Posole (also spelled pozole; pronounced poh-SOH-lay) is a hearty, meaty Mexican soup or stew that includes hominy, although there are vegetarian versions out there, too. This recipe for Green Posole with Chicken is delicious, super easy to make and perfect for entertaining!

The recipe calls for 1 cup of bottled green salsa but I used one 12-oz. jar of Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde. I also added 1 crushed clove of garlic, a teaspoon or so of cumin, and a few teaspoons of dried oregano. Serve with a variety of garnishes (avocado, sliced radishes, chopped onion, Queso Fresco, chips, etc.) so each person can dress up their posole as they like. Enjoy!

Green Posole with Chicken
-recipe from Sara’s Secrets for Weeknight Meals by Sara Moulton

Posole is a hearty soup from the Jalisco region of Mexico that is traditionally made with pork and hominy. Hominy is dried corn kernels from which the hulls and germs have been removed. (In its ground form hominy is called grits.) Dried hominy takes several hours to cook, so I have opted for the canned version in the interest of time. I have also developed a lighter version with shredded chicken and tomatillo salsa (hence green posole). This dish is ridiculously easy to make and quite satisfying with all the additional garnishes. -Sara Moulton

Makes 4-6 servings.

 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 cup bottled green salsa (salsa verde)
4 cups canned chicken broth or Chicken Stock
1 rotisserie chicken, skin and bones discarded and meat shredded
Two 15-ounce cans white hominy, rinsed and drained
Kosher salt and freshly milled black pepper

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over high heat until hot. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the salsa and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes.

Add the chicken broth and simmer, partially covered, for 10 minutes. Add the chicken and hominy and simmer until heated through. Add salt and pepper to taste. To serve, ladle into bowls and let everyone garnish their own portion.

Garnishes: Finely chopped onion, chopped avocado,slivered radishes, chopped cucumbers, shredded napa cabbage, and tortilla chips.

Tags: chicken soup, Cinco de Mayo, green posole, hominy, Mexican, Mexican Chicken Soup, posole, soup, stew, Trader Joe's salsa verde

I love fish tacos, and this version is easy to make and full of fresh flavors. This recipe features chile-marinated grilled fish served with fresh Pico de Gallo salsa and a super tasty Lime-Cilantro Sour Cream Sauce. You can make almost everything ahead so it’s perfect for entertaining…just grill the fish right before serving.

The recipe has you use 2 tortillas per taco, which is brilliant because the inner tortilla will start to fall apart so you’ll still have the outer tortilla to keep the taco together. Definitely take the extra few minutes to make fresh Pico de Gallo salsa — It’s super easy and compliments the flavors of the tacos better than the jarred store-bought stuff. Serve the tacos with Arroz Verde (Green Rice) and a green salad drizzled with a Mexi-inspired vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Grilled Fish Tacos
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine 

A grilled fish taco is a beautiful thing to eat. San Diego and points south are where they originated. Although many of the fish tacos in the area are fried, the grilled ones really stand out and are much lighter. Serves 6-8, Yields 12 tacos.
 
For the lime-cilantro sour cream sauce:
1 cup sour cream 
1/2 cup mayonnaise 
3 Tbs. minced fresh cilantro
Grated zest of 1 lime 
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice

For the tacos:
2 tsp. ground ancho chile powder 
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. kosher salt 
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 
2 Tbs. olive oil 
3 lb. firm-fleshed whitefish fillets (halibut, snapper, mahi-mahi, cod) 
2 dozen 6-inch corn tortillas
2-1/2 cups shredded green cabbage 
2-1/2 cups shredded red cabbage 
Pico de Gallo 
4 limes, quartered

To make the lime-cilantro sour cream sauce:
Combine all the ingredients in a 2-cup measuring cup and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate up to 4 hours until ready to use.

To make the tacos:
In a small bowl, combine the ancho powder, cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper and stir to mix. Add the oil and whisk until a loose paste is formed. Rub the fish with the spice paste and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.  

Light a charcoal fire or preheat your gas grill on high. Oil the grill’s cooking surface. Let the coals burn down to a medium-hot fire or adjust the gas grill burners to medium-high.

Grill the fish until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and coarsely chop.

Divide the tortillas into 2 stacks and wrap each in aluminum foil. Place on the grill until heated through, about 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the green and red cabbage.

To assemble the tacos, take 2 tortillas, top it with chunks of fish, a dollop of the sauce, a spoonful of the Pico de Gallo, and some of the cabbage. Squeeze a wedge of  lime over the filling, fold the tortillas, and eat.

Tags: Cinco de Mayo, fish, fish tacos, grilled fish tacos, grilling, Mexican, Mexican food

If you’ve never made your own salsa, it’s time you step out and give it a whirl. Not only is fresh salsa super easy to make but it tastes much, much better than the jarred stuff. Plus, you’ll be the star of the party when you walk in with a bowl of this fresh, smoky deliciousness!

