This is the perfect weeknight family meal as it allows everyone to assemble their own fajita just the way they like it. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs cook up nice and juicy under the broiler, but feel free to substitute butterflied chicken breasts if you prefer.
Tip
Make up a double batch of the maple chipotle sauce and use leftovers to brush on baked tofu or tempeh, drizzle over seared fish, or toss into sautéed vegetables.
Maple Chipotle Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) maple sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt, divided
- 1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) dry mustard powder, divided
- 1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) garlic powder, divided
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) chipotle chili powder
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground black pepper
- 1 lb (450 g) skinless, boneless chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) tomato paste
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) maple syrup
- 1 chipotle chili pepper in adobo sauce, finely chopped
- 1 tsp (5 mL) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) fresh lime juice
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) grapeseed oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 large bell pepper, any colour, seeded and sliced
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas, warmed
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) cilantro leaves
- 2 avocados, chopped
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories563
- protein29g
- fat25g
- saturated fat4g
- trans fat0g
- carbohydrates62g
- sugars19g
- fibre12g
- sodium559mg
Directions
01
In small bowl, whisk together paprika, sugar, 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt, 1 tsp (5 mL) mustard powder, 1 tsp (5 mL) garlic powder, chipotle chili powder, and black pepper. Rub seasoning mixture evenly all over chicken before transferring to airtight container, covering and refrigerating for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
02
Meanwhile, in small saucepan, stir together tomato paste, maple syrup, chipotle chili pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and remaining 1/2 tsp (2 mL) mustard powder and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) garlic powder. Bring to a boil over high heat before reducing heat to low and simmering mixture, uncovered, and stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in lime juice, and set aside.
03
When ready to make fajitas, preheat broiler.
04
In large frying pan, warm grapeseed oil over medium high heat. Add onion and remaining 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt. Sauteu0301 until tender, about 3 minutes, before adding bell pepper slices. Continue to sauteu0301 until peppers are crisp tender, about another 3 minutes. Set vegetables aside, but keep warm.
05
Place chicken on lightly oiled rimmed baking tray and broil for 3 minutes. Flip and continue to broil for another 3 minutes. Brush chicken with sauce, and broil until sauce is starting to caramelize, about 1 minute. Flip chicken over; brush other side with remaining sauce and broil again until sauce starts to caramelize, about 1 more minute, or until juices run clear when tested with a knife. Transfer chicken to cutting board and cut into strips.
06
To serve, place peppers and onions on serving platter. Top with sliced maple chipotle chicken. Serve alongside tortillas, chopped tomato, cilantro, chopped avocado, and lime wedges for diners to assemble their own fajitas.
READ THIS NEXT
SEE MORE »
Fennel, Apple, and Radicchio Slaw
Licorice-flavoured fennel, tart apple, and a hint of pleasant bitterness from radicchio combines with a touch of sweet dressing for a refreshingly delicious salad. Fennel contains a number of vitamins and minerals known to be involved in digestion, including vitamin C, manganese, and niacin which helps transform the food you eat into energy. Apple adds sweet crunch and all-important fibre. Know your fennel The fennel bulb we buy at the market is a cultivar variety known as Florence fennel. Fennel seeds, which are sometimes eaten after a meal to ease digestion, and which are also used for cooking, come from the common fennel, which grows wild in southern Europe, Australia, and parts of the US.
Farro, Lentil, and Vegetable Soup
Adding farro, with its nutty bite, is a delicious and convenient way to increase your soup’s fibre and nutritional value. This hearty soup is the perfect remedy to a cold January day. Lemon and chervil add a bright contrast to the fibre-packed earthy flavours. Farro timesaver With a long cooking time, it’s worth it to cook a larger amount of farro and freeze it in small-portioned batches which can be thawed quickly. Using a ratio of 1:4 farro to water, cook on medium-high heat until farro is al dente, in a similar manner to the way you would cook pasta. Drain, rinse, portion, and freeze for later use. To thaw, simply run frozen farro under water or add directly to soup.
Arugula Salad with Roasted Delicata Squash, Pomegranate Molasses, and Pine Nuts
Oven-roasted delicata squash makes a crispy treat atop this green salad. As its name suggests, this squash has a thin, delicate skin that’s tasty when cooked. Pomegranate molasses, an ingredient common in Lebanese and Middle-Eastern cuisine, brings a sweet and sour flavour to the dressing. No pine nuts? Use squash seeds! Simply collect about 1/4 cup (60 mL) seeds from cleaned squash, rinse, and mix with 1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) of the spice mix used to roast the squash and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) olive oil. Roast at 425 F (220 C) on parchment-lined baking sheet for 20 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
Cardamom and Ginger Scented Farro Breakfast Porridge
Look for whole grain farro, which leaves the germ and bran intact, for this satisfying porridge that’s sure to kickstart your day. While the cooking time is longer than for pearled or semi-pearled varieties, you’ll get more nutrition. Take the time to enjoy the delicate scent of cardamom and ginger wafting through your kitchen as you prepare this. Ancient grain Farro (also referred to as emmer or einkorn) is a variety of wheat known as an ancient grain, which means that it hasn’t changed over time through breeding as is the case with many varieties of modern wheat.