Ever found yourself sitting looking at your dinner ingredients and just not motivated to make the normal staple? Tonight was one of those nights for me.
I had bought a couple of packages of chicken breasts for stir fry and with these, I usually turn them into a tasty lunchtime chicken salad.
Back to my dinner dilemma tonight. As I stood staring blankly into my fridge, searching for something to jump out at me, some motivation and something that would accompany my chicken that would satisfy my family.
With the weather being unseasonally warm today I didn't want anything to heavy or labour intensive. As I scanned the contents of the refrigerator I found myself wishing that I had picked up an Old El Paso fajita/burrito/taco box. You know the one, it contains everything you need to create a taste of Mexico in your own home. Of course, you need the lettuce, cheese and sour cream but other than that the box provides the taste.
I decided to create my own seasoning and make a Fajita that I knew my family would love. I jumped online and found a recipe on Jamie Oliver's site.
It was Jamie's 'Chicken Fajita's with homemade Guacamole and Salsa'. I quickly scanned the spices that he used and read about his guacamole and decided to take a few elements of his recipe and make my own.\
Ingredients
Coconut Oil
400 Gr Chicken (preferably breast prepared for stir fry)
1/2 onion thinly sliced (could be white or red whatever your preference)
1 Capsicum (red, yellow, orange your preference)
1 Avocado
3 Tbsp Plain Yoghurt
3 small tomatoes (or 1 large)
1/4 chopped red onion
1 lime
Lettuce
Shredded Cheese
Fajita Spice
Cayenne Pepper
Smoked Paprika
Chipotle Chili Pepper
Ground Cumin
Method
Turn on your oven on so you can be prepared to warm your Fajita/Burrito/Taco wraps.
Melt coconut oil in a pan.
Add thinly sliced onion and saute for approx 1min.
Add Fajita Spice (now this is to taste. Mine was approx 1/4 tsp Smoked Paprika, 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper, 1 tsp Chipotle Chili Pepper, 1/2-1 tsp Cumin) and just make it your own.
Add your Capsicum and then drizzle half of the lime over the onion/spice mix. You know your families tastes so play around a little. You might need to add a little more coconut oil, you don't want the onion + spices to get dry.
Sauté for 30sec - 1min and then add your chicken. Because you are using coconut oil you can heat at a higher heat than normal so turn up your flame/element so the chicken sizzles when it hits the pan. Cook well on both sides but try not to 'overcook'. Approx 1min/side then turn the heat down and let it sit and soak up all the flavour of the pan. Scrape the pan and get the onions mixed well with everything.
While the chicken is resting on the warm pan smash your avocado in a bowl and add your 4 Tbsp on PLAIN yoghurt and mix.
Then, chop your tomatoes, place in a bowl, chop your red onions and add to the tomatoes, squeeze the other half of the lime over this mixture, stir and sprinkle a teenie tiny bit of salt over the mixture (this will draw flavours out).
Now, take your warm wraps out of the oven. Spread with the Avocado/Yoghurt mixture.
Take a piece of chicken out of the pan and slice it. Place it on top of the Avocado/Yoghurt and then add your Tomato Salsa, Lettuce and Cheese.
Wrap, serve and enjoy! Next up I'll learn to make the Tortilla... I hope :)
Note: When you sauté the chicken, you could marinate all of this beforehand which is what I will probably do next time. I would just keep a bit of your spice mixture to cook with the onions because spices are always best when cooked in combination with the onions (not sure why but it is yum!)
