Chicken Tinga Tacos

For this recipe you’ll need:

• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 yellow onion, medium dice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 tomatillos, husk removed, rinsed, and roughly chopped
• One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons chipotle peppers, chopped
• 3 tablespoons adobo sauce (sauce from the canned chipotle peppers)
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 corn and/or flour tortillas, warmed
• Fresh cilantro, rough chopped
• 1 cup cotija cheese, grated
• Lime wedges

Directions:

1. Heat a wide, heavy pan over medium-high heat, and add the grapeseed oil.
2. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper to taste. Sear, presentation-side down, in the hot pan until golden brown. Flip and repeat. Remove the chicken from the pan, and set aside.
3. Reduce the heat to medium.
4. Add the onions to the pan, and sauté until lightly caramelized, 4 to 5 minutes.
5. Stir in the garlic, oregano and cumin, and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds.
6. Mix in the tomatillos, and cook until they start to break down.
7. Add the tomatoes, chipotles and adobo sauce and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes to marry the flavors.
8. Add the tomatoes, chipotles and adobo sauce and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes to marry the flavors.
9. Transfer the sauce to a blender, and puree until smooth.
10. Return the sauce to the pan, and add the chicken stock and bay leaf.
11. Nestle the chicken thighs in the sauce, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered, until the chicken is tender and falling apart, 35 to 40 minutes.
12. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, and allow to cool a bit. Using forks, shred the meat and return to the sauce. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
13. Nestle the chicken and some sauce into the warm tortillas, and garnish with cilantro, cojita cheese and lime wedges.