Thursday, December 3, 2015

Recipe - Cajun Chicken, Okra, Sweet Potato Mash and Salsa

This recipe has a lot of different elements but it is so so good, and so easy to put together.  We make this fairly often and we served it this week when Dave's cousin was in town visiting.  The flavours go so well together, it is a crowd pleaser for sure.  And it's pretty and colourful. 

Here's the recipe (original from Jamie Oliver's 15 Minute Meals)

2 cups corn
1 small bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped (or use the cilantro paste (about 2 tbsp) like I did if you already have it in your fridge)
1 fresh red chili pepper, chopped (or again, use the chile paste (about 1 tbsp) like I did)
4 green onions, chopped
3 ripe tomatoes, chopped
2 limes
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes (about 2)
2 tbsp sweet red chili sauce

2 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used 2 for 3 adults and a child)
1 tbsp cajun seasoning
1 tbsp cornmeal
olive oil
2 strips of bacon, chopped (or just the chopped pancetta like I did, using half the package)
6 oz fresh or frozen okra (but fresh holds it shape better)
feta cheese (for the topping, so as much or as little as you like)



Before you get your ingredients out boil a kettle of water and heat a frying pan over medium heat.

Add corn to the hot pan and stir for about 5 minutes until a little bit charred (but not burnt).  Remove from pan to a bowl.  Set aside



Wash the sweet potatoes and remove any gnarly bits of skin, but you don't need to peel them.  Slice into 1/2 inch slices.  Put them in a pot and cover with the boiling water and some salt.  Cover and let them boil away for about 10 minutes until they are soft.

Meanwhile, on a large sheet of parchment paper coat the chicken with the cajun spice, cornmeal and some salt.  Then fold the paper over and bash the chicken with a rolling pin until they are 3/4 inch thick.

Put the chicken into the frying pan with 2 tbsp of olive oil, turing after 3 to 4 minutes until golden and cooked through.  Then add your bacon to the pan until it crisps up.  When the bacon is crisp, add the okra.  Cook for about 5 minutes more so the okra softens.


When the potatoes are soft, drain the water, and mash them up with the sweet chili sauce.  Cover and set aside until you're ready to eat.

Combine the corn, tomatoes, cilantro, green onion and chili pepper in a bowl.  Squeeze the juice of the limes over, add some olive oil and a pinch of salt. Stir together.

Remove the chiles from the pan and slice.  Serve the sweet potato mash, chicken, bacon, okra and salsa.  Top with feta cheese.


Enjoy!

2 comments:

  1. Oh, so yummy! I can taste it in my mind! Fresh lime...sweet..spice and lots of textures.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This looks very different but so intriguing. It has some of my favourite things in it!!
    PS> Filled and dropped off my shoebox :-)

    ReplyDelete