip chicken into the eggs and then the flour mixture, back to the eggs and then into the pepita/panko mix to coat. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray and place chicken on top. Bake for about 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
• For corn cakes:
• In food processor mix 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons half-and-half, 3 tablespoons melted butter, egg yolk and half the corn until smooth. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Add remaining corn, onion, cilantro and jalapeno and set aside. In a separate bowl mix flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and gently mix. In a small bowl whisk egg white until slightly stiff peaks form. Fold whisked egg into other ingredients. In a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, place 2 tablespoons oil. Drop batter by tablespoons into hot skillet making 8 cakes. Cook approximately 1 minute on each side or until browned.
• For mango sauce:
• In a food processor place the mango, white onion, cilantro, sugar, jalapeno and salt and process until smooth. Add chicken broth and place in small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until bubbles form. Reduce heat to low and stir in half-and-half.
• To Serve:
• Place 1 chicken breast and 2 corn cakes on each plate. Drizzle with mango sauce and garnish with crumbled queso fresco.

CHICKEN WITH PEPITA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pepitas and toast, stirring occasionally, until they begin to pop, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer 2 tablespoons pepitas to a small bowl and add the rest to a blender. Add the cumin seeds to the same skillet and toast until dark brown, about 1 minute. Add to the blender; reserve the skillet. Add the salsa verde, 1/2 cup cilantro, the allspice and 1/2 cup water to the blender. Blend until smooth, adding up to 2 tablespoons more water if needed.
• Pour the puree into the reserved skillet; stir in the chicken and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until warmed through, about 5 minutes; thin with up to 1/4 cup water if needed. Season with salt and pepper.
• Toss the bell pepper, radishes, lime juice and remaining 1/2 cup cilantro in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper. Warm the tortillas in a large dry skillet.
• Divide the tortillas, bell pepper salad and chicken among plates. Sprinkle with the reserved pepitas; serve with lime wedges.

MAC AND JACK SALAD

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil, salt it and add pasta.
• While pasta water is coming up to a boil and cooking, combine corn, pepper, onion and celery in a bowl with pepper Jack cheese. Season the veggies with salt and pepper.
• Run pasta under cold water to cool it and drain it well. Add pasta to vegetables and cheese.
• Place vinegar in a small bowl and whisk in extra-virgin olive oil, then fold in salsa. Pour sauce over salad and toss to coat evenly. Garnish salad with cilantro or parsley and serve.

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours before serving.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Sift cornmeal, flours and baking powder into a large bowl. Mix well.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the soy milk, oil, salt, and syrup. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, stirring just until the dry ingredients are moistened.
• Oil an 11-inch round cast iron skillet with the olive oil. Over high heat, heat the oil until it starts to smoke. Pour the batter into the heating skillet. Bake approximately 40 minutes, or until the cornbread is firm to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before slicing.
• Drain and rinse the beans. Place the beans in a medium saucepan with the bay leaves and add enough water to cover the beans by 1-inch. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 35 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of salt in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Beans will still be tough. They will complete their cooking in the stew. Reserve both the beans and the cooking juices while completing the preparation of the stew.
• Over medium to high heat in a large pot heat the oil, onions and carrots, cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, squash, bell peppers, jalapeno, and garlic, cook 5 minutes more. Add the okra, spices, remaining salt, and the tomato paste.
• In a food processor, puree the whole tomatoes with their juice until you have a tomato soup-like consistency. Stir the tomato mixture into the vegetables. Add the beans, the bean cooking juice, and the water or vegetable stock. Cover and simmer until beans are tender, about 20 minutes. Add the tamari and cilantro. Serve hot.
• Steam the greens about 2 to 3 minutes in a steamer basket. Set aside.
• Heat the oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the cooked greens and salt, tossing with the onions and garlic, cook until greens are softened, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the tamari and serve hot.

STOVETOP WHITE CHEDDAR MAC

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the cauliflower and 3 cups water to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the cauliflower is very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook until al dente according to the package directions. Just before pasta is set to be done, add the spinach and cook until just wilted, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain in a colander and set aside.
• In the empty pasta pot, melt the butter over medium heat and add the garlic. Cook until the garlic is soft but not burnt, about 2 minutes.
• Add the cooked garlic, steamed cauliflower, milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 cup water to a blender and puree until creamy and smooth. Depending on the power of your blender, you may need to add more water.
• Return the cauliflower sauce back to the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the shredded Cheddar and stir until melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then stir in the cooked noodles, spinach and Parmesan. Serve immediately.