mexican chicken and bean lettuce wraps with avocado mash

this meal went down an absolute treat last night.  this would be a great one for families and wrapping the food up in lettuce leaves makes the meal even more fun.


the meal is done in 4 parts, it probably takes about 30 mins to make, if your super keen you can marinate the chicken at the start of the day, otherwise it would be fine if you made the marinaded chicken and let that sit while you prepare the rest of the meal.  try to buy organic where possible.  


here is the recipe:

the finished product

marinade
1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


mix the spices, crushed garlic and oil together.  pour over the chicken, cut into bite size strips and marinate for up to 20 minutes.


chilli bean salsa
400 g tin red kidney beans, drained and rinsed (make sure that you buy the beans that don't have heaps of extra sugar, check the ingredients list)
1 red chilli, deseeded and diced (use half for the chilli bean salsa and half for the avocado mash)
1/4 cup coriander or parsley leaves
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1 tomato, finely diced
1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice


mix the beans with the cilli, herbs, onion, tomato and juice together.  set aside.


avocado mash
1 avocado
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh coriander or flat - leaf parsley, chopped finely
1 red chilli, deseeded and diced (the other half of the diced chilli from the salsa)
salt and freshly ground black pepper


scoop the flesh from the avocado and mash in a bowl with the lemon juice, coriander or parsley, and cilli.  season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and set aside.


the rest
200g chicken breast fillet, sliced
1/2 iceberg lettuce shredded
the large leaves from the outside of the lettuce kept in tact for wrapping


heat extra oil in a heavy-based pan over a medium - high heat and saute the chicken until well browned and cooked through, for around 4-5 mins.


to assemble, place the chicken, chilli beans, lettuce and avocado mash in the cup of the lettuce leaf.  fold the lettuce leaf sides inward and the lighter end of the leaf inwards to keep everything in the wrap.


then enjoy.


NK x