Plaza-Style Chicken

Ingredients

• 4chicken hindquarters
• 1large onion, sliced 1/2-inch thick
• 3cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/2teaspoon thyme leaves
• 1teaspoon Mexican oregano
• 214 ounce can chopped fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1/2teaspoon salt
• 4medium potatoes, cooked and cubed
• 4large carrots, peeled cooked and sliced
• 8corn tortillas
• 18 ounce jar prepared enchilada sauce
• 1cup queso cotija
• 2cups shredded romaine

• Directions

  1. In a large pot, combine chicken, one half of the onion, garlic, thyme, and oregano. Add cold water to cover; bring to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat; let chicken simmer for 30 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 160 degrees F. Using tongs, transfer chicken pieces to a plate. Cover and keep warm. Remove 1 cup of the chicken cooking water; discard remainder.
  2. In a food processor or blender, combine remaining half of onion,tomatoes, salt and the reserved chicken cooking water. Blend quickly, just enough to form a chunky sauce. Transfer mixture to a medium saucepan; bring to simmering and let cook for about 15 minutes or until sauce thickens.
  3. Pull skin from chicken pieces and discard skin. In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil until about 1/4-inch deep. Heat oil until shimmery; add chicken pieces and cook, turning once, until chicken is browned. Remove chicken and keep warm. Add potatoes and carrots; cook and stir for about a minute or until warmed through. Remove from skillet and keep warm. Add enchilada sauce to skillet; heat to simmering. Dip tortillas in enchilada sauce; remove from skillet and fold into quarters.
  4. On each of four serving plates, place one piece of chicken. Spoon generously with chunky sauce. On opposite sides of the plate, arrange cooked potatoes, cooked carrots and folded tortillas. Sprinkle tortillas with queso cotija; sprinkle chicken with shredded romaine. Serve immediately.
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