Mexican Recipes: Chicken Taquitos

Chicken Taquitos

Mexican food dish most often consisting of a small rolled-up tortilla and some type of filling, including beef, cheese or chicken. The filled tortilla is crisp-fried. The dish is often topped with condiments such as sour cream and guacamole. Corn (maize) tortillas are generally used to make taquitos; when flour tortillas are used, the dish is more commonly known as flautas. In some areas, taquito refers not to the rolled-up tortilla dish, but rather a smaller version of the taco.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil, more for brushing tortillas
1 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 cups shredded cooked chicken meat
2 cups low-sodium, gluten-free chicken broth
12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1 cup crumbled queso fresco or shredded Monterey jack or cheddar

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 220°C and oil a baking sheet. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Add onion and cook until starting to soften and turn translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, paprika and salt. Stir to combine and cook 2 to 3 minutes longer, until fragrant. Take from heat and stir in cilantro and chicken. Set aside.

Step 2:

Bring chicken broth to a simmer in a skillet or pot wide enough to hold tortillas. When broth simmers, dip tortillas briefly, one at a time, just to soften, 1 to 2 seconds.

Step 3:

Lay tortilla on a work surface and spread 2 or 3 tablespoons chicken mixture over bottom third. Top with a tablespoon of cheese and roll up. Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Spray or brush tortillas lightly with oil and bake until crisp and lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes.

Serve immediately.