Chicken Suiza Tacos or Fajitas from Rachael Ray at the Kitchen Aid Culinary Demo #SobeWFF

It's no secret that one of my "things" in relation to my blog is to get up close and personal with chefs. So while at #SobeWFF, it was my mission to attend a bunch of culinary demonstrations on the KitchenAid stage where I would have a chance to interacts with the celebrity chefs.  As a home cook, by doing this, I always walk away loaded with a bunch of knowledge and cooking pointers that I would have never of learned else wise.  I promise it will help you recreate the dishes you see demonstrated.

One of my favorite demos I attended was with Rachael Ray.  I adore her  #girlpower!  She is a huge advocate of animal rescue; she is bubbly, sweet and lights up every room she walks into. She is my soul sister and I was lucky to chat it up with her that weekend! 

I will be sharing the recipe for her chicken suiza tacos. It is super easy and fun to make, and the a video can be seen here on how to make it The Rachael Ray Show. 

getty images 

getty images

getty images

getty images 

Chicken Suiza Soft Tacos or Fajitas 

Serves 4

Marinade for the chicken:

2 pounds boneless, skinless white- or dark-meat boneless, skinless chicken

1/4 cup olive oil

Juice of 1 lime, about 3 tablespoons

3 to 4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika or smoked sweet paprika

1 teaspoon honey or light agave

1/2 cup chicken stock

Salt and pepper

For the Poblano Pepper and Tomatillo with Crema:

4 large poblano chili peppers, seeded and halved

1 large or 2 small tomatillos, peeled

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 scant teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano

3/4 cup Mexican crema

Salt and pepper

Juice of 1/2 lime

1/2 to 1 teaspoon honey or light agave

Soft Tacos/Fajitas

16 6-inch corn tortillas (for soft tacos) or flour tortillas (for fajitas)

1 1/2 cups each shredded Swiss (Emmentaler) and Monterey Jack or Chihuahua cheese

Chopped lettuce or white cabbage

Very thinly sliced radishes

Quick pickled red onions: very thinly sliced 1 red onion, combined with 1 thinly sliced jalapeño, juice of 1 lime, salt and pepper. Let stand 20 minutes.

Cilantro or parsley, coarsely chopped

Preparation

For the chicken, whisk up marinade in shallow dish, add meat and season with salt and pepper. Turn chicken to coat and marinate half an hour. 

Heat a large, cast-iron or heavy skillet over medium-high. Add chicken, cook 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, under loose foil then remove to a cutting board. Add stock to pan to loosen drippings, slice chicken and return.

While chicken is still marinating, for peppers, heat broiler and leaving door ajar for steam to escape, char peppers and tomatillo until skins are blackened.

Cool in covered bowl then peel most of skin from peppers and slice.  Finely chop or puree tomatillos (about ½ cup), reserve.

Heat skillet over medium heat with 1 turn of the pan of oil, add onions and garlic, cumin, oregano, stir 2-3 minutes, add crema or crème or cream and reduce to thicken a minute or 2, stir in peppers, tomatillo puree, salt, pepper, lime juice, honey, reduce heat to low or cover pan to keep warm.   

Char tortillas over open flame or in dry skillet over high heat to blister and loosen.  Keep warm in tortilla warmer or wrapped in towel and foil in 175 oven.  Prepare toppings while tortillas stay warm. I prepared my toppings before warming my tortillas so once the tortillas are warm, you are ready to bring it all together.]

Serve slice chicken with poblanos in crema, fill tortillas and top with cheeses, lettuce, radishes, pickled onions and cilantro or parsley. Enjoy!