Chicken Pipián Verde #WeekdaySupper

Chicken Pipian Verde - lacocinadeleslie.com

Have you ever said, "I feel like chicken tonight!" only to be greeted with cries of, "No, not chicken again!" from your family? Well it happens to me. Sometimes. And on those rare occasions, I turn to a recipe that I like to call my secret weapon, because my family cannot resist it's charm, nor it's deliciousness.

Pipián Verde is an exquisite traditional Mexican sauce made with roasted poblano peppers, tomatillos, and pepitas (pumpkin seeds) that can be served over chicken or turkey. The pepitas are what give Pipián it's distinctive texture. There's also a Pipián Rojo made with tomatoes and dried ancho chiles, that I promise to share with you very soon. (Look for it next week.)


I make my sauce completely from scratch. It's very easy to put together, but if you're pressed for time you could always use canned green enchilada sauce. No matter how you choose to make this sauce, Chicken Pipián Verde is the perfect recipe for those nights when you're looking for something out of the ordinary to wow your friends and family.

Pipián Verde con Pollo - lacocinadeleslie.com

Chicken Pipian Verde 
lacocinadeleslie.com

Ingredients: 
  • 3 poblano peppers
  • 12 to 15 tomatillos
  • 2 serrano chiles, stems removed (optional)
  • 1/2 medium onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 handful of cilantro
  • 3/4 cup pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
  • 4 tablespoons masa harina (I use Maseca brand)
  • 4 cups chicken broth 
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cut into large pieces

Directions: 
Roast the poblano peppers on a comal or non-stick skillet until completely blistered and charred all over. Place peppers in a plastic or paper bag and let sit for 10 minutes. (This allows the peppers to sweat, making them easier to peel.) Peel the charred skin from the peppers; remove the stems and seeds.

While the peppers are sweating it out in the bag, place the tomatillos and serrano chiles in a medium saucepan with just enough water to cover the tomatillos. Cook over medium-high heat until the tomatillos are completely cooked. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Transfer the tomatillos and serranos chiles with a slotted spoon to a blender cup. Add the peeled roasted poblano peppers, onion, garlic, cilantro, pepitas, masa harina, and 2 cups of chicken broth. Puree until smooth.

Heat the canola oil in a deep skillet or large saucepan over medium heat. Carefully pour in the pureed sauce. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste; stir to combine. The sauce should be the consistency of heavy cream. If it's too thick, add more chicken broth until desired consistency. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to boil. Add chicken and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer over low heat until the chicken is heated through. Serve with Mexican Rice and warm corn tortillas. Enjoy!

Chicken in Green Pipian Sauce - lacocinadeleslie.com



For more tasty #WeekdaySupper ideas, check out this week's menu:


Monday - Crazy Foodie Stunts - Paglia e Fieno
Tuesday - La Cocina de Leslie - Chicken Pipián Verde
Wednesday - Foxes Love Lemons - Shrimp Wonton Soup with Kale
Thursday - Magnolia Days - Artichoke Spinach Pasta
Friday - MealDiva - Broccoli Rabe Pasta Toss


  Photobucket









9 comments

  1. Hey, very nice site. I came across this on Google, and I am stoked that I did. I will definitely be coming back here more often. Wish I could add to the conversation and bring a bit more to the table,but am just taking in as much info as I can at the moment. Thanks for sharing.

    Mango Juice

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my goodness Leslie, I think I could slurp the sauce all by itself. Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a gorgeous recipe. I can't wait to try it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds delicious!!! I love all the flavors you use

    ReplyDelete
  5. I LOVE pipian, have never had it "hecho en casa" . I am soooo trying this soon, we eat alot of chicken and it drives me bonkers a little.

    My DH eats alot of chicken breast, do you think I could make this with a mix of chicken cuts? I usually have it in restaurants here in thigh or leg form only.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Leslie, this smells delish! I have it on the stove now... The only problem is, I doubled the sauce portion of the recipe and ended up aith too much (had planned on making mroe chicken, made 2.4 kilos of thighs and legs). How can I save the sauce? Can it be frozen you think?

    ReplyDelete
  7. You could not have posted this at a better time, Leslie! I have a bag of pepitas on hand, and I don't really like snacking on them, so I wanted to find a recipe for them. This is definitely the one I've been looking for. Drooling already!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi RallitodeLunaful! Yes, you can definitely freeze the sauce. I sometimes like to make a double batch, just so I can freeze some and save it for a rainy day or on those days when I need something in a hurry. :) I hope you liked it!


    And to answer your previous comment, you can use your favorite chicken pieces. I love this with drumsticks and thighs, but use mostly chicken breast because that's what my family loves.


    Thanks for commenting! Hope you have a great weekend! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm glad I could be of help, Lori! I'll be posting another recipe very soon for Pipían Rojo to help you use up those pepitas. :)

    ReplyDelete