Chicken in Pumpkin Seed Sauce

Name: Chicken in Pumpkin Seed Sauce
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT1H5M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT1H25M0.000S
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients: 4 to 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts; Kosher salt; 6 to 8 whole black peppercorns; 2 fresh bay leaves; 2 small to medium white or yellow onions, 1 quartered and 1 chopped Herb bundle of fresh cilantro, marjoram or oregano, and thyme; 1 1/4 cups green untoasted pumpkin seeds, such as pepitas; 2 tablespoons EVOO; 1 teaspoon ground cumin (1/3 palmful); 1 teaspoon dried epazote, optional; Pinch ground cinnamon; 6 tomatillos, peeled and chopped; 2 to 3 leaves Romaine or green leaf lettuce, torn; 2 large cloves garlic, grated or chopped; 2 serrano chiles or 1 large jalapeno, seeded and chopped; Warm corn tortillas, for serving; Minced red onions, for serving; Steamed or lightly sauteed zucchini, for serving

Getting reviews...

Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 25 min

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 1 hr 5 min

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 25 min

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 1 hr 5 min

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

4 to 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts

Kosher salt

6 to 8 whole black peppercorns

2 fresh bay leaves

2 small to medium white or yellow onions, 1 quartered and 1 chopped Herb bundle of fresh cilantro, marjoram or oregano, and thyme

1 1/4 cups green untoasted pumpkin seeds, such as pepitas

2 tablespoons EVOO

1 teaspoon ground cumin (1/3 palmful)

1 teaspoon dried epazote, optional

Pinch ground cinnamon

6 tomatillos, peeled and chopped

2 to 3 leaves Romaine or green leaf lettuce, torn

2 large cloves garlic, grated or chopped

2 serrano chiles or 1 large jalapeno, seeded and chopped

Warm corn tortillas, for serving

Minced red onions, for serving

Steamed or lightly sauteed zucchini, for serving

Directions

Watch how to make this recipe.

Place the chicken in a pot with just enough water to cover. Sprinkle with salt, and add the peppercorns, bay leaves, quartered onion and herb bundle. Bring to a low boil, and then reduce the heat and poach the chicken until cooked through, 30 to 40 minutes.
Remove the chicken, straining the stock, and then wipe the pot clean and return to the heat. Peel the skin off the chicken breasts and cover to keep warm until the sauce is ready. Dry toast the pumpkin seeds over medium heat until puffed and toasted, 4 to 5 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the toasted seeds for garnish. Puree the remaining seeds in a blender or food processor with 1 cup of the stock, the chopped onion, EVOO, cumin, epazote, if using, cinnamon, tomatillos, lettuce, garlic and chiles.
Transfer the pumpkin seed puree to the pot with 2 1/2 to 3 cups of the reserved chicken stock and simmer to develop flavor and thicken, 20 minutes. Adjust the seasonings.
Pour the sauce over the chicken and garnish reserved toasted pumpkin seeds. Serve with warm corn tortillas, for wrapping, and minced red onion, for topping. If you would like to serve with a vegetable, steamed or sauteed zucchini is perfect.

Cook’s Note

For a make-ahead meal, simmer the sauce only until not quite thick enough to serve, 10 minutes. Return the chicken to the pot, turn off heat and let cool before covering and storing. Reheat over medium heat and thicken the sauce, to serve.