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Pollo en salsa verde
Chicken in green salsa
Pollo en salsa verde: Central Mexican chicken simmered in tomatillo and serrano sauce
Tangy, fresh and deeply savoury, this is one of the most common weekday dishes in Central Mexican kitchens, from Mexico City to Puebla and Hidalgo. Chicken pieces are browned, then simmered in a sauce of boiled tomatillos, serrano chiles, garlic and coriander until the meat is tender and the sauce coats it. Serve with white rice, beans and tortillas. Chef's tip: a few potato chunks or nopal strips simmered in the sauce stretch it to feed more people.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 2 ¼ lb bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticksskin removed if you like
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
For the salsa
- 1 ⅓ lb tomatilloshusked and rinsed
- 2 cloves garlic
- ⅔ oz fresh coriander
- 1 cup water
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Season the 2 ¼ lb bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks with half the ¾ tsp salt. Heat the 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a wide casserole over a medium-high heat and brown the chicken for 8 minutes, turning, until golden.
10 minStep 2: Meanwhile, simmer the 1 ⅓ lb tomatillos, 3 serrano chiles, ½ white onion and 2 cloves garlic in water for 8 minutes until the tomatillos turn khaki. Lift them out before they burst; split tomatillos make a watery, bitter sauce.
8 minStep 3: Let them cool for 5 minutes, then blend with the ⅔ oz fresh coriander, the 1 cup water and the rest of the ¾ tsp salt. Hot liquid in a sealed blender can blow the lid off, so vent it.
6 minStep 4: Pour the salsa over the chicken, bring to a simmer and fry for 2 minutes.
3 minStep 5: Cover and simmer on a low heat for 25 minutes until the chicken reaches 165°F and the juices run clear. Serve hot.
25 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 38 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pollo en salsa verde take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of white onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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