The first time I made this salsa it ended up pretty spicy—which was fine because I love the heat—but probably hotter than most people would like. Jalapenos range in heat from mild to spicy so I recommend adding everything except the jalapeno to the processor, pulse a few times then taste. If you want it spicier, go ahead and add the chopped jalapeno, and pulse a few more times. The chipotle chile (smoked jalapeno) is spicy, too, so you may want to start with less (maybe a teaspoon or so) if you don’t want a spicy salsa. You can always add more chile to get more spicy heat but it’s difficult to go backwards once you’ve added it (you’d need to add more tomatoes, etc.).

Sometimes I grill the veggies instead of broiling them. Serve the salsa with locally-made tortilla chips. My favorite Oregon brand is Juanita’s. Enjoy!

Tomato Chile Salsa
-recipe from Gourmet Magazine

Broiling tomatoes and onions concentrates their flavor in this spicy salsa that’s good any time of the year.

Yield: Makes about 2 1/2 cups
 
Olive oil for greasing
1 1/2 lb plum tomatoes (about 6 large)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo plus 2 teaspoons sauce from can

1 (2 1/2-inch) fresh jalapeño, seeded and remainder chopped (1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Accompaniment: tortilla chips

 
Preheat broiler.

Oil a 13- by 9-inch roasting pan (not glass). Halve tomatoes lengthwise, then arrange, cut sides up, in roasting pan. Sprinkle onion over and around tomatoes and broil 4 to 5 inches from heat until tomatoes and onion begin to brown, 25 to 30 minutes.

Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

Transfer tomatoes, onion, and any juices in pan to a food processor and add chipotles with sauce, jalapeño, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Pulse until vegetables are finely chopped.

Transfer to a bowl and stir in cilantro. Season with salt.

Cooks’ note: Salsa keeps, covered and chilled, up to 3 days. Do not add cilantro until ready to serve. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Tags: chipotle, fresh salsa, jalepeno, Juanita's tortilla chips, Mexican, Oregon, salsa, tomato chile salsa, tomatoes

Not only are quesadillas super easy to whip up but they make a great snack, lunch or light dinner. This particular recipe is jazzed up with a creamy, smoky chipotle and corn filling…it’s delicious! Serve the quesadillas with mixed greens drizzled with Southwestern Vinaigrette and you’ve got a tasty meal!

Note: The recipe calls for a grill pan but I cooked the quesadillas in a regular frying pan. Also, chipotle chiles in adobo are smoked jalapenos that are canned in a red sauce. You can find them in the Mexican foods section of your grocery store.

Grilled Monterey Jack and Corn Quesadillas
-recipe from Gourmet Magazine

Yield: Makes 2 to 4 servings

4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 scallions, thinly sliced crosswise
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo
4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Special equipment: a well-seasoned ridged grill pan

Stir together cheese, corn, mayonnaise, scallions, cilantro, and chiles in a small bowl. Lightly brush 1 tortilla with some of oil. Turn tortilla over and spread 1/2 cup filling over half, then fold other half over to form a half-moon. Assemble 3 more quesadillas in same manner.

Heat lightly oiled grill pan over moderate heat until hot, then cook quesadillas, 2 at a time, turning over once, until cheese is melted, about 4 minutes total per batch. Transfer to a cutting board and cut in half.

Tags: chipotle, chipotle chiles, Epicurious.com, Gourmet Magazine, Monterey Jack cheese, quesadillas

This delicious Mexican-inspired recipe has dinner on the table in no time: quick-cooking chicken cutlets are pan seared then finished in an easy sauce made from salsa verde (green salsa made with tomatillos) and sour cream (or creme fraiche). A tasty weeknight meal doesn’t get much easier than this!

If you can’t find chicken cutlets, just use regular ol’ chicken breasts (they’ll take longer to cook, though). I used Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde but you can use your favorite brand…or regular tomato-based salsa if you prefer it.

Perfect sides for this are Arroz Verde (green rice) and a salad tossed with Southwestern Vinaigrette. Yum!

Saucy Salsa Chicken
-recipe from Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine

Makes 4 servings.

2 tablespoons olive oil
8 chicken cutlets (1 1/4 lbs.)
1 cup salsa verde
1/4 cup creme fraiche (or sour cream)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
corn chips and lime wedges, for serving

Heat olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken and cook until golden on both sides, 3 minutes; transfer to plate. Add salsa to skillet and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in creme fraiche. Return chicken to pan, cover and simmer over low heat, 3 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro; serve with chips and lime.

