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Feature image of Mexican tamarind chicken in a cast iron skillet with red serving spoon.

Mexican Tamarind Chicken

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Tamara Andersen
Tamarind and chipotle peppers in adobo provide a burst of flavor in this creamy, reduced-fat Mexican-inspired chicken thighs recipe!
5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 servings
Calories 321 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 24 ounces boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 medium onion - chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 cup beer - see Ingredients Notes in post
  • 3 tablespoons tamarind concentrate
  • 2 chipotles in adobo - see Ingredients Notes in post
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup plain whole fat yogurt - see Ingredients Notes in post
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • caramelized onions - to garnish, see link below
  • avocado - to garnish, sliced

Instructions

  • Add a drizzle of oil to a hot skillet. Sear the chicken thighs on both sides. Set aside.
  • Add the onion to the skillet over medium heat. Sauté until it starts to soften. Add the cumin and garlic. Stir an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  • De-glaze the skillet with the beer, scraping browned bits as you reduce the beer by about half. Add the chicken back to the skillet.
  • Add the broth, tamarind concentrate, and chipotles with adobo to a blender. Process until smooth. Add to the skillet. Cover, and simmer 30 minutes.
  • Add the Greek yogurt, whole milk, and cornstarch to the blender. Pulse until smooth. Reduce heat on the skillet, and slowly add to the chicken, whisking vigorously.
  • When the creamy mixture is thoroughly incorporated, increase the heat gradually. Bring back to a simmer, and let it cook long enough to thicken. Check seasoning.
  • Serve one chicken thigh per person with a generous spoonful of sauce. Garnish as desired.

Notes

How to caramelize onions
I used 24 ounces of boneless, skinless chicken thighs to calculate calories for 4 servings. That's typically one generous thigh per person. I am a stickler for 4-6 ounces of lean protein per person. Your calories will vary according to amount of sauce and chicken served. Does not include garnishes or sides!

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 16g

NOTE: Macronutrients are an approximation only using unbranded ingredients and MyFitnessPal.com. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and/or star rating! Email us with any questions: tamara@beyondmeresustenance.com