Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Chicken Fajitas with Slow Roasted Tomato Salsa

Chicken Fajitas with Slow Roasted Tomato Salsa

Happy Cinco de Mayo!! What do you guys do to celebrate the occasion? In college we used to just use the day as an excuse to drink all day (as if we really needed a reason). Now that I am responsible adult (please try not to laugh too hard), I just spend the day at work and maybe grab a few cocktails with friends. This year I don't have any plans, but I wanted to eat something festive over the weekend. I also found an almost full bottle of tequila and an almost full bottle of triple sec in my freezer. What goes better with margaritas than fajitas? At my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, Marix, we like to order our margaritas "kick ass" style and our fajitas with no peppers and the onions well done. This past Saturday after I was done volunteering, I made a pitcher of margs and these fajitas. They were so yummy and worth the time browning the onions and making tortillas. Homemade tortillas are so easy to make and taste so much better than the store bought variety. I encourage you to try them sometime. I had just a few slow roasted tomatoes left so I combined them with a few things to make a really delicious and spicy salsa. This was a most excellent way to use up leftover chicken.

Chicken Fajitas with Slow Roasted Tomato Salsa

Chicken Fajitas

Chicken, cut into strips
Caramelized onions (recipe follows)
Tortillas
Slow roasted tomato salsa (recipe follows)
Shredded cheese (optional)
Sour cream (optional)

Spread chicken and onion mixture over each tortillas. Top with the toppings of your choice.

Caramelized Onions
(Adapted from Simply Recipes)

1 1/2 onions, thinly sliced
Pinch sugar
Pinch salt
Extra-virgin olive oil

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to cover the pan. Add the onions and stir to make sure they are all coated in oil. After 10 minutes, sprinkle the onions with salt and sugar and reduce the heat medium-low. Cook, stirring every few minutes for 30 minutes to 1 hour until the onions are rich and brown.

Slow Roasted Tomato Salsa

6-8 slow roasted tomato halves, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
Juice from 1/2 lime
1 jalapeno, seeded if desired and chopped
Kosher salt to taste

Mix everything and let sit 15 minutes to let the flavors come together.

Chicken Fajitas with Slow Roasted Tomato Salsa

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23 comments:

The Food Librarian said...

Yum. Happy cinco de mayo! I used to live walking distance to Basix and Marix...but I don't drink so I never had one of their legendary margaritas! But I did love both restaurants! Your celebratory food looks delicious.

Creative Classroom Core said...

Wow... these really do look incredible!
Your tortillas look so soft and yummy in the pic!
I also love the idea of the slow roasted salsa - I will have to try that. It sounds tasty!

Erica said...

This looks so good and is getting me in the mood for mexican food tonight!! We're having a friend over and I'm cooking up some falutas! ole!

Pearl said...

that looks so suitable for cinco de mayo! :)

The Blonde Duck said...

We're having cheese enchiladas with chili con carne!

Teresa Cordero Cordell said...

Happy Cinco to you Esi my dear. What amazing photos. I'm quite impressed with your photography skills. The dishes jump right out at you. You rock. I want some chicken fajitas.

Mary Bergfeld said...

What a gorgeous meal! This looks incredible.

vanillasugarblog said...

Now that's a fajita! Wow! What a wonderful first photo. I didn't even know today was cinco de mayo, we're having spaghetti pie for dinner--it's so not going to be photogenic.

Diana said...

Happy cinco de mayo! I should have known better than to look at your blog when I'm hungry. I am totally drooling right now.

I never do too much for cinco de mayo. The last time I celebrated it (3 years ago), I drank too much and had to go home early. This year, I'm treating myself to a pedicure instead! :)

Juliana said...

Happy cinco de mayo...great recipe for the celebration. Looks really yummie!

Marta said...

what a great way to celebrate 5 de Mayo! I had a big BBQ with my Mexican friends this weekend! It was so great to try all their authentic dishes!

Marta said...

oh and I added you to my bloglist, since you're a constant source of inspiration :)

Esi said...

Hey everyone! Hope you get to enjoy some Mexican food and/or a margarita.

Mary, my work is literally right up the street from Marix/Basix and I haven't been in so long! Must change that soon.

Finsmom, thanks! The salsa is really good and easy, especially if you have the tomatoes done ahead of time.

Erica, that sounds like fun!

Blonde Duck, enjoy your enchiladas.

Teresa, thanks!

Dawn, how could you forget about Cinco de Mayo?! Lol. I promise, I won't tell your spaghetti secret ;)

Diana, that sounds like a perfectly acceptable way to spend the day :)

Juliana, thanks!

Marta, that's so cool that you got to have some authentic food. Thanks for adding me to your list :)

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

Beautiful, you make me hungry.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Gloria Chadwick said...

Your chicken fajitas look awesome! I love the idea of slow roasting tomatoes. :)

Reeni said...

These are nothing short of divine with the caramelized onions and slow-roasted tomatoes! With a pitcher of margaritas - I'd be a happy girl!

Kate said...

Those look terrific! I'm particularly impressed by homemade tortillas, though I find the handmade ones from Trader Joe's will do in a pinch.

Chef Fresco said...

These look delicious - especially your fresh salsa!

Heather said...

yum!!! and as usual, your photos are gorgeous!! happy cinco de mayo :)

The Cooking Photographer said...

Esi that salsa looks so good! Oh heck it all looks good!
~Laura

Unknown said...

i'm craving some tacos now :) another winner, esi!

angela@spinachtiger said...

This is what I want to have for dinner tonight. Not sure I'll get to the homemade tortillas part though. My husband (who rarely enters the kitchen) made some fantastic guacomole yesterday. He has it down to an art and science. (I added you to my home page foodie blogroll).

test it comm said...

What a great meal! Fajitas are up near the top of my favorite meals list and using slow roasted tomatoes in a salsa sounds great!