When I'm short on time or simply don't have the energy to prepare a satisfying, yet healthy meal I head towards the deli section of our market and pop a rotisserie chicken into the shopping cart. The easy meals you can create from a precooked chicken, aside from just carving it up, are virtually endless: quick pot pies, chicken soup with rice or noodles and loads of vege, tortilla soup, a super easy green chile chicken enchilada casserole, or even simple tacos. These chicken tacos - topped with just salsa, queso fresco cheese, jalapeños and egg - are perfect for breakfast or dinner. I love them loaded up on a double layer of corn tortillas (less breakage!) with shredded strips of chicken breast, lots of spicy salsa and pickled jalapeños, Mexican cheese, then topped with a sunnyside up egg. I also love to add some thin slices of onion and fresh cilantro. Serve them with a side of black refried beans and you've got a super duper satisfying meal!
Chicken Tacos with Pickled Jalapeño and Fried Eggs
Start to finish: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1 rotisserie chicken, meat pulled from the bone and chopped into small pieces
1 jar high-quality salsa, local if possible
1 package flour or corn tortillas
1 wheel queso fresco or cotija cheese, crumbled
1 jar pickled jalapeños
2 eggs, over easy or sunny side up
Thinly sliced white onion and fresh cilantro for garnish, optional
Directions:
In a large sauce pan over medium heat, add salsa. Cook until it simmers, about 3 minutes. Add chicken and stir until hot and mixed together, about 3 minutes.
Heat your tortillas up in the microwave for 10 seconds, just enough to warm without becoming too stiff.
To serve, layer two tortillas on top of each other (there is lesser chance the taco will break while eating if you use double layers). Scoop the chicken and salsa on the warm tortilla and garnish with queso fresco and a couple pickled jalapeños, or a lot of jalapeños if you like it hot! Top with egg and enjoy!
About this recipe: By Chef Rigato | Photo © Joe Vaughn
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham has teamed up with renowned chefs Hari Nayak and James Rigato to create custom recipes for guests to make in their Hawthorn Suites kitchenettes. The Homemade@Hawthorn collection of easy recipes can be found here. All 14 recipes are designed for the home chef, using simple and fresh ingredients, and range from healthy to hearty. They take under 55 minutes to make with the majority using under 10 ingredients.
