Before we get into my recipe for chicken tinga, let’s talk about Cinco de Mayo and why I chose to share this recipe for you all this week!
The Fifth of May, or Cinco de Mayo, has become a significant annual celebration of Mexican culture and heritage here in the United States. Unlike the Fourth of July, which celebrates the Independence of the United States, Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16.
Cinco de Mayo is actually a celebration of the Battle of Puebla, in which a small Mexican army emerged victorious over the French despite being outnumbered almost two to one. Oddly enough, it is scarcely celebrated in Mexico except for Puebla.
Today, we celebrate Cinco de Mayo with music, friends, and most important, food. In honor of the holiday, I decided that I would feature a recipe that hails from the state of Puebla. Puebla is situated about two-and-a-half hours south of Mexico City. It is a wonderful place that is one of Mexico’s oldest cities, and its warm hospitality, stunning and colorful surroundings, and relaxed atmosphere make it a popular destination.
Puebla is also rich in culinary tradition, known mostly for its complex all-day moles, but it has unique and distinct dishes that awaken the pallet and honestly are some of my favorite Mexican dishes. One of these dishes is Chicken Tinga.
Chicken tinga over fried corn tortilla tostadas
What is chicken tinga?
Chicken tinga is a versatile dish of shredded chicken that has been stewed in rich roasted tomatoes, smoky chipotle chiles, onions, garlic and spices. It can be served warm or cold and is topped on crunchy tostadas, stuffed in warm bollilo rolls, and of course as a decadent filling for tacos.
Tinga is a perfect mid-week meal as it can be made fairly quickly or prepared ahead of time in batches and frozen for future use. My recipe for chicken tinga honors traditional tinga, but it utilizes the use of BBQ techniques to help elevate flavors and make it a dish that will keep your friends and loved ones hoping it’s Cinco de Mayo every day!
There are plenty of ways to enjoy chicken tinga
How do I serve chicken tinga?
I like to serve my chicken tinga as a filling for fresh made flour tortillas with cool lettuce, cilantro, diced tomatoes, a sprinkle of cotija cheese, and a squeeze of lime. But a common way to serve them is on fried corn tortilla tostadas with creamy beans, shredded queso Oaxaca, lettuce, tinga, Mexican crema, and your favorite salsa. The crunch of the tortilla is a perfect vehicle for the tinga. I have made smaller versions as a game day appetizer that is always a hit.
If you like tortas, split a roll and stuff them with tinga, avocado, and dip them in the reserve liquid for a torta ahogada (drunken sandwich). Think Mexican French dip! And if you like the birria social media trend, try dipping a flour tortilla in the sauce then frying it up on the flat top stuffing the inside quesadilla style with mounds of queso Oaxaca or queso Chihuahua, tinga, and some caramelized onions and jalapeños.
May your Cinco de Mayo be filled with happiness and amazing food! Provecho!
Description
May your Cinco de Mayo be filled with happiness and amazing food! Provecho!
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. chicken (I use half bone-in, split chicken breasts and half skinless boneless thighs)
- 1 large white onion cut into thin slivers
- 1 large sweet Vidalia onion halved
- High heat oil, like avocado or grapeseed
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- ¼ tsp. dried Mexican oregano
- ¼ tsp. ground thyme
- ¼ tsp. cumin
- ¼ tsp. ground marjoram
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 7 oz. can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 28 ounces of Roma tomatoes (I prefer fresh that are charred in a cast iron skillet and skins removed, but fire-roasted canned tomatoes also work when in a pinch)
- Seasoning for chicken (garlic salt, cumin, smoked paprika)
Instructions
- Take chicken thighs and season them lightly with garlic salt, cumin, and smoked paprika. Brown in Dutch oven in the oil to get crust on each side.
- Add the halved onions, garlic, spices and bay leaf and cover with the chicken stock, plus 1 additional cup of water. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat to low for 30 minutes covered.
- Season chicken breasts and cook in your favorite smoker until internal temp is 165 degrees. This is the game changer!
- Once smoked chicken is cooked, pull, let cool and shred.
- Remove the boiled chicken along with the onion halves and strain broth into a separate bowl. Shred chicken thighs once cooled.
- Add oil into the Dutch oven that chicken was cooked in and sauté slivered white onions until translucent, making sure not to brown them, about 4 minutes.
- Add the strained broth to the onions and reduce for about 15 to 20 minutes or until it reduces by half.
- In a blender, add halved onion and garlic that was boiled, one can of chipotles, and the tomatoes. Blend until smooth 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add blended chipotle/tomato mixture to the reduced broth and cook for and additional 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add the shredded chicken to the sauce and combine well till the chicken is incorporated and covered. Let stew on low for 15 minutes.
Notes
PRO TIP: I like to use a combination of mesquite and cherry, as mesquite is very prevalent in Mexican cuisine and the cherry gives a hint of sweetness to balance. I will also char my tomatoes in a cast iron skillet while I’m smoking the chicken.
Check out more dishes from Uncle Chico!
