Eric will pretty much go down in history as the Gnutella guy. At least he was pronouncing it right. Have you guys ever pronounced a word wrong in public and had to live it down?
One time when I was 12, I was giving a short talk in front of my church congregation (like 150 people). I used the word “fatigue” at least twice. Fatigue. Fat-ig-you. Oooooh yeah. Didn’t need pre-teen counseling for that one or anything.
Head over to Food Apparel to get the recipe for Chicken, Tomatillo, and Chipotle Chimichangas! (Update: I’ve added the recipe below for your convenience, but all the how-to photos are still here.)
Chicken, Tomatillo, and Chipotle Chimichangas
Ingredients
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 boneless chicken thighs or breasts, skinless
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 chipotle pepper, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- 2 (15-oz) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (28-oz) can whole tomatillos, drained
- 8 or 9 burrito-size flour tortillas
- vegetable oil, for frying
- toothpicks
To garnish:
- pico de gallo
- guacamole
- sour cream
- queso fresco
- cilantro
- fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot add the chicken. Cook for about 4 minutes, then flip. Cook for another 3-5 minutes until no longer pink in the middle, or until a thermometer reads 165 degrees. Remove, let cool, and shred with 2 forks. Set aside.
- In the same skillet that you cooked the chicken in, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and set over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and chipotle. Cook until onions are mostly translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, and coriander. Cook for another 3 minutes or so.
- Add the pinto beans and whole tomatillos. Cook for about 5 minutes, breaking up the tomatillos and some of the beans with a wooden spoon.
- Add the cooked chicken and cook for another couple minutes. Turn off the burner and remove from heat.
- In a hide-sided skillet, add about a 1/2 inch of oil. Set over medium heat. After about 5 minutes, test it by tossing in a little piece of tortilla. If the tortilla bubbles immediately, then the oil is hot enough. If not, wait longer.
- Cover the tortillas and heat them in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. You just want to get them pliable enough to be able to fold them.
- Add a large spoonful of the filling into the center of a tortilla. Fold it up (see photos) and secure with a toothpick.
- Fry the chimichangas 2 at a time. Cook for 2-3 minutes on the first side, then flip and do another 2-3 minutes on the other side. It is done when the tortilla is a light golden brown. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate.
- Serve hot with pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, queso fresco, cilantro, and fresh limes.
Notes
Nutrition
Source: adapted from The Complete Mexican South American & Caribbean Cookbook by Jane Milton
If you’re looking for some other Mexican inspired recipes for Cinco de Mayo, check these ones out!
Chicken Flautas (Taquitos). These are worth every speck of oil.
Mexican Brownies from Crazy for Crust
Individual 7-Layer Dips from The Girl Who Ate Everything
Homemade Churros with Chocolate Sauce from Just a Taste
Esquites (Mexican Corn Salad) from Closet Cooking
i came over to this recipe after reading about nana & star wars in the fudge pops post, too funny!
and yes, i always hated reading out loud in school for that reason – you’re so focused on reading you aren’t really comprehending what’s being said and you end up reading phonetically. or sometimes you’ve read a word a billion times but never heard it said aloud, or never put the two and two together. i definitely remember stumbling over the title “colonel” in history class all the time. i mean…how is it pronounced KERNEL but it doesn’t even have an R in it?? it’s a cruel trick is what it is.
also, like laura’s comment, i pronounce “drawer” as “draw.” i never knew this sounded weird to anyone until i moved away to college. but i’m from RI, where we drop our R’s (and add them to other words, like soda = soder, lol!) so i guess it can also be a regional thing. like how my partner’s boston accent means that the words “salsa” and “seltzer” sound identical. my accent has faded (unless i’m really mad or i meet someone from home) but if i try to say “drawer” it sounds like i’m having a stroke, haha. draw 4 lyfe!
anyway, i love chimichangas, and now that i know i could make them at home… :))) (those are all my chins.)
This looks so good! Thanks for sharing!
So…. these look amazing. Ah. ma. zing.
As always, beautiful pictures & funny text. Let’s be friends, yes?
These “chickamungas” just look so ridiculously amazing! Pinned & shared on FB!
Thanks so much for sharing Claire! You’re sweet!
I can’t decide which is more fun to say: chiminchangas or chickamungas! Either way, they are fried and wonderful things of fried wonder. Love it.
I once was talking to a professor who had a tendency to make me extra nervous and I said “urethral” instead of “ethereal.” I forget why I was even using such pretentious words–ahh. Embarrassing.
This looks so good!! I have never tried chimichangas, but you have inspired me to try!
Bah! Grandmothers are the best. I love that pronunciation. My grandmother called me the other day to tell me she was out of her graaan-ola, two words with emphasis on the “a.” These chimis look amazing!
Karen, you’re killing me. These look SO, so good. I’m thinking they’ll be on my menu soon…with horchata.
Thanks Kayley! Don’t skip the horchata. It MAKES it :)
These look divine! :)
Hi Karen, I just found your blog. Love your photos and we love Mexican flavors around here so these chimichangas are happening soon!
Thanks Norma! I’m excited to check out your blog!
Arghhh mis-pronouncing a word in a front of a bunch of people is THE WORST. I do that all the time and feel like a total idiot every time. According to my family, a few years ago I was pronouncing onion, on-ee-on. I don’t believe this, but you can bet they’ve never let me forget it! Oh, and I’m freaking in love with chimichangas (LOVE THAT WORD) yours look out-of-this-world good. Love your photos. — the lighting is perfect! Pinned to my Mexican pinterest board! :D
Thanks Sarah! and I feel your pain! Don’t ever get into a conversation with people about the pronunciation of milk or syrup.
Lol since I’m perfect in every way I’ve never mispronounced a word ;) My husband does it all the time and I totally get on his case because I’m the grammar/word police. For example, he pronounces “tousle” as “toot-zil”. Drives me nuts. The chuckamunga thing is pretty cute. Old people can get away with almost anything they want. Your chimichangas look damn good, Karen.
Toot-zil!!!!! Hahahaha! Send him an incredulous look from me please.