4 January 2012

Dreaming of Summer with Chicken Carne Asado Tacos with Pickled Onions

Chicken Carne Asado Tacos with Pickled Onions

Are you tired of shovelling snow, driving along ice-patched roads or wearing suits designed for igloos? It is time to take a break here in the Northern hemisphere! We are so glad you have decided to join us once again for our Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club. This is a monthly event where a group of ladies and one gent in two neighbouring countries get together to create a delicious meal with a theme in mind. With the entrance of 2012 we begin our third year of the Virtual Supper Club where we continue to share a love for Cooking Light magazine with an emphasis on healthy eating and living. This is the perfect way to keep those New Year resolutions by recreating light recipes from these pages.This is a team effort where we combine what Cooking Light readers like best...good food with great company!!! If you would like to join in with your "light" Mexican-inspired dishes join the Linky below.




This months theme takes us away from our snow covered reality and has us dreaming of gentle breezes , palm trees, blue skies, and stunning beaches. I close my eyes and lay on sweeping sands dotted with straw parasols in Mexico. Is that a pina colada or a Sangria coming my way as I sit here in utopia. Inches away, shimmering seas beckon me with an amazing array of tropical fish where I can interrupt my snoozing, slide into the warm, turquoise waves  for some snorkelling or if I feel more adventurous I can plunge into the depths for some scuba diving amongst the coral and sponge-covered walls. I can climb above the canopy floor and marvel at a 1300-year-old Mayan ruins as parrots screech and howler monkeys growl in the sweaty emerald jungle.  I can dance through the night at a high-energy nightclub, kayak at dawn past a colony of sea lions – all of  these are unique Mexican experiences that have me dreaming as I travel the snow covered roadways on my way to work each morning.   

To recreate the mood at home we decided to take the Virtual Supper Club to Mexico.

Our newest member Giz of Equal Opportunity Kitchen tempts us with an appetizer of Camarones Fritoes with Mexican Cocktail Sauce.  

For the main dish I chose appetizing Chicken Carne Asado Tacos with Pickled Onions. 

Sandi of The Whistlestop Cafe offers some delectable Pork Hominy Chili.
Jerry of Jerry's Thoughts, Ravings and Rants ends our meal with a bang with a luscious Mexican Chocolate Souffle.

Roz  of La Bella Vita ties it altogether with a thirst quenching Easy Sangria.



Now on to the recipe...

**Chicken Carne Asado Tacos with Pickled Onions**

1/2 cup fresh orange juice (about 1 orange)
1/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
medium red onion, thinly vertically sliced
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into thin strips
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray
(6-inch) corn tortillas
1 cup diced peeled avocado (about 1 avocado)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled Cotija cheese
Lime wedges (optional)
  • 1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring until sugar dissolves. Place onion in a small saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil; drain and plunge onion in ice water. Drain onion; add to juice mixture. Chill until ready to serve.
  • 2. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Sprinkle chicken with oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper; toss to coat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes or until browned and done, stirring occasionally.
  • 3. Heat tortillas according to package directions. Divide chicken evenly among tortillas. Drain onion; divide evenly among tortillas. Top each tortilla with 2 tablespoons avocado and 1 tablespoon cheese; fold over. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.
  • You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.
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37 comments:

  1. Oh me! I want to slide into the warm turquoise waves, too...sigh... Carne Asada is plentiful around our house in the summer and I could use a winter intermission with some of these tasty tacos right now. As a matter of fact, I'll take a little of everything! =)

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  2. Yes, yes, bring on summer and those fabulous tacos Val. I'm ready. It's freezing here in south Florida. Winter, winter, go away, come again....well, just forget it and go away.

    Thanks for a warm start to a chilly day Val.
    Sam

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  3. Gorgeous tacos! So summery. A ray of sunshine in the plate.

    Happy New Year!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  4. Oh, this would be perfect food for me, Val! It is wicked hot in Australia this week and I'm melting. :-) I love thoughts of cool, refreshing and savory dishes like this. :-)

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  5. Chicken thigh or leg meat is ideal for tacos. You have to taste the tacos being made in the city now...WOW!

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  6. i've been dreaming of summer since the last day of summer.
    Please make this for me, I would be very happy!

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  7. I am thinking that this meal should become a reality at my house! It all sounds so wonderful, refreshing and breezy!

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  8. This sounds (and looks) delicious. I think the pickled onion will go well on any number of sandwiches and/or salads.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  9. Pass the tequila and the suntan lotionWe already have the fabulous food

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  10. Dreaming of summer indeed! It's been such a warm winter in NY so far and yesterday and today we have had some rather cold weather and it's quite a shocker!

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  11. Oops. Forgot to comment on the actual food! Looks wonderful and definitely could have the potential to transport me someplace warm and tropical....mmmmm

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  12. What a great post and love this recipe. Longing for summer here; we have been going down to -28 past 2 nights. I can still make your tacos to get in the mood.
    Rita

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  13. Oh boy do these tacos look amazing! Love the flavors.

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  14. I'm ready! I am thinking we need to actually take a road trip :-)

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  15. What yummy tacos, Val! I love this theme! I can't find the Linky to add my contribution for some reason. I'll keep trying! Cheers (with the Sangria that I made!) Mmmmm!

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  16. I'm ready for a road trip! These look awesome~
    A great mexican fiesta.

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  17. I love the addition of the pickled onions and Cotija cheese to this dish. Light and tasty. Take Care, BAM

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  18. The cold weather held out here for a while but now it's back with a vengeance. I want to go to Mexico to! This looks so yummy and would make me feel all tropical inside.

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  19. Yes please bring on the summer!
    Love those Tacos!

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  20. Mmmm, Mexican is such a great way to eat tasty yet light! Love the pickled red onions too...

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  21. Perfect for brightening up a winter day.

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  22. The tacos look delicious, Val. The entire menu sounds wonderful. I'm off to search these other recipes. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  23. These look amazing Dear Vall:)

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  24. I want to join you on the beach, too. Actually, it's unseasonally warm at my house and I'm longing for some cold and rainy weather. SIGH. I could eat Mexican food any time of day, though. These looks fantastic-- especially with a margarita.

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  25. Hi, Val!

    I just discovered your beautiful blog! And I want to thank you for making me aware of the World Food Programme - what an amazing cause.

    Happy New Year!

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  26. Val it all sounds so good! The turquoise waves,the good food, wine... can we have cabana boys to while we eat?

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  27. just looking at the photo is a treat.Happy 2012!

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  28. The pickled onions sound like they would be a delicious condiment all on their own. YUM! What a great meal. I want to get into doing more fresh pickled veggies.
    :)
    V

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  29. The 2 things I like best about this recipe are the marinade with orange juice and then, later, the pickled red onions. Flavor burst from start to finish.

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  30. This is just the kind of meal I'm looking for now: great flavors, healthy and delicious. The pickled onions are a perfect garnish.

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  31. dreaming of summer all while snowflakes rain down on your blog and in my town. :)
    i love this type of meal--nice, val!

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  32. We have too much heat here.But I always prefer the summer ;).
    Love your tacos looks very fresh and delicious. Perfect for a summer evening

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  33. For a minute, I was on a beach chair too! I'd love to grab a margarita and and enjoy these delicious tacos.

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  34. Put these all together and it is an amazing pot luck! Yum.

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  35. We've made this recipe a few times and loved - glad that you enjoyed it. I always double the pickled onions - they are great on sandwiches.

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  36. I canjust taste these tacos...love the pickled onions

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  37. You can never go wrong with tacos, winter or summer!

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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