Tags: Chicken, chicken cutlets, Mexican, salsa, salsa chicken, salsa verde, Southwestern, Trader Joe's, Trader Joe's salsa verde

When I first saw this recipe for Arroz Verde, I thought the use of milk in the dish sounded a little wierd but let me tell you right now…THIS RECIPE ROCKS! This incredibly flavorful rice dish is easy to make and a great side to any Mexi-themed meal. My 10-year-old son called it (and I quote) “The Best Rice Ever”. ‘Nuf said.

Arroz Verde (Green Rice)
- recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine 

Fresh cilantro and spinach lend all their virtues — bright flavors, aromas, and color — to this Mexican rice pilaf. Milk and chicken broth add a subtle richness. Serves six to eight.

1/2 cup tightly packed fresh cilantro sprigs (about 1/2 oz.)
1 cup tightly packed fresh stemmed spinach leaves (about 1-1/2 oz.)
1-1/4 cups homemade or low-salt chicken broth
1-1/4 cups milk
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 Tbs. olive oil
3 Tbs. unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups long-grain rice
1/4 cup finely minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced

Put the cilantro, spinach, and broth in a blender and blend until the vegetables are puréed. Add the milk and salt and blend a bit more until well combined.

In a medium (3-qt.) heavy-based saucepan (with a good lid) over medium heat, heat the olive oil and butter. When the butter is melted, add the rice and sauté, stirring about every 30 seconds, until it just begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the contents of the blender, stir well, turn the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Cover the pan, turn the heat to very low, and cook for 20 minutes. Stir the rice carefully to avoid crushing it, cover, and cook another 5 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and let the rice steam in the covered pot for 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Tags: arroz verde, cilantro, green rice, Mexican rice, Side Dish, spinach

Breakfast burritos are easy to make and a great way to start the day! This recipe features fresh Mexican chorizo which is uncooked — not Spanish chorizo, a smoked sausage. Scrambled eggs, cheese, salsa, cilantro and avocado complete the burrito. Yum! Want to make a vegetarian version? Soyrizo (or soy chorizo) would be a good substitute. Enjoy!

P.S. breakfast burritos are great outdoor food…I like to make them when we’re camping.

Breakfast Burritos with Chorizo and Eggs
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Yield: Makes 4

12 ounces good quality fresh Mexican chorizo sausages, casings removed
4 chopped green onions
6 large eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 9- to 10-inch-diameter flour tortillas
2/3 cup (or more) grated Mexican four-cheese blend (3 to 4 ounces)
1/2 cup (or more) chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup purchased tomatillo salsa
1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, sliced

Sauté chorizo in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, breaking up, 5 to 6 minutes. Add onions; sauté 30 seconds. Transfer to bowl; cover to keep warm. Wipe out skillet. Whisk eggs in medium bowl; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add oil to same skillet; heat over medium heat. Add eggs; cook until softly scrambled. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.

Warm tortillas in another skillet until pliable, 20 seconds per side. Divide chorizo among tortillas. Top with cheese, eggs, cilantro, salsa, and avocado. Fold short sides in and bottom flap up; roll up tortillas.

Tags: Breakfast, breakfast burrito, camping, camping breakfast, chorizo, Mexican chorizo

This super easy, Mexican-inspired soup is delicious and can be made with basic pantry ingredients. To make more of a meal, I served the soup with a green salad and quesadillas stuffed with green chiles, cheese and corn…Olé!

I substituted a teaspoon or so of chopped chipotle chile with some adobo sauce for the chopped jalapeno, which added a nice smoky flavor to the soup. Look for canned chipotle chiles (chipotle en adobo) in the Mexican foods section of your grocery store, or follow the recipe and use chopped jalapeno chiles. Either way, you’ll have a great soup!

Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper, and garnish with feta cheese and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!

Black Bean Soup with Cumin and Jalapeño
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Yield: Makes 4 servings

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 to 2 teaspoons chopped jalapeño chile with seeds, divided
2 15- to 16-ounce cans black beans, undrained
1 15-ounce can petite diced tomatoes in juice
1 1/2 cups low-salt chicken broth

Chopped fresh cilantro
Chopped green onions
Crumbled feta cheese

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, and garlic; sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 6 minutes. Mix in cumin and 1 teaspoon jalapeño. Add beans, tomatoes with juice, and broth; bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook until carrots are tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer 3 cups of soup to blender and puree until smooth. Return puree to pot. Simmer soup until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and remaining 1 teaspoon jalapeño, if desired.

Ladle soup into bowls. Pass cilantro, green onions, and feta cheese separately.

Tags: black bean soup with cumin and jalapeno, black beans, cumin, jalepeno pepper, Mexican, Quick Cooking, soup

One of the things I love about September is the potpourri of ripe veggies available at farm stands and farmers’ markets. Last week, I visited my local farm stand and purchased all the makings for these tasty quesadillas that are stuffed and garnished with a medly of fresh corn, chile peppers, summer squash and tomatoes. The quesadillas make a great lunch or light dinner…Yum!

