Chile Verde with Chicken, and Masa Harina Biscuits

Let's cut to the chase---this chile is outstanding.  I loved it, it's going in my recipe hall of fame, and as far as I'm concerned, it won the gold medal.  Just wanted to get that out of the way first.

I love the color green.  And sometimes I just like to amass as many shades of green as I can in a dish.  These emerald green heirloom tomatoes inspired this chile. 

And then these tomatillos, they're such a pretty softer green, they give the chile a really nice tart tang. 

 

The tomatoes and tomatillos get char-broiled for really great roasted flavor.  Just halve them and put them under the broiler for about 15 minutes until they get a little blackened.

Chile Verde is often made with pork, but I think the chicken, corn and white beans makes this a really delicious variation. 

Chicken Chile Verde
serves 6

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts  (or about 3 cups of leftover chicken, shredded) 

• Put the chicken breasts in a small saucepan and just cover with water.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and let them simmer for a few minutes.  Then turn off the heat, cover, and let the pan sit for 20 minutes.

about 5 tomatillos
6  medium green tomatoes
4 cloves garlic, unpeeled

• Halve the tomatoes and tomatillos and place on a baking sheet.  Add the unpeeled garlic, and put under the broiler for about 15 minutes, checking regularly, until they just begin to char.
• Put the tomatoes and tomatillos in a food processor.  Squeeze out the cloves of roasted garlic, and put them in too.  Process until blended, and set aside

olive oil
1 medium Spanish onion, chopped
1 large jalapeno pepper, sliced, seeds and all
1 poblano pepper, chopped

• Cover the bottom of a large, heavy bottomed pot with olive oil.  Saute the onion for about 10 minutes, then add the peppers and saute for another 10 minutes.

1 10-oz can green chile enchilada sauce 
1 7-oz bottle of Corona beer
2 cups water
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt

• Add in the enchilada sauce, beer, water, cumin and salt.  Bring up to a simmer and simmer for about 10 minutes. 
• Shred the cooked chicken with two forks, pulling the meat apart along the grain.  Add to the Chile, along with:

1 ear of white corn, kernels removed
1 14-oz can of white beans, drained and rinsed 

•  Simmer for another 10 minutes.  

4 Tbsp masa harina dissolved in 1/4 cup water 

• Stir in the masa harina/water mixture into the chilie.  The chile will thicken.  Add more masa harina mixed with water if it's not as thick as you like it.  Simmer for a few more minutes, then add:

1 large handful fresh cilantro, chopped
juice of 1 lime

• Taste it to check the seasoning and then serve it up hot in bowls, with Masa Harina Biscuits, recipe below.

Notes:  This chile was perfect, and I wouldn't change a thing.  The flavors are bright and fresh, the chicken is tender, and the corn lends a little crispness to the stew.  The chile is quick cooking, so the peppers aren't simmered into oblivion.  The last minute douse of cilantro and lime finishes it off so well.  I'm going to dub this the perfect summertime chile, partly because it's so light fresh, but also because I think you need the fresh tomatoes and tomatillos to pull it off.  Love love love, hope you try it!
Oh, and don't forget the biscuits, they are my absolute favorite for chilis of all kinds.  The delicate masa harina flour makes them almost creamy inside, they are really great. 
Oh, and if I had some green chile powder, I might have used it, but I didn't.  It's rather hard to find, but if and when I do, I will try adding it.

Masa Harina Biscuits
oven to 425

1 1/4 cup cold buttermilk
1 Tbsp honey

• Mix the buttermilk and honey and set aside.

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup Masa Harina
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

• Put the dry ingredients in the bowl of the food processor and pulse to combine.  

 12 Tbsp (1 and 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter cut in pieces

• Pulse in the cold butter, about 10-15 pulses, to combine and create a coarse crumbly mixture.
• Slowly add in the buttermilk, while pulsing, until the dough comes together.  You might not need all the buttermilk.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and bring the dough together, adding a little flour if it's too wet. Pat into a 9 inch round and cut into biscuits.  I used a 2 3/4 inch round biscuit cutter.  You'll get 6 to 8 biscuits.  I like them big!
• Place them on parchment paper or a silpat liner and bake at 425 for about 15 minutes.  They don't get brown, so don't overcook waiting for them to take on color.
• Cool on a rack, or eat hot out of the oven.

 
Other chilies to try---

Filet Mignon Chili

Spicy Chili