Chef John's Chicken Tinga

When I'm at a taqueria, it's hard to decide between the chicken with green sauce or with red sauce. Here's my version of the red sauce. It's great on a crispy tortilla and topped with the usual suspects.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 483 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 (7 ounce) can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, or more to taste
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 3 peeled whole garlic cloves
• 1 large yellow onion, halved
• 1 (28 ounce) can peeled plum tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
• 2 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place chicken thighs, garlic cloves, halved onion, salt, oregano, water, and chicken stock, and water in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over high heat; reduce to medium-low. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

Step 2

Transfer onion halves to a bowl with a slotted spoon; transfer chicken thighs to a separate bowl.

Step 3

Pour broth through a strainer into a large bowl.

Step 4

Heat olive oil in the same pot over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Transfer strained liquid to onions. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; turn heat to medium-low; reduce broth by about half, 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 5

Transfer reserved boiled onions to a blender. Add chipotle peppers and the adobo sauce. Swirl a bit of water in the can and add to the blender. Add tomatoes. Cover blender with the lid. Pulse on and off until mixture is partially blended. Blend on medium speed until smooth, 1 or 2 minutes. Transfer to pot with broth and onions.

Step 6

Increase heat to medium-high. Simmer 15 minutes or so, depending on how thick you want the sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low.

Step 7

Tear chicken into bite-size pieces and add to the pot. Cook another 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish; garnish with crumbled cotija cheese and cilantro.