Chicken Bites with Tomato Mint Salsa
Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Karen Shinto
If gluten-free guests are on your invite list, make this mellow dunking salsa with a flour-free brand of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, such as La Costeña.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Preheat broiler with a rack set about 4 in. from heat. Set tomatoes, onion, and jalapeño on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil, turning as needed, until blackened, 15 to 25 minutes; as done, transfer to a bowl and let cool.
Step 2
2
Peel, stem, and seed chile. In a food processor, pulse vegetables (including blackened parts from tomatoes and onion) and their juices until chopped. Add remaining salsa ingredients and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl.
Step 3
3
Cut chicken into 1- to 1 1/2-in. chunks. In a bowl, combine 2 tbsp. oil, the cumin, salt, chopped cilantro, and chicken.
Step 4
4
Heat a 12-in. frying pan (not nonstick) over high heat. Add remaining 1 tbsp. oil; swirl to coat. Cook chicken, stirring and turning once, until lightly browned but still moist, 5 minutes.
Step 5
5
Stir cilantro leaves into chicken; transfer with a slotted spoon to a platter. Serve with salsa and skewers.
Step 6
6
*Toast over medium heat until fragrant, 3 minutes.
Step 7
7
Make ahead: Through step 4, up to 1 day, salsa and chicken chilled separately. Microwave salsa until room temperature (about 3 minutes) and chicken, stirring occasionally, until hot (about 4 minutes).
Ingredients
SALSA:
1 1/4 pounds Roma tomatoes
1 medium onion, cut crosswise into 4 slices
1 large jalapeño chile
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, toasted*
1 tablespoon chopped canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce
CHICKEN BITES:
1 3/4 pounds boned, skinned chicken breasts
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro, plus 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Directions
Step 1
1
Preheat broiler with a rack set about 4 in. from heat. Set tomatoes, onion, and jalapeño on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil, turning as needed, until blackened, 15 to 25 minutes; as done, transfer to a bowl and let cool.
Step 2
2
Peel, stem, and seed chile. In a food processor, pulse vegetables (including blackened parts from tomatoes and onion) and their juices until chopped. Add remaining salsa ingredients and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl.
Step 3
3
Cut chicken into 1- to 1 1/2-in. chunks. In a bowl, combine 2 tbsp. oil, the cumin, salt, chopped cilantro, and chicken.
Step 4
4
Heat a 12-in. frying pan (not nonstick) over high heat. Add remaining 1 tbsp. oil; swirl to coat. Cook chicken, stirring and turning once, until lightly browned but still moist, 5 minutes.
Step 5
5
Stir cilantro leaves into chicken; transfer with a slotted spoon to a platter. Serve with salsa and skewers.
Step 6
6
*Toast over medium heat until fragrant, 3 minutes.
Step 7
7
Make ahead: Through step 4, up to 1 day, salsa and chicken chilled separately. Microwave salsa until room temperature (about 3 minutes) and chicken, stirring occasionally, until hot (about 4 minutes).
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