Sonoran Seasoning Recipes

COPYCAT RUBY TUESDAY'S SONORAN CHICKEN PASTA RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine the cheese spread with the cream in a small saucepan, then cook over medium to low heat. Stir the cheese often until it melts and becomes smooth. Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, green chili pepper, red chili pepper, and yellow onion. Saute until translucent.
• Deglaze with white wine and reduce briefly.
• Add the cheese sauce, granulated sugar, and ground cumin. Bring the sauce to a simmer.
• Continue simmering for 5 to 7 minutes or until the flavors meld and incorporate, stirring occasionally.
• Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add the paprika and roast briefly.
• Remove the pan from the heat, add the pasta, and toss to combine. Return to the heat and warm through.
• Transfer roughly ¼ of the pasta to a plate and pour about ⅓ cup of cheese sauce over the pasta.
• Place roughly 5 ounces of cooked and sliced chicken breasts on top.
• Add ⅓ cup of the black beans over the chicken.
• Add roughly ¼ cup of chopped tomatoes to the beans.
• Garnish with green onions and serve. Enjoy!

SONORAN SEASONING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250*.
• Spread chili powder on a small baking pan.
• Bake until beginning to darken, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Combine with all remaining ingredients in a blender.
• Grind finely, about 1 minute.
• Store in a jar.
• Excellent on grilled seafood, meats, poultry and vegetables.
• Enjoy!

SONORAN HOT DOGS WITH BACON, PICO DE GALLO, AND AVOCADO

Steps:

• Make the pico de gallo:
• Combine tomato, red onion, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, cayenne, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Cook and assemble the hot dogs:
• Prepare grill for high heat. Wrap each hot dog in 1 bacon slice and grill, turning often, until bacon is cooked through and crisp on all sides, 12-14 minutes.
• Meanwhile, slice open buns, leaving ends intact. Gently toast in a 350°F oven or on grill until buns are warmed through and lightly crispy.
• Nestle hot dogs into buns. Spoon 1 Tbsp. beans on one side of each dog, then arrange avocado slices and 1 Tbsp. jalapeños on the other side. Spoon pico de gallo over hot dogs, then drizzle with mayonnaise and top evenly with chips and cilantro.

SONORAN-STYLE FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Place bowl onto mixer, and affix paddle attachment. Mix for 30 seconds at low speed, then slowly add lard in a thin stream. Allow fat to partly incorporate, then slowly pour water in a thin stream. Allow dough to come together, then increase speed to medium-low and knead for about 2 minutes. The dough will be somewhat wet, webby and shiny. Place dough in a plastic bag, and allow to rest at room temperature for 2 hours.
• Divide dough into 12 pieces the size of a golf ball. Roll into smooth balls, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic, and allow to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Working on a very lightly floured smooth surface, use a rolling pin to roll balls into 4-inch circles, and place onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Repeat with remaining dough, adding layers of parchment as needed to ensure tortillas do not touch or overlap. Cover last layer with parchment, and allow dough to rest 10 minutes.
• Heat a griddle or large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• Working on a very lightly floured smooth surface, use a rolling pin to roll each tortilla into an 8-inch circle: Start with the pin in the center of the circle and roll out to the edge, rotating the tortilla after every roll. Roll until the dough is very, very thin and the edges begin to smear onto the work surface. Alternatively, stretch tortillas out by hand, rotating and pulling gently from the edges, until nearly transparent.
• When a few drops of water dripped onto the griddle or pan immediately sputter and evaporate, the cooking surface is sufficiently hot. Gently peel the tortilla off the work surface, and lay onto the griddle. It should immediately sizzle and puff lightly. Cook, rotating, for 20 to 30 seconds per side, until lightly golden in spots. Stack in a resealable plastic bag to allow to steam and soften. Continue with remaining tortillas.
• Serve warm or use to make tacos, quesadillas or burritos.