Tamarind Chile Braised Chicken Tacos

For a fancy version of street food, try these tamarind chile braised chicken tacos with zesty cantaloupe mint salsa. The juicy chicken is bursting with intense flavor and pairs wonderfully with the refreshing salsa!

Watch how to make this

Ingredients

• Guajillo chiles: Guajillo chiles are dried chiles commonly used in Mexican cuisine. These dried chilies provide a mild heat and deep, complex flavor to the braising liquid. They can be found in Mexican grocery stores, some supermarkets' international sections, or online.
• Chicken: The main protein of the dish. It absorbs the flavors of the braising liquid and becomes tender during cooking. The recipe allows for either breast or thigh meat.
• Cherry tomatoes: They add sweetness and acidity to the braising liquid, helping to balance the flavors. As they cook down, the tomatoes contribute to the sauce's body and texture.
• Tamarind paste: Provides a unique tangy and slightly sweet flavor to the braising liquid. It's a key component in creating the dish's distinctive taste profile.
• Tomatillos: Used in the salsa, tomatillos bring a tart, bright flavor that complements the rich braised chicken.
• Cantaloupe: An unexpected addition to the salsa, cantaloupe adds sweetness and a refreshing element.
• Jalapeno: Provides heat and a fresh pepper flavor to the salsa.
• Cotija: This crumbly, salty cheese is used as a topping for the tacos. It adds a savory, tangy flavor and creamy texture.

Substitutions and variations

• Protein: You can substitute chicken with chuck beef or pork shoulder.
• Spicy: You can add heat to the chicken by including chili de arbol.
• Other toppings: If you want to add more toppings, try pickled onions, roasted jalapeno, or roasted peppers.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Prepare chicken

Ready to make some mouthwatering tacos? Let's get started.

To make the tamarind chile braised chicken tacos as delicious as possible, we need to first season the braising liquid. By using a combination of chiles, aromatics, tomatoes, spices, and tamarind paste, we achieve just that.

There are so many different chilies but I ultimately chose guajillo. Guajillo peppers have a smoky flavor that compliments that tangy tamarind paste beautifully. If you can't find guajillo, I recommend using pasilla or ancho chile peppers.

Since guajillo peppers are dried, you need to first rehydrate them in hot water. Once softened, remove the stems and seeds.

Next, brown the chicken breast or thighs until golden brown. We only want to sear the outside and not cook it all the way.

Remove the chicken and saute the onions, cooking until softened. Add the garlic and cherry tomatoes, cooking just until the tomatoes begin to soften.

Step 2: Cook chicken

Add back the chicken to the pot along with the remaining braising liquid ingredients. Then, bring the liquid to a simmer and continue to cook the chicken on low heat until tender. You don't want to boil the liquid or the chicken can become tough.

Once tender, remove the chicken from the pot along with the cinnamon stick. Increase the heat, add brown sugar, and reduce that delicious braising liquid. By reducing the liquid, you're concentrating and intensifying the flavors.

Blend the braising liquid and pour it back over the shredded chicken, tossing to coat. Now there's no way that the chicken will not be flavorful.

Step 3: Make salsa

While the braising liquid is reducing, go ahead and make the cantaloupe mint salsa. Pulse the tomatillos, cilantro, jalapeno, and red onion in a food processor until finely chopped but not pureed. You can also chop the ingredients by hand.

Chop the melon into small chunks and fold it in the remaining salsa ingredients. Let the salsa sit for 20 minutes to let the flavors meld. However, I don't suggest making the salsa the day before because the melon will soften from the acidity.

Heat some tortillas, make a batch of guacamole, and assemble the tamarind chile braised chicken tacos with the melon salsa. I like to also sprinkle a little cotija on top and finish with a squeeze of lime.

You know I don't like boring food and these tacos are anything but. The chicken itself is savory, tangy, and juicy all at the same time while the cantaloupe mint salsa is sweet and refreshing. A truly wonderful pairing all wrapped in a tortilla!

Make-ahead and storage

• Make-ahead: You can cook the chicken ahead of time and reheat it right before serving.
• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Frequently asked questions

More taco recipes

Looking for more taco ideas? Try these:

Recipe

Print Recipe

Tamarind Chile Braised Chicken Tacos

Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: chicken

Servings: 6

Author: Christine Ma

Ingredients

Tamarind chile braised chicken

• 6 guajillo chiles
• 2 tablespoons oil divided
• 2 pounds chicken breast or thighs skinless, boneless
• 1 medium onion sliced
• 6 garlic cloves sliced
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• ¼ cup tamarind paste
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 cups chicken stock
• ¼ cup brown sugar

Remaining ingredients

• 5 medium tomatillos husks removed
• ½ small red onion
• 1 jalapeno
• 1 cup cilantro
• 2 cups chopped cantaloupe
• ¼ cup chopped mint
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 8 tortillas
• ¼ cup crumbled cotija
• guacamole for serving
• lime wedges for serving

Instructions

• Soak guajillo chiles in hot water for 30 minutes or until softened. Drain water and remove stems and seeds. Set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a braising pot over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and sear on both sides until golden brown. Remove chicken from pot.
• Heat another tablespoon oil in same pot. Add sliced onions and saute until softened and browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic cloves and cherry tomatoes and saute until tomatoes begin to soften, about 4-5 minutes. Add back chicken to pot along with guajillo chiles, cumin, tamarind, paste, cinnamon stick, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, cover pot, and reduce heat to low. Continue to simmer for 25 minutes or until chicken is tender.
• Meanwhile, make cantaloupe mint salsa. In a food processor, pulse tomatillos, red onion, jalapeno, and cilantro until roughly chopped. Alternatively, chop all ingredients by hand. Pour tomatillo mixture into a large bowl and add chopped cantaloupe and mint. Season with juice of 1 lime, olive oil, salt and pepper. Let sit for at least 20 minutes.
• Remove chicken and cinnamon stick from pot. Add brown sugar and bring to a boil over high heat. Continue to reduce braising liquid until thickened and reduced by at least half. Remove from stove and pour braising liquid with vegetables and chiles into a blend. Puree until smooth.
• Shred chicken and pour pureed braising liquid. Season once more if needed with salt and pepper and stir to coat.
• Assemble tacos. Top tortillas with tamarind chile braised chicken, salsa, guacamole, and cotija. Serve with lime wedges.

Notes

Remove the jalapeno seeds in the salsa for a mild salsa.