Rick Bayless' Chicken Tinga
16 to 20 small tacos
ingredients:
Chiles
- ½ cup cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup demerara sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled and halved)
- 3 morita chiles
Tinga
- olive oil
- 4 - 8 chicken thighs (boneless, skinless, ½ inch pieces)
- 1 large sweet onion (thin slices)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 14 oz can, diced fire-roasted tomatoes
- 3 pickled morita chiles
- 3 tbsp morita pickling brine
- 1 tsp Mexican oregano
Prep the chiles:
- Combine the vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a small pot and bring to a simmer. Add the garlic and chiles and simmer for at least 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and weight-down the chiles to keep them submerged while they cool for at least 3 hours.
- Check each hour; if the chiles do not seem to be rehydrating, bring the pot back to a simmer for a few minutes then begin cooling again.
- Tear open the chiles and discard the seeds and stem base, then chop what remains. Add to the 3 tbsp pickling brine.
Cook the tinga:
- Add the tomatoes and their juice and the diced pickled moritas and the reserved brine to a blender. Blend just until the pepper bits are broken down small enough.
- Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat the bottom liberally with olive oil.
- Add the onion and stir until it begins to brown. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute, stirring often. Transfer to a bowl — try to leave as much oil behind as you can.
- Brown the chicken in batches without crowding the skillet. Season the uncooked side of the chicken with a small amount of salt and pepper right before turning each batch for the first time. Transfer each batch to the bowl holding the cooked onion and garlic.
- Add the chicken, onion, and garlic back to the skillet. Pour the blended tomato and chile mixture over the chicken and sprinkle-on the oregano. Stir then bring to a gentle simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Taste the sauce and add salt or more morita brine to taste.
Serve the tinga with a generous amount of sauce in small flour street taco tortillas with grated sharp cheddar and dice avocado or guacamole.