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Chicken Taco Lettuce Wraps with Tomatillo Salsa Verde
Serves 8
These taco-inspired lettuce wraps are full of vibrant flavour tempered by subtle heat, all topped off with a zingy tomatillo salsa. Shredding the chicken helps to make a small quantity of chicken feed a crowd, and the texture pairs well with the light wrapper. The bright salsa features heart-healthy tomatillos, which contain phytochemicals called withanolides, which studies have found can help inhibit cancer cell growth.
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Ingredients
Chicken filling
- 2 tsp (10 mL) chili powder
- 1 tsp (5 mL) cumin
- 1 tsp (5 mL) dried oregano
- 1 tsp (5 mL) bittersweet paprika
- 1 tsp (5 mL) lime zest
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) lime juice
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
- 3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 hearts of romaine, approximately 12 oz (350 g) total
Tomatillo salsa
- 4 tomatillos
- 1/2 serrano pepper, seeds included
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup (250 mL) cilantro
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories 160
- protein 12 g
-
total fat
10 g
- sat. fat 2 g
-
total carbohydrates
6 g
- sugars 0 g
- fibre 3 g
- sodium 180 mg
Directions
01
In small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, lime zest and juice, and garlic to make a paste. Spread paste over chicken breasts and massage, making sure meat is well covered by paste. Place chicken in glass container with lid; cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
02
Meanwhile, make tomatillo salsa. Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C). Peel tomatillos and rinse to remove sticky residue. Remove any prominent stems. In baking dish, place tomatillos, serrano pepper, garlic cloves, and olive oil. Roast in oven for 20 minutes, turning once. Allow to cool and add to bowl of food processor with cilantro. Be sure to include oil from baking dish. Blend until smooth.
03
When ready to cook, remove chicken from fridge and allow it to come to room temperature while you preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Bake chicken for 40 minutes, turning once during cooking time. When internal temperature reaches 165 F (74 C), remove from oven and allow to rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
04
Using kitchen mixer (see tip) or by hand, shred chicken.
05
To serve, fill romaine lettuce cups with shredded chicken, a bit of cabbage slaw (see previous recipe), and top with tomatillo salsa. Alternatively, place big bowls of cabbage and chicken on table and allow people to fill their own lettuce cups. Serve with plenty of lime wedges and extra cilantro.
