Spicy Chicken

Spicy Chicken can be used in enchiladas, tacos, and many other dishes that call for either beef chunks or ground beef.

INGREDIENTS | YIELDS 4–5 POUNDS

2 garlic cloves

4 medium tomatoes

3 fresh jalapeño chili peppers

1 bunch fresh cilantro

1 bay leaf

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

1 (8-ounce) bottle Italian salad dressing

1 fryer chicken (about 21⁄2 pounds)

  1. Peel and mince the garlic. Cut the tomatoes into 1" pieces, reserving the juice. Remove the stems and seeds from the chili peppers. Remove the stems from the cilantro.
  2. Combine all the ingredients in a heavy pot. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 5 hours.
  3. Remove the meat from the broth and let cool. Remove and discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat with forks or in a food processor. Discard the broth.

What Makes a Pepper Hot?

The heat of a chili pepper is caused by the presence of a volatile oil called capsaicin, which can burn the skin and eyes. As a result, if you are handling a lot of chilies, such as picking them fresh from your garden, it’s important to wear rubber gloves. Always wash your hands with lots of soap after handling even a small amount of chili pepper.