master-cooks | Chicken Adobado Street Tacos Recipe

Chicken Adobado Street Tacos bring a flavorful twist to traditional tacos with their rich, smoky, and slightly spicy taste. The recipe typically involves marinating chicken thighs in a blend of spices and herbs, including paprika, garlic, oregano, cumin, and vinegar. This marinade not only imparts a deep, savory flavor to the chicken but also helps tenderize it, making the meat juicy and succulent. Once marinated, the chicken is grilled or pan-seared until it is cooked through and has a slightly charred exterior, adding an extra layer of flavor. To assemble the tacos, warm corn tortillas are used as a base. The cooked chicken is chopped into bite-sized pieces and generously piled onto the tortillas. Toppings such as diced onions, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice enhance the flavors with their crisp, fresh notes. For added texture and taste, you can include toppings like avocado slices, salsa, or crumbled queso fresco. These tacos are perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a gathering with friends, offering a satisfying blend of textures and flavors that capture the essence of street food. Enjoy them with a side of beans or rice for a complete meal experience.

Gather the chicken adobado taco ingredients

To prepare the chicken for this recipe, gather olive oil, chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, fresh oranges, and limes. These ingredients will be mixed together to marinate the boneless, skinless chicken thighs. For serving, you'll also require white onion, cilantro, corn tortillas, and Mexican hot sauce.

Step 1: Make the marinade

Combine the olive oil, chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt in a large bowl and stir thoroughly.

Step 2: Add the citrus

Extract the juice from the orange and lime.

Step 3: Coat the chicken

Incorporate the chicken and mix to ensure it's evenly coated.

Step 4: Marinate the chicken

Press the chicken down to fully immerse it in the marinade, then cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours.

Step 5: Heat up the grill

Preheat a grill or grill pan to high heat and place the chicken on it.

Step 6: Grill the chicken

Cook on the grill for 5-6 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and slightly charred.

Step 7: Rest the chicken

Take the chicken off the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes.

Step 8: Make the verdura

As the chicken rests, prepare the vegetables by mixing the onion and cilantro together.

Step 9: Chop the chicken

Cut the chicken into ½-inch pieces.

Step 10: Time to eat

Accompany with warm corn tortillas, vegetables, and Mexican hot sauce.

What is verdura?

"Verdura" is a Spanish term that translates to "vegetable." In the context of street tacos, it specifically refers to a condiment made from a blend of chopped onions and cilantro. Sometimes, lime juice is added for a touch of acidity, but this can shorten the mixture's shelf life, so lime wedges are often provided on the side instead.

Onions and cilantro make an excellent pairing for nearly any type of street taco (though if you have a genetic aversion to cilantro, feel free to omit it). A classic street taco features a warm tortilla filled with your choice of meat, such as chicken adobado, chorizo, carne asada, or al pastor. While taco stands may offer additional condiments like sliced or pickled chiles, sliced radishes, and various other toppings, verdura remains a staple. The raw onion contributes a sharpness that enhances the meat, while the cilantro adds a refreshing herbal note.

When your taco is filled with flavorful, well-marinated meat, it’s best not to overcomplicate things and overwhelm the taste. Just a spoonful or two of verdura, a splash of hot sauce, and perhaps a squeeze of lime will give you the perfect street taco experience.

Is adobado the same as al pastor?

In this recipe, the term "adobado" refers to a traditional Mexican dish that features marinated meat. The word "adobado" translates to "pickled," originating from a Spanish dish where meats were prepared in a mixture of stock and vinegar. In Mexican adobado dishes, the marinade typically consists of a variety of spices and chiles. As you might expect, "adobado" comes from "adobo," a term that has taken on different meanings in various regions influenced by Spanish culture.

Filipino adobo is perhaps the most recognized dish with this name, although it differs significantly from the Mexican version. Filipino adobo primarily uses soy sauce and vinegar, making it a distinct dish that shares the commonality of being marinated. In Puerto Rican cuisine, "adobo" refers to a popular dry spice blend rather than a liquid marinade. "Adobado" serves as a general term for marinated foods, but this particular recipe is based on the Mexican style, which utilizes spices and chiles to create a rich and flavorful marinade for the meat.

Chicken Adobado Street Tacos Recipe