Savory and Fresh: Lime Chicken Tacos

One of my goals this year is to expand my repertoire of sweet things on this blog to include savory dishes. The truth is, I bake and cook all the time. As New Year’s resolutions and goals abound, it’s no coincidence that I’ve been chatting with many folks who want to hear more about how to create fresh healthy meals. I do not, in any way, consider myself one that follows any sort of diet. One, because I love food and cooking way too much. Two, because I love baking. But, let’s face it. Along with baking comes sampling and I do a lot of that. In any case, when I bake or cook I like to use wholesome and organic ingredients whenever possible. So, there’s no diet going on here. Just simple, fresh, good quality ingredients.

These tacos are delicious and addictive. I used lean chicken breasts for the filling so they’re a better choice than grabbing a big burrito from the taqueria (which I do every so often, I admit.)  I’ve also made these tacos with tofu and grilled egglant or zucchini which is a great way to sneak in some extra veggies. If you go for the chicken, it’s best to toss it in the lime marinade for at least 45 minutes. I keep a little spice jar of the seasoning mix mentioned below because it saves me cooking time. I’ve also included my recipe for salsa fresca, just in case you feel like making a homemade version. The other great thing about these tacos is that they are economical. There are always leftovers for an extra handful of lunches or quick dinners. It seems like everyone is looking for ways to save money these days. For me, one of the best and most enjoyable ways to save money is to cook more meals at home. 

Lime Chicken Tacos

For the tacos:

4 chicken breasts

juice of 2 limes

2 tbsp olive oil

the zest of one small lime

2 tsp of seasoning mix (below)

Seasoning Mix

2 tsp paprika

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp chili powder

1 ½ tsp cumin

½ tsp garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste.

Combine lime juice, zest, olive oil and seasonings into a bowl. Stir ingredients with a whisk until incorporated. Transfer marinade to a plastic zip bag or a glass dish. Saturate chicken breasts with marinade for at least 45 min.

While chicken is marinating make the salsa fresca. 

Salsa Fresca

4 tomatoes chopped

½ of a large white onion chopped

1 jalapeno or Serrano pepper minced (discard seeds if you do not want the spice)

¼ cup of cilantro chopped

3 garlic cloves finely chopped

I lime, juiced

salt to taste

Combine all ingredients and let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.

After about 45 minutes take chicken out of marinade with tongs and place in a heated skillet or cast iron pan. Discard the remainder of marinade.

Let chicken cook thoroughly on both sides before moving to a plate or cutting board. Let chicken rest for a couple of minutes before thinly slicing.

While chicken is cooling, heat corn tortillas in a heated cast iron skillet.

Fill tortillas with sliced chicken breast, salsa fresca, sliced avocado and chopped cilantro. Finish with a squeeze of lime.

Tagged as: healthy tacos, lean tacos, lime chicken tacos, simple salsa fresca