For the chiles, I used a combo of four different peppers I got at the farm stand that ranged from mild to spicy. I chopped enough of them to equal 1 cup. I also sauteed some Walla Walla onions along with the veggies for added flavor. Since I didn’t have chipotle chile powder, I substituted a little chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce…it added a nice smokiness to the vegetable mixture. Enjoy!

Farmers’ Market Quesadillas
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine
 
These quick quesadillas are loaded with the best of the season: summer squash, fresh corn, and diced tomatoes. Fresh chiles and chipotle powder add depth and give the dish some smoky heat. Yields 4 quesadillas.

5 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 cup small-diced fresh, mild chiles, such as Anaheim or poblano (from about 2 large chiles)
1-1/2 cups small-diced summer squash (from about 2 small zucchini, yellow squash, or yellow crookneck)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup fresh corn kernels (from 2 medium ears)
1/8 tsp. chipotle chile powder
1 cup diced tomato (from 2 small tomatoes)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
Four 9-inch flour tortillas
2 cups grated sharp cheddar (8 oz.)
Sour cream for serving (optional)

Heat the oven to 200°F. Fit a cooling rack over a baking sheet and put in the oven.

Heat 1 Tbs. of the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the chiles and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the squash, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until the squash softens and starts to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the corn and chipotle powder and cook 2 minutes more. Spoon into a bowl, let cool for a few minutes, and then fold in the tomato, cilantro, and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside 3/4 cup of the mixture.

Lay several layers of paper towel on a work surface. Wipe out the skillet, put it over medium-high heat, and add 1 Tbs. of the oil. When it’s hot, put one tortilla in the pan. Quickly distribute 1/2 cup of the cheese evenly over the tortilla and about a quarter of the remaining vegetable mixture over half the tortilla. When the underside of the tortilla is browned, use tongs to fold the cheese-only side over the vegetable side. Lay the quesadilla on the paper towels, blot for a few seconds, and then move it to the rack in the oven to keep warm while you repeat with the remaining oil and tortillas. Cut the quesadillas into wedges and serve immediately with the reserved vegetable mixture and sour cream.

Tip: Chipotles are dried smoked jalapeños, and in any form they add an intriguing depth to dishes like these quesadillas. McCormick makes ground chipotle, and The Spice Hunter sells a crushed chipotle, which would be a fine substitute in this recipe; just add a bit more than you would of the ground.

Tags: Anaheim peppers, bell peppers, cheese, chiles, farmers' market quesadillas, Fine Cooking Magazine, fresh corn, Mexican, peppers, quesadillas, summer squash, tomatoes, tortillas, zucchini

This salsa rocks! If you’ve never made fresh salsa before, I highly encourage you to make a batch of it. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to whip up and how delicious it is! Of course, starting with top quality ingredients (vine-ripened tomatoes) is key to a good salsa, while dry roasting the veggies in a pan is super simple and only takes a few minutes. Husband thinks I should make this recipe on a regular basis…I couldn’t agree more!

Don’t forget to season the finished salsa with salt (bland salsa just won’t do). Enjoy!

Salsa Quemada (Roasted Tomato Salsa)
-recipe from Epicurious.com | April 2010
Reprinted with permission from Amor y Tacos: Modern Mexican Tacos, Margaritas, and Antojitos by Deborah Schneider

A very useful salsa that is easy to make and keeps well. Firm, fresh Roma tomatoes are dry-roasted until soft and well charred on all sides (quemada literally means “burnt”), then pureed into a smooth salsa with sweet toasted garlic, fresh cilantro, and onion. Salsa quemada clings to the dryer and chunkier taco fillings, adding moisture and great flavor. It is also a classic table salsa, perfect to serve with tostadas and totopos.

Makes 2 1/2 cups

5 large Roma tomatoes, whole, not cored or cut in any way
1 serrano or jalapeño chile
2 cloves garlic, skin on
1/4 cup minced white onion
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 bunch cilantro

Make sure your kitchen is well ventilated. Put a piece of aluminum foil in a heavy sauté pan (preferably cast iron) and set it over medium-high heat. Place the whole tomatoes, chile, and garlic cloves in the pan and dry-roast them on all sides until well charred and soft. The garlic and chiles will be done quickly; the tomatoes may take 10 minutes or longer to cook.

Peel the garlic and stem the chile. Place the tomatoes, garlic, and chile in a food processor with the onion, salt, and cilantro. Pulse until the salsa is smooth and taste for seasoning. The salsa will keep, refrigerated, for several days. Reseason before use.

Tags: Amor y Tacos, cilantro, Deborah Schneider, garlic, homemade salsa, jalepeno, Mexican, roasted tomato salsa, salsa, salsa quemada, serrano, tomatoes