Pipián is a traditional Mexican dish typically consisting of poblano peppers, shredded chicken, and sesame seeds. The sauce is a vibrant green color due to the combination of green tomatillos, chili peppers, pumpkin seeds (or peanuts), and various spices. This dish is often served with rice and tortillas, creating a hearty and satisfying meal.
Here’s a simple recipe that serves 4-6 people:
Ingredients:
– 1 lb (500g) cooked shredded chicken
– 2 lbs (1 kg) tomatillos, husks removed and rinsed
– 3-4 poblano peppers or anaheim peppers
– 2 cups (400ml) chicken broth
– 1/2 cup (50g) pumpkin seeds
– 2 cloves of garlic
– 1/2 medium onion, chopped
– 1 tbsp vegetable oil
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 2 tsp cumin powder
– 1 tsp oregano
– Cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven’s broiler, and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Place poblano peppers on a baking sheet and broil until their skins are charred all over, about 5-7 minutes on each side. Allow them to cool slightly, then remove the skin, seeds, and stem before chopping into chunks.
- In a large pot, heat vegetable oil over medium heat, and sauté chopped onion until they’re translucent. Add garlic and stir for another minute.
- Combine broiled poblano peppers, tomatillos, chicken broth, pumpkin seeds, cumin powder, oregano, salt, and pepper in the same pot with the sautéed onions and garlic.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure that nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot.
- Use an immersion blender or carefully transfer the contents to a regular blender (in batches) to blend until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a little more chicken broth.
- Return the blended sauce to the pot, stir in cooked shredded chicken, and let it simmer for another 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Serve with rice, tortillas, and garnish with chopped cilantro if desired.
This recipe is quite versatile – you can adjust the ingredients according to your taste preferences, or even substitute the chicken for another protein like pork or beef. Enjoy!
Text model: dolphin-mistral
Image model: PixelAlchemy
