Viva Mexico! Welcome to a dish so traditionally Mexican, with recipes handed down from grandma's every day, and we already know there's nothing better than home-cooked food made with love. Easy, filling, and versatile, this chicken tinga recipe is the perfect choice for family get-togethers , gatherings with friends, and to keep in the fridge to fill quick tacos or toss on tostada shells.
In case you were wondering where "tinga" or what it means, the word comes from the Nahuatl "tingatl," which means " something shredded ." This is due to the texture of the chicken in this dish. It's also super tasty, so you can eat it on its own if you don't want to add carbs.
In the city of Puebla, the Tinga Festival is held annually, with tastings and competitions to choose the best tinga in the city. Of course, it's not just made with chicken, but the ingredients are very varied.
Well, I've already told you the color details of this recipe, now let's get to the where and how info that we like so much.
About chicken tinga
Origin of chicken tinga, a popular Mexican recipe
Chicken tinga is a dish originating in Mexico, specifically the Puebla region , located in the south-central part of the country. It is believed that chicken tinga 1881 cookbook La cocinera poblana
Chicken tinga is a very popular dish throughout Mexico and can be found in many restaurants and street food stalls. It's an inexpensive and delicious option for a quick meal and is often served as a filling for Mexican tacos , tostadas, tortas, and other dishes. But, as we mentioned, it can be eaten on its own as it's very filling and flavorful.
Curiosities of the original Mexican chicken tinga recipe
The original chicken tinga , also known as poblana, included sardines. The current recipe, which doesn't include fish, has been adopted and adapted around the world, and variations of this dish can be found in some Latin American countries, such as Peru and Chile, as well as in some Mexican restaurants in the United States and other countries.
Since tinga ingredients can vary greatly, there are around seven recipes, including the following:
- Hot tinga was prepared by stewing pig guts and blood with chipotle chili, onion, and tomato. It was eaten with fresh cheese and avocado.
- Tinga de chile meco was made with tomato, onion, garlic, zucchini, sausage, ribs, and chorizo. It was garnished with sliced onions, avocado, lettuce, radish, oil, and aged cheese.
- The scandalous tinga is so named because of its numerous ingredients. It was usually pork with potatoes, sausage, onion, and chorizo; it was served cold with chipotle peppers, vinegar, avocado, and sliced onion.
- The simple tinga is made with pork and sausage. They're served separately with onions, chipotles, and slices of fresh cheese.
But let's put this data aside and get on with our chicken tinga .
Tinga sauce: the base of the chicken tinga recipe
Tinga sauce is a spicy, smoky sauce native to Mexico, specifically the Puebla region, where it's used as a base for the famous chicken tinga. This sauce is characterized by its intense flavor and thick texture and is a blend of tomatoes, chipotle peppers, onion, and garlic.
The best thing about tinga sauce is that it's made with all the ingredients baked, then blended, and finally simmered together in a pot until thickened. More concentrated flavor? Impossible.
The other option is to make the sauce as part of the recipe, and that's also very good. We invite you to try both options and then tell us what you think.
The easy and delicious original chicken tinga recipe
Because this chicken tinga recipe is so easy to make , it's a great option for a main course, appetizer, or quick meal. It's used as a filling for quesadillas, nachos, molotes, and tacos, as a topping for sopes and tostadas, or served on its own with beans and rice. It's also a recipe that can be prepared in a single batch, making it ideal for sharing.
- Yield : 4 portions
- Preparation time : 1 hour
Ingredients of chicken tinga
- 1 whole chicken breast
- 1 big white onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 4 chipotle peppers in adobo
- 1 can of peeled tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon of dry oregano
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil quantity needed
How to make chicken tinga in 6 easy steps
- Place the chicken breast in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add a quartered onion, 2 garlic cloves, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat until the chicken is cooked, about 20-25 minutes. Remove the chicken from the broth and shred the meat using two forks.
- In a large skillet, add a little oil and heat over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped chipotle peppers in adobo and mix well with the onion and garlic.
- Add the peeled and chopped tomatoes. Add the oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook for 10 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
- Add the shredded chicken to the pan and mix well with the sauce.
- Cook over medium heat for 10 more minutes or until the sauce has adhered to the meat and has a drier consistency.
